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The Results Are In: How Does Your Company Promote Health and Wellness?

By Job Journey on Friday, April 3, 2015

Your health is an important part of your life, and it’s something that matters both in and out of the workplace. In an effort to help you stay on track with your fitness goals, some companies offer health and wellness benefits, programs, and resources to help you stay healthy. To find out what kinds of programs your workplace offers, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how your company promotes health and wellness and the results were mixed.

What Readers Said
Only 6% of respondents stated that their company offers healthy snacks and beverages, 9% reported that wellness screenings are offered in their workplace, and 15% said that they have access to a workplace gym. Another 15% of respondents reported that their workplace offers health education, coaching, or training. Additionally, 21% of readers responded that their company offers all of the aforementioned health benefits.

While these results offer a positive outlook on what companies are doing to promote the health of their employees, 35% of readers, the most respondents to the poll, stated that their workplace does not offer any health incentives whatsoever.

What Employers Said
These statistics mirror the results of a similar poll on Refresh Leadership, the Express blog for business leaders. In that poll, 27% of company leaders responded that they do not have any wellness incentives in place. While 20% offer a gym or gym discounts, 16% offer discounts on health insurance for wellness program participants, 12% have healthy vending options, and 5% have sports clubs or exercise classes after work, the most prevalent response was that no health programs currently exist.

Since health is important and a good majority of an employee’s day is spent in the office or on the job site, it seems health and wellness incentives should be more prevalent in the workplace. How do you think companies can implement health programs and incentives? Let us know in the comments section below.

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

Reader Surveys

Poll: How Soon After Graduation Did You Get a Job?

By Job Journey on Thursday, March 26, 2015

Which is more important: education or experience? It’s an age-old question that has been researched and debated for decades, but one that doesn’t necessarily have a clear-cut answer. While the results from Glassdoor’s recent 2014 Employment Confidence Survey suggest that 82% of U.S. college graduates who were employed on a full or part time basis believed that their level of education has been an asset to their careers, 72% believe that specialized training outside of a traditional college degree is more valuable when it comes to the workplace.

Last year, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how their education has affected their career path. While the results of this poll were illuminating in the education vs. experience debate, we want to know how quickly recent graduates are being added to the workforce. To help determine how long a graduate typically spends looking for a job after going through the higher education process, we want to know how soon after graduation you landed a job. Let us know by voting in our poll!

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

Reader Surveys

The Results Are In: What Causes Communication Breakdown in Your Job Search?

By Job Journey on Wednesday, March 11, 2015

There are a number of factors that can make or break your chances of landing a job. Your resume, the interview, and how you follow up with potential employers can positively or negatively affect your job search.

One factor that plays a significant role in your job search is communication. Clear and concise communication is important in all areas of your life, and your job search is no exception. Since communication is such a big factor in landing a job, we asked Movin’ On Up readers what causes communication breakdown in their job search.

What Readers Think
With 35% of the votes, “lack of follow up from the interviewer” was the number one answer to what causes communication breakdown. “Unclear job postings” earned 22% of the vote, followed by “unmotivated workers/interviewers” with 12%.

Other answers included “the job application” with 7% of the votes and “poor leadership” with 5%. “Stress” also earned 5% of the votes, and “lack of planning” received 3%.

Additionally, 10% of respondents selected the “Other” option in our poll and left responses including:

Poor interviewer planning
No response to applications
Online applications, which remove personal communication
Use of internet to screen applicants

What Leaders Think
Interestingly, in a similar poll on Refresh Leadership, the Express blog for business leaders, the areas of communication breakdown don’t seem to match for employers and job seekers. While “poor leadership” only received 5% of job seekers votes, it was the number one response from business leaders (33%). Likewise, the number one response from job seekers was “lack of follow up” with 35% of the votes, while only 10% of business leaders selected this option.

Since the number one factors causing communication breakdown seem to be very different for job seekers than they are for business leaders, it’s no surprise that there may be a lack of communication in the job search. To help you better your chances of landing a job, take a look at the factors Movin’ On Up readers selected. If lack of follow up from an interviewer is affecting your job search, take the lead and follow up with them yourself. If unclear job postings are holding you back, reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager and ask for clarification. Doing so shows you have a clear interest in the job.

Likewise, take into consideration what business leaders are experiencing. Many business leaders reported that unmotivated workers were a source of communication breakdown, so break the mold by showing motivation and interest in the job. Show up to your interview on time, have an excellent resume ready, and follow up with the interviewer frequently.

How do you plan to use these results to help with your job search? Let us know in the comments section below!

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

Reader Surveys

Poll: How Does Your Company Promote Health and Wellness?

By Job Journey on Friday, February 27, 2015

Staying healthy is an important part of your life, and many employers recognize that your wellness shouldn’t be hindered at the office. In an effort to help you stay on track with your fitness goals, many companies offer health and wellness benefits, programs, or resources in the workplace. Wellness programs range from health education, coaching, medical screenings, access to a gym, and more.

The attention to health and wellness that employers provide may even affect your job search. Since your health is important wherever you go, wellness programs inside the workplace may be a determining factor in your decision whether or not to accept a position at a particular company.

We want to know how your current employer promotes health and wellness. If you’re currently looking for a job, did any of your past employers promote health and wellness? Let us know by voting in our poll!

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

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The Results Are In: What Is the Key Factor That Contributes to Your Job Satisfaction?

By Job Journey on Friday, February 6, 2015

Now that 2015 is well underway, many job seekers are focusing on their goal of finding a job this year. As job search efforts increase, it’s important to recognize and understand the key factors that contribute to job satisfaction so you know that the job you’re trying to get is the right one for you. To help determine the factors that go into job satisfaction, we recently polled Movin’ On Up readers and the results are in!

Keys to Job Satisfaction
The most important factor that contributes to job satisfaction, according to 32% of poll respondents, is “engaging or meaningful work.” “Feeling valued” was a close second with 29% of the votes. “Job security” was the most important factor for 11% of respondents, while “compensation” and “room for advancement” received 10% and 7% of the votes, respectively. Only 4% of people considered “company benefits” to be a key factor in their job satisfaction, along with 2% of those who chose “leadership.”

Additionally, 5% of respondents selected the “Other” option in our poll and left responses including:

Efficient communication
Pleasant atmosphere
Co-workers and managers who are nice to work with
Good planning, organization, and control
Flexibility
Acquiring new skills
All of the above

What Leaders Think
Interestingly, it seems there may be a disconnect between a company’s decision makers and those trying to secure a job there. On Refresh Leadership, the Express blog for business leaders, we asked the same question and the results were very different. While 26% of leaders agree with job seekers that “engaging or meaningful work” is the most important factor in job satisfaction, that’s where the similarities end. In fact, while only 2% of Movin’ On Up readers said “leadership” was a key factor, 14% of employers chose this answer. Additionally, 19% of employers chose “compensation,” while only 10% of Movin’ On Up readers agreed, and “company benefits” gained 11% of employer votes, but only 4% of job seeker votes.

Your Job Search
Though there does seem to be a divide between what business leaders and job seekers value most when it comes to job satisfaction, you should keep these results in mind when you’re looking for a job. Were you one of the majority of respondents who selected “engaging or meaningful work” as the key factor to your job satisfaction? If so, try to use this as a determining factor in your job search. For example, if you are interviewing with a company, ask the interviewer what he or she enjoys most about their job. Look for ways that the job can inspire you or help you give back to the community. If you chose “leadership” or “room for advancement,” you can inquire about these elements of the job during an interview by asking questions that show your interest in the position. You may even be able to determine some factors, such as compensation and company benefits, through the job posting. While getting a job is a nice start to the year, ensuring that you’ll be satisfied with your work is even better.

How do you plan to use these results to help with your job search? Let us know in the comments section below!

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

Reader Surveys

Poll: What Causes Communication Breakdown in Your Job Search?

By Job Journey on Monday, January 26, 2015

When it comes to your job search, many factors can make or break your chances of landing the job. Your resume, the interview, and how you follow up with potential employers can be positive or negative aspects to your search. Another factor that is sometimes overlooked is communication.

In the workplace or during a job search, clear and concise communication is important for success. Tony Robbins, life coach and self-help author, said, “The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.”

We want to know what you believe is the biggest cause of communication breakdown when it comes to your job search. Let us know by voting in our poll!

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

Reader Surveys

The Results Are In: What Are Your Job Market Predictions for 2015?

By Job Journey on Friday, January 9, 2015

As 2014 wrapped up, we asked Movin’ On Up readers to reflect on the year by sharing their predictions for the job market in 2015. It’s a question we’ve asked for several years in a row, and the results have been anything but consistent.

Three Years of Results
This year, the majority of readers (35%) answered that the job market is “good enough to test the waters and see what else is out there for me.” In 2014, 35% of readers decided that “things are going to get worse before they get better,” while 35% of readers selected “I’m definitely getting a job offer or promotion this year” in 2013.

This trend suggests that 2013 was a year of hope for many job seekers who had an optimistic outlook after the Great Recession. In 2014, however, those hopes were dashed as job seekers may have shifted to a negative outlook on the job market. This year, it seems that job seekers are taking a more neutral stance. While the market is improving, the majority of readers believe it’s strong enough to up their job seeking efforts in 2015.

Other responses to this year’s poll included 27% of readers who decided that “things are going to get worse before they get better,” 17% of readers who reported “I’m definitely getting a job offer or promotion this year,” and 11% who chose “I’m staying where I am. I don’t expect things to get better.”

Additionally, 9% of respondents selected the “Other” option in our poll and left responses including:

“I’m still in school, so I’m waiting to get a different job.”
“Structural income problems in America need addressing.”
“Expect to stay unemployed.”

Predictions for the New Year
As we enter 2015, many people are testing the job searching waters. And according to MarketWatch, it may be a good time to do so. “Businesses are already responding,” the website reported in a recent study of the U.S. economy. “Job openings in November [2014] hit the second highest level in 14 years. In another telltale sign, people are quitting jobs at the fastest rate in five years. Research shows that people who quit one job for another typically do so because they are offered higher pay.”

Prepare for Your Job Search
If you’re one of those job seekers who is hopeful enough to send your resume around or even try for a career change, make sure you’re prepared to reach your goal. For an additional boost to your efforts, check out these recent Movin’ On Up articles:

And don’t forget about the “New Year, New Job” online event hosted by Express Employment Professionals on Wednesday, Jan. 21. For more information about the event, click here.

Do you notice any trends in the past three years’ poll results? Do you think the job market is on its way up? Let us know in the comments section below!

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