Inside Express | Journey

The Results Are In: How Does Your Company Ensure Great Customer Service?

By Job Journey on Monday, January 4, 2016

Employees are often seen as the face and voice of a business. Because a company’s success may depend on the image it portrays to customers, we asked how the company you work for ensures that you and your co-workers maintain a great level of customer service.

The Results
Our poll revealed that the number one way companies ensure great customer service is by providing training and onboarding for new hires. Twenty-three percent of respondents selected this option, which specifies that training is thorough enough to explain the expectations of the company.

Another 18% reported that “employee development programs and education” are how their company ensures great customer service, followed by 17% who said “there are programs in place that award employees who provide extraordinary service.”

A combined 29% of readers selected two options that reveal “nothing extra is done” to maintain great customer service, which breaks down into the following reasons:

17% said “we have a poor customer service environment”
12% said “employees already provide great customer service”

Monetary incentives for excellent service aren’t as popular with companies, according to our poll. Only 7% of readers selected “bonuses” as a means for ensuring great customer service.

Lastly, 7% of readers chose the “other” option and left responses that included:

Excellent benefits
PTO to keep employees satisfied and refreshed
Communication
Daily meetings
Customer service depends on the employees you work with

Did we miss anything? How does your company ensure great customer service? Let us know in the comments section below!

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

Reader Surveys

Poll: Do You Have a Mentor?

By Job Journey on Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Mentors are people who can help you in your career, professional network, and personal growth. The Huffington Post defines mentorship as a “partnership where a ‘mentee’ is assigned to a more experienced ‘mentor,’ who passes on valuable aspects of their own accumulated experience and wisdom for the benefit of the mentee’s personal and professional development.”

In short, it’s an invaluable relationship. And mentors can be of any age, profession, or education level. Since mentorships are so important, we want to know what kind of mentor relationship you have. Let us know by voting in our poll!

Do you think mentorships are important? How do you benefit from your mentor? Let us know in the comments section below.

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

Inside Express

The Year in Review: Top Posts of 2015

By Job Journey on Friday, December 18, 2015

It was a great year here at Movin’ On Up! Help us celebrate by taking a look back at the some of the top posts from 2015. We look forward to bringing you more content, tips, and advice in 2016.

How to Love Your Job, Even on Mondays
“The idea of someone loving their job can seem like a far-fetched dream. But the good news is that it just requires a person to keep working at it. Here are three helpful tips to keep your love for your job alive, even on Mondays.”

Hot Summer Jobs
“Since summer jobs are important to help build your resume and network, finding the right fit is essential. To get started on your job search, check out these four jobs that are popular during the summer months!”

3 Interview Questions That Should Never Stress You Out
“Before a job interview, it’s common to feel anxious about what you could be asked and wonder what kind of curve-ball questions might be thrown your way. However, during your prep time the night before your interview, you can prepare yourself for many of the questions that could be asked.”

Be Thankful: How to Appreciate Your Job
“The holiday season is fast approaching, and it’s a time of year when many people consider all they are thankful for, like family, shelter, and friends. When you count up your blessings, do you include your job? Even if your current job isn’t perfect, it is something for which you should be thankful.”

How Giving Back Makes You More Employable
“According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), volunteering raises your odds of finding employment in today’s job market. In fact, a recent report from CNCS reveals that volunteers have 27% higher odds of finding employment than non-volunteers, and the relationship between employment and volunteering was strongest for those without a high school diploma or who live in rural areas.”

5 Traits of a Great Mentor
“The concept of having a mentor to help you in your career and professional growth is nothing new. In fact, it’s common to hear of everyone from doctors and lawyers to teachers and entrepreneurs having a mentor. But, the mentorships of today may look different from what you anticipated or remembered.”

Break Free From Your Job Search
“While summer holidays are a great time to get together with family and friends, enjoy a picnic, watch a firework show, and celebrate, they’re also an opportunity to declare independence from your job search.”

How to Answer the Question “What’s Your Greatest Weakness”
“While this question is difficult to answer and may seem like an odd thing to ask a stranger, it can reveal a lot about you. The interviewer asks it not only because they are interested in how you handle a tough question, but also because they’re trying to figure out if you’ll be a good or bad fit for the open position.”

How to Interview Your Next Boss
“During most interviews, there comes a point when the interviewer turns the tables and asks if you have any questions for them. Though this may be intimidating if you’re unprepared, it can also be a great time to stand out from the competition with some well-crafted questions of your own.”

A Guide to Declaring Freedom From Your Job
“We all want to find that perfect job that makes us happy, pays the bills, and offers a lifetime’s worth of job security. Unfortunately, those jobs are often hard to find. Author Seth Godin explains that there is a difference between a “dip” and a “cul-de-sac” when it comes to your job. Dips are really difficult periods of time that are full of opportunity to be the best. Cul-de-sacs, on the other hand, are periods where repeated effort and time only lead you back to the same spot.”

What was your favorite article this year? Share with us in the comments section below!

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

Reader Surveys

Poll Results: What Are Your Job Market Predictions for 2016?

By Job Journey on Friday, December 4, 2015

We recently asked Movin’ On Up readers to reflect on 2015 by sharing their predictions for the job market in the new year. It’s a question we’ve asked for several years in a row, and the results have usually varied.

Four Years of Results
This year, the majority of readers (34%) answered that the market is “good enough to test the waters and see what else is out there for me.” This number closely matches last year’s poll, which revealed that 35% of readers felt good about the job market.

In fact, last year’s results are almost identical to this year’s. Take a look at these results:

“It’s good enough to test the waters.”

2014: 35%
2015: 34%

“Things are going to get worse before they get better.”

2014: 27%
2015: 25%

“I’m definitely getting a job offer or promotion this year.”

2014: 17%
2015: 18%

“I’m staying where I am. I don’t expect things to get better.”

2014: 11%
2015: 11%

This year, 12% of respondents selected the “Other” option and left responses including:

Uncertain
Jobs are moving out of the office and online
No jobs for those aged 50 or above
Get an advanced degree

Do you notice any trends based on these results? Do you think the job market is on its way up? Let us know in the comments section below!

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

Reader Surveys

Poll: How Does Your Company Ensure Great Customer Service?

By Job Journey on Monday, November 30, 2015

Often, 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.

Contests

Congratulations to Our Next Round of Job Jackpot Winners!

By Job Journey on Monday, November 16, 2015

At 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.

Uncategorized

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

By Job Journey on Friday, November 13, 2015

Do 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.