Helios HR team members Jacqueline Dendievel and Colleen Shannon recently offered an interviewing skills workshop, “Interviewing for Success: How to Stand Out From the Crowd,” to participants in Northern Virginia Family Service’s Training Futures program. The workshop’s aim was to support Training Futures participants by providing interview preparation skills (such as resume and job search tips, sample interview questions, and interviewing “do’s and don’ts”) along with mock interview experience.

With increasing fears surfacing about the impact of H1N1 on businesses, many employers have relied on contingency plans to ensure readiness. H1N1, also known as the Swine Flu, has already begun impacting businesses worldwide, forcing all industries to be prepared. Consider the following scenario: You are the CEO of a successful consulting firm that relies heavily on fellow employees and technology to aid in everyday interactions with your clients. A Division Head has just returned from a business meeting in New York and has called a team meeting. Although he appears to not be feeling well, his first instinct is to shrug it off and continue with his meeting. The next day, five employees arrive at work feeling sick. By the third day, it is confirmed that the entire office has been exposed to the H1N1 virus, so the firm is forced to close until further notice. Because the team has never adapted to working entirely in a remote capacity, serious problems arise very quickly. Within a week, chaos ensues as communication breaks down, leaving multiple clients without support. If the firm had adapted a continuity plan for an outbreak like the H1N1, then the team would have been able to function remotely using their pre-planned flow of communication. Within this continuity plan, employees will have all of their questions answered in a simple guide to successfully working in a remote capacity that will best serve the client needs. The CEO in the scenario above failed to implement a plan as part of the company's best practices, which quickly led to the firm's loss of credibility among the business sector of the community. To avoid being this CEO, the following tips have been outlined by Entrepreneur Magazine in a simple, six step plan that may be modified accordingly:

Augmenting a workforce with independent contractors can be an effective way to rapidly adjust to changing business needs. Not only is this flexible work arrangement beneficial to dynamic organizations, it has become an attractive option for a growing number of talented professionals. You can supplement your team with both independent contractors and W-2 employees, just make sure you follow proper HR compliance.

McLEAN, VIRGINIA (June 8, 2006) – Kathy Albarado, President of Helios HR based in Reston, VA, was granted the 2006 HR Leadership Award for Community Service/Corporate Social Responsibility. In addition to participating in community support for local charities such as The March of Dimes, Reston Interfaith, Northern Virginia Family Services, and The House of Ruth, Ms. Albarado has been active in a leadership capacity in a number of professional associations to include Women in Technology, the Northern Virginia Employer Advisory Committee and the Society for Human Resource Management.

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (May 19, 2006) – Kathy Albarado, President of Helios HR based in Reston, VA, was granted the President’s Award by Women in Technology (WIT). The President’s Award is given to those active WIT members who demonstrate exemplary commitment and support to the organization.