“Caleb is doing very well as a remote employee. He is independent and commits himself to the mission of a project not just his narrow tasking. Seeing the “big picture” helps him to suggest solutions that the customer may not have even considered,” his manager.

First, always avoid office gossip. If you find your coworkers talking about a fellow employee, the best thing to do is walk away from the conversation. Converse only about harmless subjects such as television shows, music, news, sports, etc.

Remember to use positive language when discussing the company or co-workers’ personal lives. Don’t ever vent to a fellow employee about the company, a coworker or especially your supervisor. If you have a negative comment that you wouldn’t want that person to hear, it’s probably not the best idea to share it in your place of work. Don’t be too trusting. Stay professional at all times.

Be kind and compliment your coworkers appropriately. This sends out positive vibes in the office. The more positive the team is, the more enjoyable the work atmosphere will be.

Never snap when frustrated in the workplace. This takes discipline. Think and listen before you speak. If a problem arises, think clearly and confront the issue without an attacking approach. Use “I feel that….” instead of “You did….” You will be surprised how much faster a problem is solved in an adult conversation rather than a verbal attack.

Make sure to let your fellow co-worker speak their mind and express their side of the issue. It’s important to be open minded when dealing with conflict. The best way to resolve an office conflict is to work together to find a solution that benefits everyone.

- Katie Kennedy, Resource Manager at Kavaliro

When the announcement was made that a space was finalized and we had a moving date, our team was excited to hear about the larger desk spaces and prime location but I could only think about how big of a project this was going to be. Did I mention that we were only a month away from the move date?
The biggest part of our project was ensuring our internet and phone system was working when our team showed up for work on moving day. Thankfully we had a great partner that was able to spearhead this task and get every workstation up and running and the best decision we made was asking everyone to be in charge of their own belongings. We each had a box or two and packed up our computers, files, and other accoutrements and were asked to set up our own space. By giving everyone the responsibility of moving their own workspace, the burden didn’t fall on just one person.

Here is where it gets hairy. You can never plan for the things that will go wrong. And there will be things that go wrong. You have to just move on and deal with it the best way possible. In our case, the reception desk that was ordered was not the color we thought it was once it was delivered. Rather than settle for something that we knew wouldn’t look best in our space, we arranged for another desk and a nearby cubicle is serving as the reception area for a few weeks. We also have only half of the phone lines that will eventually be functional. To help reduce the line burden, we’re using more cell phones at our desks. These solutions aren’t ideal but we’re getting by and our business isn’t suffering.

All in all, our move went pretty well. The majority of the office is put together and most importantly, there is actual work being done. Moral didn’t suffer too greatly with the changes, and we have a great space that we have room to grow in. I am still in denial that our file room is still in boxes- but that is a conversation for another day! We all learned a few things from this experience: how to work from Panera when you don’t have internet at the office, how to pack (or over-pack) a box of files, how to break down and set up computer components, and most importantly, how to relax and do your job even though everything is upside down!

According to the Labor Department, April was a one-month low with jobless claims falling 27,000 to 365,000 – the most in more than three months.

“I think these numbers prove to provide a hopeful message for tomorrow’s jobs report,” said Kavaliro Managing Partner Bill Peppler. “These numbers are consistent with what Kavaliro is currently seeing in our current client landscape. The numbers for highly skilled and specialized skill sets such as finance and technology continue to have much lower unemployment numbers than the general population.”

Last month the rise in applications for unemployment benefits was a surprise after several months of steady decline. Many were concerned that hiring slowed down and worried that the market was worsening. But, according to economists interviewed by the AP, the spring holidays’ temporary layoffs may have boosted benefit applications.

“Applications are a measure of the pace of layoffs,” according to the Associated Press. “When they fall below 375,000, it generally suggests that hiring will be strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.”

- Tyger Danger

1. Hungry and Driven: Students are well-aware of the growing competitive market around them, and something to be said about our youth is their energy and strive to win. Survival instincts kick in when they see the world of unemployment around them, so recent graduates are thriving with motivation. After being in school for many years and fresh out from a long stint of learning, it only makes sense that these recent graduates will still have that same desire to learn, which is highly beneficial.

2. Experience and Career-Focused: Many students gather experience elsewhere other than their field of work. I know personally, my parents instilled in me the importance of gaining valuable knowledge and a strong work ethic doing part-time jobs and volunteer work. Not only did it help me get a grasp on being financially responsible, but it gave me the maturity and expectations to bring forth once I was ready to tackle a full-time professional career. Internships are becoming more accessible for students as well, because businesses are able to create jobs at a low cost which are great tools for gaining know-how experience that is essential when pursuing a career.

3. Comfortable with Technology: We live in a generation where social media is prominent. New graduates expect to work with technology and learn rapidly at that. In a world where Facebook and Twitter are our core means of communication, what better way to bring into a company someone who has extensive knowledge of the latest communication tools. Not only does it benefit your company with fast growth, but it also gives older employees the chance to learn and profit from this high-value quality.

Now more than ever is the time to consider hiring new college graduates. Many employers don’t think of recent grads as hiring material for their business, but it is time to think again. They are fast-learners with a willingness to discover what it takes to be successful. Coming from an educated background, they can provide a continuous learning attitude as well as bring new innovation for the future that can be very valuable for businesses. You may never know what you are missing with a candidate if you stop short of their recent graduated status. It might benefit you in more ways than one.

-Natalie Castellana, Executive Assistant at Kavaliro

When I initially decided to serve on Board of Directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, I was fortunate enough to go on a Club tour with Gary Cain, BGCCF president. I was truly amazed at how many disadvantaged youth are serviced at the two Orlando locations I visited — Pine Hills and the Coalition for the Homeless. Kids can participate in a variety of activities such as drama class, sports, technology, or dance. Time is set aside each day for schoolwork or tutoring. Students are also provided with snacks and meals while they are at the Club. For many, the Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe haven where kids receive the much-needed care and support that they might not be getting at home.

The Clubs keeps these kids off the streets after school and throughout the evening where they may be faced with much more difficult and dangerous decisions. Last year, 99% of all high school senior Club members graduated. Also, in 2011, there were NO pregnancies among the 3,816 female Club members ages 10-18.
 Less than a tenth of 1% of the Club members were arrested. In comparison, 6,747 juveniles made up 11% of all arrests in our four-county area during just the first six months of 2011. These statistics show the great impact that the Clubs are making with the youth in Central Florida. With all that these Clubs provide in servicing the over 10,000 members in Central Florida, it is amazing that the majority of funding comes from individual and corporate donations.

BGCCF’s annual Celebrate The Children Dinner & Auction event was the 3rd largest fundraising event in Central Florida in 2011. Kavaliro will be sponsoring a table at the event this year and are hoping that others will follow our lead. It’s important that we all step up in support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. By supporting the Clubs either financially or through volunteer service, we are helping our community’s youth to one day become productive members of Central Florida. When you give to Boys &Girls Clubs of Central Florida, you are not only helping the youth of today, but you are making an investment in our future.

If you’d like to sponsor a table or make a donation towards this year’s Celebrate The Children event being held on May 4th at the Orlando World Center Marriott, please contact Diane Mahony at DMahony@kavaliro.com.

- Diane Mahony, CEO of Kavaliro

We hope you will plan on joining the group of support professionals in your area that are getting together in Orlando to gauge the interest in starting an HDI Local Chapter in the Orlando area. This is a great opportunity to meet people in your industry and in your geographic area that speak your language, understand your dilemmas, and can help you answer questions that you deal with each and every day!

We can’t do it alone, so join us for this interest meeting and let’s get this ball rolling!

This Interest Meeting will be held:
Thursday, April 19, 2012
6:00 to 8:00 pm
Dr. Phillips Hospital
9400 Turkey Lake Rd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Directions to the hospital and information about the free parking garage here:

If you know someone who might also be interested in attending this Interest Meeting, please forward this email to them. The more support professionals we can reach, the stronger our chapter becomes!

Please RSVP your interest so we can determine if this is something that works for your geographic area!
I look forward to hearing from you!
(If you have already RSVP’d there is no need to do so again!)

This meeting will be hosted by Orlando Health and is sponsored by HDI. There is no charge to attend this meeting so feel free to bring your team!

The separation between the generations is comfort with culture and technology. The average Millennial will be able to adopt a new technology into their business lives making them more productive faster than the Baby Boomer generation can now. This trend will cause a shift in the workplace moving business at a much more rapid pace.

The Pew Research Center released a report called “Millennial: Confident. Connected. Open to Change” that stated that “Millennial were the only generation to not list work ethic as one of their top 5 characteristics”. The new workforce values their personal lives and family above work, they live first and work second. Though viewed through the eyes of a 9-5 Baby Boomer the younger generation may seem lazy, the millennial generation is a driven group who do not complain when presented with a challenge. It is important that the leadership of any company knows how to present a project to this generation, framed correctly and with the right boundaries.

The Millennial like to know the rules and limits, they work much better in groups and should be assigned projects that have an element of creativity to challenge them. Some areas that Millennial feel should be focused on are: Involved Leadership, Organizational Transparency, Thinking as a Group or Team, Passion for a Project, Focus on Results Not a Time-clock. We will see many changes coming down as companies adopt these Millennial into leadership roles.

It is easy to lump this generation into the category of “lazy”, if you understand how they think you will see they are anything but. Millennial feel that if they can perform their job well from bed from 7-10 and from the coffee house from 3-6 they should be allowed that flexibility.

There is a shift coming into the workplace, how will it affect you?

- Guest Blogger: Joel Goldstein, Internet Marketing Expert at Peer Marketing Group

Sources:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/200906/millennials-poised-take-over-the-workplace

http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2011/12/13/the-expanding-roles-of-millennials-in-the-workplace/

http://blogs.hbr.org/davenport/2008/12/can_millennials_really_change.html

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/04/the_millenials_work_ethic_prob.html

• Arrive Early: It is imperative to arrive to your interview at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This shows the employer that you’re prepared.
• Always Bring a Resume: Print several copies in case you meet with more than one hiring manager. It is better to be over prepared going into your first interview.
• Dress the Part: Premium appearance is always a must for a first impression with an employer. Research the company’s culture and make sure to wear the appropriate Business Attire (in most cases, business suits).
• Shake Hands Firmly: Having a weak or mild handshake doesn’t give employers the impression that you’re very confident. Instead, shake hands firmly, don’t pull away too quickly, and look the person in the eye as you say “hello.”
• Eye Contact: Good eye contact conveys confidence and enthusiasm.
• Facial Expression: Smile. Imagine yourself as an interviewer meeting people all day. Walk in with a friendly and energetic face.
• Energy Level: Show enthusiasm. You want this job!
• Smile: You might be nervous, but try to remember to smile, especially as you greet potential employers.
• Posture: Maintain good posture throughout the interview. Sit up straight, relax, cross your feet at your ankles or place feet firmly on the ground, don’t slouch or rock back in your chair.
• Speak Up: When asked questions, speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard. When people are nervous, they tend to speak more quickly, so make sure you are conscious about how quickly you’re speaking and slow down if necessary.
• Don’t Chew Gum!

Make sure that your first impression lasts by cleaning up your web presence prior to your interview. If an employer likes you, they might do some research on you when they get home, and if you’ve posted a bunch of non-professional pictures to social media sites, you could do a lot of damage to the first impression you have just made in person!

Post Interview Tips:

Thank you
Always send a thank you note! This is important, not just for the sake of good manners, but to get the job. If time constraints make it difficult to send a hand-written note, at least send an e-mail, written fax, or make a phone call and tell the interviewer, “Thank You.”

Follow-up Phone Calls
Before leaving an interview, ask the employer to give you some idea when they will be making a hiring decision. If you haven’t heard anything after one week, phone the interviewer and inquire whether the position has been filled. If a decision has not been made, now is a good time to let the prospective employer know that you are still very interested in the job. Many employers hire the most enthusiastic applicant out of a group of qualified candidates.

- Katie Kennedy, Resource Manager at Kavaliro