Job Seekers Blog

A new year is just around the corner, and with it, perhaps, a new job opportunity for you. We want to know what your job search will look like in 2023. Will it be better? Worse? More of the same? Let us know by voting in our poll! View Survey

  In the post-pandemic, Great Resignation era, quiet quitting has emerged as the latest workplace buzzword. Employees incorporate quiet quitting into their workflow when they feel their job is unsatisfying and begin doing the bare minimum required in their role. At the same time, they are actively looking for another opportunity to arise so they can leave their current job. Given the frequency of quiet quitting across a number of industries, including manufacturing, this raises the question of what some businesses are lacking when it comes to attracting new employees and retaining their current ones. A recent Forbes article stated, “Businesses that cultivate human, colleague-to-colleague relationships have a secret weapon toward a happier and more fruitful team.” Creating those strong relationships in the manufacturing industry can be challenging due to the production environment. Still, it is critical to combat employees’ quitting quietly and decrease the industry’s turnover rate by forming stronger relationships. How can you create a more collaborative workplace culture in the manufacturing industry? Employees must be met where they are by …

With a diverse workforce comprised of several different generations, ethnicities, and skills, just to name a few characteristics, it’s important to create an inclusive environment for all, including first-generation college students who go on to become first-generation professionals (FGPs). According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Civil Rights, FGPs are “those who are among the first in their immediate families to enter the professional workforce, i.e., their parents held traditional blue-collar or working-class positions that did not require a college degree.” These employees bring diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, life experiences, skills, and talents to organizations, allowing them to bring a new lens to companies and their challenges. Understand the First-Gen Career Journey It’s important companies establish and enforce diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts to accommodate and support all of their diverse employees. To better understand the challenges and experiences that FGPs face, it is critical to hold and participate in awareness training—recognizing and accepting that their path to professionalism may not have been the same as others. The …

It’s that time of year again when the holidays have arrived. As we prepare to celebrate all of the end-of-year festivities, let us reflect on all we have to be grateful for. Take some time this week as you gather with family and friends to reflect on the year that has passed and what you want to achieve in 2023. All of us at Job Journey wish you a very happy and joyous holiday season. At Express Employment Professionals, our daily goal and mission are to put people to work and provide hope. This year, we are thankful for: The half million Express associates who work for us and help our client companies fulfill their production and staffing needs. Our associates who are committed to enhancing the communities where they work and live. Through you, Express is making a real difference in many parts of the world and will continue to do so in the future. You choosing Express to help you find a job. We are so proud as a …

If you enjoy transforming spaces, choosing a profession as a painter may be the right path for you. Commercial, industrial, and residential painters are among the painting jobs you can work to help build a diverse portfolio. The Job Spotlight blog series this month delves into what it means to be a painter. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, bridges, and other structures. Required Education: There are no formal education requirements to become a painter. Some technical schools offer optional certificates in painting, but training usually takes place on the job. Pay: Pay varies depending on multiple factors (e.g., experience, geographic area, etc.). According to Salary.com, a painter’s salary typically ranges between $38,174 and $48,525.   What Do Painters Do? Painters deal with a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to: Protect floors, furniture, and trim by covering surfaces with drop cloths and tarps and securing with tape Install scaffolding and raise ladders Fill holes and cracks …

Many people take time off work to spend time with loved ones during the holiday season, and one topic of conversation that might come up is your job. We want to help you navigate the conversation about your job during the holidays so you can enjoy your time off without spending the majority of it talking about work. After all, you’re on vacation, so make the most of it. If you enjoy your job: If you like what you do for work, talking about it during the holidays probably won’t be dreadful. Try focusing on an upcoming project you’re excited about, the promotion you recently received, or what you’ll be doing in your new role. Maybe even encourage the other person to share about their job. If your job makes you unhappy: Work can be unpleasant and stressful, especially if you dislike what you do. Perhaps there are some issues with the company culture, or you’ve been waiting for a promised promotion that you have yet to receive. If that door is …

As we advance in our careers, we set goals for ourselves. In October, we asked if your current job is aligned with your career goals. Here’s what they had to say: With 51%, the top answer to the monthly poll was “No, my current job does not align with my career goals,” followed by “Yes, I’m right on track to achieve my goals,” with 39%. With another 33% of the votes, readers said, “Not exactly, but it’s a step in the right direction.” What Does it Mean? Most polled workers say their current position does not fit where they want to be in their careers. However, some workers think they have headed in the right direction or that their position is a stepping stone to something bigger. Resources on Career Change Questions to Ask Yourself Before a Career Change Making the Switch – 5 Tips for Changing Careers Resources on Career Goals Why You Need a Career Development Plan A Simple Goal-Setting Guide 7 Ways to Set Goals for Your …

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada, and Express Employment Professionals is proud to serve our veterans. We want to reshare an episode from Season 5 of our On the Job podcast highlighting how one Express franchise office continues to go above and beyond for those who have served their countries. Season 5, Episode 2: Giving Back to Those Who Served For the Calabrese family, serving their community in Utica, NY, is serving their community is a family tradition. In 2013, John Calabrese Sr. and his wife Lori embarked on a new career by opening their own Express franchise. Intrigued by the business, their son, John Jr., joined the cause and began doing the important work of matching candidates with companies and vice versa. He noted that many of the area’s unemployed were veterans—several homeless and struggling. So, he and his family launched the Veterans Supply Drive initiative, using two repurposed military vehicles to collect and distribute food and clothing and monetary donations …

Recently, companies have experienced a paradigm shift in the relationship they have with their employees and expectations concerning loyalty and retention. This new employment phenomenon, known as “quiet quitting,” has left employers with lower productivity rates, unknown realized turnover issues, and a step behind in the battle for talent during the Great Resignation. To combat this trend, it’s important to understand what is causing employees to “quietly quit,” how to read the telltale signs, and what to do to ensure star employees don’t secretly head for the door. What Are the Telltale Signs? As leaders, it’s important to be involved in your employees’ overall experience at work—and being observant and having open communication go along with that. Even if everything seems fine on the surface, you could still have some of your team among the quiet quitters. Here are just a few signs to look for in employees to determine if they’ve succumbed to this trend: Lack of enthusiasm at work or within their job Low engagement in meetings or …

November is a month to enjoy the holidays with loved ones and express thanks. Right now, could be a good opportunity to consider how you can continue to grow in your career as the year draws to a close and a new one begins. November is also National Career Development Month, and we want to help you get the most out of your career by reflecting on advice we shared with you in 2022 in hopes these strategies will encourage you and help you succeed. Returning to Your Former Job If you left your job, learned new skills, and now want to return to your old company, here are a few things to consider before returning to work as a boomerang employee. Talking to Your Manager Talking openly with your manager about your goals can help guide you in the right direction to continue growing in your career. Here are some actions you can take to get the most out of manager feedback before your next meeting. Interview Tips If …