Tips

The Power of Taking a Gap Year

Gap year
Greta Cline, CFO
Greta Cline
Partner, CFO/COO
April 25, 2023
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Graduation season is upon us. You’re surrounded by people who seem to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. On the other hand, you’re still working on that decision. Is this something you can figure out as you move forward? Or, is it time to step back and take a good look inward? Maybe it’s time to consider a gap year.

A gap year is typically a point in your life journey where you postpone the big decisions – where you’re going to college, what you’re going to do for the rest of your life, what’s important to you – and give yourself time to figure things out. A gap year typically falls before or after college. But, it can occur at any point where you just want to regroup. Is a gap year right for you? Perhaps. If it was good enough for the president’s daughter, maybe it’s something you should consider.

Gap year advantages

Taking time off before college or a career commitment gives you a chance to focus on what you really want to do next. Let’s look at some of the advantages of taking a gap year:

You form new relationships. If you’ve been primarily surrounded by your peer group all your life, you can miss out on the wisdom of people you don’t normally rub shoulders with. A gap year allows you to begin creating a network of friends and colleagues who come from different backgrounds and points of view. By stepping outside of your comfortable circle, you may meet someone who helps you connect the dots to your own true passion.

You give yourself an extra year of experience. There’s something to be said for starting college or your professional life with an additional year of life experience. Gap years can force people to become more independent, especially if they are taking on the responsibility of paying for their own expenses or living within a budget. This unique perspective can help you focus on your priorities.

You save money. Let’s face it. College is expensive. If you’re undecided, you may want to postpone the first payment. Wait until you’re more certain about what you want to pursue.

You can develop soft skills. When we talk about work skills, you may automatically default to things you learn in a classroom, like creating databases, writing papers and programming computers. But successful professionals also must possess so-called soft skills, like communication, creativity, conflict resolution or adaptability. These skills can’t always be taught, although they must be learned. Giving yourself a year or so to learn these skills from coworkers and colleagues can add value to your next life chapter.

You find out what you don’t want to do. Many people go into college and their careers with someone else’s dreams. Maybe your parents encouraged you to pursue architecture because you made a mean Lego town. Or maybe you chose a journalism major because you like to write. If you plan accordingly, a gap year allows you to explore these careers without making a commitment. Sometimes an administrative job within a certain profession can open your eyes to the reality of the job. You may love what you see, or you may decide to pursue something else in the long run.

Filling in the gap (year)

Let’s be clear. Gap years are not synonymous with vacations. If you’re giving yourself an extra year or two to figure out what’s important, you are going to have to put in some work on your end. Use the gap year to expand your knowledge base. Become familiar with pertinent life skills like living within your means and shopping for the best automobile insurance rates. Look for professional opportunities that expose you to different people and careers.

That’s Good HR is a great partner for your gap year, because we have leads on many temporary or temp-to-hire positions in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. These jobs aren’t a lifetime commitment – or even a permanent placement. Instead, they expose you to workplaces and professionals who can open your eyes to opportunities you may have never considered. Additionally, you can make money to fund your eventual dreams, whether they involve continuing education or moving to a new locale.

If you’re not quite ready to jump into college or the professional workplace, a gap year may be the right choice for you. That’s Good HR can help you find the right job opportunities to fill the year and make the most of this important investment. Remember, there’s no set rule about how to navigate your eventual career journey. If a gap year sounds right for you, let’s talk.

Staffing

4 Reasons to Partner With That’s Good HR for Your Staffing Needs

Mary Springer headshot
Mary Springer
Partner
February 14, 2023
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There’s intense competition for the best employees these days. With unemployment at its lowest rate since 1969, companies have to do more than list an opening on their favorite job board and wait for the best employees to find them. How can you stand out among hiring companies and add value to your business? You partner with a staffing professional, like That’s Good HR. With more than two decades in the Indy market, That’s Good HR has valuable experience delivering personalized job solutions to local employers.

Here are four good reasons to partner with That’s Good HR in 2023 and beyond:

That’s Good HR makes referrals

The adage of “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” comes into play when we’re talking about referrals. When you rely on referrals, you give yourself an immediate hiring advantage. That’s Good HR has a large referral network of candidates who have worked with us in the past or are currently looking for new professional opportunities. We know which candidates bring their A-game to the job every day and which ones have not worked out in past positions. This inside staffing information will save you time and money in the hiring process.

That’s Good HR represents your company brand

Your company’s brand is more than just a cool logo and color palette. Your company’s reputation can be a dealbreaker to candidates who are scoping you out on various social media sites and professional organizations. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the messages you convey during every step of the hiring process and beyond. When you partner with That’s Good HR for your staffing needs, we are your company’s voice, offering every candidate the highest level of professionalism that we take pride in. We also act as an intermediate, facilitating communication and feedback from candidates. We can give you guidance on your hiring process and let you know what’s working – and what’s not.

That’s Good HR understands the value of flexible scheduling

As the working world strove to recover from pandemic-related work upheavals, some employers struggled to bring employees back into the office. A work-from-home option has become a professional game changer in hiring practices, and That’s Good HR can help you determine if your position is applicable to a flexible schedule. Certainly there are industries that require employees to be physically present. But, if your employees can be productive while working from home at least some of the time, you may discover that this option makes you a lot more appealing to potential candidates.

That’s Good HR has a strong onboarding process

The hiring process shouldn’t end with the job offer. Having a strong onboarding process ensures that your newest employee feels comfortable and engaged from Day 1. That’s Good HR can incorporate our team into your onboarding process, especially with temp-to-hire positions. We’re a voice for both sides of the hiring equation, making sure the employee feels comfortable in the new role and helping employers address any situations that may arise in those pivotal first few weeks. With turnover costing employers valuable time and money, we believe it is important to keep the lines of communication open so we can help address any initial problems or concerns.

When you need to fill an open position, you have several options. You can hire from within. You can place an ad on your favorite online job site and wait for the avalanche of resumes from candidates who may or may not be qualified for the position. Or, you can team up with a staffing partner like That’s Good HR. Thanks to our rich history of making professional matches in the Indy market, we can give you a head start in the hiring process. We have a database of thousands of candidates who have already been interviewed and vetted by our recruiters. Not only that, but we may also be able to help you make informed hiring decisions based on candidates’ previous placement history within our database. We can talk to you about your specific hiring needs and offer suggestions based on what has and hasn’t worked for other similar companies.

Get a head start on the best candidates when you work with That’s Good HR. Get in touch today and we will talk about how you can grow your company with the best candidates in the Indy area market.

Staffing

Recruiting Under the Radar

Recruiting under the radar
Mary Springer headshot
Mary Springer
Partner
January 9, 2023
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Let’s talk about recruiting under the radar. Recruiting under the radar may sound like an undercover operation, but it has a very real business application for today’s employers and HR professionals. Occasionally you find yourself with an employee who is underperforming. You’ve invested time and training, but the employee isn’t accomplishing necessary job duties or is showing signs of disengagement, like consistent absences and an inability to follow through on assigned tasks. To put it simply, the employee is not a good fit for the role, and you need to hire someone who is.

Here, timing is everything. After all, businesses often comprise several positions that are designed to work together. Ideally you want to minimize the time between releasing your current employee and onboarding your new one. You don’t want to post the role on the company website because the current employee may find out and leave abruptly. You need to recruit, but you need to recruit under the radar.

That’s Good HR can help. In addition to recruiting, we’re known as professional problem solvers. Read on to see how we’ll work to quietly match you with a candidate whose skills and experience allow them to seamlessly integrate into you team.

We’ll recruit confidentially

As our recruiters communicate with interested candidates, we can remain vague about the company’s identity until you feel comfortable disclosing it. We can also reach out to candidates who have worked with us in the past. Because we have an established relationship, the candidate knows we pride ourselves on integrity and working with the Indianapolis area’s top employers. A specific company name isn’t necessary to get the recruiting process underway.

We’ll set up interviews in a neutral location

If you’re not comfortable interviewing candidates in your own offices, we’ll work with you to find a quiet spot outside the office. This may be something as casual as your local coffee shop. We can also offer you space inside the That’s Good HR offices off 86th Street and Keystone in Indianapolis.

We’ll be your partner throughout the recruiting process and beyond

That’s Good HR doesn’t disappear after the initial match is made. Instead, we stay in touch with employers and employees, working to facilitate continued communications. The new hire phase can be tricky, and everyone benefits when That’s Good HR is part of the process. We welcome honest feedback from all parties to help companies to recruit and retain the best talent.

Recruiting in today’s hiring market can be a challenge, and that challenge is magnified when you’re trying to accomplish the process quickly and quietly. That’s Good HR offers staffing solutions for all your hiring challenges, even those that require a discreet approach. Let us help you find the perfect match. https://thatsgoodhr.com/employers/.

Hiring resources

Flexibility without Commitment – Could Temp or Temp-to-Hire Be Your Answer?

Is temp-to-hire a solution for staffing uncertainty?
Tiffany Moore headshot.
Tiffany Moore
VP, Client Partnerships
December 9, 2022
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Staffing challenges can be tricky. As your company moves into 2023, your Q1 picture may still be unfolding. You need good employees, but you’re not sure whether they fit into your budget. That’s why we are big fans of temporary staff and temp-to-hire models. These staffing solutions keep you flexible and competitive while minimizing risk to your company.  It’s a mutually beneficial scenario that helps you get the work done while you strategically plan for the coming months.

Temporary staff can help you power through a heavy workload. Maybe one of your employees is taking a leave of absence. Maybe you’re approaching your company’s own personal crunch time. You’re not ready to hire new employees – and invest the necessary time and money in onboarding and training – but you need someone with the right skills to step in and lend a hand. Temporary staff can be the answer to your work worries. Maybe you have an entry-level employee who seems ready for the next level, but you’re not sure you can create a new position right now. A temporary employee can come in and answer the phones while you see if your receptionist is capable of handling new duties. Either way, you can solve your staffing problems without adding another line to the payroll.

The American Staffing Association agrees.

“Temporary and contract workers play an essential role in today’s society, providing vitally important skills and services wherever and whenever they are needed most,” says Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association.

But what about benefits, you ask? Aren’t those a gamechanger for potential employees? Of course they are, and we have you covered. When you partner with That’s Good HR, you don’t have to worry about solving the benefit puzzle. We offer benefits that are immediate, convenient and flexible for temporary workers.

While temporary staff can help you get past the big challenges, temp-to-hire positions allow you to “try before you buy.” When you list a position as temp-to-hire, you’re saying you intend to hire someone permanently for this position, but you want to ensure a good match before you make the final commitment. We’ll connect you with candidates whose skills and background fit your job description. After a trial period on the job, you can transition the candidate to a permanent position. On those rare occasions where the candidate fails to perform basic job duties or exhibits problems like excessive absenteeism, we’ll communicate with the candidate and help you move on to a better staffing solution.

Nobody has a crystal ball to tell us what’s going to happen in 2023, but we can confidently predict that That’s Good HR will work with you to find the right solution for your staffing challenges and needs. Cheers!

Staffing

What We Learned From Our LinkedIn Polls – Employer Edition

LinkedIn polls offer new insights.
Mary Springer headshot
Mary Springer
Partner
December 8, 2022
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Have you answered one of our LinkedIn online polls this year? These periodic queries offer a unique vantage point for understanding the Indianapolis-area job market from both the employee and employer point-of-view. As we finish 2022, let’s look at what insights our followers can give employers who want to start the year off right in 2023.

Benefits matter

Our research tells that benefits are an integral part of any employment package. With today’s competitive job market, you want to be able to attract the best talent to make your company stronger and more productive. We asked our followers to choose one benefit out of a list of four:

·        Four-day work week

·        Remote work option

·        Unlimited PTO

·        Fully paid health insurance

We had a statistical tie for first, with the four-day work week and remote work option each receiving 36% of the vote. In fact, we’ve known for a while that remote work is reshaping requirement and hiring. This survey seems to agree.

The power of referrals

Finding the right candidates in today’s job market can be a challenge. According to Training Magazine’s 2021 Training Industry Report, companies spend an average of $1,071 to train a new employee. Subsequently, you want to find the right candidate the first time. How do companies find new employees? According to our LinkedIN poll, referral by another employee is the top solution. At That’s Good HR, we often rely on referrals to place qualified candidates in positions best suited for their talent and skill set.

Making them an offer

The best defense is a good offense, and many of our client companies stay ahead of the game by adjusting their hiring strategies. When we asked our LinkedIn followers how they had modified their offer packages to attract the best talent, we had them choose between four options:

·        A flexible schedule or remote work

·        Better compensation

·        Extra benefits

·        A sign-on bonus

The answers also tell us what we’ve discovered over the course of 2022. A whopping 60% percent of those responding say remote work and flexible schedules help employers land – and keep – qualified candidates. Better compensation was cited by 20% of those who responded.

What is 2023 bringing to the hiring market? We’re reading the same headlines as you are and wondering if the economy is going to bounce back or whether we’re facing a recession. In these uncertain times, you deserve a staffing expert on your side. The professional staff at That’s Good HR invests the necessary time to understand what your company is looking for in an employee. Above all, we appreciate that your time is valuable, and we will only refer candidates whose unique skills answer your company’s individual needs. We’ll also stick around to troubleshoot any problems that arise and continue to work to meet your company’s hiring goals. At That’s Good HR, the match matters. We’d love to help you. Reach out now for more information.

Hiring resources

The Top Three Don’ts for Post-Interview Thank You Notes

Hands on a keyboard.
Mary Springer headshot
Mary Springer
Partner
November 15, 2022
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The interview is over, and you’re feeling pretty good about the conversation. You nailed the hard questions and developed an easy rapport with the hiring staff. Now you want to stay at the top of the candidate list. Timely and well-written thank you notes can make the difference.

Thank you notes can be a deal maker – or a candidate breaker – when it comes to the final hiring decision. Research by TopResume indicated that 68% of hiring managers say a thank you note – or the lack of one – impacts their decision. Stack the odds in your favor by following up with the right words. Don’t skip this final opportunity to make a good impression.

Sometimes it’s not what you do, but it’s what you don’t do when you’re writing a thank you note. Fortunately, we’ve listed the top 3 don’ts for post-interview thank you notes. Read on to see how you can make the most of this important interview tool.

Don’t wait too long to write your thank you notes

Once the interview is complete, many hiring managers are already thinking about the next candidate. If you wait too long after an interview to send your thank you notes, you risk being forgotten. Shoot for the first 24 hours after the interview to maximize your note’s impact. Should you go old school and send a written letter? That’s not necessary, say hiring managers. In fact, most HR managers say it’s perfectly fine to follow up with an email. Don’t get too casual, however. Texts or instant messages may fall into the category of being too casual for business communications.

Send a separate thank you note to everyone who interviewed you. This indicates a commitment to the entire team. Resist the desire to add something frivolous or funny, though. You may be a great artist, but sending an original cartoon to each person who interviewed you can quickly move from quirky to questionable.

Don’t write a novel – keep your thank you notes short and succinct

Everyone’s time is valuable, including the people who just interviewed you. While it may be tempting to use your thank you note to restate your resume and all of your admirable qualities, you don’t want to come across as someone who demands too much time and attention. Instead, use your thank you note to convey your gratitude and enthusiasm in a few short paragraphs:

  • Thank them again for their time and attention.
  • Share something specific from the interview that stood out for you.
  • Highlight how you believe you are a good fit for the open position.

Don’t make mistakes

Yes, to err is human. But typos in a thank you note can give the impression of being careless, and you don’t want to leave the interviewer with that final impression. Write the draft, take a few minutes, then read it over again. Ask a trusted friend or colleague to give it a second look. Reading it out loud can also help you catch mistakes.

What if you don’t know what to say?

Are you struggling for the right words? That’s Good HR can help you design the perfect thank you note. Give yourself an interview advantage with That’s Good HR. We have more than 20 years of experience matching qualified candidates with open positions in the Indianapolis area. We’re more than just a staffing firm. We take the time to get to know you first, understanding your unique combination of talents, skills and professional goals. When you work with That’s Good HR, you’re working with a staff who is committed to making the best match for both our candidates and our employers.

That’s Good HR has access to open positions that may not be posted anywhere else. Take a look at our job board to see what types of positions are available. If you’re interested in learning more about That’s Good HR and our current job openings, send us a copy of your resume now. The Match Matters at That’s Good HR, and so do you!

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