Before you even start the new temp job, account for every minute
Time is money, and more time equals more money.
That means it’s important to milk the most out of every day, especially if you are just starting work after a staffing agency placed you in a temp or temp-to-hire job.
You want to prove you can rock the clock right off the bat, and make the most of every minute you spend at the office. That’s why time management skills are key. It’s a hard skill to master given the constant tugs and temptations to waste time in any office setting. Here are some timeless time-management tips you can use to become a true clockmaster.
• Prioritize. And then prioritize again. Make sure projects you are spending time on contribute to your overall goals or work mission.
• Go for goals. What do you want to accomplish today, this week or this year? Again, make sure you are making progress toward these goals. Establish metrics to ensure you are not just spitting gravel. As the adage goes, don’t confuse motion for progress. Keep a list of your short-, medium- and long-term goals, and check off ones you accomplish.
• Avoid busy work. If you are mired in work or on a project you think will go nowhere, extract yourself. Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ to what you deem an unreasonable or uneconomical use of your time. If you can, delegate, or request delegation, of simpler yet time-consuming tasks to another member of your team.
• Plan ahead. You should have a good idea of what your goals for the day are before you even walk into your workplace. Good planning allows you to allocate time efficiently and set your own schedule – on your own time.
• Avoid distractions. Stay off social media as much as is practical, depending on your job. Some jobs require regular use and posting of social media. This can make it doubly tricky to not get sucked into the bottomless time sink.
Time is a precious resource, and managers keep track of how you spend your time. Anything less than complete time management may reduce your growth potential and stymie that final push from a temp-to-hire job to a permanent position with an AtWork client.
AtWork lands another coveted ranking
AtWork Group, a rapidly growing national staffing franchise, was ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Fastest-Growing Franchises list. This highly competitive list recognizes the 150 companies with the greatest franchise unit growth in North America, based on data submitted for Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 Ranking. AtWork was ranked No. 106 on this year’s list.
“For business owners who want to grow their brand quickly, franchising is a compelling and often effective option,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “The companies on this list prove that well, having opened a combined total of more than 10,000 new franchises in just one year.”
Temp job tips: Taking care of yourself in the workplace
Whether it’s a permanent job or temporary gig through a staffing agency, you need to make a full-time commitment to treating your body well at work. Prolonged sitting, poor posture and slouching can lead to headaches, fatigue, back pain, nerve damage or worse.
Here are some office ergonomic tips courtesy of AtWork to make sure your work station isn’t working against you:
• Sit up straight: Your mom was right — don’t slouch. Keep your back straight and body weight evenly distributed.
How to shift your focus from the job search to the job site
You focused hard on finding that temp or temp-to-hire job through an AtWork staffing agency. Now it’s time to focus on work.
That is easier said than done these days in the midst of email bombardments, phone calls, social media and someone asking if you have a second every minute.
There are some tried-and-true techniques to rein in distractions, however. Pay attention: Here are some ways to stay focused at work.
• Make a list: Write out your priorities for the day and stick to your task list. Momentum will build on itself, and you’ll find yourself more focused on completing your goals once you knock a few off the list....
Give your brain and body a boost with these simple office exercises
If you are like most Americans, you stay seated or asleep for about 21 hours a day, according to a study of sedentary workplace habits.
That’s not to say you are twiddling your thumbs after you land that gig from a staffing agency. A lot of that sitting is done while working your temp or temp-to-hire job, but it’s obviously not a healthful undertaking.
So why not work out while working? Believe it or not, there’s a litany of effective exercises you can perform at your office desk. For optimal work performance and concentration, you need to move around at least once an hour. Instead of walking to the refrigerator to retrieve a snack or gossip with your coworkers, use that break to bulk up. Here are a few ideas for quick workplace exercises:
