job | Journey - Part 10

Tag Archives: job

The Cost of a College Education

By leidson on Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Gust Post: Marcela De Vivo

It seems like no matter how good the job market is, it’s still nearly impossible to sail through the interview process and land the job of your dreams. Between never knowing what employers really want, and making yourself memorable among all the competition, getting a job can be brutal. But what might be even more difficult is actually earning a degree that will help you get noticed. A college degree is quickly becoming a necessity in the job world, but when college is so expensive, what should you do?

Unfortunately, far too many students borrow money, and suddenly, they are so deep in loan debt, they can’t even see past their next paycheck. Studies have shown that 37 million people in America carry debt that they accumulated in college, due to the amount of loans they took out. Without being educated on a better financial plan to pay for college, students get stuck with debt they have no way of paying back. So, before you jump into the world of loans, educate yourself on the cost of a college education. It’s always better to be informed.

Career Advancement Resumes and Cover Letters The Job Search

3 Times When a Functional Resume is Your Best Bet

By mrsmith on Thursday, September 12, 2013

Let’s face it, if everyone could get a foot in the door and personally introduce themselves to the employer they want to work for, then everyone would have the job of their dreams. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. So what can we rely on to incite interest from hiring managers and get ahead of the competition?

The answer is – a resume. This document has been known to make or break your chances at landing that job you desire. It’s often your first impression and the emissary that chronicles your work history and skills. But there is more than just one style of resume. The key to finding the right one is to figure out what compliments your work history and skill set. If you want to really flex the skills you have acquired then a functional resume is the right format for you. Below are three reasons to choose function over form.

When You’re New to the Job Market
College grads typically have little to no experience in the field of their studies. A functional resume allows you to show off what you know, what you’ve learned, and show that you have the know-how to get the job done. Remember to tailor the skills on your resume for each employer. Different aspects of your diversity or knowledge may be beneficial to some and not to others.
When You Have Gaps in Your Work History
Sometimes gaps in our work history are out of our control, and without an explanation they may give the wrong impression of your work ethic, or the appearance of a “job hopper.” Many companies may see the value in your experience but may not want to invest time and money to train you only to have you leave months later. A functional resume takes the focus off of when and where, and places it on the value you received from your time there.
When You Don’t Have Relevant Work Experience
Not all past experience will relate to the job you want. If you’re looking at beginning an advertising career, your accounting experience is probably not going to sell your creative side. A functional resume allows you to focus on the soft and hard skills that are more related to the position you want.

A functional resume may not be for everyone. If you don’t know what is best for you, look at your work history and put yourself in employers’ shoes. If your skills are valuable to the position but your years of unrelated employment aren’t, a functional resume is the way to go. Have any tips on how the functional format helped you land a job? Tell us in the comments section below.

Career Advancement New Job Tips The Job Search Uncategorized

Work Ethic/Integrity Most Important Atribute in Hiring

By leidson on Thursday, September 12, 2013

Express Employment Professionals recently asked leaders and job seekers about the most important attributes in hiring a new employee, and both parties agreed that work ethic/integrity are at the top of the list. College degrees ranked the lowest, continuing the debate about the value of a college education. Since work ethic and integrity rank so high on this poll, check out this post on ways to improve your integrity on your cover letter.

Number two on the list was work experience, proving that taking temporary assignments can really pay off. There is a variety of part-time and full-time work available that can utilize the skills you’ve obtained. According to the American Staffing Association, 40% of staffing employees use temporary work to obtain employment experience or job training.

A popular discussion point in the “Other” category by leaders was attitude.

This poll is part of a larger conversation by Express within America Employed, a series of reports on the state of employment and unemployment in America and who gets hired and why.

Career Options New Job Tips

5 Facts You May Not Know About Staffing Companies

By Rachel Rudisill on Friday, July 26, 2013

What comes to mind when you think of staffing companies? Do you think of part-time manufacturing workers and as-needed administrative help? Or perhaps it conjures up visions of high-level headhunters who only hire for executive positions? Your opinion of staffing companies is most likely based on what you’ve heard about them or from your previous experience with them, whether good or bad.

A poor experience, or even having no experience at all, can give you a negative impression of all staffing companies. But, there are a few things about staffing providers that you might not know.

No Charge to Job Seekers
If you’re working with a reputable staffing company, it will not cost you a penny to be screened, added to their database, or placed in a position. The only one who’s charged a fee is the client company since the staffing provider is doing them the service of providing candidates to fill the open positions. That means you’re getting a team of professionals to find you a job, for free!
Full-Time Hours Are the Norm
The majority of temporary employees actually work full-time hours, not the sporadic part-time hours many people seem to think. Research from the American Staffing Association (ASA) found that almost 80% of staffing employees work full-time. Plus, temporary employees often get directly hired for full-time jobs at client companies. At Express Employment Professionals, 60% of our employees go to work full-time for client companies we hire for.
You’re in Control
Staffing companies let you tailor your work schedule to your life. You tell them when and how much you want to work. So, whether you’re trying to work a lot of hours to save up money or just trying to fit in a few work hours around other activities in your life, you can do exactly what you need.
Benefits Are Available
Many staffing companies offer their temporary employees benefits. Express Employment Professionals offers our associates a wide variety of benefits, from medical and dental insurance to vacation days and retirement programs. You just need to get the details on any requirements associated with being eligible, such as weekly hours worked or length of time on the job.
Chance to Learn Something New
Employees with a wide-range of skills and experiences are great assets to their employers, and staffing companies provide the perfect opportunity for you to learn a new thing or two. The ASA reported that 65% of staffing employees say they either improved their skills or developed new ones as a result of their temporary assignments. You may also have the chance to participate in specific training programs provided by the staffing company.

Searching for a job can be a stressful, time-consuming task, but you don’t have to do it alone. There are many reasons, beyond just these five, to look for a job through a staffing company. What are some other benefits you’ve found to using a staffing a company? Have you personally experienced any of the advantages listed above? We’d love to hear your thoughts – so please share in the comments section below.

The Job Search

Top Cities Express Jobs are Looking for People

By Rachel Rudisill on Monday, July 15, 2013

Job seekers often ask about how Express Employment Professionals finds jobs. Express is a network of locally owned staffing franchises that helps job seekers find jobs with good, local companies.

When you work for Express as an employee, you’ll be placed on assignment at one of our client companies, but you’re employed by Express. So, our jobs are a reflection of the talent demand in the local market.

In 2012, Express Employment Professionals put more than 330,000 people to work across North America. It’s our mission to help people find good jobs at great local companies, and right now, Express has more than 16,500 jobs looking for people.

The top 10 cities in which jobs are looking for people:
1. Nashville, TN – 559 jobs
2. Napa Valley, CA – 235 jobs
3. Dallas, TX – 222 jobs
4. Eau Claire, WI – 220 jobs
5. Oklahoma City, OK – 197 jobs
6. Portland, OR – 175 jobs
7. Austin, TX – 168 jobs
8. Indianapolis, IN – 162 jobs
9. Tacoma, WA – 153 jobs
10. Terre Haute, IN – 143 jobs

If you’ve applied for work at Express through our online application process, you should know your application was only submitted to the locations you requested. It’s important to take a look in the job search function on ExpressPros.com to see which location is hiring for the position you’re interested in and make sure to apply to that location. Express franchises work with clients in their local market, so if you’re looking to work in a certain part of town, apply at the location in that area.

If you’ve already applied at Express, make sure to check in with your staffing consultant to see if there are open positions right now that match with your skills.

Resumes and Cover Letters The Job Search

5 Ways to Get Ahead of the Competition

By Movin On' Up on Friday, June 7, 2013

Writing your resume for the first time – or for the first time in a long time – can be a daunting task for anyone. How you write up your credentials can make or break your chance to get your foot in the door for an interview, so it’s important to have your resume nearly perfect every time you apply for a job. Here are five big things to do every time you sit down to update your resume.

Tailor it.
The best way to write a perfect resume is tailoring it to a specific job description. Clearly list each skill you possess that the position requires. If you’re a perfect match for the job, a tailored resume will help potential employers see at a glance how your skills and talents match the position perfectly.

List unique skills.
After you review a job description, you may notice that a skill you possess wasn’t included in the posting. If that skill relates to the job and would benefit your employer, include this skill on your resume. Employers will take notice when you list unique skills, which can put you ahead of your competition, especially if no one else possesses those skills. If you have a skill that doesn’t relate to the job, don’t include it on your resume. For example, if you’re applying for a data processing job, don’t list your cooking skills.

Practice.
Writing a perfect resume doesn’t happen in an instance, and if you’re learning new skills and gaining new experiences, what you can put on your resume will constantly grow. The more practice you have writing your resume, the better you’ll be at tailoring it to each job description and including just what employers are looking for. Try drafting your resume in different formats, such as chronological and functional formats. This will help you figure out which style works best for each of the positions you’re applying for.

Proofread.
When you make careless mistakes and they end up in a potential employer’s hands, your chances of landing an interview may disappear. So, carefully read and reread your resume, checking for misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and misuse of similar sounding words that have a different meaning. Ask a friend or family member to proofread your resume, too. They’re more likely to catch a mistake that you’ve overlooked. Taking the time to make sure your resume is error-free keeps you from missing out on an opportunity because of an easily avoidable mistake.

Keep it short.
Most hiring managers receive many resumes and cover letters for every job opening they post and don’t have time to read every resume word for word. So, limit your resume to two pages or less. This provides enough space to detail your education, skills, and talents to employers without overwhelming them with too much information. And because they’re often in a hurry when looking through a stack of resumes, use bulleted lists to facilitate quick and easy reading instead of writing in long paragraphs. It’s great to highlight your achievements and include your work history, but only describe your more current employment.

Resumes play a big role in whether or not you’ll land an interview, so take your time putting yours together before you apply for each job. You can write a stand-out resume by practicing, proofreading, and tailoring it to each position. A near-perfect resume will help your accomplishments stand out and sell you as a great candidate for the job.

Career Options The Job Search

5 Ways to Find a Company Culture That Fits You

By Movin On' Up on Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Landing a great job is about more than a paycheck, benefits package, or good location. There’s another aspect of your job that is important enough to make or break your experience – company culture. All the money in the world won’t make up for a job you don’t like at a company where you don’t feel comfortable. You spend too much time at work to be unhappy in it.

Company culture is the unique personality or character of an organization, which can be seen in everything from dress code to workplace behavior to company values. Working at a company with conflicting values can be stressful, unfulfilling, and even discouraging at times. No matter how great the position and salary, if it’s not a culture match, you may be unfulfilled.

Now, even more employers are trying to figure out whether candidates will be a good fit for the company’s environment and with fellow co-workers. According to a study published in the American Sociological Review, determining whether or not potential new hires would enjoy working in the company’s cultural environment can play a greater role in the decision making process or the hiring process than your skills or background.

So, how do you go about uncovering a company’s culture and deciding whether or not it’s a good fit for you? Here are five ways you can find out if a company’s culture is right for you.

Assess Your Most Important Values
Think about the last time you felt like a job was a bad fit for you. What was it in paticular that made a poor fit? Asking yourself questions like this while reviewing your work history will help you get a better sense of what you’re looking for in an employer.

Discovering what is important to you about a company’s culture is a personal process, and you need to find what works best for you.

Keep a realistic expectation when listing your important values. It’s rare to find a work environment that is completely aligned with your values, but you should find employers that have a culture that allows your values to co-exist.

Apply Some Research
A simple action you can take to find out about a company’s culture is to visit their website. Most employers will have mission statements, annual reports, and media sources that can give insight into their beliefs and ethics. Looking into an employer’s social networking profiles can help you see if a company is more casual, expressive, and flexible or more professional, straight forward, and structured.

You can also research independent websites like GlassDoor.com or WetFeet.com where former employees offer honest opinions of companies they’ve worked for. The more you know before interacting with a potential employer, the better prepared you’ll be to ask the right questions to see if the job would be a good cultural fit.

Ask For Help
You can get a lot of information externally, but to get unique insight into what a company’s culture is really like, consider talking to people on the inside. Current employees and managers can give many details about the average work day and what is expected from the employer. Another bonus of talking to employees is that you’re networking with people who may improve your chances of getting hired if called for an interview.

Also, consider talking to recruiters from within a company or at a staffing agency. They can provide extensive experience from working for a certain employer. It’s their job to ensure job candidates understand what a company is like.

Arrive Early For an Interview
If possible, arrive early for an interview to observe the surroundings. Pay attention to how employees react to their work. Are they bored? Stressed? Excited? Note how managers or co-workers interact with each other, how they dress, or the layout and design of the workspaces. These kinds of clues can help you determine whether you’d mesh well with the work environment.

Acquire Information During an Interview
Before you’ve even been invited for an interview, you might consider doing an informational interview with the company. An informational interview involves talking with people who are currently working in the field to gain a better understanding of a job. You aren’t interviewing for a job, just meeting to gain experience and information.

While an interviewer may not be an ideal source for insight about negatives in an employer’s culture, asking questions that are specific to your values can help. Questions like, “Do you stress teamwork or independence?;” “What attracts employees to the company and why do they move on?;” or “What will be the greatest expectations and challenges of working for this company?” can help you determine if your values and a potential employer’s culture are a good match.

Not every job is meant for you, even if you are qualified for the position. If it turns out it’s time to go back to the drawing board, there are opportunities out there for you. By doing your research, enlisting the help of a recruiter, and building relationships with others – you may find the job that fits.