You’ve probably heard about all the off-the-wall things that using Twitter has accomplished in the last couple of years. It’s helped free a kid from jail in Egypt, told stories about places where cameras couldn’t go, and been instrumental in keeping everyone apprised on the hot acts to see on American Idol for the past several seasons. But, did you know that Twitter can also assist you in your job search? Here are just a few of the ways that Twitter can help you find the job you’re looking for.

Join the Conversation

This is by far the best advice you can get when it comes to using Twitter for your job search. Don’t go in asking people to help you find your job. Join the conversation. Get to know people. Make friends and connect with people in your community, in your industry, and in your field.

Just remember that you are looking for a job. Make sure that all the posts and “Tweets” you make are professional. Avoid hot button topics such as politics and religion and don’t talk about the latest party experience you’ve enjoyed. You should also try to keep your conversations on Twitter pleasant and upbeat whenever possible. It makes an impression and lets people know that you’re not letting the pressure get you down. Also try to keep the focus on the positive things you have to offer: experience, knowledge, skills, and training are great traits to keep at the front of everyone’s minds.

Search for Jobs

Most people aren’t even aware that Twitter has a function that allows you to search for jobs. You can type #jobs into the search feature or TwitterJobSearch. Twitter moves fast and there is a steady stream of jobs being posted on this social networking giant at all hours of the day and night.

It’s best to get in on the job search quickly when you do find them because they usually aren’t open very long. You can even check back several times during the day to broaden your job search options.

Connect with People in your Industry

It’s a good idea to follow the Tweets of people who are in your industry. In fact, you want to follow the feed of all the industry leaders you know about. From their feeds you’ll be able to stay on top of the latest technological advances in your field, you’ll receive updates on training, and you’ll sometimes come across a job opening that’s perfect for you.

More importantly though, you’ll start to rub elbows with some of the elite names in your industry and there are a lot of reasons you want your name associated with their names. It’s also easy to build relationships based on common interests, passions, and experiences.

If you’re not using Twitter in your job search then you’re missing out on a wide range of potential jobs and careers. Make sure you sign up now and see what it can do for your job search today.

As an HR manager, it’s important to know what really motivates workers to be their most productive. In fact, managing productivity is one of the more important roles you play within your organization. You know it’s important to keep them happy. You understand that employees are generally more productive when they are happy. But, do you know why the happiness of employees in your company makes such a huge difference to efficiency? Here are just a few of the reasons why it’s a good idea to keep your employees happy.

Happy People Tend to have a Positive Outlook

This is double good news for your organization. Do you know why? It’s because the old saying about attitudes being contagious is true. If you have people who are happy with their jobs, happy to come to work, and happy in general. It sparks an entire wave of happiness within work groups that will spread like wildfire to the rest of the company.

Optimism is definitely something you want spreading through your company. It makes it a better place for everyone to work and keeps negativity, complaints, and overall pessimism at bay.

Happy People are Problem Solvers

Your organization doesn’t have time for people to stir the pot or create problems. We all understand that time is money. That’s why it’s great to work with people who are content, or dare I say, happy, in their work environments. They are not only less likely to complain and join in the controversy but they are also the ones who are most likely to seek solutions to problems rather than allowing the problems to slow them down.

People Who are Happy at Work Want to be There

This means they are less likely to call in sick or stretch the limits of their paid time off each year. That doesn’t mean that they don’t need to take their vacations and use that time to rest, relax, and recharge. It does mean that they are much more inclined to plan the time they need off ahead of time and give you plenty of notice.

Happy People are Healthy People

In addition to not taking sick time because they are sick of work, people who are happy with their employment situation also tend to be healthier people. There is less stress over the work situation. There are fewer instances of employee burnout.

Happy employees are not only productive members of the company but they are also generally pleasant people to be around. It’s worth going out of your way as an HR manager to make every possible attempt to keep the people who work for your company as happy as possible and to constantly strive to find new ways that are not overly disruptive or cost-prohibitive to keep employees happy.

Considering a change of careers? Ready to do something new? Want take your life in a new direction? The job search is often more than a little tricky for people interested in a career change. But, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get the career change you want and a new job too. Here are a few tips that should put you in a good position to achieve good things ahead even when changing careers mid-stream.

Let Your Passion Show

Let people on the hiring side know about your passion for this new career and the next phase of your life. Exuberance and enthusiasm go a long way to help your resume stand out so you can make the short stack of candidates waiting to be interviewed. More importantly, this is your only opportunity to show the hiring managers how your passion and excitement benefits him or her. Find a way to make that passion relevant to the company you’re applying to work for. The results are quite effective when you employ this method to get a hiring manager’s attention.

Point Out Your Advantages

Your experiences in other fields give you a unique perspective on the new career you’re pursuing. Play them up on your resume and during the interview process. You’re going to have to make the link from the career of your past and your personal interests to the career you’re hoping to pursue now. In other words, you’re going to have to present the picture and connect the dots for potential employers. They’re not likely to see them on their own. Make sure you specifically address experience you have that does prepare you for the career you want – even if it seems abstract to you.

Consistently Look for Jobs in Your Chosen Career

Consistency is the key in almost any job search on the planet these days. It’s especially important when you’re changing careers or branching out into an area where you don’t have a great deal of experience. Organize your search. Send out resumes daily. Set aside time each day for follow-up conversations. Network with businesses and business owners in your community and utilize social media as part of your job search. Devote some time every day to your job search.

Consider Relocation for Broader Options

Some career changes will require relocation according to your local job market. But, it’s not always a bad idea to go for a total change of scenery when changing careers. Potential employers appreciate a willingness to relocate and it leads to a much wider pool of potential job openings.

Career changers may feel like you have few options available to you. But, if you’re dedicated to the process you may find more doors and windows opening for you rather than fewer. Find out how Davis Staffing can support your goals of starting a great new career!

Social media is on the rise in businesses today…for companies both large and small. In fact, if you want to compete, whether on a local or global scale, you almost have to embrace social media marketing in order to solidify your brand as a business and as an employer. Of course for most businesses, large and small, getting started with social media is the hardest part – especially when it comes to shape the perception of your business organization as one that is an attractive employer for 2012 and beyond.

Find Out What People are Saying about Your Business

Before you can get a conversation started with potential employees about the benefits of working for your organization, you need to know what others have to say about your business and how you conduct your business. Fortunately for you there are several social media tools in place that help you do that already. One of these resources, Glassdoor.com, deals specifically with what former employees are saying about your business. Google Alerts is another great way to gauge what people have to say.

Come up with a Solid Plan of Action

You have a plan for almost every aspect of how you operate your business. Your social media campaign should be no different. It’s important to have clearly defined objectives and a step by step plan of action to help you achieve those objectives.

When you’re trying to attract employees to your business that represent the cream of the crop, your mission needs to be to come up with a social media strategy that makes your company stand out as an employer. You want to play up the benefits of working for your organization. Do you have a relaxed corporate culture? Do you promote personal as well as professional development in your organization? What is it about your company that potential employees will find attractive?

Finally you need to have a plan for the specific social networks you intend to utilize as part of your strategy. There are many social networks out there at the moment and new networks are cropping up every day. Some of the most widely used for business purposes at the moment include: YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. These are the bare minimum you’ll want to utilize as part of your overall social media marketing strategy to attract new employees to your company.

Using Social Media Wisely

There are right and wrong ways to use social media when you’re trying to project an image of a professional environment that will attract modern workers with modern attitudes about work and which work environments are most positive.

Some of the tools you might use to show the world what life is like as an employee in your organization include videos, photographs, and tweets about events, awards, etc. that are happening for your employees. Things like company picnics, family days at the office, bring your pet to work day, birthday parties, awards ceremonies, etc. are ideal photo and video opportunities to show just how well you treat the people who make your business the success it is.

Finding a job is difficult. That is something that has not changed. What has changed is the number of ways you can now find jobs. Consider the mobile app, for example. There are now numerous job apps available that you can access from your smartphone. That means that the next time you playing Angry Birds, you could be looking for a new job.

Top Mobile Job Apps – You Should Be Using These

Mobile job apps can help you to get your resume in faster. They can alert you to a new posting or help give you ideas of where to send your cover letter. If you are not using your phone to find jobs, consider using the following top rated mobile job apps.

• Monster.com’s Mobile Monster – This app is simple to use and highly effective for anyone with an account on Monster.com. You can use it to search for jobs or manage your resumes. You can also use it to fill out job applications no matter where you are with this app on your iPhone or iPad.

• LinkedIn’s Mobile App – LinkedIn is a popular professional network. It has an excellent app that works on most smartphones. With this application, you can create a profile that allows you to have a virtual resume online. This allows you to connect with others easily and from anywhere. You can do virtually anything on the mobile app you could do on the site directly.

• Bump – This application works on most smartphones. It is a unique product and worth checking out. What makes it fun to use is that it allows you to network anywhere. Simply bump your phone against another person’s with the same app to exchange phone numbers and contact information. It’s safe to use, too.

• TweetMyJobs – Use this on any phone with text messaging. You can use your current social network connections to help you to find jobs. It allows you to connect with others easily through the networks you already have in place. Hiring managers also benefit from using it since they can let others know they are hiring.

• ResumeBear – As its name implies, this tool is one of the most effective for managing your resume. You can track and send your resume using this app. It works on iPad, iPhone and Droid devices. A nice feature about this particular app is that once you send your resume to a potential employer, it will track it and alert you through a text message when the resume was read.

With these mobile apps, you can begin to market yourself just about anywhere. Applicants today are more social than ever, but doing it on the go is also getting easier. You still need to be aware and that means participating in social networks. Keep up with these apps and you may find you are applying to jobs more readily. For more support with your job search, be sure to sign up with Davis Staffing today!

The importance of using social media and social networking to land a job is easy to see. More employers are using these networks to find key employees. Rather than big job boards, many employers want to network to find the candidate that is right for them in the employment pool. However, there is a very fine line here. If you do not take the time to walk that tightrope properly, you could end up annoying your connection so much, so that they “de-friend” you.

Where’s the Balance?

Social media websites and tools do help candidates land jobs. You should use sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and even Twitter to find positions and to network with companies you would like to work with in the future. Social media does have some rules you will need to follow in order to make it work for you.

• Realize that anything you say in social media because an element of your relationship with a prospective employer, even if they legally cannot use it to not hire you. If you sour a relationship because of the bad language or behavior on a social site, do not expect that connection to think highly of you.
• Offer something of value rather than just saying, “Hi” all the time. If you find a news piece you think is valuable to the business or you want to congratulate a contact about an award, do so. Do not make small talk without any value over the social media wires, though.
• Get to know your social contacts at the level they wish to get to know you. Do not force yourself on them. For example, you may be able to meet for drinks or lunch but do not insist on doing it every month. By meeting for a quick coffee, you will still be fresh in their mind if a position opens up, but you are not trying to sell yourself in the process.
• Do not force yourself on those who are your enemies. Not every network connection is going to be someone that you like or get along with in person. If you do have a problem with someone, keep it professional. Do not use social media as a way to convince them that you are a good guy. If they do not like you already, networking with them will not lead to a good recommendation for you in the long term anyway.

Staying connected through social networking is a fantastic way to ensure you remain fresh in the minds of those who may have a job position open for you down the road. In many situations, the goal here is not to consistently ask for the job. Rather, it is just to keep your name in their mind’s eye so that when a position opens up, they think of you first.

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The New Year brings a great many good things for millions of small businesses around the nation, as well as some challenges in terms of employment laws and reform taking place now. These HR and employment laws can and will affect your business in 2012 in both positive and negative way. The best course of action is to be prepared for these changes and keep informed through resources found here at the Davis Staffing blog. To help you stay on top of employment law trends, here is a short breakdown of the most important things you need to know going into Twenty-Twelve.

9 Employment Laws Impacting Business in 2012

Employment Wage Laws – Many US states are being backed by the US Department of Labor to create new employment laws that will clarify and set standards in the overtime and minimum wage requirements. These laws are to help employers better explain to workers what they are owed.  Now may be a good time to update your minimum wage and overtime posters company-wide.

Employee Classification – Now is the time to review your employee classification system, because several US states are enacting stricture guidelines and fines for companies that misclassify workers, or appear to use disparaging wage tactics to cut costs. Take the time to review job descriptions, salary vs. non-salaried workers, and employee vs. contractor, mandatory work hours, and overtime rules.

Health Insurance Reform – The Affordable Care Act of 2010 got things changing in terms of how health care insurance works, including how businesses provide access to group benefits. Be aware of these laws by visiting http://www.healthcare.gov/ for updates on these laws. This includes the new dependent care laws that require insurance coverage for young adults up to age 26. Additionally, employers filing 250 or more W-2 forms in the past year will need to include the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on the 2012 W-2 form.

Hiring Incentives and Entrepreneurialism – As President Obama continues to focus on bringing tax credits to small businesses as well as tax cuts to ordinary working citizens, we will keep seeing legislation geared towards job creation in America. Consider making some of your temporary workers into permanent employees to see these benefits. Also, there will be more funds available for those who wish to start their own businesses in 2012.

Unemployment Insurance – Congress is working on reinstating the federal unemployment surtax, which could cause businesses to see increases in unemployment taxes going into 2012. This is to offset the burdens of a national average of just under 9 percent unemployment nation-wide, and to cut down on unemployment insurance fraud.

401(k) Retirement Savings – In 2012, employers will also have to provide additional fee disclosures to employees who participate. Reforms in 401(k) laws will also restrict how many loans employees can take from their funds for emergencies and hardships. Look for alternatives to 401(k) plans to give employees more options when it comes to saving for retirement.

Immigration Reform – This is a big one with many states and the federal government, that will be cracking down on the hiring of illegals and employers who don’t pay minimum wage or provide benefits to green-card carrying immigrants. More use of E-verify will become mandatory in the USA as a way to identify illegals.

Debt and Deficit Reduction – Going into 2012 be aware that Congress has a focus on reducing the national debt in big ways, starting with tax reform for businesses and individuals. While the recent extension of payroll-tax cuts for an additional two months  benefits many, expect that some of the tax credits you enjoy now may be gone by the end of this election year, and plan accordingly.

Business Security and Privacy – With  cybercrimes on the rise in recent years, many businesses are ramping up privacy and security in a big way going into the New Year. This means you may need to review your current safety and security policies to make sure they comply with state and federal laws, including the way you store data about your employees.

If you are looking for more ways to stay on top of HR and employment laws for your company, be sure to come back often to the Davis Staffing blog for up-to-the-minute advice and resources. We encourage you to reach out to us if you have questions about temporary staffing or employment updates.

As your company puts another year behind it and gears up for the New Year ahead, it’s time for making some updates to the technology you use in your business. By focusing on technology that can make your company more efficient and productive, you’ll be one-step ahead of your competitors. Here is a review of the top business technology to make part of your 2012 business resolutions.

• Amp up security. Every year heralds a brand new set of Internet viruses, hackers and more. Make sure your business is ready to face 2012 with an updated set of anti-virus software, firewalls, and secure servers to protect your most important business data. Consider the advantages of upgrading your windows or mac OS to something that includes the latest in security patches.
• Choose mobile apps. Businesses today are learning how to customize user experiences with special mobile applications that allow for personalization and movement between mobile devices. Add your company logo to give your customers something unique that’s branded to your business. Use mobile applications to share information, create more connections and increase business productivity in a big way this year.
• Create a backup system. When is the last time you have backed up important files and information for your business? If you are like many business professionals, you have this automated by your computers. However, if you forget how and where this data is stored, and your system crashes, what good does it do you? Choose a cloud-computing model to back up and store data off of your hardware, that way you have it anywhere there is an Internet connection.
• Encourage collaboration. This year’s game plan is communication that is more efficient and collaboration on projects to improve teamwork. Use technology like mobile devices, over the internet video conferencing, smart boards, and voice applications to make this happen. You will be surprised at how just a simple document sharing and collaboration system can improve teamwork and productivity in just one meeting.
• Update your website. No company would be complete without its corporate website, but the only way you will project the right image is by making sure yours is up to date and functioning well. The end user experience is critical to business success, because this is how potential customers first do their research for you. Give your website a makeover if it’s been more than 2 years since it was last updated.

Want more tips for improving your business in 2012? How about adding some new quality staff to your roster? Get in touch with Davis Staffing for more great ideas on increasing business productivity and efficiency, through technology and a better-managed workforce.

2012 has just begun. Millions of job seekers are hoping this is the year where they will see a real turnaround in the job market. The problem is that those millions are competing for a limited number of jobs in a market that has been slow on growth. There are steps you can take that will give you a huge leg up over your competition.

Get Your Name Out There

It’s not enough to simply apply for a few jobs here and there. You need to let people know that you’re in the market for a new job. Social networking is the best way, by far, to accomplish this.

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks are great choices for reaching out to friends, family members, and former coworkers who may know some position that is well-suited for your particular talents. More and more businesses are turning to social networking to meet their staffing needs.

Do Your Homework

Prospective employers like to know that you’re the type of employee who really takes initiative. Take a little time to learn as much as possible about the company you’re applying to work for. You should also investigate the specific position for which you are applying and what it means with that company.

Write a unique cover letter for each prospective position and “wow” them with the details of how you would benefit them. Let them know reasons your resume will never reveal about why you are such a great fit for their company and the position you’re applying to hold within their organization.

Make Your Own Opportunities

Economic downturns and periods of widespread unemployment have traditionally been the times when successful businesses and companies get their start. The Great Depression is a prime example of difficult economic times that gave birth to many new businesses that ultimately helped the US pull out of the depression.

The world is changing more rapidly than ever before. If you’re a “problem solver” this is the perfect opportunity for you to stand out in your own right by starting a business of your own.

Not everyone is able to start a brand new business. Some people lack the ability to solve problems that is necessary to be a success in this industry. But those who do have the necessary skills and inclinations, there is no better time to begin a business of your own so that you never need to worry about finding a new job again.

Whether you decide to make the most of social networking to find a job, standing out in the interview process by getting to know the company better, or beginning a business of your very own, 2012 is a bright new year that’s filled with possibilities for your job search. Look to the support of a staffing agency, like Davis Staffing for help in finding a new career this year!

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It’s that time of year again when human resources professionals everywhere begin the task of doing annual employee performance reviews. While this is a necessary aspect of planning the costs of staffing, annual reviews are also a time for employees to reflect on their performance to come up with goals for the upcoming year. It can also be an opportune time to revamp the way your company currently conducts performance reviews, so that this is not so stressful and time consuming.

In this second installment of Davis Staffing’s series on successful performance evaluations, we’ll provide more helpful hints and tips to make your job a lot easier as the HR person.

Focus on Positive. As you begin to conduct annual performance reviews, it may be tempting to have a narrow focus on what each employee has done wrong instead of looking at what the employee has done right. This can make performance reviews seem threatening to employees instead of constructive, which is what they are intended to be. Remember to provide plenty of positive feedback, which serves to motivate rather than discourage employees.

Rate for performance, not popularity. A big mistake that many HR managers make when conducting annual reviews is forgetting the basic fundamental that employees should be rated on performance, not attitudes and personalities. Giving employees higher ratings based on their popularity or great attitude is not an accurate representation of what they actually produce on the job, outside of warm feelings. Instead, review each employee’s job description and then point out areas they need to perform better in, as you compare their work for the year.

Encourage employee ideas. For many HR managers, taking the time to listen to employee ideas seems foreign during the annual performance review. However, this can be the best time for employees to share ideas on how they may improve their performance through small changes. By giving employees the chance to provide new ideas, this empowers them to want to do better. Additionally, being given the opportunity to speak freely about ideas helps to alleviate any stress associated with this process.

Provide incentives for top performers. An employee performance evaluation system without incentives is like a birthday without cake. If you want your performance to increase, then you need to provide incentives to give employees something to work towards. Think about what your employees would respond to in terms of bonuses and incentives to go above the call of duty. Make sure you have a progressive recognition program in place to reward your best performing employees. Follow up after the review process to see how well it’s working.

Looking for more ways to make your workplace a productive and positive environment? Consider all the advantages of working with a professional staffing agency like Davis Staffing.