A recent study has shown that the way managers are viewed is likely to change in the future as more women move into management positions.

Currently, only about two percent of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are women.  And so when most people think of leaders, they envision a male in the position.  But in some businesses, women have moved into leadership roles, and in these areas, there is no stereotype of who a leader is.

Another survey has shown that these stereotypes of leaders as men have been an obstacle for women who want to move up the corporate ladder.  Because of these stereotypes, surveys have shown that businesses are not fully using the talents and abilities of the women in their organizations.  Women make up more than half of the people serving in management, professional and related jobs, but only a little more than 15 percent of them were corporate executives at Fortune 500 companies.

The research has shown that it is not women’s management style that is to blame for the dearth of female executives but gender stereotyping.  And because of this stereotyping, companies are losing out on a lot of female management talent.

Men are still seen as capable of better leadership because of gender stereotyping, which often puts women in a no-win situation, as they are faulted for whatever methods they use.  For example, if they act according to gender stereotypes, they are thought to be too soft, but if they oppose those stereotypes, they are thought to be too hard.

Female executives are held to higher standards than men, but they receive less compensation.  They often have to work even harder than a man just to get the same level of recognition.

Women who are assertive as leaders are stereotyped as cold-hearted and not friendly, but if they take on a more feminine leadership personality, they are considered poor leaders.

All the research shows that businesses need to develop plans for how to combat these stereotypes so that they can get the best use out of their female management talent.  Educating employees about these stereotypes and their effects was listed as a key method of changing attitudes about women and leadership.

Organizations need to give all workers the resources to enable them to be more aware of the skills that women leaders have and how stereotypes can harm organizations.  Businesses also need to look at new ways of counteracting stereotypes in the workplace.

RealStreet Staffing can help you find exceptionally talent for all levels within your organization. Whether you’re looking for entry-level architects, engineers or construction professionals on up to project managers and beyond, we can help your Washington Metro firm. Contact us today!

There are many things in life you can give up that aren’t very beneficial: fatty foods, sweets, or a sedentary lifestyle. However, if you cut down on the amount of sleep you get every night you are setting yourself up for some tough times.

We all need a sufficient amount of sleep to function at our best, yet sleep often is the first thing to be sacrificed when we have a million and one things to do and little time to do it.

Cutting off an hour here and an hour there may not seem like much but the cumulative effect can be highly detrimental. It can significantly affect the quality of our work as well as our mood. Even though the affects may seem minor, sleep loss reduces our ability to learn and affects our memory.

So how much sleep do we generally need? Studies show that most people require seven to eight hours of sleep a night to feel comfortably rested. Research shows that less than three percent of the population can get by on less than seven hours. Unfortunately, the majority of the population is routinely getting fewer than seven hours of sleep every night.

Less sleep can translate into diminished production on the job. Studies show that individuals who excel at their jobs typically get more sleep than the general population. Consider a study in which a leading violinist reported getting an average of eight and a half hours of sleep every night while fitting in an hour nap during the day. This individual told researchers that next to practice, sleep was the next most important factor to improving his performance. Now that is an endorsement.

Getting a better night’s sleep has a lot to do with routine. The earlier you can get to bed, the better it is for you. Also, try to go to bed the same time every night. Doing so helps you to avoid staying up too late and running the risk of a poor night’s rest.

It is also recommended that one prepare for bed about 45 minutes in advance. That means ending busy activities first so you can begin to relax. Engage in calming activities such as reading a book, listening to relaxing music and even drinking a warm liquid such as milk.

If your mind is like a spinning Rolodex of unfinished projects, take time to jot them down before you go to bed. If you don’t, you run the risk of scanning over these projects in your mind and making it harder to fall asleep. This is the time when you want your mind to be as uncluttered as possible.

Relax. Your job search is in good hands when you come to RealStreet Staffing. We can help professionals in the construction, architecture and engineering sectors find terrific positions with some of Washington Metro’s best employers. Contact us today!

The office party.  It’s meant to help boost morale and help people get to know each other better.  But it can also present challenges – a tricky maze to navigate.

What workers should always keep in mind about the office party is that it is another aspect of the workplace, and they should act with that in mind. It’s definitely not a party with family and friends. It is certainly a time for enjoyment, but it is also an opportunity to network with people in other areas of the company, and even the people in charge.

There are, however, some things you should avoid when it comes to office parties, if you don’t want to offend anyone.  The first is not showing up at all.  If you don’t put in an appearance, you may give the impression of having a little too much ego.  Plus, you miss the opportunity to network.  Another thing to avoid is mingling only with people you know and not meeting new people.  The office party is a place to make yourself known.

Also, you want to thank the person or people who organized the party.

Make sure that it’s acceptable to bring guests before you decide to bring a friend.  And then you need to make sure that your friend will fit in with your co-workers. You will need to fill your date in on the organization as well.  He or she also should dress appropriately, know who the company leaders are, and stay away from gossip.

Another thing to watch is how you dress. The rule of thumb is to dress for the job you want, not the one that you have.  Leave the nightclub attire for the nightclub.

You also want to watch any criticism you make of the company.  The wrong word said at the wrong time could end up affecting your career.  You want to have good things to say about the company, without looking too much like a yes-man or -woman.

You also need to be careful of the language you use – nothing off-color, or discriminatory.  And it may be an obvious point, but good manners apply at the office party as anywhere else.  Make the proper introductions, and watch how you eat.
The office party can be a great opportunity, if you handle it in the right manner.

When you’re looking for a position in the engineering, architectural or construction fields, contact a recruiter at RealStreet Staffing, your Washington Metro staffing firm. We look forward to hearing from you.

The market for online learning –  where users go at their own pace and on their own schedule — has been growing constantly, led by the corporate sector, one of the top users of online training.  Small- and medium-size businesses also are using online training much more than in the past.

According to a recent report on Web-based learning, the corporate sector will continue to be the leading buyer of Web-based training programs.  The education sector is expected to be the second biggest buyer of online educational programs.

The market for online learning has passed $17 billion and is expected to continue growing at more than seven percent a year, according to a recent report. There has been growth in online learning in all groups, including corporations; healthcare; non-profits; federal, state and local governments; school and colleges; and consumers.

The healthcare industry is expected to expand the most in online learning, with education, both scholastic and collegiate, second in line.  Healthcare has been relatively immune to the pressures of the recession, according to the report’s authors, which accounts for its continued expansion in the online learning area.

Online learning is now second in demand to classroom learning for acquiring skills and knowledge.  The use of the Web has become more common for purposes of personal development and as a reference source.

Online learning has become a widely-used companion to classroom learning.  But when people needed to find information quickly to meet a business deadline, they rated Web-based learning as the best place to go.  Classroom learning finished second in people’s ratings for finding knowledge quickly.  Web-based learning has become such a key component for business training because people can use it for immediate results when researching or referencing something.

When looking at the different types of training programs available – both classroom and Web-based – people valued depth of knowledge the highest, followed by how fast the knowledge could be accessed.  Below these priorities, learners looked for the amount of interaction with the instructor and other learners.

The combination of both classroom and Internet learning seemed to work best because it enabled people to get the knowledge background they needed to help them with their training program and also to learn particular pieces of knowledge when they needed to.

Have you recently upgraded your construction, engineering or architectural skills via an online learning program? If so, be sure to add it to your résumé and then bring your résumé to a recruiter at RealStreet Staffing. We have many terrific temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire positions available with the Washington Metro area’s top firms. We look forward to hearing from you.

According to a recent survey on employee health, workers could do more at work to eat better and be more active, while employers could improve workers’ health by doing more to encourage healthy lifestyles.

The issue has become important because about three-fourths of Americans will be overweight by 2015, according to healthcare experts. And the rate of absenteeism of obese employees is almost two times the amount of other employees, causing more than $4 billion a year in lost productivity.

Surveys have shown that about one-fifth of all businesses sponsor weight loss programs, mostly in the healthcare and hospitality areas. Because obesity increases the risk of various health problems, these weight loss programs can help prevent disease and keep down healthcare costs. Diseases connected to obesity include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.

The survey showed a number of unhealthy practices at work. Many of those employees responding in the survey said they ate junk food snacks at work. Less than half of those responding said there were healthy foods available to eat. The survey also showed that more than one-third of workers had jobs that kept them at their desks. Almost half of those responding also said that stress at work contributed to less than healthy eating habits.

About two-thirds said they would use a gym, nutrition and weight loss programs if they were available.

Researchers said that businesses can offer their employees programs that will help them eat better and be active, programs that will not only reduce healthcare costs for the company but also help to increase productivity.

Surveys showed that more than two-thirds of the organizations had some type of wellness
program, which was about six percent more than during the previous four years. Also, more than 70 percent of organizations that have more than 500 employees also offer some kind of wellness program. Of these organizations, governmental entities had the highest participation with 82 percent, and service industries the lowest, with 62 percent.

Most of the wellness programs also offered flu shots. Others offered health risk assessments and stop smoking programs, along with annual physicals.

RealStreet Staffing helps match architectural, construction and engineering talent with some of the Washington, DC area’s best companies. Contact us today so that we may learn more about your needs.

Taking on a new career path is more prevalent now than in the past.  Different reasons have been given for this – the rise technology, the pace of change.  The days when someone spent their entire career at one company or in one job are certainly becoming less common.

People change jobs for many reasons.  But the most common reasons probably will come as no surprise – people change jobs out of boredom, for more money, to move to a better location, because of a conflict with a supervisor, for better benefits, from not feeling appreciated, not having a sense of purpose, and because of a layoff.

A lot of people have named boredom as one of the main reasons for having left a job.  By boredom, they mean more than just feeling listless now and then, but an overall feeling of dissatisfaction with the job that affects their performance.

That money is a prime reason for changing jobs or careers probably comes as little surprise to most people.  Everyone would like to earn more money.  If people feel that they are not being compensated fairly, they are much more likely to look elsewhere for employment.

Job location is another big factor in determining where people want to work.  People seldom enjoy making a long commute to work and constantly fighting rush hour traffic, all of which affects your mood at work and overall quality of life.

Conflict with supervisors is often a reason for leaving, and it’s much more common than many people realize.  If you are working under a boss who does not communicate well or often, or who tries to manage every little detail of your job, or who gives you little control in decision making, you soon may feel there are better places to work.

With the rising cost of healthcare, factors such as job benefits play an important role in where a person might work.  Some employers offer better benefit packages to employees, while some pass off more of the costs onto workers.

Some people look for new careers simply because they don’t feel fulfilled working in their current job.  They are looking for a sense of purpose in their work – feeling that what they are doing is significant and important, that they are making a real contribution.
Many people also switch careers because they feel that they are being taken for granted in their current job.  They work hard, perform well, but receive little in the way of praise or feedback.  This leads to a loss of motivation.

Unlike the other reasons for a career change, people have little control over a layoff.  But many take the opportunity to explore new career options or even return to school to train for something new.

Since work is such a big part of life, it should be more than just about getting a paycheck, but should be something that is enjoyable and fulfilling as well.

If you’re looking to change jobs or even careers and you live in the Washington Metro area, RealStreet Staffing may be able to help. If you have a background in construction, engineering or architecture, those skills may be transferable to another business sector. Bring your résumé to us and let’s talk!

If you’re looking to move up your company’s corporate ladder relatively quickly, the quickest way to do so is to become problem solver for your firm. You’ll need to be proactive, finding problems that need fixing before they even develop (or at least before anyone else knows they’re a problem). Problem solvers get hired before others and they get promoted more quickly than others. Bring in new revenue, create a new product, put together a process that makes production more efficient, etc. is truly a way to shine and get the notice of your superiors.

Yet there are other ways to get a promotion.

Opportunity — just being in the right place at the right time — also is a way to see yourself move up the rung a notch or two. These are situations where, for example, someone leaves your firm and you’re automatically the next in line for his or her slot.

However, it’s not always the case that the person next in line, or even the most qualified person gets the promotion — sometimes it truly is “who you know” and the person closest to he or she who decides on promotions gets the nod.

The takeaway? Make sure you not only exceed expectations and take it upon yourself to anticipate problems — and then create solutions — but be sure you have allies in “powerful” places. This isn’t to mean you should become a sycophant to higher ups just because you want to be promoted. Your ruse will be quite transparent and could easily backfire.

Instead, be friendly, cooperative and a go-getter. And be sure your boss and other managers know of your good deeds. Keep a log of your accomplishments and periodically send it do your boss. You’ll also want to have this document handy when it comes time for your yearly performance review.

When you’re ready to promote yourself to a great new position at some of Washington, DC’s top construction, engineering and architecture firms. Contact us today!

Online career networks such as LinkedIn and even Facebook and Twitter have been career lifesavers for many professionals, allowing them to showcase their backgrounds, skills and education and how they can help a new employer.

But many professionals have made mistakes online, sometimes to their career’s detriment.

Here are some tips to help you keep your online presence mistake-free:

1) Always remember that these are professional networks. Always present yourself as professionally as possible. Don’t call anyone on the carpet, or an idiot or a fool. Never, ever post a message with a profanity or off-color joke. If you wouldn’t want it said in front of your grandparents, spouse or friends, you certainly wouldn’t want a current, future or even past employer or colleague to read it. So simply keep it out.

2) Don’t tweak or fudge your work and educational history online. It’s very easy for former employers and colleagues to find your online profile and, if they see something they know is untrue or considerably exaggerated, it’s very easy for them to “out” you — in front of the whole world! This could be a real career killer. Just don’t do it!

3) On LinkedIn, if you want to “connect” with a former colleague, you’ll need to ask permission. Do so respectfully — you can’t assume that just because you carpooled to work together for two years five years ago that you can be chummy right off the bat. This goes even more so if you’d like to connect with someone outside of your current network. When you ask someone for connection, explain why — and make sure you have a legitimate, professional reason to do so.

In fact, if there’s someone in your connection’s connections to whom you’d like to be introduced, be sure to ask for permission first. This not only is polite and professional, but your connection may take it upon herself to contact her connection on your behalf, singing your praises. Once you’ve made your introduction to the new connection, be sure to tell your current connection of the results.

4) Keep the whines away. If a connection you approached doesn’t reciprocate, don’t call or e-mail continuously asking why. One additional e-mail or phone call to check to see if the person received your e-mail/phone request is all you should do. Otherwise you come across as needy and immature — not very professional!

5) Look at LinkedIn and other networking sites as virtual networking meetings. When you attend live networking/business events you conduct yourself in a very professional manner, don’t you? Do the same online.

Link your way in to a great Washington Metro position with some of DC’s best companies by contacting RealStreet Staffing. We can help place you in some of the best construction, architecture and engineering firms in the region. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you’re working for a difficult boss, our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you.

Still, sympathy doesn’t make the bad boss go away. So here are some tips on how to work with a difficult boss.

First of all, if your boss is making your life miserable, here are a few things you should not do:

Don’t stoop to his or her behavior, especially if there’s shouting, derision and rudeness.
Don’t be meek and “just take it.”
Don’t avoid interacting with your boss.
Don’t start missing work just because you want to avoid your boss.

You should sit down and figure out what you believe to be the source of your conflict with your boss. Is it truly a personality clash, or is it because you and your boss have a different way of looking at the world of work?

If you feel you and your boss clash because you look at the world differently, try these tips:

• Remember that the two of you are different and you don’t have to see or feel things in the same way in order to get along at work.
• Work to solve your disagreement; don’t try to win the argument. Compromise should become your middle name.
• Go to your boss in a conciliatory manner. Ask for his or her thoughts, ideas, and reasons about an issue and really listen to what your boss has to say.
• Compliment your boss on any suggestions or ideas you like, then suggest your own ideas. Explain how these will benefit your company. You also may want to bring up the drawbacks to your ideas and how you could go about fixing these “problems.” It’s always a good idea to highlight both pros and cons — it makes it appear you’ve given balanced thought to your ideas.

If you and your boss have a personality clash, consider these points:

• Does your boss tread everyone poorly, or is it just you?
• If it’s just you, do the two of you have some unresolved beef going on between you?
• Be honest – is there really something your boss legitimately can dislike about you, such as poor performance, lackadaisical attitude or some other on-the-job issue?
• Do you have issues with other people? If so, maybe it’s not your boss; maybe it’s you.

Once you’ve figured out the “why,” it’s time to see “how” you can fix the relationship with your boss.

• Keep calm. Your boss may have bad people skills. Don’t take the bad behavior personally.
• When you approach your boss, do so calmly and reasonably. If your boss starts yelling, don’t yell back. Instead, calmly state that you don’t appreciate being spoken to in such a manner.
• If your boss says something with which you can agree, say so. People often rant because they feel they’re aren’t being heard or validated. Agreeing with your boss, even if it’s on something minor, can go a long way to opening the lines of communication.
• Discuss your needs calmly and clearly.
• If your boss shows aggressive or abusive behavior, contact your boss’ supervisor or your human resources department.

If, no matter how hard you try, your relationship with your boss still is fraught with stress and difficulty, it may be time to begin looking for your next opportunity. If so, bring your resume to RealStreet Staffing. We can help you find your next great opportunity at some of Washington DC’s best construction, engineering and architecture firms. Contact us today.

If you’re currently employed and — lucky you! — have been offered another position — in this economy! — you now have some thinking to do.

Taking the new job may not be an automatic no-brainer. Here are some tips to help you decide if you should stay where you are now or if you should take the new position.

First of all, consider why you applied for the position in the first place. Is your current commute too long and adversely affecting the quality of your personal life. Are you being paid below-market wages? Is there little room for advancement?

If the new position is much closer to home, if you’re receiving a good pay increase and/or if the new job entails a promotion or the opportunity to face new challenges and opportunities (additional skills, etc.), it probably is a good idea to take the offer.

However, and this is important, whenever you leave one position for another, you should be doing so because you’re running to something, not running  from something. If your boss is a jerk, if your co-workers stink, if you’ve discovered the job isn’t a good fit, do not take the first job opportunity that comes along. If you do, you’re trying to escape a bad situation and  you could be running yourself directly into another. Instead, if your current job really is hell on earth, you still should take your time and wait until a truly good opportunity for you comes along.

As you weigh whether or not to accept a new job, here are some things to ask yourself:

• Does the job offer more interesting and challenging work?
• What’s the company culture like? Do you think you’ll be comfortable working there? (For example, the new position will have you working in a cubicle in a large room, but you’re used to having your own office. Will you be able to function in a room that undoubtedly will have more noise and interruptions?
• How much is your total compensation? Is it about the same as your salary now, but are you going from two weeks paid vacation a year to four (and is that important to you)?
• Will the new job be a promotion?
• What is the reputation of the company in your industry? Will having this company as part of your resume be helpful? Do you even care?
• Will the new position give you continuous opportunities to learn new skills?
• How long will your commute be? If you’ll need to move, will the salary allow you to live comfortably in the new city? (Many cost-of-living calculators on the Internet can help you answer that question.)
• How well did you and your potential new boss hit it off? Naturally, you both were on your best behavior during your interviews, but take a deep breath and really think back on your interactions. Look for clues as to how your boss really works. For example, he may have mentioned he hates it when his crew come in late by even just five minutes without calling. Could this be a sign of a micro-manager, or is he someone who just really wants people to be on time because customers/clients start calling at 8 a.m. sharp and it’s important that his team be there to serve them? Think on this type of information and trust your gut.)

You can trust RealStreet Staffing to help you find your next great opportunity at some of Washington DC’s best construction, engineering and architecture firms. When you’re looking for a new opportunity, we want to hear from you.