The new year is just two days away! As you prepare for 2017, have you thought about your goals or made a list of what you’d like to accomplish? So that we can better help you reach those goals, we want to know what you’re setting your career sights on in 2017. Share your thoughts by voting in our poll!
Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.
For many, the holiday season means receiving gifts at work. From cash to time off, there are multitudes of ways companies decide to show appreciation to employees. In a recent poll, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how they wish their employers, or future employers, showed appreciation this time of year, and the results are in!
Cash Still Tops the List
According to our poll, the majority of readers (27%) would most appreciate a cash bonus, followed by 16% who would appreciate a day off from work. An additional 15% reported a desire for “employee training and advancement opportunities.”
Tickets to movies or other entertainment events received 13% of the vote, followed by “a flexible parental leave plan or work from home day” with 9%. Additionally, 6% of respondents would most appreciate a massage, and 2% would welcome a rotating trophy of appreciation.
Thankfulness Matters
Again this year, the poll results indicate that employees would greatly appreciate a simple thank-you from the boss. Five percent of readers selected “an employee-wide email noting appreciation for specific employees,” and 3% selected “recognition through social media.” Participants also selected “Other” and responded with their own thoughts, including:
Other submitted answers include:
Comparing Last Year’s Numbers
These results don’t greatly differ from last year’s, which revealed that 29% of respondents would most appreciate a cash bonus, followed by 23% who selected pay raises, and 16% who chose days off.
Likewise, last year’s results also revealed that a simple note of appreciation would speak volumes to the workforce. In fact, we’ve seen a steady rise in the number of readers who value appreciation from their supervisors. In 2014, 31% of readers wrote that they wanted appreciation. In 2015, that number rose to 42%. This year, the number again rose to 50%.
These results reveal that some of the most powerful gifts may be the easiest and least expensive to give.
How do you wish your company showed appreciation? Share with us in the comments section below!
Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.
The year is almost over, which means it’s time to reflect on 2016 and look forward to a new year.
Last year, we asked Movin’ On Up readers what they predict the job market will look like in 2016, and 34% believed the market would be stable enough to try for a new job, followed by 25% who thought the market would get worse before it got better. Readers who were confident they’d get a job offer in 2016 made up 18% of respondents, and 11% planned to stay where they were in their career paths.
This year, we want to know if your expectations have changed. Do you think the job market will grow, remain the same, or plummet? Do you feel the same way as our readers did last year, or did your year affect your outlook on 2017? Let us know by voting in our poll!
Everyone’s career path is different and often filled with unexpected twists and turns. Whether it’s a lay off or voluntary career change, it’s important to evaluate the situation and come up with a game plan for your job search.
In October, we asked our Movin’ On Up readers what job search obstacles they have overcome, and what we found was telling. Not having a network and concern about age took the top spots in our poll at 14% each. A total of 11% of respondents said they have fear/anxiety in a job search, while 10% have faced an outdated resume.
Other results include:
In addition, 5% of readers selected “other” and cited the following reasons:
Make an Action Plan
After you have identified an obstacle or two that is keeping you from getting that next job, make an action plan with realistic and achievable goals. If you struggle with an outdated resume, sit down and work on one section at a time. If you don’t have a reliable form of transportation to get to job interviews, research local organizations to see if any offer assistance to job seekers.
What are some other ways that you can overcome obstacles in your job search? Let us know in the comments below!
Why wait for Employee Appreciation Day or a generic pat on the back with a scripted, unenthusiastic ‘great job’ one-liner? The truth is employees enjoy being appreciated year-round. In fact, those who are recognized for their work feel valued and part of the company.
Some companies have gone above and beyond the norm to recognize and reward their top performers and overall staff. Consequentially, they gain employees who have a personal interest in the success of the company. These companies understand a few basic ideologies concerning employee retention and motivation, and recognize the extra effort that people voluntarily invest in work—simply by saying, thank you.
The Business Daily News recently asked owners for their best tips on how to show appreciation to employees. Their advice ranged from small gifts, group outings, giving employees more responsibility, and allowing their input on company decisions.
Whether a company has displayed gratitude to an individual or the entire staff for exceptional work, we want to know what you’ve personally experienced or witnessed when a company has shown employee appreciation. Let us know by voting in our poll.
How Do You Wish Your Company Showed Appreciation? (Select all that apply.)
Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.
The Results Are In: What’s Holding Your Career Back?
While many people experience setbacks on their career path, every obstacle is different, and we wanted to know what you think is holding your career back.
The Results Are In
The number one thing holding careers back, according to our survey, is the “lack of job availability” with 19% of the vote. The other top answers received almost the same amount of votes, and include:
Additionally, “fear of change” received 10% of the vote, followed by “family commitments” with 9%, and “I don’t feel held back by anything” with 4%.
Is Your Age a Factor?
Readers were also given the option to select “Other” and provide their own answers. Responses include:
Of those who selected the “Other” option, 50% reported that their age is holding their career back.
What else is holding your career back? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.
You’ve reached the crossroads of your career, but there are a few things standing in the way of career mobility. The truth is, most people will at some point encounter roadblocks that get in the way of pursuing career goals. Whether in the workplace or your personal life, these obstacles must first be identified before an action plan can even be developed. Examine your bottom line, whether that is to land a job, increase salary, obtain a better work environment, or work life balance. then write your plan accordingly.
It’s important to stay focused so that obstacles won’t get in the way of your goal.
Whether it’s a complete change in industries, lack of experience, or simply figuring out where to get started in your search, we want to know how you’ve overcome obstacles while job searching.
How have you met some these challenges while job searching? Let us know in the comments section below.
Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.
