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Monthly Archives: November 2015

Reader Surveys

Poll: How Does Your Company Ensure Great Customer Service?

By on Monday, November 30, 2015

MOV_POLL-ICONOften, employees are the face and voice of a business. What people think about a company usually comes from the interactions they have with the people who work there. In fact, a recent survey by Accenture reports that 66% of customers switch companies due to poor service.

Since maintaining a positive image is important for any business to succeed, we want to know how your company ensures you and your co-workers maintain a great level of customer service. Let us know by voting in our poll.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Workplace Relationships

5 Ways to Show Appreciation for Your Boss

By on Monday, November 23, 2015

appreciate_boss_webBeing the boss can be tough. You have to keep up with everything, assign work, and evaluate employees. But, supervisors are still human and want to feel appreciated.

So, when was the last time you and your co-workers showed appreciation to your boss? Since showing appreciation is important, here are five ways to give thanks to your boss this holiday season.

Offer the Gift of Time
Taking the time to listen and talk with your boss is a simple way to show appreciation. Offer to take on a few tasks to help lessen your supervisor’s workload. Your boss gets overwhelmed just like you do, so showing appreciation with the gift of time is invaluable.

Open Up
Next time you have an appropriate chance, ask your boss something that doesn’t have to do with work. Ask their opinion about a news story or advice on vacation plans. Ask about their family or just simply ask how they are doing. Giving your boss the opportunity to talk about what he or she is passionate about can create a bond that also shows you are genuinely interested in your boss as a person.

Respect Your Boss
One of the easiest and most important ways to appreciate your boss is to simply show him or her respect. Respect can be shown by working hard on projects, being at work on time, volunteering new ideas, supporting your boss’ decisions, and listening attentively.

Stay Positive
Being a positive influence in the office means more than you think. Try to be helpful, cheerful, and willing to take on new tasks or projects. Enthusiastically asking for ways you can help out more at the office also shows a sunny disposition, and chances are your boss will appreciate your positive attitude.

Give Thanks
Many people have forgotten the simple gift of saying “thank you.” For instance, if your supervisor gives you a new project, thank him or her for the opportunity. If you get approval on an idea, be quick to show your gratitude. For big projects or requests, a handwritten thank-you note is a nice touch as well.

Everyone likes to be appreciated, and showing gratitude can go a long way. Start a culture of appreciation in your office, and more than likely, you’ll start to see appreciation come your way as well.

How do you express your appreciation for your co-workers or boss? Share your best tips with us in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Job Interviews

How a Lack of Planning May Be Costing You the Job

By on Friday, November 20, 2015

lack_of_planning_webWhen job searching, planning is an important step that can make or break your chances of success. A good resume and application may land you an interview, but planning is necessary to ace it and get the job offer.

Is your lack of planning costing you? We’ve put together some resources to help you pick out serious errors and interview flaws due to a lack of planning. These mistakes can destroy what could have been a great interview and result in a lost job opportunity.

  1. Not Preparing to Be on Time

Before the day of your interview, plan out your drive to the location. Always allow extra travel time for accidents, bad traffic, or car trouble. If you can drive to the business location a day or two before your interview, you’ll have a better idea of how long the trip will take.

  1. Not Being Properly Dressed

Showing up at a job interview in inappropriate attire or in clothes that are wrinkled is another deadly sin. If you haven’t planned ahead of time to iron your clothes or explore the company culture, you could end up looking shabby and embarrassing. If you have a chance to drive by your potential employer’s office to see how other employees are dressed, do so. At the very least, pick out your interview outfit the night before, try it on, iron or clean as necessary, and set the pieces out for easy dressing.

  1. Not Preparing for Your Interview

Have you practiced answering interview questions? Have you read the company’s website and annual report if available? Have you looked up news about the company? Preparing for an interview takes effort, but that effort pays off when you have rehearsed answers to difficult questions and can have an intelligent conversation about the company itself. Not preparing for the interview may leave you looking nervous and uninformed.

  1. Not Preparing Extra Copies

The company already has your resume, but you should plan to bring extra copies. While you’re at it, bring extra copies of any portfolio items, references, awards, and anything else a recruiter may be interested in. Never walk in empty-handed. By planning ahead, you can present yourself in a strong light by having extra copies of important documents.

  1. Not Having a Follow-Up Plan

After the interview is over, do you have a plan for following up? The lack of follow-up can hurt your chance to be hired. Instead, make a plan to send thank-you cards and professional follow-up emails. Write the thank-you cards as soon as the interview is over and craft an email asking if the company needs additional information from you to send in a week or two. Not having a plan to contact the company after the interview may take you out of the running.

It’s tempting to leave your career to chance and not plan, but the people who are most successful are prepared ahead of time for any job search opportunity. Take time to put together your plan, and stop letting lack of planning cost you.

How do you plan ahead of time for job interviews? Share your tips with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Job Interviews

The Power of the Interview Follow-Up

By on Wednesday, November 18, 2015

interview_followup_webWhen it comes to landing a job, never underestimate the power of the interview follow-up. In today’s world, the interview follow-up should be a powerful marketing tool designed to sell your skills and accomplishments while reminding an interviewer why you are perfect for the position.

A well-written and sincere thank-you letter can be one of the most powerful selling tools to convince recruiters that you’re the perfect fit for the job, even after the interview is over.

Because following up is so important, here are five tips to help you harness the power of the interview follow-up.

  1. Address specific problems or challenges in the organization.

After thanking the recruiter for his time, share how your experience and skills fill a need in the organization. For example, if a company has a problem with work flow, describe how your past experience included implementing a workflow solution that led to greater efficiency.

If lagging sales are the issue, remind the recruiter of your sales background and successes. Providing a solution to challenges discussed in the interview can be an effective way to stay remembered.

  1. Revisit key points from the interview.

If you were one of many candidates for the job, your interviewer may have trouble remembering the key details of your particular conversation. In your follow-up letter, emphasize the important points of your skills and background, and expand upon those skills as they relate to the business’ current needs.

  1. Give them something new to think about.

It never fails. Once you leave an interview, you beat yourself up about something important you forgot to share. A follow-up letter is the perfect time to bring up achievements, ideas, successful projects, or additional qualifications you may have forgotten about during the interview. In addition, this adds something new for the interviewer to consider when making a final decision.

  1. Offer solutions to any objections.

If the interviewer brought up any hesitation about hiring you, use the follow-up to address those issues. For instance, if you’ve never worked in media relations, but the position requires that, bring up previous experience that shows you can adapt. Talk about your public speaking skills and any media training that you’ve had. Express a desire and the ability to learn new tactics quickly and enthusiastically.

  1. Follow up the smart way.

If you haven’t heard back from the recruiter in the time they said they would make a decision, send a quick note asking if they need anything else from you. Don’t bug them, but asking this question shows that you’re still excited and interested in the position. You can even ask them questions like “What skills can I improve on for this position?” or “What does your ideal candidate look like?” This tactic implies that you picture yourself in the job and that you are thinking of the future.

A powerful follow-up to an interview can be as compelling as the interview itself. The valuable information you include in this process is important, so carefully read and edit all the material you send.

The power of a follow-up letter can tilt the scales in your favor, especially if the note contains substance that builds upon the interview.

What kind of thank-you notes or follow up actions have you done after an interview? Did it help? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Contests

Congratulations to Our Next Round of Job Jackpot Winners!

By on Monday, November 16, 2015

job_jackpotAt Express Employment Professionals, we know our associates are what make us successful, and we’re privileged to have put more than 465,000 people to work in 2014. To show our thanks this year, we’re awarding 30 associates $1,000 each in our new sweepstakes, Job Jackpot.

As part of Job Jackpot, associates are given a scratch-off ticket. Game pieces can be returned to participating Express offices to be entered into a grand prize drawing to win $1,000.

Grand prize drawings are held bimonthly, and the most recent drawing just took place. Congratulations to the following Express associates:

  • Rory from Michigan
  • Tarlis from Minnesota
  • Sue from Ontario
  • Darrell from Wyoming
  • Christa from Wisconsin

If you’d like a chance to be our next winner, stop by your local Express office and talk to your staffing consultant today!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Uncategorized

Headed to a Job Interview? Don’t Do This!

By on Friday, November 13, 2015

job_interview_don't_do_webDo you have a job interview soon? Have you prepared for the big day by reviewing popular interview questions, researching the company, cleaning up your resume, and gathering your references? All of those steps are important parts of ensuring a successful interview. But, what should you avoid once you’re in the job interview?

Survey Reveals Mistakes
In a new survey from Express Employment Professionals, business owners shared several real-life mistakes job seekers have made in interviews. These examples include:

  • Answering the phone
  • Asking to step out for a smoke break
  • Asking at the end of the interview, “What am I interviewing for?”
  • Badmouthing their former employer
  • Bringing a baby, pet, or parent
  • Chewing tobacco and/or vaping
  • Falling asleep
  • Wearing pajamas
  • Listing their own cell phone number and pretending to be their own reference
  • Listening to headphones

Among those employers, 61% agree that the worst thing an interviewee can do is answer a phone call during the interview. Other answers included arriving late, drinking alcohol, or lying about their experience.

“Your interviewer should have your undivided attention,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express. “If you can’t make it through an interview without answering a phone, texting a friend, or smoking a cigarette, I can pretty much guarantee you that you won’t be landing the job.”

Clever Tricks From Interviewees
The survey also revealed the most clever ways job seekers have submitted resumes and attempted to land jobs. Those responses include:

  • Typing the resume like a movie script, menu, radio commercial, or video presentation
  • Delivering the resume with a box of doughnuts
  • Delivering the resume in a box via a mail carrier
  • Bringing a portfolio and giving a presentation of their work
  • Creating a business plan
  • Providing referrals from someone known to the employer
  • Bringing lists of potential clients and ideas for the position

According to Bob Funk, “When you’re competing to win a new job, it can pay to be creative. The ability to stand out can be the difference between a job offer and a rejection, provided you’re standing out for the right reasons.”

What are some clever ways you’ve landed the job? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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