Monthly Archives: June 2017

Happy 150th Birthday Canada!

150 years of Canadian confederation.

PrintCongrats, Canada! As of July 1, you will be 150 years old. That’s 150 years of history, culture, and so much more.

Canada has given much to the world, from the arts and sciences to business, and more. Dr. Art McDonald won a Nobel Prize together with his Japanese partner Takaaki Kajita for their work on neutrinos. Researchers, like Richard Sutton and Yoshua Bengio, are known the world over for their innovative artificial intelligence techniques. And, unique, modern jewelry is being made every day by designers such as Frank Gehry.

At Movin’ On Up, we’d like to extend a big thank you to our Canadian readers. Thanks for sticking with us!

What are your favorite Canadian achievements? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Should You Quit Your Full-Time Job?

Is the gig economy right for you?

Close-up of business people hands shakingWhen you’re working full-time in a position that isn’t your favorite, it can be tempting to take on a short-term contract job that pays more than what you’re currently making. The same thing applies to those who are fed up with the gig economy and want to try out full-time stability. But each type of work comes with its own set of challenges. The perfect choice for you depends on your personality and current economic situation.

In this blog, we’ll cover some of the key pros and cons of gig work (aka contract work). Tune in next month to see what we have to say about full-time work!

Contract Labor

Pros

1.       Flexibility

Contract work doesn’t lock you into a company long-term. It provides the freedom to try a company and a career on a trial basis. Maybe you find out customer service isn’t your thing, or maybe a family-owned company is too small for you. Instead of being trapped in a full-time job, you’re free to try something else as soon as your contract ends.

2.       Less Cultural Pressure

When you’re in it for the long haul, you need to forge relationships and ingrain yourself in the company culture in order to be successful. Otherwise you’ll be seen as a loner, and will most likely not progress.

Although being a contract worker does not give you the right to be apathetic or rude to co-workers, it does allow for a bit of freedom from the hustle and bustle of the office. You can limit your socialization to contacts needed to perform your job, since you won’t be there forever.

You’re also already seen as a bit of an outsider, which allows you to set yourself up as an observer. Introverted or just not into socializing? Contract work can help you gain valuable skills without the need to build a “work family.”

3.       Gain a Wide Skillset

Becoming a member of the gig economy means setting your own career goals. Decide what you want to learn on your schedule. Think of it as a continuing education—each job is like a class, where you are free to learn new and interesting skills from a wide variety of disciplines. One day you might be learning an in-demand website building program, the next how to excel in Microsoft Excel.

Cons

1.       Can Be Difficult to Set a Career Path

When you’re constantly doing contract work, there’s no prototype career path to follow. You won’t get quality of living raises or promotions. The burden is on you to figure out what your ultimate goal is, and work different jobs towards that goal.

Not setting an end goal puts you at risk of floundering from job to job, staying stagnant in your skillset. If you keep taking the same type of job and aren’t being challenged anymore, it may be time to make a change.

2.       You Might Feel Like the “Other”

As a contract worker, you may sometimes feel left out of office situations or events. This can be great if you like your space, but awkward if you’re a more social person. Usually it’s nothing personal—there may be various laws or regulations that prevent the company from letting you come on certain business trips, for example.

Other times your co-workers may not take the time to get to know you purely because they know you won’t be there very long. Again, it isn’t anything personal—you just might not be there long enough for them to get close to you.

3.       Lack of Stability

In order to have a dependable source of income, you need to be extremely vigilant when it comes to contract work. Since you don’t know in advance where your next job is coming from, you should get in touch with your contacts or recruiter about six weeks before a job ends. Otherwise there may be periods of unemployment between jobs. Meaning contract work might not be the best choice for those with families to support.

Contract work also necessitates finding your own insurance and retirement account, as those will not be offered by companies. You will also miss out on other potential company perks such as profit-sharing or paid childcare. And if you’re ever let go, there won’t necessarily (depending on the contract) be unemployment to fall back on.

So, who is gig work best for? Someone who wants to explore what’s out there without being tied down. Someone who isn’t always looking for their next raise or a chance to climb through the ranks of a company. Or even someone in the military whose spouse could move at a moment’s notice. Basically, someone who wants the flexibility to do what they want or try jobs on a trial basis at the cost of job stability.

Have any opinions on gig work? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Poll: What’s Your Favorite Way to Volunteer?

There are so many ways to help out our communities—what’s your favorite?

giving_back_makes_you_more_employable_webWe all have skills. Some of us are athletic. Others have innate leadership qualities. And still others are handy with a toolbox. When we feel called upon to volunteer in our communities, we use our skills in unique ways to make a difference.

Athletic individuals can take part in charity basketball tourneys or marathons. Leaders can take command of canned food or donation drives. The handy among us can help build houses for the disadvantaged.

But you don’t have to have some incredible ability to make a difference. Passion and a cause are all you need. Volunteering can be as simple as donating gently used clothing, or as lofty as serving on the board for a non-profit organization or flying to another country to help the sick.

You can also volunteer with your business, church, school, or professional organization, or find a group of likeminded individuals and form a social organization with the sole purpose of volunteering. The sky’s the limit!

Regardless of how you’re doing it, we want to know how you volunteer. Let us know by taking part in our poll!

 

On the Job: From Hired to Retired—Episode 7

ACO17_OnTheJob_GraphicBHere at Movin’ On Up, we’re excited to share the final episode in a podcast series brought to you by Express Employment Professionals—On the Job: From Hired to Retired and Everything In Between.

Each week through the end of June, On the Job shares stories about the pursuit of work by looking at the employment situations people from all walks of life face each day.

Episode 7: Hidden in the Hills  

In Duchess County New York, a woman who formerly ran the local tourism bureau has taken over a distillery that has a storied history—gangster Dutch Schultz once reigned there. She’s turned the distillery into a local attraction and has used skills from all parts of her earlier careers to make the enterprise a success.

Start Listening Today!

Download On the Job: From Hired to Retired on iTunes or anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Must-Have Skills the Future Workplace Will Demand

poll_results_highly_skilled_work_webA popular storyline in science fiction, the concept of technological singularity states, in a nutshell, is that there will eventually come a point in time when society will become so technologically advanced that machines will no longer need humans to “survive.

Luckily, we’re not quite there yet. However, it is true the pace of technology advancement is moving quickly, which means big changes—both positive and negative—for the way we live and interact with the world around us.

In business, the ability to stay ahead of the curve and respond to changing technological and social trends is a key differentiator. The difficult task of positioning yourself to stay competitive requires skills that will become even more in demand in the not too distant future.

Global Communication skills
With the ongoing evolution of communication technologies, the world is only becoming more connected—and it’s a trend that isn’t slowing down anytime soon.  As the barriers to doing business on a global scale continue to come down, the ability to communicate with people from around the world and from all walks of life will be more important than ever.

Remote work discipline
The advancement of technology isn’t just changing the way we communicate; it’s redefining the way we work. Today, it’s easier than ever to work remotely. The traditional model of going to an office every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is changing as many workers now have the freedom to work from anywhere they can connect to the internet. Of course, with this freedom comes great responsibility. The discipline to stay organized and on task away from the structure of an office setting will be an increasingly important soft skill.

Interdisciplinary expertise
Knowledge is already at our fingertips, and will only become more attainable in the future. To stay competitive, workers will need to be masters of multiple disciplines within their organizations. It’s not going to be enough to just know your job, at least some working knowledge of other roles will be necessary. With the growing recruitment war, those who develop a broader range of skills will be in a better position to help fill the gaps in the workforce that are becoming more difficult to fill.

Interpersonal communication skills
With all the promise social media brings, one of the major pitfalls can be seen in restaurants, sporting events, concerts, and even schools— everyone is staring at their phones instead of interacting with each other face to face. What effect this will have on interpersonal relationships and social skills is yet to be seen, but being able to connect with other people in real life may become one of the most important skills that job seekers can bring to a potential employer.

The classics will still reign supreme
Soft skills in many ways transcend advances in technology or changing work environments. In a 2016 survey, Express Employment Professionals asked business leaders what they believe the most important soft skills a job applicant should have. The results revealed that although the workplace is constantly evolving, some skills will always be in high-demand, including:

  • Dependability/Reliability – 72%
  • Motivation – 48%
  • Verbal communication – 44%
  • Teamwork – 39%
  • Commitment – 39%

No matter how the workplace may change in the future, people will always be the heart and soul of the business world. Some of the most important qualities of great employees can’t be programed into a machine or easily expressed via a virtual meeting space. Investing in great people is the single best strategy for any business to prepare for the future.

 

 

Brand It Blue Day 2017 Recap

On Saturday, June 10, in communities across North America, Express Employment Professionals offices came together to serve and give back as part of the fourth annual Brand It Blue Day.

More than 180 Express offices, from California to North Carolina to Ontario joined with more than 1,000 volunteers to provide tens of thousands of 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.Volunteering and serving in your community can do a lot for your career or job search. From an increase in networking opportunities to gaining leadership skills, serving others is a great way to improve your professional life.

Volunteering and serving in your community can do a lot for your career or job search. From an increase in networking opportunities to gaining leadership skills, serving others is a great way to improve your professional life.

But, did you know it can have an incredible impact on your health and well-being? A survey of more than 3,000 adults found that the majority of volunteers felt mentally and physically healthier after serving. Nearly 80% said volunteering lowered their stress levels, while 76% said serving made them feel healthier. And, a report by the Corporation for National & Community Service found that those who serve have lower mortality rates, more functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life.

Hunger Has a Familiar Face

Giving back in your community, whether it’s through a group volunteer effort over the weekend, or by doing pro bono work from your home for a nonprofit, can have a positive impact on your attitude on life and hopes for your future.

We hope Brand It Blue Day gave you an opportunity to serve in your community, increase your happiness, and possibly make some new connections that will help you soon find a new job or further your career. If you didn’t have a chance to join Express for this year’s event, make sure to check back with your local office for information about Brand It Blue Day 2018 and how you can be involved.

Through the hard work and service of Express offices, we’ve been able to donate more than 300,000 meals to nonprofit organizations across North America through the efforts of Brand It Blue Day. Think of all the meals we can provide next year with your help!

Check out some of the photos from Brand It Blue Day!

On the Job: From Hired to Retired—Episode 6

ACO17_OnTheJob_GraphicBHere at Movin’ On Up, we’re excited to share a new episode in a podcast series brought to you by Express Employment Professionals—On the Job: From Hired to Retired and Everything In Between.

Each week through the end of June, On the Job shares stories about the pursuit of work by looking at the employment situations people from all walks of life face each day.

Episode 6: Legislator and Rancher  

A cattle rancher in rural Colorado is also a state representative. We learn about the two sides of her work life, and listen as she does chores on her ranch.

Start Listening Today!

Download On the Job: From Hired to Retired on iTunes or anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Check back next week for Episode 7: Hidden in the Hills: Prohibition still echoes in rural New York