If there is one place that should be a neutral zone, it is the workplace. Unlike the House or Congress, those of us who have co-workers must work together for the common good of the company, no matter what side we are on. Employers & supervisors would serve their company & employee’s best by strongly suggesting those who work for them leave their political opinions at home. It makes for a healthier work environment when subjects as volatile as politics are discussed elsewhere. And just like a toddler, we all could use a timeout to settle us down from all the craziness.

There was a time not too long ago when one was taught to never bring up politics or religion outside the home. We might serve ourselves & those around us best if we returned to these ideals.

Over the last several years it seems the economy has been stuck in the clouds. The headlines shout bad news everyday – housing prices continue to fall, unemployment rates still in double digits, another long time business has closed, more housing foreclosures. etc. With very few exceptions, it has been downright tough for most everyone.

It is very easy to only think of the doom & gloom; however it would be simply wrong to think of this past year and not be reminded of the many wonderful employers we’ve had the opportunity to work with. We know times have been challenging for them as well, but they have remained loyal to us and we are truly grateful. Also the many candidates we have had the privilege of referring out on job interviews, and the countless temporary employees who have gone to work & represented Anderson & Associates so well. To these fine people & employers, I say you are the rainbow in the clouds. We truly appreciate each of you & wish you a year filled with far more rainbows than clouds.

• Reduced competition may mean easier access to decision makers.
• The holidays offer you an opportunity to send a greeting card with a handwritten note to those who have assisted you with your job search.
• Networking. The holidays are a perfect time to look at every event as an opportunity to meet someone who can help with your job search.
• Hiring managers are often considering their goals for the beginning of the year and may want to get a jump start on hiring in December.

And finally, schedule your daily activities to include your job search. Don’t become idle & discouraged. There are opportunities out there & with some planning & persistence, you too will find employment.

According to a survey by Career Builder, of the 2,600 hiring managers surveyed, 45% use social media in their hiring process. The survey also found that one in five hiring managers used information they found online to solidify their decision to hire. However, twice as many reported NOT hiring a candidate based on information found online. Examples of such information include postings involving drug use, bad mouthing current or former employers, discriminatory comments and sharing of confidential information from previous employment.

What can you do to make sure your use of online social networking sites doesn’t cost you your next job? First, use common sense and don’t post anything you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see. Second, use the sites security settings to make your profile as private as possible allowing only those with permission to view your information. Most important remember the saying, “Say it forget it, post it regret it!”

Finally it seems that customer service is becoming relevant again in the workplace. Many companies are now hiring employees with customer service skills over technical abilities preferring to hire a candidate with a great attitude & train the individual for specific responsibilities.

One can easily separate themselves from the others by truly providing exceptional  customer service. Here are some steps to follow to get you on the customer service path.

Know your product – be an expert. It’s okay to say “I don’t know,” but it should always be followed up with ” but let me find out,” and then follow up. Never leave a customer with an unanswered question or nonreturned call.

Acknowledge a mistake- if you make a mistake, admit it and do your best to correct it. We all make mistakes, but it is refreshing when someone admits it & does something about it.

Body Language – positive body language includes smiling & eye contact. Make sure you acknowledge your customer with good eye contact. Not only is it respectful, it shows you are listening. And smile – it is much more inviting to look at someone with a smile on their face rather than a blank look.

Anticipate the needs of the customer – nothing surprises the customer more in this age of limited service than someone going the extra mile to help. Always look for ways to go beyond what the customer might expect.

And finally, always remember to the customer you are the company. The impression you make is most often the deciding factor whether a customer returns.

The front office person assisting you with your questions or offering you an application plays one of the biggest roles whether you get a call from a hiring manager. Make a good impression by dressing appropriately and use good manners – yes, manners are important! Speak clearly, make good eye contact, turn off your cell phone, and leave your coffee, water or soda in the car, as well as friends, parents, & children at home.

Remember dressing for employment is not the same as dressing for a backyard BBQ, or a cocktail party. Ladies: Don’t wear flip flops, revealing low cut tops, spaghetti strap tops/dresses; wear little or no perfume, & no chewing gum. If you choose to wear nail polish, make sure it isn’t chipped or partially coming off. Gentlemen: No flip flops, sagging pants/shorts, tank tops, t-shirts with inappropriate images/logos, wear little or no cologne/aftershave, & no hats or chewing gum/tobacco. If you are uncertain if you breath is fresh, pop a breath mint.

One doesn’t have to go out and purchase a whole new wardrobe; just put a little thought into it. If you are applying for a warehouse position, one doesn’t expect you to dress in a suit, but it is a good idea to follow some of the suggestions above to put your best foot forward to stand out from the many candidates that are likely just as qualified as you.

Before leaving your home take a look in the mirror & ask yourself “would I hire this person?” If the answer is yes & you’ve followed some of the suggestions above, then you are on your way to making a good first impression.

- Prioritize the different projects you need to work on.
- Always keep a calendar handy for deadlines, and give yourself enough leeway for upcoming due dates. Things often happen that may alter your plans for the day. When planning your schedule, be sure to also consider dates that banks and postal services are closed.
- If you need information from others to complete your tasks, be sure to allow enough lead time to receive the information so you won’t be scrambling at the last minute.
- Know when you are better able to tackle certain projects. Are you a morning person, or are you sharper in the afternoon?
- Divide your work day into two halves, then pick projects that you are better able to accomplish in the morning or afternoon,  if you have the flexibility to do so.
- Design effective spreadsheets that will keep track of a lot of the information you regularly use, then pull them out and use the information as needed. It saves time and allows you to put a lot of that paperwork away.
- Develop an efficient filling system and use it. Wasting time looking for things is time that could be much better spent on the needs of the business. It also saves a lot of frustration.
- When you take breaks from your more sedentary duties, get up and walk around; it can relieve some tension and also clear your head and give you a fresh perspective.

Managing the responsibilities and duties of the job instead of letting them manage you can help to create more balance and a win-win situation at work.

We realize job descriptions take much thought and time, but the energy you put into one is well worth the investment. Many hiring managers learn this when they are faced with having to release an employee who didn’t meet their expectations. They are back where they started. Writing a job description is critical for a number of reasons -

- You are forced to look at the job and determine which tasks are absolutely necessary for the position ( the essential functions), which tasks are helpful, but not necessary, and those that aren’t really needed and could be given to another employee or eliminated altogether. Positions evolve, yet some employees are required to perform redundant duties that are no longer necessary and they could be performing tasks that are more cost-effective and perhaps more rewarding.

- A well written job description is an important legal document. It outlines the essential functions of the position, the skills and experience necessary to perform the job and a timeline to benchmark performance expectations at specific points in time. Anyone who is a serious contender for a position with your firm should be provided the job description in advance. If you are using a staffing firm, they should also have the job description in order to send you only the most qualified candidates to interview. Upon hiring the successful candidate, the job description is revisited and signed by both the employee and the hiring supervisor to verify that both parties understand the job and performance expectations. This helps to prevent a claim of “wrongful discharge” if you must release an employee because they didn’t meet expectations.

- Lastly a job description increases the odds of identifying a long-term employee who will add value to your business and your business will add value to their livelihood. On the other hand, the lack of a job description may give the impression that an employer doesn’t value the position nor the success or failure of a potential employee, or …doesn’t understand the key components of the position and is willing to experience several unsuccessful hires to learn, or …is too busy and if they are too busy to consider a job description, they are most likely too busy to address more important time-intensive issues with their employees.

Your time is valuable. Would you rather invest it in a job description or spend it on refilling positions or possibly defending yourself in a wrongful discharge suit?  The payoff of consistent productivity and a positive morale among your employees should make the choice easy.