For many companies, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to hiring — or worse, employees had to be let go. In fact, an April study by Pew Research Center found that 28% of the 4,917 U.S. adults surveyed said they or someone in their household was let go as a direct result of the pandemic. […]

How we work and look for jobs has changed due to increased connectivity from the Internet. The worldwide lockdowns because of the Covid-19 pandemic have only sped things up and the dynamics of looking for a job have changed for good. One’s online profile has never been more relevant. If you are looking for a […]

COVID-19 has created an extremely unique job market where remote recruiting and hiring has become the new normal. There are definite advantages of hiring through video recruiting, but since it’s new to many job seekers, you may feel you’ll struggle to shine in this digitized recruiting process. Here are the steps you can take to […]

No shame in admitting it, this feels like the worst time to be looking for a job. With many organizations pivoting to remote work, hiring may be put on the back burner. Besides that, with most offices being closed, you’re not about to show up to your interviewer’s house in a suit. Video Interviews to […]

Congratulations! You’ve been asked to complete a one-way video interview. This is a big step towards your next job. You’re used to the “normal” hiring process, with phone screens, in-person interviews, and the like. But, maybe this one-way video interview is a new thing entirely. Or maybe you have done a one-way video interview before, […]

Congratulations! You’ve been asked to join a live video interview. This is a big accomplishment, but it’s important to get it right. You’re used talking to a recruiter over the phone and then meeting for in-person interviews so this live video interview might be a new thing entirely. Or maybe you have done a live […]

When an organization reaches out to connect with you over the phone, you might find yourself replying “Yes” before you’ve even thought about it. Advancing to the next step in a company’s hiring process means some of your nervousness searching for a new position disappears.  If you aren’t expecting it, a video interview invitation instead […]

In the workplace, most people want to be productive. You want to be able to finish your work within the day so you don’t have to bring it home or finish the next day. However, there are a lot of factors that influence the level of productivity that people have in the workplace. Some of […]

There’s a lot to consider as you search for a job. While the first thing to look at should be the job description, it is also important to think about what type of working environment the company has. In your search for compensation, don’t forget to consider company culture. A company’s culture speaks to the […]

It’s kind of crazy how quickly your life shifts between graduation, and post-celebrations. You have tossed your cap, waved your farewells, and accepted all the wishes from professors you got on the good side of… But what comes next? The scary thing is almost 1 in 5 graduates do not go after the job they […]

We’re excited to announce  a brand-new episode of the Express Employment Professionals’ On the Job Podcast! A lot can change in a year, especially the kind of year we’ve all had. This season, we’re shining a light on folks who have chosen unique career paths; by necessity or by choice. You’ll  hear surprising stories of people excelling in non-traditional roles and meet folks who have put non-profit work front and center in their lives. Season 5, Episode 8 – Fighting To Give Others a Fighting Chance On the season five finale of “On The Job,” we meet Leonette. Her path to her career – she’s a Law Clerk at the US Department of Education – had more than a few twists and turns. In fact, she started law school in her 30s, after realizing that she could help to address the yawning gap in African-American and female representation in the legal field. Now, she’s using her degree to advocate for others who lack a voice: victims of predatory for-profit colleges. …

You breeze through your interview, and your interviewer asks if you have any questions. You say “no thanks, nothing else to ask!” and make your way home. See anything wrong with this picture? In general, you want to ask at least a few questions after the interview to show your interest in the company. It’s another chance to shine as a candidate for the job. Think of it this way—if you and another candidate both ace the interview, but the other candidate asks insightful questions that show they care about the position and company, who do you think is going to get the job? Here are a few unique questions to ask. Is there anything else you’d like to ask me? Even if you felt that you answered your interviewer’s questions perfectly, there might still be a few things they’d like clarification on. When they ask you if you have any questions, just say “Yes, but before I get to those, would you like any additional info regarding the questions …

As summer begins, many incoming seniors look forward to their last year of high school. Some will spend their time at summer jobs or internships, while others will take time to spend with friends and family. Once the school year starts, they’ll be off looking at colleges and sending out applications. But a traditional 4-year university isn’t the best choice for everyone. College has its benefits (social life, a wide variety of courses, etc.), but can also come with a staggering amount of debt. Trades school, alternatively, typically has a much lower cost and offers skills-based training, as well as very attractive career prospects. Admissions Colleges are known for their strenuous application process. Prospective students generally first need to score well on their college entrance exams, then apply to several schools, fill out lengthy applications, wait to see where they were accepted, and finally choose from any offers they receive. The trade school application process is generally much more streamlined. Prospective students usually just need to supply their high school …

We’re excited to announce  a brand-new episode of the Express Employment Professionals’ On the Job Podcast! A lot can change in a year, especially the kind of year we’ve all had. This season, we’re shining a light on folks who have chosen unique career paths; by necessity or by choice. You’ll  hear surprising stories of people excelling in non-traditional roles and meet folks who have put non-profit work front and center in their lives. Season 5, Episode 7: The Unlikely Journey of a Civic-Minded Tech Ninja Afua Bruce’s career in data science and technology is dotted with a bunch of impressive acronyms: IBM, the FBI (!), even working for the POTUS (Obama) as Executive Director of the National Science and Technology Council. Now, she’s taken on a new challenge as Chief Program Officer for Datakind, a global non-profit that harnesses the power of data science and AI in the service of humanity. Heck, she even has her own statue as part of the #IfThenSheCan women in STEM initiative. Tune in to …

Although many businesses are returning to the traditional in-person workplace, work looks different than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. There are new barriers to employment. Recently, we asked our readers what barriers they were facing to career success, from not feeling safe in the workplace due to COVID-19 to not being able to find work. Here’s what they had to say. The Results Twenty-four percent of respondents said finding available work that fits their skills or career path was a major barrier, while 19% said they didn’t have the right skills, certification, or degree. Sixteen percent cited insufficient pay or benefits as the problem, while 9% had trouble finding available work in general. Just 8% found too few opportunities for growth in their current job or company. Surprisingly, only 1% found not feeling safe in the workplace due to COVID-19 to be a barrier to career success. Another 22% of respondents chose the “Other” option, with responses including insufficient job training and not having the level of experience required …

2020 changed the way we work. Many companies realized that remote work was a real, viable, option for their employees. This means that there are more remote jobs available than ever before. If you’re looking to work from home but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few unique jobs worth learning about. Chat Agents Are you customer service-oriented but not a huge fan of talking on the phone? A position as a chat agent might be for you. These individuals provide customer support through email or live chat. Email is self-explanatory, while live chat is similar to FB Messenger or texting, but through a company specific customer service program. Paid Surveys Although paid surveys aren’t going to be your main source of income, they can be a worthwhile side gig in addition to your main job. As noted by The Work at Home Woman, popular sites include Branded Surveys, Mindswarms, Respondent, and Survey Junkie. Cooking at Home If you have a flair for food, a job as an …

We’re excited to announce  a brand-new episode of the Express Employment Professionals’ On the Job Podcast! A lot can change in a year, especially the kind of year we’ve all had. This season, we’re shining a light on folks who have chosen unique career paths; by necessity or by choice. You’ll  hear surprising stories of people excelling in non-traditional roles and meet folks who have put non-profit work front and center in their lives. Season 5, Episode 6: Starting a Business is No Cakewalk If Kitty Hailey didn’t exist, some enterprising author would have conjured her up. A well put-together woman of a certain age, she resembles a hip kindergarten teacher – a fact which has served her well in her actual occupation; she’s a private investigator. Using the skills she’s honed over decades of investigative work, Kitty has risen to a position of prominence in her field, evolving from the typical “cheating spouse” assignments to doing trial work that has had positive, life-changing impact for the folks she’s worked …

Finding the job of your dreams isn’t easy, especially if you’re switching career fields or simply don’t know what your dream job is yet. That’s one of the reasons Express Employment Professionals created the Job Spotlight eBook: Are You Ready for a New Career? We cover 20 of the most in-demand jobs in four categories: Professional, Office Services, Light Industrial, and Skilled Trades. Get the most out of this eBook by following the guide below.               Table of Contents The Table of Contents is interactive. Clicking on a specific job will flip you to that page. The Job Page Once you’ve found a job you’re interested in, you’ll be able to review information about the position including required education, compensation, responsibilities, and what companies look for in an ideal candidate. You can also click the “Table of Contents” button to return to the Table of Contents. Contact Express The eBook concludes with a bit of information about Express Employment Professionals. They are a staffing …

In our monthly Job Spotlight blog series, we review all the basics of specific jobs, from pay and duties, to why people do the jobs they do. Electrician In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re taking a look at what it means to be an Electrician. Electricians are responsible for executing plans of electrical wiring for well-functioning lighting, intercom, and other electrical systems.   Required Education: A high-school diploma or equivalent is usually preferred, as well as Apprenticeship training.   Pay: This varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. type of work, geographic area, industry, etc.), but Electricians can make $20 to $34 per hour on average depending on experience.   What Electricians Do: They deal with a variety of tasks, including: Installing electrical apparatuses, fixtures, and equipment for alarm and other systems Installing safety and distribution components (e.g. switches, resistors, circuit-breaker panels, etc.) Connecting wiring in electrical circuits and networks ensuring compatibility of components Preparing and assembling conduits and connecting wiring through them Preventing breakdown of systems by routinely inspecting and …

We’re excited to announce  a brand-new episode of the Express Employment Professionals’ On the Job Podcast! A lot can change in a year, especially the kind of year we’ve all had. This season, we’re shining a light on folks who have chosen unique career paths; by necessity or by choice. You’ll  hear surprising stories of people excelling in non-traditional roles and meet folks who have put non-profit work front and center in their lives. Season 5, Episode 5: Not Your Every Day P.I. If Kitty Hailey didn’t exist, some enterprising author would have conjured her up. A well put-together woman of a certain age, she resembles a hip kindergarten teacher – a fact which has served her well in her actual occupation; she’s a private investigator. Using the skills she’s honed over decades of investigative work, Kitty has risen to a position of prominence in her field, evolving from the typical “cheating spouse” assignments to doing trial work that has had positive, life-changing impact for the folks she’s worked with. …