Monthly Archives: June 2015

Poll: How Would You Prepare for a Highly Skilled Job?

MOV_POLL-ICONLately, there has been a lot of talk about the skills gap, or the lack of qualified workers to fill highly skilled jobs. According to ExploreHealthCareers.org, “well-trained and highly skilled workers will be best positioned to secure high wage jobs.” Those jobs require higher education or experience, and ExploreHealthCareers.org predicts that the fastest growth in jobs will come from occupations that require an associate’s degree or vocational education.

Employers look for a number of qualities in their highly-skilled workforce, including communication, mathematics, professionalism, teamwork, and basic fundamental skills. To become the right candidate for these jobs, job seekers may need to explore higher education or training to sharpen their skills.

Since highly skilled workers are in demand, we want to know how you would prepare for a highly skilled job.

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

Brand It Blue Day 2015 Provided More Than 65,000 Meals

EVE13BIB_LogoF-300WOn Saturday, June 13, in communities across North America, Express Employment Professionals offices came together to serve and give back as part of the third annual Brand It Blue Day.

More than 225 Express offices, from California to North Carolina to Canada joined with 1,000 volunteers to provide more than 65,000 meals for those in need. If you were able to be a part of this amazing effort in any way, thank you for your support and hard work.

As we recently shared, volunteering and serving with a local nonprofit or charity can help make you more employable. But giving back to your community doesn’t just impact your job search. Research shows volunteering is connected to an increase in well-being and lowered depression, both of which are often impacted by the loss of a job. (more…)

Peak Performer’s Life: Networking is a Game Changer!

walterbond_webThis week on Peak Performer’s Life, Walter Bond continues his series on networking and discusses how networking can be the game changer you’ve been looking for to advance your career and personal life. By using networking skills, you can elevate and focus your career through your relationships. Your success is determined by your ability to connect to and maintain your network.

According to Walter:

“If you do a great job networking, it’s a game changer. I mean, if you really really focus on your network, it can change the trajectory of your life. It can create what I call a new normal.”

As part of his year-long series of motivational messages, Walter Bond discusses the importance of patience, solid investments, perseverance, and more. Check out the full message below. (more…)

Tips for Making a Career Path

JobGenius_webThe Job Genius program from Express Employment Professionals is an educational video series that offers insights on the job market and how to get a job. The video series includes information on everything from writing your resume to finding job opportunities, interviewing, and more.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, someone who has been out of the workforce for a while, or are just looking to change your career, knowing the path you’d like to travel can make a world of difference. As you advance in your career, it’s important to know what you want out of employment. Do you want to move into a leadership role? Or, do you want to find work that allows you more time at home? After you answer questions like these, take a look at your career objectives, knowledge, education, and resources. Then, start making goals that will help you make a plan for your career.

To begin establishing your career path, check out the Job Genius video below for more information on evaluating your skills, furthering your education, and more.

To check out other videos in this educational series, visit ExpressPros.com/JobGenius.

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

Father’s Day: Dad’s Impact on Work Ethic

The role of a parent is different for every mother and father. Some moms work, others stay home with their children, and some do both. Likewise, some fathers work while others take the opportunity to stay home and raise the kids. To celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 21, we want to share some interesting facts about the role dads play in their children’s future careers.

Breaking Gender Barriers
While parenthood is different for everyone, a new study by a group of psychologists at the University of British Columbia is helping illuminate how parents’ routines may impact their children. The study suggests that fathers who take part in activities that have traditionally been deemed female chores, like cooking, cleaning, or childcare, are more likely to have school-aged daughters who aspire to more gender-neutral careers, such as being a doctor or lawyer, instead of stereotypical female careers.

According to the study, when children–especially girls–see this division of household labor, their view of gender equality can be shaped from a young age.

Establishing Work Ethic
Likewise, how parents view their work life directly influences how their children will feel about work in the future. University of Michigan researchers found that children who perceive their father as someone with a strong career orientation are more likely to be career-oriented themselves. Furthermore, children may carry their parents’ views about work into their own jobs or careers.

The study also found that children who were close to their fathers were more likely to model their father’s career behavior.

Teaching Important Skills
Another study found that human capital passed from father to son, like advice, intelligence, and work ethic, could be more important to the child’s success than the money a father brings home. In fact, the study, published by the Journal of Political Economy, suggests that these intangible human elements account for nearly two-thirds of the overall relationship between a father’s income and his child’s future salary.

A Deeper Look
Express Employment Professionals recently polled fathers in the workplace to find out if they work out of necessity or choice. The poll revealed that 80% of working fathers would continue working even if they didn’t have to, while 20% reported that they would stay at home if their situation allowed. These results are not very different from those of working mothers. The poll found that 28% of mothers would stay home if they could, while 72% revealed they would continue working.

At Express, we honor and celebrate all of our associates who are working fathers and wish all of them a happy Father’s Day!

Are you a working dad? How do you find balance between your work and home life? Share your tips in the comments section below!

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

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

How to Interview Your Next Boss

interview_your_next_boss_webDuring most interviews, there comes a point when the interviewer turns the tables and asks if you have any questions for them. Though this may be intimidating if you’re unprepared, it can also be a great time to stand out from the competition with some well-crafted questions of your own. Plus, asking questions about the job, the company, and your future employers’ goals helps you learn more about the job.

The Right Questions
The next time you’re faced with this question during an interview, don’t panic. While some questions will emerge from the conversation you have with your interviewer, there are some back-up questions to have ready just in case. To help you have an even more successful interview, consider the following questions:

  1. How do you evaluate a person’s performance in this job? What are the important milestones that show they’re successful?
  2. After this person starts work, what tasks would you expect them to accomplish?
  3. How much travel is expected in this position?
  4. Can you tell me a bit about the make-up of the team? How does this position fit into the rest of the department?
  5. What are your goals for 2015 as a department/team/company?
  6. What does a typical day here look like? What are the hours, and what are the norms when it comes to working overtime or answering email after hours?
  7. What do you think are the major events or trends that have shaped your company’s plans this year?
  8. What do you enjoy most about working here?
  9. What is your career story? How did you get this current role?
  10. Does this company have a strong social media presence? What are the norms for using social media here?
  11. What does a typical career path look like for the person in this role?
  12. How has this position evolved since it was created? Is it a new position, or a vacancy?
  13. How do people within the company communicate? Are there regular staff meetings, or is email the main form of communication?

The Wrong Questions
While these are great questions to keep the conversation going during a job interview, there are some questions you should avoid.

  • Don’t ask your interviewer what the company does. This shows that you didn’t research the company before you arrived and may suggest a lack of interest in the position.
  • You should also avoid asking about time off for vacations, as discussing previous commitments before being offered a position is generally frowned upon.
  • Avoid asking about salary during the first interview, and don’t come right out and ask if you got the job. This puts interviewers on the spot and makes you seem impatient. Instead, consider asking about the next steps in the process and following up with a thank-you note.

What are your go-to questions during a job interview? Share with us in the comments section below!

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

Safety Month: The Truth About Workplace Injuries

June is National Safety Month in the United States. Observed annually, the month focuses on bringing awareness to the leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in our homes in an effort to reduce the amount of injuries sustained. To help you learn more about workplace injuries, take a look at the infographic below.

COM15SM_SafetyMonth

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