JOB FAIR – Skilled Labor and Clerical positions!

Looking for the right job?
Attend Gage Personnel’s Job Fair!

Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 – from 10:30am to 2:30pm!

To be held at:
Holiday Inn Express
24 South Willowdale Drive
Lancaster, PA

Jobs available immediately include:
Assembly
Accounts Payable/Receivable
Administrative Assistants
Machine Operators
Maintenance Mechanics/Technicians
Molding Technicians
Diesel Mechanics
Janitorial

Can’t come to the job fair?  Call Gage Personnel’s Ephrata office at 717.336.5959 for more information.

Should You Consider Out-of-State Talent?

You may receive hundreds of qualified resumes for a single job posting, but how much time do you spend weeding out unqualified candidates who are desperate for jobs? Today’s economy has made it a challenge for candidates to find jobs; however, it has also had a negative impact on HR and recruiters. Spending hours trashing unqualified resumes isn’t exactly the most time-efficient way to hire.

Are you looking outside your standard talent pool?

By the time you weed down your resume pile, you may have very few qualified candidates in your area. And if you’ve specified that you’ll consider local applicants only, you’re making it especially difficult to make a qualified hire! Out-of-state candidates have received a bad reputation over the years…they can seem “undesirable” to hiring managers. But why? Forget what you thought you knew. Here are three reasons why you should consider out-of-state candidates for your next job opening:

1. They’re not expecting a relocation package. Yup, the economy is tough, and people are struggling to find jobs. And with that struggle, most candidates expect to have to do some extra legwork to find the right job. Candidates who are applying for out-of-state jobs more likely than not expect to pay for their own moving and transportation costs. Many even expect to pay their own travel costs for the interview. So if cost is your number one reason for discounting out-of-state candidates right off the bat, put that fear to rest.
2. Many jobs can be done remotely. If you aren’t interested in having someone pick up and move across the country to work for you, have you considered having employees who work remotely? Technology has made it so that a home office is nearly the same as a “real” office. Skype and Facetime have made video conferencing a synch, and most home offices have the same quality technology, if not better! This will not only save you onboarding costs, but the cost of equipment, added utilities, etc.
3. They are eager to get started. Candidates who are searching for jobs out of state are eager and enthusiastic to get started with your company, perhaps even more so than a local candidate. Whether their primary reason for applying is to move to a new area, or they are simply incredibly excited about your company, they will come to your company ready and eager to make an impact. Who wouldn’t want someone enthusiastic working for their company?

Searching for great talent?
Contact Gage Personnel! We have an extensive network of qualified candidates who are ready to make an impact on your business.

SKILLED LABOR JOB FAIR January 18, 2012

Please plan to attend Gage Personnel’s Skilled Labor Job Fair on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at the Dunn Community Center (formerly the Exeter Community Library) from 2pm to 6pm.

Bring your resume and learn about DIRECT-HIRE or PERMANENT skilled labor positions available immediately, including:

Set-up Technicians
CNC Programmers
Machinists/Tooling
Maintenance Mechanics
Team Leads
QA/QC
Machine Operators
Warehouse/Forklift
Sanitation

Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions This Year!

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions in recent years? And how did those go? If you haven’t exactly stuck to your resolutions, don’t be too hard on yourself. After all, most people tend to let their resolutions fall by the wayside after a few months. But your resolutions can have a major impact on your career.

Use your New Year’s resolutions to jump start your career.

Get off to a great start in 2012 and head toward your career goals with these three keys to successful resolutions:

1. Be very specific. Ever notice how vague the most common resolutions are? When are you supposed to think you’ve achieved, “lose weight?” Ten pounds? Twenty? Don’t set a vague goal without set terms. Instead, be as specific as possible with your resolutions. If you’d like to lose 20 pounds, then focus on that number, and how you’re going to get there.

2. Shoot for the moon…maybe. Put simply – be realistic. If you’re a cashier and you want to eventually be CEO, you might just need more than a year to do it. And if your goals are too far out of reach, you’re far less likely to do anything about them. Instead, set a goal that is high, but not so high there’s little likelihood you can achieve it in 2012.

3. Remember that a year is a long time. You’ve set a realistic goal, but a year is certainly a long time. To make your resolutions more reasonable (and manageable), set incremental goals during the year. You can set them monthly, bi-monthly, or at whatever points you think will help. For example, using a common resolution – weight loss, your goal might be to lose 30 pounds in 2012. To break it down, you could aim to lose 10 pounds by April 30th, another 10 pounds by August 31st, and the final 10 by December 31st.

Ready to soar in 2012?
Gage Personnel can help you take the next step in your career. Search our available jobs today to get started.

Are You Using Google+ For Your Business?

Here at Gage Personnel, we’ve discussed the importance of social media in your job search. If you haven’t heard, the latest entry into the social media fray is known as Google+ (or Google Plus). Working along with your Google account (which you may use for Gmail, Picasa or other Google tools), Google+ offers a new way to connect with friends, co-workers and other professionals (plus great talent!).

Reviewing the trend of social media in today’s business landscape, it’s only logical to conclude Google+ will have a profound impact on the way you interact with job seekers and clients. As of October 2011, there were more than 40 million users! Let’s take a look at some of the ways Google+ is different than Facebook, and how that impacts you:

• People already expect you to have a profile. Now that businesses can set up their own pages on Google+, top talent and potential clients expect you to have an active profile. Google+ is the latest tool, and it came out of the box with a clamoring for invites. Now that the floodgates are open, you had better have a profile. If you’re not sure how to set one up and use Google+, here’s an excellent online tutorial to help you get started.

• Don’t worry about making “friends.” Ever have an awkward moment where you receive a Facebook friend request from someone who isn’t really a friend? Google+ circumvents this issue with “circles.” In your Google+ “circles,” you can organize all your connections. Each circle can have access to different pieces of information. Someone (including job seekers and clients) can add you to his or her circle without permission; however, you can control what these people see.

• You should still consider privacy. Privacy settings come into play on all social media sites, most notably with Facebook and it’s frequent privacy updates. With Google+, your privacy settings allow you to set certain information as a public “share,” so even someone who isn’t in one of your circles can still keep tabs on relevant information. This can be a great way to include clients, job seekers or current employees, without having to give access to more personal information than you’d like. Google+ blurs the line in our online “worlds” more than any other social media site. Use your privacy settings to your advantage.

• Google+ is more about “conversations” than “posting.” Facebook and Twitter are excellent resources for sharing information, and the occasional short conversational exchange. Google+ is made for conversations – in other words: relationship-building. “Hangout,” a group video chat function, allows you to speak to multiple friends (coworkers, staff at clients, etc) using your webcam. Hangout doesn’t require additional software like Skype, and is an easy way to assemble multiple people (across different locations), quickly. “Sparks” is the Google+ news function (similar to your Facebook news feed). Use Sparks to share information and stories (and start conversations) with members of your various circles.

For more information about Google+, visit the official Google+ website.

Searching for talent in Berks County?
Contact Gage Personnel. We’ll search our extensive network of talented professionals to find precisely the solution you need.

Tap Into the “Hidden” Job Market

Have you been searching for a job? The market for job seekers can be pretty tough! With an up and down economy, and the normal fluctuations that occur at this time of year, it can be especially difficult to find a new career opportunity. And traditional job search methods can result in your resume ending up in a heap of dozens — or even hundreds.

Have you tapped into the “hidden” job market?

Do you know where your resume goes after you hit the “send” button? It likely ends up on a recruiter’s desk – along with another few hundred resumes! You can slog it out against the masses and hope for the best, or you can up your chances and tap into the “hidden” job market with these three tips:

1. Research. Try to help companies in need – and their number one need is talent (that’s you!). Put in some time to research potential employers. Delve into their histories and current challenges, then reach out to them (a letter send via priority shipping always demonstrates a level of credence and importance) with concrete examples of how you can help them improve their business. You’d be amazed how many “hidden” jobs can arise when you demonstrate your specific value to an organization!
2. Be confident. Sure, confidence is important when searching for jobs. But instead of being confident, try showing some ownership of your desired position. Show some initiative and put together a business card and brochure with both your information and your prospective employer’s information. By demonstrating your knowledge of the company, and your recognition of how your strengths will lend themselves to on-the-job results, you’ll display a confidence that outpaces any interviewee.
3. Flex your creative muscles . After awhile, all cover letters and resumes can start to look the same to hiring managers. Don’t be another boring resume and cover letter! Try something unique, like sending a QR code that, when scanned, directs visitors to your website. Get as creative as you can – but don’t get so complicated that it’s difficult for employers to find the information they need.

Looking for your next career opportunity?
Search our currently available jobs or contact a Gage Personnel recruiter today. We’ll help you reach your career goals!

Don’t Be a Stepping Stone Employer!

Ever decide on a candidate, confident that he or she was going to make a long-term impact on your business, only for that candidate to move on a few months later? That is a prime example of a dreaded business affliction – stepping stone disorder!

Although not technically a disorder, being labeled or seen as a stepping stone to potential candidates can have a dramatic impact on your organization. Lost productivity, decreased morale, dour company culture…the effects can lead to long-term losses for your business.

Be more than a stepping stone – be a great choice for job seekers!

Hiring new employees is costly and time-consuming, and no one wants to be used as stepping stone to bigger and better things. Here are three ways to avoid being a stepping stone and instead be the long-term employer for your team:

1. Ask candidates about their long-term goals. From the very beginning, ask prospective employees where they see themselves in 5 or 10 years. Find out why they applied to your company, and what they hope to achieve in their careers. If they hesitate, or if their responses seem a little too rehearsed, you might have to probe a bit more to see if you are the goal for candidates, or a mere stepping stone. But, better to ask during the interview, than get burned down the line!
2. Give candidates an idea where they’re going. When you’re hiring new employees, make it very clear where they can take their careers within your company. Provide a clear path of ascension, with attainable goals. If your employees know that they have a long-term plan of action within your company, they are far less likely to see their jobs as stepping stones.
3. Give them opportunities to learn and grow. If you’re employees are eager to learn more and grow as professionals, be the one to give them those opportunities! Providing opportunities for growth and learning shows an investment in them, and if your employees know you see them as a long-term investment, they’re much more likely to invest in your organization.

Looking for top employees?
Here at Gage Personnel, our extensive network of candidates includes qualified professionals ready to make an impact on your bottom line.

3 Leadership Lessons From Steve Jobs

It doesn’t matter if you’re a Mac or a PC. A Droid or an iPhone. You can learn from Steve Jobs. Jobs was one of the greatest innovators of our generation, and the products he helped create have made an indelible impact on our society, and our day-to-day lives.

Your organization can benefit from Steve Jobs.

You may not be searching for the next big tech gadget, but your organization can still learn from Steve Jobs. His leadership lessons can be implemented–and make an impact–on any organization. Here are three lessons you can start applying now:

1. Take some risks. Ever hear of a tablet device before the iPad? Industry analysts thought Apple was crazy for delving into a marketing that was seemingly unnecessary. Jobs ignored the naysayers, was a non-believer in market research, and believed that people didn’t know what they wanted…until they were shown something so great they had to have it.  How’d that work out for the iPad? More than 25 million iPads sold as of this summer. The lesson? If you believe strongly in an innovative idea–and have the support of your team–don’t be afraid to task some risks from time to time. At the very least, you’ll earn the trust and respect of your team. And at the most – you could revolutionize your industry.
2. Create a clear succession plan for your business. Jobs’ health had been declining since the early 2000s, and began declining rapidly in 2010. His successor, Tim Cook, had been groomed to take over for Jobs early on in his health battle – Cook joined Apple in 1998. For your organization, the lesson is simple. Although things may appear to be in order now, the reality for every organization is that people leave, for whatever reason. Identify future leaders of your organization, or if you don’t have any clear leaders, find ways to get them. Then, develop a clear succession plan. You’ll help retain your top performers, and you’ll also protect your organization in the long-term.
3. Never settle. The truth is, we all aren’t perfect (earth-shattering news!). Just because perfection is difficult to attain; however, doesn’t mean that your organization should ever settle for less. If you aim for perfection and follow through on your plans, setting your signs on your goals, you’ll inspire your team to reach higher, think bigger and get to the next level. Mediocrity is deadly to any organization, and it should never be accepted. You’ve assembled a team of talented professionals who want to help you company succeed – now it’s up to you to motivate them to do their best.

Looking for leaders to add to your team?
Contact Gage Personnel. We’ll help you find the talent you need to reach your short- and long-term business goals.

Banish Holiday Stress and Relax!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, you may feel like you have way more on your to-do list than you can possibly accomplish. This stress can eclipse your personal and professional lives, and can have a dramatic impact on your productivity this time of year. Plus, it can leave you feeling miserable!

Don’t become the office grump.

Don’t let holiday stress impact your workday. Here are four low-cost ways to reduce stress and feel better:

1. Take a break. Get up, walk around, even go outside and go for a quick walk. Sometimes the best way to relax is to get away from what’s causing the stress in the first place! If only for a few minutes, get away from your desk and indulge in some stress-free activity.
2. Schedule your day. No schedule is impenetrable, but if you block out your day, leaving room for unexpected occurrences, you’ll be better equipped to handle the stress that can creep up during a typical workday. Identify your top tasks for the day, and schedule them (even adding them to your Outlook calendar, if appropriate). You’ll be more likely to stick to them, and you’ll have a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the day!
3. Breathe deeply. Deep breathing doesn’t take long, but the impact can be profound. Close your eyes (well, read this first), sit up straight, and inhale deeply to a count of six. Then exhale slowly to a count of seven. Repeat 10 times. Now, tell me that you don’t feel relaxed! Deep breathing is proven stress-reducing technique. It will help you relax and focus, and approaching your day will seem far less insurmountable.
4. Get more sleep. Staying up until 1am to watch that “I Love Lucy” marathon may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you’re dragging, and ever little thing is setting you off. Moral of the story? Get some sleep. Regularly. You’ll feel better, and your day will be much more easy to handle.

Ready for a change of pace in your career?
Come to Gage Personnel. We work with top employers across Berks County, and we’ll find you a new job to help you reach your goals.

5 Tips for a Legendary Office Holiday Party

Office holiday parties can be a great way to celebrate a great year, and gear up for success in coming year. Depending on your organization’s size and history, you may prefer something casual in the office, or an all-out formal extravaganza.

Make sure your holiday party is a success.

Holiday parties are great opportunities for teambuilding, and are also just a nice way to relax during a hectic season. Here are some tips to help make your office holiday party a success:

1. Get out of the office. Unless it is your only option, plan your office party at an outside location. It can be hard to celebrate surrounded by cubicles, voicemails, emails and other stressors. Your office party should be a time to relax. If you don’t want to go to a restaurant, be creative and think of other places where you can celebrate (art galleries, museums and golf domes are just a couple of ideas).

2. Give back to the community. It’s the season of giving, and many people like to donate to worthwhile charities at this time of year. Why not make it official, and encourage your employees to bring a non-perishable food item or unused toy as their “admission” to the party? You can designate an employee to deliver the goods after the party, and you will have made an impact on the community through your celebration.

3. Invite significant others. If your office party is an afternoon in the office, this may not be appropriate, but if you’re inviting your employees to a restaurant or bar to ring in the holidays, etiquette (and common sense) dictates that you should also invite your employees’ significant others. You’ll avoid bruising egos and hurting people’s feelings, and you’ll also give your team an opportunity to meet their coworkers’ families.

4. Involve the team. Sure, it might be easier to call a caterer or let the venue handle all the details, but ask employees to join a committee that will help ensure the party runs smoothly. Your employees will be more invested in the result, and they may also catch some small details missed by an outside vendor, providing a more personal gathering for your team.

5. Show up! Whether you’re in HR or you’re a leader within your organization, ensure you at least make an appearance at the office holiday party. Everyone is busy this time of year, and attending the holiday party demonstrates that you are a member of the team, and that you place value on spending time with your employees or coworkers.

Looking for your next team superstar?
Contact Gage Personnel. We provide talented professionals to employers across Berks County!