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What Does a Good Work Environment Look Like?

When considering the aspects of a job, it’s important to think about the work environment and the effect it can have on your day-to-day life. Having a great work environment can add important benefits to your life that will help you be successful at the office.

Anyone who has had a boss or supervisor has probably uttered the words “I just don’t know what he/she wants me to do.” Lack of communication is a common problem that we face each and every day. Great communication amongst co-workers is a sign of a great work environment and provides a major benefit – less confusion and clear direction when tackling projects. Regardless of where you land on the hierarchy chart at the office, great communication skills are essential to being efficient at work. If you’re communicating your thoughts clearly you will be more productive and successful at work.

A work environment that breeds’ team spirit can create a sense of unity that benefits the people working in that environment. After all, we are all human and when work gets tough, it’s a great feeling to know you have your co-workers to support you. Clear communication can lay out what a company’s goals are and from there you and your co-workers can get behind that goal to accomplish it together. Having a team-oriented office is an important benefit of a successful work environment because it can keep people from feeling isolated and overwhelmed with their jobs.

Showing recognition for hard work can be critical to creating a successful work environment. Merit based recognition is the key to this being a positive benefit in the workplace. Often times praise is not given to the correct people when a major accomplishment is achieved. Being sure to give appreciation and praise to the right people can create a work environment that is enthusiastic towards producing superior work. As an employee, this will help you feel appreciated and it will motivate you to continue to excel at the office.

A positive work environment can entail many things. The ideas previously listed are important principal ideas that provide benefits such as an enjoyable, efficient, and successful workplace. Remember to attain a great work environment and to yield these benefits your office needs to be full of clear communicators, form a team focused atmosphere, and always recognize superior work by showing appropriate praise and appreciation. If you’re looking to find a great work environment, come check out our website, where we can find a perfect match for you!

Summer Office Tips

The sun is hot and the beach is calling your name, while you are stuck in the office. Working during the summer can sometime feel tedious and slow, many blaming this lull on a summer slump. The best way to combat this slump and motivate yourself in the office this summer is to follow some easy tips.

Light Snacks or Water
Drink lots of water to stay hydrated during the heat! According to Mayo Clinic men need 13 cups of water per day while women need at least 9 cups. It’s very important to remember that even during the workday, though you may not feel the heat, your body still needs to stay hydrated. Keeping cool snacks around the office might be the energizing treat you need to stay cool. Having fruit such as berries, cut up peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums and melons are go-to’s when it comes to a light snack to eat around the office.

Scarf or Cardigan
Even though it might be warm outside, the office you work in might try and combat this weather by using the AC on full blast. While it might feel good when you first come in, having the office this cold throughout the day might give you the chills. Women are particularly susceptible, being that they are usually in fewer layers of clothing. Bringing a light sweater or summer scarf is a good way to stay warm in a cold office during the summer.

Barbecue or Picnic
One of the best ways to get your coworkers together and take advantage of the sunny weather is to have an office barbecue or picnic. Hosting a get together during the lunch hour or after work is a good way to get to know who you’re working with in a more relaxed setting. Connecting with other could drastically improve morale and it is a great way to get outside.

Light fabrics or layers
Dressing for the workplace during the summer can be difficult. The best way to dress for the heat outside (conflicting with the AC) is by wearing layers and cooler fabrics. Fabrics such as cotton and linen are a great place to start. Wearing multiple layers that are all office appropriate is another way to beat the heat, you can gradually take off layers as you are going outdoors.

Vacation or Staycation
Vacation time is definitely a catch-22 the higher you climb the corporate ladder, the more vacation you are usually allowed, but the less inclined you are to use it. With all of the responsibilities you have, the less you are inclined to take a long break. Be sure to let you team know far ahead of time before taking time off, but make sure to take time when you need it! If you can’t take a long vacation, a stay-cation might be a better option. Taking a day or two to stay at home and take care of yourself or walk around your town and do something you love, might be the break you need!

If a member of your team needs to take some vacation time, you can always call us for an excellent temporary hire! If you want more information or summer tips, go to our website or call us at 361-883-3535!

How To Fall In Love With Your Job

With Valentine’s day just around the corner, love is in the air. However, this is not the typical romance advertised for February 14th. This Valentine’s day we are focusing on loving your job. Just because you may not have your ultimate dream job, does not mean you cannot love your job. Enjoying your job not only helps your mental health, but it also helps you succeed in life. Whether you are just embarking on your career path, or have matured through the workforce, these tips will help you learn to love your job.

Tips for Loving you Job:

Focus On the Positives
We all know the feeling when we wake up early and all we want to do is to hit the snooze button. Getting up early for a nine to five job, seven days a week can become a drag. However, instead of waking up and focusing on the lack of sleep you got, or facing a traffic filled commute, focus on something positive about your job. Once you have that one positive attribute about your job, amp it up! This can be anywhere from enjoying spending time with your coworkers, interesting assignments, to opportunities for learning. Changing how you perceive your job can make all the difference. Even if there is no tangible change, having a positive attitude will not only help you enjoy your day more, but it will also encourage a positive workplace for everyone else in the office.

2. Surround Yourself With Those You Love
Sometimes the key to happiness within a career is being surrounded by those you love. Having a strong relationship with your coworkers and your superiors can turn any job into one you feel passionate about. The key to enjoying your job is being surrounded by people
who you enjoy and you look forward to spending time with. The fact of life is that you will be spending a lot of time with people you work with, so creating and maintaining positive relationships will allow you to enjoy going to work each day.

3. Ask For More Responsibility
Having a routine is great, but sometimes routines at work become tedious, which only increases boredom. Feeling unimportant within a company can take a tole on how you perceive your job. If you feel as though you are completing the same tasks at work on a daily basis, ask for more responsibility! Having more responsibility will add a new element of interest into your daily responsibilities and it will look impressive in the eyes of your supervisor. Tackling a new challenge at work increases your skill set, allows for opportunities for learning and growth, and can open you up to new and interesting people at your company.

This Valentine’s day focus on what you love about your job, and what you can do to change what you don’t love. Remember The Wilson Group is here to help you find that job you love. For more information and tips on landing a job you love visit our website.

8 Things You Should Know About Millennials in the Job Market

You may be hearing more and more about of the term “Millennials” when discussing job searching these days. That is because this group of individuals is are currently taking over the work force. Millennials include everyone born from 1982 to 2000, which is roughly 70 million Americans. Though you might not think it is wise to hire a twenty-something right out of college with less experience, you should give it another look. Before discounting all of these Generation Y’ers as “kids”, here are 8 things you should know about them.

1. They like flexible work spaces. Millennials are constantly connected, whether it be to a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Last month, oDesk reported that about 90 percent of Millennials are interested in flexible work arrangements. Being connected all the time leaves room for millennials to leave the office and work from home or the local coffee shop.

2. They’re technologically inclined. The most definitive feature of millennials is their knowledge and immersion in technology. Millennials have a knowledge of computers and social media far beyond that of older generations because this technology is already part of their lives. It might even save money on tech support if you hire employees that cannot remember life without internet.

3. They may be cost efficient. People that graduate during a recession are much more likely to settle on a starting salary. This gives applicants with less experience a lower price tag than those that are more qualified. Depending on the position, a lower price tag with a little extra training might be exactly what you need.

4. They’re adaptive. With the economy as it is today, there is no telling what the future will bring. Millennials thrive on this mindset. They welcome change and can adapt to fit the needs of the job. Millennials are also more willing to learn new about technology, and are constantly up to date from internet news sources.

5. They’re team players and love to collaborate. They share ideas through all kinds of social media sites and internet databases. This skill makes millennials ideal candidates for group work, large projects and collaboration.

6. They are ambitious. According to an article in The Atlantic, productivity has significantly increased since 1995, while wages have stayed about the same. This means millennials are working much harder for the same pay. Millennials also value career progression and personal growth above all other factors in their current job.

7. They’re impatient. Millenials want answers right now. Most of this is due to the accessibility to the internet, but if millennials want an answer to a question they find it immediately. This makes them virtual bloodhounds on the researching front. However, this aversion to ambiguity also causes impatience for questions to be answered by others in the workplace.

8. They like helping the community. Millennials love green initiatives. According to the Rapid Learning Institute, 50% of millennials have done some sort of community service in the past year. Include an environmental effort or charitable cause and millennials find a sense of pride in their work and feel that sense of meaning. They have a need for a meaningful job and prioritize meaningful work over pay or achievement.

Individuals in the “millennial” category are different from any other demographic in the workplace. Whether you find this good or bad, it is a reality. Millennials are here to stay and adjusting your workplace or hiring a millennial might be just what you need.

What do you think of millennials? Let us know! Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for even more updates!