4 Tips for Finding Seasonal Work This Year

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The holiday gift-buying rush is upon us, and with it comes a perfect opportunity to find a seasonal job to bring in a little extra money.

Consumers spent more than $626.1 billion dollars during the winter holidays in 2015-2016, according to the National Retail Foundation, continuing an upward trend since 2008. In 2014, employers hired more than 700,000 employees to help offset the holiday rush, creating an almost 6% increase in employment during that time.

So what’s the best way to go about searching for a seasonal job? Follow the four tips below to get a jump start on your competition.

Look in the Right Places

Large retailers, such as Walmart and Target, offer the best opportunities for seasonal workers because of the variety of products they offer. But don’t neglect other niches outside of retail. Shipping companies also experience a large increase in volume during the holidays, allowing for several contract positions.

Beat the Competition

Start pounding the pavement now to look for that seasonal job. Companies are already planning for holiday hiring, and it pays to get on their radar early. You might also consider using a staffing company, such as Express Employment Professionals, as they often work with client companies that hire extra holiday help.

Be Prepared

When shopping around for jobs, be prepared to interview or fill out an application on the spot. Bring a pen, copies of your resume, proof of citizenship, and contact information for your professional references. Don’t forget to block off plenty of time to talk with a supervisor if you get the chance.

Be Flexible

Seasonal workers must be flexible to accommodate for extended store hours, and you don’t want to knock yourself out of the game by demanding a specific schedule.

Do you plan to look for seasonal work this holiday season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Role of Staffing Agencies In Your Career Path

This week was National Staffing Employee Week in the United States, and Express is proud to work with so many outstanding associates every week.

If you’re a temporary or contract employee, you probably already know the many benefits of temporary work, including flexibility and the opportunity to try out different job fields. To further shed light on these benefits, we’ve compiled six Movin’ On Up articles that highlight the role of staffing agencies in your career path.

Thank you to our Express associates for your hard work and dedication.

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

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Should You Always Accept a Job Offer? [Infographic]

Getting a job offer is exciting, especially if you’ve been job searching for a long time. But, is it always a good idea to accept the offer? There are a number of signs that may help you decipher a good work environment from one you don’t want to get stuck in, and recognizing those signs before you accept a job offer can save you stress, money, and, maybe, another job search.

Check out this infographic for helpful tips on recognizing the good and bad factors of an interview.

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

Happy National Staffing Employee Week

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National Staffing Employee Week is Sept. 19-23 in the United States, and we want to show our appreciation for the men and women who make up the temporary and contract workforce, and especially those who work for Express every year.

About the Staffing Industry
If you’re a temporary or contract worker, you’re not alone. In fact, according to the American Staffing Association (ASA), more than 3 million temporary and contract employees work for staffing companies each week in the United States. And during the course of a year, 16 million temporary and contract employees are put to work.

Seventy-six percent of those employees work full time, and half say it’s a way to get a permanent job. Nine out of 10 employees say staffing work has made them more employable, and 35% have been offered a permanent job by a client they worked with on a temporary or contract assignment. Of those, 66% accepted the offers.

According to ASA, the average wage for temporary and contract workers is $17 per hour, and occupations are available in all sectors, including:

  • Industrial—37%
  • Office/Clerical—28%
  • Professional/Managerial—13%
  • Engineering/Information Technology—13%
  • Health Care—9%

Studies by ASA also reveal that nine out of 10 staffing employees say they are satisfied with their staffing company.

Celebrate Your Involvement
Whether you’re employed by a staffing firm or are considering pursuing a new career path, use this week to celebrate the part you play in building a stronger economy and furthering your career. Express Employment Professionals salutes you, your hard work, and your dedication.

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

Your Attitude Could be Costing You the Job

Attitude against bright blue sky with cloudYou have the skills, the experience, and the willingness to tackle a new job, but despite having the qualifications, you find yourself coming up short when it comes to job offers. One thing that might be costing you the job could be your attitude. Attitude plays a large role in determining how your co-workers, boss, or future employer views you.

Top Articles on Attitude

We searched our Movin’ On Up archives and compiled a helpful list of articles pertaining to attitude that will help you see things from a different perspective:

Dependability Also A Top Trait

When it comes to finding a job, there are a lot of factors that make or break your chances. In addition to attitude, employers rank dependability and work ethic as top traits they like to see in employees.

According to a survey by Express Employment Professionals, for the third year in a row, 72% of employers indicated dependability/reliability was at the top of their list of traits, followed by motivation (48%), verbal communication (44%), teamwork (39%) and commitment (39%).

When you combine a good attitude and demonstrate dependability, you will likely be that much closer to your next job offer.

How have you been able to present a positive attitude at work or in interviews? Let us know in the comments section below.

Clean Up Your Fall Wardrobe

stk325045rknAs the summer heat fades away and the chill of fall fills the air, you’ve likely already started adjusting your wardrobe to match the weather. While it’s necessary to change up your clothing choices for different seasons, it’s important to first take stock of what you have, reorganize, and have a plan for cooler days.

If you’re a college student in your final year of school, fall is also a great time to start building a professional wardrobe before entering the professional job search.

Regardless of whether you’re just starting out or well into your working years, here are a few tips to help you clean up your fall wardrobe and make a strong impression in the workplace.

Store, donate, or toss.
With summer in the rear view mirror, it’s time to take stock of which warm-weather pieces can transition appropriately into fall. Store things like short-sleeved items and lighter jackets, and bring out heavier jackets, long-sleeved blouses or shirts, scarves, etc. For those still in school, this is a great time to shop after-season sales. Look for work-appropriate summer attire at discounted rates. Shopping a season “behind” can help you build your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Assess options.
Think about where you were last year during this season. Are your wardrobe staples still appropriate in your current position? Over the course of changing seasons, perhaps you, too, have transformed professionally. Fall is a great time to re-evaluate your wardrobe and make appropriate changes to better fit your current role or company culture.

Make a shopping list and budget.
Which pieces do you need for this new season? How much are you willing to spend? One of the best ways to build a solid collection of work clothes—regardless of season—is to save a set amount of money each month solely for wardrobe purchases. On your shopping list, make sure you include versatile basics that can go with multiple other pieces.

If you’re a college student, think strategically about what you want to buy. If you can only afford one or two items, start with key items like dress pants, pencil skirts, practical shoes, etc. Again, versatile pieces that can be paired with various other items can allow you to build a great foundation for your fall wardrobe.

What other tips do you have for cleaning up your fall wardrobe? Let us know in the comments section below.

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

Five Tips for Your Career Future

habits_better_leader_webIn his 2010 New York Times Bestseller, “Linchpin,” Seth Godin proposes that the future of work will look dramatically different. He uses the term linchpin to describe the type of workers who will be needed and thrive as the workforce and businesses adjust to new technologies and trends.

“Linchpins are the essential building blocks of tomorrow’s high-value organizations. They don’t bring capital or expensive machinery, nor do they blindly follow instructions and merely contribute labor,” Godin says. “Linchpins are indispensable, the driving force of our future.”

With that in mind, it’s important that every worker consider the goals they want for their career.

Think About What You Want

As you sit down and begin to think about your future, what is the first thought that comes to mind? Is it owning your own business or becoming a leader in the company where you work right now? Maybe it involves making a hobby your full-time job.

All of these are great starting points for picking out the place you want to be, and taking the steps to get there. Don’t let questions about how you’ll get there enter your thought process just yet. Think big and audaciously right now, then you can move on to the next step.

Research

Now that you have an idea for where you want to be in your career, it’s time to do your due diligence and research what it will take for you to reach your goal.

If the future you see for your career involves a leadership role, find out the steps you need to take to make yourself a candidate for that position. Are there projects or tasks that you can take the lead on right now that will demonstrate your ability to lead? Spend time reading leadership books from authors like John Maxwell, Ken Blanchard, and the previously mentioned Seth Godin.

Research will be the solid foundation upon which you build the career you envision for yourself.

Ask Around

While in your research phase, it’s important to spend time talking with friends, mentors, and anyone else you think can offer insight and advice as you work toward your future goal. Ask them to be honest about the struggles you may face so you will be prepared to take the next steps.

If your future career is going to take you into business ownership or a new industry, seek out people who have experience as an entrepreneur or who are currently in the field where you want to work. Their value to your success is beyond measure, so be patient with their schedules, but persistent and learn what they have to share.

Keep Learning

You’ve done the research and spent time with people who can offer wisdom and insight into the career future you want to achieve, now it’s time to keep learning. The saying “knowledge is power” is absolutely true, so now is not the time to stop learning everything you can to set yourself up for success.

This could involve more reading and discussions with experts, but it could also mean more education like taking classes or earning certifications.

If you’re thinking about transitioning into a new industry or advancing in your current profession, then courses and certifications are a great resource. Plus, many can be done completely online and at a relatively low cost.

The website Coursera.org offers online classes from top universities in a variety of topics, from business to computer science to learning a new language. Maybe you’d like to learn about coding, a skill that is becoming more and more valuable as businesses look for people with advanced computer skills. Sites like CodeAcademy, Udemy and Code Avengers offer free classes to learn how to code and build websites and apps.

Take the Step

Something you may not realize when you get to this point in the process is that you’ve already taken several steps in the right direction.

You may feel nervous or anxious about fully committing to the future you see for your career, but if you follow these steps, you’ll be 80% of the way complete. You’ve identified your goal, done your research, reached out to those who have the knowledge and insight you need, and continued or began learning the skills to be successful.

The next step is to fully commit to your future, to believe you have what it takes to achieve your goal.

What other tips would you offer to someone who’s thinking about their career’s future? Share them in the comments section below.