Attending a football game, parade or festival with your office colleagues? Learn how to do it right!
Attending an event with office colleagues?Although Christmas office parties are in the rear-view mirror, in Louisiana, there are many events still to come. The New Orleans Saints host their first NFL playoff game on Sunday, January 5 and LSU is in the 2020 National Championship Game on Monday, January 13, 2020. After that, there will be Mardi Gras parties followed by St. Patrick and St. Joseph day parades as well as numerous music festivals.
Attending any of these events with colleagues from your office can be fun but dangerous. If someone takes a photo or video tapes you being inappropriate, this could cost you your job. It can be easy to forget that you are socializing with people you work with, especially when in a party atmosphere.
Here are five helpful hints on how to present yourself while having fun at your next office sponsored event:
1. Dress appropriately.
The way you present yourself to your superiors and colleagues can significantly affect your work life and environment. You don’t want their image of you to suffer for what you choose to wear to the event. If you are confused as to what is appropriate attire, consult the party planner or colleagues who have attended the party before.
2. Make sure you and your guest remain respectful.
If you decide to bring a plus one to the party, make sure that they conduct themselves respectfully. It’s best to avoid any situation where you would get into trouble for somebody else’s actions. You will be judged by the quality of people you surround yourself with, and you want to make sure that whoever you may bring makes a good impression.
3. Remember you are with office colleagues so don’t overdrink.
This tip should be a given. Enjoy yourself, but don’t get to the point where you can’t control yourself. Drink in moderation. If you decide that you are going to drink, make sure that you eat beforehand to avoid getting sick.
4. Talk about more than office gossip.
Use the party as a way to network within your company. It’s also the perfect time to get closer to your work family and to make a good impression with your superiors. Stay on topics that are lighthearted and friendly. Avoid gossip and bringing up issues like sex, religion, or politics.
5. Be sure to thank the host of the party or event.
The host of the party will remember you thanked them and it will make a good impression.
At Strategic Recruitment Solutions (“SRS”), we specialize in Legal and IT Recruiting. Our professional recruiters provide candidates with knowledge and insight based on our years of experience in the Legal and IT fields. At SRS, our ultimate goal is to match top companies with top talent. We are focused on matching you to the RIGHT position at the RIGHT company. Call us today to see for yourself how easy finding your dream job can be!
At SRS, we help you find and retain the top talent in the legal and IT industries
What’s your first response to the question, how to keep top talent? If you believe it is solely about offering them more money or prestige, consider this recent ranking of the top law firms in the country. The ones rated as the best for compensation or prestige didn’t even make the top ten.
Although compensation is an important factor, it is not always the determining or sole factor in what helps you retain your top talent. Here are five things that your top talent seeks beyond compensation:
Top Talent Seek Opportunities for Personal Growth
Learning opportunities can keep talented hires engaged in the firm’s work and mission. While especially popular in the IT departments, learning opportunities can also help retain employees in other areas. For example, one law firm in Australia provided the opportunity to learn Mandarin.
Recognition and Respect are Essential
Great employees continue to prove themselves every day. They help set and maintain the productive rhythm of the company by stepping up when needed and mentoring others. When you have top talent, it is obvious so why not, reciprocate. Recognition and respect from leadership helps to solidify the bond between your company and its great employees.
Top Talent Seeks a Leadership Team They Can Trust
Like all long-term relationships, trust is a factor. Fairness is a factor. Caring is a factor. Great employees stay because they can trust that leadership has their back. They can trust that leadership will make the best decisions for the company. They trust that when things go sideways, leadership will get the company back on course.
Stability Attracts Top Talent
A law firm with the right amount of stability can benefit the top young talent. It is essential to find the right balance between removing bad employees and allowing too much turnover. A successful organization has senior talent in place to help nurture young employees into a path towards leadership.
The Best Employees Share Your Company’s Vision and Strategy
Even in the hierarchical military chain of command, providing a clear strategy will help you retain the best people. The talented want to see their roles in your firm’s strategic plan.
But before you can link employee values and personal goals with your firm’s, you must find out which talent is the best fit. To do this, the “Harvard Business Review” suggests not just looking for ability but also aspiration. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, our goal is to connect our Client Partners with the best active and passive candidates searching for a high-end career. Our experts can help streamline your executive recruitment strategies and assist in managing the entire interviewing and hiring process.
Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We focus on Legal and IT Recruiting and have industry-expert recruiters that can offer the kind of insight and guidance that helps grow companies and careers. We have offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and are ready to help your business identify professional candidates for the legal and IT industries.
When you are ready to add to your team, consider partnering with us. We can help you recruit and retain employees now and in the future. Call us today at 888-366-6508.
Yes, personality does matter! Hiring decisions today are based on more than having a specific skill set or an abundance of experience. Employers are also looking for employees who fit their company culture. So why does personality matter? By assessing a candidate’s personality traits, a hiring manager will assess whether a candidate fits into their company’s culture. Although each employer may value different traits based on the core values of their business, the following traits are the most attractive to future employers:
1. Be trustworthy, respectful of others, and team-oriented.
Part of fitting into a company’s culture is fitting in with the people who make up the culture.
2. Make sure your personality is enthusiastic, passionate, tenacious, and confident.
Employers know that when employees thrive in their work environment, the company thrives as well.
3. Show dedication, flexibility, and professionalism.
Employers aim for employees who are professional in their work commitment and to the company’s core values. Everyone knows that projects, tasks, and interactions do not always go as planned. Above all, show you are flexible and can adapt to multiple situations.
4. Be intellectually curious and show your emotional intelligence.
Intellectual curiosity and emotional intelligence complement one another. Employers appreciate candidates who have a desire to learn and who want to discover new things. As a result, employers will look at an employee’s ability to balance themselves and their interpersonal relationships.
Finally, personality matters more today in the hiring process than ever before. Furthermore, by paying attention to these traits you will gain the hiring manager’s attention and give yourself a better chance to land your dream job.
If you are ready to take the next step to advance your career, call us today! For decades, Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been instrumental in helping job seekers find their dream jobs. We are your one-stop shop for information, guidance, and insight into the legal and IT markets. Furthermore, we have the keys to help you land your dream job. To get started, search our current opportunities or submit your resume today.
Diversity in the workplace is becoming more essential. We live in a global economy. As we expand our digital reach, your business interacts with people from different generations, backgrounds, and cultures daily. Diversity can influence how your employees perceive themselves and how they will treat others. In addition, implementing a diversity plan will help create a healthy company culture and foster workplace unity.
Here are five reasons why diversity is essential to your business:
1) You Will Gain More Talents, Skills, and Experiences on Your Team.
By hiring individuals from diverse backgrounds, your company will have more opportunities to succeed. Each team member brings their own variety of skills and experiences to your business. Therefore, it is essential that employees learn from each other and grow.
2) Creativity and Innovation Will Thrive.
By adding people with various backgrounds, experiences and working styles, you can create a thriving culture of creativity. Innovation thrives in an accepting environment. Furthermore, jobseekers value a company where everyone can be themselves.
3) Diversity Brings New language skills.
Language barriers and cultural differences can act as an obstacle to commerce. In addition, by hiring individuals who speak different languages, you will open opportunities for learning and commerce.
The higher your team’s morale, the more productive your employees. It is the “all for one, one for all” mentality. By encouraging workers from all backgrounds to achieve their best, you are increase your chances for success.
Don’t Miss an Opportunity To Hire The Best
Finally, each individual brings something different to the team. Consequently, by hiring a variety of people, you will gain fresh perspectives and ideas. If you are ready to add to your team, consider partnering with Strategic Recruitment Solutions. We have decades of experience working with law firms and technology companies throughout the Gulf Coast region. SRS can show you to add diversity to your team. Give us a call today at 888-366-6508
The holidays are a minefield of emotions, stresses, and demands on the budget and time of everyone this time of year. Family requirements are always a concern but even more challenging are the expectations in the workplace during the holiday season. Family responsibilities might be tricky and taxing but expectations at the office have higher stakes.
Some things to consider regarding office holiday party etiquette:
BEFORE YOU ATTEND
Commit to attend the party if at all possible. Some planning committee worked hard to provide a way for everyone to celebrate as a group. Yes, I know it is sometimes hard to relax with people you may not even enjoy being around – get over it. You might find these people to be entirely different in a more relaxed atmosphere. Hey, at least try. Remember all that rhetoric about team building??
Prepare mentally for some small talk
Remember most people’s favorite subject is themselves. Ask questions about where they went to school and grew up. “Do you follow the Saints?” “Are you an LSU/SU fan?” “What keeps you busy when you aren’t at work?” Another topic which always gets someone talking is family. “Do you have children?” Ages? Schools? Activities? Any pictures? Off limit topics (do I really need to remind you?) – religion, politics, office politics and policies, and controversial topics such as legalization of marijuana or immigration issues.
If you receive an invitation without a mention of formality or informality, ask around. Especially if you are new to the company, check with employees who have gone to previous parties. You don’t want to show up in a Christmas sweater with reindeer and bells and others are in a sleek suit or a cocktail dress. Consider a compromise between sexy and attractive and professional and serious.
It is always welcome information when the office sets a gift giving policy. Having a Secret Santa or drawing names for a single non gender specific gift with a suggested spending limit is a great idea. Just remember personal items are not a good idea. Gift certificates are an excellent option. If you feel compelled to buy individual gifts, do not present them to the person(s) at the office party. Find a time/place before or after work to give such gifts, even if they are small tokens of friendship or appreciation.
Gifts to the boss are tricky and usually not expected. Be mindful of the workplace’s holiday culture and follow customary gifting which may be a single gift to which all have contributed or absolutely not giving boss gifts. Consider being creative and socially responsible in your gift giving. Perhaps you have a favorite charity that you would like to make a donation to in someone’s name, or think about interests and causes the recipient of the gift may embrace and donate in that area in their name. Shopwithmeaning.org lists organizations which fund causes from clean water, fair trade, fighting poverty, hunger relief and education in third world countries. The holiday season is a time when MANY agencies solicit – they are easy to find.
BEHAVING AT THE OFFICE PARTY
Mingle
It might be awkward but make an effort to acknowledge all your coworkers and especially your superiors. The setting may seem really informal but defer to supervisors and bosses. Don’t use this as an opportunity to speak your mind, question or comment on work policies.
Avoid any romantic or sexual advances
Discretion is important. This is not the time or place to declare your romantic intentions to a coworker. You certainly don’t want to be the object of workplace gossip after the party. If you are the object of unwanted attention, let the person down gently – especially if you find yourself being “hit on by the boss.” Remember innocent attention can turn inappropriate and lead to claims of sexual harassment. Don’t touch people in ways that can be misconstrued or say things that can be considered sexually provocative or demeaning.
That drinking thing
First, remember that it is not a requirement to have any alcoholic beverage. Many people do not drink because of religious convictions, health issues, or perhaps because they are recovering alcoholics. No one should ask why you aren’t drinking alcohol and unless he is a dullard will not. It is perfectly acceptable to have a soft drink, water or coffee without any explanation offered. That being said, many people use a holiday party as an opportunity to imbibe at the company’s expense. Most post party gossip concerning improper behavior (think dancing with the lamp shade on your head, giving TMI -too much information about your personal life, or telling people exactly how you feel about fellow employees or company policies) is fueled by too much alcohol.
Problems arise that can cause others to think poorly of you or in extreme cases cause dismissal from a job. The more drinks, the more likely a person is to do something he/she will regret. I’m just guessing here, but if you are a drinker who has sometimes overdone it, think back to things that you did or said that might have caused you embarrassment upon cold, sober reflection.
So consider if you are drinking to eat food before drinking. You might order rum and coke or gin and tonic for a first drink and then switch to plain coke or tonic. No one will notice. If it is a long evening pace yourself and drink water and eat between alcoholic beverages. If you feel like you might be overdoing it, duck out early instead of getting drunk in front of the boss. In the holiday spirit, consider helping a coworker that might need to be encouraged to leave the party – and drive him/her or call a cab. On final thought – Don’t let these suggestion be a concern that overrides your decision to attend, as Holiday Office Parties can be great relationship builders with co-workers, clients or prospects.
SOOOOOOO – HAPPY HOLIDAYS, KWANZAH, HANUKKAH, RAMADAN, DIWALI –MERRY CHRISTMAS AND REMEMBER AN OFFICE PARTY IS STILL THE OFFICE AS FAR AS GOOD SENSE AND PROPER ETIQUETTE ARE CONCERNED. ENJOY AND BE SMART.
Some things to consider regarding office holiday party etiquette: 
you may not even enjoy being around – get over it. You might find these people to be entirely different in a more relaxed atmosphere. Hey, at least try. Remember all that rhetoric about team building??
