Three Qualities of a Great Leader

Posted on 18th May 202218th May 2022

On average, we spend thirty percent of our lives at work, so creating a workplace environment that is encouraging and productive is essential. We’ve all heard the tales of horrible bosses and temper-tantrum throwing executives. But there are many managers who boost morale and create a culture of collaboration and growth mindset. These are the leaders who motivate and inspire. These are the leaders we should all strive to become. PS&R has curated some traits that we believe distinguish a good boss from a great one.

You’re Available.

A great manager is accessible and approachable. Having an open-door policy makes employees feel comfortable and trusting. When workers come to you, make sure you are a good listener and give their ideas credit. Provide feedback when appropriate and coaching when needed. Afterall, it’s a team you are trying to build so make sure your employees know you are working together.

You Care.

There are many ways to care for the people who work for you. One impactful way of doing this is to provide a work culture that focuses on work-life balance. You can show that you value employees’ time by skipping unnecessary meetings and being open to a hybrid work schedule. Other ways to value your employees include providing a safe and comfortable work environment and offering competitive salaries and benefits.

You’re Real.

Sharing details of your personal life will help employees get to know you better, make you seem more human, and give you more ways to connect. When you give someone a lens into your real-life struggles and how you cope with them, it opens the door to becoming a mentor.

If you are looking to hire an excellent leader, PS&R would love to help. Contact us at 617.723.1919.

PS&R’s Top Blogs for Job Seekers

Posted on 5th August 20215th August 2021

Summer is a great time to do more reading, for work and for pleasure. We at Preferred Staffing & Recruiting love discovering new blogs and broadening our knowledge of all things job search related. Here are some of our favorite career related blogs that we’re reading right now:

Career Sherpa

Career Sherpa is full of helpful tips, tricks, and motivation for job seekers. We love the author’s positivity and focus on taking control of your job search. The site offers checklists and sample resume-related documents, as well as affordable virtual workshops. The Career Sherpa has been featured in many major publications, including USA Today and Forbes.

Ms. Career Girl

Our favorite part of this site is the Resume Optimization Tool that allows you to upload your resume and the job description of the position you are applying for. The tool then gives you a match rating and helps you optimize your resume so you can make it a better fit for that job. Ms. Career Girl also offers relationship advice, tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and help with planning your next vacation. This blog hits the perfect balance of work and play!

Career Contessa

The founder of Career Contessa was a recruiter with the goal of helping women build successful and fulfilling careers. Her team has succeeded by offering articles on everything from cover letter advice to cultivating confidence to salary negotiation.

If you searching for a job opportunity OR if you are looking to hire new talent at your organization, PS&R is here to help. Reach us at 617.723.1919 or visit www.psandr.com. Happy reading!

How To Impress A Potential Employer

Posted on 5th August 20196th August 2019

The saying is true, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. Your first contact with a new company is typically an online application or submission of your resume and cover letter. Follow these tips from PS&R to make that first impression perfect!

Pick jobs you are qualified for.
Online applications have made it easy for employers to get spammed by unqualified candidates. The person reading your online application is not going to make the stretch to fit your qualifications to the position at hand if it is not obvious. Our advice is to quickly qualify yourself as a potential candidate in the very beginning of your email, your cover letter, and your resume. Most resumes get about 30 seconds of review time, so make your relevant skills obvious.

Write a killer cover letter.
Again, you want the employer to see your eligibility right away, so focus your cover letter on your key qualifications. If you know the person conducting the search, address the letter to them using their surname, i.e. “Mrs. Jones”. Make sure you specifically mention the job title for which you are applying, and check spelling and grammar carefully.

Customize your resume.
If you have a career objective on your resume, use it to promote yourself rather than describe the type of company you want to work for or position you are seeking. List your qualifications and tailor them to match those required for the position. Be sure to show progression in your job history and use measured results to describe your accomplishments. Customization is key to impressing your potential employer!

PS&R is a leading staffing and recruitment agency in Massachusetts. Be sure to read our blog Hired for more tips on landing the perfect job.

4 Tips for Increasing Happiness and Motivation in the New Year

Posted on 4th January 20194th January 2019

The New Year is often a time for self-reflection and goal setting. But reaching goals is difficult if you are not feeling the motivation to make strides. Here are a few tips for staying motivated, balanced, and happy with both work and your personal life in 2019:

1. Become a list maker.

There is nothing more satisfying than crossing off “to-do’s”. Whether you keep yours electronically or the old-fashioned way; start each day off with a fresh list. The easier and quickest to accomplish tasks should be at the top. Work your way down to the harder and more labor-intensive assignments. Keep in mind that you should not be trying to solve the worlds’ problems on a daily basis – your list should be manageable and 100% doable. After all, the idea is to get every item crossed off by the end of the day, so you feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation for tomorrow!

2. Review and revamp your online presence.

It’s time to update! Get rid of that profile picture from 2015 with a fresh and recent photo. Add new skills and interests to your LinkedIn page. While you’re at it, why not update your resume to reflect your most recent accomplishments in your current job? You never know when an opportunity might arise, so even those who are not on the job hunt should be prepared.

3. Declutter.

Your desk, your email inbox, a junk drawer in your kitchen… these are all places where things tend to pile up. Facing this mess every day can bring you down and be demotivating without you even realizing it. Dedicate twenty minutes to organize each space in your life where things have become unruly. Take the time to shred old documents, erase and unsubscribe from unwanted emails, and throw away those broken pencils and expired CVS coupons. You’d be surprised how much better you feel seeing these places clean and organized.

4. Take some time for yourself.

Looking forward to a planned trip can be very motivating. Francine Lederer, a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles told ABC News, “Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation, even if it is a 24-hour time-out.” Don’t put off planning the vacation time you have earned. Get something on the books now for 2019. If finances and vacation timing are making it difficult to plan your dream trip; consider taking a long weekend doing something you love. It could be camping, painting, cooking, or spending the day reading a book at your favorite local beach. Dedicating time away from work doing something that makes you happy will greatly improve your mood and motivation.

PS&R wishes you all the best for happiness and success in 2019! If your New Year’s goals include finding a new job, contact us at 617.723.1919.

Boston Tops List for Job Searchers

Posted on 19th December 201819th December 2018

Here is some great news for job searchers in and around the Boston area:

According to www.StaffingIndustry.com; “Boston is the best city to find a job both in the United States and internationally, according to research released by relocation services provider Movinga. The data examined economic strength and standard of living, as well as opportunities for women, young people and expats, in 100 cities. Twenty American cities make the international ranking, due to a strong job market and a booming economy.”

New York and San Diego also scored well, but Boston was the only US city that made the top 10 of the list.

The holiday season is upon is, but that doesn’t mean your job search should stall. This is a great time of year for networking, so get out there and mingle! A new year also means a new budget, so companies might be doing more hiring in January.

Give your career search a jump start and contact PS&R at 617.723.1919. Or visit our Job Listings page to find a job that’s right for you!

Ask Kathy – Tips for Your First Interview

Posted on 6th September 20186th September 2018

Kathy Orcutt is the founder and president of Preferred Staffing & Recruiting. She has twenty years of experience in the recruiting industry in the great Boston area. As a woman-owned and DBE business, Kathy and her PS&R team provide permanent and temporary workforce solutions for a broad range of businesses.

We asked Kathy what advice she would give a candidate who is trying to make the best possible impression at a job interview. Here are her thoughts:

Dress professionally and be punctual.

Even if the company comes across as casual, you will make a better impression if you are overdressed rather than underdressed. Also, make sure you are on-time for your scheduled interview. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised by how often candidates arrive late without any communication.

Be a good listener and ask thoughtful questions.

Your interview is an opportunity for the hiring manager to learn about you, but you don’t want to drone on endlessly about your background and skills. Make sure not to talk over the interviewer and give them a chance to ask follow-up questions. When it’s your turn to ask questions, go beyond the basics. Inquire about the culture of the company and how the position fits and interacts with the broader organization. These types of questions show that you are interested in learning more about their business and the opportunity at hand.

Watch your body language.

Again, it might seem like a no brainer, but often when we’re nervous we lose sight of our body language. Make sure to smile and make eye contact. Try not to slouch or fidget while answering questions. As they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!

Understanding the New Massachusetts Equal Pay Law

Posted on 29th August 201829th August 2018

Our home state of Massachusetts is on the forefront of the movement for equal pay and rights for employees. Last month the equal pay law was updated to provide clarity on what constitutes unlawful wage discrimination. A key piece of the July 1^st update made it unlawful for employers to ask candidates for salary history information. Massachusetts is one of only a handful of states that have adopted this kind of law.

To help you understand this new law, PS&R has gathered some questions that employers are able to ask, and some you need to avoid.

Employers CANNOT ask:

What is your current salary?
How much did you make in your last job?
How much of your compensation is base salary versus commission?
Why do you think this salary is appropriate for you?

Employers CAN ask:

What is your salary requirement or expectation?
What value would you bring to this job?
Did you meet your sales goals in your last position? (but don’t ask about earnings through sales)
Is there a type of pay structure you would be most comfortable with?

Remember that job candidates can volunteer pay history information on their own, it just can’t be actively solicited by a recruiter or human resources manager. Don’t forget to eliminate pay history questions from paper or online documents, such as employment applications.

Working with a Massachusetts recruiter like PS&R is an easy way to navigate this new law effectively.