As You Shop Or Renew

It is important to evaluate which plan is right for you and your team members. Knowledge is power, especially when referencing healthcare coverage. The licensed advisors at NAPS360 Healthcare ensure your priorities in healthcare coverage are taken into account while ensuring the plans offered fit your needs. This is when you achieve your coverage goals.

The first step to uncovering your new complete healthcare coverage solution is to determine what type of plan fits your needs. The second fundamental component to quality coverage is determining which healthcare coverage company best covers your needs and location. Finally, it’s time to start asking questions about additional benefits like does your coverage include a team to help you save money and alleviate stress?

Here to Help

Healthcare Coverage is a monumental task that we put off until the last possible moment. Overall, it is seen as confusing, overwhelming, and expensive. While it can be all these things, with NAPS360 Healthcare and their process, it is easy to grasp, easy to understand, and has many different opportunities to save you and your team money. They help you make this big decision with peace of mind knowing you made the right choice. With proprietary plans, options in all 50 states, the oldest and largest networks in the country, and new carriers in addition to a team of licensed advisors and additional suite of benefits to ensure your team is covered and you are OCH compliant.

“We are seeing a saving 25% on premiums, while moving from a $6,000 deductible to $0. We are excited to have this benefit and the ability to save!”
-Donna G. in Florida

Additional benefits? Yes, in addition to plans with $0 deductible, you will find select plans include a suite of non-insurance benefits to help your team stay healthy and happy. These benefits include telemedicine, work life balance, medical bill saver, health advocacy, and prescription savings for the entire team. For the office you will be OCH, OSHA and COBRA compliant. This means you have less to worry about overall as an office manager.

Ready to Shop?

Ready to compare healthcare coverage options? Thanks to NAPS360’s partnership with MyHealthily, NAPS360 Healthcare makes it easy to save and gives you the best chance at health, happiness, and peace of mind with your decision. Have a plan you already love? Provide the plan information to your advisor and see if it is really the best fit, if so, we will tell you, and if not, your advisor will find the best plan options. Now take a deep breath and get ready to reap the benefits of having a partner in healthcare coverage like NAPS360 Healthcare!

When it comes to the topic of accessibility of healthcare coverage everyone agrees there needs to be reform but cannot agree on how or what changes to make. The pandemic shook the globe and demonstrated specifically to Americans what the true cost could really be for those without health insurance.

The Current System

Here is what you need to know about the structure of modern health insurance coverage in the United States.

- Healthcare coverage companies prior to 2008 could deny individuals due to pre-existing conditions, meaning they would not be able to be insured due to perceived ‘high risk’. The Affordable Care Act extended healthcare coverage to millions of Americans and mandated coverage of those with pre-existing conditions.

- Insurance carrier stock prices are up >200% since the inception of ACA. Most, if not all reported quarterly earnings at all-time highs in FY 2020. Health insurance companies profit at least 3-5%, with most of their expenses including unnecessary overhead like advertising/marketing, executive salaries, and shareholder ROI.

- Most general healthcare coverage plans are the same and offer similar benefits, networks, and price points. They all vary in premiums and deductibles limits.

- The cost of healthcare coverage is rising at a minimum rate of 9% per year.

Looking Forward

The future of healthcare coverage is pointed in a global direction. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that a virus discovered on the other side of the globe can travel and effect the entire world and all of those in it in a matter of weeks. It’s also shown us the importance of ensuring everyone has access to outstanding preventative medical care at a fair price. Since the world is more interconnected than ever, select carriers even host global healthcare coverage for travelers and those working from remote locations. The industry is innovating with the times especially in the United States. These innovations are driving widespread access at lower costs and provides patients with more possibilities to receive life changing care through advanced technologies, resources, and funding. These items lead to 21 st century advancements in healthcare, and healthcare coverage by extension also needs to modernize.

Data is King

The way healthcare will look like in the future centers around data. Data is constantly being collected in all areas of our lives, and in this instance, it is not being sold to third parties and you can save money as a result! Carriers like BEAM and Oscar offer wellness programs to their customers centered around incentives for healthy lifestyle choices. Many companies pair incentive programs with fitness trackers and other innovative technology pieces to gain encrypted, secure, and anonymous data about those enrolled in healthcare coverage and provide discounts based on active lifestyle choices.

Where Technology Fits In

Another way technology has really changed healthcare coverage in the last year is access to remote providers. Some healthcare coverage plans include non-insurance benefits to reduce claims on your insurance while providing the healthcare needed. Telehealth is one of these type benefits where you are able to speak with a licensed medical professional 24 hours a day seven days a week and if needed can be prescribed medication. Another similar benefit is work/life care balance where you can speak with a licensed counselor to help you with what is going on in your life 24 hours a day seven days a week. Finally, technology can help by sorting through your insurance claims, and ensuring everything is correct and you are not overpaying for the healthcare you received. Medical Bill Saver helps ensure that you are not the one in ten insurance claims that is incorrect and will negotiate the bill on your behalf saving you not only money but time and stress!

Choosing The Best Coverage

As you look at your healthcare coverage options in this globalized marketplace it’s even more important to ensure you make the choice that is right for you and your team. NAPS360 and MyHealthily created Nap360healthcare.com to help you find what you need in order to make that right choice. This even includes a suite of non-insurance benefits included with every plan, nationally recognized carriers, innovative products from carriers you’ve never seen before, and a support team to answer your questions.

Schedule a Call

Visit Naps360healthcare.com to schedule a call with a trusted advisor at a date and time that works for you. They will be able to walk you through plan options and assist you with enrollment.

By CPS Recruitment

Workplace stress can increase heart attack risk by 23%, studies show.

CPS Recruitment is a proud supporter of Syracuse’s American Heart Association , whose efforts to create a world of better health have changed the lives of many.

More than half of U.S. and Canadian workers feel stress every day, according to the latest State of the Global Workplace report by Gallup . Stress has been trending upward since 2009 and it spiked during the global coronavirus pandemic. 

While workplace stress isn’t always preventable, there are strategies to identify and cope with stress in healthy ways. 

What to know about workplace stress

Our bodies respond to workplace stress in the same ways we’d respond to any other kind of stress. The good news is that we’re pretty good at coping with occasional stress on our own.

However, chronic or unmanaged workplace stress can lead to some big problems. 

If left unchecked, workplace stress can cause headaches, stomachaches, sleep problems, short tempers, and difficulty concentrating.

Chronic workplace stress can even contribute to long-term problems like burnout, insomnia, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, anxiety and depression. 

To cope with stress, some people turn to unhealthy options like drugs and alcohol that come with their own health risks. 

Here are 6 healthy ways to cope with workplace stress

1. Identify what’s making you stressed and how it affects you

Workplace stress can be triggered by a lot of factors that aren’t always easy to identify. 

The American Psychological Association recommends keeping a journal for a week or two to track situations where you experience stress and how you respond. 

Try to note as many details as possible each time you experience intense stress, including: 

Your thoughts and feelings

Where you were and other details about the environment

The people and circumstances involved

Your reaction  

Journaling is meant to help you identify patterns in your stressors and responses. 

2. Establish healthy boundaries 

Work can easily seep into our personal time if we’re not careful. Try to avoid work-related tasks and messages during the evenings and on the weekends.  

3. Make time to relax and recharge when you need it

Taking a break can sometimes be the most productive thing we can do - whether it’s five minutes to stretch your legs or a 2-week vacation. 

Even short breaks can stave off fatigue, restore motivation, boost productivity, and improve learning, according to Psychology Today . Try to take short, regular breaks during the day to reset your thoughts and step away from your stressors. 

If you can’t take a break, try switching to a different task to shift your focus away from what’s causing you stress. 

4. Try to exercise most days 

When you’re feeling stressed, exercise is your best friend. 

A few minutes of exercise releases endorphins in your brain, which are your body’s built-in tools for managing stress, according to The Mayo Clinic . Plus, you’ll get your thoughts off of work and boost your self-confidence. 

The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week. 

Exercise can reduce and prevent stress while lowering your risk of developing health conditions including heart disease and high blood pressure. Regular exercise also improves insomnia, cognition, depression, anxiety, and your overall sense of well-being. 

5. Create a comfortable work environment 

Have you ever considered how your physical work environment is contributing to your stress? 

Although an uncomfortable desk chair or sub-par coffee probably won’t be the things that make you want to quit your job, they certainly don’t make you feel any better when things get stressful.

Make sure your main workspace is comfortable and relatively distraction-free. Ask your supervisor about changing or updating your work area so it’s more functional. 

6. Avoid unnecessary conflict and gossip

Workplace gossip can be a tempting distraction, but it can end up causing more stress in the long run. 

Instead, avoid situations and people that can drag you into unnecessary workplace conflicts. 

Talk to your supervisor if you find yourself getting dragged into workplace negativity, or if you need help resolving a conflict.

7. Reach out to a professional for help

Reach out to your doctor if you’re too overwhelmed to deal with your stress alone, or if you use drugs or alcohol to cope with stress. Your doctor can refer you to a therapist or prescribe medicine to help. 

Your company may have an employee assistance program, which can look for ways to resolve your stressors and help you cope with stressful situations. 

Sources

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/201704/how-do-work-breaks-help-your-brain-5-surprising-answers

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/15/gallup-us-workers-are-among-the-most-stressed-in-the-world.html

https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress

Healthcare coverage can be confusing! There are thousands of plan options, codes and laws that seem to change every year. We are here to help you through the confusion with some simple ways to save on your healthcare expenses outside your monthly premium. (Fun Fact: one of these tips, could even help your premium go down at renewal.) First things first, you are one of the lucky ones, somewhere near 31 million Americans do not have healthcare coverage. Now, what can you do to ease your expenses when it comes to healthcare needs?

1. Understand your coverage: Your healthcare plan is full of documents; the summary plan description (SPD) is the one to focus on. The SPD is a detailed guide to the benefits provided and how the plan works. It is also required to be given to you for free as an enrollee in healthcare coverage. Another option is to speak with a health advocate. A health advocate will help you process all your healthcare coverage related needs. This includes going over the plan, explaining benefits, and helping find a provider if needed. Some plans include a healthcare advocate.

2. Reduce Claims: This is a simple idea in theory, the fewer claims you incur throughout the plan year, the less you are spending out of pocket on co-pays. Reducing your number of claims can also reduce the increase of premiums year over year, helping you save more in the long term as well.

To reduce your claims means you visit the doctor less, but what if you need to see a provider? This is where telehealth benefits are helpful. Most insurance plans include telehealth service but using it still requires a co-pay and can incur a claim! If you need to speak with a medical provider, there are some telehealth plans like those that are part of Prosper Benefits which have $0 co-pay and does not show up as a claim.

There are even benefits where you can speak to not only a physician, but also a counselor and a veterinarian twenty four hours a day seven days a week. These benefits are great to help when it is not an emergency situation, but you need assistance. Keep these types of benefits in mind when looking at your plan options.

3. Prescription Savings: Most plans offer prescription coverage, but what if you were able to save more through a third party app than with your insurance? Well, oftentimes that is the case. It may not always be less than with insurance, but it doesn’t hurt anyone to find out, so be sure to check out the Prosper Benefits prescription plan to see potential savings!

4. Negotiate medical bills: Did you know that you can negotiate a medical bill?! Once a final bill from a provider is received you can call and discuss the expenses, set-up a payment plan, and many times with enough effort receive a discount. The key is knowing where to negotiate. Prosper Benefits includes Medical Bill Consultants that negotiate lower cost bills all the time.

5. Plan with an HSA: If you have a high deductible healthcare plan (HDHP) you can start a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is a tax-advantaged account, owned by an individual, with contributions made to the account by the individual or their employer. Contributions are limited to a yearly maximum. An HSA can help you prepare for those unforeseen healthcare expenses.

Knowing these 5 tips will help you save on your healthcare coverage in the short term by lowering claim dollars spent (out of pocket costs) and in the long term, come renewal time. As a NAPS member if you have any questions about your options NAPS360Healthcare.com is here to assist. NAPS360Healthcare.com includes options like Prosper Benefits which empowers you to make responsible decisions, giving you control of your healthcare.

December 23, 2021 UPDATES

• U.S. OSHA – New & Updated ETS FAQs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration updated its FAQs about the vaccine-or-test emergency temporary standard (ETS). The text of questions 6.J and 6.K was updated to address the use of over-the-counter OTC tests to satisfy the testing standard. In addition, a series of new FAQs were added as questions 6.Q through 6.X, addressing the following issues:

• 6.Q. Do over-the-counter (OTC) tests that feature digital reporting of date and time stamped results need to be observed by the employer or an authorized telehealth proctor?
  
  
• 6.R. Will a single over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 test satisfy the weekly testing requirement of the ETS even for an OTC test that requires completion of more than one test (serial testing) per the Emergency Use Authorization?
  
  
• 6.S. Is a self-administered and self-read COVID-19 test acceptable under the ETS if an employee submits a photograph of the test results to their employer after?
  
  
• 6.T. Can an employer or authorized telehealth proctor observe more than one over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 test at the same time?
  
  
• 6.U. Will retroactive review of videos made by employees self-administering and self-reading COVID-19 tests meet the requirements for employer or authorized telehealth proctor observation?
  
  
• 6.V. May employers remotely observe the self-administration of over-the-counter (OTC) tests via a live streaming video conference program, such as Zoom, Skype, or Microsoft Teams?
  
  
• 6.W. If an employer observes or conducts over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, how should the employer document the results?
  
  
• 6.X. For employees who do not report to a workplace or see a supervisor on a regular basis, how can employees be tested?

• Federal Contractor Mandate – Injunction Issued. As reported in news outlets, a federal judge in Florida granted a preliminary injunction sought by the State of Florida, barring enforcement of the vaccine mandate applicable to federal contractors. The order applies to “any covered contract in Florida.”



• Vaccine Mandates – Supreme Court Arguments. News outlets report that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments, on an expedited basis, on January 7, 2022 on both the OSHA vaccine-or-test ETS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.

December 20, 2021 UPDATES

What Just Happened to the OSHA and Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandates?

When did you join NAPS and how long have you been a member?

I have known of NAPS for many years, and was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to join NAPS in 2012, when I started my company.

What have been the biggest benefits you’ve realized come from being a NAPS member?

As a member of NAPS, I’ve done a few Lunch And Learn Presentations, attended various NAPS events, and I was even fortunate enough to be able to speak at one of NAPS’ National Conferences.

What is your involvement with NAPS today?

There are a lot of amazing benefits for being a part of NAPS. I’m someone who always wants to learn more, so the Educational Programs that NAPS offers are invaluable to me. NAPS has also offered me an incredible amount of networking opportunities and access to a variety of social events. The frequent industry news and updates have also helped me to stay informed.

What would you say to someone considering joining NAPS?

To anyone thinking of joining NAPS, I’d highly recommend doing so. It will help you stand out from your peers and get the training and knowledge needed to bring yourself to the next level. Joining NAPS was one of the first things I did when I started my company.

What upcoming plans, initiatives or events are you most excited about in 2021?

As the pandemic appears to be ending, I am really looking forward to returning to the conferences that NAPS hosts and getting back to the social elements of being a NAPS member.

Anything you would like to add that we have not covered?

I am excited to see the economy beginning to recover after the damage done by the Coronavirus pandemic, I am also really happy to see the growth and changes within my niche as the pandemic is now ending.

When did you join NAPS and how long have you been a member?

What is your involvement with NAPS today?

What have been the biggest benefits you’ve realized come from being a NAPS member?

What would you say to someone considering joining NAPS?

What upcoming plans, initiatives or events are you most excited about in 2020?

Anything you would like to add that we have not covered?

By Mitch Rudolph, Avionté

We’re sure by now you’ve seen no less than 20 or so emails, hundreds of news articles and perhaps thousands of social posts regarding COVID-19 and how businesses plan to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

While no doubt, many of these commutations are extremely important, lifesaving in some cases, this post is different.

Listed below is a collection of learnings and advice that we’ve gathered as a company over the last few weeks that can genuinely help your business embrace the “new normal” and continue doing what we as an industry do best, putting the nation to work.

Getting the Most out of Video

Do you remember how magical it was in the past decade once FaceTime came out? It really turned science fiction into science fact and allowed people to communicate in a whole new, personable way. Fast forward to 2020 and video has advanced significantly. There’s something more meaningful about seeing someone’s face vs. just their voice in a remote office setting.

At Avionté, using video chat vs. phone conversation is not enforced but it is heavily encouraged. Why? It creates a sense of team.

Being able to video chat someone instantly is similar to life back in the office when you could just walk up to a co-worker and ask them a question. Additionally, it adds a sense of professionalism. If you know you might have to be “camera-ready” while working from home, it adds a layer of purpose to your day and comes in handy when a client or boss calls.

Frequent Communication

Our executive team has been fully transparent with what the company is doing and what they are planning on doing with the evolving situation. This helps tremendously keep employees, clients, prospects and partners at ease knowing what’s next. Here’s four communication methods that have been working well:

• Opened up an internal chat group – This digital chat group provides the perfect environment for employees to ask questions, seek answers and offer daily doses of encouragement.
• Daily email updates – Every weekday, an email is sent out from the executive team, sometimes just the CEO, Karl Florida, with updates, encouragements and a touch of humor to keep employees motivated and informed.
• Open digital door policy – While the entire company is working remote, there’s an open digital door policy where employees can easily ask the executive team questions.
• Email blast to all clients, prospects, employees and partners – Even though many companies are actively doing this, it’s still important to communication to the broader community what your business is doing about the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out Avionte’s email blast. 

Tips for Working from Remote

Working from home is definitely a “new normal” for many people, especially at our office where only a handful of folks BC (Before Coronavirus) worked remotely. To help ease others into the remote work lifestyle, we had our full-time remote employees send in their top tips for working productively from home. Here’s a small collection of their ideas:

• Make your home office cozier by adding a plant, candle or placing it near a window with lots of sunshine
• Workout before you start your remote day
• Get dressed the way you would as if you’re going to the office
• Stock up on delicious coffee (any coffee that’s better than the free stuff in the office)
• Get into a morning routine
• Take frequent short breaks to keep the blood flowing

Humor

In these perilous and uncertain times, humor still remains one of the best medicines when used appropriately. Whether that be memes, light-hearted dad jokes or even poking fun of the situation you’re in, humor is an excellent tool to keep moral high.

Here’s a few family-friendly jokes about the staffing industry for your enjoyment!

I once placed a firefighter for a job order only to find out they got fired a week later.

I hear staffing is really good in the garbage industry. Business is always picking up.

3 unwritten rules of staffing

1.

2.

3.

Did you know that 3.14% of recruiters prefer pie charts?

We sincerely hope you find some nuggets of use out of this post. We’re living in some hectic times and it’s no doubt easy to feel disheartened. Just remember that we are resilient as an industry and we will get through this together.

It’s hard to imagine there was a time when things like navigating, paying bills, shopping, and catching up on the news were done with little or no help from technology as we know it (and not that long ago, really).

But, in just a relatively short span of time, technology has permanently changed so much of how we do nearly everything—and it’s happened so seamlessly and intuitively that we barely notice it at times.

And how we recruit in 2020 is no different.

While the memories of Rolodexes and yellow pages may only just be beginning to fog (for some), recruiting has changed so drastically and so quickly that much of the day-to-day would seem unrecognizable to the earlier versions of ourselves.

The timeless skills like determination, communication, problem-solving, and network will never expire or become outdated, but, today, there are so many new, innovative tools available to the modern recruiter that make their lives easier.

Below, we’ll shed some light on a few of the more prominent trends in recruiting automation that we’ve noticed thus far in 2020.

Chatbots
Robots have been firmly beeping their way into a variety of industries for some time now. But recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) has spawned the new wave of their less physically-dependent offspring: the chatbot.

Finding the perfect candidate has always been the center of the bullseye for recruiters, and manually sifting through and engaging with a multitude of candidates has always been one of the biggest obstacles in the way.

As the foundational technology supporting it has sharply improved in recent years, chatbots are now capable of much more nuanced and sophisticated levels of conversation with users.

Chatbots can free up much of a recruiter’s time by quickly and reliably gathering pertinent information like resumes, contact information, interview availability, and answers to screening questions. Furthermore, these virtual assistants can even rank and categorize candidates based on parameters set by the recruiter.

Even relatively small procedures like these can radically bolster your screening efficiency and capability once they become automated.

And it’s even good news for job seekers: in this candidate-driven market, a faster, smoother, and more efficient candidate experience can be a huge competitive advantage.

(Here’s a link to a great article that reviews the best chatbots for recruiting in 2020 if you’re looking to make a move.)

Email marketing automation
One of the more critical responsibilities for recruiters is maintaining regular or semi-regular engagement with candidates—but it’s also one of the biggest time sinks. And when your ATS swells in size as your business grows, communicating with hundreds of people effectively over time can quickly become overwhelming.

Enter email marketing automation.

When done correctly, email marketing helps recruiters by automating routine, tedious processes and engage with candidates (or clients) at scale.

There is really no shortage of applications; it all depends on your business. But, for just one example, creating an email marketing strategy for candidates you’ve placed out on contract can help promote engagement and keep you at the top of their minds down the road.

You can schedule an email that goes out on the day a candidate starts out on their new engagement, thank them, and provide tips for their first day. You can then send a follow-up in six weeks that checks in to see how things are going and maybe schedule a call or a lunch. And then again in six months asking if they’re reaching the end of their contract and looking for their next opportunity.

And it’s all automatic.

Again, this is just one example, and the strategy will vary depending on your own unique circumstance, but, regardless of your business, there’s likely more than one way you stand to benefit from exploring email marketing automation initiatives.


Join NAPS!
NAPS, the leading educator for the staffing industry since 1961, offers a wide range of benefits that positions its members at the forefront of the staffing and recruiting world. Join today to take advantage of our educational programs, credentialing programs, networking opportunities, exclusive discounts, and more!

Entering the workforce, and recruiting from within it, is vastly different than in years past.

Employers lament about the prevailing skills shortage and the cramp it puts on their hiring efforts—CEOs globally consider the current talent shortage to be the top emerging risk for their companies.

Meanwhile, jobseekers express frustration that the traditional career path of getting an education (or learning a skill), getting a job, and then staying at that job until they retire seems to be vanishing. 

Today, when organizations are hard-pressed to find qualified talent and workers are accustomed to upskilling, adapting to emerging technologies, and job-hopping, a certain classification of skills has emerged as the new differentiator: soft skills. 

While hardly a new phenomenon, the softer set of skills is getting a larger share of the spotlight and matter more now than ever before. 

We’ll cover a few of the more important soft skills in 2020 and explain why they matter.

Key soft skills to look for

Creativity

Perhaps the most evergreen of all soft skills, creativity continually tops the list of most desirable soft skills for organizations across all industries (it’s topped LinkedIn’s top 5 most in-demand soft skills list for back to back years). 

Employees who can creatively approach problems and tasks and consistently deliver solutions are incredibly valuable for virtually every business role. Identifying individuals who are intellectually agile can be a bit tricky, though. 

Be sure to ask open-ended questions that allow room for candidates to explain past scenarios where they displayed creative problem-solving. 

Growth mindset

Business is now conducted during an era of rapid change. New impactful technologies sprout up weekly and assert their effects over a variety of processes. The responsibilities of any given role can change dramatically over the course of a year and workers are forced to scramble to adapt. 

An individual that scores high in the “growth mindset” soft skill believes that their talents can be developed through hard work and feedback and are thus well-positioned to rise to the dynamic challenges of the modern workplace. 

Conversely, an individual scoring low in this soft skill believes that their talents are set in stone and unchangeable.

Being able to identify a growth mindset skill among candidates can be hugely important for specific roles; ask candidates to share examples of when a role they had in the past changed and how they adapted to it. 

Collaboration

For as much as a technically gifted employee can accomplish in their individual role, today organizations are putting an increasing amount of emphasis on one’s ability to collaborate with others. 

High-performing teams will always outpace a high-performing individual and companies are beginning to select for individuals who have demonstrated a willingness and ability to work well with others to achieve a common goal. 

There’s a reason the maxim “teamwork makes the dream work” has been so well known for so long. No matter how talented a certain candidate may be, if they are difficult to work and struggle to be an effective team member, the workplace will almost certainly suffer. 

Take time when evaluating candidates to make sure they express a genuine earnestness to collaborate and be a helpful contributor to a larger team. Ask them to provide examples of successful collaboration at prior roles (or, maybe even more effective, examples of unsuccessful collaboration).

Join NAPS!

NAPS, the leading educator for the staffing industry since 1961, offers a wide range of benefits that positions its members at the forefront of the staffing and recruiting world. Join today to take advantage of our educational programs, credentialing programs, networking opportunities, exclusive discounts, and more!

By Karen Schmidt, Managing Partner of Next Level Exchange

How was January both the longest year ever, and absolutely fly by at the same time? How has your stress level decreased since the holidays – let me guess, it hasn’t! As recruiters, my opinion is that we feel an insane level of stress more often than not.  

In fact, for many recruiters, pending deadlines and packed schedules are not overwhelming, but instead serve as a driving force that pushes them toward greater productivity. We have deals to close, goals to achieve, sales incentive trips to earn, financial success to attain, exercise regimes to master, dreams to chase, and people to help and inspire. The “I work best under pressure” mantra environment creates a Catch-22;  we get frustrated with ongoing stress, but perform at the highest level of effectiveness and efficiency when under the exact stress we try to escape. I wanted to address this topic to our NAPS audience because I believe that great recruiters are over-achievers by nature and this is something worth reflecting upon. We spend time at conferences, or on Next Level Exchange, discussing ways to keep our businesses healthy but spend very little time (or none at all) focusing on the health of our own selves. 

For some, busyness can be reassuring; a feeling of constant forward-motion and accomplishment is much preferred over being stagnant or empty. That reassurance can come with an eventual price – stress, while beneficial in moderate amounts, is harmful in excessive amounts, as are most things. In fact, I think some are even addicted to stress! Heidi Hanna, author of Stressaholic: 5 Steps to Transform Your Relationship with Stress argues that multiple demands on our time and energy have created a neurochemical dependence on stress. By activating the dopamine reward center in the brain that feeds us feel-good endorphins, stress can temporarily boost performance, explaining why some appear to get so much done when under extreme pressure. Just like a drug, the feelings of stress and preoccupation are extremely addictive. The transition between being hyper-busy to more reasonable levels of activity may be a foreign feeling and withdrawal symptoms may come along with it. When one becomes addicted to non-stop thinking, worrying, striving, efforting, achieving, straining and stressing, to allow oneself to be truly relaxed and simply breathe can be an adjustment. It may even feel boring!

So, how do you simplify and balance while still being an amazing recruiter who achieves all you are capable of?

If you are a self-diagnosed “stress junkie”, start by asking yourself a few simple questions to be sure your efforts support your true intentions:  

• What is it you really want to accomplish?  How does your busyness support your end goals? 

• What are the most important elements of your life?  Your family?  Your health?  Your spirituality?  How much time and focus are you dedicating each day to those elements?

• Do you control your day, your career, and your life – or do you find those things controlling you?

• What comfort do you find in being stressed?  Why is it uncomfortable to be relaxed or reflective?

Okay, so you’ve self-diagnosed. Now what??? One suggestion is to evaluate, and then trim away, all of the non-essentials in your day. What are you involved with out of obligation that could be less frequent or eliminated entirely? How many social networking sites do you really need to update or check, and how often per day? What professional responsibilities could be delegated to others, but stay on your plate because “they’ve always been there”? Eliminating a few non-essential tasks or activities gives you the time and energy to invest in those things that are essential for your balance and wellbeing.

Make a list of all your current important projects that are not urgent, and then assign at least two one-hour slots a week to work on them. If you don’t begin to do some of the strategic work now, when will you? Sometimes we get so busy with the minutiae that we neglect the forward-motion activity required for true progress or change. Usually, the most important things in your life are not necessarily the most urgent. They don't call you on the phone, put deadlines on your calendar, or knock incessantly at your door. They are often quiet - in the background - easy to forget and neglect. Schedule time for those important projects, and then schedule the nonessentials around them.

Consider dejunking your office and living environment. Get rid of physical items you don't need from old magazines and newspapers, to clothes that don't fit, to toys and movies that the kids have outgrown. When what you don't need is out of the way, it takes much less time and energy to find the things you do need. I haven’t watched Marie Kondo’s show because if I truly threw away everything that didn’t “spark joy” for me, I would be sitting on the curb with my dogs and my wine fridge, but perhaps her show would help you with this concept if you can sit through it. And I apologize if I’ve just offended any of you who are Tidying Up junkies, I’m sure it’s an incredible show.

Add activities into your schedule that you enjoy, and be fully present as you're doing them. You may feel you don't have the time, but consider how much extra energy and motivation you receive from pursuing hobbies and gratifications, and how that energy might help you with your regular responsibilities. 

Finally, stop trying to be all things to all people! It is okay to say “no”, or to set expectations as to when it is realistic for you to accomplish the task at hand. In today's busy, demanding world, we will likely always have more to do than we can ever get done in a single day. Find joy and fulfillment in small achievements, day by day, and one at a time. Okay, those are my tips for all of us trying to maintain the balance in either our post-new-year frenzy or just our normal daily routines! Thank you for reading, and know that our entire team is here to help improve the health of your recruiting business and the health of your minds and souls!

Next Level Exchange offers the most comprehensive professional development programs in the search industry, with over 125 different recruiting trainers and big billers sharing their best practices for excellence in search and staffing.  Get two weeks free to what many refer to as “Netflix for Recruiters” at www.nextlevelexchange.com. Follow Next Level on LinkedIn for more:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-exchange/ .

It’s 2020 and it’s hardly newsworthy to report that the balance of power in recruiting has shifted dramatically from employers to candidates. We operate within a candidate-driven market, established in part by the US unemployment numbers seeming to reach new record lows with each passing month. 

While it’s wonderful to think of a country where fewer and fewer people are out of work, this climate makes acquiring talent extremely difficult today. 

No longer are candidates falling over themselves to be the first to knock on your door. Today, you have to go knock on theirs—and the odds are, you’re not the only one. 

In most industries, this historically tight labor market has made qualified candidates the market’s most rare and valuable commodity. Software developers, for just one example, consider a week in which they’re reached out to by recruiters or hiring managers three separate times as relatively slow. 

Because leading candidates have little trouble garnering job offers (even when they’re not looking for them), a new differentiator has emerged that separates the organizations that acquire these candidates from the ones that don’t: the candidate experience. 

Over the past several years, candidates have steadily begun to hold more and more cards in the recruiting process. Where once HR departments could luxuriate in a hiring process that could stretch anywhere between 3-6 weeks, new data shows that candidates are rarely willing to wait more than two weeks to receive an offer before they move on. 

Good recruiting is now inexorably linked to a good candidate experience marked by communication, convenience, transparency, and expediency. We’ll share some insights and statistics on why this is more important now than ever before below. 

What is the Candidate Experience?

You probably already have a good idea about which components make up the overall candidate experience. Still, it’s important to hammer out the details to make sure no stage is being neglected. 

The candidate experience includes the entire hiring process from the job search and application to the screening process, interview(s), onboarding, and all of the communication and scheduling in between.

Candidates begin developing an impression about an employer long before they walk through their doors—every touchpoint throughout the hiring process contributes to this perception. And this perception is essential for your recruiting efforts as only 2% of candidates indicate they applied to an organization about which they held a negative impression.  

More importantly, even if they do have a positive perception of an organization, 83% of talent say that a negative experience can change their mind about a company they once liked. However, a polished, hassle-free candidate experience can be just as powerful in helping establish a positive impression and attract talent—87% of candidates report a positive candidate experience can change their mind about a company they once doubted. 

Coming off the heels of a year in which the number of job openings exceeded the number of unemployed Americans by the largest margin in history, many differentiators like salary, benefits, perks, and company culture have leveled out as employers compete in an arm’s race to entice top talent. All things being equal, the power of a simple, clear, communicative, and timely candidate experience can have a tremendous influence on job seekers. 

Regularly evaluating your hiring process and devoting real, meaningful time into developing a personalized candidate experience that engages and informs job seekers every step of the way and isn’t bogged down by unnecessary or complicated steps can be a huge differentiator in today’s ultra-competitive hiring landscape. 

Join NAPS!

NAPS, the leading educator for the staffing industry since 1961, offers a wide range of benefits that positions its members at the forefront of the staffing and recruiting world. Join today to take advantage of our educational programs, credentialing programs, networking opportunities, exclusive discounts, and more!

While it’s nice to say you’re officially affiliated with the staffing industry’s leading educator since 1961, being a NAPS member means much, much more than that. From gaining access to our lauded credentialing services to exclusive publications, there is a wide array of services available to those eager to position themselves at the forefront of the staffing and recruiting world. 

We’ll break down the major benefits available to our members in further detail so you can ensure you’re getting the most out of your membership. 

Professional & Business Development

While our premiere credentialing programs garner a considerable amount of attention from our members (over 20,000 of whom have received credentials), we believe it’s important to highlight all the other ways in which professionals can further their professional and business development through their membership. 

• Virtual Folio

  • Members receive access to a robust library of seminars from expert speakers across a range of meaningful, relevant topics. Easily accessed, no matter where you are, these seminars let members stay current and engaged in the latest industry standards and practices.
    

• Annual Conference

  • The NAPS Annual Conference has long been considered the premier education opportunity representing the search, recruiting, and staffing industry. Each year we strive to bring the most value, information, and inspiration to all who attend by featuring many keynote speakers who are thought leaders in their respective disciplines. This year’s conference is being held September 13-15 in Henderson, Nevada; you can register and reserve your spot here!
    

• Educational Programs

  • In addition to our national conference, NAPS provides its members with educational opportunities (like these webinars) throughout the calendar year. Take a peek at our events calendar here to see what we have in store in the coming months.

Discounts, Discounts, Discounts!

Your NAPS membership unlocks a long list of discounts for you to take advantage of. Our Allied Firm Marketplace grants significant discounts to recruiting services like Crelate Talent’s all-in-one ATS, Happy Candidates Career Portal, Premiere Coaching Club, and more. 

Additionally, we partnered with 360 Coverage Pros to provide our members with a wide range of exclusive programs, discounts, and tailored services. A brief sampling of those benefits include:

• Office Depot Discounts

  • All you need is your Association membership, and you can get as much as 80% in savings on preferred items nationwide.
    

• Wyndham Hotel Discounts

  • Your membership can get you up to 20% off the “Best Available Rate” at over 7,500 participating locations worldwide.
    

• FIGO Pet Health Insurance

  • Whether you’re a dog or a cat person, FIGO offers three customizable, comprehensive health plans, and NAPS members enjoy a 5% discount on their policy.
    

• And much, much more! 

Publications

Our monthly newsletters and industry directories allow our members to stay current on the critical topics facing the staffing and recruiting world and provides a forum for the free exchange of ideas among peers. 

Once you become a member, the NAPS bookstore houses all of the exclusive NAPS publications including:

• Monthly NAPS Newsletter

• Quarterly Credential Newsletter

• Quarterly NAPS Legal Newsletter

• Access & Potential Listing in the NRCSIP (National Registry of Certified Staffing Industry Professionals) directory

Peer-to-Peer Networking

Building and maintaining robust networks are cornerstones of the staffing at recruiting industry. At NAPS, we pride ourselves on the networking opportunities that we are able to create for our members. Our annual conference (at which we expect about 400 attendants!) and yearlong networking opportunities allow our members to forge fruitful relationships that they otherwise may not have had the chance to make. 

Regardless of which particular benefit initially encouraged you to join NAPS, we strongly encourage everyone to explore and take advantage of our full range of benefits to get the most out of your membership year after year! 

Need to renew your membership? Click here. 

Ready to join NAPS? Click here.