Job Seekers Blog - Express in Gresham, OR

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 […]

As the world advances, positions, departments, even whole companies and industries are replaced with new, more technologically advanced businesses. Getting laid off is a natural consequence of progress; you’re not to blame. And you’re not alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1.5 million people are laid off each year. Suddenly being without your main […]

Planning for a new job? Well, there’s a lot more you should think about then just getting a high salary. Salary is important but shouldn’t be the only deciding factor for you to accept a job offer. Your paycheck might cover your monthly bills but all the employee benefits, perks and other non-tangible things matter […]

If you are following this blog, you already know how to create a resume from scratch. But what if you already have a resume that doesn’t fit the new career path you want to pursue? Even though changing jobs is not an easy thing to do, you can handle it excellently. It is even possible […]

Gone are the days of salarymen and women who join and retire at the same company after 40 years; retaining today’s generation of talent over the long term is much more difficult. Employers in 2019, 2020 and beyond are doing everything they can to retain top talent, and part of that involves getting creative with […]

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 […]

Keeping your spirits high when interviews are down. Interviews are tough. Not getting an interview is even tougher. You can spend hours and hours just searching for jobs to apply for, then spend several more hours filling out applications. And all that work doesn’t even guarantee an interview. It’s natural to feel down; to want to give up. But you have to dust yourself off, roll up your sleeves, and dive into the job search again. Easier said than done right? Here are a few tips to keep things moving. Do Things You Enjoy Don’t let every day be a 24/7 job search. Concentration and drive are great, but you can only last so long before you burn out. If you like to bake, make cookies once in a while. Watch a TV show you love or take a trip to the movies. Go see a football or basketball game. Make sure you still have a life outside of the job search. Get Used to Hearing “No” HR people aren’t …

The truth, the whole truth, or something a bit less than the truth? Plenty of folks freeze up when interviewers ask what they thought about a past job. Should you reveal how bad it was (if it was bad)  or embellish to make it sound a bit better? Do they need to know what you REALLY thought about your boss? The answer? Keep things positive! Not sure what that means? A few of our top interviewers are here to help in this handy video. For more interview tips, check out our Answering the Interview Question series: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? Tell Me About Yourself What Are Your Top 3 Strengths and Weaknesses? Why Should I Hire You? Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job/Company? Answering the Hardest Interview Questions What’s Your Most Impressive Accomplishment? How Would Your Co-Workers Describe You in Three Words? Why Do You Want to Work at Our Company? Do You Like to Take Charge of Projects and Situations? And if you’re ready …

Is this the job for you? Let’s CNSEE! Despite already having experience with several jobs, many working adults are unable to answer the 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. CNC Machinist In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re looking at information regarding CNC machinists. Responsibilities include everything involved with setting up and operating machine tools to create precision metal parts, tools, and instruments. Required Education: Typically, a high school diploma, as well as on-the-job training; some positions require further education (vocational schools, community, or technical colleges). Pay Although pay varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.), CNC machinists can make as much as $44,950 a year. What CNC Machinists Do: CNC machinists deal with a variety of responsibilities, including: Setting up and operating …

There are plenty of jobs out there, each one unique and different in its own way. When you’re submitting job applications, the first thing to figure out is whether you’re looking for part-time or full-time work. Part-time jobs often offer flexibility and a pathway to full-time employment. Full-time jobs often have less flexibility, but better pay and benefits. Before we really dig into the differences between part-time and full-time work, we want to hear from you. Which type of work do you prefer? Let us know by voting in our poll! Share more: What does part-time work mean to you?

Always come prepared with questions! In our previous blog series, Answering the Interview Question, we focused on the interview questions you wanted help with. Everything from where you see yourself in five years and why you’re leaving your current job to what your co-workers would say about you in three words. Now we’re focusing on another, often overlooked part of the interview that’s just as important: questions to ask after the interview. Interviewers want you to ask questions to gauge your interest in the company. Before we get started on the blog series proper (where we’ll focus on three questions each month), let’s go over a few general things to keep in mind.   Do Your Research Asking questions is a great way to show that you did your homework. Look the company up online and review any relevant news stories. Have they released a new product? A new promotional campaign? Weave those recent happenings into your questions. Something like “I saw you recently launched a new product. Would I …

Time is the one resource in your life that is neither replenishable nor renewable. Regardless of how you spin it, everyone starts each day on an equal playing field with 24 hours in the time bank. And while people often yearn for more time, what they really need is better time management. Understanding where your time goes, when you are most productive, and why you should protect yourself against distractions are the keys to achieving your max productivity. Take an Inventory of Your Time According to a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers are putting in more hours than expected, averaging 8.5 hours during a normal workday. Moreover, those who worked on the weekend, averaged 5.4 on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s important to understand where your time is going in order to take control of it to be more efficient during your work hours. The age-old saying “don’t work harder, work smarter” is never more appropriate than when discussing time management. Take an inventory of how you spend …

Here’s what you had to say. Since we’re living in a job seeker’s market, many employers offer a little extra something to retain top talent. One way to do that is with great perks, like working from home or a relaxed dress code. We wanted to figure out which perks our readers prefer, so we asked in our August poll. Here’s what happened. “Remote work opportunities” took the lead, with 61% of the vote, while “Flextime” followed close behind at 58%. Next in line were “Student loan repayment/college tuition assistance” at 40%, while “Relaxed dress code” and “Gym memberships” followed at 38% and 37%, respectively. Other results were as follows: Vendor discounts: 24% Childcare reimbursement/onsite daycare: 21% Transportation assistance (e.g. paid passes on buses/subways): 21% Expanded Maternity/Paternity leave options: 17% Car washes: 12% We also asked which unique perks your company offers: “We have a rewards/recognition program that offers prizes as you collect points from accolades given by coworkers.” “We have ping pong tables! And we’re allowed 20 minute naps …

They just want to get to know you Many job seekers get stumped by this question because they make it much harder than it needs to be. They either say too little (so they aren’t complaining about a past job), or say too much too much (which can make an interviewer think they were a problem employee). So long as you’re honest, answering the question can be easy. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be just fine. Be Truthful First off, there doesn’t have to be anything you would change about your job. If you love your current (or most recent) position but have decided to move cross-country or were laid off, it’s okay to say you loved it! But follow that up with telling your interviewer why you love it. What was it about the company culture, the workflow, your boss, that make you feel the way you do? Just make sure to keep things short and sweet. Conversely, if you absolutely hated your job, you should still tell the …

As many job opportunities as there are ever-changing leaves Fall is about to begin, and with the change in weather comes plenty of seasonal jobs. From pumpkin patches to holiday drivers, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few opportunities to consider. Holiday Driver/Helper The holiday season starts earlier and earlier every year, and delivery services like UPS and Amazon need drivers to satisfy the demand. Hiring starts way before the holidays roll around, so start looking for these types of jobs early on. Festival/State Fair/Holiday Event Employee Whether it’s dipping corn dogs at the state fair, tending the pumpkin patch, or directing traffic at the annual chili cookoff, there are numerous seasonal event positions in the fall. Search the papers in your area to view upcoming events—you never know where a job could come from. Resort Positions People travel for the holidays, which means that hotels, resorts, and theme parks can be bustling. Jobs vary, from retail and hospitality to food preparation and helping with experiences (ski instructor, surfing …

Interview mistakes to avoid When you’re in an interview, have you ever found yourself wishing you could read your interviewer’s mind? That way you’d be able to answer every question perfectly, never make any mistakes, and get the job. Unfortunately, we can’t help you discover your inner telepathic superhero. However, we can connect you with interviewers that will tell you, point blank, what they don’t like to see in interviews. At a recent event, we asked a few of our top interviewers what their interview pet peeves are. Here’s what they had to say! Looking for more interview tips? Check out these blogs. And if you’re ready to take the next step and find a job you love, call Express Employment Professionals today! It’s our mission to help great people find great jobs. You can call a local office, register online, or download the Expressjobs app on the App Store or Google Play For more interview tips, check out our Answering the Interview Question series: Where Do You See Yourself …