Improve Your Recruiting Process NOW

It’s a New Year, which means it’s an ideal time to evaluate your current recruiting process. Many companies struggle to find qualified candidates and then retain them, and while some of this is attributed to a buzzing job market, there are ways companies can improve their chances of keeping candidates long-term.

Job Postings

Your job posting is the first step in the recruiting process. Companies need to explain the position to attract qualified candidates. Instead of only listing experience, training and education, highlight day-to-day activities of the positions, including setting forth 90-day goals for new hires. This will help attract and retain the right fit for the position. Instead of being vague, include the exact types of experience needed to grow in the job successfully.

Get Several Opinions

Instead of only relying on one opinion for a candidate, ask several different key players in the company to weigh in. First, ask them to review the job description and when interviewing the top candidates, ask them to actively participate. The more opinions, the better able each person can under the candidate and see if they are a match for the position.

Test Candidates

Instead of only relying on resumes, test candidates for technical skills. For example, if interviewing for a copywriter, ask them to write a press release or article about a specific topic or if the test is for a salesperson, set up a quick mock sales call. If the test is spontaneous, you can easily see and measure who responds quickly, and who delivers under real-world pressure.

Consistency

Every candidate needs to experience the same recruiting process to avoid discrimination claims. While candidates can undergo different phases of the recruiting process, like only conducting tests or in-person interviews for highly qualified applicants, it’s best to make sure that everyone goes through the process. For example, one applicant shouldn’t have an in-person interview that focuses on work-related questions, while another focuses on personal questions. Consistency is critical when trying to find the right fit for your company.

Growth and Development

It is essential to be open-minded during the recruiting process, as someone can look excellent on paper, but another candidate could have the potential for more growth and development, which would make them a more viable long-term candidate.

 

Ninja Gig can help your business grow by attracting the best talent for your organization. If you’re looking to hire and implement a thorough recruiting process, check out Ninja Gig’s customizable online employment applications. For an all-inclusive flat monthly fee, you can use Ninja Gig to customize unlimited online job applications, which makes it easy to post on popular job boards, on websites and social media sites. Sign up now for your free trial and start getting your online job applications in front of potential candidates now.

Most in Demand Jobs for 2019

The latest list of in-demand jobs for 2019 is here! Here are some of the top highlights and jobs that will dominate the workforce this year and into the next several years.

  1. Home Health Aides – With an aging baby boomer population, it’s becoming more important for home health care. Whether someone is disabled, cognitively impaired or chronically ill, home health aides can assist in allowing people to stay in the comforts of their homes, bathing and dressing clients and even do light errands or housekeeping.
  2. Medical Assistants – The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing job markets, and experts anticipate that by 2024, medical assistants will grow by 138,900 jobs. Medical assistants are responsible for examining and treating patients that are under a physician’s care, which may include interviewing patients, getting their vitals and documenting information.
  3. Computer Systems Analyst – In our computer and technology filled age, it’s no wonder that IT jobs are still among the fastest growing industries. Computer system analysts are responsible for researching, analyzing and modifying any necessary programming systems, which may include debugging or offering support for companies’ computer systems. This position may also help assist technical writers in writing manuals for installation and operating systems.
  4. Medical Secretaries – Different from medical assistants, medical secretaries provide pre-authorization and certifications from insurance companies for patients, support clinic staff and provide patients with information about procedure costs. They may also type dictation notes, screen callers, answer telephones, greet visitors and relay messages.
  5. Software Developers – Software developers help to design, create and develop software applications, which is a significant market for computers and phone apps. This position usually requires a degree and related area experience.
  6. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists – These careers are increasing in demand because they help analyze and evaluate programs or products to see if there is a market share. It also requires pouring over data to understand customer trends.
  7. Nursing – This field includes nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses. Nursing as a whole is an expanding profession, especially with Baby Boomers needing age-related care. The only position that doesn’t require a degree and advanced training is nursing assistants. The remaining fields require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
  8. Restaurant Cook – The market expects to see 158,900 new jobs for restaurant cooks by 2024 alone! The restaurant business continues to boom, especially with apps such as Yelp, Open Table, GrubHub and Uber Eats gaining traction in the marketplace.
  9. Electrician – As we invent new electrical equipment, electricians are in increasing demand. Electricians are responsible for installing, repairing, inspecting and maintaining electronic systems, electrical, circuits and related equipment.
  10. Construction Laborer – Constructor laborers perform repairs and maintenance for carpentry, plumbing, painting, machine servicing, plastering, electrical and even vehicle servicing.

To help your company stay on top of the latest hiring trends, you want to attract the best and brightest talent for the position. Ninja Gig specializes in custom online employment applications. For a flat monthly rate, you can use Ninja Gig and customize UNLIMITED online job applications. Sign up now for your free trial and start getting your online job applications in front of potential candidates in this New Year.

Here’s a GREAT review about Ninja Gig’s effectiveness and ease of use!

“I’m the Chief Operations Officer of a small marketing and advertising agency. Recently, we have been looking for a good way to find new, fresh applicants. Most job boards are either too expensive or tedious to enter all the application requirements. We discovered Ninja Gig and decided to try it out. The big draw was the flat monthly fee and that we could customize our applications.

The entire process was simple! We were able to add custom questions to the back end, as well as job requirements. When we posted the three jobs, it immediately went out to all job search channels.

We assumed it would take several days to see any progress in receiving applications. We had the applications go live in the evening, and by the next morning, you can imagine our surprise when we came in to see our inboxes had 274 applicants!

The back end is very straightforward and easy to sort through applicants. I can read through the questions they answered, and if they didn’t follow instructions, I could easily reject those applicants. Additionally, I can score candidates based on my custom application tags. So far, I’ve set up “Detail Oriented – Potential,” “Good Experience,” “Other Role Possible,” “REJECTED” and those based on location.

I can also view, download, add notes or even email the applicants directly through Ninja Gig’s portal, which is so handy! Everything is safely stored, so I comply with all my record keeping requirements – which I love!

In fact, after using Ninja Gig, I have been so impressed that I am recommending it to my friends and family and my husband’s construction company just signed up for their own account!

Thanks, Ninja Gig!

Anna G.
Seattle, Washington”

Ninja Gig offers online employment applications, which are fully customizable. To see how Ninja Gig can help simplify your job application process, sign up for our free 30-day trial.

AI Overhaul: The Pizza Hut Experiment

Fast food chains around the world are keeping a close eye on Pizza Hut’s grand Artificial Intelligence (AI) experiment. Earlier this year, Pizza Hut entered into a strategic shakeup that has the potential to shatter traditional fast food chains.

Moving AI front and center in Pizza Hut’s operations, the mega-giant is putting together a customer-first approach that has boosted their revenues 8% from last year.

Focusing on a customer-driven strategy, Pizza Hut wants to deliver three major elements to customers: speed, taste and ease of access. Pizza Hut is using new delivery algorithms and even easy ordering apps that use Alexa and Messenger instead of requiring people to call into traditional stores.

Their desire to further explore AI has led Pizza Hut to team up with Toyota to pioneer the way for self-driving pizza cars. In fact, the driverless vehicle could be used as early as 2020 to deliver and even cook pizzas, making customers happier and delivering food even faster.

Pizza Hut isn’t alone. The fast-food industry is poised to benefit from AI in more ways than previously thought. More fast food companies are investing in automation, AI technologies and analytics, especially as these technologies become more affordable.

Last year, CaliBurger purchased Flippy, a burger-flipping robot. They are testing Flippy to see if they can further expand the robot’s abilities in other restaurants over the upcoming years.

While automation technology is increasing, wages are decreasing. AI technology threatens nearly 50% of current jobs in the US alone. Since fast food companies rely on producing food quickly and generally focus on reducing labor costs, they can benefit most from AI technologies. Experts agree that this upcoming year will be exciting to watch and learn from when it comes to integrating AI into the restaurant industry.

Ninja Gig offers online job applications. With unlimited customizable applications, these online employment applications are ideal for a variety of industries, especially those with higher turnover rates, such as restaurants and fast food chains. Sign up now for a free 30-day trial and start getting your online job applications in front of potential candidates now in time for the upcoming New Year.

2019 Trends to Watch

It’s incredible to think that 2019 is right around the corner, but as we count down the last few days of December, Ninja Gig wants to highlight the top business trends that we anticipate will make a lasting impression this upcoming New Year.

  • Well-being at Work – Today’s overworked and overstressed employees can significantly benefit from coping skills, including wellness programs, creative workspace concepts and transformative technologies that can help monitor employee behavior.
  • The Future of Work – We are in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which will create more human job loss with advances in automation and artificial intelligence (AI). Our society’s future will combine workforces with humans and machines working side-by-side. This transition may be difficult, and some companies may face a daunting learning process, but by providing employees with the necessary guidance and support, they can rest assured of their critical roles in the future. (An excellent example is Pizza Hut’s new move towards AI.)
  • Internet of Things – You may have heard this buzzword recently popping up online and in news stories and the Internet of Things (IoT) effects the workplace differently than our personal lives, which are abuzz with smart lights, connected kitchens and thermostats. At work, we will start to see smart work apps that recognize when praise is needed, wearable devices that indicate stress and stressors and even smart meeting spaces.

Human Resources departments play a critical role in watching modern trends and implementing them (or exercising caution) in the workplace. Today’s over-connected business world can seem daunting, but with certain technologies, such as Ninja Gig, companies can utilize unlimited online job applications and help streamline the hiring process. Sign up now for your free trial today and start getting your online job applications in front of potential candidates now in time for the New Year.

What Every Company Should Do to Prepare for the New Year

December is always a hectic month for companies, but it affords the opportunity to learn from past mistakes and focus on a bright, upcoming New Year.

Here are four ways you can whip your Human Resources department in shape and be prepared to tackle the New Year.

  1. Top Performers – Stay connected and make sure that the company’s top performers and best employees are happy. Connect with employees and see what is working for them, what’s not and what could improve to help make their work environment better. Additionally, see if more lifestyle benefits, such as flexible hours or additional vacation time would ease frustrations. Don’t focus on just gaining feedback during exit interviews, but incorporate regular interviews to guarantee employee satisfaction is high, which can help reduce turnover.
  2. Policy Changes – Many state and federal laws are passed at the end of each year and become effective on January 1. Stay up to date on any upcoming changes and make sure to get everything in place to implement them starting in the New Year to avoid penalties. Your state’s Department of Labor website should list any upcoming regulation changes that may affect your business.
  3. Communicate with Management – Schedule informal meetings with managers and executives to understand the company’s big picture, which will help facilitate making sure that all departments are going in the same direction and share the same long-term goals.
  4. Performance Management – Performance reviews need to be done, and all necessary documentation should be in order. Whether your company does reviews informally on paper or files them electronically, it’s important that managers have personnel files reviewed on an annual basis to make sure nothing is missing.

Ninja Gig offers convenient online employment applications that are fully customizable. Affordable and easy, Ninja Gig also saves Human Resources teams hours of unnecessary time creating applications and tracking applicants. Sign up now for your free trial today and start getting your online job applications in front of potential candidates now.

End of Year Benefit Reminders

One of the best perks employees have are benefits, which is why it’s important for Human Resources’ departments to remind them to make sure they use any key benefits that may expire on an annual basis.

Here is a list of the top FIVE benefits to remind employees about this month.

 

  1. Checkups – Annual exams and other yearly checkups are often covered in full by most medical insurance policies. Send employees reminders to use these benefits before year’s end.
  2. Flexible Spending Accounts – Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are different from Health Savings Accounts (HSA), which we will discuss below. Flexible Spending Accounts allow pre-tax money to accrue for eligible medical expenses, but they come with a use-it-or-lose-it penalty. However, over the last five years, the IRS has modified that rule and allows up to $500 in unused contributions to be carried over to the following year. The amount is not cumulative, which means it’s important to remind employees about their options for taking advantage of FSA contributions.
  3. Health Savings Account – An HSA is different from an FSA because amounts can transfer over year-after-year. While it’s still tax-free medical dollars at work for employees, it’s an excellent opportunity for employees of all ages to put money towards current or future medical expenses. Remind employees of the upcoming individual and family savings annual contribution amounts and the differences between an HSA and FSA account.
  4. Vacation Benefits – Whether companies have a policy about losing unused vacation at the end of each year or they allow employees to carry over a certain number of hours, it’s important to remind employees how much remaining vacation time they have left in 2018. Additionally, make sure that the paid time off policy complies with all local and state regulations, especially if companies enforce using or losing the accrued time.
  5. Life Events – If employees have a qualifying life event, such as getting married or having a child, after open enrollment season, make sure they have the necessary coverage to support them and their families.

 

Ninja Gig offers online employment applications, which help attract some of the best, brightest talent in the industry. In today’s modern world, employee benefits are significant to job seekers. With more than 80% of people applying for online jobs, your company can’t afford not to check out Ninja Gig this upcoming New Year. For a flat monthly rate, you can use and customize UNLIMITED online job applications. Sign up now for your free trial and start getting your online job applications in front of potential candidates today.

Tips for Hiring Seasonal Employees

The busy holiday rush is just around the corner, and many companies are scrambling to hire seasonal or contract employees. Often this last minute hiring frenzy is stressful and daunting.

Here are some tips to help companies survive this busy time of year:

  • Concise Job Description – When creating a job description for seasonal work, accurately describe the duties and clearly state that the position is seasonal, part-time or contract.
  • Social Media – Having a strong social media presence that is supportive of employees and defines a company’s culture is also essential when trying to attract the best talent. Keep in mind that seasonal positions can help determine an employee’s work habits and value, and could lead to more long-term opportunities for advancement. Today’s teens continuously check their social media pages, which makes it an ideal application to post job openings.
  • Employee Referrals – Implement an employee referral program to help incentivize current employees to help refer potential applicants for seasonal and full-time positions. Whether it’s offering a cash bonus or a gift card reward, employers can disperse the referral incentives after the new hire finishes the season.
  • Job Fair – Job fairs are a great way to find seasonal employees and give employers the opportunity to meet many prospective applicants and communicate with them in a short time frame. If participating in a job fair, begin planning advertising approximately two weeks in advance to maximize the reach and exposure.
  • Vet Candidates – Once companies have a good pool of solid candidates, review each applicant’s resume, references and conduct a background check, if necessary. Remember to ask questions during the interview that focus on different scenarios or situations to find out how the applicants react under pressure.

Ninja Gig can make hiring seasonal employees effortless and painless. Sign up now for your free trial and customize your online job applications to save you valuable time by including sections for resumes, references, background check information and even an area for brief essay questions.

How to Create a Dynamic Work Schedule

Movie theaters, restaurants and other hourly positions, need to have management create a dynamic work schedule so that companies run flawlessly and efficiently. Without having open communication, work schedules can easily fall apart, leaving companies scattered, unorganized and scrambling to fill shifts.

Here are some excellent tips for creating a work schedule for hourly shifts.

Advance Scheduling

Employees have schedules outside of work, and it’s hard for people to find out their work schedule just hours or a day or two in advance. That’s why it’s essential to schedule shifts in advance so employees can plan. Emergencies happen, such as illness and deaths, but having a schedule published in advance can help minimize shift cancellations and streamline communication among the team.

Know Your Team

If you have team members that prefer morning shifts and others that prefer late night shifts, try to accommodate team members’ preferences and strengths. Not everyone is suited for the busy morning shift, and the same can be true for the late night hustle and bustle.

Respect Requests

Whether someone has a doctor’s appointment, needs to be at the bus stop by a particular time or prefers not to work on Sundays for religious reasons, it’s important to attempt to accommodate these types of requests when scheduling shifts. Request that employees submit their vacation requests as far in advance as possible to help accommodate any necessary requests. There may be times when employers cannot honor these requests, such as during busy holiday seasons, but it’s important to attempt to try to work around employees’ schedules as much as possible.

Shift Swapping

Having a policy that permits shift swapping is a great way to make sure that shifts are covered in advance and at the last minute. Have a clear process about shift-swapping in place to help avoid confusion, so all shifts are covered in advance. If employers don’t spell out a policy, they likely won’t know when employees change their shift schedules, which can cause abundant confusion and strife.

Busy Times

Customer demands play a central role in how employers schedule employees. Maybe weekends are peak busy times, which means that business may need to schedule extra employees for those shift schedules. When businesses identify busy times, it’s important to relay this to the employees, so they know that all extra shifts during peak hours need coverage.

Ninja Gig offers an excellent solution for businesses looking to use online job applications to attract the best, brightest talent. Many movie theaters and restaurants can advertise online job applications on websites and via social media. Sign up now for your free trial and see how Ninja Gig can help you streamline your online employment application process.

Interview Questions for a Movie Theater Manager

Most movie theater employees are teens with first-time jobs, which means it’s essential to have a responsible movie theater manager that has the necessary skills to lead and teach employees.

Below are some questions to consider incorporating into regular rotation when interviewing for a movie theater manager.

  • Can you work with budgets?
    •  What do you find is the most challenging part of the budgeting process?
  • Can you give an example and explain a time when you coached or mentored someone on the job?
    • Did it help boost the person’s skills or job knowledge?
  • Share an experience when you dealt with a difficult person or personality type, and what you did to handle and address the situation.
  • Describe successfully organizing a group of people to accomplish a specific task or goal.
  • Give me some examples of how you organize, plan and prioritize work on a daily basis.
  • Describe an instance when you did something “outside the box” that benefited your employer.
  • Tell me when you monitored or reviewed information and found a problem or discrepancy. How did you respond and what did you do?
  • Give an example when your advice facilitated an improvement for your company.
  • When setting expectations and monitoring subordinates performance, what do you find most useful?
  • Share a time when you successfully coordinated with others on a project.
    • Describe a time when that effort was not successful.
  • In your experience, what is the best way to help monitor the work of others?
  • Describe a time when you had to take corrective action with a subordinate.
  • What do you think is key to developing a good, solid team?
  • What do you think is essential when communicating with the public?
  • Describe a time when you remained calm and dealt with a high-stress situation.
  • Share a time when you took on additional challenges or responsibilities without being asked or directed.
  • Describe a time when you worked in a workplace that was rapidly changing. How did you deal with the change?
  • Share a time when you oversaw or managed the work of someone else. How did you motivate, direct and develop their work?
  • Discuss a time when you identified a problem and came up with a solution. Discuss your decision-making process and how you arrived at a conclusion.

Ninja Gig offers easy to customize online job applications, which makes it simple for movie theaters to advertise jobs and ask specific preliminary questions during the online employment application process. Sign up now for your free trial and see how Ninja Gig can bring streamline your online job applications.