Monthly Archives: August 2018

National Interview Day is Today! 3 Ways to Prepare

Looking for a great job? Come see Express Today

Happy National Interview Day! Express Employment Professionals is excited to celebrate this day with you, so come by and learn about the jobs available near you.

To prepare, here are a few common questions from our job seekers that our recruiters have shared insight into in previous articles.

  1. I’ve been asked the following: “Tell me about your experiences, specifically, how do you attribute your successes?” What are good answers?

The answer to this question is going to depend on your individual experiences. There aren’t any specific “good answers” our recruiters can provide here, since everyone is different. However, there are a few topics you can cover and adapt to your personal circumstances.

“I think good answers are ones that are quantifiable! For example, an accounts receivable person could say that they were successful in their last role by cleaning up aging reports and collecting over $1 million in 2016.”—Shannon Jacoby, Bellingham, WA.

  1. Why do companies require a college degree when it isn’t necessary for the job?

Many companies use a college degree as a baseline. Sometimes a degree is indicative of passion and hard work. However, you might be able to make up for the lack of a degree in other ways.

“Sometimes, this is a company policy. I tell people to never let it deter you in applying. Many clients will take on-the-job experience in lieu of a degree.”—Shannon Jacoby, Bellingham, WA.

“Some positions may require a degree for specialized positions, for example, a mechanical engineer. For other positions, completing a degree signals to an employer that you are a person who is determined to see a task through and committed to doing so.”—Desiree Stevens, Littleton, CO.

  1. What behaviors are recruiters and hiring managers looking for in an interview?

Although much of the interview focuses on testing your hard skills (your job experience and abilities), your soft skills are being tested as well. How do you handle stress? Do you make the proper amount of eye contact? How does your personality fit in with the company culture? Interviewers look at certain cues for insight on how you might function as an employee.

“I recruit primarily on the industrial side, so I look for behaviors that indicate that the individual can handle the position. For example, if someone can physically do the job, can understand the industry terminology I use, can fill out their own paperwork, etc.”—John Calabrese Jr., Utica, NY

Apply now to join your local Express Employment Professionals office for National Interview Day on Aug. 9, 2018. Applying online will expedite the interview process and allow us to schedule a time for you to interview.

Express can help you find the type of job that fits for your needs and abilities, and you’ll never pay a fee for our services and support.

Contact a local Express office or register online today!

Click here for more information regarding National Interview Day at Express.

Do you have any questions about National Interview Day? Let us know in the comments section below.

The 2018 Job Economy So Far: Will You Find a Job?

Ever wondered what the job search looks like for employers? We’ve got the answers.

To help employers figure out what the current job market looks like, Express Employment Professionals International Headquarters conducts an ongoing Job Insights survey to track quarterly hiring trends across a wide range of industries.

Express surveyed business owners, decision makers, and human resource professionals about the overall hiring trends in their markets and how they impact their hiring decisions.

Overall confidence remains high going into the second half of 2018.
The economy continues to hold strong with most respondents expecting an upward trend in employment activity or to at least maintain current levels during the third quarter of 2018. In fact, only 9% of companies expect employment activity to trend down during the third quarter, compared to 47% of companies that expect employment activity to trend up in the third quarter—a 4% increase over second quarter 2018.

The top segments hiring in third quarter 2018 include:

  • General Labor (Industrial): 32%
  • Skilled Labor (Industrial): 28%
  • Administrative/Office Clerical: 21%
  • Accounting/Finance: 9%

Good news for job seekers: There’s no end in sight for the ongoing talent crunch.
Although business is booming for many companies, recruiting the top talent needed to maintain productivity is becoming more competitive than ever before. In fact, the number of respondents who reported the lack of available applicants as the top reason jobs go unfilled increased by 78% quarter over quarter. Additionally, fewer than one-quarter of respondents said all their positions are filled.

In fact, the number of businesses that say it is “somewhat” or “very” difficult to fill positions has increase by 22% since the first quarter of 2017.

The energy and excitement of an increase in business activity coupled with a tight labor market means companies will need to be more proactive than ever to recruit and retain the top talent they need to stay productive.

In a job seeker’s market, skilled workers can be more selective.
Opportunities abound for skilled workers. In many job markets, the pool of applicants with the right mix of experience and expertise is drying up and the competition among businesses to recruit top talent is fierce. The most qualified candidates have more freedom to be selective about which jobs they accept.

When asked, “what stops applicants from accepting a job at your company?” survey respondents said:

  • Not the perfect fit (40%)
  • Low pay (28%)
  • Lack of advancement/opportunity (16%)
  • Lack of benefits (13%)
  • Inflexible schedule (11%)

What does this mean for you as a job seeker?

Employers want to see well-qualified, highly-skilled job seekers. Check out our previous blogs tailored to help you at each stage of the job search process:

Job Search

What’s the Best Job Search Website: Part 1

What’s the Best Job Search Website: Part 2

How to Highlight Experience Over Tenure On Your Resume

Pre-Interview Prep

Create the Perfect Elevator Pitch

Ask a Recruiters: Your Questions Answered

The Interview

Ace Your Next Interview with These Top Tips

Losing the Job Before You Even Get to the Formal Interview

Discussing Skills and Experience in an Interview