Do you ever question whether you've found the right job? Maybe you say to yourself that what you have is "good" or "okay" or that it pays the bills. For many of us, we get bogged down in the day to day monotony that makes it difficult to discern "okay" from "great." We all have moments of frustration with fellow coworkers, and at times, we are performing tasks that feel menial or redundant. These every day job realities can cause confusion. Have we settled or is this just normal career ups and downs? These questions can stymie our movement to search for a new job and stay planted in our current position. Here are three signs you love what you do and three signs that it is time to move on. 

How you know you've found the right job

1. You hardly ever look at the clock. The day flies by and, you're too busy making things happen. When you do look at the clock, you often find that the time has flown. 
2. You strive to become better at what you do. If you really like your job, you will always look for the ways to become better at it. You won’t regret spending time on seminars, self-education, tips from more experienced people, etc. 
3. You help out without thinking. You like seeing your coworkers succeed, and even more, you want your company to succeed as a whole. Therefore it feels like second nature to help your colleagues out. You pitch in automatically, and they do the same for you.

How you know when you should start looking for a new job

1. You dread Mondays. For people who hate their jobs, Mondays feel hellacious and Sundays becomes a countdown to the inevitable doom and gloom of the dreaded workweek. Even worse, if you are not sleeping well on Sunday nights, it could be a sign that it is time to start looking. Believe it or no, there are jobs out there that will make you wake up with a smile in the morning. 
2. You’ve stopped doing your job. A sure sign it's time to move on is when you let deadlines slip or leave tasks unfinished. You make excuses for missing meetings or you've even stopped returning emails in a timely fashion. Even if others haven't noticed that your performance has dropped, you know deep down that it takes a immense amount of effort to  complete simple tasks. If you find you just don't care anymore, you should start looking now, because a track record of poor performance will only make it that much more difficult for you to get another job. 
3. There are no opportunities to grow or move up in the company. Opportunities for career advancements are a key element to keeping you motivated and growing. Advancement doesn't necessarily mean a title change, although those are nice too. If you company is offering training opportunities or other ways to grow such as public speaking opportunities, special networking events to attend, upskilling, etc., then you might want to consider staying. If there are no opportunities for advancement in sight, it can be challenging to stay focused on your work and a sure sign it's time to start looking. 

Making the decision to leave your job or start looking for a new one is scary. It is a major life decision, especially if you have been somewhere for a long time. You should always weigh your options (pros and cons), but remember this: sometimes it is worthwhile just to look and see what else is out there, especially if you are bored or dreading every Monday on the calendar. Looking at job boards and getting a feel for what's out there helps you decide if you want to take the next step...submitting a resume. It's little steps along the way that lead you to your end goal. Whatever you do, don't settle and don't give up. 

Fewer than two percent of all staffing agencies in the U.S. and Canada earn the Best of Staffing designation.

OpTech, a leading recruiting agency announced today that they have won the Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. Presented in partnership with presenting sponsor CareerBuilder and gold sponsors Indeed & Talent.com, ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing® Award winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and candidates. On average, clients and candidates of winning agencies are twice as likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies. OpTech received a Net Promoter Score of 87.5% from their clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 28% in 2020.
 
“OpTech is dedicated to finding the best talent for our clients, and we are also committed to making sure job seekers are placed in positions where they will have opportunities for career advancement,” said Ronia Kruse, President and CEO of OpTech. “I am proud of our team's ability to attract top talent through generous benefits, remarkable culture and strong team efforts that constantly strive for a diverse and inclusive, quality work environment.”
 
“After one of the most turbulent years in modern history, winners of the 2021 Best of Staffing award have proven their commitment to go above and beyond in support of their clients and placed talent," said ClearlyRated's CEO and Founder, Eric Gregg. "These service leaders have demonstrated their capacity to be agile, to be precise, and to prioritize the client and talent experience above all else. It is my honor to celebrate and showcase the 2021 Best of Staffing winners alongside feedback from their actual clients and placed talent on ClearlyRated.com!”
 
About OpTech
OpTech, LLC is a women-owned, award-winning Information Technology, Engineering, and Healthcare professional services firm providing elite industry talent and innovative solutions to government and commercial clients globally. OpTech amplifies client success through enterprise-wide best values in solutions which elevates talent, solutions and technology. OpTech delivers a superior competitive advantage to clients in finance, insurance, utilities, manufacturing and healthcare sectors.
 
About ClearlyRated
Rooted in satisfaction research for professional service firms, ClearlyRated utilizes a Net Promoter® Score survey program to help professional service firms measure their service experience, build online reputation, and differentiate on service quality. Learn more at https://www.clearlyrated.com/solutions/.
 
About Best of Staffing
ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing® Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and placed talent. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on ClearlyRated.com—an online business directory that helps buyers of professional services find service leaders and vet prospective firms with the help of validated ratings and testimonials.

In one's journey to find a new job, wouldn't it be great to have someone in your court, providing support and guidance, resume tips and even access to positions that haven't been posted yet? OpTech's recruiters work one-on-one with our candidates to find the right fit, guiding him/her throughout the entire process. This week in our “Meet your Recruiter” series, we'd like to introduce you to our Senior Technical Recruiter, John. He has more than 15 years of experience recruiting IT positions. 

Meet John:

What’s the most exciting part of your job?
I have a passion for people. I love forging and fostering long-term relationships that lead candidates to a “just-right” career fit, and I also enjoy delivering services to customers at a high level of quality. I also love the fact that through my profession, I am able to stay current on new trends in technology which allows me to point people in the right direction in their career.

What’s one professional skill you wish every candidate would have or be working toward?
Hustle! I think that a large part of being successful is simply working hard.  I’ve found that everyone doesn’t have this quality innately. The good thing is that this is a skill that doesn’t require a certification and when applied, the results are immediate.

What energizes you outside of work?
I am energized and rejuvenated by seeing my kid’s personalities blossom and become more independent.  Helping them achieve their goals motivates me to do better every day.

Have you always been a recruiter?
I have been a Technical Recruiter for more than 15 years. Prior to working in the field of recruiting, I worked with an investment company on a team that oversaw operations in two of their restaurant industry ventures.  I have also been a lifeguard, basketball referee and bus station clerk.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Flying…doesn’t everybody?

Working out of our India office, Vaishaali plays a critical role in OpTech's success by facilitating the flow of candidates through the recruitment process and screening candidates for specific positions. 

Have you always been a Recruiting Coordinator?
“Before starting at OpTech, I worked in HR for two years and have experience in MIS, working in IT and the services industry and 1.2 years’ experience in a customer related field. In these positions, I became skilled in communications, employee engagement, recruiting coordination, and MIS. I have strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, and analyze data with attention to detail and accuracy. I am experienced in handling employee and customer queries.”

What do you do in your free time?
“I love reading books and novels in my free time.”

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
“If I had the superpower of teleportation, it would be awesome. I have always been fascinated and wanted to go to space to see what it is like there. In addition, if I can travel anywhere anytime, it would be nice so that I can travel to see my friends and family whenever I wish to see them.”

What career advice would you give to young women?
“I would advise young women to be passionate and do what you like and love to do. Always be humble and be a down-to-earth person. Stay focused at a task at a time and everything else will fall right in to place. Be courageous and steadfast.”

What do you love most about your job?
“In my job, I am able to help recruiters, even if in a small way, by playing a role in their realizing their dream jobs. It is a great feeling to work in a great team, which we have at OpTech!”

This week in our “Meet your Recruiter” series, we introduce you to Michele Coffin. Michele has been with OpTech for more than 10 years and has been an integral part of our recruiting team.  Michele specializes in recruiting IT positions in the financial sector. She earned her CPSR Certification from Tech Serve Alliance, which is the highest professional recruiting designation. This Certification proves her commitment to high ethics, best practices and delivering superior service to the people she represents.

Meet Michele - Senior Technical Recruiter

What’s the most exciting part of your job?
The most exciting part of my job is finding a great match for both my candidates and our clients.  It is thrilling when you realize, from the first moment of talking with someone, that they will get the job and excel in the role we help find for them.

How did you get into recruiting?
I wish I could say it was all part of a great plan, but after university, I had the chance to become part of the opening team for the Skydome in Toronto and spent an amazing 2 years working there.  Recruiting was a huge part of what we did, in the months leading up to the opening, so when a friend from school asked me to join a new company that was doing specialized work in IT and wanted to start a recruiting team, I signed up.  It also helps that I am a bit of a nerd!

What do you do in your free time?
As of late, I always have a project going on around the house and love spending time with my TV-watching-dog who unlike my teenager is excited to see me.   I am working on becoming a minimalist, and at the same time, trying to keep things out of the landfills. I am very excited to get working on my outside space this year and hopefully will be able to get my backyard naturally habitat certified this summer.  

What advice do you have for women trying to balance work and raising a family?
Do not blink! The time passes by way too fast which is something you hear a ton when you are first expecting.  My motto when the kids were young was – “All things are temporary!” -It really helped when things got tough.  I work hard to stay in the present because balancing everything can be overwhelming.  Sometimes you have to accept that the best you can do is get through a period of time one day at time and that is okay!
 
My youngest daughter is a senior in high school and will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall and my oldest is a freshman at University of Western Ontario and will be coming home for the summer.  We are firmly in the “Operation Good Room Mate” phase of life…..so wish me luck because it could get bumpy this summer.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Today it would be teleportation so I could visit my daughter, friends and family in Canada.

Job hunting can be tedious and a rigorous process. Recruiters provide support, tips and tricks and have access to positions that may not even be posted yet. Contact Michele with questions you have about your career process at mcoffin@optechus.com. 

​Ronia Kruse, President and CEO of OpTech, LLC. was honored with the Distinguished Citizen Award presented by the Great Lakes Division, Boy Scouts of America on March 4, 2021.
 
Ronia was recognized because she has led her life in a “Scout-like” manner and has increased awareness of Scouting in our community. “I believe so strongly in giving back, especially as a business owner. Companies have a responsibility to the communities in which we live and work. When we help one person, we provide them with the ability to help others, and then those people help others, and so on. Eventually that one good deed has perhaps resonated with thousands of people,” said Ronia Kruse of her desire to volunteer and give back to the Boy Scouts and the community.  
 
OpTech’s growth over the past two decades is rooted in the belief that long-term business success depends on community success. When everyone has an opportunity to participate and share in the rewards of growth, the economy is stronger and society, as a whole, is better. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. OpTech believes that it must remain relentless in its efforts when it comes to corporate and philanthropic responsibility. 

OpTech prides itself on the relationships our recruiters forge with candidates. Behind every great group of recruiters is an amazing Director of Recruiting. The Director of Recruiting is instrumental in leading the development and implementation of strategic talent acquisition tactics and leads the evaluation of the entire recruiting function, strategies, and procedures in order to find opportunities for improvement.

Meet Debbie:
Job Title  – Director of Recruiting  

Have you always been in the field of Recruiting?
I've been in the staffing industry since the late 90's where I started out in Organizational Management for an Engineering firm and was asked to help with recruiting. I didn't even know why companies used outside firms to help find talent, but I quickly learned and had several automotive accounts. I spent most of my years at Manpower Metro Detroit and VisionIT, in both Recruiting, Management and Account Management; traveling extensively to care for clients. I joined OpTech about 5 years ago, left for two years (engineering again) and back for two years now.

What’s the most exciting part of your job?
I love working with my team of recruiters at OpTech, helping them reach their goals, celebrating their wins and assisting them when something isn’t working.

I equally love strategy- putting energy towards growing the company through collaborative efforts.

What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy being with my family, home renovations and am passionate about civil rights and women's issues.

What is one question every candidate should ask during a job interview?
There are a few, but especially “Do you feel I have the skills and experience you are looking for?" This allows the candidate and hiring manager to address anything right then and there.  Also, the candidate should ask about the next steps in the process.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
​Teleportation!  It would be great to simply teleport to a warmer location during a long winter.