Cowlitz County Express Job Seekers Blog

If so, it’s time to act. It’s hard to believe it’s back-to-school season already. Summer break has come to an end as college students across the country move back to their dorms or apartments. Many of these students will take up an unpaid internship during their spare time. These positions can be a great way to get on-the-job training and experience. However, what if you start your unpaid internship and notice that you’re not learning anything? You aren’t given much (if any) direction, and the only time your manager asks for your help is when he needs furniture moved or a window washed. Is this normal, or are you being taken advantage of? Look for these warning signs. Your Manager Isn’t Interested in Changing You sit down with your manager and make your concerns known. You tell them you don’t feel comfortable with tasks that aren’t related to your desired profession, as you aren’t learning anything useful. Perhaps your manager rolls their eyes, and says they’ll find you other work. …

Is this a trick question? This is one of those questions interviewers ask that can really stump job applicants if they aren’t prepared. It can seem like there has to be a right answer, that you have to choose taking charge or receiving direction. However, there’s plenty of room for personalized answers that relate to you specifically. Not sure how to start crafting your reply? We’ve got you covered. Be Honest Interviewers aren’t trying to trick you. If you like taking the lead and being a go-getter, tell them that! However, it’s perfectly fine if you would rather stay in the back and support the rest of the team. This question pops up so managers know what you’ll be like to work with if you get the job. The only wrong answers are those that are unclear or make it seem like you don’t like working at all. Choose Your Words Carefully If you aren’t a take-charge kind of worker, instead of saying that you “really don’t like to be …

File this information and store it for later! Despite already having experience with several jobs, many working adults are unable to answer that 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. Data Entry Specialist In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re organizing information about data entry specialists. Responsibilities include filing and handling mail, data-entry, typing, and other office-related tasks. The position also requires regular interaction with management and other office staff. Required Education: High-school diploma Pay Although pay varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.), data entry specialists can make $13-$16 an hour, on average. What Data Entry Specialists Do: Data entry specialists deal with a variety of responsibilities, which may include: Typing and filing reports Maintaining records Collecting data Providing information and greeting customers/clients …

We’re living in a job seekers market; that means there are more jobs available than qualified individuals to fill them. That’s great for those job searching, but less than great for companies. Companies need to be incredibly competitive to attract and retain top talent. One of the ways they accomplish this is by offering beneficial perks. Pay raises and other traditional benefits like a good insurance plan are typically expected, but things like a relaxed dress code or flextime can really tip the scales when job seekers are choosing a place to work. But which perks are the most important? We want to know, and you can help by voting in our poll—what perks are most important to you? Have anything else to say about your most-valued work perks? Let us know in the comments section below!  

And why does it matter? We all have bad boss stories. Maybe you had a boss yell at you every day, never show up for work, or take credit for a project you completed solo. Or perhaps your manager just didn’t really care or acknowledge you at all. All of those bosses are lacking one key trait—empathy. In a recent study, Businessolver® found that 91% of CEOs “believe empathy is directly linked to a company’s financial performance, while 93% of employees say they’re more likely to stay with an empathetic employer.” However, while 92% of CEOs think their organizations are empathetic, only 72% of employees agree. To find out whether your boss is empathetic, look for the following qualities. They Listen An empathetic boss cares about you as a person, not just an employee. They ask you about how your family is doing, listen to your vacation stories, and remember what you say. They want you to succeed and know how your personal life affects your work life. They Encourage You …

Staffing companies have something for everyone. College students have a lot to worry about—classes, homework, quizzes, tests, extracurricular activities, and of course, trying to maintain some semblance of a social life. Combine all of that with looking for your first post-university job, and life can get hectic. Luckily, Express Employment Professionals is here to help. We’re a staffing company, which means it’s our mission to put people to work. If you haven’t considered a staffing company before, here are a few reasons why you should start now. Part-Time/Summer Jobs Need a summer job to help keep up with expenses but not sure how your skillset fits in? Or maybe you’re looking for a part-time job to help with expenses during the semester? Staffing companies can help. When you work with a recruiter, they help you find a job so you don’t have to spend time searching online. These jobs can range from industrial to an office setting and everything in between, so you’re sure to find something you’re qualified for. …

Every quarter, Express Employment Professionals International Headquarters conducts an ongoing Job Insights survey to track hiring trends across a wide range of industries. We want to share these results with you, so that you can know which industries will be hiring. Going into the second half of 2019, the employment market remains positive with little concern about recession in the short-term. Forty-six percent of survey respondents said their employment markets are “trending up” in the third quarter of 2019, and only 10% forecast a downward trend in employment activity. Additionally, 97% of respondents reported that they do not currently live in an area in recession. So, it appears in the short term recession isn’t a concern for most business leaders. The long-term outlook, however, shows some signs of caution within the next two years. The top segments hiring in the third quarter of 2019 include General Labor (Industrial): 36% Skilled Labor (Industrial): 32% Administrative/Office Clerical: 20% Accounting/Finance: 9% Healthcare: 6% Do you foresee your country entering into another recession? 3 …

Let’s be honest. Prepping for interviews is tough. You’ve probably read hundreds of articles telling you what to wear, what time to show up, etc. etc. etc. And it can get ridiculous how specific some so-called tips can be. Like “don’t look your interviewer in the eye too long” or “don’t get up and leave in the middle of the interview.” We all know that stuff. Luckily Tripp and Tyler are here to make light of those ridiculous interview tips. Watch the video below and tell us what you think in the comments section!  

Express Employment Professionals is privileged to put more than half a million people to work each year. We wouldn’t be where we are today without our workers. That’s why we’re holding our Ultimate Thank You Sweepstakes in August. We will award five people $1,000 each week that month, and then, to celebrate Labor Day in the U.S., and Labour Day in Canada, we’ll award one lucky winner in both the U.S. and Canada vacation packages valued at $10,000. To apply, all you have to do is fill out a short form. To learn more about Express, check us out at ExpressPros.com, or find your local office by using our office locator.

Prepare your reasons. When companies are hiring, they aren’t just looking for the most skilled applicants. While skill is important, interviewers are also looking for culture fit. Folks that mesh with the rest of the employees and stay with the company long-term. That’s the main reason interviewers ask applicants why they want to work at the company. Your answer should combine a discussion of your skills with your personality and how you fit in with the company in general. Here are a few tips to keep in mind. Research the Company Answering any interview question starts with research, and this question is actually testing your knowledge. Figure out what it is that attracts you to the company (beside the paycheck). Check out the company’s website, recent news coverage (a Google search will help with that), and review sites like Glassdoor.com. Don’t forget to look to your own network as well! If you know anybody who works at the company, ask them what they love about it. Remember This Isn’t About …