Micro Tech Staffing Group is Hiring

The Staffing View

On business, the workplace and employee relations

_October, 2010

A Business Surge At Micro Tech Staffing Group

The job market is in a slow recovery, but at Micro Tech Staffing Group we’re moving at a blistering pace Since October of 2009 we’ve added more than 1,000 temporary full-time contract positions in the metro-Boston area compared to October of 2009 and more than 500 since May That’s a rate of growth that any staffing firm would welcome

How have we done it? Micro Tech was founded 25 years ago to provide skilled employees to the high tech industry But today we’re a full-service company, providing professionals for accounting, administration, programming and a wide range of other positions Our clients are in a broad array on industries including medical devices, software manufacturing and wholesale distribution As we’ve grown we’ve also become one of the largest privately-owned placement companies in the Northeast, currently in the midst of expanding as far south as Georgia

Our increase in business is also a result of our hard work during the recession of 2007-2009 Like other staffing firms, many of the employers we work with reduced their personnel needs as their business slowed But the millions of layoffs that occurred nationally meant a rise in the pool of highly skilled professionals We reached out to those workers, conducted thorough screening and kept in close contact with our clients about their needs As their business improved we were ready to fill their openings with ideal candidates

While we’re thrilled with our success, we’re also encouraged about the larger economic picture Economists frequently monitor temporary employment as a harbinger of business conditions When recessions end and economic expansion begins, many employers are reluctant to hire permanent employees until they are certain the recovery will continue Instead they often contract with firms such as Microtech for temporary workers That enables them to maintain payroll flexibility

A sure sign that the recovery is strengthening occurs when companies begin converting their temporary employees to permanent hires Most of the positions we’ve added are for approximately six months, but many are being extended We’re also starting to hear about some employees who are being hired permanently by the clients

“The overall economy is still weak, but I don’t think we’ll go back into a recession,” says Joseph Donahue, president and founder of Micro Tech “Whatever the conditions, our clients can expect us to stay in touch to understand exactly the type of workers you need and our skilled professionals can expect we’ll continue to place them in positions where they’ll thrive and succeed”

Job Interviewing Advice for the Older Worker

It’s no secret that unemployed older workers have a more difficult time finding a job than their younger colleagues The average duration of unemployment for people age 55 and older was more than 39 weeks in August, compared to only 33 weeks for all workers over age 16, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Many employers have concerns about older workers requiring higher salaries, not being as tech-savvy as younger employees, being difficult to train and generally not having the energy of others In a 2006 survey by the Boston College Center on Aging and Work, 25 percent of employers who replied said they were reluctant to hire older workers

If you’re over age 50 and looking for work you need to be razor sharp when it comes to a job interview The good news is that if you’ve made it to a face-to-face meeting, the company hasn’t discounted you because of your age The bad news is you may be uncomfortable if you find yourself meeting with someone decades younger during your interview

You could have a seat and say “sick” every time your young interviewer says something you like, a common reaction of teenagers Or you could ace the interview by being yourself, but preparing in advance The confidence you need to exhibit should be based on your passion for the work and your belief in your abilities It’s not about communicating in a way that’s out of character or being defensive about your age Here are some tips on minimizing the over-50 issue and maximizing your impression

• Anticipate questions in advance and practice your answers on why you are the best person for the job When you’re answering a question, focus on skills and not years of experience If you can quantify the results of your work, do so


• Scout out the company Go on line and learn as much as you can from its web site Become familiar with industry jargon and lingo Then ask your own questions The more you can shape the interview into a conversation rather than a Q&A, the more the interviewer will learn about you and how you could work together


• “You might be over-qualified for this position” Not at all In fact talk about why you are uniquely qualified and then add that you see ways you’ll be learning in the job


• Account for your employment gaps We’ve just been through the Great Recession Everyone knows someone who lost a job If you’ve been out for an extended period, talk about the many ways you’ve put your time to good use, such as volunteer work that’s related to your career


• Salary For many older workers this is a landmine The fear is that the salary they earned before might be well-above what they could pay a younger worker and so they eliminate themselves If you’re asked about your requirements say that salary is negotiable Take time before the interview to look up a salary range for the job you’re after in case they press you for a number


• Follow-up with a thank-you note or email Ask when you can expect to hear from them Don’t call back before then

 

Fight the Flu!

According to the Center for Disease Control, on average each year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications Population centers, such as the workplace, are common venues for the flu to spread But follow the CDC’s prevention steps and you’ll have a better chance of staying healthy

• Getting a yearly seasonal flu vaccine is the most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza, according to the CDC There are many different flu viruses, but the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common


•  The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine While flu is unpredictable, it’s likely that 2009 H1N1 viruses and regular seasonal viruses will cause illness in the US this flu season The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season


• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue away when finished


• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose That’s one way that germs can spread


• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water An alcohol-based sanitizer should be used if soap and water are unavailable


• If you experience flu-like symptoms, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except for necessities such as medical care


• Follow public health advice on school closures and avoiding crowds to avoid spreading the flu


• Take antiviral drugs if recommended by your doctor These include prescription medicines that fight to prevent flu viruses from reproducing in your body Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue