Category: productivity

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How To Make Sure Your LinkedIn Profile Is Job-Search Ready

Laptop sitting open on desk with the LinkedIn Website on the page

Are you ready to begin your search for a new job? One of the first places job-seekers turn is LinkedIn, undoubtedly due to the wide-variety of resources available on the platform.

According to Top Resume, there are over 600 million LinkedIn users you can potentially network with to lead you to your next place of employment. Not only that, LinkedIn is where you can find thousands of jobs in your field, location and employment level. However, knowing where to start and how to make your profile stand out against the rest can be overwhelming. 

In order to help, Josephine’s Professional Staffing has prepared five quick actionable steps you can take to increase your chances of finding a job on LinkedIn.

1.) Make Sure Your Profile Picture Is Professional

First impressions are everything in the world of LinkedIn. When a potential employer or network connection clicks on your profile, you want to make sure your photo not only conveys who you are, but is an accurate representation of your professionalism. Now, not everyone can afford or has access to professional headshots, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Use your mobile device to capture a photo of yourself in good lighting, in a nice shirt and looking at the camera. You’ve got this!

2.) Update The Information In Your Bio

Your bio should let the world know a quick summary of what career field you’re in, your top skills, your education and what job opportunities you’re looking for. For example, the last sentence of your LinkedIn summary section could say, “I’m currently searching for job opportunities in the marketing industry” or “I’m looking to connect with other professionals in the marketing industry.” It’s important to let people know what you’re hoping to gain when they view your page. It’s also crucial for the information to be as up-to-date as possible. Having outdated information can lead to confusion and a negative impression.

3.) Set Your Profile To “Open To Work”

This is one of the most vital steps when beginning your job search on LinkedIn. When you make a connection, the first thing they’ll be able to see is that you’re open to new job opportunities, leading them to t keep you in mind if they see a job pop-up. Here is an article from the LinkedIn Help page with step-by-step instructions on how to set your profile to “Open To Work.” You can also add the #OpenToWork banner to your profile photo.

4.) Add Important Links and Descriptions

Under each of the work history and education sections, make sure to add descriptions of exactly what you did in that position and how you were able to help those companies. Be specific about metrics and tasks. Also, be sure to add links to any relevant websites, like your portfolio or published works. Taking the time to add in these valuable pieces of information will allow future employers and network connections to see your expertise.

5.) Interact With Your Connections

Let people know you’re active on LinkedIn by liking and commenting on posts, job updates and work anniversaries. LinkedIn makes it easy to do this through their notifications tab. Also, make sure you’re messaging valuable connections to let them know you’re on the job hunt and would appreciate any help they might be able to offer. 

Want to learn more professional tips and networking advice sure to help you land your next job? Visit the Josephine’s Professional Staffing blog for a variety of posts on the topic.

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Why You Need To Invest In Team-Building Activities

The most important asset to any company is its employees. They are the backbone of the company, which is why it’s essential to make sure your team feels valued and appreciated. 

It’s unfortunate that the thought of ‘team building’ has become increasingly less exciting, or even seen as a waste of time. Despite this reputation, team-building is one of the most important investments you can make for your people. It builds trust, mitigates conflict, encourages communication and increases collaboration. 


Effective team building means more engaged employees, which is good for company culture and boosting the bottom line. Team-building is as adventurous as you want to make it, which is why we’re sharing a few thoughts to consider before you start planning, and the benefits you can hope to see as a result.

Don’t Force The Corporate Stuff

The most successful team-building events are the ones that don’t feel like a typical day in the office. Activities that overtly aim to draw in leadership lessons, or practical takeaways are often less successful. Spending time together, sharing an experience or working towards a common goal allows conversation and bonding to happen organically and far more effectively.

Team Building Is Not A Splurge, It’s An Investment

At the end of the day, you want to provide an activity that resonates well with your employees. You don’t have to overdo it, but don’t skimp out either. You want to leave your team feeling appreciated and valued, which ultimately lasts longer than the activity itself.

Team Building Boosts Employee Engagement

According to Museum Hack, employee engagement is one of the most crucial elements of a successful business. It demonstrates how much employees care about the company’s mission, and how hard they’re willing to work to ensure the company succeeds. 


Team building is a great way to boost employee engagement, morale, and show employees you care about their well being. Teams with highly engaged employees earn two times the annual net income of companies with low engagement levels.

Team Building Can Help You Attract And Retain Top Talent

Kathy Caprino at Forbes wrote an article describing how mega companies like Uber, Facebook, and Salesforce use team building to their advantage. One of the most insightful parts of the article came from a quote by team building expert Jenny Gottstein, who says the following:

“Interestingly, we’re seeing companies use their strong corporate culture as a bargaining chip to recruit the best and brightest talent. When applying for jobs, millennial employees are not only assessing their salary and benefits, but also whether or not they relate to the working environment, and enjoy rolling up their sleeves next to their peers. As a result of this culture shift, team-building is being used as a marketing and recruitment tool. Often we will produce games for prospective employees or interns of large companies as a way to show off the perks of the company’s working environment.”

Team Building Improves Communication

There are a wide variety of team building exercises, and most all of them require communication. Whether it’s strategizing, coordinating, or solving a problem, the need to communicate is inevitable when it comes to team building exercises. 

Let your employees engage with one another naturally, and watch their relationships grow!

With quality team building activities, you can foster unity among your team members and make them feel acknowledged and appreciated.

For more recommendations on increasing productivity at work, check out these additional articles on our blog today! Or, if you’re looking for a new position, see our current job listings!

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How To Increase Productivity At Work, No Matter Where You Work

Whether you’re preparing to enter a busy quarter, catching up on work or just trying to make the most of your day, there are always steps you can take to become more productive. Productivity at work may seem like an overwhelming topic, especially when everyone is inspired and motivated differently. So what are the easiest ways to stay on task through a long work day?

The methods to  increase productivity at work are not one-size-fits-all. There are numerous factors including the type of person you are, where you work and what your limitations are. For example, the suggestion to brighten your work space might not come so easily for those working from a cubicle in a corporate office. Read on to find a strategy or two that you can incorporate into your work day.

Tips For Staying Productive While Working In An Office

  1. Plan ahead. Get to your desk 15 minutes early and write out a list of tasks to get your work day started. Highlighting your top three tasks can also help you stay on track to accomplish your daily goals.
  2. Time chunk desirable tasks to help space out your day. Lori Lynn Smith, a Lifehack author, says that by shifting your focus between tedious and repetitive tasks and those that are more engaging, you can keep yourself happily involved in your work throughout the day. Give each task category a time frame and alternate back and forth between them for better productivity at work.
  3. Listen to music. Did you know that music can help you settle into your work routine? Low-volume music or a trusty set of earbuds can drown out noises in the office without interrupting your coworkers. Choose music that helps you focus without distracting you. It has been shown that while listening to classical music your IQ actually increases—you might want to give it a try!

Tips For Staying Productive While Working From Home

  1. Plan phone calls and meeting thoughtfully. Unless you live completely alone, you don’t want to have loud children or a barking dog in the background of your conference call. Not only is it unprofessional, but you might miss something important while trying to silence those around you. Plan your calls according to the daily hustle and bustle of your home.  
  2. Have a designated office space, even if you don’t have a private room for it. Having an office space can increase your productivity at work. Productivity Writer and Author Kayla Matthewssays that this will help put you in “work” mode, as well as prevent you from seeing things that might distract you, like that pile of dirty dishes you ignored last night or a hamper full of clean clothes waiting to be folded. Giving yourself a designated space often means a higher rate of productivity at work.

Whether you work from home or in an office, increasing productivity at work doesn’t have to be a challenge. 

For more recommendations on increasing productivity at work, read additional articles on our blog today! Or, if you’re looking for a new position, see our current job listings!