Congratulations! You did it.

Whether you are crossing the High School or College stage, you are undeniably entering the next phase of your adult life. Graduation is a major milestone that should be celebrated – so before you start worrying about ‘what’s next’ take a moment to honor your achievement and pat yourself on the back.

This summer is all about figuring out what your next best step is. While this time is exciting, it may also be a bit scary due to the uncertainty of what the future holds. Don’t worry – you don’t need to have it all figured out today – your career is a constant journey, and all those friends you have that seem to have it all mapped out, well let’s just say they don’t, and that’s okay too. You are about to start a rewarding journey, and we can’t wait to see how far you go!

No matter where you are in your journey Manpower Maine has your back!

We’ve put together a simple roadmap with 4 steps to enter the workforce to help you get started, simply take one step at a time – and you will always get where you need to go.

Step 1: Identify your professional skills

The first key to job and career success is honest self-reflection and recognizing what you bring to the table. Individuals new to the workforce often make one of two mistakes – over or under-valuing their skillset. Before you begin your job search, you may find taking validated skills assessments can help you identify your strengths & weaknesses.

Step 2: Outline your short & long-term goals

Yes, your road map will change more times than you can count, but you still should have an idea of which direction you are heading. Every job you have can (and should) be a stepping-stone to your next one. So, ask yourself what your goals are and what position can help you achieve that next step.

Step 3: Do a little market research

Beginning your job search with a solid understanding of the current employment market in your area will reduce your frustration and help you make a solid decision when the time comes. You may have an idea of what you want to do for work, but is what you want available? You may have an idea of how much you want or need to earn – but do your financial expectations match the current market rate in your area?

Step 4: Start the job search process

Now that you know your skill sets, your short-term goals, and the reality of the market, you are well-poised to start an effective search. The search process can be overwhelming and defeating if your approach is all over the place. Focus in on what skills you have, what jobs can benefit from those skills, and which jobs or companies will help with your incremental career growth. It is unlikely that you will find your “dream” job when you are just entering the workforce, so it is okay to accept each job for what it is, an opportunity to help you build your employment reputation and your resume for what lies ahead.

Many successful people will tell you everyone’s journey is different, and each journey will be filled with its own unexpected twists and turns. Make the most of your journey, carve your own path, and see where the road takes you. And, if you need help along the way – Manpower is here to help.

Best of luck and congratulations from the Manpower Maine family.

What Temporary Workers Do Matters!

Every year, the American Staffing Association celebrates the significant contributions that millions of people in the United States make while employed through staffing agencies.  National Staffing Employee Week is being celebrated from September 14-20; this an opportunity for us to honor and recognize all the hardworking temporary workers employed each year.

Why is the work they do so important? In short, they help keep Maine businesses running. They fill in where needed, they are capable of quickly adapting to new work environments and—most importantly—they get the job done. Whether a company is experiencing unprecedented growth, has seasonal demands, has staff out on leave, or a multitude of other reasons – businesses know they can count on temporary staff to bridge the gap.

Where do temporary employees work?  This is a natural curiosity that many people have. The better question is, what don’t they do? Staffing is simply contract work, which spans across every industry and every role imaginable. Some staffing firms specialize in healthcare, engineering, c-suite professionals, or manufacturing work. It really all depends on what the agency has decided to specialize in.

The following statistics have been provided by the American Staffing Association.

Maine Temporary Help Sales By Sector

• Industrial/Manufacturing/Production – 36%

• Office/Clerical/Administrative – 33%

• Uncategorized Sectors – 16%

• Engineering/IT/Scientific – 14%

• Healthcare – 1%

Maine Staffing Statistics

• Annual temporary employment – 29,300

• Average temporary help workers each week – 5,700

• Average annual earnings per job – $38,900

Why Job Seekers Choose Temporary Staffing

National numbers provided by the American Staffing Association

• 64% use staffing to get their foot-in-the-door, or to fill the gap in between jobs

• 20% choose staffing for the flexibility it offers

• Access to full-time employment (73% work full-time)

To Our Manpower Associates:

Thank you! Each day that you go into work, you make a difference. You add value. You play a vital role in keeping businesses running smoothly. Please know that your efforts are appreciated by everyone within the Manpower organization, and we appreciate the opportunity to play a small role in your career success.

National Staffing Employee Week is all about YOU and the contributions you continue to make!

Despite the best of intentions, we all make mistakes from time to time, and our professional lives are no exception to that rule. As long as we learn from our mistakes and commit to doing better, they typically don’t interfere with our ability to grow professionally. However, if you’ve made the same mistakes a few too many times – such as not calling or showing to your job or missing too many project deadlines, a pattern starts to emerge, which can make overcoming career mistakes more difficult.

If you’ve struggled with similar professional challenges in the past, but you’re now ready and able to commit to working hard and doing your best, a staffing firm may be able to help you reach your employment goals. They can do this by helping you:

Demonstrate that you’re ready for a second chance

If you have some challenges in your work history, like job abandonment or poor performance, employers might be reluctant to take a chance on hiring you. How can they be sure that the same patterns won’t be repeated and negatively impact their business? One way to help alleviate their concerns is by showing them that things have changed – and staffing firms can provide you with opportunities to do just that. Succeeding in short-term or temporary roles helps rebuild your professional brand by giving you evidence that you’ve recommitted to being a dependable and hardworking employee. This helps build trust that can earn you consideration for long-term and permanent positions.

Reduce the likelihood of job dissatisfaction

When you’re trying to figure out what kind of work you’re interested in, it can be helpful to try new things and experiences to see what clicks for you. However, if you change jobs frequently without spending a significant amount of time at any one place, you run the risk of being labeled a chronic ‘job-hopper’ – and potential employers might be scared that you’ll leave them after they invest their time and energy in training you. In addition to helping you gain exposure to a variety of jobs that you may not have considered otherwise, partnering with a staffing firm like Manpower can help you reduce the likelihood of job dissatisfaction – which will help you enjoy more job longevity and build a more stable work history. Our expert Recruiters dig deep during the interview process to learn about your strengths, likes and dislikes, goals, and work environment preferences so that they can set you up for success by making the best match possible.

Level-up your skills by providing coaching & access to training

Are you applying to jobs but not hearing back? Or maybe you’ve interviewed a couple times, only to find out they’ve selected another applicant? This can be very frustrating, especially if you’ve been working on overcoming career mistakes for a while haven’t found any promising leads in your job search. When you work with a staffing firm such as Manpower, you will have an experienced partner that can help you navigate the hiring process, provide resume and interview feedback, and connect you with free online training that will give you an opportunity to build highly sought-after skills. By utilizing these available resources, you can improve your chances of job search success by making yourself a more competitive candidate for job openings.

Get your foot in the door at a great company

Staffing firms like Manpower are connected to a vast network of companies, and this often includes some of the most reputable companies in their respective industries. If you’ve had your eye on a very competitive company but have not been able to get your foot in the door for one reason or another, Manpower may be able to use their strong client relationships to help you bridge that gap. A company may be more inclined to offer you a temp-to-hire opportunity so that you can prove your skills and dependability before they make the commitment to hire you onto their team permanently.

Connect with Manpower Today!

So you have been called in for an interview. Chances are you are expecting to be asked a ton of questions and hopefully you are practicing your answers. But, have you missed a critical step in your preparation, by not preparing interview questions for applicants?

The best interviews are a two-way street. It is an opportunity for the employer to get to know you, your skills, your experience, and your attitude to determine whether or not you will be a good fit for them. It is also an opportunity for you to ask some questions to help decide whether their company and this position will be a good fit for you!

Here are a few questions you can ask:

What will a typical day look like?

We have all been there; something sounds so good on paper but the reality is far different. It’s no different when it comes to jobs. A job advertisement is merely that, an advertisement. It is an opportunity to catch your attention and entice you to act – while maintaining integrity. Only so much can be described in an ad, so it is up to you to ask for a clearer picture during the interview process.

What are some common challenges?

Just hearing about the upside of a job and the ideal results is only one piece of the puzzle. To determine if this position is right for you, you need to understand some of the pitfalls as well. Maybe you are looking for a job that provides a ton of challenges, or you are not keen on a job that is struggling with overly outdated technology. If you want to know if you are up to the challenge – you first need to know what the challenge is.

How will success be measured?

Knowing how a company measures success is an important part of the employment relationship. Your employer wants you to be successful, and you want to succeed – so understanding how success is going to be measured will help you move in the right direction. Performance management isn’t always a formal annual review, it could be more regular yet informal conversations about individual projects. Whether your success is defined by meeting hard and fast metrics, or on your last contribution – you want to be able to gather that feedback.

What do you like about the company?

Imagine asking an interviewer “what do you dislike about the company”, chances are you will get a strange look and your question will be entirely avoided. It would be highly unprofessional for any team member to say disparaging things about the company they are supposed to be representing and assessing candidates for. That being said, it is important to get a sense of the overall culture.  You will be able to tell by the interviewers answer if they are genuinely satisfied, or if they are just trying to say what you want to hear by simply asking what they like about the company.

When do you expect to make a decision?

Is the company expecting to make a quick decision on hiring, or are they expecting the process to take a few weeks. If you are really interested in this position, asking about their hiring timeline will help reduce the stress and anxiety you could experience while you wait for the phone to ring. It will also help you determine the best time to follow up. If they are expecting to make a decision in a few weeks, you do not want to come across as pushy by calling for an update every few days. On the other hand, if they are expecting to make a decision that week – you may want to send an immediate follow up to demonstrate your interest.

There are plenty of resources online that can help you narrow down just the right questions to ask, but no matter what questions you ask the goal is to maintain professionalism and to keep your interview conversational.

When you work with Manpower and are sent out on a client interview, we will do our best to prepare you to help you set a positive tone.

Change, it’s the only consistent in this world. While we all know it will inevitably come, more often than not it catches us by surprise and can throw us out of rhythm. A key to successfully handling change in the world of work is to view it as opportunity. When it comes to your career, change is sometimes frequent, it can induce anxiety, and if you’re unable to handle it, it can be detrimental to your overall success.

Changes can come in the form of new places, positions, people, programs, processes, and policies. Those who are able to quickly and effectively identify the opportunities that the changes present will have more confidence, feel more at ease, and experience more success. No matter what the change is, there are steps you can take to make the necessary shift.

Identify the Impact

Every change presents a different level of impact. A change in policies may affect you far less than an office relocation. New technology may change how you complete your work more than a change in who your co-workers are. The bigger the impact on you, the more challenging adjustment can be.  When you are presented with a change, quickly assess the level of impact it will have on you before shifting into panic mode.

Recognize there is a Reason

Change rarely happens just for the sake of it. All changes are intended to serve a positive purpose. While you may never be told exactly why a change is being made, know that there is always a reason behind it. New technology could be used to improve efficiency or to increase capability. A change in leadership could be to get new ideas to help move a company forward. Whatever the reason may be, it is up to you to recognize there is a reason, and to either make the most of it or potentially move on.

Look for the Opportunity

Whenever faced with change, it is natural for us to go into “what if” mode. More often than not, we immediately start thinking about all the things that could (and in our minds, will most certainly) go wrong. It is like a defense mechanism to help us mentally prepare for the worst-case scenario. A degree of healthy skepticism is okay, but the real power lies in purposefully looking for the opportunities.

What does the change offer? Will it teach you to be nimble? Are you learning something new that will be beneficial to your resume? Is it a test of your grit and resilience? Changes may not be easy, they may even challenge you to the core – but every change presents opportunity and it is up to you to identify and seize it.

Embrace and Move Forward

Buying in to organizational change isn’t optional. You can either reject or accept the change. From there you have to embrace your own decision and move forward. Being half-in is not going to do you or the company any favors. If you have decided you are unable to accept and adjust to the changes, it is up to you to plan an exit strategy. If you have made the decision to stay, you need to take the lead on implementing the changes into your work and encouraging others to do the same. Take the time you need to learn about the changes.

At the end of the day, it is your attitude about change that will determine your outcome with it. It is perfectly acceptable to be nervous or uneasy about a change – the unknown is always more stressful than the known and will most often end up being a blessing in disguise. Once you are handling change in the world of work like the pro you are, there is nothing you won’t be able to handle.

If a career change is what you are after, Manpower can help!