Monthly Archives: November 2016

Happy Veterans Day and Remembrance Day

Honor1Veterans Day is Nov. 11 in the United States. First proclaimed “Armistice Day” by President Wilson some 97 years ago, this day was created as a celebration with public meetings and a parade. The day became a legal holiday in 1938 as a way to honor America’s soldiers.

Today, Express Employment Professionals is proud of our veterans and we want to wish everyone a very happy Veterans Day!

RemembranceDay1And to our friends in Canada, we wish you a happy Remembrance Day! A day observed to remember the members of Canada’s armed forces who died in the line of duty, Remembrance Day is sometimes known as Poppy Day and is also celebrated on Nov. 11.

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

How to Say Thank You to Your References

Thank You CardIf you’ve recently landed a new job, you probably didn’t get there by yourself. After all, your resume doesn’t impress without references willing to verify your experience, expertise, and talents.

So, it’s very important to say thank you to your references. However, the type of thank you depends on your relationship with the reference and the company culture they work in.

While email has become a very accepted form of communication, it also takes little or no effort. To really show your appreciation, you might want to go a step further.

Consider the Relationship

A Corporate Connection – If your reference is a former manager or mentor who works in a traditional environment, consider a typed, personal letter on your professional stationery.

Be sure to say “thank you” as opposed to the more casual “thanks.”

A Colleague and Friend – If your reference is a friend as well as former colleague—a part of your “work family”— consider sending a greeting card. Cards make the recipient feel special. Your message should be as warm and familiar as your friendship.

High Tech Connections – If your reference works for a very modern company that runs everything on the cloud, your thank you should reflect that culture. An app like Thank You Pro (App Store for iOS) or Thank You Messages (Google Play for Android) makes it easy to create a digital expression of your gratitude.

Finally, make sure your message includes the following:

  1. A genuine expression of appreciation
  2. Your new job title and business contact information
  3. A reminder that you would like to stay in touch

In an age when the average worker stays in a job for fewer than five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can never have too many professional contacts or references.

Poll Results: What Job Search Obstacles Have You Overcome?

overcome_tough_job_search_webEveryone’s career path is different and often filled with unexpected twists and turns. Whether it’s a lay off or voluntary career change, it’s important to evaluate the situation and come up with a game plan for your job search.

In October, we asked our Movin’ On Up readers what job search obstacles they have overcome, and what we found was telling. Not having a network and concern about age took the top spots in our poll at 14% each. A total of 11% of respondents said they have fear/anxiety in a job search, while 10% have faced an outdated resume.

Other results include:

  • Lack of experience – 8%
  • Economy – 7%
  • Stereotyping – 7%
  • Outdated or lack of skills – 5%

In addition, 5% of readers selected “other” and cited the following reasons:

  • Low pay, no benefits
  • No college degree
  • Over qualified
  • Relocation
  • Job hopping resume
  • Lack of transportation

Make an Action Plan
After you have identified an obstacle or two that is keeping you from getting that next job, make an action plan with realistic and achievable goals. If you struggle with an outdated resume, sit down and work on one section at a time. If you don’t have a reliable form of transportation to get to job interviews, research local organizations to see if any offer assistance to job seekers.

What are some other ways that you can overcome obstacles in your job search? Let us know in the comments below!

Time to Fall Back and Gain an Hour

If getting out of bed while it’s still dark outside is getting old, have no fear. This weekend, that all changes.

At 2 a.m. on Sunday, most of North America, and other countries around the world, will gain an hour as daylight saving time comes to a close. Daylight saving time (DST) was first implemented to save energy and make better use of daylight in Thunder Bay, Canada, in 1908, according to Timeanddate.com. A daylight saving time law was introduced and signed by United States President Woodrow Wilson in 1918, but it was repealed only seven months later. DST has undergone several changes since then, but was more regulated in 1966 under the Uniform Time Act. The act established one pattern across the country, exempting states in which the legislatures voted to opt out.

Despite gaining an hour of sleep this weekend, you may actually feel even more tired than usual when you go into work on Monday morning. Follow these great tips to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Version 2 Daylight SAvings Time
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Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

12 Ways to be Thankful for Your Career

give thanks

November is National Gratitude Month. And, there’s a lot to be thankful for in our every day lives.

When we think of the things we are grateful for we automatically think of our personal lives—family, friends, and experiences. But what about our professional lives? We should also consider what we’re thankful for at work. We spend approximately 2,080 hours at work yearly. Surely, there’s got to be something to be grateful for during our careers.

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