Why Your Employees are Quitting (and How to Keep Your Best Talent)

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Some companies are surprised to hear that more Americans switch jobs around 12 times by the time they reach age 48. In fact, IT professionals only stay in a position for an average of 16.8 months. But what is it that actually causes an employee to stay or go? Here are a few of the reasons your staff may be heading out the door and what you can do about it.

Salary

Even though money isn’t everything, the opportunity to receive higher pay does encourage some workers to consider other employment options. This is especially true if they are being considered for new roles, as symbolic changes in job title alone aren’t sufficient for improving retention.

While raises don’t have to be awarded without justification, it is critical your company keeps salaries in line with what is being offered by the competition. Otherwise, your best talent may be lured away by promises of more money.

Culture

Employees today are putting more value on corporate culture. Having opportunities to learn and grow, the ability to stay engaged on the job, working for a mission they can get behind and ample recognition can all encourage workers to stay with their current business. Similarly, organizations that fall short in these areas may suffer from retention issues.

A company’s culture is often developed over time, and it can be hard to define. However, any business can improve with the proper effort. Begin by defining your core values and help workers see how their contributions help more than just the bottom line. Then, support professional development amongst your staff and make sure that appreciation for a job well done is part of the norm.

Stagnation

Just as it is important for your company’s culture to offer opportunities to develop professional, it is also vital to show a clear path for career progression. If a top employee feels like they have hit a dead end with your organization, they will look elsewhere to meet their goals.

Ideally, businesses should look for chances to promote from within, especially if the proper skill set is already represented in a member of your team. Additionally, help your staff understand what they need to do to be considered promotable and work with them to facilitate any skill building or experience-based opportunities that are required to help them move forward.

By supporting their career progression and defining what it takes to get ahead, your strongest workers will have a system to navigate to reach their career objectives. Not only will this help keep them engaged with your business, but it can also build your reputation as an ideal employer in the area, making future recruitment efforts easier.

Are you looking for top IT talent?

If you are looking for candidates to fill vacant positions, the professionals at Resolution Technologies can connect you with local job seekers with the right skills, education, and experience. Contact us to discuss your hiring needs today.

Corporate Training Strategies for Your IT Team

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Many corporate training programs are underwhelming at best. Often, the information is provided by outside organizations with little knowledge of the business, making it difficult for the programs to provide the value you need keep your IT team moving forward. At times, the material may be completely irrelevant, giving workers with knowledge they can’t apply, or redundant, covering information that the team already knows.

If you want to make the most of your corporate training programs for your IT team, then it is important to have a strong strategy in place. To help you make sure yours fits the bill, here are some tips for creating a corporate training strategy that provides value to your employees and your business.

Define the Goals

Training shouldn’t be offered unless it furthers an objective. This could be anything from familiarizing your team with new systems, helping them advance their skills, or improving overall operational efficiency. By understanding what you want the training to accomplish, you can help choose options that will make your goals a reality. Otherwise, you may be sending people out for classes that don’t provide any value, which is a waste of time and money.

It is also important to outline any priorities. For example, if a new system is being implemented and there isn’t an employee on staff with the right level of experience, then that training should be administered before less critical topics. Training that covers skill gaps and provides an immediate return on investment should take precedence in most cases as it will make your team more productive overall.

Consider the Methods

An employee or team can receive training through a range of mechanisms. Traditional classroom-based learning, online courses, or experiential options are all available and can be effective in their own right. However, not every method is ideal for every topic, timetable, or employee.

It is important to consider which approach best meets the needs of the organization and the worker. Classroom-based learning can convey a large amount of information, and may even include hands-on learning opportunities, but may require key employees to be out of the office during the duration.

Online courses let employees move at their own pace and can be worked around other priorities, but often offer less support should they need guidance. Experiential learning, such as mentorship cross training, may feel more organic and often contains the most crucial information, but the timetable can be vague and, when provided by another employee, actually takes two workers away from their core duties to complete.

No one mechanism is ideal for every situation, so it is important to consider the variables when creating training opportunities.

Are you looking to bring on top IT talent?

Creating a corporate training strategy requires planning. By reviewing the areas above, you can create a strong foundation for a program that can work for your business over the long-term. If you are looking for new staff members that can further your current goals or are looking for contractors to help provide training to your core staff, Resolution Technologies can assist you as you work towards your objectives. Contact us today to discuss your needs.

Fresh Out of College (or Just About)? How Do You Stand Out from the Crowd?

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The end of the school year is upon us, and that means a plethora of college grads are about to hit the job market. With so many people jumping in at the same time, and with similar credentials, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you need to do to stand out from the crowd. If you are a recent graduate looking to make a strong impression, here are some tips to help you rise to the top.

Use Your College’s Resources

Most major colleges and universities have career centers that provide services to soon-to-be and current college graduates. Often, they have dedicated staff members that can assist you with creating a resume and reviewing potential job opportunities based on your degree. They also have strong professional networks and are familiar with companies in the area that are willing to give freshly minted graduates a try.

Whether they can connect you to your ideal post-college job or not, they do have expertise that is worth having on your side.

Build the Right Profiles

While most college graduates have experience creating profiles on social media, you need to take a different approach if you intend to use these services to find employment opportunities. First, if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, now is the time to build one. Make sure your photo is professional and that all of the sections are properly filled out. Create a summary statement that references the kind of position you are hoping to land and make sure all of the other content is based on your professional life and goals, and not your personal ones.

Then, start building your network. You can connect with other graduates as well as professionals you meet that can help you start a career. Finally, make sure to stay active on the site and use it as a resource for job hunting and career advice.

Start Networking

It is never too early to start networking. If you have an opportunity to attend job fairs, relevant conferences, meet and greets, or volunteer in the field, then take advantage of these chances to meet other professionals. Connections you make today may help you find your ideal position, or they may simply help you learn important information about your chosen career path. Either way, you have a lot to gain if you start networking now instead of later.

Work with a Recruiter

Sometimes the easiest way to stand out is to work with a professional recruiter. They can help you explore open positions, build a strong resume and LinkedIn profile, and connect with employers who are looking for candidates just like you.

Are you a new grad and looking for an IT job?

Staffing firms often have deep connections in the local area, so their network can be a significant advantage when you are looking for a job. If you are interested in getting assistance from a skilled recruiter, the professionals at Resolution Technologies can help you on your journey. Contact us today and see how our services can help you stand out from the crowd.

3 Ways to Continue Your Education While You Have a Full-Time Job

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The idea of juggling higher education with a full-time job is intimidating. Often, it can feel as though there is barely enough time for the life you have today, let alone if you decide to add schooling to your schedule. But there are ways to pursue your dreams of more education while keeping your current paycheck. To help you weigh your options, here is an overview of three ways you can continue your education while working 40+ hours a week.

1) Night and Weekend Classes

Many brick and mortar colleges and universities offer certain programs that can be finished using only night or weekend classes. Often, this is an ideal solution for people who need to work full-time but are interested in a degree that is best served by being in an actual classroom (or who simply prefer this approach).

In some cases, you can actually finish a degree in the same length of time as those taking courses during the day. In others, you may find a part-time school schedule is more conducive to your needs. Either approach will help you earn your degree, so choose the time commitment that works best for you.

2) Online Programs

Thanks to the rising demand, getting a degree online has never been easier. A range of schools, including some of the most reputable institutions in the nation, offer degree plans that can be finished entirely from the comfort of your own home. And, in most cases, you can complete your assignments at any time of day and on any day of the week as long as you meet the deadlines.

For students who are relatively self-motivated, don’t need a lot of direct instruction, and require some flexibility, an online degree program can be ideal. You can also choose from full-time and part-time class schedules, just as you would if you attended classes in person.

3) Certifications

Sometimes, you don’t need a full college degree to keep your career moving forward. There is a range of IT-related certifications that can elevate your resume and assert you have the right skills for your target position.

In some cases, certifications function as proof of knowledge you already have, meaning all you need to do is study and take the test. Others accompany specific classes or programs, but they usually require fewer courses to complete than a formal degree.

In either case, you can formalize your knowledge without having to commit to a multi-year degree plan, which can be ideal for full-time employees looking to advance in their current field and not necessarily start a new one.

Are you looking for a new job?

By using one of the methods above, it is possible to continue your education will maintaining a full-time job. If you are interested in learning how additional education can change your career options or are looking for a new position, the team at Resolution Technologies has the industry expertise to guide you forward. Contact us today to see how education and employment can work together for a brighter future.