Prime Core

Posted by Ken Dropiewski

4 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Interviewing Candidates

Smart recruiters know the information uncovered in an interview can vary because of a multitude of factors ranging from the type of questions to the ease of the applicant.

How can hiring executives maximize the use of their time spent interviewing, and really gain the valuable information they need from the candidate to reach a hiring decision?

Here are 4 interview tips to get the most out of interviewing candidates.

First, design the questions in advance. Hiring executives should review the job description and lay out the questions that must be answered in order to make a solid decision. Be sure to ask those first, and ask supporting, secondary questions to acquire the answers you need.

Then, base some questions off the resume. It’s critical to forego a one-size-fits-all interview question list. Different applicants will bring separate experiences to the table. In order to gather as much valuable information as possible, gear some questions to each individual.

Interviewers also need to keep company culture at the forefront. One of the main reasons a new hire doesn’t work out is they don’t fit in the company culture. Promote the type of company’s culture from the get-go, talking about it and asking questions about the type of workplace settings the applicant is most comfortable. Even if the person has all the qualifications to perform the job well, if the culture doesn’t seem to fit, take a pass.

Finally, notice what is not being said. View the candidates who look you in the eye and return honest, straight answers in a positive light. On the other hand, applicants who hem/haw around with vague answers, fidget, and look at the floor probably need closer screening before they are hired.

Savvy hiring executives know the struggles with interviewing and hiring the right job candidate. By employing these 4 tips into the interviewing process, the decision will be easier to reach, and stand a greater chance of being the right one.

Need help with executive recruiting? Contact us, we are passionate about bringing the best people and companies together for a common goal.

Posted by Ken Dropiewski

Management on Vacation: How to Prepare Your Team Now So You Can Enjoy Yourself Later

One of the more difficult aspects of taking on a management position is that you can feel like you’re always on-call, especially when you’re trying to take some time off on a vacation. Here are some tips on how to plan ahead so that you can actually enjoy your much needed R&R instead of staying glued to your phone:

  1. Delegate: Take some time to go through all the tasks that you perform solo on a regular basis. Then determine who can take care of each task while you’re away. You don’t need to dump everything on one person–delegate tasks to a few individuals so that nobody is swamped. Further, this acts as an insurance net that things will continue to run smoothly even if your #2 has to take an unexpected day off during your absence.
  2. Make sure clients know your proxies: There’s no reason to surprise clients with an automated email alerting them that you’re out of the office for a week. Make sure your clients know who they should be in contact with in the event of your absence well ahead of time to keep things running smoothly.
  3. Contingency plans: Make sure your employees know what to do in the case of an emergency while you’re away, whether an internal emergency or a natural disaster. Even if they can reach you, you’ll be too far removed to do anything about the situation so your staff needs to have an action plan in place and readily available, just in case.
  4. Set boundaries for yourself: Modern technology can be a blessing or a curse when you’re out of town. On the one hand, it makes sure you’re always in the loop and allows you to do business remotely. On the other, it can feel like a weight if you see an urgent email and feel the need to respond instead of enjoying yourself. Make a point to check emails once a day, say before dinner, so that you know you aren’t missing anything major that would prevent your company from doing business. Make sure your team knows that you will be reading and responding to emails on a limited basis so they know not to bother you unnecessarily.
  5. Recap afterwards: Once you return, hold a meeting to determine how things went. What could you do better before your next trip to make things run more smoothly? What problems occurred, and who solved them? Knowing who handled tough situations in your absence can give you a good indication of who to look for as a leader now and in the future.

Management positions come with leadership and responsibility, and the tough demands mean you need to take a break every now and then. Implement these strategies before your next vacation so that you can enjoy yourself and your team members can have a chance to solve problems while you’re away. For more management tips, contact us.

Posted by Ken Dropiewski

3 Tips to Setting Goals for the 2015 New Year in Your Business

The New Year is here and with it comes fresh initiatives, new business resolutions, and innovative goals geared to take your business to the next level. Yet sometimes these goals are uninspiring in a way that doesn’t empower the company to press for even greater heights. Fear, the lack of knowledge, or sheer excuses blaming the economy can keep highly capable organizations from accomplishing amazing things…staying well below or within their potential.

 

When setting your goals for the New Year, commit to thinking bigger! Consider ideas that will require pushing past comfort zones yet excite your company to stretch beyond the norm. Below are three tips to help you create goals that will do just that while staying in alignment with your business objectives.

 

#1 Be clear on the direction of your business

Having clarity on the vision and mission of your company is perhaps the most important step in goal setting. It sets the course for everything you want to achieve in your business. This information then helps to create quantifiable targets to aim for this year.

 

Know where you want to go so smaller goals can be created to achieve the big-picture goal.

 

#2 Set specific, measurable goals

Once you are clear on your overall objective for the year, as mentioned, it’s time to break it down into small chunks and create a practical plan that shows how you will bring in your desired numbers. Be specific on what you want to achieve by each deadline. Setting quarterly deadlines that can be broken down into monthly goals, then weekly. This will better position you to excel in your goals than without having this guideline.

 

#3 Being committed

Goal setting and goal achievement generate two separate results. One is planning, the other is result-based. Plan your work, then work your plan. Get your team and company involved, sharing how these accomplishments will benefit the entire office. Rewarding yourselves along the way is a great way to stay motivated, especially during the challenging times.

 

The key is to create inspiring goals that motivate your business to dream bigger. The beauty is that even if you fail miserably, you have set a tone with your employees that you are not afraid to go for gold, encouraging them to take on this same attitude in their work and personal lives. What an incredible impact!

 

Please contact us here for additional assistance in meeting your recruiting and team building needs. We’d be glad to help!

Posted by Ken Dropiewski

5 Team Management Skills Every Good Leader Needs

Team management requires an elevated level of leadership. Here are 5 key skills every good company leader needs to hone in order to effectively manage a team:

  1. Delegation: Knowing that you can’t do everything is the first step to being a good leader. You have a team for a reason, after all! The key to great delegation is being aware of every team member’s specialized skills and assets. Take the time to get to know everyone on your team personally and professionally so that you can delegate tasks to the right people.
  2. Motivation: The trouble with motivating a team is that different people are motivated by different things. Some of your team members are highly self motivated individuals who don’t need extra encouragement to perform their tasks to the best of their abilities. Others need managerial input in order to perform well and will under-perform when they don’t feel pressure. Figure out how your team members are motivated. Above all else, use your own enthusiasm and energy to keep your team members interested in the project at hand. Keep them updated with progress reports and make sure they feel acknowledged and valued when they meet their goals.
  3. Development: Your team members are already qualified for their tasks, but they should be working towards becoming even better and more valuable employees. Offering periodic feedback will give you and your team members opportunities to review what areas require development. In addition, certain areas will stand out as exceptional, meaning you can start assigning more challenging tasks in these areas. You should have some long-term goals for your team and keep working toward developing your team members to meet these goals.
  4. Communication: You can’t delegate, motivate, or develop your team members without communicating with them. But communicating is a two-way street. Along with talking to your team members, make sure you are listening to their ideas and concerns. Remember, this is a talented group of individuals who will move your team, and company, forward. Addressing their concerns and valuing their feedback and ideas is essential.
  5. Discipline: As a team manager, you are in charge of making sure your team members are following laws as well as company guidelines. You’ll need to take appropriate discipline action. Depending on the severity of the situation, this can range from one private conversation to terminating the employee. Make sure you have all the facts straight about the issue in question including any necessary documentation ahead of time.

As a team manager, you have the opportunity to move your company forward. Knowing your team members and their skills as well as their weaknesses will help you develop your team according to your company’s goals and guidelines.

Posted by Ken Dropiewski

How to be an Effective Manager

Being a manager is a never ending learning experience and a position with continuously expanding responsibilities. They are in charge of creating an environment that promotes teamwork, while also running a thriving business on the front lines.
Yet the most important thing that an effective manager does is gain their teammate’s confidence, trust and loyalty. These attributes are based on principles such as open communication, rewarding opportunities and motivation. Excellent management can improve overall morale amongst co-workers, all the while supporting the team, knowing how to engage with a varied mix of personalities and handling stressful situations with ease.
Here are five ways to help you to become an effective manager.
  • Be true to your word. Be committed to constructing an excellent reputation for yourself by listening carefully and taking care of your employees needs efficiently. Keep an open dialogue and be sincerely interested in your employees concerns.
  • Make sure to give constructive feedback, while not focusing on the negative, but instead on the employee’s specific strengths.
  • Actively engage with your employees and get to know them. After all, we all have lives outside of the workplace.
  • Keep your team centered on their goals. Always be accessible and work alongside them when you are needed in order to get the job done. Try not to micromanage, but instead let them have some freedom while still making yourself available for any advice that they might require.
  • Present solutions to your employees problems that are designed to empower them and promote their success, instead of pointing out their flaws.
By utilizing these suggestions, you will find yourself building stronger relationships that are full of mutual respect with your associates and enjoying your job that much more.

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"Prime-Core, Inc is an Executive Search Firm that is passionate about helping med tech companies meet their Human Capital needs in order to foster a team dedicated to success. We believe there is a story behind every successful hire. One that stands the tests of time and truly transforms a good company to great company."

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