Cowlitz County Express Job Seekers Blog

“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.”—Barbara Gittings, LGBT activist June is recognized as Pride Month. It’s a time to honor and highlight the history, challenges, and achievements of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. More workplaces are incorporating Pride Month activities as part of their employee engagement strategy. What is Pride Month? Although Pride Month is now extensively celebrated worldwide, it was not always so. The history of Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Uprising in New York City in 1969. The tragedy spawned a gay liberation movement and a call to action for lawmakers to grant equal rights to the LGBTQIA+ community. Throughout the decades, widespread efforts have been made to end discriminatory workplace practices against the LGBTQIA+ community. A 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that terminating employees because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is sex discrimination that violates federal law and is one of …

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 communities 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 7, Episode 5: Ahoys and Hahas: Comedy On The High Seas Rob Little has a very enviable work calendar. As a cruise ship comedian with over 200 outings to his credit, Rob has seen places and ports most of us only dream about. But life aboard the ship isn’t all laughter and sunshine. Check out Rob’s website. Express teamed with iHeartMedia and Audiation to produce this podcast, available wherever you like to listen to your favorite podcasts, including iTunes and iHeartRadio. Eight episodes will be produced for 20223, with new episodes released each week during May and June. During Season six, each episode was downloaded an average of 100,000+ times!

It’s not always easy to get our creative juices flowing at work. When starting a new project or halfway through an existing one, we can get stuck in an idea rut. Maybe you need some inspiration before going to a brainstorming session with your team, or maybe you want to inspire another colleague to help launch their own creativity. Sometimes it may also be helpful to take part in exercises to strengthen your creative muscles. Here are ten quotes and some advice to help you ignite your creative spark in the workplace. Share Your Creativity to Inspire Others “Creativity is contagious – pass it on.” —Albert Einstein, Physicist Use Creativity to Problem Solve “I apply the term ‘creativity’ broadly… it’s problem solving. We are all faced with problems, and we have to address them and think of something new, and that’s where creativity comes in.” —Edwin Catmull, Computer Scientist See Creativity as a Resource “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou, Poet …

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 7, Episode 4: If You Build A Pizza Oven, They Will Come Jake Wright is a self-described food carnie; a rambling pizza rover. After a failed attempt at a career in music production, Jake decided to combine the two things in life that most excite him: pizza and welding. Now, he tows his mobile pizza oven around Texas, making pizzas at music festivals, rodeos, and even his own wedding. Check out Jake’s website at OhMyPizzaPie.com. Express teamed with iHeartMedia and Audiation to produce this podcast, available wherever you like to listen to your favorite podcasts, including iTunes and iHeartRadio. Eight episodes will be produced for 20223, with new episodes released each …

Looking for a new job opportunity? It’s never easy to leave a job or industry that you have been in for a long time. However, making the switch can be worthwhile. One of the first things you’ll want to do is make sure your resume is transferrable and up to date with your most recent career achievements. TopResume offers seven strategies for preparing for a career change by updating your resume for job search success.

It’s graduation season, and at Express Employment Professionals, we hear from plenty of adults looking to find their child or grandchild a job. We understand. Your child or grandchild worked extremely hard to obtain their diploma or degree. It can be difficult to enter the job market after high school or college, and the more people who assist your son, daughter, or grandchild in their job search, the better. However, there are right and not-so-right ways to help these aspiring employees find a job. Let’s dig in. DO: Mentor and Guide Them Encourage your kid to apply to multiple jobs. Introduce them to online job search websites they might not be aware of, like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, or the job search sections of social media websites like LinkedIn. If your child can’t find anything to apply for, ask them to consider other work experience options. Community service, professional organizations, and even part-time work can still look great on a resume. The key here is to do a bit of research and inspire your child to do …

The On the Job podcast series shares inspiring stories about the pursuit of work. Jobs give us a connection to our communities 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 7, Episode 3: Four Decades and Counting Meet Terri Weldon, who has been working for Express Employment Professionals for over 40 years. She shares her secrets to long term professional happiness that can apply to any workplace. Express teamed with iHeartMedia and Audiation to produce this podcast, available wherever you like to listen to your favorite podcasts, including iTunes and iHeartRadio. Eight episodes will be produced for 20223, with new episodes released each week during May and June. During Season six, each episode was downloaded an average of 100,000+ times!

Despite a hot jobs market, mass layoffs in certain industries, resignations, burnout, and inflation are causing employees to examine their personal mental health. The way we think can determine the way we function. Advocating for your mental health and wellness at work is important. When you’re stressed at work, it can be hard to concentrate on the task at hand. So, help relax your mind with these tips: Get enough sleep. How much sleep you get can determine how your body and mind perform throughout the day. So, get enough rest to help you function at your best. Experts recommend that adults get seven to eight hours of sleep each day. Incorporate exercise. Along with getting enough sleep, proper exercise is incredibly important. When stress gets to you, consider taking a few minutes to step away from your work and go on a quick walk or take a meditation break. Your body and mind are connected, and getting your body moving can reduce mental fatigue. Listen to music. Listening to …

  If you’re a mother, a future mother, or have a motherly figure, you are probably aware that parenting is a full-time job. Many maternal characteristics can be applied in the workplace. Here are four transferable parenting skills that can help with your job interview, resume, and daily workflow. Multitasking and Flexibility Parenting necessitates a great deal of patience and organization. Moms are experts at multitasking. When it comes to eating, school and extracurricular activities, playtime, and sleep schedules, a strategy has to be implemented to juggle the busy and sometimes chaotic day. Being organized at work can also go a long way. When you have project deadlines, meetings, and multiple emails in your inbox, time management will be your best friend. Remember that our schedule does not always go as planned, so be flexible and give yourself some grace. Mentorship As a mother, you must teach your children life and social skills so that they will be capable adults in the world one day. You may not realize it, …

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 communities 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 7, Episode 2: A Mother to the Rescue As a thrill seeker and born caretaker, Aysia Bly found her dream job as a pediatric flight nurse where she performs her duties while soaring above Philly in a helicopter. But the job is inherently dangerous, and as a mom to a young son, Aysia must contend with that risk everyday. You can learn more about Aysia at her website, MotheringtheMama.com.