Express Buffalo Job Seekers Blog

For many companies, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to hiring — or worse, employees had to be let go. In fact, an April study by Pew Research Center found that 28% of the 4,917 U.S. adults surveyed said they or someone in their household was let go as a direct result of the pandemic. […]

How we work and look for jobs has changed due to increased connectivity from the Internet. The worldwide lockdowns because of the Covid-19 pandemic have only sped things up and the dynamics of looking for a job have changed for good. One’s online profile has never been more relevant. If you are looking for a […]

COVID-19 has created an extremely unique job market where remote recruiting and hiring has become the new normal. There are definite advantages of hiring through video recruiting, but since it’s new to many job seekers, you may feel you’ll struggle to shine in this digitized recruiting process. Here are the steps you can take to […]

No shame in admitting it, this feels like the worst time to be looking for a job. With many organizations pivoting to remote work, hiring may be put on the back burner. Besides that, with most offices being closed, you’re not about to show up to your interviewer’s house in a suit. Video Interviews to […]

Congratulations! You’ve been asked to complete a one-way video interview. This is a big step towards your next job. You’re used to the “normal” hiring process, with phone screens, in-person interviews, and the like. But, maybe this one-way video interview is a new thing entirely. Or maybe you have done a one-way video interview before, […]

Congratulations! You’ve been asked to join a live video interview. This is a big accomplishment, but it’s important to get it right. You’re used talking to a recruiter over the phone and then meeting for in-person interviews so this live video interview might be a new thing entirely. Or maybe you have done a live […]

When an organization reaches out to connect with you over the phone, you might find yourself replying “Yes” before you’ve even thought about it. Advancing to the next step in a company’s hiring process means some of your nervousness searching for a new position disappears.  If you aren’t expecting it, a video interview invitation instead […]

In the workplace, most people want to be productive. You want to be able to finish your work within the day so you don’t have to bring it home or finish the next day. However, there are a lot of factors that influence the level of productivity that people have in the workplace. Some of […]

There’s a lot to consider as you search for a job. While the first thing to look at should be the job description, it is also important to think about what type of working environment the company has. In your search for compensation, don’t forget to consider company culture. A company’s culture speaks to the […]

It’s kind of crazy how quickly your life shifts between graduation, and post-celebrations. You have tossed your cap, waved your farewells, and accepted all the wishes from professors you got on the good side of… But what comes next? The scary thing is almost 1 in 5 graduates do not go after the job they […]

You may have recently heard of a deadly mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket in May. According to reports, several of the victims were store employees. This incident can be categorized as workplace violence. Each year, an average of nearly 2 million U.S. workers report being a victim of violence at work, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the number of annual workplace homicides at about 400. Workplace violence can strike at any time, from a co-worker, stranger, customer, client, or personal relationship. Threats of violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening behavior are all examples of workplace violence. You have the right to work in a safe environment, and we want to assist you in achieving that goal. Here are some tips on how to avoid and defuse violence in the workplace. Prevention Tips: Be familiar with your company’s emergency communication plan as well as how to contact local authorities. If you think of how someone could …

Eating healthy at work can be tough. Prepping meals the night before is time-consuming, and it’s much easier to throw a bag of chips and a PB & J together in the morning and call it a day. Not to mention all the unhealthy food available at the office, from donuts and candy to free pizza lunches and eating out with co-workers. If you’re having trouble eating healthy at work, here are a few tips that can help. Eat Breakfast And this should be more than a cup of coffee! Eating a balanced breakfast can kickstart your day after fasting all night. You want to be alert and ready to work, and a healthy breakfast can help you do that. Meal Prep the Night Before Meal prep can be troublesome, and sometimes it’s the last thing you want to do after a hard day at work. But prepping the night before can help to ensure you have something healthy and tasty for lunch. You can even prep a few snacks …

The latest episode of the On the Job podcast is now available! The On the Job podcast series shares inspiring stories about the pursuit of work. Jobs give us a connection to our community and the ability to provide for ourselves and our families—On the Job presents interesting stories about the way people work and what it means to be employed. Season 6, Episode 3: A Meaty Decision  Scott Carey leaves his stable, decade-long career in marketing to make a risky move doing something he loves – being a butcher.

For some folks, an office job just isn’t enough. Sitting in a cubicle all day staring at a screen isn’t for them. These individuals really want to get out into the world and build or craft things with their hands. If this sounds like you, here’s a selection of jobs that let you literally have a hands-on experience. Electrician Electricians are mainly responsible for executing plans of electrical wiring for well-functional lighting, intercom, and other electrical systems. Pay varies depending on a variety of factors, but electricians can make $20 to $34 on average. Mechanic Mechanics deal with a variety of responsibilities, including working on a variety of vehicles (including building and assembling mechanical components), as well as running diagnostic tests to discover potential issues. Mechanics can make as much as $60,000 per year or more. Plumber Plumbers work, perhaps unsurprisingly, in plumbing. They fix leaks; cut, assemble, and install pipes; and repair water supply lines, as well as other related appliances and fixtures. Plumbers can make as much as …

Do you have an achy back after working all day? Or maybe your hands feel a bit numb? The cause could be the way you sit at work. Good posture is incredibly important to avoid long-term damage to your body. According to the Los Angeles Times, sitting isn’t good for humans. “Prolonged sitting is not what nature intended for us,” says Dr. Camelia Davtyan, clinical professor of medicine and director of women’s health at the UCLA Comprehensive Health Program. Essentially, humans started as hunter-gatherers, usually on the move. Sitting exerts forces on our bodies that they aren’t built for, especially sitting for an eight-hour workday. When comparing individuals who spent the majority of their time sitting with those who spent the least time, researchers found increases in the risks of diabetes (112%), cardiovascular events (147%), death from cardiovascular causes (90%) and death from all causes (49%). However, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost! There are a few things you can do to improve your posture at work and …

Check out the latest episode of Express Employment Professionals’ On the Job podcast! Season 6, Episode 2: Minding The Store General store manager Karen Banks perseveres through the turbulence of losing her employees, and the huge influx of customers coming into her small Vermont town.

We’re still living in a job seekers’ market, which means that companies face intense competition for hiring job applicants. One way for them to compete is by offering better benefits. We wanted to know what benefits mattered to you, our readers, so we held a poll. We also asked employers what benefits they were offering in this tight labor market. Let’s see what you had to say! Job seekers and employees valued pay increases most highly, with 22% of respondents choosing the option as their top benefit. Additional time off and reduced health insurance costs came next, with 17% and 15% of the vote, respectively. 14% valued flexible scheduling, while another 14% wanted remote work options. Finally, mental/emotional wellness benefits and a relaxed dress code were less highly valued, with 10% and 7% of the vote. On the employer side, we asked what benefits companies added or modified to retain talent. Thirty percent of respondents began to offer pay increases, 16% now offer remote options, and 12% offer flexible scheduling. …

Explore a career as a photographer! Despite already having experience with several jobs, many working adults are unable to answer the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Our Job Spotlight monthly blog series is designed to help answer that question. In this series, we review all the basics of specific jobs, from pay and duties, to why people do the jobs they do.   Photographer In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re learning what it means to be a photographer.   Required Education: Requirements vary, but typically a high school diploma. Some positions also require a college degree.   Pay Although pay varies depending on multiple factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, type of photographer etc.), photographers can earn a median of $38,950 per year.   What Photographers Do: Although they can change with the type of position, Photographers deal with a variety of responsibilities, including: Taking and processing photographs. Communicating with clients to schedule photography sessions. Taking care of photography equipment. Editing photographs. Sometimes, …

We’re excited to announce the season six launch of the On the Job Podcast with a brand-new episode! For season six, we’re focusing on how people and businesses are getting back to work. Let’s call it “The Great Transformation.” Employers need people to work more than ever, and we’ll be hearing from people navigating this new normal for themselves as they find their life’s work. Season 6, Episode 1: The Great Transformation Don’t miss an episode! The On the Job podcast series shares inspiring stories about the pursuit of work. Jobs give us a connection to our community and the ability to provide for ourselves and our families. Your work may be your passion, or it could just be the way you make ends meet. On The Job dives into the multiple employment milestones of life. Download the On the Job podcast on iTunes or anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Today is National Skilled Trades Day! On this day, we celebrate those working in skilled trades and the field of skilled trades itself. In celebration of the holiday, we wanted to review what a skilled trade is, as well as a few good reasons to pursue a career in the skilled trades. So, what is a skilled trade? According to Express Employment Professionals, “At the most basic level, a skilled trade is any job that requires a specialized skill, usually obtained through a technical school, college, or on-the-job training through an apprenticeship or internship.” Skilled trades don’t generally require a four-year degree. However, some may require a license or certification earned through a state agency or school. Some require associate degrees or associate degree programs. Express notes that, “most of the time, you’ll see skilled trades broken down into categories, with a variety of jobs in each category.” These categories are outlined as the following:   Construction:  electricians, cement and concrete finishers, drywall, carpentry Industrial:  welders, fabricators, machinist, pipefitters Transportation:  …