Journey

Job Lessons From 2016’s Biggest Stories

By Job Journey on Monday, December 5, 2016

As 2016 winds to a close, we reflect back on the biggest news stories of the year. This year brought not only the most unique presidential race and election, but also the sad farewell to many loved celebrities, the emergence of the Zika virus, the wild Olympics in Rio, and more.

What do these major news stories have to do with your job or employment search? Perhaps more than you realize. We’ve taken the top job lessons from 2016’s biggest news stories and broken them down into tips you can apply every day.

1. Presidential Race and Election
America sat on the edge of its seat as the race for president heated up between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. Although Trump was elected president, many in the media and the nation didn’t think he had a chance … at first.

Are you underestimated in your job right now? Do you keep getting passed over for promotions or large projects because people do not think you have what it takes? Take a lesson from this year’s election by focusing on your strengths and letting those strengths be known. You can start by sharing any victories you accomplished this year. Create a detailed report stating what you have done to improve the company’s bottom line or operations.

Be assertive and speak up in meetings. If you have an idea, present it in a strong and confident manner. Do not be afraid to defend yourself if other co-workers attack or put you down. Don’t let being the underdog or the forgotten employee keep you from rising to the top.

2. Zika Virus Emerges
In 2016, a scary, little-known virus made headlines, spreading panic throughout the southern United States and South America. Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected mosquito and can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects. No vaccine or medicine is available for Zika.

What employees can learn from this story is to always be prepared for the worst and take precautions to avoid risk. Every day, workers can find ways to anticipate work-related issues and take steps now to prevent those issues. Just like wearing bug spray and long sleeves can reduce the risk of mosquito bites, putting strategies in place to stave away problems in your job can be invaluable to your career health.

What are the biggest risks you face? What is the one problem your job solves? Make a list of what you can do now to prevent any disasters or illness from infecting your job security.

3. Rio Olympic Games
Some of the most inspiring headlines of the year were stories about Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. She captivated the world with her gold-medal performances and big smile at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero. As explained in this Time magazine profile, Biles had to overcome some serious life challenges to get where she is today. Neither of her parents were able to raise her due to drug addiction and she spent some time in foster care before being adopted by her grandparents.

You may feel that life dealt you a bad hand, but that doesn’t limit where you can go with your career. Work hard. Stay positive. Make the most of your natural abilities. And like Simone, you too can excel.

4. Practice honesty, integrity, and transparency
One of the other major headliners to come out of the 2016 Olympics was the controversy over swimmer Ryan Lochte. The twelve-time medalist tarnished his reputation by behaving badly in a Rio gas station. Then, he fabricated a story to cover his actions, as detailed in this USA Today news article.

The valuable takeaway? Everyone makes mistakes—even when you’re at the top of your game. Owning up to them may be difficult, but employers value honesty and transparency.

5. Historic World Series
It’s been more than 100 years since the Chicago Cubs had a World Series. The story has it that the Cub’s losing “curse” began in 1945 when a local tavern owner and his goat (yes, he bought a ticket for it) were ejected from a ball game during a bid for the World Series.

Despite setting a record for the longest World Series drought in baseball, the Chicago Cubs players and their devoted fans persevered. In 2016, the team captured international attention as it won the pennant, then the World Series.

If you’ve been waiting for a well-deserved promotion or just hoping your boss will notice how much you contribute, don’t give up. Persevere. Like the Cubs, continue to do your best until you hit it out of the ballpark.

6. Celebrity Deaths
In 2016, we said goodbye to numerous beloved celebrities, including musicians David Bowie, Prince, Leon Russell, and Natalie Cole, as well as stars Alan Rickman, Muhammad Ali, and Merle Haggard, to name a few.

Job lessons learned from this are that change and loss are inevitable. You may lose your job, suffer setbacks, and lose co-workers or say goodbye to a favorite job task. How you react to these changes is important to surviving the loss and fear of the unknown. Be open to change. Be willing to learn new tasks in order to stay relevant.

Learn to let go of the past and embrace an exciting new future. If nothing changes, then your job, your career, and your motivation become stagnant. So while change may be painful at first, it can also lead to bigger and better things if you allow it to.

What do you think were the biggest stories of 2016? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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

Reader Surveys

The Results Are In: How Do You Wish Your Company Showed Appreciation?

By Job Journey on Friday, December 2, 2016

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:

“A personal, genuine ‘thank you’ from my boss and his boss”
“Acknowledgement of effort”
“Direct compliments”
“Just a simple card of thanks from a supervisor”

Poll: What Are Your Job Market Predictions for 2017?

By Job Journey on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

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!

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

Safety

Stay Safe This Holiday Season

By Job Journey on Monday, November 28, 2016

I Beat the Winter Blues t’s the most wonderful time of the year—unless your holiday is disrupted by a trip to the hospital, a visit from the fire department, or a case of the blues that steals the joy of the season.

How do you keep your holidays as safe as they are festive? Here are five tips to keep in mind.

Talking Turkey
You may be trying out a brand new recipe, roasting your first big turkey, or just so caught up in fun and conversation that you can’t remember how long the roast beast has been sitting out.

To keep food poisoning off your guest list, try these tips from the Food and Drug Administration. In addition, stuffing is a common culprit of food-borne illness, so pay special attention to its temperature, and don’t ever stuff a turkey the night before roasting.

Deep frying a turkey includes different hazards, including fryer related fires, burns, explosions, and even carbon monoxide poisoning. Use these safety tips from the National Safety Council to stay safe.

(Don’t) Keep the Home Fires Burning
According to the National Fire Protection Association, holiday decorations cause 860 home fires each year, and Christmas trees trigger another 210 blazes. Untended candles and fireplaces also increase the risk that your holiday will go up in smoke.

Following these tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International can help your holidays stay delightful, not frightful.

To Grandmother’s House We (Carefully) Go
Today’s parents are experts at child proofing their own homes, but holiday travel takes babies and children into new environments where toilet seat locks and safety latches are not part of the floor plan.

Even the most child-proofed grandparent’s home may pose a real potential safety risk: poisoning. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, grandparents’ medicines are among the most dangerous causes of childhood poisoning.

If you’re traveling with kids or hosting them, these tips from Poisoning.org can be a big help.

Home for the Holidays
In 2015, more than 100 million travelers hit the road for the holidays, according to AAA, and that number is only expected to increase this year. Here are three tips to remember if you will be driving to join in the season’s festivities:

Try traveling a bit earlier or later than the typical holiday travel days. Traveling on the holiday typically means less traffic overall.
As you eat, drink, and be merry, make sure you are not impaired before you head out in your car. If needed, call a cab or app-driven ride service.
Avoid distractions, such as texting while driving. The government reports that distracted driving results in hundreds of thousands of injuries per year, as well as thousands of fatalities.

Traveling overseas? Check the alerts and warnings advisory put out by the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Canada.

Not Every Spirit is Bright
Despite the joy of the season, many people experience depression or “the blues.” And for Millennials, holiday gatherings can also bring a different kind of stress.

An article in Fortune reports that 70% of this generation experiences social anxiety around the holidays. Some tips for navigating these stressors:

Choose gatherings where you feel the highest comfort level.
Don’t feel pressure to attend too many parties. A little quiet time can help you stay rested and refreshed.
Seek counseling if your holiday social anxiety or depression escalates from discomfort to a serious issue that interferes with your ability to enjoy life. This list of emergency hotlines is good to keep on hand if you, a friend, or family member needs help.

Above all, remember that no holiday is ever perfect. Don’t get stressed out trying to do too much in too little time. You’ll enjoy friends and family more if you’re relaxed and rested.

What are you doing to stay safe this holiday season? Let us know in the comments section below!

Inside Express

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, Thank You Express Associates

By Job Journey on Wednesday, November 23, 2016

COM15_Thanksgiving_SM_1200X900 At Express Employment Professionals, we are in the business of putting people to work and providing hope that comes with a job well done. As we enter the holiday season, we have so many things to be thankful for. Here are some specific things that you, our associates, inspire our gratitude:

We are thankful for the half million Express associates who work for us and help our client companies fulfill their production and staffing needs.
We are thankful for our associates who are committed to enhancing the communities where they work and live. Through you, Express is making a real difference locally, and will continue to do so in the future.
We are thankful you chose Express as your staffing company. We are so proud as a company to have such dedicated people representing Express across North America.

Take time this Thanksgiving to make memories that last a lifetime. We hope you enjoy the holiday, knowing that we are thankful for you every day.

Thank you, for being a valued Express associate.

CEO and Chairman of the Board Bob Funk
President and Vice Chairman Bill Stoller

Teamwork

Try these Teamwork Games at Your Holiday Party

By Job Journey on Monday, November 21, 2016

The holidays are upon us, complete with office treats and parties. This time of year is also a great opportunity to build camaraderie with your co-workers, as well as build unity, strengthen morale, and decrease stress in the office.

Our friends at RefreshLeadership.com put together a list of four teamwork games to play at your next company holiday party, so take a look and tell us which one is your favorite in the comments below!

Office Celebrity
The game Celebrity is great for parties, but this play off of this classic is bound to break any barriers between coworkers and lead to knowing one another better. When workers know more about each other, they tend to work better together!

Break your office into two teams.
Write everyone’s name on separate pieces of paper and place them in a bowl.
Round One: The first team has one member get up and pull a name from the bowl. He or she tries to get their team to guess which worker it is by giving characteristics of that person. After the team guesses it, another name is chosen and so on until a minute has passed. After one minute, the second team picks one member to try and get their team to guess as many names as possible during a minute. This goes on, switching teams and rotating players until all of the names have been guessed. Replace all names back into the bowl. Keep a tally of how many names each team correctly guessed.
Round Two: Same as round one, but each moderator can only use ONE word to describe each name drawn.
Round Three: Same as the previous rounds, but each moderator can’t use words to describe drawn names, but instead must act them out. The team with the most correct names tallied after three rounds wins!

Two Truths, One Lie
Another great way to see how well everyone knows each other is by playing Two Truths, One Lie. This is a fun game that will help team members find out more about one another.

Have your team members bring chairs and sit in a circle.
Tell each person to think of two truths about themselves and one lie.
Have a starting person tell the three stories. It’s best to have the truths be something about them that no one else would know.
After the person says the two truths and lie to the group, have the rest of the team discuss and try and come to a consensus on which story is the lie.
Have the person reveal which is the lie, and then have the next person go.

Trivia
Trivia is one of the most simple to set up and most enjoyable. From history to current events to business questions, engaging in a simple game of trivia will sharpen minds and encourage teamwork and office competition.

Split your employees into teams of three to six people.
Choose three rounds of topics (i.e., World History, Art and Music, Movies, etc.).
Ask five questions involving the first topic. After each question, have a member of each team silently write down an answer on a piece of paper with their team name and turn it in to the trivia moderator.
After each round, give the answers to questions so the teams can keep a tally of how they’re doing.
After three rounds, the team with the most right answers wins. (You may need to have a “lightning round” for a tie breaker.)

Office Scavenger Hunt
One great way to loosen up a stiff work day is to have an office-wide scavenger hunt! Although you could just have a simple search-and-find checklist, this is a great opportunity to engage workers by simple problem solving.

Create an in-depth series of clues with each clue leading to a different one. (This works best in riddles, like “The best way to cure a case of Monday morning tiredness to get you ready for the day.” And then hide the next clue by your office coffee maker.)
Break your office into three to five teams, giving each one the first clue.
Set a time frame for the office to complete the scavenger hunt.
As each team finds the next clue by figuring out where the previous clue was directing them, encourage teams to involve each person during the problem solving process.

This is a competition after all, so offer a prize for the first team that finishes the hunt.

What teamwork games do you play at your holiday parties? Let us know in the comments section below!

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

Career Options

New Survey Reveals Who’s Hiring

By Job Journey on Friday, November 18, 2016

12-9 Grads While shipping giants and retailers have been ramping up their holiday hiring, a survey of 282 businesses indicates the current employment market is trending up. Not only are there job options to get through the wintry months, employers anticipate hiring full time in the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter Hiring Trends
Express Employment Professionals surveyed 282 businesses about their fourth quarter hiring trends. Thirty-four percent of businesses indicated they plan to hire in the industrial sector, followed by 25% who plan to hire for skilled labor positions. Additionally, 16% of hiring managers surveyed indicated they plan on hiring for administrative and office clerical positions.

When asked if any of the new hires will come from newly created positions, employers indicated that 43% of the administrative and office clerical positions will be new jobs. Thirty-eight percent of the skilled labor positions will be newly created, while 36% of employers surveyed anticipate creating new general labor positions.

“If you’re looking for a job right now, it appears to be a good time to be looking in the industrial sector, be it general labor or skilled labor positions,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express, and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. “These are encouraging results for the fourth quarter.”

The survey of 282 businesses, which are current and former clients of Express Employment Professionals, was conducted in the third quarter of 2016.

Job Hunting Tips
We reached back into our vault of valuable Movin’ On Up articles concerning job hunting tips. Here are some great articles to help you get through the job search, whether it is for a holiday job or full-time job.

Have you recently landed a full-time or holiday job? Let us know in the comments section how you successfully navigated your job search.

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