Real-life advice from a real-life recruiter

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The Professional Advantage

We’ve all heard how important it is to behave “professionally” in the work place and if you want to get ahead, be taken seriously, and have your boss think of you as an asset to the team –doing things in a professional way is vital, but depending on where you work and the type of job you have, this can take on many different forms.

There are, however, quite a few common traits when it comes to being professional.  And according to the monster career coach-This includes the following:

1.Competence. You’re good at what you do – and you have the skills and knowledge that enable you to do your job well.

2. Reliability. People can depend on you to show up on time, submit your work when it’s supposed to be ready, etc.

3. Honesty. You tell the truth and are upfront about where things stand.

4. Integrity. You are known for your consistent principles.

5. Respect for Others. Treating all people as if they mattered is part of your approach.

6. Self-Upgrading. Rather than letting your skills or knowledge become outdated, you seek out ways of staying current.

7. Being Positive. No one likes a constant pessimist. Having an upbeat attitude and trying to be a problem-solver makes a big difference.

8. Supporting Others. You share the spotlight with colleagues, take time to show others how to do things properly, and lend an ear when necessary.

9. Staying Work-Focused. Not letting your private life needlessly have an impact on your job, and not spending time at work attending to personal matters.

10. Listening Carefully. People want to be heard, so you give people a chance to explain their ideas properly.

Acting like a professional really means doing what it takes to make others think of you as reliable, respectful, and competent, and the more you put into practice the 10 points listed above, the better your chances will be to create a positive reputation for yourself which translates into raises, promotions, chances to work on projects you have an interest in, and the less likelihood of being downsized when layoffs are being considered.

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We did it AGAIN… Eat’n Park is named winner for Best Practices!

We did it AGAIN….Eat’n Park is again named winner for Best Practices 2012.

People Report and Black Box Intelligence revealed the winners of their 2012 Best Practices awards which honor restaurant companies for exceptional workplace practices and results.

People Report said honorees were evaluated on their retention of both managers and employees, the diversity of their workforces, compensation practices, community involvement, corporate responsibility and initiatives in sustainable practices.

“These awards are coveted and are not easily given – These are not popularity contests the companies are evaluated on quantitative measures.”-  Joni Thomas Doolin, Founder and chief executive of the People Report.

Our very own Karen Bolden attributes our success to great operating teams back in the field that keep a smile not only on our guests’ faces but on our team members’ faces also. She talks about how we engage our company to challenge our leadership to volunteer and to engage each other.

Engagement and the ultimate cost

 With today’s economy and war-for-talent, turnover alone is something businesses must think about for the future, as it’s directly connected to engagement. Disengagement can be challenging to remedy; also, it costs organizations billions a year in lost productivity alone.

As a leader within my company how can I increase engagement among my employees?

  • PEER-TO-PEER      RECOGNITION - done right! Create  a viral culture of recognition in your business by creating ways for your     employees to give recognition to each other.
  • PERFORMANCE      RECOGNITION- that gets results!  When you give recognition for performance, you inspire your people to reach their full potential. This can be done by providing gifts cards,  free meals, or being open to ways they’d like to be rewarded for their      performance.

SPOT RECOGNITION that’s on the spot!  Create managers’ kits with award certificates, reward coupons,      appreciation cards and more. These are ways to instantly appreciate      employees. It gives them “bragging rights” and also creates an environment  for friendly competition.

Thank you for all you do to keep our guests and team members smiling!

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Do Your Homework For Your Interview

In our last discussion, I posed the question of if appearance was all an individual needs to interview well and land the job.  The most appropriate answer to that question is- No, appearance isn’t everything and preparation is also essential in being considered a solid candidate during and after the first interview.

Do your homework before Interviewing

Before you go on a job interview, it’s important to find out as much as you can about the company. Company research is a critical part of interview preparation. It will help you prepare to both answer interview questions and to ask the interviewer questions. You will also be able to find out whether the company and the company culture are a good fit for you.

Is Research really all that important?

Yes, even sports coaches regularly name preparation as the reason their team won a game. Scouting – finding out as much as possible about an opponent prior to a game – is an accepted practice.  This same researching process is necessary for a job seeker to win in the job interview.

Why not wait until the interview to learn about a company?

As a recruiter, and having a candidate participating in an interview only to withdraw because of information you could have obtained beforehand is a waste of time for the employer and you.  One employer told me, “When an applicant shows me they don’t already know the basics of my business, I don’t waste time with them.  I cut the interview short; I don’t want them.” One job seeker who did not do this research told the employer, “What do you mean work weekends? That’s my party time.”- This may seem like an exaggeration but you get the point.

Another reason to do your homework

Knowing the pay scale for the company you’re seeking employment from is important because you can under-sell yourself or price yourself out to the market by not having the information need to properly negotiate. Sometimes you will be given the pay scale information in the classified ad or by your referral source such as the employment office or career service center. Normally, an entry-level job seeker can get information about pay scales of a local business by networking or simply asking a friend who works for the company.

What is the most effective way to research the company I’d like to work?

According to the NY daily news, many people are finding the below recommendations to be the most helpful when scouting a potential employer.

Visit the Company Website -Visit the company web site, review the company mission statement and company history, products and services, management, as well as information about the company culture. The information is usually available in the About Us section of the site.

Use LinkedIn-Company profiles are a good way to find, at glance, more information on a company you’re interested in. You’ll be able see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. Take a look at your interviewer’s profile to get insight into their job and their background.

Use Social Media-Check Facebook and Twitter. Become a Fan of the company on Facebook and follow it on Twitter. You’ll find information you may not have found otherwise.

So take time, in advance, to discover as much information as you can about the company. Spend time, as well, tapping into your network to see who you know who can help give you an interview edge over the other candidates.

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Got an Interview? Be Prepared!

You worked really hard and finally got that face to face interview. Now, don’t blow it! You worked hard to get the interview, so work hard now to be prepared. Here my top ten list of interviewing faux pas. So Boost Your Interviewing skills.

  1. Being Late – Be on time. The end.
  2. Appearance –You never get a second chance to  make a first impression.
  3. No Questions – Research the company you are  interviewing with. You don’t want to ask a ridiculous question like “What do you produce?” Big mistake      there. But, you want to show that you are engaged and want to work there so have at least two questions.
  4. No Examples – You know some of the questions  the interviewer is going to ask you. Have some well worded answers prepared.  You don’t need to have      them written down, but spend some time rehearsing prior to your interview.  Check out How to Answer 23 of the Most Common Interview Questions.
  5. Bad Mouthing Former  Boss – Even if your last boss was a crazy, maniac, bully don’t bad mouth them in an interview. Don’t make yourself a victim.
  6. No Eye Contact – Look at the interviewer when  answering their questions. Do not stare at them like a crazed goat or talk to their wall or plant.
  7. Being the Walking Dead – If you want the job show that      you do. Be engaged in the interview. Acting and looking like a zombie  won’t get you the job.
  8. Chewing Gum – No drinking, smoking or gum  chewing period. Why even talk about it.
  9. Not Being Realisti  – What job are you applying for? Is the going market salary really a million dollars a year?  Get real. Don’t ask for something everyone knows is impossible.
  10. Not Asking For the Job   - Ask the interviewer how you did. Let them know your really want this job. If you  don’t ask you’ll never receive.

Just don’t take my word for it. Check out these 10 Unusual Interview Mistakes and 6 that are ALL too Common.

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Imagine That – Bosses CAN Increase Your Happiness @ Work!

I recently came across an article, online, that talked about how your very own boss can help make you happier at your job.  In a nutshell, the article was about job seekers, who were surveyed, and ways that they felt that their bosses could help them achieve higher job satisfaction.  The most common issues were identified and the author of the article provided tips on who to approach the issue with your boss.

 I’ve been fortunate to have some pretty awesome bosses here at Eat’n Park whom have helped make me incredibly happy doing my job.  I’m not just saying that because they are reading this post either (Hi Jana!  Hi Kim!) – I’m making the statement because I mean it.

Before joining Eat’n Park, I also had some not so awesome bosses.  However, I learned just as much from them as I did my awesome bosses.  All of my experiences, good and bad, helped shape me into the manager that I wanted to be.

The article that I read got me thinking – I’ve had a pretty good career with Eat’n Park so far – are the tips that the author provides realistic?  The following issues and tips are the ones that jumped out at me the most:

Issue:  Career Advancement
How to Approach Your Boss:  When it comes to career advancement, let your boss know that you want to acquire more skills through internal or external training.  Research courses that will help your improve in your role or allow you to have more flexibility in moving up the corporate ladder.  Typically, a company has money allotted for employee training, so it never hurts to ask. (Thompson, How Your Boss Can Help You Be Happier at Your Job).
Crystal Says:  This tip is very realistic.  For example, Eat’n Park provides training classes to it’s team members to help make them more effective and more educated when it comes to duties related with their position.  You name it – we most likely have a training class for it.  I’ve taken advantage of as many of the training classes as possible and it, for sure, has helped me advance my career.  If there is a specific skill that you are looking to enhance or a specific skill that you are looking to learn?  ASK your boss to teach it to you or point you in the direction of the person who can.  It never hurts to take on additional job responsibilities to enhance your current skill set or to build it.  You never know when opportunity may knock – so why not be ready for it.

Issue:  Lack of Respect for Your Position
How to Approach Your Boss:  Sometimes a boss, especially one who was never in your position, may not understand what you do or may think you can’t handle your tasks without supervision.  To avoid a micromanager, be proactive in looping him in at every step along the way.  Also be transparent about your tasks, and share your hurdles or successes so he is fully aware of the value you bring to the organization. (Thompson, How Your Boss Can Help You Be Happier at Your Job).
Crystal Says:  I find this also to be very realistic.  In addition to the above tip – I also learned very early on, during manager training with my Training General Manager, that ‘I don’t know’ is not an acceptable answer.  Yes.  There will be times where you really DON’T know the answer, but there are a lot better ways to say it.  “I’m uncertain why X occurred, but let me look into it and I will follow up with you immediately.”  Saying ‘I don’t know’ constantly can make it seem like you have no idea what’s going on around you and it can even make it appear that you don’t even really care.  That can also attribute to lack of respect given to you.  You don’t always need to know all of the answers, but you do need to know where to find them when someone asks.

Issue: You Boss Doesn’t Trust You or Let You Do Your Job Your Way
How to Approach Your Boss:  If you have ideas on how you can be more effective or efficient at you job, present them to your boss.  In most cases, you do have a choice in how to do your job, but unless you share your ideas with you boss, chances are he will have you do things his way.  Meet to discuss what your manager’s expectations are and if success can still be achieved through your methods.  Or consider meeting him halfway.  By showing your boss that you can be successful doing things your way, your boss will become more trusting of your capabilities. (Thompson, How Your Boss Can Help You Be Happier at Your Job).
Crystal Says:  Again, I find this to be very realistic advice, and good advice at that.  I would like to add that if you do try things your way, and they don’t work out or cause a problem, OWN. IT.  Take accountability for whatever happened and fix the problem right away.  Then, brainstorm with your boss about what went right, what didn’t and how a similar situation can be avoided in the future.  Chances are – your boss has some experience… and with experience comes a little bit of wisdom.  Your boss is a great resource to have.

Until next time…
C.

Source

Thompson, J.  (2012).  How Your Boss Can Help You Be Happier at Your Job [Blog Post].  Retrieved from How Your Boss Can Help You Be Happier at Your Job

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Opportunity is Knocking!

You never know when opportunity is going to come a knocking. So you better be ready!

I recently attended our annual scholarship reception. It was a beautiful thing. All of the awardees shared their hopes and their dreams. It was great to be in a place filled with such promise. The awardees were ready when opportunity came knocking this year. They filled out all of the necessary scholarship paperwork. I’m sure it wasn’t fun to complete the paperwork, but it was just something that had to be done. They were making a plan for their future. They knew which school they wanted to attend and what they wanted to study. They wanted to grab that brass ring and they don’t mind a little financial help in order to it.

The awardees took advantage of the opportunity when they RSVP “YES!” to theinvitation to the annual scholarship reception. You never know who is going to be in attendance at an even or who you are going to meet once you are there.  This year, the awardees got to mix and mingle with the President & CEO,  & Chief People Officer and all of the District Managers and make connections with them.

These folks took advantage of an opportunity just by doing a great job. The scholarships were awarded, partially, based on their bosses’ recommendations. Basically, the scholarship winners had to be skillfully performing their jobs and getting along with their fellow team members.  They also had to have good grades as well as be involved in their community.

Here is my advice to you. Get out there and take advantage of an opportunity!  Meet and connect with as many folks as you can. You never know how you can help them or how they can help you. Be smart and take advantage of networking opportunities as often as possible.

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Team Appreciation & Service Awards MAKE US SMILE!

Back in April we featured an interview with District Manager, Keith Lester. During the interview, Keith talked about his memories of Eat’n Park’s first ever Team Member Appreciation Day back when he was the General Manager at the Uniontown location.

If you haven’t read the interview yet, you can check it out here: Team Member Appreciation from a District Manager’s Perspective

This year, Jana and I, were the Corporate Support Center team members assigned to work at the Uniontown location for Team Member Appreciation Day.  Even though I have been with Eat’n Park for five years – and working at the CSC for three of them – this was my FIRST ever Team Member Appreciation Day.  I was excited to get back into the restaurant to appreciate the team.  Especially, the Uniontown team, because it was the restaurant where I spent the first two years of my career as a Manager with Eat’n Park.  I was also really looking forward to celebrating my 5 year service award with the team who became my Eat’n Park family.

Jana and I both came to the CSC by way of operations, but we promptly learned how quickly you forget tasks that were once part of every day life.  Jana spent time working in the kitchen learning how to make some of our new menu items, learning how to ice and face mini Smiley cookies and learning how to make smoothies.  I spent my time helping out in the prep department – plucking, what felt like, endless flats of strawberries and weighing up various products for use in the kitchen later that day.  I also helped face Smiley cookies and Jana, Shirley (the Baker) and I taught each other our own personal techniques to get the ‘perfect’ face on the cookie.

The best part of the day was the Service Award celebration.  Team members who are celebrating their 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service are recognized during these awards.  The Uniontown General Manager, Kim, really puts a lot of thought, and heart, into the service awards each year.  Kim picks a different theme every year for the awards – this year the theme was “Awards with Friends.”  (A spin on the ‘Words with Friends’ game that many play on their phones and online.)  Mindy, the Assistant Manager, and her Food Team, also put a lot of heart into the food that is served at the celebration.

During the award presentation each team member has their moment in the spotlight and is recognized.  A funny story or two may also be shared!  Jana commented that it was cool to see how many team members came to the service award celebration to see their fellow coworkers receive their service award.  It really is a family restaurant.

Until next time…

Crystal

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Yes- Appearance Still Counts!

I saw something the other day that made me want to write about appearance. It was so scary. I just couldn’t believe it. I personally think it’s a tired old subject, but some folks out there really don’t understand how important appearance really is.

Some great guiding principles are:

  • Keep a Neat Appearance – You want to look clean, neat and crisp. Don’t look like you just rolled out of bed.
  • Overdress - It’s always better to overdress for an interview then to under dress. You can never go wrong with classic pieces such as button-down shirts. Purchasing wrinkle free material will also help make you look crisp.
  • Look at Your Feet – Nothing can ruin a look like a pair of dingy      shoes. Also, make sure your shoes are comfortable and clean.
  • Wear Clothes that Fit – Clothes that are too short,  too long, too baggy or too tight make you look less then professional.
  • Details, Details, Details – Scuffed shoes and chipped nails are a no-no. Jewelry can either add to your look or take away from it.

Whether you really want the job or not, you want to show up to the interview looking like you do. Remember the interviewer will believe that the way you look at the interview will be the best you will ever look on the job.

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