PCG Senior Vice President Erika Mendez’s Best Career Advice

By: Juan Rivera Scroll down to learn more about me!

Vacation is over, it is time to return to the real world, and you are dreading it. No matter how much you love your job, it can still be hard to put yourself back into the routine when you would rather be on the beach, sightseeing, relaxing, etc. We have put together a couple of tips to help you get back into the swing of things. Take a buffer day This tip is one that starts before your time off starts. If possible, when requesting your time off, build in an extra day between when vacation ends and when you need to return back to work. This will give you a day to get yourself ready for the return to work. Whether that is unpacking, going grocery shopping, meal prepping, or reviewing (but not doing) your to do list, having those tasks done before you return will help ease you in. Make a to-do list Before you just dive right back into work, take a look at what needs to be done, make a list and prioritize your tasks. Many people get lost in just catching up on emails or joining meetings that were already on their calendar and wind up feeling like they are never going to catch up. To-do lists will help with the time management aspect and ensure you do not feel overwhelmed. Connect with your team/supervisor Building off of the to-do list tip, meeting with your team or supervisor will help you to figure out what you missed and what the priorities are upon your return. Take your time You might feel like you need to catch up immediately and make it seem like you were never gone, but that will just overwhelm you. After your wonderful time off, the last thing you want to do is burn out immediately. Reflect on your time off How did you spend your time off? Did you find yourself reading, hiking, or trying new foods? Is it possible to do those things during your regular days off? Finding time in our regular schedules to unwind and do the things that we enjoy can help to avoid burnout and reduce overall stress. Our final tip? 6. Check in with yourself Are you dreading going back to work because you had the best time on vacation or do you dread returning to work any time you have a standard day off? If you answered the latter, you may want to reevaluate your job as a whole. If you find that you resonate with our last tip, we can help. When you are ready to take the leap and make a change in your career or role, contact us . There is no need for the Sunday scaries!

Whether you are a student, in between jobs, or need another job for any reason, a summer temp job has many benefits that you may not be aware of. Building your resume as a student or recent graduate When you are entering the workforce, it can take time for you to find the right position to kickstart your career. You may find that taking on summer temp jobs may be the best way to gain the experience you are looking for while you look for that perfect match. Whether you are looking for retail roles that will give you great skills including communication and customer service or you are a graduate looking to break into the industry of your choice, there is a temp role for you. 2. Building your resume as someone who is between jobs When you are between jobs, you may not realize that there are benefits to taking on a temp job while you continue to search. In addition to having an income while you interview for perm roles, you will also show companies that you are keeping sharp on your skills and filling in the potential gap between jobs on your resume. Strengthening your experience and skill set will help you when the time comes to move into that more permanent role. 3. Networking Networking has always been an important role in the job search, but in recent years people tend to discuss it in terms of LinkedIn or other social platforms. We should not count out the traditional ways of networking when looking for a new role and temp/summer jobs can help with just that. No matter at what point of your career you are in, building new connections is always a positive. 4. It can turn into a permanent position While this is not true of every temp job, many of them do offer the chance to become a permanent, full-time position based on performance and the needs of the business. There are some roles that this may not be true for, such as covering for someone on leave, but even if they do not have the chance to convert now you already have your foot in the door for the next job opening. 5. Build your list of references Similar to our point about networking, working temp/summer jobs can help you build your references. If you are someone new to or early in your career, you may not have many professional references to offer potential employers. Working these short-term roles gives you a chance to prove yourself, make an impact quickly, and add a new reference your list. 6. Extra money, of course We would not be able to wrap up a list of benefits of a temp or summer job without mentioning income. Whether it is your full income, or extra money on the side, a paycheck is always a nice benefit when it comes to working. The summer may feel like it is rapidly coming to a close, but there is still time to get started with a temp role. If you are interested in learning about the process or what opportunities are available, contact us today . Know someone that might be interested? Contact us to learn about our referral program!

The job market, how you apply/look for jobs, and how people recruit/hire is always evolving. The newest trend that is causing all the buzz is AI. We all know that AI is finding ways to slip into our everyday lives and job applications are no exception.

Pyramid Consulting Group, LLC. is known for acting as a staffing firm for temp, temp to perm and perm roles for Retail and Corporate clients, but what you may not know is that we also have a large Events division. This division is dedicated to staffing pop-ups and events hosted by a variety of clients. We wanted to share more about what the Events Team at PCG does and how you can work with them as either a client or candidates and we thought what better way than with an interview with Gina Squicciarini-Ozer, the Senior Account Director of Retail & Events, at PCG. To get started, here is a bit about Gina: Gina came to PCG with experience from the event and retail pop-up staffing world partnering with luxury retailers, concepts stores, and eCommerce experiential pop-up shops nationwide. She has experience in Talent Management, Event Production, Marketing and Hospitality industries focused on successful activations. She now works with a team of events recruiters to staff exciting pop-ups across the country. What are the most common questions for the events team from potential clients? 1. Where do you staff events? “PCG staff’s events and pop ups nationwide and in Canada.” 2. What are your biggest markets? “Our MAJOR markets are NYC, LA, Chicago, Austin, Miami, D.C., but PCG can staff in any state in the U.S. and Selected provinces in Canada.” 3. How do I inquire about staffing my event or pop up? “If you are an individual or brand looking for qualified events professionals or staff for your next event or pop up, please reach out to me at ginas@pyramidcg.com to set up a call to discuss. Based on your needs we can outline your exact needs.” What are the questions you receive from candidates looking to work with the events team? 1. How do you apply to work events at PCG? “There are a few ways you can apply to PCG events but the easiest way is to email events@pyramidcg.com with your resume and introduction about you are interested in working events in your city!” What is the coolest event/activation you have staffed? “There are two that stand out! The most "infamous" was Fyre Festival. I was in charge of hiring and transporting 40 concierge staff to the Bahamas. (LOTS OF STORIES). Ask me anytime. :) The other is San Diego Comic Con. We worked with SYFY Network and took over the entire downtown area with hundreds of staff working street teams, activations at the Children's museum, after parties, Wedding Chapel, and Dance teams for the SYFY band. It was so cool to see thousands of people in San Diego with SYFY Swag and engaging with our team. How do I send a referral? “Have your referral email events@pyramidcg.com with their resume and name YOU as the referral.” Do I need experience to work events at PCG? “We hire staff at ALL experience levels. Some events may require specific skills or attributes, but these will be outlined in the interview and/or onboarding process.” What are the responsibilities of Brand Ambassadors or Event Support Staff? Brand Ambassadors are typically the "face" of the brand they have been selected to represent. You may have to learn some brief product knowledge or may be given talking points about the event or product to memorize. Big smiles and welcoming personalities are the key to a Brand Ambassador's success! Event Support Staff covers a variety of roles such as Production Assistants, check-in teams, directional staff (guiding guests to a specific destination), basically any role in which you are essential to the success of the event or activation to run smoothly from a guest perspective. 6. What might I be doing at an event as a BA or Event Staff? The responsibilities will differ depending on the brand or event, but many times they include checking in guests, general set up or breakdown, line management, photo booth attendant, activation BA (Assist with a specific room or guest "activation" point), Greeter, and passing light items such as champagne or canapes. All role responsibilities will be outlined in the initial reach out by your recruiter or in the job posting. If you would like more information on working with our events team or to make a referral email: events@pyramidcg.com . If you are a potential client and you want to learn more about how our team can help to staff your next event, email: ginas@pyramidcg.com .

Looking to get started in the world of retail, but unsure if it is the right place for you? Whether you are looking for something temporary or to build a new career, there are a lot of benefits of working in retail that you should take into consideration. As recruiters who work day to day to place candidates at luxury retail locations across North America, we see first hand what the benefits of working in retail can be. Many of our recruiters even got their start working in the retail sector! Growing a Career One of the best benefits of working in retail is that it can get you started on a few different career journeys. If you are looking to learn more about the fashion or beauty industries, working in retail is a great way to do that. You will gain knowledge and experience with a variety of brands and products that will help you when looking for a role in the corporate sector. If you do not plan on working in the fashion or beauty industries, you can also build a career working in retail. While you may start out as an associate, you can grow into roles such as manager, director, area manager, and more. Maybe you even take that experience and shift into retail recruiting! However, you look at it or whatever your plans are for your career, retail is a great place to start. Customer Experience Unsure about where your career is going to go? That is ok too, there are still benefits to working in retail that are applicable to you. Working in retail stores is a great way to learn transferrable skills that you can take with you to any career move that you make. Retail jobs can teach you effective communication and problem-solving skills as you work every day with clients. You can also learn sales techniques, multitasking, and the ability to switch between tasks in an organized and productive manner. These are all skills that you can take from these retail positions to whatever your next step may be in your career. Extra Cash Not looking for a full-time position in retail? Many retail stores look for temporary help around the holidays as their business picks up or even for pop up events/stores and special sales that may make their store busier than normal. These are great opportunities for people who work full or part time jobs but need extra money. Whether it is for gifts around the holidays or everyday life expenses, retail jobs are a great way to earn a little extra money. Discounts Now for the fun! One of the best benefits of working in retail is that you may become eligible for employee discounts. As a full-time, perm employee you have the opportunity to gain access to discounts on items you’ve had your eye on. If you are interested in fashion, beauty, tech, or whatever store you may work for these discounts are a great way to try out products and get your hands on highly coveted items. Take it from one of our retail recruiters: “My 10-year tenure in retail management truly supported my career transition into recruitment. It allowed me to develop my people skills, ignited my competitive nature and trained my judgement. Retail recruiting requires these same skills. Considering my tenure in the retail industry, I know the necessary questions to ask candidates for entry to senior level roles.” - Tatianna D’Auvergne Looking for a role in retail? Contact us , we can help.

As a recent graduate, you may be wondering where to start when looking for a job. Of course, there are the job boards that everyone uses, but you may have questions or wish there was someone guiding you through the process. Luckily, that’s exactly what recruiters at PCG are here to do. Every day our recruiters work with candidates across the country to guide them through interview processes, salary conversations, and overall job search strategy. While in school, you may have worked with a career services department that helped you build out a resume and search for part time jobs or internships, think of recruitment agencies as career services post-grad. At Pyramid Consulting Group, LLC, we want to make sure that your first experience looking for a job after graduation is as smooth as possible. Our recruiters have spent years developing relationships with some of the top companies in the world and matching talent to fit their needs. Our recruiters will not just look at your resume, but also get to know you and understand your career goals. Once we understand what you’re looking for, we will work to match you with not just the job that suits you, but the company. We have curated some recent grad FAQs to help you further understand what a recruitment agency does, how they can help you, and what makes PCG different than other agencies. Have more questions or ready to get started on building the career of your dreams? Contact us , we’re here to help.

As everyone knows, June is Pride Month, and at Pyramid Consulting Group, we have been abuzz with finding ways to empower the LGBTQ+ community and educate our employees. Through Pyramid Possibilities , PCG’s charitable arm, we have partnered with a New York based non-profit organization called Live Out Loud . LOL “works with schools, parents, and community organizations to provide programs for LGBTQ+ youth to build their knowledge of LGTBQ+ history and struggles for equality, increase their awareness of current issues and challenges, build their self-esteem, develop leadership and advocacy skills, and foster safe communities and spaces of allies and peers.” We have supported LOL, not only through our donation program, but also by sharing information on social media and by hosting a Lunch & Learn with LOL for all PCG employees. At this optional Lunch & Learn, our employees were able to learn important facts and statistics about the LGBTQ+ community as well as this amazing organization. One of our very own recruiters, Rafael Mathiss , is on the board of Live Out Loud and had this to say about the important work that they are doing: “We hope that one day we will live in a place where kids don’t have to hide or live in fear of abuse. This organization is near and dear to me as I was that gay kid in school that got all the abuse in school. I wish I had an organization where I felt safe. Where I had resources and could connect with people that would protect me. Therefore, I do this…It makes me so happy when I hear how we have impacted these agents of change. The future generation.” We are so proud to be a place where employees feel comfortable approaching us with ideas to partner with organizations close to their hearts. We strive to be a place of employment that is not only accepting, but also continuing to grow, learn, and change. At PCG, we are embracing the vision to empower LGBTQ+ youth by educating and being allies to those who need our support. Join us in supporting and empowering the youth & those who are just entering the work force. If you, or someone who know, is getting ready to enter the workforce, contact us. We can help.

Just a few years ago, mental health in the workplace was a topic that was never discussed, but now it seems to be on the forefront for many employers. While many companies do not feel like it is on them to assist their employees when it comes to mental health, others understand that providing resources and uplifting their employees is a benefit that can increase retention and avoid burnout. Why does mental health need to be discussed in the workplace? There used to be a clear delineation between work life and home life, with mental health being a topic that fell under home life meaning there was no need to discuss it in the workplace. With the increased number of people working virtually or on hybrid work schedules, those clear lines have become a bit more blurred. As was made clear during “The Great Resignation,” employees are taking the power back and finding jobs that provide them the balance and benefits that best suits their lifestyle. One of these points being mental health. So, what can employers do? Changes that can be made within the workplace will vary depending on every company, but there are options. The first thing that needs to be done is an evaluation of what your current benefits or offerings are at the present time. Perhaps you are already providing tips to avoid burnout and self-care ideas. Maybe you’re already doing virtual, or in-person, hangouts where work is not to be discussed or HR Q&A sessions where employees can learn more about mental health benefits. Here are some more ideas of things you can do! Set up a dedicated team of employees who share tips & tricks, add an EAP to your employee benefits, or close your office for mental health days on a scheduled basis to help avoid burnout. What should employees look for? It may be difficult to find out what employers are doing to support their employees’ mental health, not just in May, but all year round, as not all companies list their benefits outright. During an interview, you can ask about benefits offered at the company, including PTO where they may mention Mental Health Days. If you work for a company that does not have these resources, be an advocate and bring up your concerns to HR! If they do not seem interested, or it seems unlikely that the company will implement any changes, there is always a job or company out there that will. As always, if you work with a recruiter at PCG, you can let them know what you are looking for from an employer so that they know which companies would make the best matches. PCG is proud to offer their employees access to an EAP, mental health day office closures, a Health Habits group, and so much more to support their employees. We are also a proud supporter of Vibrant Emotional Health , an organization dedicated to education and resources surrounding mental health. If you’re looking to find a company that offers you more than just a job, contact us . We are here to help!