Cowlitz County Express Job Seekers Blog

There are about 10 million jobs left unfilled every month! This means you have the pick of the litter if you play your cards differently from all the other candidates. Many job seekers do not prepare for their job search in advance and ultimately fail to land their dream job. But this won’t happen to you. Unlike your competitors, you’re going to prepare well before you even begin your job search. And here’s a job search checklist to help you do just that. 1.     Keep Your Skills Current If your skills aren’t up to date, you need to upskill. This may require looking up the top hard and soft skills in demand for the jobs you are interested in and developing them. Taking the time to do this sends a clear message to recruiters you can keep up with the ever-evolving trends in their industry. One of the best places to look up current skills is on LinkedIn, where you can research employers and job postings in your industry. 2.   …

“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” —Thurgood Marshall February is Black History Month (BHM); it’s a time to celebrate and honor Black people’s contributions, achievements, and culture in the U.S., Canada, and worldwide. The month also draws attention to some of the more difficult historical periods Black people faced. Here are a few practical ideas for maximizing BHM at work. Participate in Diversity and Inclusion Opportunities “When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.” —Ava DuVernay Promoting diversity and inclusion is key to supporting a wide range of employees in the workplace. If your company organizes events around BHM, volunteer on the planning committee or participate in the month-long celebrations. There may even be training sessions on diversity and inclusion that may pique your interest. Take advantage of the possibilities to learn more about Black history and promote engaging and intentional conversations …

Many factors must be considered when determining the best candidate for a particular role. Hiring managers consider applicants’ hard skills, such as work experience and education. However, employers are just as interested, if not more, in soft skills. Soft skills are “character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person’s relationship with others.” When looking for hireable applicants, decision-makers often look for certain soft skills in their applicants. A study released by Express Employment Professionals and the Harris Poll in May 2022 found that dependability (90%), communications skills (89%), and a willingness to learn (88%) are among the top soft skills hiring managers deem essential in job applicants. Other important skills include problem-solving skills (85%), adaptability (85%), critical thinking (84%), and/or initiative (84%). More than 7 in 10 feel fitting with the company culture (79%), creativity (72%), and/or leadership skills (71%) are also of high importance to them. A Willingness to Learn Just saying you “like to learn” isn’t always enough in an interview. Instead, show your willingness to learn through your …

We live in a post-pandemic world, and job seekers have had to adapt to a new way of job searching, including how they prepare for and participate in interviews. Since the pandemic, many companies have used virtual interviews, and Teams and Zoom interviews appear to be here to stay. According to a recent survey of employers by TopResume, the world’s largest resume-writing service, job candidates are making huge mistakes when interviewing virtually. Here are the top five virtual interview deal-breakers that could cost you the job: Avoiding eye contact or staring into space Sitting in a messy room Leaving inappropriate tabs or apps open when screen-sharing Using an unprofessional background Being interrupted by the candidate’s family members   Now that you know the mistakes made in virtual interviews, here’s what you can do to improve your interview experience: Make eye contact and focus on the interview Employers were most concerned about a job candidate’s lack of focus and eye contact during virtual interviews. The best course of action is to concentrate on …

Do you have any career-related goals from last year that you still need to achieve? Now is a good time to work on them or start something new. The 24th of January was National “Just Do It” Day. It was first observed in 2015 and is a day to attempt new things or finish the task you’ve been putting off. Even though the day has past, here are some things you can do in your work-life to propel you to greater success. Take the Initiative on a New Project Has your department already mapped out your year’s projects? If so, it could be a good time to raise your hand and try something different. Asking your employer to lead a project displays your willingness to go above and beyond for your team. If you execute the task well, it might also help you gain visibility inside the organization. Taking on a new project could be thrilling because we often feel caught in a rut. Tidy Up Your Workspace Did you …

You may have heard the term “light industrial” used before, but have you ever wondered what jobs are considered a part of this category? This is a very broad category of jobs in various industries, but generally, they include positions like assemblers, inventory clerks, warehouse workers, cashiers, and material handlers. You may see a slightly different definition on other platforms that use the terms “working class” and “blue collar” interchangeably. Knowing which jobs fall into this category will help you better understand the type of work you should pursue and what it will take to land the job you want. To learn more about light industrial jobs, check out this video below.   Light industrial jobs are the backbone of our economy and play an important role in the success of both large and small businesses. Because they typically require less experience and education requirements, they can be easier to enter and start a career. Express often hires: Shipping/Receiving Clerks Warehouse Workers Assembly Crews Material Handlers Industrial Machine Builders Pick …

Jan. 16 is a day to honor the life and legacy of one of the most influential leaders in world history, civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we remember Dr. King, we’d like to share a few career lessons that can be learned from him. Have a Solid Plan With the desire to end segregation and racial tensions in the U.S., Dr. King and many other civil rights leaders faced a long road ahead. Dr. King understood the importance of creating a solid plan to make equality a reality. For example, Dr. King was a participant in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. That effort lasted more than a year and led to a monumental court ruling that favored segregated buses being unconstitutional. Career Lesson: Our goals may change throughout our careers but create a roadmap to track progress and identify accomplishments and challenges. Perhaps you want to work in a more senior role someday. If that is the case, the following steps may be taken: Volunteering to take …

Is a career change one of your goals to crush in the new year? In December, we asked what your job expectations would be in 2023. Here’s what those polled had to say: With 32%, the top answer to the monthly poll was “Finding a new job will be somewhat difficult in 2023,” followed by “Somewhat easy,” with 26%. With another 20% of the votes, readers said, “Difficult,” another 14% said, “The job search will be easy.” Eight percent said, “They don’t plan to search for a job.” What Does it Mean? Most workers polled believe that finding a new job this year will be difficult by 2023. However, some are optimistic that the job search will be easy. You are not alone in your job search. If you need help or encouragement, we at Job Journey would like to assist you with your search by creating a curated selection of resources made just for you. Resources on Career Change Setting S.M.A.R.T Job Search Goals for the New Year Fall …

Looking to leave your current job but need help figuring out where to start? In search of the perfect part-time job? Or maybe you want to break into a new industry altogether. The ExpressJobs app keeps you in direct communication with your Express Employment Specialist with up-to-the-minute details about new positions available through Express, job assignments, work, job location details, and more! You can track and maintain your schedule right from your device. You can even submit your hours with the timecard function. It’s like having your Express team with you—wherever, whenever. The free ExpressJobs app allows you to easily access and manage your job opportunities and options at Express Employment Professionals right from your mobile device. The ExpressJobs app puts great jobs right at your fingertips and allows you to: Search for available jobs Build your profile and show off your skills Apply for jobs that interest you Communicate with your local Express office Manage your timesheets and work assignments   Want to hear more? Check out this quick …

Many of us may not say it out loud, but doesn’t it feel good when your hard work on the job is recognized? You know you’ve done the work, but how do you ensure others see it without appearing obnoxious or boastful? You may want to advance your career by getting a promotion. Professional advocacy is critical along your career journey, and we want to ensure your work gets noticed in 2023. Build and Showcase Your Portfolio Before your work can be noticed, it’s a good idea to build your portfolio so you have something to show. Make the most of this opportunity to gather some of your best work. Have copies of your presentations, analytic data, or notes to showcase how you successfully executed a project. Keeping track of your work can get your work noticed and be a good way to pat yourself on the back or see how you could improve a task moving forward. Highlight Your Accomplishments Before Your Review You don’t want to wait until …