ABR regularly receives testimonials and letters of thanks from our Talent. We recently received the following from Lindsay Weisbrod:

Working with ABR seemed like a very smooth process.  The process was very timely-due a lot to your attentiveness and promptness with all communication-with myself and the client company.  I liked working with you because you took the time to do an extensive phone interview with me and to really understand my experience and then communicate that with your client company.  They have said a couple of times, they were very delighted to have someone with field experience working with another large food processing company.  A lot of times, employers are so overwhelmed with applications that they just don’t have the time to review/understand each persons qualifications.  Even though you were very busy, you seemed to always have time for my questions/additional comments for the client company.  Everyone at ABR was always very pleasant in person and on the phone.  Finding a position that fit my career goals and my experience never seemed that easy until I worked with you and ABR.

Thank you!

Kindest regards,

Lindsay

ABR regularly receives testimonials and letters of thanks from our Talent. We recently received the following from Daniel Chaney: 

The thing I liked most about your service was the convenience. I was living 2 hours away from my hometown and I didn’t have to travel back here to look for work. The interview process was easy and convenient. ABR’s staff worked with me for interviews so I didn’t have to make extra trips across the state. I’ve only worked with one other temp agency before, but all they did was bounce me from job to job. ABR not only found me a permanent position quickly, but also one of the best paying jobs I’ve ever had!

Thank you,

Dan

When employee engagement goes down, so does your company. It’s true – and we wrote an entire post about it. Employee engagement is so much more than a buzzword. Leaders in the industry have been talking about this issue for the past twenty years. When was the last time you tackled your thoughts on employee engagement? Here’s a true or false quiz to see if you’re up-to-date on the latest information.

 Q) True or false? Employee engagement is a complicated issue that needs a large-scale program to make a difference.

A) False. Driving up employee engagement can be simpler than you think. A lot of it starts with meeting your employee’s basic needs. Even the smallest changes can make a difference. At the very heart of it, employees want expectations set, they want the necessary tools to complete their jobs, and they want a little praise and feedback. They also want a position that utilizes their talents and strengths.

Q) True or false? When it comes to day-to-day processes and the work environment, employees want to have a say and be heard.

A) True. Always view employee engagement as a two-way conversation. Don’t think your leaders can retreat into a meeting and brainstorm the perfect plan to increase engagement. You can’t tell employees how they will become more engaged. You have to ask the employees themselves. Get feedback. Send out surveys. Listen to their concerns and their priorities.

 Q) True or false? Employee engagement is just a fad. Your company doesn’t need to worry about it.

A) False. Employee engagement is not a trend. The first study on employee engagement was completed in 1990. Soon after, Gallop looked into the issue further with their State of the Global Workplace reports. By the 2000s, companies realized the importance of this issue and the affect it can have on their successes. These days, employee engagement is mentioned once per minute on Twitter and the phrase has 47,500,000 search results on Google.

 Q) True or false? If you plan a pizza party every now and then, employee engagement will go up instantly.

A) False. While small changes can make a big difference, a half-hearted effort to “rally the troops” will make little difference for your company. Read our post on 10 ways to reward your top employees. Each idea is just one example of how a thought-out gesture can make a big difference in the attitude of your employees – and not just for the short-term.

 Q) True or false? Employee engagement should be measured over and over again.

A) True. A once-per-year survey is not going to be a perfect measure of your company’s success. After you have initiated new processes to increase employee engagement, measure the results multiple times throughout the year. Keep track of your successes and your failures. And when you have a failure, ask your employees for more feedback, then make changes and measure the results again. Think of employee engagement as a project that will never be finished – and that’s a good thing.

What are some of the ways your company engages your employees? Comment below.

As part of ABR’s commitment to being a Candidate-Centric place to work, we publicly recognize and reward outstanding Talent performance through awards and bonuses.

ABR would like to recognize the following recipients of the quarterly Performance Recognition Award:

• Jill Knorr is granted the Appleton Performance Recognition Award
• Levi D. Rybarczyk, Sr. is granted the Sparta Performance Recognition Award
• Erin Lichtie is granted the La Crosse Performance Recognition Award
• Zachary Lynn is granted the Madison Performance Recognition Award
• Aaron Lanala is granted the Schofield Performance Recognition Award
• Amanda Schmidt is granted the Stevens Point Performance Recognition Award

Congratulations! We’re proud to have such great employees!

Most people find it uncomfortable to talk about how great they are. In your head, you know you’re qualified for this position. But now you have to vocalize those reasons to your potential new employer – otherwise they’ll never know! You need to sell yourself. So what do you say when asked, “Why should we hire you?” Hear are some strategies for constructing a well thought-out response.

1. Be confident.

It all starts with y-o-u. Don’t be shy when talking about your strengths. Be proud and be clear as to why you’re the perfect fit for this company. Being well-spoken is one of those soft skills that employers always love to see.

2. Reiterate your qualifications.

Even if your past experiences are laid out plainly on a resume, be clear about what exact experiences and skills make you the perfect candidate for this position. Don’t expect that everyone who interviews you has studied and memorized your resume. Provide a specific example about when you applied those skills and how the company benefited from them.

3. Tell them why you’re special.

The interview is the chance to show why you’re the best candidate for this position. That means revealing what makes you different from every other candidate. Do you have extensive experience? A unique skill? A great attitude? A perfect attendance record? Don’t forget to mention those details.

Go ahead and practice a few responses to this question before your next interview, and you’ll do great. For more tips, read this post on how to stand out in your next interview.

Have a tip to share about how you answered the question ‘why should we hire you?’ Leave a comment below.

ABR is hiring for 1st and 2nd shift customer service positions. Don’t miss out on these wonderful opportunities! Logistics Health, Inc. in partnership with ABR Employment Services is hosting a customer service career fair on:

Thursday, October 24, 2013
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

at

Riverside Center II – Cargill Room 
332 Front Street South, La Crosse, WI 

We are seeking qualified professionals for full time, try-before-hire opportunities in customer service. Candidates should have two years of customer service experience, proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, and have the ability to type 40 WPM.

Candidates should have two years of customer service experience, proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, and have the ability to type 40 WPM. 1st and 2nd shift positions are available.

**Please note: in order to be considered for this position, you must be able to obtain an 85P (NAC) Position of Trust which is only available to U.S. Citizens.**

ABR BENEFITS (effective within the first couple of weeks of employment) include:
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Term Life
• Short Term Disability

If you are interested in these opportunities, please submit your application online at www.abrjobs.com PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE CAREER FAIR. Please select “La Crosse – Logistics Health Inc” when choosing the branch office.

AA/EOE

ABR Employment Service in partnership with HB Performance Systems  is hosting a job fair on October 22nd from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm at:

5800 W Donges Bay Road
Mequon, WI  53092

We are currently recruiting long and short term production, assembly and machinist positions.  This is your opportunity to get in with a great Milwaukee area employer!  If you or someone you know is looking to get in the door with a well-respected growing organization apply online at abrjobs.com and stop in on October 22 for an in person interview.

Questions? Contact Sarah Kraus  at 414-367-5503.  AA/EOE

Last month, we blogged about preparing for a job in the skilled industrial field. Today, we’ll provide an overview on preparing for a job in the light industrial field. Assembly line, janitorial,  packaging, machine operation and warehouse are just a few examples of the positions offered in this field.

Workplace safety and health is always an important issue in this field. When entering an interview, be aware that you’ll be expected to know how to bend and pick up heavy items in a way that avoids back injuries. Watch this video that outlines the best practices for lifting heavy objects. When on the job, you’ll be expected to wear safety-conscious clothing, including proper shoes. To be best prepared, review these questions before your next light industrial interview:

Safety

Can you handle being on your feet for 8 hours per day?
How do you avoid injuries while on the job?
Can you lift more than 50 pounds?

Work Style

How do you react to instruction and criticism?
Are you willing to learn new skills?
How do you deal with pressure?
How do you stay organized?

Teamwork

Give an example of a time you successfully worked on a team.
Have you ever had difficulty with a manager?
Who was your favorite manager and why?

Reliability

What was your attendance record at your last position?
Do you have reliable transportation to and from work?

Practice answering these questions before your next interview. The interviewer will be able to tell you came prepared and are serious about wanting the job.

ABR Employment Services provides employment opportunities to job seekers and staffing solutions to employers throughout Wisconsin and in Winona, MN. ABR provides temporary, try-before-hire and direct hire job opportunities in: customer service, data entry, receptionist, office assistant, administrative assistant, assembly, packaging, machine operator, warehouse, janitorial, CNC, welder, forklift, maintenance, and call center. Connect with us on Facebook  for job seeking tips and advice.