Category: Job Seekers

Company dress codes run the gamut from very casual to buttoned down, and many in between. So, before accepting an offer for a full-time job, know your prospective employer’s wardrobe requirements, as you will have to adhere to it for 40 hours or more each week.

If how you are permitted to dress for work is a priority, be familiar with the typical dress expectations for the job you have in mind. “Business,” “business casual” and “casual” dress codes have pronounced differences, and their interpretations may vary somewhat from company to company.

Many companies permit their staff to dress casually, although some do not allow shorts or jeans, for instance. Others, where employees meet with clients and prospects, may expect staff to adhere to a business dress code. The in-between business casual attire might seem “just right” for many of you, but it isn’t for everyone—not dressy enough for some; too dressy for others.

Business casual is not just casual

Many companies have adopted a business casual dress code to let employees be comfortable at work while still projecting a professional image. More than half of surveyed employees prefer more relaxed dress codes, yet many say they’re uncertain at times about the acceptability of an ... Read More

Wages, wages, wages.  It all comes down to supply & demand. I first learned about supply and demand in the last century, in High School!  I’m not going to bore you – if you’re reading this you know what it is.  But two news stories this morning made me think back to the big hair and parachute-pant days of the 1980’s.

The US Labor Department reported this morning that weekly applications for unemployment aid dropped to by 21,000 last week to a 15 week low.  As newscasters like to say, in related news….  Wal-Mart announced yesterday that it is spending $1 Billion (yup – Billion) to increase wages and improve training of their employees.  Wal-Mart will be raising entry level wages to at least $10/hr by February of next year.  This includes the less than 6000 Wal-Mart workers who make the Federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.

So – is this Wal-Mart suddenly becoming benevolent and giving money away?  I guess… not.  Is this Wal-Mart attempting to fend off unionization efforts?  Again – I think not.

It’s simple economics.  There are fewer and fewer qualified people for every job available today (the supply is ... Read More

Does adhering to a dress code really matter at work? The answer is yes; what you wear to work can either make or break you. You’ve heard the old adage “Dress for Success” and it is true. Not observing dress guidelines makes you stand out in a bad way. No one wants to be known for wearing ripped and faded jeans, a razorback tee and crocs to work. Remember that humans are inherently visual so if you make an attire mistake it will stick in your coworkers or supervisors minds.

Navigating the nuances of dressing for success can be hard. To help I’ve compiled a simple list of attire that is appropriate for a casual, business casual, and professional work environments. These are just guidelines so remember to be cognizant of the specific guidelines for your job and your company.

Guidelines for Casual Attire:

Women

• Sundress
• Long skirt or short
• Jeans or khakis
• Casual button-down or tee
• Sneakers, loafers, sandals

Men

• Jeans or khakis
• Casual button-down or tee
• Sneakers, loafers, sandals
• Casual button-down or tee
• Polo shirt

You just graduated and you are being thrust into the big world.
For the past twenty-ish years of your life, it has been planned out for you. You go to school, make good grades, go to college, make good grades, and get an internship. You no longer have your professors or guidance counselors or parents guiding your decisions. You are on your own. This is your wake-up call, you can do what you want, when you want it. Europe, anyone? But after the luster of receiving your diploma has worn off, you begin to realize that the world is open to you and that is a frightening concept (or it was for me at least).

When I graduated, I thought that I had reached the pinnacle and it would effortless to land my first “real” job in the Public Relations field and I would be so successful that they would promote me to Account Manager and I would be a lifer at that organization. My expectations and my reality collided and my beliefs of effortlessness were put to bed.

I thought that I had reached the pinnacle and it would ... Read More

We’ve all been there; you are asked a question that completely stumps you in an interview. You are unsure how to answer it and you don’t completely understand how this question will help them make a hiring decision. So take a journey with me into the Twilight Zone of Hiring to give you a little insight into what companies want from those questions and how to avoid being a causality of that minefield.

Let me give a little insight into why these outlandish questions are asked in an interview. Companies want to test your adaptability, your ability to think on your feet and then articulate your thoughts in a coherent manner even when under stress. These types of questions are a good baseline to see your ability to think fast and express your thoughts. So how do you survive these questions?

1. First off, don’t panic! My first reaction when I first started interviewing out of college was to freak out. My response to panic was probably one of the worst things that I could do because it caused my nervous system to go into ... Read More

I recently started working fulltime at TriStarr Staffing. It was a whirlwind, I called in on a Tuesday when I was laid off from my previous position, interviewed on Wednesday, was offered the position on Thursday and began my new role as a Recruiter on Monday (this past Monday to be exact). I don’t know about you but when I start a new job, my nerves start wreaking havoc on me. The interview is one bundle of nerves but actually accepting a position and starting one brings all those nerves to a completely new playing field.

My mind starts to race and questions start to bombard me. Are they going to like me? Will I be good at my new role? Will I like it? What happens if they don’t like me? What if I make a huge mistake and I need to find a new job after my first day? What happens if I break my computer? What happens if it takes me a long time to learn the expectations and the tasks of my new role? What happens if my boss is difficult to please? All of these questions bang inside my head and sometimes it can be not ... Read More

I saw a story this morning about the increasing use of temporary or contract workers since the bottom of the recession and that this trend is expected to continue.  Good news certainly, for my business!!  Woo Hoo!!   However, there were a couple of observations in the story and comments that I thought may make interesting reading.

First off – why the surge?  Here in Central Pa what we’re seeing first is that businesses are continuing to try and operate as efficiently as possible.  Staff to the core, and supplement with temporary employees when needed.  Secondly, the labor market continues to improve.  The fact of the matter is that there are fewer and fewer experienced, qualified employees to choose from.  When this happens to the labor market businesses call people like me more.

What we’re not seeing here in Central Pa are businesses asking us to take on their employees to get around the Affordable Care Act.  I have yet to have a serious conversation with a client looking at this as a strategy.  May that change as we get closer to the implementation of fines?  Maybe.  But at the moment it’s not an issue.

We ... Read More