Tag Archives: poll results

Poll Results: What’s the Worst Food Your Co-Workers Bring for Lunch?

Spoiler alert: microwaved fish isn’t a favorite.

Last month, we held a poll asking all of you, “What’s the worst food your co-workers bring for lunch?” It was one of the most popular polls we’ve ever held.

Why? Bad smells are bad. Bad for our minds and bad for our noses. A fiendishly fishy aroma or the undesired scent of an undercooked egg can ruin a workday. It’s distracting! But we can’t always blame the person that brought the smell in—frequently, they don’t even know how their food affects the rest of the office. But when you share this blog, they can! Here are the results:

“Fish of Any Kind” took the top spot, earning over 50% of the vote. So stay away from salmon, tuna, flounder, catfish, and anything else with fins. “Other” came in second with 9% of the vote. The biggest alternate answer? Broccoli, especially if it’s steamed.

“Eggs” was next with 8%, and “Raw Onions” followed at 6%.  “Reheated Chinese,” “Kimchi,” “Popcorn,” and “Fast Food” squared off at around 5%. Everything else ranked 2% or lower.

So play it safe and don’t bring any of those high-ranking items to your workplace!

Any other lunch smells that bother you? Let us know about them in the comments below!

 

Poll Results: What’s Your Favorite Way to Volunteer?

Volunteering is a great way to network. You’re helping the community and your career, all while meeting people from various walks of life.

What are the best ways to volunteer? We asked our Movin’ On Up readers to share their favorite ways to volunteer last month to find out.

Results

 

Twenty-two percent of respondents chose “Other,” while 19% selected “With Your church or Faith Group.” “With a Service Group” and “Donating” came in at 12.5% each, with “Canned Food Drive” and “With a Professional Group” just behind them at 11% and 9%, respectively.  “Charity Walk/Marathon” followed at 8%, while “With Your Business” only got 3% of the vote. “Building Homes” and “Volunteering Abroad” came in last, with just under 2% each.

Analysis

As you can see, our data was fairly spread out. “Other” was the top choice, and our top five answers all received over 10% of the vote.

When respondents chose “Other,” their responses varied from animal shelters and knitting for charity to prison outreach and helping the homeless. There are so many volunteer paths available. Go out there and find yours!

So what does it all mean? There’s no “right” way to volunteer. Some prefer to work with their church. Other’s choose to donate. It doesn’t matter how you volunteer—just go where you feel called. The type of volunteering you find interesting will vary depending on your own interests and personality.

Anything else you want to tell us about how you volunteer? Let us know in the comments below!

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

ChartMovinFor 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”

Other submitted answers include:

  • “Fair and kind treatment”
  • “Listening to what we say”
  • “Respect”
  • “Profit sharing”
  • “Paid time off”
  • “Better insurance”
  • “Lunch together”
  • “Flexible schedule”

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 Results Are In: What’s Holding Your Career Back?

The Results Are In: What’s Holding Your Career Back?

overcome_tough_job_search_web

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:

  • “No room for advancement”—16%
  • “Lack of experience”—15%
  • “No college degree”—13%

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:

  • “The economy”
  • “Companies don’t want to train anymore”
  • “Lack of confidence”
  • “Length of time I’ve been unemployed”
  • “Software applications”
  • “Resume looks like I’m a job hopper”
  • “Health issues”

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.

The Results Are In: How Do You Give Back?

statistics 3When you’re busy working or job searching, it can be hard to find time to volunteer or give back to your community. But, the benefits of giving back are numerous. Giving back not only makes a positive impact on your community, it also helps you gain new skills, find networking opportunities, and position yourself as a more attractive candidate to employers.

Because there are many ways to give back to your community, we recently asked Movin’ On Up readers what they’re doing to make an impact.

Survey Results
The survey results revealed there are three major ways readers give back to their communities. Those ways are:

  • Donating food, clothes, or other items – 32%
  • Volunteering – 30%
  • Donating money to charitable organizations – 26%

While those three ways make up the majority of responses, an additional 8% of readers said they donate blood through blood drives.

Creative Ways to Give Back
Readers were also given the option to select “Other” and provide their own response. Five percent of respondents did so, and their responses give valuable insight into creative ways you can give back in your community, including:

  • Hosting events
  • Chairperson for an organization
  • Helping needy friends and family
  • Volunteer firefighter
  • Outreach to the homeless community
  • Serving on nonprofit boards
  • Working with a church on community improvements
  • Sponsoring children in underdeveloped countries

How do you give back? Share your stories in the comments section below!

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

The Results Are In: How Do You Prepare for a Future Leadership Role?

Leadership MsgA company is ultimately shaped by those in leadership positions, for better or worse. Because of this—and because having the right leadership is vital to company success—we wanted to know how Movin’ On Up readers might prepare for future leadership roles.

The Results
According to our poll, the majority of respondents (49%) said they prepare for a future leadership role using a combination of the following: pursuing higher education, finding a mentor, and learning new skills, among others.

Approximately 15% of respondents selected “learn new skills through work or volunteering” as the sole way they prepare for a leadership role, while “study leadership” and “pursue higher education” tied with 10% of the votes.

In addition, each of the following choices received less than 10% of the votes:

  • Find a mentor
  • Become involved with networking or industry organizations
  • Change careers

Readers were also able to select the “Other” option and provide their own answers. Of the 3% who chose this option, responses included utilizing personal connections, going beyond the average duty of their jobs, and taking responsibility for special initiatives—just to name a few.

To learn more about how you can prepare for a future leadership role with every day habits, check out this article.

Do you aspire to be in a leadership position someday? Are there other ways you’re preparing for a future leadership role? Let us know in the comments section below!

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

The Results Are In: What Is Your Biggest Roadblock to Finishing Strong in 2014?

roadblock_poll_webWith the new year just around the corner, we’re entering the home stretch of 2014 and many job seekers are feeling the pressure to finish 2014 on a strong note. In a recent poll, we asked Movin’ On Up readers what they anticipate being the biggest obstacle in their path to landing a job and getting a strong start in 2015.

According to the results, competition is the number one obstacle standing in the way of landing a job. The survey revealed that 37% of readers feel there is too much competition in the job search, while 12% believe there just aren’t any jobs available.

Adding to the education versus experience debate, 19% of readers revealed that a “lack of experience” is holding them back in their job search, while only 4% chose “educational roadblocks.” According to 6% of readers, “currently being in school” is the biggest obstacle for their career outlook this year.

The second highest majority of readers, 21%, selected “Other,” adding responses that included:

  • Career change
  • Funds to pay for more training
  • Overqualified
  • Lack of self-discipline to complete a strong resume
  • Not enough technical training

Of those who chose “Other,” 40% added that “age” was a current roadblock in their job search.

Whether you’re struggling with a lack of education, training, or too much competition in the job market, don’t give up on your search. Continue to enhance your resume, interview skills, and job search techniques. Though this year may be nearing its end, 2015 will offer a fresh start to your search. Treat it as a blank slate to overcome any obstacles you may feel are holding you back.

Have you overcome any of the roadblocks on this list? What advice do you have for overcoming them? Share with us in the comments section below.

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