Blog
2.13.18
5 Ways to Make Your Tax Refund Worth Even More
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So what are you going to do with your tax refund? Take a nice vacation? Buy an iPhone X? Before you decide to spend it on something just for fun, check out these uses that will pay you back with even more money in your pocket.
1. Put it in your emergency fund.
Sooner or later, your car will break down, your pet will get sick or some other unexpected expense will blindside you. Having an emergency fund in your bank means you won't have to borrow money to pay the mechanic or vet. So, that tax refund will save you all the interest you would have paid on the loan. Plus, it will save you from extra stress in an already stressful situation.
2. Pay off bank and credit card debt.
Do you even know how much interest you're paying every month on your car loan, credit card balances or mortgage? Most people are shocked when they find out. Getting those debts paid down ahead of schedule can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the life of the loan — all thanks to your...
1.19.18
How to Work Well Under Pressure
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It's a question you often hear during a job interview: "Do you work well under pressure?" And of course you answer yes. But what does that even mean? Could you elaborate on your answer if the interviewer asked you to?
Here are some ways to handle stress on the job, and explain it during your interview.
It's all about your attitude.
If you see pressure as threatening, your instinct will be to avoid it rather than conquering it. Instead, look at it as a challenge that you'll have fun meeting, and a valuable experience that will help grow your career.
Think about times when you've had to learn a new skill or meet an impossible deadline, and how it has qualified you for a more responsible, rewarding position.
Stay in the present.
Worrying about the ultimate success or failure of the process can be overwhelming — and paralyzing. Instead, take it one step at a time.
When star athletes are asked if they're thinking about winning the championship, they...
10.24.17
Get More Done in Less Time
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Do you often feel that there just aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with your work? And forget about having time to enjoy yourself, your family and friends.
You're not alone. Your workload may actually have increased, as most companies these days are trying to maximize productivity in order to stay ahead (or even just stay in business). Or you may be taking on more challenges in order to grow your career (or your bank balance).
Whatever the reason, it's definitely time to work smarter, not harder. Here are some great tips from our time management experts.
Prioritize tasks.
When planning your work for the day or week, don't confuse "must" get done with "want" to get done. You may "want" to do more research for that report, but it "must" be handed in Friday. Allocate time to take care of the necessary jobs, then see what time you have left for the extras.
Write it down.
For most people, making a mental to-do list is not enough. It's just too easy...
8.11.17
How to Make Friends with Co-workers
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It's hard to be the new kid on the block, where everyone else has known each other for years. It can be even harder on the job, when everyone is also busy working, trying to impress the boss, or even competing for the same promotion.
Don't let any of that stop you from trying to develop workplace friendships. Working is a lot more fun — and productive — if you're doing it with friends. In fact, many companies are learning to encourage team camaraderie, because it leads to greater employee engagement and commitment to quality.
Here are some tips for getting to know your colleagues.
Say hello to everyone.
It only takes a second to smile and say hi whenever you pass someone in the hall. You never know, that person could be a great future friend.
Share break time.
Sit down with team members in the break room, or invite them out to lunch. When you're more relaxed and away from workstations, it's the ideal time to learn about each other on a personal level or...
7.03.17
Fun Places to Volunteer that Look Great on Your Resume
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You could spend the summer just hanging out with your friends. Or you could spend part of it supporting a good cause, pursuing your interests, and amping up your resume at the same time. That's what we call a win-win!
Below are some types of volunteer work that don't require any previous experience. In all of them, you'll find numerous opportunities beyond the job description to expand your skills — from office and computer work, to advertising and public relations, to adding valuable connections to your professional network.
Habitat for Humanity
Help build or repair homes for people who can't afford to do it themselves. Construction experience is helpful but not necessary as you can learn on the job (they even have a special program for women). You can also learn team building and leadership skills.
Animal Shelters
Caring for and socializing with animals is just the beginning of volunteer activities at the shelter. You can also provide administrative support...
6.16.17
Easing the Transition from High School to Working Full-Time
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As we all know, high school is a world unto itself. Its definitions of success, expectations of behavior and tactics for achieving your goals are all quite a bit different from those of adult employment. Here are some things you should know to lessen the culture shock.
Be a self-starter.
You see this phrase a lot in help wanted ads, but what does it mean? It means that you will no longer have parents and teachers repeatedly reminding you to get your tasks done. Your boss certainly won't do it. It's all on you now.
What was uncool is now cool.
In high school, it was definitely not cool to be the eager beaver who was the first one in the classroom door and stayed late to ask questions. In the working world, it's the eager beaver who gets the pay raises and promotions.
Be flexible.
The words "it's not my job" should never come out of your mouth. As the rookie on the team, you're expected to do anything and everything that's asked of you — and do it with a...
6.01.17
It's National Safety Month — Our Experts Weigh In
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At Integrity Staffing, we have comprehensive safety policies and procedures in place to protect both our workers and clients from harm to people and property (and insurance rates). It's so important to us that we even offer all potential clients a free safety consultation by our OSHA-certified experts!
But simply passing out a handbook is not enough. Employees must be encouraged and enabled to identify risky behaviors and make smart safety decisions every day. Here are our experts' top tips for creating a safe work environment.
Wear the safety gear. Every single time.
There should be no exceptions, even for a task that will only take 5 seconds. That's long enough to have an accident.
No shortcuts with the machinery.
Built-in safeguards on tools and equipment may give you a sense of security — but they only work if employees are using them correctly.
Promote constant awareness.
Just as they teach you in driving school, workers should keep a watch on...
5.23.17
Helping Your Transgender Employee Feel Comfortable
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Workplace diversity is a deep commitment at Integrity. As both a staffing industry leader and minority-owned business, we've had a unique opportunity to prove that character values like work ethic and team spirit are what make a successful employee, not vital statistics like ethnicity or gender.
The rights of transgender individuals are gaining broader acceptance in our society (and in the law courts). Smart businesses are keeping pace with steps to ensure that these employees are welcomed and protected from discrimination just like any other minority.
Here are our top tips for making it happen.
Put the policy in writing.
You probably have a discrimination policy already, so it's simple to add transgender people to the handbook and sexual harassment training. There should also be procedures established for people already in your employment who decide to transition: leave benefits, name changes, a designated point person to manage the process and so on....
5.16.17
How to Professionally Critique Your Boss at the Annual Review
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No boss is perfect. But is it a good idea to tell him/her so? After all, you might be setting yourself up for retaliation, or called a complainer. However, there are ways to do it with class and tact. If your supervisor's behavior is hindering productivity, you owe it to yourself, the team and the whole company.
Bring notes. At a time when you're calm and objective., write down the points you want to bring up — and stick to them. Speaking off the top of your head, in the heat of the moment, is more likely to cause hurt and anger than any beneficial behavior change.
Ask if he/she would like feedback. Prepare your boss for the discussion with a polite lead-in. If he/she just doesn't want to hear criticism at all, or will be insulted no matter how nice and positive you try to be, it's better to back off. If you believe the situation is putting the team or company at risk, handle it another way, such as through HR.
Focus on your perceptions. Don't make direct...
5.09.17
Stay Organized and Take Back Your Life
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How much time do you spend every day hunting for something that's not where you thought you put it, looking at the same paperwork as yesterday, or jumping from one project to another without finishing any of them? This is pure wasted time, and you have better things to do with it.
These tips aren't about getting organized in the first place — setting up tools and systems. You probably have some already, or at least some idea of what you need. It's about actually using your organizers so that they simplify your life as they're supposed to, not just add more clutter.
1. Organize as you go.
Take a tip from professional chefs who constantly clean their workstation so that they can maintain maximum speed and efficiency. The instant you're finished using your comb or that client file, put it back in its rightful home. At the end of the day, you'll be free to enjoy your life with no big, messy pile demanding your time and attention.
2. Segregate your activities....
