Blog
Browse thoughtful views and opinions about staffing topics from KNF&T’s perspective.
Terrible Job, Great Career
One of the first things I ask candidates is, “Do you want a job, or do you want a career? Because this can be a terrible job, but a great career.” There’s no right or wrong answer to the question. But the paths are considerably different and it’s important to know...
The War for Talent…
If you're in a hiring position then you have likely realized that the war for talent has been fully waged. Whether you are the winner or loser of this war is probably yet to be seen but before gearing up for a full scale battle, it's critical to understand the value...
Ditching the Work-Life Balance
One of the things that people ask me about the most when we’re talking about potential work is how much work-life balance different jobs afford. I understand the question, but I hate the term “work-life balance”. While it’s meant to make sure that our lives aren’t...
Imposter Syndrome
“Oh no, is now when people are going to find me out?” You’re not the only one who wonders. The feeling that you’re going to be ‘found out’, that someday people will realize you’re a fraud, that you’re not as smart or deserving as people might think you are, is a...
Hiring The Best Athlete not The Best Resume
We’ve all done it, interviewed the person that everyone in the room loved. Your gut told you she was a great fit, but she was too entry level, came out of a different industry, or didn’t have one of the skills listed in the job description. So you didn’t hire her and...
Millennials in The Workplace
I’ve written before about the hand-wringing that comes along with trying to “figure out” a new generation of employees (any new generation). Right now, millennials make up 40% of the workforce, a number set to almost double in the next 10 years. How employers work...
Multitasking…does not work
The other day I was trying to take a work call while heating my son’s bottle. Heating a bottle is easy. I poured water into a container, pushed a few buttons on the microwave, took the container out when it beeped and put the bottle into hot water. I’ve done it...
Start Networking Now…Not When You Need To
It is never too early to start building your network. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes people make with networking is to wait until they need something before they start. I've seen the look of fear on the faces of people who have just found out they're losing...
What You Didn’t Learn In School: Navigating Your First Job
We live in a world where people are better educated than ever, so why do the majority of employers and recruiters think that people newly entering the workforce are poorly prepared? While hard skills – measurable technical and professional skills - are improving, job...
Unplug. It’s good for the soul… and for business
If I see another person answering a text while in mid-conversation, I’m seriously going to… Okay, let’s start over with a more constructive approach. Statistically speaking, more than half of you are reading this on some sort of mobile device, so I don’t have to tell...
Millennials in the workplace: Harnessing their unique skills to make your company more successful.
There’s a Sumerian tablet that dates back to the 3rd century B.C. that documents a man’s complaints about the next generation – they’re lazy, imperious and they expect too much. This probably sounds familiar. Recent studies show that well over half of employers have...
Storytelling as a Strategy for Business
No matter what your job, you likely spend a good amount of time trying to persuade people of certain things. Whether you're a CEO trying to get your employees to really engage with your mission statement, a sales person trying to get clients to buy your products or in...
Pen & Paper
Remember how much you loved back to school supply shopping - pristine notebooks, new pens (I like a medium tip blue uniball), highlighters. It’s time to revive the tradition. I’m no Luddite – technological advances have made many things in our work lives and personal...
Why Referring a Friend Can Benefit You and Your Company
Employee referrals are one of the most effective ways to fill job openings. Not only do you have the opportunity to add quality members to your team, but you also reduce the time and money your company spends to recruit top talent. Because you surround yourself with...
Clearer Business Writing
Whether or not you think of yourself as a writer, you probably do a lot of writing at work: emails to co-workers, memos to your boss, reports for the office. Being a good writer not only helps you communicate more clearly and effectively, but can help you stand out as...