Inside Express | Journey

3 Ways Gamers are Revolutionizing the Work Place

By mrsmith on Thursday, June 20, 2013

Some people think that video games are simply child’s play but according to a recent AP-AOL Games poll shows, 40% of American adults play video games, and according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reports nearly 70% are between the ages of 18 and 35. So, it is safe to say many Gen Xers and Millennials in the workplace likely spend their off hours in front of a gaming console or computer.

Video games of the 21st century are expansive and intricate, have a broad spectrum of themes and objectives, and have graphics so realistic that it’s almost a direct reflection of reality. Not only is it entertainment but if you look closely playing them can lead to some beneficial traits for the work place. Here are a few skills that can be gained from picking up a controller.

Leadership
Games often require strategy and teamwork to accomplish objectives or win competitive matches, especially those that pit two teams of six live players against each other. As the other team changes tactics many gamers step up and communicate the change and devise a solution. Or in the instance Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing games (MMORPG) the leader is often established as a leader of a group of players. These individuals direct sometimes more than 150 people to complete quests or battles. Communication, critical thinking, and planning can all be gained from this type of play.

Teamwork
Each leader needs a team that works together effectively. Working together like a well-oiled machine can make or break the outcome of a match or battle. And, since gaming isn’t strictly limited to one region, a player often works with a diverse group of people from other ethnicities and cultures causing them to work through common barriers that global organizations encounter every day. Learning how to play well with others digitally can easily translate to working better with co-workers in the office.

Communication
Gamers are innately physically disconnected from those that they play with. They are separated by miles and are limited usually to verbal communication. Despite this assumed constraint gamers actually excel at effectively communicating through a microphone. Being an adept communicator on the phone and interpersonally can be crucial in the advancement of your career.
These are only a few of the learning opportunities offered to gamers. If you’re a gamer and have learned skills that have allowed you to take command of your career, let us know by commenting below.

Current Affairs Inside Express

Infographic: Job Jumps and Career Changes

By Movin On' Up on Monday, June 10, 2013

The millennial generation was born, raised, and influenced by technology.

Just as quickly as technology changes and evolves, the focus of millennials also changes as new information and opportunities are continually made available to them. And, according to Forbes, they’re the same way in their careers.

Check out this infographic from Notre Dame Online outlining the millennial mindset of the workplace and the nature of their work ethic. This information can help millennials research their next career move before making costly career leaps. And even if you’re not from Generation Y, you can learn how they think and what’s important to them so you can learn to build better working relationships with your millennial co-workers.

Do you agree with the infographic’s depiction of the millennial generation? Let us know in the comment section below.

Inside Express Reader Surveys

What will Resumes of the Future Look Like? Take Our Poll!

By Movin On' Up on Monday, June 3, 2013

A recent article in The Seattle Times suggests that the future of job seeking won’t just be resumes and portfolios, but might include badges too. The nonprofit group Mozilla is leading this emerging trend with the website OpenBadges, which allows job seekers to display and share digital badges that represent skills and qualifications they possess. Major organizations like Disney-Pixar and NASA have already partnered with OpenBadges to create and design custom badges for job seekers to use.

With emerging trends in the job market like OpenBadges, we’d like to know what you think future resumes will look like. Let us know by taking our poll or sounding off with your own ideas about future resumes in the comments section below.

Uncategorized

Tips to Save Money During Your Job Search

By Rachel Rudisill on Friday, May 31, 2013

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, looking for a job can make a tight financial situation even more stressful. Expenses incurred while searching for a job, like printing resumes and getting an interview outfit, may be necessary steps toward a better financial future. To help out your financial budget, make sure you take the time to think through your job search expenses and consider creative solutions to save you money.

Your Resume
Before you purchase a resume template or pay for a resume critique, spend a little time researching online or at the local library for resume writing advice. Make sure to take advantage of resume advice offered from a career center, guidance counselor, or staffing agency recruiter. If you have family members or friends who have experience in hiring, ask them to review your resume. Just because someone you know isn’t in a position to hire you, doesn’t mean they can’t help by critiquing your resume and offering real world advice.

Networking
Treating club or association meetings and conferences as networking opportunities is a good idea, but can be expensive. To help keep the costs down, contact the group directly and ask if first time visits are free, if there are scholarships to attend a meeting, or if they have any free events. Or maybe you can volunteer to work at a conference in exchange for free or reduced admission. Don’t be afraid to ask for special opportunities, almost everyone has looked for a job and can respect the need to be frugal during the process.

Access to Open Positions
Plan your job search wisely. If you’re going to spend time canvassing an area for businesses with help wanted signs or dropping off applications, invest in mapping out your route and making a list of companies in that area. Make the most of your time and gas by applying at every opportunity in one part of town, then move to the next area and repeat the process.

Another less costly alternative would be to apply with a staffing company. Most staffing companies don’t charge anything to job seekers and can be a one-stop way to apply for several jobs. Not only will you save time and gas money from applying all over town, but they’ll also be able to offer advice on your resume and interviewing tips to help you get the job at no charge to you.

Express Employment Professionals offers a free Get a Job ebook that has resume advice and tips for your job search. Download it today as a helpful guide to finding employment.

What are some ways you’ve saved money during your job search? Share them in the comments section below.

At Work Current Affairs

The 10 Most- and Least-Common Jobs in the US

By Jared Cole on Monday, May 20, 2013

Did you know that there are more than 4 million retail sales workers in the U.S.? That’s enough people to populate some of the smaller states in the country. There are also only 310 prosthodontists in the U.S., which is probably smaller than your high school graduating class.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released a survey outlining the most and least common occupations in the U.S. The survey also lists jobs by median wage, public and private sector, and geographic location. If you don’t want to scroll through pages of information, check out the multimedia news site The Atlantic for a quick summary and analysis of the information.

What do you think? Do you know of a job that is scarcer than a cosmetic dental surgeon? Let us know in the comments section below.

The 10 Most-Common (and 10 Least-Common) Jobs in America Today

At Work Current Affairs

What Are the Best and Worst Jobs of 2013? New Survey Shows Surprising Results

By Jared Cole on Friday, May 3, 2013

I remember sitting in journalism school listening to countless professors, guest speakers, and journalists telling me that I’d better love the news, because I’ll be miserable working there. While my concentration wasn’t in news or media, I never understood why working for a newspaper would be that bad. I interned at a magazine and it was rather rewarding.

A new survey by career development website CareerCast has proved me wrong by labeling “newspaper reporter” as the absolute worst job of 2013. If newspaper reporting is the worst kind of job, what’s the best kind of job this year? According to the survey, an actuary, – a professional who assesses financial systems to calculate the impact of risk and uncertainty, is the best job around.

Apparently, writers are out and mathematicians are in for the job market of 2013. Do you agree that the need for workers with math and statistics is on the rise while writers are a dime a dozen? Read the rest of the survey here and let us know in the comments below.

Best and Worst Jobs of 2013

Inside Express Reader Surveys

Did College Prepare You For The Workplace? Take Our Poll!

By Jared Cole on Monday, April 29, 2013

Last year, Woods Bagot – a global architecture and consulting studio released a survey asking whether or not recent college graduates are ready for today’s workplace. Of the more than 500 C-suite executives surveyed, 70% believe fewer than half of the graduates entering their companies have the skills to succeed in entry-level positions.

What do you think? Did college prepare you for a successful career? Do you think completely achieving any higher education or a training program gives you the necessary skills in the modern workplace? Let us know in our survey below.