Inside Express | Journey

The Role of Staffing Agencies In Your Career Path

By Job Journey on Friday, September 23, 2016

This week was National Staffing Employee Week in the United States, and Express is proud to work with so many outstanding associates every week.

If you’re a temporary or contract employee, you probably already know the many benefits of temporary work, including flexibility and the opportunity to try out different job fields. To further shed light on these benefits, we’ve compiled six Movin’ On Up articles that highlight the role of staffing agencies in your career path.

Thank you to our Express associates for your hard work and dedication.

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

National Staffing Week

Happy National Staffing Employee Week

By Job Journey on Monday, September 19, 2016

National Staffing Employee Week is Sept. 19-23 in the United States, and we want to show our appreciation for the men and women who make up the temporary and contract workforce, and especially those who work for Express every year.

About the Staffing Industry
If you’re a temporary or contract worker, you’re not alone. In fact, according to the American Staffing Association (ASA), more than 3 million temporary and contract employees work for staffing companies each week in the United States. And during the course of a year, 16 million temporary and contract employees are put to work.

Seventy-six percent of those employees work full time, and half say it’s a way to get a permanent job. Nine out of 10 employees say staffing work has made them more employable, and 35% have been offered a permanent job by a client they worked with on a temporary or contract assignment. Of those, 66% accepted the offers.

According to ASA, the average wage for temporary and contract workers is $17 per hour, and occupations are available in all sectors, including:

Industrial—37%
Office/Clerical—28%
Professional/Managerial—13%
Engineering/Information Technology—13%
Health Care—9%

Studies by ASA also reveal that nine out of 10 staffing employees say they are satisfied with their staffing company.

Celebrate Your Involvement
Whether you’re employed by a staffing firm or are considering pursuing a new career path, use this week to celebrate the part you play in building a stronger economy and furthering your career. Express Employment Professionals salutes you, your hard work, and your dedication.

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

Dress for Success Uncategorized

Clean Up Your Fall Wardrobe

By Job Journey on Wednesday, September 14, 2016

As the summer heat fades away and the chill of fall fills the air, you’ve likely already started adjusting your wardrobe to match the weather. While it’s necessary to change up your clothing choices for different seasons, it’s important to first take stock of what you have, reorganize, and have a plan for cooler days.

If you’re a college student in your final year of school, fall is also a great time to start building a professional wardrobe before entering the professional job search.

Regardless of whether you’re just starting out or well into your working years, here are a few tips to help you clean up your fall wardrobe and make a strong impression in the workplace.

Store, donate, or toss.
With summer in the rear view mirror, it’s time to take stock of which warm-weather pieces can transition appropriately into fall. Store things like short-sleeved items and lighter jackets, and bring out heavier jackets, long-sleeved blouses or shirts, scarves, etc. For those still in school, this is a great time to shop after-season sales. Look for work-appropriate summer attire at discounted rates. Shopping a season “behind” can help you build your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Assess options.
Think about where you were last year during this season. Are your wardrobe staples still appropriate in your current position? Over the course of changing seasons, perhaps you, too, have transformed professionally. Fall is a great time to re-evaluate your wardrobe and make appropriate changes to better fit your current role or company culture.

Make a shopping list and budget.
Which pieces do you need for this new season? How much are you willing to spend? One of the best ways to build a solid collection of work clothes—regardless of season—is to save a set amount of money each month solely for wardrobe purchases. On your shopping list, make sure you include versatile basics that can go with multiple other pieces.

If you’re a college student, think strategically about what you want to buy. If you can only afford one or two items, start with key items like dress pants, pencil skirts, practical shoes, etc. Again, versatile pieces that can be paired with various other items can allow you to build a great foundation for your fall wardrobe.

What other tips do you have for cleaning up your fall wardrobe? Let us know in the comments section below.

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

Reader Surveys

The Results Are In: How Do You Beat the Career Competition?

By Job Journey on Friday, September 2, 2016

When it comes to finding work, you’re most likely not the only one trying to land the job you have your eyes on. In fact, the career competition can be pretty tough. Since there are many ways you can set yourself apart from other job seekers, we recently asked what steps you take to beat the competition.

The Results
The overwhelming majority of respondents (35%) selected the option “research the company,” followed by 17% who chose “follow-up after interview.” Another 15% of readers “keep an updated resume,” 14% “possess a strong set of references,” and 14% “rehearse interview scenarios.”

An additional 8% of respondents selected the “Other” option and provided the following answers:

Eye contact during the interview
Project a sense of teamwork
Maintain active communication
Target the cover letter
Build comradery and show interest
Talk about how you will add to their return on investment

Adjust Your Game Plan
If you’re one of the 35% of job seekers who research the company before an interview, that’s great. But, what about that other 14% who rehearse interview scenarios? They may be one step ahead of you, and it could cost you the job. Consider taking additional steps, like sending a thank-you note or updating your resume, to ensure you’re doing all you can to stay ahead of the career competition.

What other ways do you beat the competition? Share your tips in the comments section below!

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

Reader Surveys

The Results Are In: What Does Your Dream Job Look Like?

By Job Journey on Monday, August 8, 2016

At some point in your life, you’ve likely been asked the question, “What is your dream job?” In fact, sometimes recruiters will even ask candidates about it in an interview. Because everyone is likely to have a different answer, we wanted to know what Movin’ On Up readers would say their dream job looks like.

The Results
According to our poll, “challenging or meaningful work” was the number one characteristic of respondents’ dream jobs garnering 29% of the votes. “Working from home” (22%) was the second most popular option, followed by “growth opportunities within the organization” (17%) and “friendly workplace” (16%).

Fewer respondents selected “frequent travel” (5%) and “no travel” (1%) as dream job descriptors, while 6% of respondents said they are still figuring out what their dream job looks like.

Readers were also able to select the “other” option and provide their own responses. Of the 4% who selected that option, responses included:

Work-life balance
Living wage
A combination of the provided choices
Flexibility
Good benefits
$12/hour
Own business

How often have you been asked about your dream job in an interview? Let us know in the comments section below.

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

Uncategorized

Poll: How Do You Beat the Career Competition?

By Job Journey on Friday, July 29, 2016

When a job becomes available, chances of being the only candidate to apply for it are slim to none. There are ways, however, to stand out from the competition; whether that is the research you do before an interview or having strong references. There are many ways to approach this, and we want to know what you’re doing to stand out. Tell us by voting in our poll!

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

Contests

Congratulations to Our Next Round of Job Jackpot Winners!

By Job Journey on Monday, July 25, 2016

At Express Employment Professionals, we know our associates are what make us successful, and we’re privileged to have put more than 500,000 people to work in 2015. To show our thanks, we’re awarding 30 associates $1,000 each in our new sweepstakes, Job Jackpot.

As part of Job Jackpot, associates are given a scratch-off ticket. Game pieces can be returned to participating Express offices to be entered into a grand prize drawing to win $1,000.

Grand prize drawings are held bimonthly, and the most recent drawing just took place. Congratulations to the following Express associates:

Matthew from Missouri
Richard from Idaho
Felipe from Ontario
Jordan from Montana
Emily from Minnesota

If you’d like a chance to be our next winner, stop by your local Express office and talk to your staffing consultant today!

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