JJC - Recruitment Guide - 02/22/26 by Hearst Midwest

RECRUITMENT GUIDE

How to master time management

Thereonly are a set number of hours in a day and a lot of demands on personal time. Finding ways to use time more efficiently and effectively is a goal many people aspire to, whether they are business owners, students or anyone in between.

A hectic schedule quickly can get the better of anyone, but there are many individuals who seem to have it all together. It is likely they have figured out how to manage time better. According to Starling Bank’s “2020 Make Business Simple” report, small business owners and solo entrepreneurs spend up to 31 percent of their weekly time sorting finances and doing other administrative work. Learning early on how to more effectively allot time for tasks is one of the key skills a person can learn.

Use a calendar and set reminders

There’s only so much the average person can remember. Putting events into a calendar will provide visual cues as to what needs to get done and when. It also may help illustrate a pattern

of when blocks of time are more busy and when there are free moments so that tasks can be redistributed, serving as a time audit of sorts. Reminder functions are a great way to stay on top of things and avoid feeling stressed and rushed when responsibilities are accidentally overlooked.

Learn about the Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is a tool that helps people distinguish between tasks that are important, not important, urgent, and not urgent. The matrix is broken down into quadrants that correspond with the 4Ds of execution: do, defer, delegate, and delete. This matrix can help a person prioritize tasks revelant to their goals.

Tackle difficult things first

Leadership expert Brian Tracy developed a productivity method called Eat That Frog. It is good for those who have trouble avoiding distractions or people who tend to procrastinate. The gist is tackling the most complicated or dreaded task first, and only moving on to other things once you’ve

“eaten

that frog.”

Use the right tools

Certain tools work for some and not for others. While one person may like making paper to-do lists, another may prefer digital devices. Identifying the resources that help a person manage time better can be an asset.

Limit time spent on each task

According to Parkinson’s Law, “work expands to fill the time allotted to complete it.” People should set reasonable limits on how long to give each task; otherwise, they may spend more time than is necessary.

Multitasking is not the answer

Productivity is reduced when individuals multitask, says the American Psychological Association. Sticking to one job at a time puts full attention on that job and may help it get done more quickly and to a better level.

Time management is a skill like any other that needs to be mastered in order to put it to use effectively. After which, schedules may be more balanced and work better for all involved.

Nursing is a diverse field

Nursing is a wise career choice for people looking for a challenging yet rewarding profession. Significant nursing shortages continue to pose a challenge within the health care industry, as the United States was expected to have a deficit of around 295,800 nurses by the end of 2025. Nurses work in many different facilities and can focus on an array of specialties. Nurses may be categorized by their levels of education. Each level has a different scope of practice and responsibility. Those considering nursing as a career, or patients preparing to see a nursing provider for care, can explore these types of nurses.

Licensed practical nurse (LPN)

LPNs are health care professionals responsible for basic patient care and comfort. They typically are a patient’s primary point of contact and relay information to the rest of the care team. One can think of LPNs as entrylevel nurses, although their responsibilities are no less important than other medical professionals’. LPNs typically work under others’ direct supervision and assist patients with eating, dressing and bathing. LPNs also take vital signs and administer medications. The American Nursing Association says becoming an LPN or a licensed vocational nurse

requires a high school diploma or GED and a vocational training course, and a passing grade on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses is necessary.

Registered nurse (RN)

RNs require a higher level of education than LPNs and they can provide more complex and comprehensive care for patients. RNs often handle a wider range of patient services and take on more responsibilities than LPNs. The ANA says two college degree paths available to aspiring RNs are an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN requires a greater financial commitment and a fouryear undergraduate program takes time to complete. Many employers zero in on candidates with a BSN. Nurses who have advanced degrees are called Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. They have specialized training beyond that of a typical registered nurse and have broader scopes of practice. They may work with greater autonomy in certain specialties.

Certified nurse practitioner (CNP)

A CNP is a health partner of choice for many people. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® says CNPs are clinicians that blend clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating

health conditions with an emphasis on disease prevention and health management. Advanced education, like a master’s or doctoral degree, is required to become a CNP. He or she is able to prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests and manage chronic conditions.

Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)

CNMs provide gynecological and lowrisk obstetrical care. These advance practice registered nurses focus their study and practices on gynecology, family planning, prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. In addition to an advanced degree, CNMs must complete an accredited midwifery education program and pass a national certification exam.

Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)

CRNAs have specialized training in anesthesia. The Cleveland Clinic notes CRNAs can administer anesthesia for procedures and surgeries. These professionals work with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other providers. CRNAs often are the sole anesthesia providers in hospitals in rural areas and the U.S. armed forces.

Nursing is an extensive field with many opportunities for individuals to find their niche.

3 tips to update a resume to align with the modern job market

The job market can be unpredictable. Though reports on jobs suggest the market is now flooded with openings, working professionals looking to change careers or switch firms know the reality of modern job hunting is no walk in the park.

Reports indicate that there was an average of one opening for every two applicants on the professional social networking site LinkedIn at the onset of summer 2023. Professionals also are contending with a job market in which firms that hurried to hire applicants during the pandemic are now being more deliberate with their hiring process, sometimes interviewing candidates as many as six times before concluding the process. In addition, a 2023 survey from TIME/Harris Poll found that 52 percent of applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher completed an interview process without receiving a job offer. There’s no denying the difficulty professionals seeking new jobs face when they begin their search. Though there’s no guarantee the right opportunity will come along quickly, professionals can update their

resumes in three notable ways to increase the chances their applications are seen.

1. Write a new summary.

The professional resources experts at Indeed recommend individuals write a new summary of their work history that reflects their qualifications for any job they intend to apply for. Consider past accomplishments, tasks and responsibilities that are applicable to each opening and emphasize those in the summary. For example, individuals aspiring to move up to management level can emphasize past experiences in which they took on a supervisory role to complete a project.

2. Include important keywords.

The frustration many modern professionals feel when looking for new opportunities may stem from how easy it can be to apply for a job but never hear back. Indeed notes that many hiring managers utilize applicant tracking system (ATS) software when considering applications. Such programs scan resumes for predetermined keywords, discarding applications that do not include them. Reading each listing carefully can shed

Mid-career strategies to fulfill your professional potential

Plight on which keywords to include, as the right terms tend to be right there in the job description. Indeed also advises mentioning the company’s name and exact position title in the summary statement or career objective section.

3. Don’t forget the person who will read your resume.

Though ATS software plays an integral role in modern hiring, eventually a human being will see the resume if it gets past the ATS portion of the vetting process. Before submitting a resume, read it several times to ensure it reflects your accomplishments, talents and aspirations and not just the keywords that will get the document seen by human eyeballs. Numerous resumes will get past the ATS software, so it’s imperative that the resume illustrates a candidate’s qualifications and talents.

Modern job seeking is time-consuming and often frustrating. Getting past the vetting process involves updating a resume so applicants can use the modern hiring process to their advantage.

rofessionals work hard to achieve their career goals. Each person’s journey from young professional just starting out to seasoned expert on the cusp of retirement will feature its own unique challenges, and some of those may appear when least expected. Mid-career professionals are generally comfortable in their careers. Such individuals have ample experience to help navigate any workrelated challenges, and are far enough away from retirement to know there’s still much they can accomplish before calling it a career. But it’s not uncommon for professionals in their fifties to feel as though their careers have reached a plateau. That could explain why 34 percent of professionals in their fifties said they were unfulfilled in their jobs in response to a Phoenix Group poll conducted in 2023.

Some workers may decide a career change is their only pathway toward fulfilling their potential, but others may just need a few strategies to reinvigorate their passion within their current line of work.

• Express a willingness to

do more at your current place of employment. It’s easy for mid-career professionals to settle into a routine in which they manage similar projects each day, week, month, and year. That routine may be productive, but it can become less fulfilling over time and even a little monotonous. Mid-career professionals in such situations can spice things up by expressing a willingness to participate in projects that make workdays a little less predictable. Many companies value versatility, so expanding your role can be a good way to reinvigorate your passion and make yourself even more valuable to the company.

• Offer to mentor less experienced colleagues. Sometimes all mid-career professionals need to reinvigorate their passion is a chance to share their expertise with less experienced colleagues and witness those coworkers’ progress. Partnering with less experienced professionals on projects and offering advice when requested can be a great way to utilize years of experience and also might provide some valuable

insight into the future of your field that can spark your passion once again.

• Avoid going it alone. Research from Indeed Flex released in 2025 found that 43 percent of businesses report being understaffed at least once per week, and 38 percent report struggling to recruit enough employees. That means there’s likely ample opportunities for mid-career professionals dissatisfied with the current state of their careers to expand their responsibilities in-house, and those chances may be best identified by superiors or colleagues in human resources. Work with management and HR to identify where shortages are compromising deadlines and pinpoint ways the company can benefit from your experience. This may require taking on extra work and thus working longer hours, but it’s also a possible pathway to fulfilling your potential and regaining your passion for your profession.

It’s not uncommon for professionals in their fifties to feel a sense of malaise regarding their careers. But various strategies may help experienced professionals find a pathway to fulfilling their potential.