November 01, 2015

Converged Technology Group IDs Eight Ways Video Enhances HR Recruitment Efforts

November 01, 2015/ Christie

ISLANDIA, N.Y., Oct. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- When a company hires a new employee, the expectation is that the organization's overall productivity will increase. Locating, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training and retaining qualified candidates, however, is both time consuming and costly. The goal of today's human resources (HR) professional is, therefore, to find and hire the best available talent and to integrate new employees in a way that moves them from newbies to significant contributors in the most cost-effective and timely way possible. According to Converged Technology Group (www.convergedtechgroup.com), an award-winning Managed Services Partner (MSP) serving clients throughout the Northeast, successful HR professionals have discovered they all have one secret in common, and it's one that propels them – and their organizations – to the front of the race for employee ROI: video collaboration.

"In partnership with Cisco, we recently held an event focused on the use of video throughout the recruitment process that drew widespread attention from people in a variety of HR roles, including recruiters, learning and development professionals, as well as C-level executives," says Leo E. Galletta, President and CEO, Converged Technology Group. "The event showcased the strategies, capabilities and technologies required to engage the broad spectrum of a multi-generational workforce. During the event, we performed live demonstrations of video collaboration tools, something which all of the attendees said they found to be relevant and extremely valuable. Why did an event focused on the relationship between HR and IT resonate so well among traditionally non-technical line-of-business professionals? Because companies are having very different conversations today about business outcomes and the best ways to recruit, develop and retain top talent – and most have realized that technology is the key."

The ROI of Video Collaboration

Today's HR professionals conduct worldwide searches to fill key positions, and they need the technological tools that can help them do it. To expand their search and attract an increasingly technology-dependent millennial workforce, recruiters must embrace video and use it to its fullest extent to increase their company's return on human capital. Experts agree that video is quickly becoming an HR pro's most valuable tool: Studies show that video yields 35 percent greater year-over-year improvements in time to hire and 32 percent greater reductions in costs per hire.¹To help HR, IT and the C-suite see eye-to-eye, Converged Technology Group has identified eight important reasons to embrace video collaboration in the recruitment, development and retention process:

It's Personal: Interviewers can more effectively and efficiently pre-screen candidates face-to-face via video than they can over the phone.
Putting it all Together: Group interviews are becoming more commonplace, and video allows hiring managers to assemble remote resources to conduct an interview on short notice.
Part of the Team: When relocation isn't a possibility, video makes it easier to hire, train and retain remote workers where they are, yet still have them feel like a valued part of the team.
Warming Cold Feet: Staying connected with employees in transition by beginning the onboarding process before they arrive keeps new hires engaged from the day the offer goes out until their first day on the job.
Anywhere, Anytime Communication: Video allows for instant communication between colleagues, giving new hires a feeling of connectedness from the start that speeds the onboarding process.
Experience Matters: The days of using post-it notes and rotary phones to conduct business are gone; tech-savvy millennials expect to work in a connected, digital environment and are actually shopping for employers that offer them the kind of "connected workplace" experience they envision.
A Balancing Act: Because the line between work and personal time has blurred, employees want to be equipped with the tools they need to be as productive at home as they would be in the office, giving them the option of building a more flexible schedule and a better work-life balance.
Love of Learning: Video helps learning and development managers present training that is more compelling and engaging, something which ultimately translates to better organizational return and employee retention.

¹Aberdeen Group: "Bridging Distance in the Talent Lifecycle"

More Information:

Missed the event? Wondering if video is right for your organization? Schedule a consultation with Converged Technology Group to find out: http://ow.ly/TSFkl.
Productivity-boosting communication and collaboration solutions can help HR recruit, develop and retain top talent more efficiently and cost-effectively than ever before; learn how harnessing the power of video can change the way you do business in five important ways: http://bit.ly/1urB6pT.
Explore what managed services like Assist360 can do to reduce collaboration support costs: http://ow.ly/urpZz.

About Converged Technology Group

Converged Technology Group is an award-winning Managed Services Partner (MSP) focused on improving IT performance and business outcomes while lowering the cost of technology support for businesses in healthcare, financial services, education, retail, legal and other cutting-edge industries. Located in Islandia, NY, and New York City, Converged Technology Group provides enterprise networking, collaboration, virtualized data center, cloud solutions and managed services to both regional and multinational corporations. The company provides business-critical uptime all the time, and helps clients design, implement and operate their IT infrastructure, communication and computing systems for the greatest return on their IT investments. For more information on Converged Technology Group, please contact us at 631-468-5728 or info@convergedtechgroup.com, and visit our website at www.convergedtechgroup.com.

(via PR Newswire)

October 28, 2015

Top 3 Pieces of Advice from Restaurant Professionals

October 28, 2015/ Christie

Veterans in the restaurant world will tell you that working in a restaurant is a tough challenge at first, but your hard work of blood, sweat and tears will pay off in the end. And as the industry continues to grow, there are lots of opportunities out there for you to take advantage of. So go out there and build up that resume!

But to give you a little head start and some advice before you enter the field, here are some valuable pieces of advice from restaurant professionals:

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#1: Be open-minded and prepare to take on other roles.

Like any other workplace, there will be lots of different personalities. Be nice to your colleagues/superiors and be willing to accept new ideas. For example, you may be asked to learn and train for another role you didn't initially apply for. It's not what you had intended to do, but it's not all that bad because you will be able to learn additional skills that can be helpful later on in your career.

#2: Every day is a new learning experience.

Not only will you learn something new every day, you will also be given a chance to improve upon yourself. It will be a continuous cycle of learning and improving, but that is how you will develop to be something even greater. For instance, if you aspire to be the head chef of a restaurant, you will start off working as a Prep Chef. As you progress and pick up new things, instead of saying "Yes, Chef", you could be promoted to Line Cook or Sous Chef. Even when you join the ranks of Executive Chef, you will still need to think about how you can better yourself.

#3: "Do what you love and the money will follow."

Don't just dream on making it big with lots of money. Make sure you put in your part first with passion, effort and diligence. After you put in your portion, you can enjoy the monetary benefits. Even if you start with an entry-level role, you can find yourself at the top. It's been known that 80 percent of restaurant owners worked their way up from the bottom to being a boss.

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October 27, 2015

Positive Sales Trajectory Has More Room To Run

October 27, 2015/ Christie

Restaurant sales rose for the eighth consecutive month in September, with total monthly volume jumping $2.4 billion during the 8-month period. Despite the recent gains, a new survey indicates that one-half of consumers are still not patronizing restaurants as often as they would like, according to the NRA’s chief economist Bruce Grindy. His Economist’s Notebook commentary and analysis appears regularly on Restaurant.org and Restaurant TrendMapper.

Restaurant industry sales continued to grow at a steady pace in September, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Eating and drinking place sales totaled $52.7 billion on a seasonally-adjusted basis in September, which represented a strong 0.7 percent increase over a sales total of $52.3 billion in August.

The solid restaurant sales gain came in the midst of lackluster September job growth and continued trepidation among consumers when it comes to both the economy and their own personal finances.

September represented the eighth consecutive month of restaurant sales growth, with total monthly sales volume increasing by 4.7 percent (or $2.4 billion) during the 8-month period. In contrast, overall retail sales increased 3.1 percent during the last 8 months, while grocery store sales rose by just 1.0 percent.

Despite the recent sales gains, new research indicates that one-half of consumers have yet to get their fill of restaurants. According to a national survey conducted September 24-27 by ORC International for the National Restaurant Association, 48 percent of adults say they are not eating on the premises of restaurants as frequently as they would like. Similarly, 50 percent of consumers say they are not purchasing take-out or delivery as often they would like.

While it’s not surprising that a majority of consumers in lower-income households say they would like to be using restaurants more frequently, it’s worth noting that individuals in higher-income households are also reporting a desire to increase their patronage. In fact, roughly three in 10 consumers in households with income above $75,000 say they are not utilizing either on-premises or off-premises options as often as they would like.

With these higher-income households accounting for nearly six in 10 dollars spent in restaurants, their elevated levels of pent-up demand suggest that the industry’s current positive sales trajectory has a lot more room to run.

(via National Restaurant Association)

October 25, 2015

How to Prepare for an Upscale Restaurant Job Interview

October 25, 2015/ Christie

Five-star restaurants have higher standards, from food to service, as compared to smaller, chain or family-owned restaurants. Patrons and management at these establishments alike expect nothing short of the best, so interviewing for a job at an upscale restaurant will follow a different set of rules. Here are some tips for you so you can thoroughly prepare in advance:

#1: Review terminology.

Before you head to your interview, make sure you to not only research the restaurant, but also review the usual vocabulary used in a fine dining setting. For example, words that you definitely want to be familiar with include: "à la carte," "al dente," "mis en place," "garde manger," etc. Your hiring manager may or may not use these kinds of terms with you during the interview, but they will be important to know when you work at the restaurant.

#2: Go through the restaurant's menu.

Get to know what the restaurant you applied for offers. You can easily find this out through their website, calling them or requesting a copy to be sent to you via email. Knowing what the dishes the restaurant serves shows that you are set and ready to work there.

#3: Learn about food and wine pairings.

Wining and dining is common practice at upscale restaurants, so your interviewers will surely test you on food and wine pairings. They will typically question you what types of wine go best with particular dishes. If you are looking to be a server, you will need to know this when diners ask for suggestions and recommendations.

#4: Dress appropriately.

The wardrobe will be more formal, so it is recommended to wear a dark-colored business suit or dress. Be mindful of non-essential accessories and jewelry and grooming. Keep your clothing, hair and nails clean and neat.

#5: Don't forget about the basics.

HR managers will still probably ask you the general get-to-know you questions, such as, "Why did you apply for this position," "What is your greatest/weakness," etc. Refresh yourself and find out how to answer the most commonly asked restaurant job interview questions.