Set Great Goals This Year That Will Benefit Your Career

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Now is the time of year when everyone looks toward the future. The start of a new year symbolizes new beginnings, making it the perfect time to set goals for your career. But how do you choose goals that will truly benefit you as they are achieved? By following the tips below.

1. See Where You Stand

Before you create any goals, you need to fully understand where you are today. Take an inventory of your skills to see what you have to offer. Then, consider what skills and tasks bring you the most satisfaction while working. Reorder your skills list based on these preferences as they will serve as a guide for future goal setting.

2. Know Where You Want to Go

You can’t set a goal if you don’t have a destination. You need to identify what you are aiming at in order to create a plan. Is there a particular job or promotion you want to obtain? A level of income? A college degree?

By envisioning the endpoint, you can determine the steps that stand between you and that goal.

3. Start the Research

Once you decide where your career is going, you can start researching what it takes to get there. For example, if a particular job is where you would like to take your career, research what the common qualifications are for that position. If you have a specific company in mind, then your research may be fairly quick if you want to find a job posting for that particular vacancy. However, if you are more flexible about the organization in which you would be willing to work, then explore listings based on your ideal location.

4. Break it Down

Now that you know where you are, and where you would like to be, you can begin breaking down the individual steps required to get from point A to point B. This can include filling in skill gaps, gaining more work experience, taking classes or training, and more.

As you identify these steps, make sure to keep things specific. For example, the idea of attending classes is too general. Instead, record the exact class (or at least the subject) that you need to fulfill that requirement.

5. Start Moving

Since the steps to your career goal are clearly set out, you can begin taking action. Pick a step that can be accomplished based on where you are today and make it happen. For example, you can sign up for that class or training opportunity to fill a skills gap, look into colleges that offer your ideal degree, or look for volunteer opportunities to gain more experience. The point is, now that you know what you need to do, you can start making your goal a reality.

6. Get That Job !

Most career goals focus on reaching particular positions. Once you have the experience and education you need, it is time to land the job that will benefit your long-term career goals. If you are looking for a new position today, the employment specialists at Resolution Technologies can help you reach your goal. Contact us today and let us use our experience to help you reach your goals.

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New IT Solutions That Will Help You Do Your Job Better

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Innovations in IT regularly hit the market. While a number of options focus on the consumer, many new solutions can fundamentally change how your job get done, and some of these changes are distinctly for the better.

So, if you have the opportunity to integrate some of the latest developments into your workday, consider welcoming these with open arms.

Advanced Online Meetings

While video-conferencing is already well established in the workplace, the full capabilities of these systems are likely to expand. With better access via mobile devices and more robust screen and document sharing options, web-based collaboration may become easier to coordinate than actual in-person options.

Virtual meetings also help build bridges between remote employees, those working from different office locations, or simply team members whose function requires significant travel. This allows everyone to have some time face-to-face, even if they aren’t in the same room.

More Virtual Reality

Windows 10 is expecting an update in 2017 that is about to bring VR capabilities to more people (and workplaces) without any extra cost. All users will need is a compatible headset, and the options of VR can enter the workplace.

While the technology hasn’t hit this point (yet), your online meetings may soon enter a virtual space. It also has notable applications in regards to computer-based product design and other forms of digital modeling.

Internet of Things

While not inherently a solution, the Internet of Things (IoT) is presenting new opportunities regarding the collection of customer data. Between mobile devices, connected homes, and wearables, information about how customers are using products and accessing information is increasing rapidly. For employees whose positions revolve around the collection and analysis of data, the opportunities for learning about client behavior are only just beginning to be realized.

3D Printing

For anyone whose position requires 3D modeling, advances in 3D printing may change how you present new ideas. The technology has not only become more portable but also more flexible. Some versions are capable of producing items using a wide range of colors and from multiple materials. And, though 3D printing is far from replacing most full-scale manufacturing options, it is giving new options to those who previously focused their skills on computer-based modeling.

Beyond these technologies, the potential for new IT solutions is ever-present. At this moment, companies are looking to determine how they can change the working world for the better, and, as an IT employee, some of these innovations are sure to enter your sphere.

Are you looking for a new job?

If you are interested in new employment options in IT, Resolution Technologies has the industry experience needed to help find you new opportunities. Contact us today and see what options may be available.

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Essentials for Hiring Talented People That Will Also be a Great Culture Fit

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Reviewing a candidate’s hard skills is often fairly simple; they either have the experience you need, or they don’t. But determining whether an applicant will fit into the company’s culture isn’t always as easy.

Employees that are a cultural match are more likely to stay with an organization long-term, and they are often more satisfied with their work. In fact, their performance is often better as well, so a good fit can even help your bottom line.

How do you review candidates to discover whether they will be a great culture fit? By asking the right questions.

Describe your ideal workplace.

Having candidates describe their ideal workplace can help you understand what they value while they are working. Some may describe a physical space while others may focus on a feel. Regardless of their approach to the question, you will gain insight regarding whether their ideal workplace and the one your company offers have the potential to provide a match.

Was there anything in your last (current) workplace that didn’t (doesn’t) work for you?

Asking this question helps provide the counter to their first description while also touching on real issues they likely encountered. When a candidate describes an ideal workplace, they may reference situations they have experienced or describe an environment they have only imagined. Asking them to describe situations that didn’t work well for them in the past helps fill in the gaps regarding whether anything is present in your company that would prevent them from flourishing, or even fitting in.

Describe your ideal manager.

Some employees prefer their managers to be very hands-on while others seek empowerment to work independently. And putting a new employee under a manager that does not match this desired leadership style may only lead to conflict and frustration.

If an employee needs clear direction and regular guidance, they won’t be happy working for a manager that tends to let employees spread their wings. Essentially, instead of feeling empowered, the employee may just see their manager as aloof. In contrast, a highly involved manager may be ideal for those who crave direction but might come off as micromanaging to employees that are used to a level of freedom.

How would you feel in this work space? Have you worked in a work space like this before?

This gives you a chance to describe some of the idiosyncrasies of your company that may not be apparent based on what the candidate has had the chance to observe. For example, some employees may love an open work space that encourages collaboration while others flourish when they can focus in a quieter or more private area.

Following the first question up with one designed to confirm whether they have actually worked in something similar lets you know if their assessment is experienced-based or an assumption. While both are valid, those with prior experience are not likely to set themselves up for failure if they know an environment will not work for them.

These questions also give you the opportunity to speak about the work environment with the candidates. It’s important to remember that while you are evaluating them, they are evaluating you (and your company). If a candidate doesn’t think the cultural fit is right, you both may be better served if they are not selected.

Are you looking for talented individuals to join your team?

If you are looking for a new employee to join your team, and want additional focus on cultural fit, Resolution Technologies has the experience you need to help find the right fit for your workplace. Contact us and speak with one of our recruitment specialists today.

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How to (Re) Set the Bar High for Your Team This Year

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The New Year can often function as a fresh start. It gives your team a chance to evaluate their previous performance and set goals for the next year. If you felt your team wasn’t working up to their potential, it is also a chance to set the bar high in regards to your expectations.

So, how do you make a big shift without overwhelming your team? By following these tips below.

Be Specific

If you want to inspire change, you need to be clear about what it will entail. And that requires details. For example, the idea of improving customer satisfaction is too general; it could mean something different to every team member. However, improving your customer feedback score by 10 percent is a more concrete expectation that still fits with the original goal idea.

Face (Reasonable) Challenges

Just because the goals need to be specific doesn’t mean they can’t be big challenges. The most important part is to make sure they are actually attainable. Building off of the previous example, raising a customer feedback score by 10 percent is likely attainable, but achieving a perfect feedback score may be asking too much. Depending on the scoring system, even perfectly satisfied customers may not provide a perfect score, and asking your team to work toward the impossible is more likely to frustrate than inspire.

Make Goals Measurable

There needs to be a method for monitoring progress and a way to choose reasonable benchmarks that show things are moving in the right direction. Often, this means choosing targets that involve numbers. For example, landing one new client a week or improving sales by 20 percent can all be monitored in a meaningful and concrete way. There is no room for interpretation, as the numbers tell the whole story.

Keep Time on Your Side

Along with measurable benchmarks, you want to set a timetable for these goals to be reached. This helps with planning efforts and is a way to keep everyone on the same page. Failing to give a timeframe for key aspects of the goal means that everyone might be working with a different timetable in mind. And, having your team working off of assumptions could create conflict instead of cohesion.

Incentives and Rewards

Many managers see employee pay as enough of a reward to keep their team motivated. While salary is a big incentive, sometimes you have to add incentives to help get everyone excited to move forward.

Now, that doesn’t mean the rewards need to be expensive. Everything from openly expressing appreciation to ordering everyone pizza for lunch can help keep your team motivated. The idea is to demonstrate your appreciation for the progress being made as it lets your team know that their hard work isn’t going unnoticed.

Staff Properly

If your team needs a new member, take care to choose someone who can help everyone reach your new goals. Look for candidates that can fill skill gaps or fit into the plan with ease. That way, you can choose applicants based on their ability to help everyone move forward instead of risking being held back.

Are you looking for top IT talent?

If you are looking for a new technical employee for your team, Resolution Technologies can find the candidates you need to meet your goals. Contact us today and speak to one of our skilled recruitment specialists to see how our experience can work for you.

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