It is very easy to be tempted by skills in a resume.  This reigns true in IT, where unemployment is less than 3%.  Sometimes the blinders come out and we tend to narrowly evaluate and over-inflate the value of a person’s technical skills.

The reality is that new skills are often taught more easily than trying to change one’s behavioral styles and track record of success.  If someone has great skills on paper, but seems to jump around from company to company, never going back to the same place twice, it very well could be a hiring trap.

Remember hiring managers, “if they’ll do it for you, they’ll do it to you!” – Al Debuc.  If they’ll quit in the middle of an assignment to take a position with you, while offering very little to no notice to their current employer, they will most likely do the same thing to you.

So how do you know if you’re hiring the right people?

Tips for Dealing with Humans

Everyone has a set of core values they live by.  Determine the candidate’s core values and what motivates them.  Is their alignment?  Motivators are the strongest predictor of success on the job!

Is the candidate comfortable behaviorally with what you are asking them to do?  For example, asking a task-oriented person to do detailed behind the scenes work vs. asking them to influence people all day long.  The more behavioral comfort with the work, the longer they can produce at a high level.

In most cases, you are better off teaching someone new skills rather than trying to change their behaviors or values.  Teaching a Software Engineer the latest version of Java is easier than pushing them in front of customers, if they’re not comfortable.  Consider hiring a Software Engineer that is comfortable with client facing and teach them the latest version of Java.

One of the best ways to predict what people will do in the future is by assessing their past.  If someone hasn’t gotten along with their last three managers, there is a good chance they are not going to get along with you.

Hiring managers often fail by thinking they can easily change a person’s values and the way they think.  You can change people at times, but it’s often times much easier and more predictable to teach them new skills.

Ask Yourself These Questions:

● Is your training program aligned to fill gaps in a tight labor market?

● When is the last time you enhanced your interview structure or added new behavioral questions to align with changing  demands?

● Are the candidate’s core values aligned with your organization?

● Do you utilize an instrument in your hiring process to assess behaviors and motivators?

In today’s job market, you may have some difficult decisions to make with concessions regarding skills.  Hiring the candidate with the right motivators and behavioral comfort while filling in the gaps with technical skills training will save you time, effort, and money in the long run!

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® winners are pooled by the size of their company. All companies, no matter their size, can be a Best and Brightest Company to Work For® and as a result they build better business, create richer lives and grow stronger communities.

An independent research firm evaluates each company’s entry based on key measures in various categories. They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business. (See the attached list of honorees.)

The winning companies also vie for 11 elite awards, one granted for each category. Also, an overall winner that excelled in all categories will be honored with a “Best of the Best Overall” award. The elite award winners will be announced during the luncheon. Judy Hsu from ABC 7 Chicago News and Pat Cassidy from WBBM-AM News Radio will emcee the awards ceremony.

The event starts at 8:00 a.m. with registration and a networking continental breakfast. The morning continues with a series of interactive educational sessions on human resource practices starting at 9:00 a.m., followed by the awards luncheon honoring all winners and announcement of the 12 elite winners.

This year’s educational speakers include Tom Gimbel, LaSalle Network, Maria Coons, Harper College, Ron Wilkins, Wilkins Fitness Corp, and Denise W. Barreto, Relationships Matter Now, LLC.

“We are honored to recognize the efforts of this year’s Best and Brightest companies. These companies have created impressive organizational value and business results through their policies and best practices in human resource management. This award is a powerful recruitment tool in the drive to attract and retain exceptional employees in the Chicagoland area,” said Jennifer Kluge, NABR president.

Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago, Assurance Agency, BASIC, Baudville, Clark Hill, CORP! Magazine, FONA International, IIT Center for Research and Service, Mutual Trust, Namely, Omron Automation and Safety, Take Down Eventures, TalentWise, The Executive Group, The Management Association of Illinois, The Orsus Group, True Partners Consulting, Verizon Wireless and Wilkins Solutions Enterprises.

The “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®”, a program of the National Association for Business Resources is presented annually in several markets: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Houston, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Nationally. Nominations are now being accepted. Visit www.101bestandbrightest.com to obtain an application.

Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women magazine, has announced the winners of the 2015 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, an annual tribute to the world’s top women entrepreneurs. Honorees will be recognized at the 13th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards & Conference, Sunday, March 29 to Tuesday, March 31 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards is widely considered one of the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners. To win, nominees must demonstrate that they have fast-growth businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and stand out as leaders in their communities. Many of the honorees also serve as leaders of the key organizations that support the growth of women’s entrepreneurship.

Award winners were recognized in seven categories this year: annual sales revenues of more than $100 million; annual sales revenues of more than $25 million and up to $100 million; annual sales revenues of more than $10 million and up to $25 million; annual sales revenues of more than $5 million and up to $10 million; annual sales revenues of more than $2 million and up to $5 million; annual sales revenues of more than $1 million and up to $2 million; and annual sales revenues of up to $1 million.

Winners in the “over $100 million in annual revenues” category:
• Kay Ivie, Ivie & Associates, Inc., Flower Mound, TX
• Beatriz Manetta, Argent Associates, Inc., Plano, TX
• Jennifer Maier, WDS, Inc., Lake Wylie, S.C.
• Julia Fournier, HCMWorks, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Veronica Muzquiz Edwards, InGenesis, Inc., San Antonio, TX
• Camille Thomas, JMC Retail Group, Minneapolis, Minn.

Winners in the “over $25 million and up to $100 Million in annual revenues” category:
• Raegan Moya-Jones, Aden & Anais, Inc, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Traci Lounsbury, ELEMENTS, Denver, Colo.
• Lisa Sackuvich, ARJ Infusion Services, Lenexa, Kan.
• Diane Medley, MCM LLP, Louisville, Ky.
• Noreen King, Evolve Manufacturing Technologies, Inc., Mountain View, Calif.
• Carol Hackbarth, Hackbarth Delivery Service, Mobile, Ala.
• Mary K. Davenport, TransTech IT Staffing, Itasca, Ill.
• Marygrace Sexton, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company, Fort Pierce, Fla.
• Jennifer Jeansonne, Eagle Consulting, LLC, Belle Chasse, La.

Winners in the “over $10 million and up to $25 Million in annual revenues” category:
• Britnie Turner, Aerial Development Group, Nashville, Tenn.
• Tammy Cohen, InfoMart, Inc., Marietta, Ga.
• Marie Seipenko, Preferred Solutions, Northville, Mich.
• Patty Comer, AccruePartners, Charlotte, N.C.
• Sylvana Coche, Gravity Pro Consulting, LLC, San Clemente, Calif.
• Fiona Gathright, Wellness Corporate Solutions, LLC, Bethesda, Md.
• Paula Lombard, WEXCO Industries, Pine Brook, N.J.
• Hetal Parikh, Rangam Consultants Inc., Somerset, N.J.
• Olga Smirnova, Global Language Solutions, Irvine, Calif.
• Barbara Issett, IQ Business Events, Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
• Sheila Benson, Employment Screening Services, Birmingham, Ala.
• Lauren Herring, IMPACT Group, St. Louis, Mo.
• Joy E. Taylor, TayganPoint Consulting Group, LLC, Lambertville, N.J.
• Deborah C. Weaver, Midwest Litigation Services, St. Louis, Mo.
• Claudia Mirza, Elahi Enterprises, Inc., dba, Akorbi, Plano, TX
• Marilyn Grabowski, AtlanticInfra, Wall, N.J.
• Mary Miller, JANCOA Janitorial Services, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
• Angela Lee, The Happy Point Resto Group, Chicago, Ill.
• Diana Harbour, The Red Dress Boutique, Athens, Ga.
• Natalie McDonald, Create NYC, New York, N.Y.

Winners in the “over $5 million and up to $10 Million in annual revenues” category:
• Jean Thompson, Seattle Chocolate Company, Seattle, Wash.
• Carol Fitzgerald, Buzzback LLC, New York, N.Y.
• Mandy Gilbert, Creative Niche Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Tabatha Turman, Integrated Finance & Accounting Solutions, LLC, Woodbridge, Va.
• Billie Bryant Schultz, CESCO, Inc., Dallas, TX
• Carolyn Williams Francis, Williams Interior Designs, Inc., Columbus, OH
• Victoria L. Vasques, Tribal Tech, LLC, Alexandria, Va.
• Brooke Partridge, Vital Wave, Palo Alto, Calif.
• Lisa Rosenthal, The Mayvin Consulting Group, Inc., Alexandria, Va.
• Carla Percy, The Mayvin Consulting Group, Inc., Alexandria, Va.
• Teresa Sherald, Diversity Search Group, Columbus, OH
• Stacy D. Phillips, Phillips Lerner, A Law Coroporation, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Susan Gilbert, APOGEE Interactive, Inc., Tucker, Ga.
• Ellen Dickson, Bailey Edward Design, Inc., Chicago, Ill.
• Sue Bennett, Bennett Design Associates, Inc., Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada
• Mashell Carissimi, JMC Electrical Contractor, LLC, Saint Clair Shores, Mich.

Winners in the “over $2 million and up to $5 million in annual revenues” category:
• CJ Stafford, Stafford Communications Group, Inc., New Providence, N.J.
• Jennah Purk, CPA, MST, Purk & Associates, P.C., St. Louis, Mo.
• Eugenia Rangel Vera, Tabiques y Acabados de Ceramica SA de C.V., Juarez, Mexico
• Crystal Arlington, Affiliated Grounds Maintenance Group, Inc., Erie, Pa.
• Melissa Lackey, Standing Partnership, St. Louis, Mo.
• Heidi Krupp, Krupp Communications, New York, N.Y.
• Melanie Querry, Beyond Spots & Dots, Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Ania Rodriguez, Key Lime Interactive, Doral, Fla.
• Emily Merson, Global Experiences, Annapolis, Md.
• Kathy Palokoff, Firestarter, Baltimore, Md.
• Dorothy Botsi-Tulare, Botho Ubuntu Cleaning, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Delois Babiker, Intellectual Concepts, LLC, Atlanta, Ga.
• Reginalea Sturns-Kemp, Kemp & Sons General Services, Fort Worth, TX
• Gabriela Leon Gutierrez, Gresmex, Naucalpan City, Mexico
• Tanya Little, Hart Advisors Group, LLC, Dallas, TX
• Jane Sydlowski, AMI Strategies, Livonia, Mich.
• Ann K. Luciani, First Capital Engineering, York, Pa.

Winners in the “over $1 million and up to $2 million in annual revenues” category:
• Linda A. Fanaras, Millennium Integrated Marketing, Manchester, N.H.
• Adie Horowitz, Licenders, New York, N.Y.
• Debbie Oberbillig, Allen Partners, Inc., Seattle, Wash.
• Melinda Maine Garvey, AW Media, Austin, TX
• Susan L. Dawson, Waltz, Palmer & Dawson, LLC, Rolling Meadows, Ill.
• Charmane H. Sellers, ALEON Properties, Inc., Austin, TX
• Diana Peters, Symbol Training Institute, Skokie, Ill.
• Francine Friedman Griesing, Griesing Law, LLC, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Dr. Angela Marshall, Comprehensive Women’s Health, Inc., Silver Spring, Md.
• Moira Vetter, Modo Modo Agency, Atlanta, Ga.

Winners in the “up to $1 million in annual revenues” category:
• Rashi Bajaj, Carpet Couture by Rashi, New Delhi, India
• Marla Rausch, Animation Vertigo, Irvine, Calif.
• Latoya Bullard-Franklin, The Bulsard Group, LLC, Houston, TX
• Deborah K. Delaney, Touching Lives Adult Day Services, Savage, Minn.
• Kathy Kamei, Kathy Kamei Designs, Kentfield, Calif.
• Tena Z. Payne, Earthborn Studios, Inc., Leeds, Ala.
• Maria Teresa Cepeda Casasus, Imaging Supplies de Mexico SA, Mexico City, Mexico
• Jeri J. Brooks, One World Strategy Group, LLC, Houston, TX
• Dr. Marlene N. Mahipat, Mediquest, LLC, Randallstown, Md.
• Kelly Ehlers, Evoke Brands, Inc., Madison, Wis.
• Dana Marlowe, Accessibility Partners, Silver Spring, Md.
• Elaine Gordon, Gordon ADR, LLC, Westbrook, Conn.
• Chandra Moore, coG-studio, Detroit, Mich.
• Sheila Stenhouse Lee, Sheila Lee & Associates, LLC, Baltimore, Md.
• Sandra Sassow, SEaB Energy Limited, Southhampton, United Kingdom
• Yaneek Page, Future Services International, Kingston, Jamaica
• Sandy Riser, SwanRise Productions and The Next Level Business Solutions, Tucson, Ariz.

Women receiving honorable mention:
• Hima Kolanagireddy, ASCII Group, LLC, Farmington, Mic.
• Catherine M. Tojaga, CT Mechanical, Lombard, Ill.
• Simona Faroni, G.S. Gelato and Desserts, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
• Juliet Shrader, iVantage Group, Brighton, Mic.
• Loni Mouton, Access Land & Title Services, Inc., Metairie, La.
• Christine Lotze, Philosophy IB, LLP, Florham Park, N.J.
• Deborah Wooldridge, DW Training and Development, Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.
• Debbie Drury, Market Doctors, Dickinson, TX
• Rashi A. Khosla, MARS IT Corp., Wauwatosa, WI
• Danielle Hughes, Divine Capital Markets LLC, New York, N.Y.
• Megan Buzzetta, Global Planners, Inc., Hamilton, N.J.
• Joaneane A. Smith, Global Commerce and Services, LLC, Harvey, La.
• Barbara Wichmann, ARTEMIA Communications, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
• Christy Lamagna, Strategic Meetings & Events, Bernardsville, N.J.
• Robin Franks, TGE Resources, Inc., Houston, TX
• Cindi Shelby, R Meyers, Nichols Hills, Okla.
• Shari Yocum, Tasman Consulting, LLC, San Francisco, Calif.
• Connie Golleher, The Golleher Group, LLC, McLean, Va.
• Twyla N. Garrett, IME, Washington, DC
• Vandana Mehrotra, Meteonic Innovation Pvt Ltd., Bangalore, India
• Susan Munro, Hybrid Edit, Marina del Rey, Calif.
• Stacy Francis, Francis Financial, New York, N.Y.
• Patricia Vice, CRM, FAI, CRM & Associates, Inc., Houston, TX
• Sassa Akervall, Akervall Technologies Inc., Saline, Mich.
• Julianne Erhart-Graves, Worley Erhart-Graves Financial Advisors, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.
• Sandy Wyman, Tidestone Solutions, Portland, ME
• Shelly Aberson, Aberson Narotzky & White, Inc., Kenilworth, N.J.
• Joyce Brocaglia, Alta Associates and the Executive Women’s Forum, Flemington, N.J.
• Hilary Kaye, HKA, Inc. Marketing Communications, Tustin, Calif.
• Lisa Fairclough, Fairclough Realtors and Property Managers (Lisa Fairclough Enterprises), Sparta, N.J.
• Johnette Van Eeden, Star Wellness, Euless, TX
• Andrea Mason, barre3, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Carrie Brewer Martinez, CM Productions, Inc., Dallas, TX
• Karin Caro, BluChip Marketing, Smithtown, N.Y.
• Carrie Rich, The Global Good Fund, Arlington, Va.
• Heather Howell, Rooibee Red Tea, Louisville, Ky.
• Madeline Ann Lewis, PhD, Executive Women’s Success Institute, Upper Marlboro, Md.
• Heather Anne Sams, HAS Art Solutions, Jacksonville, Fla.
• Natasha Pongonis, Nativa, a Multicultural Communications Agency, Columbus, OH
• Sharon W. Reynolds, DevMar Products, LLC, Nashville, Tenn.
• Kristin Carrington, Carrington Risk Consulting, LLC, Ft. Myers Beach, Fla.
• Susan McCormick, M.S., The Wellness Connection, LLC, Stone Ridge, Va.
• Della Simpson, Relan, Mendota Heights, Minn.
• Memuna Williams, Avantgarde Translations, Charlotte, N.C.
• Jacqueline E. Muller, 3DOM (Asia Pacific) Ltd., Hong Kong
• Moni Singh, STEM For Kids, Raleigh, N.C.
The 2015 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration and Conference will bring together dynamic women business owners from North America and around the world for two full days of top-notch workshops, networking opportunities, corporate sponsor exhibits, and awards presentations. The celebration will shine the spotlight on award winners and finalists, with award presentations at the Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Gala Dinner. During the annual “Hall of Fame Luncheon,” one woman entrepreneur will be inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame, an outstanding nonprofit will receive the 2015 Advocacy Award, and two women will be recognized with the 2015 Legacy Award.

The event is open to winners and finalists of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award, corporate supporters, members of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board, VIPs in the women’s business community, readers of Enterprising Women magazine, and members of the many partner organizations affiliated with Enterprising Women.

QUOTES:
“When this awards program began 13 years ago, there were only a handful of nominees in what was then the highest revenue category – over $10 million in annual revenues. This growth reflects the fact that more women are scaling their businesses to the $100 million plus level. The Enterprising Women of the Year Award has grown each year in prestige and stature so women entrepreneurs at all levels want to be recognized with this award for the great work they are doing. We could not be more proud of the outstanding women who make up the Enterprising Women Class of 2015,” Smiley said.

ABOUT ENTERPRISING WOMEN MAGAZINE:
Enterprising Women, with headquarters in Cary, North Carolina, is the nation’s only women-owned magazine published exclusively for women business owners that chronicles the growing political, economic and social influence and power of entrepreneurial women. The magazine provides a friendly meeting place, a public forum and a national stage for the critical issues confronting women’s businesses and daily lives from the unique perspectives and experiences of entrepreneurial women. Published in both print and digital editions, the online edition of the magazine reaches nearly one million readers in 185 countries. For more information, please visit http://enterprisingwomen.com or call (919) 362-1551.

The Daily Herald Business Ledger has announced the names of 74 companies in 3 categories of competition that are being honored as the 2015 Best Places to Work in Illinois.

This is the 10^th year of this program. The number of companies participating and being honored has grown each year.

The awards program began in 2006 and is promoted by The Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago, MRA –The Management Association and the Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce.

The Presenting Sponsors of this year’s Awards Recognition Event are B. Gunther & Co., Northern Illinois University Graduate School of Business.

This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Illinois, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses.

The 2015 Best Places to Work in Illinois list is comprised of 31 companies in the small employer size (15-99 U.S. employees), 26 companies in the medium-sized list (100-499 U.S. employees), and 17 companies in the large-category (over 500 employees).

To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

• Have at least 15 employees working in Illinois.
• Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity.
• Be a publicly or privately held business.
• Have a facility in the state of Illinois; and
• Must be in business a minimum of 1 year

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Illinois. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. Best Companies Group of Harrisburg, PA managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

The 74 companies were recognized and honored at the Best Places to Work in Illinois awards ceremony coordinated by The Business Ledger on May 6 at the Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center (5:30 – 8:30 p.m.) and will be profiled in a special publication by The Business Ledger on June 22nd.

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Illinois program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkinIL.com.

The Business Ledger is the leading provider of business news and information about businesses and the economy in suburban Chicago. The Business Ledger is a sister publication to the Daily Herald and part of the Paddock Publications family.

It takes all 5 players to win a championship.  In that regard, a basketball team or any sports team for that matter is much like a work team.  There is a manager or coach, but there are individual contributors hopefully all working towards a common goal.  Here are some rules to live by when developing and maintaining a strong winning team.

1. Communication

The age old phrase, “open door policy” isn’t always what the phrase implies.  In some companies, management isn’t as approachable as they would like to think they are.  In order to be an effective team, the “open door policy” needs to be in effect at every level of the organization, depending on the size of course.

Teams need to communicate frustrations, suggestions, struggles, and appreciations.  It is much like a family in that a strong team fights constructively and grows to be even stronger.  Without clear and candid communication, rumors spread, morale can drop, and employees can feel disengaged with the business.

2. Celebrate victories together

Who doesn’t love a celebration?  It’s easy to celebrate your own victories, but it’s more important to celebrate the team goals.  When the team wins, everyone wins, the company thrives, and morale remains high.  Everyone wants to be a part of a winning team, but no one wants to be the one dragging the rest down.  By celebrating everyone’s victories and the team’s victories, employees feel a part of a bigger cause and are more likely to remain engaged.

3. Accountability

Accountability is something I’ve personally struggled with early in my career.  It was hard for me to admit that I had done something wrong, didn’t know something, or didn’t give 100% to the job.  I have learned that admitting to my faults or that I can’t take on more work when I’m slammed.  It’s easier to hold a peer accountable to their work, but it is much more difficult to hold yourself accountable and take ownership for your own actions.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still important to hold your teammates accountable.  Every member of the team should feel answerable to the rest for the team’s success or failure.  By holding yourself accountable first, it makes the team a stronger whole.

4. Clear and candid feedback

On a winning team, members shouldn’t have question where they stand.  Candid feedback in real time solves a lot of issues before they even arise.  I know I personally like hearing that I’m doing a good job or on the flip side, need to step up my game.

A winning team needs everyone’s buy in and participation.  Great communication, constructive feedback, and holding one another accountable are key elements to a winning team.  And doesn’t everyone want to be a part of successful, winning team?  I know I do.

Being positive and optimistic is a daily choice.  Smiling and offering genuine compliments to others helps you feel better too.  Try setting a daily compliments goal.  It forces you truly understand what is going on in the lives of the people around you.  This makes you a better co-worker, manager, husband, wife, father, mother, etc…

2. Select a strong lifetime mentor

If you don’t have a trusted, non-judgmental coach in your life, you should seriously consider finding one.  This person should be someone you respect that can help you make the right decisions in business and in life.  You need to talk with this person regularly and follow a structured process for obtaining guidance and feedback.

Yes, it is a lot to ask of someone, but they will ultimately benefit from the relationship as much as you do.

3. Set non-negotiable goals

Many of you have heard of a dream board.  If you don’t have one, I highly recommend making one to help you tie what you are doing every day to some long-range stretch goals that are REALLY important to you.

My stretch goal is buying a condo in St. Thomas.  It is light years away, yet seems real because I know what has to be done each year to make that dream a reality.

4. Be sure to read something each and every day

It doesn’t matter if it is a book, article, blog, or something you listen to in the car.  You have to keep learning and sharpening your skills.  This knowledge is what draws others closer to you.  We’ve all heard the saying that if you are jogging in place, the competition is running past you.  Knowledge will help determine whether you eat or are eaten.

5. Motivate yourself

Nobody can really motivate you each day of your life.  It is true you can be in an environment that is conducive to creating motivation, but you have to take responsibility into your own hands.  Getting involved in things you are passionate about at work and at home help to create the energy that is necessary for overcoming day to day obstacles. Without that energy and drive, you get stuck and revert back to what is easy.

6. Move often

How many times do we need to hear the advice to exercise daily?  I started the year significantly overweight and not really doing much exercise.

As a result, my self-esteem and confidence was lower than normal.  Within days of starting a regular routine, my confidence skyrocketed and I felt much better and in command of things at work and at home.

7. Conviction and belief

Stand tall for what you believe in.  Having confidence and truly believing and living by a certain set of values drives you to fight hard for what you believe in each day.

Strong convictions precede action towards whatever you are trying to become…your true potential.

1. Why do you want to move?

Hiring managers always have their guard up when speaking to out-of-state candidates and will need a compelling reason to hire someone that is not local. Be honest and clearly explain why you want to move.

Maybe you have family members there that you’d like to be closer to, or your partner has relocated to a new city and you are moving with them. Remember, hiring managers just want you to be honest and clear from the beginning.

2. Expand your network

No matter where you live you should always be networking with people located anywhere! Conferences and networking events are the best way to build your network. Should you ever need to relocate you’ll have a group of people that can make that professional adjustment much easier.

3. Create your employer wish list

It’s crucial to have a strong vision of where you’re headed. Make a list of desired employers within your target location. Tools like zoominfo.com can help you discover and learn about local companies that would work best for you. Do your research and be proactive! Companies want to make sure that you fit into their culture, core values and job role.

4. Meet companies halfway

Once the interview requests start rolling in, make sure you work with the company to conduct interviews with you. If that means paying your own travel expenses then so be it. This is the best shot you have at making a lasting impression and getting the job. The most difficult obstacle hiring managers have when dealing with out-of-state candidates is interview and start date availability. The faster you tackle this problem, the faster the hiring manager can extend the offer.

5. Update your resume

Put your desired location on your resume. You can use the phrase “Relocating to Chicago” or even use the local address of friends or family living in your desired city. This will show that you’re serious and committed to moving to that new city.

These are just a few suggestions to make your out-of-state search less painful. Trying to find employment in another location is a long process and you need to be prepared. But as long as you are honest with employers and have reasonable expectations an out-of-state job search can be beneficial to your career.

This year let’s do something different.  Instead of a choosing something we hope to do, let’s create S.M.A.R.T. goals for ourselves.

With these simple steps we will accomplish more in one year then we ever thought possible.

Specific – What do you want to accomplish? Is it specific? Make a meaningful goal that is important to you. Create a positive mental picture of something you want more than anything else.

Measurable – How are you going to measure your progress? How will you know when you accomplish your goal? Just like a sports game, you want to know the score. If you are not “winning”, what changes will you make to get back on track?

Attainable – What is the likelihood that you will reach your goal? Goals that are beyond reach create frustration and could cause defeat.  Select a goal that is challenging and almost out of reach but with the right plan can be achieved.

Realistic – Are you selecting goals that are easy to accomplish?   A goal should not be easy but something you need to work towards.   You want to choose a goal that will push you to your full potential.  This is how you grow as an individual and increase your skills and capabilities.

Timely – When do you plan on accomplishing your goal? Do you have a deadline? Just like life, without a timeline it’s easy for your goals to get lost in the shuffle. It’s not a race so take your time but be sure to set a deadline.

After creating your S.M.A.R.T goals, one of the most powerful things you can do to accomplish your goals is by simply writing them down. Keep your list in a place that is visible so you can revisit often. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in a year!

“All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

Mary Bove

Mary Bove is a Team Lead at TransTech IT Staffing.

gifts that can make life a little easier. I looked at some of the hottest technologies and shared a few of my favorites below. Managing various devices can be a challenge, i.e. cell phones, tablets, laptops. The Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 helps you handle any task from three different platforms. You can work on a PowerPoint presentation from your computer, reply to an urgent business text from your cell phone or post a Facebook status on your company’s page from your tablet. When you are at your desk and your cell phone rings, wouldn’t it be convenient to just pick up an actual phone receiver to take the call? The iFusion is a communications docking station for the Apple iPhone, supporting the 3G, 3GS, 4 and 5 with an adaptor. This device combines the capabilities of many iPhone accessories into a single device, with Bluetooth technology, a full speaker phone and an ergonomic design that provides crystal clear voice quality. While the phone is docked, it charges and synchs data via an integrated USB cable. The iFusion is priced around $150 and is worth the investment if you tend to field a lot of calls from your cell phone while sitting at your desk. If you are a road warrior, this unique backpack should be on your radar. The North Face Surge II charged backpack is a unique travel accessory that is fashionable and handy. The front compartment of this backpack features a battery pack with a USB port that provides enough power to charge your phone or other devices up to three times. This backpack is durable and spacious with enough room for your laptop, tablet and other essentials. This unique backpack is priced at $229 and can come in handy for people who are always on the road. If you’re looking for a smaller charger option that is unique, check out the ChargeCard key, a portable USB charger that is in the shape and size of a credit card. It will easily fit into your wallet. At $25, it makes a great gift idea too! What tech gadgets have you found to be most useful? We’d love to hear your thoughts below!

The 2014 winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm which reviewed a number of key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business.

Additionally TransTech IT Staffing was chosen as one of three companies named Elite winners. Elite companies demonstrated exceptional innovative human resource practices and set high standards for all businesses. Winners are selected based on their high scores and then named an Elite winner in their respective category which included: The Best of the Best Small Business,  The Best of the Best Medium Business and The Best of the Best Large Business. The three Elite winners are:

– The Best of the Best Small Business: TransTech IT Staffing
– Best of the Best Medium Business: Peckham, Inc. (Lansing, MI)
– The Best of the Best Large Business: WOW! Internet Cable Phone (Denver/Englewood, CO)

With nearly 15 years of experience conducting Best and Brightest Company competitions, the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) have identified numerous best HR practices and provided benchmarking for companies that continue to be leaders in employment standards.

“Nationally recognized award recipients keep innovative human resource initiatives at the forefront of their company culture and make it a priority to consider their workforce as an essential aspect in their company success. Our Association is proud to recognize and honor these winning companies for this impressive achievement,” said Jennifer Kluge, NABR president.

The companies that have been selected to be recognized nationally as a Best and Brightest Company to Work For™ will be featured in the December 18^th online edition of Corp! Magazine. The winning companies will also receive additional recognition as a national winner at a Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™ awards symposium and gala at a location of their choosing in several U.S. cities.

The “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®” is a national program with annual symposium and award galas presented in Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Grand Rapids and Dallas. Nominations are now being accepted for 2015. Visit www.101bestandbrightest.com to obtain an application.

About the Best and Brightest Programs

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a program of the National Association for Business Resources that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole.  There are numerous regional celebrations throughout the country.

The National Association For Business Resources based in Warren, Mich. boasts a sphere of influence that no other organization of its kind can claim, leveraging a depth of programs and community initiatives that positively impact more than 150,000 businesses.