Express Ocala Job Seekers Blog

“We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that’s all.” – Andrew Clark, The Breakfast Club On February 15, 1985, a movie about a group of misfit teens in detention debuted. Many critics still consider it one of the greatest films of all time. The film explored our tendency to judge others based on appearances and who we think they are, as opposed to getting to know them. You probably recognize that film as The Breakfast Club. But did you know the coming-of-age flick has plenty of lessons that apply to your adult working life? Here’s what the characters of The Breakfast Club can teach us about the workplace. Brian Johnson, The Brain—Portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall The Brain prioritizes doing their job well above everything else. They’re a bit of a loner, and don’t talk much. They don’t participate in social activities outside of work. It’s almost like they think they’re too smart to hang out with their co-workers. But that’s not true at …

Do you know the difference? Current work philosophy dictates the best possible team is one chock-full of varying viewpoints, personalities, and skills. Differences in opinion and beliefs result in more stimulating brainstorming sessions and a higher degree of innovation overall. Many employers are starting to embrace “diverse” workplaces with employees coming from a wide range of walks of life. But HR folks still say that this “diversity” is not enough. There needs to be inclusion as well, but this can be a difficult concept for employees to understand. What’s the difference anyway? Here’s the difference between diversity and inclusion, and why both are important to have in any workplace. Diversity vs. Inclusion In an interview with Forbes, HR consultant Jennifer Brown noted that diversity is “the who and the what: who we’re tracking from the traditional characteristics and identities of gender and ethnicity, and sexual orientation and disability—inherent diversity characteristics that we’re born with. Inclusion refers to the how. Inclusion is the behaviors that welcome and embrace diversity.” So, diversity …

How Much Do They Want to Know? Some interviewers prefer to kick things off with a general question instead of something specific. Asking you to talk about yourself tells them two things: 1. How you handle being put on the spot and 2. Information about your experience they can use as a baseline for the rest of your interview. Since the question is so general, it can be hard to figure out where to start. But the open nature of the question also allows you to create a unique answer that shows off your personality and experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind. This is an interview, not a first date The funny part about the “tell me about yourself” question is it typically pops up in two contexts: interviews, like here, and first dates. But that doesn’t mean you should answer the question the same way! If you were on a date, you’d probably say something like “I work at XYZ company, I like long walks …

Serve yourself a new job with a banquet server position. 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 you answer that question. In this series, we review all the basics of specific jobs, from salary and duties to why people do the jobs they do. Banquet Server In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re cooking up some information on banquet server positions. Competition for banquet server positions is low, as employment is projected to grow at 14% from 2016 to 2026, a rate higher than most occupations. Responsibilities include serving or delivering meals to guests, cleaning up after the meal, as well as maintaining and improving customer service quality. Required Education No formal education required, although a high school diploma is a plus. Pay Although pay varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.), banquet servers can …

Great companies usually have low turnover. Employees enjoy their work, like their co-workers, and just love being there. Not-so-great companies tend to have high turnover. This can be due to difficult responsibilities, commanding managers, or even a toxic work environment We want to know how long you’ve been with your current company. Let us know by voting in our poll! View Survey Thanks for voting in our poll! Tell us why you’ve stayed so long (or not so long) in the comments section below.

Here’s what you had to say. Recently we asked our Job Journey readers about their preferred method of interacting with a company during their job search. The top choice was “scheduled in-person interview” with 23% of the votes. “Email” came in second, with 19% of the votes, followed by “telephone” with 17% of the votes and “in-person/walk-in” with 13% of the votes. Other responses included: Staffing service: 9% Company website/online job portal: 8% Online job boards: 5% Video (i.e. Skype): 3% Job fairs: 2% Although there are more ways to contact companies than ever before, the traditional methods (in-person, email, telephone, etc.) still reign supreme. However, that doesn’t mean other methods should be neglected. If you would prefer to email or call, don’t let that stop you from seeking out online job advertisements or joining up with a staffing service. Some companies can only be contacted through other methods like staffing services or online job boards. Now that you’ve gotten an interview, here are a few blogs to help you …

The labor force is diverse, full of unique individuals with their own outlooks, beliefs, managerial preferences, and career aspirations. So it’s not a big surprise that different employees prefer different training programs. In fact, according to go2HR, 40% of employees who receive what they see as poor training leave their positions within the first year. But what one person sees as poor training might be great for another. In recent polls put out by Job Journey, the Express Employment Professionals blog for jobseekers, and Refresh leadership, the Express blog for business leaders, readers were asked what type of on-the-job training they preferred/provided. Just under 20 percent of employees preferred a “Formal employee training program,” whereas only 11 percent of employers provided such a program. 16 percent of jobseekers opted to choose “Mentorship,” which only 12 percent of employers offered. “Supervisors/managers train employees” was the most prevalent choice among employers, at 23 percent, which was prioritized by just 16 percent of jobseekers. 17 percent of employers encourage “Self-guided training (employees learn …

Express Employment Professionals Proven Best of Staffing. We’re living in a job seeker’s market. That means there are too many job openings and not enough folks to fill them. Job seekers have the power, and companies want to attract and retain talented workers. One of the biggest things new hires care about is employee satisfaction, which comes in many forms. These include advancement opportunities, employee development, recognition, benefits, and the right job fit. But it’s hard to know if you’ll be satisfied with a job before you accept a job offer. That’s why you should seek out a staffing company with a proven track record of happy associates. You’ll get the opportunity to work at different companies while reporting to one staffing company. If the staffing company is satisfying to work for, the client company probably will be, too. Express and the Best of Staffing Talent Award Express Employment Professionals is dedicated to providing a positive experience for our associates. In an effort to continually improve their satisfaction, Express teamed …

Because most people are. It happens all the time. When you’re playing with the kids. When you’re at the doctor. When all you want to do is fall asleep. You can’t stop thinking about work. Regardless of whether you hate your job, we’re a nation of workaholics. A recent survey from OnePoll, revealed the average employee works four hours a week without pay, and spends another four hours each week just thinking about their job. Forty-eight percent (48%) thought of themselves as modern-day workaholics, while 53% were stressed out as they took the survey! In the study, researchers found three main symptoms of workaholism. Let’s dig in. You Worry About Work on a Day Off You don’t have to work today. You’re doing errands, spending time with family and friends, maybe even binge watching a few episodes of your favorite Netflix shows. But you can’t stop thinking about an upcoming deadline, a spat with a co-worker, or what your schedule is for next week. Overthinking like that can be a …

How to handle it. You see someone across a crowded room. Perhaps it’s an assembly line in the warehouse, a busy hallway in an office, or a crowded call center. Your eyes meet. The attraction is magnetic. Bad love songs play in your head. You just got bit by the workplace love bug. For Valentine’s Day, here are a few rules to follow to ensure that your blossoming romance doesn’t backfire if things turn sour. Leave the lovey-dovey at the door. PDA. Public displays of affection. This includes hugging, kissing, giggling, etc. Don’t engage in any of this at work. It can make things awkward for your co-workers, and give them a reason to complain about you and your beloved to management. Keep things professional. When you’re at work, you are co-workers, not a romantic couple. Save the flirting for when you get home. Same goes for that fight you had last night. That’s not something your co-workers need to hear about. On the flipside, keep work drama out of …

Once upon a time, all you needed was a fair amount of education to secure a job. A college degree equated a guaranteed reputable career. Nowadays, high school students are at each other’s throats to see who can rack up the most titles, AP credits, scholarships, and best grades. And college graduates are finding themselves […]

Your workspace is as important as your home as you spend a significant amount of time there. So, it has to be a perfect one with the right balance of good ambiance, technologies, amenities, and people. In fact, there are six effective strides you can take right now to increase the size of your workspace […]

You’ve been looking for a new position to apply your skills. And you came across a company that sparks your interest. Their company culture is exactly what you’re looking for, and they have a position that is perfect for you, so you apply. They email you with next steps, asking you to complete this thing […]

As we’re growing up, we’re often asked what we want to be. As small children our answer is obviously always incredibly basic and typically influenced by the careers we are frequently exposed to: doctor, police officer, trash collector, etc. Even after we’ve reached adulthood sometimes our ideas of career opportunities can be pretty narrow. For […]

Often times when we look at our lifestyle in an attempt to assess our health, we tend to focus on the physical aspects. We ask ourselves questions regarding our diets and amount of exercise, which in an office environment, can be difficult to keep at a healthy level. Maybe because of that we choose to […]

Finding a job that suits your personality and long-term career desires can be exceptionally difficult, especially right after college graduation. But getting hired by an organization that you actually care about with a work environment you enjoy is the key to a happy work life. After all, the average American will spend 8.9 hours per […]

While on the hunt for a new marketing job, you will likely find it a competitive market. If you want to stand out amongst other marketers, you should consider broadening your sales expertise. Sales training will help you… 1. Create Better Presentations When you understand how sales works and what customers are looking for, you […]

No matter how experienced you are professionally, networking events can be overwhelming. You’re thrown into a room with dozens and dozens of people you don’t know, and you have a limited of time to make an impression. While it’s tempting to stand in the corner and sip your drink nervously, here are some tips on […]

Are you ready to enter the job market for the first time? Before you starting going out on interviews, consider running a background check on yourself to see what your criminal record looks like. Picture this: you recently graduated from college and your newly minted degree is hanging on your wall. Now, with the inspirational […]

Interviewing with a recruiter can be an excellent way for you to find and land that perfect job.  Of course, there are pros and cons to interviewing with a recruiter versus a hiring manager. If you have found a good recruiter, you will see minimal cons.  However, if you have found a bad recruiter then […]

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Working At Nike Work It Daily

Many companies promote work-life balance, but not all deliver. Nike makes this a priority. Here are seven things you didn’t know about working at Nike.

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I Thought My Coworker Was Pregnant, BUT She’s Not… Work It Daily

In our new YouTube series, “Well This Happened” it’s your turn to be the career coach! What would you do if you asked a coworker when the baby was due and she responded with, “I’m not pregnant.” Watch the video and cast your vote b posting a comment on Youtube. We’ll select one person from […]

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This Could Be You… Work It Daily

If you’ve ever wondered what a Work It Daily (WID) membership could do for you, a letter we got this week provides a powerful example… Dear Ariella, I am writing to personally thank JT and you for empowering me through the WID videos and templates with information and strategies to be confident and to execute […]

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What Hiring Managers Want to Know Work It Daily

There are 3 things hiring managers are trying to initially assess about you in the job interview. This video walks you through what they are looking for and offers insights into the right information to give them. Be sure to check out our free resources mentioned in the video too. They are: Common Interview Questions […]

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Does Your Company Throw Fun Work Parties? Work It Daily

It's always nice when you can have fun at work. Here are a some companies that throw fun work parties to reward their dedicated employees!

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How to Deal with Bullies at Work Work It Daily

Last week during my Office Hours on Youtube, a client asked about how to deal with a workplace bully. After spending many years in corporate HR, I flipped to the other side and became a career therapist. So, I’ve seen both sides of this situation in the workplace. In this video, I discuss why people […]

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Does Your Company Have A Great Internship Program? Work It Daily

Wouldn't your work day be better if you had your cuddly companion with you? Here are a few companies that have a pet friendly office and are proud of it!

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Is Your Office Pet Friendly Like THESE Companies? Work It Daily

Wouldn't your work day be better if you had your cuddly companion with you? Here are a few companies that have a pet friendly office and are proud of it!

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As CEO, I Asked 120,000+ Readers What We Do. Here’s What They Said… Work It Daily

This week, I did something that truly scared me. I sent an email to over 120,000 Work It Daily newsletter subscribers and asked them to answer the question, “What do we do?” Why is that so frightening, you ask? I was worried I’d be disappointed by their responses. Specifically, I feared over 10 years of […]

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How To Keep Your Job When A Recession Hits Work It Daily

A market correction is going to happen. When it does, layoffs will follow. I’ve been in the HR and recruiting industry for over two decades and have seen three recessions of varying sizes. In the video above, I explain how to tell when a recession is coming and what that means to you and your […]

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