Future Force Personnel Services

Feel like your job search is slowly dying?

According to many employers, you can actually increase your chances of getting hired faster with the right approach. Here are six ideas to help you:

Idea #1: Volunteer.

As one of Miami Lakes leading employment agencies, we know that gaps in employment are longer than ever thanks to the recession. As a result, employers are much more likely to be lenient about them. However, what they don’t like to see is if you haven’t done anything to fill your time. So one way to keep up your job search, while also being productive during it, is to volunteer.

Idea #2: Take a Class.

Another way to demonstrate your motivation and desire to succeed to a potential employer is to take a continuing education class. Not only will you have an opportunity to network and learn valuable skills, but you’ll also beef up your resume as result.

Idea #3: Take on Contract or Temporary Jobs.

Build up your portfolio, contacts, and resume by taking on temporary jobs or contract assignments.

Idea #4: Use the Right Keywords.

Many employers use keyword scanning systems to screen resumes. So make sure you use pertinent keywords in your resume so you don’t fall between the cracks.

Idea #5: Be Pro-Active.

For instance, even if a job posting doesn’t call for it, send along samples of your work. If you’re called in for an interview, arrive with some ideas in mind of what you would do to solve a problem or add value if you were hired for the position. This will demonstrate you’ve done your homework and also help you stand out in a sea of candidates.

Idea #6: Network as Much as Possible.

You’ve probably heard that networking is the best way to find a job. But are you really networking as much as you could be? If not, then put yourself out there. For instance, use the power of social media to reach people or join a professional or social organization to make new contacts.

Need Help With Your Job Search?

Give Future Force Personnel a call. As one of Miami Lakes leading employment agencies, we can give you access to a variety of rewarding temporary jobs and full-time positions throughout the area. Contact Future Force today to learn more.

The I-9 is one simple form. And yet, as a temporary staffing agency in Miami, Future Force Personnel knows it can be the source of major hassles for employers. As is true for many other government forms and processes, there are numerous rules, regulations, and potential fines for non-compliance associated with it.

So what can you do to make sure you don’t get into hot water with Uncle Sam over an issue with an I-9? Start by avoiding these common mistakes:

Mistake #1. Using an Old I-9.

The most recent version was released in 2009. So make sure you are using that form. You can check the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (ICE) website to download it.

Mistake #2. Not Fully Completing the Form.

This may sound like a no-brainer, but many employees and employers fail to fully complete the form, from missing signatures, to incorrect dates, to unchecked boxes. To avoid this, keep a sample copy of a fully completed form and compare it to all new Form I-9s.

Mistake #3. Not Having Employees Complete an I-9 Within Three Days.

ICE requires that Form I-9s be completed within three business days of an employee’s first day at work. And if you fail to meet this deadline, it can result in hefty fines. So request that all new hires bring appropriate identification documents with them on their first day and fully complete the Form I-9.

Mistake #4. Not Having a Uniform Policy in Place for Photocopying.

You don’t have to photocopy your employees’ identification and file it with their I-9s. However, if you do it for one employee, you have to do it for all of them and vice versa.

Mistake #5. Keeping Old I-9s.

You are required to keep I-9s until either one year after the date of termination or three years after the date of hire, whichever is greater. After that, purge old I-9s. Keeping them can result in fines if you are audited by ICE and they find I-9s with incorrect information, even if it’s from a former employee.

Don’t Want to Deal With I-9s?

Then consider hiring temporary employees through a temporary staffing agency in Miami, like Future Force Personnel. Here at Future Force, we have the knowledge, expertise, and network to give you fast access to skilled people on a temporary basis, while also reducing your HR headaches by handling the I-9 paperwork. Contact Future Force today to learn more.

Rushing into a hiring decision is never a good idea, even if you’re simply hiring on a temporary or seasonal basis. So how can you ensure your seasonal hiring process is both efficient and effective? Here’s a look:

1. Start early.

Don’t start to think about hiring for the summer on June 1^st. As one of the leading temporary staffing agencies in Miami, we know the earlier you start, the more access you’ll have access to the best candidates.

2. Forecast your needs.

In order to maintain appropriate staffing levels, it’s important to assess past needs. For instance, look at your sales from last year and your current staffing levels to forecast areas in which you need to ramp up hiring for the summer.

3. Look to existing employees.

Look to your list of part-time employees and ask them if they’d be willing to work more hours in the summer months. By drawing from this pool, you can benefit from the fact that they are already experienced and familiar with your company, so they will likely catch on much quicker to tasks than someone completely new to the company. As a result, they can hit the ground running as soon as the summer-time rush begins.

4. Take the time to evaluate each candidate.

Don’t have a “first come, first serve” attitude toward seasonal hiring. Just because someone applies first, doesn’t mean you should hire him or her. Instead, take the time to evaluate the candidates that do apply and look for people who are eager to learn, flexible when it comes to having a fluctuating schedule, and genuinely interested in working for your company.

5. Offer training.

A customer isn’t going to know whether an employee is seasonal or not. They’re just going to know whether they’ve had a good experience – or a bad one – with your company. So make sure you invest in a program or process to properly train your new, seasonal hires.

6. Get help.

If you don’t have the time it takes to screen resumes and conduct interviews, then consider outsourcing the process to one of the temporary staffing agencies in Miami. A professional staffing agency will have the knowledge, experience, and network to give you fast access to good quality candidates.

If you’d like to learn more about working with a temporary staffing agency in Miami, let us know. Since 1992, Future Force has helped thousands of clients find qualified and reliable talent on a short-term and seasonal basis. Learn more now.

As one of the leading employment firms in Miami Lakes, we can tell you that the modern interview process is a little different than it used to be. In the past, if a prospective employer was interested in you, they’d invite you to their office for an interview. Fast-forward to today and phone interviews have become the first point of contact for many job candidates with a potential employer.

Why the change?

Companies are inundated with resumes and in-person interviewing simply takes up too much time. So instead, they conduct phone screenings and then invite their top selections in for an interview. It’s more efficient and allows employers to quickly screen a plethora of good quality candidates.

So with that said, how can you prepare for your next phone interview so you move on in the process? Here are some tips to consider:

Ask for the name and title of the person who will be interviewing you.

When you know who you’re interviewing with, you’ll be able to prepare better as a result. For instance, if you’re interviewing with someone from HR, they will ask more general questions about your background and will be looking more at your fit with the company, while an actual manager in your potential department will ask more questions about skills and experience related to the job.

Use a landline instead of your cell phone for the interview.

Landlines are more reliable. Also, turn off call waiting so you don’t get interrupted during the phone interview with an annoying beep. If you don’t have a landline, and only a cell phone, make sure it’s fully charged before the interview.

Set up a quiet space for the interview.

Whether it’s your bedroom or your home office, set up an area where you know you will not be disturbed by outside distractions. Keep a pen and notebook handy so you can take notes or write down questions that you might think of during the interview. Also, keep a copy of your resume handy and write down a few key points you want to highlight about your strengths, accomplishments, and why they company should hire you.

Ask questions.

Even though this is only a phone screen, not a formal in-person interview, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the position and the company. After all, you should be evaluating the job opportunity just as much as the interviewer is evaluating you. And, if you’re interested in the position after hearing more about it, don’t forget to ask about what the next steps are in the hiring process.

Send a thank you note.

Just as you would for an in-person interview, send a thank you note via mail or email to the person who interviewed you. Thank them for the opportunity and re-iterate your strengths as well as your enthusiasm for the job.

When you’re searching for a new job, things like your cover letter and resume are likely at the forefront of your mind.

But what about your attitude?

As one of South Florida’s top employment firms, we know that if you’re like most job seekers, you haven’t given your attitude a second thought. However, according to research conducted by Leadership IQ, nearly half of all new hires – 46%, in fact – failed on the job within the first year and a half. What’s so interesting about this number is that the vast majority – 89% – failed because of issues with their attitude.

Clearly, attitude plays an important part in on-the-job success. Hiring managers know this – and that’s why, during the hiring process, they don’t simply evaluate hard skills and past accomplishments; they also work to assess attitude and interpersonal skills so they can hire the person who is the best overall fit.

So how can you go about demonstrating your great attitude during the hiring process?

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Be positive.

In every communication you have with the hiring manager – from your cover letter and resume to phone screens and in-person interviews – be positive. For instance, if you got laid off from your last job, don’t trash your past employer or boss. Instead, explain how you learned from the experience and how you’re a stronger professional as a result. Hiring managers don’t want to bring people who are negative or complainers on board; they want positive and optimistic people who will bring new energy to the team.

Be enthusiastic.

Your enthusiasm, or lack of it, will come through loud and clear during the interview process. So bring a high level of energy to your interview. That doesn’t mean you need to be bouncing off the walls; it just means you should be prepared to demonstrate a passion for your career, for the job opening, and for the company you’re interviewing with. It also means you should smile often, make eye contact, and offer a firm handshake.

Be open to feedback.

If you think your attitude is interfering with a potential job offer, then get feedback from an outside source. Ask a friend or family member to conduct a mock interview with you and evaluate your performance. You might think you’re just being open and honest, when really you’re coming across as aggressive and overly critical.

If you’d like some additional assistance preparing for interviews, or finding job leads, let us know. As one of South Florida’s top employment firms, Future Force Personnel Services has helped thousands of job seekers find rewarding career opportunities with great companies throughout the region. Learn more now.

As one of Miami’s top staffing agencies, we know there are lots of articles out there about hiring individuals who are “top performers,” or “star employees.” While it’s always great to have a few of these on staff, not every person you hire is going to be a stand out. That said, you want every single person you do hire to be a hard worker, regardless of the position or department they’re in.

So when you’re interviewing, what kinds of questions should you ask to evaluate work ethic – regardless of if you’re hiring for a C-level position or the mail-room clerk?

Here’s a look at 8 possibilities:

1. What’s your definition of work ethic?
2. How would you describe your work ethic?
3. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond in a job.
4. Tell me about a time when you had to work as a member of a team to complete a task.
5. What would your past boss or supervisor say about your work ethic?
6. What would your past co-workers say about your work ethic?
7. What excites you about this position or this company?
8. Why do you think you will be successful in this position?

And if you’d like some additional assistance with the hiring process – beyond ideas for interview questions – let us know. As one of Miami’s top staffing agencies, we’ve helped thousands of clients find qualified, reliable, and hard working talent on a short-term, seasonal, and full-time basis. Contact us today to learn more.

You’re not really content at work and aren’t sure the position is right for you. But you should just be happy to have a job, right? Wrong. As one of South Florida’s top employment firms, we know that if you’re in a job that’s a bad fit for you, it can have a negative impact on your entire career and on your overall quality of life.

So besides that gut feeling you may be in the wrong position, what are some other signs it’s time to bust out your resume and start searching for different jobs in South Florida? Here’s a look:

1. You’re overwhelmed…all the time.

It’s normal to be stressed and overwhelmed when you have an impending deadline to meet or an important project to complete. But regularly being stressed out to the max is not a good sign. You could be taking on more than you can realistically get done in a workday or you may not have the skills, knowledge, or training to get the work done.

2. You don’t have any work friends.

You don’t have to be best friends with all of your colleagues to find work happiness. However, if you haven’t made connections with anyone at all, there could be a reason. For instance, are you simply too different in terms of culture, style, or age? If so, you may need a work environment that’s a better match for you. When you work with people you enjoy and even call a few of them your “friends,” you’ll be much happier as a result.

3. You don’t learn anything new…ever.

You want a more demanding role that challenges you; and yet, you’re stuck in a position that offers no growth or development. Not only will you become bored and frustrated, but the longer you stagnate in this position, the more risk you run of becoming obsolete in a competitive job market.

4. You won’t be happy no matter how much you make.

Many times, one reason people are unhappy in their positions is because they feel underpaid. So ask yourself: if you earned 10% or 20% more money, would you be happier in your position? If so, then you’re probably in the right job…you just need to ask for a raise. But if you wouldn’t be happy even if your salary were doubled, for instance, then money is not the problem.

5. You feel at odds with yourself.

No job is ever going to be perfect; there may be small mismatches between your personal preference and a company policy, like dress code, for instance. However, when there is a profound discrepancy – related to ethics, for example – between you and your company, then it’s time to move on.

If these signs sound familiar, then use them as a wake up call. When you spend as much time at work as most people do, it’s worth it to find a job you’re happy in. And if you’d like some help, let us know. As one of South Florida’s top employment firms, we can connect you with leading employers and opportunities in the area.

While some say email is dead, most managers and employees still use it as a primary mode of communication with their bosses and colleagues. And it’s no wonder, considering all of its benefits. For instance, email is a fast and easy way to disseminate information. It offers recipients the opportunity to think about their response, unlike with a phone call. And it leaves a paper trail, which can come in handy in a variety of situations.

That said, as one of the top employment agencies in Miami, we know there’s also a dark side to communicating via email. It can become a source of misinformation, confusion, and frustration. In addition, it can also lead to conflict because without the benefit of being able to read someone’s body language, you might take a comment meant as humorous as an insult instead. And finally, it can make you look less-than-professional when you get too casual with this mode of communication.

To help ensure you use email to its fullest potential, while navigating its downside, here are some etiquette tips to keep in mind:

• Be as specific as possible with the subject line. For instance, rather than using “website project” as the subject, use “issue with website launch date.”
• Be concise. Email is meant to be a short and sweet way to communicate. With some email systems, the recipient can see the first few lines of the email without having to open it up, so make those lines count.
• Always spell check. Don’t rely on automatic spell check; read through each email before sending it to ensure it is accurate. With auto fill, it can be easy to send an email to the wrong person, so double check the “to” field before hitting the “send” button.
• Be professional. That means no LOLs or OMGs. That’s fine for personal emails, but not for work. So spell out words properly, use correct grammar and punctuation, and make sure you have an email signature. Also insert a privacy statement at the end of your emails, which can help protect the spread of misinformation.
• Be careful. Being professional also means being careful about your word choice, formatting, and punctuation. Lots of “?!?!!” or words in ALL CAPS could send the message that you’re angry or irritated, which might not sit well with the recipient.

Also a few don’ts to keep in mind when it comes to workplace email etiquette:

• Don’t share intimate thoughts or comments that could be construed as offensive via email.
• Don’t send large attachments without confirming the recipient can receive and open the file.
• Don’t use emoticons or fancy fonts or colors.
• Don’t address sensitive issues, such as performance problems, via email; as one of the top employment agencies in Miami, we know those types of conversations are better left face to face.
• Don’t type the recipient’s name into the “to” field until you’ve proofread the email (just in case you hit “send” by accident.)

As one of South Florida’s top staffing agencies, we know that informal gambling in the office is as standard a part of work culture as chatting around the water cooler. In fact, according to a recent survey by Career Builder, one in five U.S. employees have participated in March Madness pools and more than one third of workers admitted to entering Super Bowl pools in the past.

So is this all good-natured fun, or could it become an HR nightmare?

Well, first of all, as you probably know, betting on sports teams is illegal in most states – including Florida. However, there are states where you can have office pools as long as they are small and the person organizing it doesn’t benefit monetarily.

If you’re in a state, like Florida, where it’s illegal, it’s unlikely the feds are staked outside your business, monitoring the betting activities of your employees. However, if you get caught, understand that the penalties can range from small fines to felony charges to imprisonment, depending on the situation.

If you see the office pool as “all in good fun” and choose to look the other way, then make sure your employees only bet small amounts. When pools start getting into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, that’s when you can begin to draw unwanted attention.

Also, be sure to avoid involving multiple offices in different states in the pool if, for instance, you operate in one state where office pools are legal, but also do business in another state where they’re not. In fact, sending emails or making calls across state lines regarding gambling activities could invoke federal statutes, along with gambling-related state statutes.

And if you don’t have a gambling policy in place, as most employers don’t, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, then you might want to consider developing one. If you do have such a policy in place, then now could be a good time to review it and make sure it’s up to date.

Let’s face it. There are a lot of ways you can mess up an interview. Some of the major ones include not showing up on time (or at all), dressing inappropriately (think ripped jeans and flip flops), and acting unprofessionally (chewing gum, looking at your watch, etc.).

As one of the leading employment agencies in Miami Lakes, we know that demonstrating these behaviors will likely turn off the interviewer in an instant. But besides these obvious errors, there is one common – and less apparent – mistake that even the best candidates make that can kill their chances of the job offer.

So what is it? Not asking any questions. That’s right. Doesn’t sound like such a big deal. But in fact, it is. Why? Because it shows the interviewer a few things about you. None of them good. Here’s a look:

• You haven’t done your homework and researched the company or the job.
• You’re not that interested in the company or the job.
• You’re not an inquisitive person by nature.
• You don’t have strong communication skills.
• You don’t understand proper interview etiquette.

That said, don’t prepare a list of questions just to sound like you’re on top of your game. In order for you to really evaluate whether a Miami Lakes job is right for you, you need to ask questions that can provide you with the information you need.

To help you get started, here are some examples:

• What’s the culture like?
• Why do you like working here?
• Is there a high rate of turnover?
• What are company hours?
• What’s an average day like for someone in this position?
• Why is this position open? Is it new?
• In which department would I be working in? How big is it?
• How has the company performed over the last couple of years?
• Where is the company headed in the near future?
• What’s the next step in the hiring process?

Some questions to avoid asking during the first interview include those about salary and benefits, including paid time off and health insurance. It’s kind of like asking a first date when they plan on getting married and having kids. It scares them away. Also, don’t ask general or vague questions, like “what does your company do?,” that are easily answered in a 5-second Google search.

If you’d like some additional help preparing for your interviews, or finding new job leads, let us know. As one of the leading employment agencies in Miami Lakes, we can introduce you to the area’s best employers and top jobs. Get started now.