Welcome

Founded in 1987, CQ Personnel takes its name from the Navy radio signal for “Help”. CQ Personnel has responded quickly and efficiently to companies’ calls for help by finding highly qualified, dependable and well-trained temporary personnel. CQ Personnel is a service-oriented placement firm dedicated to producing productive members of the workforce through training, coaching, and placement in fulfilling jobs. Our core mission at CQ Personnel is to open doors and support all talented, ambitious employees striving to create and take advantage of new opportunities. We strive to provide best value and promote diversity.

CQ Personnel’s commended record of client satisfaction is built on a strong foundation of customer service and relentless commitment to integrity and diversity and is certified through the Women’s Business Enterprise Council and the Supplier Diversity Office.

Our blog is your one stop destination for career advice, news, and recommendations for life outside the office.

The January Employment Report and Hope for Job Seekers

The January employment report issued by the Department of Labor last week reported an incredible increase of 243,000 jobs in January marking the biggest increase in 9 months. The report also revealed the lowest unemployment rate since 2009. This January unemployment dropped from 8.5% to 8.3%, compared to 9.1% last August.

The private sector accounted for most of the growth although layoffs by federal agencies and local governments appear to be slowing, with reports of fewer unemployment claims. The biggest gains were in the manufacturing, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality industries.

Critics say that the positive results are not indicative of a full recovery, as the deflated housing market and underemployment remain stubborn problems. The good news is that there is a reason to be hopeful in the next couple of months. Hopefully, this report indicates the beginning of a recovery. As indicated by the report, jobs are out there, and we can help you find them. Contact CQ Personnel today.

617.262.131

Be Proud

It is no easy feat to stay positive during an economic downturn. Times like these often feel like you are fighting an uphill battle.

Despite the circumstance, it is important not to lose sight of your accomplishments and strengths.

Everyone has something to be proud of. Sometimes it is just a matter of remembering what that something is. Who knows, that may be all the motivation you need to get back on top.

You’re Hired!

Clarendon Street Productions, an affiliate of CQ Personnel, is working on original television series “You’re Hired!”. Tell us what your favorite reality show is and keep your eyes open for “You’re Hired!”

Then and Now

In the fifties, there were rotary dial telephones and secretarial pools.  Today, there are iPads, Kindles and automated systems. When you stop to think about how fast things are going, you ask yourself “what is important?”. In the fifties one would stay in a job long enough to receive a gold watch (25 years+).

Today, the average time in a job is ten years. Still, qualities like punctuality, positivity, dedication and perseverance, continue to remain as valuable then as they are now.

Maria Nadeev, Recruiter CQ Personnel

We at CQ Personnel also believe that in-person interaction is as genuine as communication gets. Forget the facetime app on your iPhone, sometimes what you need is a big helping of face-to-face time with a recruiter you can count on.

History

Frederick Winslow Taylor

The first private employment agency in the United States, Engineer Agency, was opened in 1893 by mechanical engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor in Philadelphia. The employment agency business, however, did not catch on until 1906, when a series of agencies were developed in response to unemployment brought on by the San Francisco earthquake disaster.

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, employment agencies served as a means of combatting unemployment and helping people find jobs. Today, we like to think not much has changed.  Since 1987, our mission has been to support and encourage talent, promote diversity and create new opportunities. This mission, coupled with our tireless commitment to integrity and client services, has enabled us to consistently exceed the goals of our clients and candidates. CQ Personnel prides itself on being a true partner in helping organizations grow, solidly and wisely.

Eating Healthy

At CQ Personnel we know that when things get busy, eating healthy often takes a backseat to seemingly more important things.

One healthy approach to dealing with the munchies while at the office is to practice what we like to call “grazing”. That is, eating multiple small meals a day opposed to overeating when meal-time rolls around. Eating small portions relatively frequently helps you to better realize when you are hungry and helps you to make healthier choices.

We like to keep a few of our favorite snacks on hand here at the office. Some of our favorites include fruit, nuts, and greek yogurt. These tasty little yogurts are the perfect portion and are loaded with protein.

 

 

 

Pre-sliced fresh fruit is a simple and tasty way to eat healthy while on the job.

 

 

 

 

Fresh apples and oranges are also great for snacking. These lemons however, are mainly decorative.

 

 

Although we strive to live healthy lifestyles, we do of course indulge from time to time. One of our favorite not-so-healthy snacks here at CQ Personnel includes these delicious ginger snaps from Trader Joes, one of our favorite places for healthy and reasonably priced snacks.

 

 

 

And like many other offices, we keep Dunkin’ Donuts original coffee blend on hand.

 

 

 

Tell us your strategies for maintaining a healthy lifestyle!

Make Hiring Easy- Rely on CQ Personnel

You’re the personnel manager and in addition to your regular job, you’re now filling in for the vacationing
hiring coordinator. You have three mid-level openings, and you just received word that the legal department is gearing up for a document production project
requiring six temps. Also, your firm is looking to move to another office and you’re in charge of setting up appointments with new vendors for billing, accounting and word processing systems. What’s more, you have performance reviews coming up, new insurance coverage to review, and vacation scheduling looming. This may be the worst-case scenario, but it illustrates the stress employment managers face without the help of an employment agency.

Saving Time.

It’s no secret that screening and interviewing applicants are two of the more
time-consuming aspects of hiring. Receiving 300 resumes for an advertised
position is overwhelming and requires sifting through hundreds of pieces of
paper to find top candidates.
Scheduling interviews is a special project in itself, because the sought-after
candidate you’re trying to recruit is not always accessible. You can have the
agency handle it all, from screening resumes to scheduling interviews to
checking references. This saves you time and valuable energy. A thorough process is necessary to ensure the right decision by any hiring manager, and an agency works closely with you to identify your needs. The right agency will only present candidates qualified to perform the duties and tasks required. This will greatly reduce the time you need to spend down the line.

Zeroing in on a Winner.

Once the agency has identified for you a highly skilled pool of candidates, the process of interviewing them will be more pleasant and fruitful. Consultants will have already discussed the specifics of the job, benefits and salary, and will have
screened out unqualified applicants. The personnel manager won’t have the
tedious responsibility of reviewing all job duties with each candidate, saving
time and making for a more relaxed interview.

Checking Backgrounds.

The failure of companies like Enron and WorldCom illustrate the importance of hiring individuals with integrity. When you use a good employment agency, your consultant will begin checking references almost immediately, and by the time the candidate arrives in the client’s office, that individual has been given a stamp of approval.

Temping as Trial.

Most employers don’t want to invest thousands in salary until they’re
sure the candidate can perform the job and fit into their corporate
culture. One option many hiring managers often overlook is the temp-to-direct
hire option. Now common at all levels in most organizations, this strategy can
effectively eliminate any risk. Another benefit of hiring someone on a
temporary basis initially- the agency absorbs the financial downside if a
candidate doesn’t work out. For instance, the average cost of unemployment
insurance incurred as a result of a terminated employee is approximately $15,000.

Figuring the Costs.

Most employment agencies do all work on a contingency basis, and clients don’t have to pay unless a hire is made. Fees are generally based on a percentage of the candidate’s annual salary. A good agency should offer guarantees on all
placements. This means that if someone doesn’t work out within 30 days, 100 percent of his or her fee is refunded. But if you’ve done your homework and
hired the right agency, you’ll never have to worry.

Joni Lee Rossi

Tip of the day: Get organized

Last week at MacPherson Group we spent good deal of time organizing the office. Taking the time to get organized made us realize how much easier everyday tasks become with a little organization.

Getting organized isn’t the difficult part, it’s staying organized that is the real challenge.  But, if you put in the extra effort you might find, as we have, that it makes things easier in the long run.  So when you are getting organized, aim to develop systems you will actually keep. Develop a simple filing system and use folders. You will also find demarcation and labeling to be some of your most valuable organizational tools.

Planning, organization and process are three things we have found to be three essential keys to organization. One of the first steps is to clean and organize your desk in order to organize your thoughts.

And finally, if you are anything like me you can’t get through the day without making a million notes to yourself. The problem is keeping those notes organized.  Use a notebook or planner to write down the important things.

Getting organized doesn’t just involve organizing your files’; planning is a big part of staying organized. Use a planner or notebook large enough that you can plan your day, week and month beyond a few notes.

To-do lists are a useful tool to keep you on task and focused when it comes to the office. You can track your progress throughout the day so that when five o’clock rolls around, you wont be left wondering where the day went.

Consider your process. Do you spend a lot of time searching for things? Do you frequently lose things? You can make your job easier for yourself by getting organized and optimizing your efficiency. Take it from us!

Cupcakes in the Workplace: Sweet Bakery

 

CEO Joni Lee Rossi’s mother was a wonderful cook and baker and it is in her memory that we have been sampling Boston’s finest cupcakes in search of our favorites. Here at CQ Personnel, we have launched our own unofficial cupcake search in Boston.

 

Sweet Bakery is a great  go-to bakery because of the friendly staff, the great customer service and the tasty cupcakes of course! One complaint has been that the the cupcakes resemble their company namesake too closely, that is, they are too sweet. But some of us have to wonder if there is such a thing when it comes to desserts.

 

Sweet bakes their cupcakes fresh everyday, and you can tell. The cupcakes we tried  were incredibly fresh and delicious! We tasted the red velvet, caramel macchiato and chocolate cupcakes. They were all delicious but the caramel macchiato and chocolate were really something else!

Off Work: The 4th of July in Boston

One of the best places to watch the fireworks is either on the Mass. Ave Bridge or the Longfellow Bridge. Beware of public transportation, the T will undoubtedly be as crowded as ever and surely some roads will be closed to motor vehicles.

The esplanade gets crowded fast! If you plan on celebrating the fourth there, arrive early! Very early.

Check out the Boston Globe’s map before you head out!

Here are some 4^th of July events from the Mass Website. Check it out for more info!

Boston Harborfest
June 29-July 4
Festival includes more than 220 events: walking tours, concerts, Revolutionary-era historical reenactments, the famous Chowdafest, visits from U.S. and foreign naval ships; harbor cruises; State House tours; guided walking tours of the North End, Boston’s underground and the Harbor Islands; treasure hunt; tour of Coast Guard ships; whale watch and dinner cruises; chowder fest; USS Constitution Turnaround Cruise; Boston Pops concert and fireworks.

Boston Chowderfest
Boston
July 3
As part of Boston’s Harborfest 2010, this day-long celebration of a New England favorite features all varieties of chowder from chefs and restaurants throughout New England. At City Hall Plaza.

Pops Goes the 4th
July 4
Free outdoor concert in the Hatch Shell aside the Charles River is a glittering, unforgettable Independence Day tradition. This Fourth of July musical celebration includes performances of patriotic favorites like “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “America,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever”; thunderous rendition of Tchaikovsky”s “1812 Overture” followed by fireworks display over Charles River

 

Boston Navy Week
June 29-July 4
This is the sixth year in a row that Boston has been chosen to host a Navy Week celebration, which recognizes the Sailors who serve our country and the communities that support them. Through a series of events ranging from ship visits to Navy band musical performances and meet and greet events with local Sailors, the U.S. Navy will come together with the members of the greater Boston community to honor the history of the Navy and cultivate new connections between the city and the world’s greatest maritime fighting force. It will run in conjunction with the 29th annual Boston Harborfest.

 

Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Boston
July 4
Only once a year, Boston residents and visitors get to hear the famous speech read from the balcony as it was on July 18, 1776. Location: Old State House, State and Division Streets.
10 – 10:30 a.m.
Cost: free

Sky High Fourth of July Dinner
Boston
July 4
Celebrate the 4th of July 52 floors above the back bay at Top of the Hub, featuring an evening of cocktails, dinner, a simulcast of the Boston Pops concert, and an ideal vantage point from which to enjoy the holiday fireworks spectacular over the Charles River. Reservations are required.
Prudential Building, 800 Boylston Street
7 p.m.
Cost: $200 per person (including tax and gratuity)
Reservations: 617-536-1775

 

Tall Ship Sailing Adventures
Boston
June 30-July 5
Sail aboard a majestic schooner in Historic Boston Harbor.
Location: 1 Central Wharf at the New England Aquarium
Time: noon – 2 p.m.
Cost: $15 – $30