Tag Archives: holiday

The Results Are In: How Do You Wish Your Company Showed Appreciation to Employees?

results_show_appreciation_webThe holiday season is quickly approaching, and many companies are deciding how they’ll show appreciation to their employees this year. In a recent poll, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how they wish their employers, or future employers, showed appreciation this time of year.

According to the results, 29% of respondents would most appreciate a cash bonus, while 23% reported pay raises would be better incentives. Aside from monetary gifts like gift cards (6%), 16% of respondents picked days off or shortened holiday hours as their top choice.

Holiday parties received 6% of the vote, followed by non-monetary gift items at 1%. An additional 15% of respondents reported that a combination of items would be best received.

Participants also selected “Other” and respond with their own thoughts, including:

  • “Work-life balance”
  • “Incentive vacation time for employees with no sick days”
  • “Well-developed systems”
  • “Better benefits”
  • “Company profit sharing”
  • “A turkey or ham at Christmas to take home”

An overwhelming majority of people requested one thing in particular – appreciation. Responses included:

  • “Praise and acknowledgement”
  • “Just to hear someone from management say, ‘Thank you for doing a great job’”
  • “Respect”
  • “A thank you would go a long way”
  • “I’ve never heard a thank you”
  • “Saying thank you or I appreciate you”
  • “Email or verbal appreciation on a regular basis”
  • “Recognition”

These results are not far from last year’s, which revealed that 27% of respondents would most appreciate a cash bonus, followed by 13% who selected pay raises, and 9% who chose days off. Last year’s results also revealed that appreciation would go a long way with today’s workforce. In 2014, 31% of those who selected the “Other” option wrote that they wanted appreciation from their supervisors. This year, that number rose to 42%.

The results of the Movin’ On Up poll reveal some of the most powerful gifts are the easiest to give. From a turkey at Christmas to a thank-you email, sincerity is the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season.

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

Boss’s Day – Showing Appreciation to Your Boss

Boss’s Day is Friday, Oct. 16! This day is dedicated to showing appreciation for managers and those who lead in the workplace. If you’d like to join in the celebration of bosses across the country, check out these easy gift ideas.

  • Card – This inexpensive gift can show a lot of thoughtfulness. Gather your co-workers and have them all sign a card for your boss to show your appreciation.
  • Spa in a jar – Fill a large jar, bucket, or basket, with items to help your boss relax – like a manicure set, fingernail polish, lotion, or candle.
  • Golf basket – If your boss enjoys time on the course, fill a bucket or basket with golf balls, tees, and other accessories.
  • Gift cards – Does your boss enjoy a fresh cup of coffee? Pick up a gift card to a local shop in the amount you’re comfortable gifting. You can ask for an empty cup and use it as your gift card holder. Consider adding a note, like “Thanks a latte for being a great boss!”
  • Homemade treats – Put your baking skills to use by making some of your favorite recipes. Try desserts for an afternoon treat, or muffins or other breakfast items to start the day off right.
  • Desk organizer – There are a variety of functional desk organizers for sale in many stores. If your boss likes to stay organized, this may be the perfect gift for them. You can even make one yourself with a little creativity and the right supplies.
  • Coffee mug – Even if your boss doesn’t drink coffee, chances are they could use a mug for tea, cocoa, or other drinks. Consider your boss’s personality, likes, and dislikes before picking out the perfect mug.

What ideas do you have for Boss’s Day? Share with us in the comments section below!

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

U.S. National Staffing Employee Week: Thank You!

National Staffing Employee Week is Sept. 28 – Oct. 4 in the United States, and we want to show our appreciation for the millions of men and women who make up the temporary and contract workforce in the United States every week, and especially those who work for Express every year.

Whether you’re employed by a staffing firm or considering pursuing a new career path, use this week to take pride in the integral part you play in not only furthering your career, but also building a stronger economy. Express Employment Professionals salutes your hard work and dedication.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.us_staffingweek_2015

National Punctuation Day: Tips for Resume Grammar

national_punctuation_day_webIf you’re searching for a job, you’ve likely spent a lot of time creating a resume that shines and sets you up as a prime candidate.

The last thing you want is to ruin that sparkling resume with poor grammar or misspelled words. In order to stand out to hiring managers and beat the job search competition, it’s important to have a well-crafted, well-written resume.

Thursday, Sept. 24, is National Punctuation Day, and in honor of this important day, we’ve compiled some tips on proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation to help you review your resume.

Don’t crowd your sentences with unnecessary words. Keep it short and simple. For instance, don’t write “I reorganized the billing process;” instead say, “Reorganized billing process.”

Don’t use pronouns, especially third person. Your name should be at the top of each resume page, so the recruiter knows the resume is talking about you. Start sentences with a verb, leaving out pronouns. Example: “In charge of billing software” as opposed to “I am in charge of billing software.”

Use active power verbs. Passive verbs weaken your accomplishments. Always use active power verbs. For example, write “managed a staff of five” instead of “did manage” or “was a manager of.”

Be tense-aware. If you describe the job you are currently in, use present tense. If you are describing jobs in the past, use past tense.

Break up your sentences. Keep sentences lean and clean, and avoid complex sentences. Don’t write a sentence like this:  “Managed a team of 15, who worked in various areas of a project like planning and fundraising, and instituted a new teambuilding program that, according to my employer, improved productivity by 50%.”

Instead, break up the sentences: “Managed a project team of 15. Instituted new teambuilding program that improved productivity by 50%. Led all aspects of project from planning to fundraising.”

Use your own words. Never copy and paste the job description.

Spelling counts. If you’re ever in doubt, turn to a dictionary. Utilize your computer’s spell-check and have a friend double-check your spelling. Also, make sure you have the recruiter’s name spelled correctly in your cover letter.

Read your resume aloud. Before you send your resume, read it aloud to yourself or a friend. This will help you identify bad verb tenses, odd phrases, or awkward sentences.

Celebrate National Punctuation Day by going over your resume and following these tips to make sure it’s clean and stands out.

What other tips do you have for grammar and spelling on a resume? Share with us in the comments section below!

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

Need a Job? Seasonal Work Is Here

RET_005The holiday season may still seem far off, but now is the time to start looking for work if you plan to find a seasonal job this year. Every year, the holiday season helps put millions of people to work in jobs that may begin as temporary employment, but often turn into permanent employment.

There are many benefits to finding a seasonal job. In addition to the extra income around the holidays, seasonal jobs are also a great way to add experience to your resume and network with people who may be able to help your career in the future. Even though your job may start out as a temporary one, it could lead to permanent, full-time employment.

Take Your Job Seriously
According to Bob Funk, CEO of Express Employment Professionals, “Employers will look at their temporary employees this holiday season to see which ones merit a full-time, permanent position.”

If you want to better your odds of landing a permanent job after the holidays, remember to treat your seasonal job like an extended interview. Take advantage of the opportunity to show you’re hard-working, committed, and have a positive attitude. When you go above and beyond at your temporary job, you better your chances of being noticed by potential employers.

Don’t Limit Your Options
Holiday jobs may seem like they’re limited to Christmas or other winter holidays, but don’t forget about the entire holiday season. Halloween, for example, can be an avenue for temporary work because of large costume superstores that open for the season. Additionally, party stores may need extra help around New Year’s Eve.

Start Now
Stop by any department store and you’re likely to see holiday items already stocked on the shelves. If businesses are already thinking about the holidays, you should be too. Brainstorm places you would like to apply for seasonal work and get started on applications. Don’t wait until November or December, because most employers want their seasonal staff trained and working before the shopping rush begins.

Call a Staffing Agency
When companies want to hire multiple new employees for the holiday season, they often go to a staffing company for assistance. Since staffing providers are usually better equipped to find, screen, and hire large numbers of workers, they can be a great resource for you. Do your homework before you apply and make sure the staffing company is a reputable one, like Express Employment Professionals.

Make Sure You’re Prepared
In a recent poll on Movin’ On Up, we asked if our readers plan on looking for seasonal work this year. An astonishing 84% of responders said that they do plan to look for seasonal work. Since so many people want to find work this holiday season, you need to make sure you’re prepared to beat the competition. Clean up your resume, brush up on your interview skills, make a list of references, research the companies you want to work for, and know the skills that employers want to see. When you’re prepared for a job opportunity, you stand a better chance of landing the job.

Have you worked a seasonal job? Did your seasonal job turn into a permanent one? Share your tips with us in the comments section below!

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

Happy Labor Day!

Monday, Sept. 7, is Labor Day in the United States and Canada, and we want to thank all of our Express associates for their hard work and dedication. At Express, we know how much of an impact a job can have on someone’s life. We take pride in helping our associates find great jobs, and you’re helping us reach our long-term goal of putting a million people to work annually. We hope you have a great holiday!

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The Results Are In: Do You Plan On Looking for Seasonal Work This Year?

results_holidayhiring2_webThe holiday season is quickly approaching, which means many businesses are starting to gear up for the busiest time of year. Since some employers look to staffing companies to keep up with the peak shopping season, we wanted to know if Movin’ On Up readers plan to look for seasonal work this year.

The Results Are In
The results from our poll suggest that 84% of readers plan on looking for seasonal work. Of that percentage, 34% responded that “seasonal jobs could lead to permanent work after the holidays,” and 50% said that “seasonal jobs are a great way to bring in additional income during the holidays.”

Only 6% of those surveyed reported that they don’t have any interest in finding seasonal work, and 4% said they’d rather find something more permanent instead. An additional 5% of respondents hadn’t yet decided whether or not they plan to look for seasonal work.

Compared to 2014
The number of people who plan to look for seasonal work increased when compared to the same poll from 2014. Last year, 76% of readers planned to look for holiday work. While 4% of readers said they’d rather find something more permanent in 2015, 9% responded this way in 2014.

There are many benefits to working seasonal jobs during the holidays, including the potential for full-time employment, training, and additional income.

According to our poll, four out of five jobseekers plan to look for work this holiday season. Are you one of those jobseekers? Have you secured a seasonal job in the past? Share your holiday hiring success stories in the comments section below!

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