Poll: How Do You Cope With Workplace Stress?

Stressing about stress? How do you handle it?

Job Seeking and Career Advice PollFor most people, work is going to be stressful from time to time. Looming deadlines, angry clients, uncooperative co-workers — the list goes on and on. And stress has a huge list of associated health problems. Mayo Clinic notes stress can cause headaches, muscle tension, chest pain, fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, irritability, and a host of other issues.

Prolonged stress can affect your work ethic and even your home life, which makes it all the more important for each of us to find a way to overcome it. Some people exercise, others throw themselves into side projects or fun hobbies, and others meditate or listen to calming music.

How do you deal with stress? Let us know by voting in our poll!

 

Portraits of Hope: Administrative Professional Helen Simmons

Helen HeadshotsWith Administrative Professionals’ Day taking place on April 26, we thought it would be appropriate to spotlight one of our own incredibly talented associates. Meet Helen Simmons — a truly exceptional administrative professional.  In fact, Express selected her as the Administrative Employee of the Year in 2012 due to her various talents, flexibility, and strong work ethic.

Helen began working for Express Employment Professionals in 2010 after the economic downturn forced her to close the custom painting business she and her daughter owned in Skagit County, Washington.

Sadly, she eventually lost her home, as well as her business. Desperate for work, Helen remembers calling Express when she realized she had to do something just to cover her basic living expenses.

“They called me back right away and within a few days found me a job,” she said. “I went to work for Express, and I haven’t looked back. Of course, I hope to find that one dream job, but in the meantime, I like the challenge of taking on different positions.”

Some of the other jobs Helen has held include working at a local firehouse as a receptionist and administrative assistant, organizing a dinner and auction which raised $150,000 for a local nonprofit organization, and working for an interior design firm.

What is Helen’s favorite part about being an administrative professional? The people. As Helen says,  “I am a relationship person and so one of the things I enjoy most is getting to meet new people.”

Interested in reading more about Helen and our other incredible associates? Check out Portraits of Hope online.

Portraits of Hope is a book inspired by and dedicated to jobseekers, the hard working, and the individuals who believe that every job, no matter how big or small, is an opportunity to rise above and be more.

 

Strengths of Administrative Professionals

Administrative Professionals Day honors the skills needed to truly excel in the position.

Administrative-Professionals-Day_v21Businesses couldn’t exist without administrative professionals. These are the men and women who run the ship. They do so much more than schedule meetings and answer phone calls. They are often the first person to greet clients or prospects and given that they spend so much time interacting with the public, they need to know everything about the company, from history and departments to statistics, personnel, and more. That’s true dedication.

So what makes for a truly skilled administrative professional?

1.       Communication Skills

Above all else, an administrative professional needs to be able to communicate. As the first point of contact for the office or department, they act as the gatekeeper. A talented administrative professional has an open personality reflective of the company’s own culture and values. He or she communicates with a wide variety of individuals of varying backgrounds, from unsatisfied customers to CEOs. An administrative professional also knows how to communicate across numerous channels, from telephone to in-person to email.

2.       Patience

Administrative professionals must communicate with the executive suite daily to achieve the goals of their department. This can be quite difficult, given the busy schedules of executives, so patience is a must. Administrative professionals must be kings and queens of managing personalities and working through (and sometimes around) problems.

3.       Organizational Expertise

They are able to manage not only their own schedules, but also those of pretty much everyone else. As gatekeepers, they keep track of everyone who enters or leaves the department or office. They meticulously sort through and organize electronic documents and emails. Disorganization is not acceptable on any level. Multitasking skills are a necessity — no two days are ever the same. All of this work requires an incredibly organized mind, given that an administrative professional may be called upon to locate a person or document at a moment’s notice.

4.       Professionalism

Administrative professionals are expected to dress in line with the company’s public image. But professionalism is about more than just dress. It’s also about conduct. They are frequently the first point of contact for vendors and customers. As such, any time spent staring at a phone or surfing the web reflects poorly on the business as a whole.

5.       Technology Know-how

In today’s world, technology skills are essential for strong administrative professionals. At the very least, they should be proficient in the main Microsoft Office Suite programs (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint). The more they know about other programs, such as social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter), the better.

Looking for Your Next Administrative Opportunity?

We’re here to help. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, Express Employment Professionals is a leading staffing provider in the U.S. and Canada. We employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. If you have any questions about the job search, contact your local Express office or create an Express account to apply for jobs online.

 

Looking to become an administrative professional? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

 

 

 

How to Keep the Job Search Interesting

Our top three tips to boost your job search productivity

holiday_job_find_webThe clock just struck midnight. You only applied to three jobs, and you weren’t really interested in any of them. You just wanted to have something to show for the three hours you spent staring at your computer screen. As your head hits your pillow, you dream of an easier job search tomorrow.

Sound familiar? Your job search can be a full-time job in and of itself. You have to sort through job listings, aggregate job search websites, company websites, career email blasts, and more. The hurdles can seem endless. And even after you parse through a day’s worth of information, there’s no guarantee that any of those jobs were actually right for you.

We know it can be easy to get discouraged, so we’ve prepared our top three tips for keeping the job search interesting.

1. Make Lists

When you’re feeling down and starting to lose heart in your job search, make lists. Write out the pros and cons of your current situation. Be honest with yourself about what you want to change. Decide on a goal. Jot down a few of your dream companies to work for. What type of work environment do you enjoy? Do you have a favorite managerial style? Your job search is much easier when you have a concrete idea of what you want to accomplish. A goal helps to keep you motivated.

2. Talk to Friends

Sometimes it can feel like you’re the only one out there struggling with your job search. Try talking to some of your friends about it. Blowing off steam with other people in the same situation can help you work through your job search anxiety. Share any motivational quotes you love. You can also make each other accountable. Set deadlines together and celebrate job search milestones like 10 jobs applied.

3. Consider a Recruiting Service

At the very least, a recruiter can provide insight into your unique skillset and resume. Recruiters know exactly what local businesses are looking for in new hires. So all you have to do is let your recruiter know your preferred company culture and managerial style, make any changes they recommend to your resume, and wait for them to do the rest. And while they’re searching on their end, you’re still free to job search on your own. Which means you get two times the job search power at no extra cost. Consider temp positions or temp to hire positions. You might even find a job you love!

If you’re looking to expand your job search, Express Employment Professionals is a leading staffing provider in the U.S. and Canada. We employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. If you have any questions about your job search, contact your local Express office or fill out our online contact form.

Have any questions about staying motivated during the job search? Let us know in the comments below!

Top 3 Things to Consider When Choosing an Insurance Plan

Choosing your insurance provider while unemployed can turn into a full-time job.

Hand Writing Insurance Crossword ConceptChoosing an insurance plan isn’t easy. Especially if you’re unemployed. The options can seem endless, particularly when you don’t know where to start. Start off with figuring out how the Health Insurance Marketplace works. But what else do you need to know before you choose an insurance plan?  Here are our top three questions to ask that will make your search easier.

1. Will it satisfy the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act?

The individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) states that if you don’t have ‘qualifying’ insurance for nine months out of the year prior to enrolling in insurance, but are classified as being able to afford it, you have to pay a penalty because you were uninsured after the ACA’s rollout. This fee will be applicable for any month you, your spouse, or any dependents did not have ‘qualifying’ health coverage. As noted on the HealthCare.gov website, the amount of the fee will be either 2.5% of your household income (capped at the total yearly premium for the national average price of a Bronze plan purchased on the ACA marketplace), or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child under 18 (capped at $2,085). You will pay whichever amount is higher.

So what types of health coverage don’t qualify for the individual mandate? They include: having coverage for only vision care and/or dental, workers’ compensation, coverage for only a specific disease or condition, and plans that only offer discounts on medical services.

Compare your options at the ACA marketplace for your state by inputting your zip code at HealthCare.gov. If your state doesn’t have a state marketplace, you will be redirected to the Federal marketplace.

 2. Can I afford a higher deductible?

Next, you should ask yourself what type of deductible you can afford. If you choose a higher deductible, you will have to pay more before insurance kicks in, but your monthly insurance premium cost should be lower. Choosing a low deductible means your premium will generally be higher. It’s the same as car insurance — if you can afford a higher deductible, you could save money. If you choose to enroll in a health maintenance organization (HMO), you usually won’t have to pay any deductibles or copays so long as you stay in network. However, these benefits come with reduced freedom in choosing your doctor.

 3. Will I be moving soon?

Before you choose a plan, make sure that you aren’t going to move any time soon. If you enroll in a health insurance plan from the ACA marketplace and then move to a new state, you’ll need to switch to a plan offered by the new state. Moving to higher income areas may also result in having to re-enroll. Moving is categorized as a qualifying life event, meaning that you can sign up for new insurance right away. That means getting to do all of the paperwork over again.

Have any more insurance questions? Let us know in the comments below!

Poll Results: What’s Your Workplace Superpower

Faster than a speeding copier? More powerful than an industrial strength forklift?  Able to leap heaps of paperwork in a single bound?

achieverAlthough generally peaceful, the workplace can sometimes be a scary place, with looming deadlines, frustrated clients, and surprise project attacks lurking behind every corner. Your to-do list can seem overwhelming. Who could possibly save us from these sundry evils of working life? Our incredible Movin’ On Up readers, of course!  At the end of February we asked you what your workplace superpowers were. Here’s how you responded:

Daringly Dependable flew into first with 27.72% of the vote, with Heroically Hardworking teleporting in second at 24.75%, and Multitask Mastermind speeding past in third with 21.78%.

Commander of Communication was zapped at 8.91%, while Organization Overlord and Killer Conversationalist met their match at 6.93%.

Other responses included Flexible Gap Filler and Eagle Eye. One dastardly villain thought to respond with Sleeping on the Job — most certainly a foe disguised as a faithful reader.

Even with all of these incredible superpowers, there are still going to be days where it’s tough to be a crusader of office justice. But when you’re lost and feeling down, remember that you’re part of a team. And teamwork is the most powerful superpower of all.

Any more workplace superpowers you want us to know about? Let us know in the comments below!

Movin’ On Up Turns 10: Top 10 Posts of All Time

10 years of advice, surveys, and blog posts. Here are our top 10

MOU10YRMovin’ On Up recently observed its its decennial celebration, and we wouldn’t have made it to this point without all of you. Your comments and survey responses helped take this blog from its humble beginnings to where we are now. To celebrate our 10-year anniversary, here are our top 10 posts of all time!

1. 30 Power Words to Power Up Your Resume And Boost Your Job Search

Without powerful words, a resume is just a piece of paper. In this blog post, we highlight words that can supercharge a resume. Want to show off your work ethic? Tell prospective employers about instances of consistent behavior and reliable, results-driven service. Trying to shine as a positive thinker? Let everyone know about how you collaborated with team members in order to achieve an innovative outcome.

2. 5 Surprising Things Not to Say in an Interview

Interviews are tough. Applicants never really know what to expect from their interviewers, so prep time usually consists of trying to come up with answers to every possible question. But it’s equally important to zero in on what not to ask. This post centers on what interview topics applicants should avoid.

3.  Lucky Words for Your Resume

Now that your resume is powered up with quality words that emphasize professional strengths, you’re ready to sprinkle in a few action words that show off previous responsibilities. How about when you coached new hires or negotiated lower rates? Did you schedule executive phone calls or operate complicated machinery? Let interviewers know!

4.  7 Must-Dos Before a Job Interview

Interview prep can be daunting. There are numerous subjects to cover, and only a few days to get ready. Should you focus more on the company’s history or your own history? What kind of questions should be asked? Luckily we’re here to help with our top seven tips for preparing for your next interview.

5.  Complain About a Co-worker Without Being a Tattletale

We all know that co-worker. Maybe it’s Sheryl the lunch thief or lazy Damien in the corner cubicle. Perhaps their workspace resembles a garbage dump or they never show up to their shift on time. It might be tempting to report these co-workers to a manager, but nobody wants to cause a scene. So here are a few ways to solve co-worker drama on the sly.

6.  Dial Me This: Questions to Ask in a Phone Interview

In-person interviews are hard enough, but at least applicants can gauge how they’re doing by looking at their interviewer’s face. Phone interviews don’t provide that luxury. This post should help you figure out which questions to ask.

7.  Creating an Organic Resume

A resume filled to the brim with information isn’t necessarily a good resume. Every word on the page matters. Otherwise it’s just unnecessary fluff. Hiring managers spend about six seconds looking at a resume, and it’s your job as an applicant to make each of those seconds count.

 8.  Stand Your Ground Against Workplace Bullying

When we were children they stole our candy, in high school they spread rude rumors about us, and now they’re doing their best to make work life difficult. Regardless of where you work or what you do, bullies will probably be part of the equation.

9.  5 Resume Resolutions to Keep in 2014

Think back to your New Year’s resolutions. Hopefully you succeeded with any resume improvements you pledged to make. A well-done resume is your first chance to shine in front of a potential employer. So make sure to keep everything up-to-date and organized.

10.  3 Things That Could Hold Your Career Back

Unhappy with your job? Not sure why you never seem to get that second interview? Career roadblocks could be the cause. Perhaps your skills could use a polish, or maybe it’s time to stop dreaming and start planning.

Express Employment Professionals

Regardless of whether you’re a new reader of our blog or an old friend, we’re here to help. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, Express Employment Professionals is a leading staffing provider in the U.S. and Canada. We employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. If you have any questions about the job search, feel free to contact your local Express office or create an Express account to apply for jobs online.

Do you have a favorite Movin’ On Up blog post? Let us know in the comments below.