Job Seekers Blog - Express in Gresham, OR

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 […]

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 […]

If you have a desk job, odds are you sit. A lot. You write documents, organize files, and take phone calls—all deskbound. And a sedentary lifestyle often leads to weight gain. CareerBuilder found that 56% of workers believe they are overweight, and 45% believe they’ve gained weight at their present job. The interesting part? The same study found that over a quarter of these employees were provided wellness benefits by their employers, but 63% didn’t take advantage of them! If you’re cubicle-confined yourself, you probably know one of the major reasons for this: exercising is hard to fit into a desk job schedule. However, there are a few things you can do during the workday to keep yourself slim and fit.   Get Those Steps In The easiest way to keep fit at work is to set a step goal and adhere to it during the day. Download an app like MyFitnessPal, or wear a step-tracking wristwatch, and get walking. Here are a few ways to add steps into your …

Desk job got ya down? Here’s a few tips. Day after day you sit in your cubicle, shuffling papers and filling out forms, waiting on other people to get their job done so you can finish up projects. And maybe scrolling through a few more Buzzfeed articles than you should be. Or you sit around in meetings where nothing is getting done, thinking about what’s for lunch. In short, you’re bored of your office job. Office life can be great for many of us, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone! If you can’t handle the tiresome tedium any longer, you really only have two choices: spice things up or look for a job in a different field. Spice is Nice If a chef isn’t impressed by a bland piece of chicken, what does he do? He adds salt or spices to make a delicious dish. The same thing applies to your office job. For example, it’s possible your dislike of office work is due to a lack of …

As we enter a new decade, many job seekers are hoping to change careers or find employment. To get an idea of how the job market looks to our readers, we asked you what you thought the job search might look like in 2020. Forty-six percent of job seekers think finding a new job in 2020 will be “somewhat difficult,” while 36% say it will be “hard.” Just 14% believe it will be “somewhat easy,” while 4% note it will be “easy.” A few readers provided further information about their thoughts on the 2020 job search, including the following: “I am 69. I have worked many years and now I would like to only work part time. I have applied to over 75 places and nothing. I have had three interviews.” “It’s definitely a market where I can move around—I feel good about it!” “It will be hard. I just finished a post secondary program at NAIT and will be competing against others who have tons more experience!” Depending on …

What’s better? There’s been a large trend recently in companies shifting to a more flexible work schedule. In Japan, for example, a 4-day workweek experiment saw productivity jump 40%. As noted by Upwork, Apple hires “At Home Advisors” to help out with customer support, while Dell offers a “Connected Workplace” that includes a wealth of flexible work options, from remote work to flextime and more. But are flexible work schedules better for everyone? And what are the advantages? Let’s dig in. PRO/CON: You Set Your Own Schedule Employees who use flextime are able to literally work around their schedule. If they need to get a haircut, pick up the kids, or just go on a lunch date, they can build that into their flextime plan. Employees who have the opportunity to work remotelycan also take care for loved ones or wait for the electrician to show up. However, this can also be a major con. It’s easier to get work done at the office because that’s what the office is …

Impressing someone you can’t see. Phone interviews are often the first step to getting your dream job. But it can be difficult to express yourself without seeing your interviewer’s face. How do you steer the conversation if you don’t know how your interviewer is reacting? Luckily, some of our top Express recruiters are here with tips to help you succeed in your next phone interview. Companies care about culture, and you want to show your personality fits right in, even over the phone. Now you’re ready to do just that. If you’re prepared 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, apply online, or download the ExpressJobs app on the App Store or Google Play. Looking for more interview tips? Check out these blogs in our Answering the Interview Question series: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? Tell Me About Yourself What Are Your …

Get that dream job this year with these top tips Here at Job Journey, we want you to ace your interviews and get the job that’s perfect for you. That’s why we write blog after blog chock full of interview tips, job search hacks, and other great expert advice. To get your interview skills revved up and running this year, we’re collecting a few of our top articles all in one place. Ready. Set. Go! Answering the Interview Question Here are our recommendations on how to answer the toughest interview questions. Tell Me About Yourself What Are Your Top 3 Strengths and Weaknesses? Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job/Company? What’s Your Most Impressive Accomplishment? Why Do You Want to Work at Our Company? Ask a Recruiter Our “Ask a Recruiter” series features Express Employment Professionals recruiters answering your job interview questions, from dress code to etiquette and more. Ask a Recruiter: How Much Should You Share About Your Past Job in an Interview? Ask a Recruiter: Your Questions Answered—Part …

Fix up your career with a mechanic position! 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. Mechanic In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re getting into the nuts and bolts of what it means to be a mechanic. Required Education: Employers often prefer mechanics who have completed a program at a trade school, and industry certification is frequently required once an individual is hired. Pay Although pay varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.), mechanics can make as much as $60,000 per year or more. Some mechanics also work for themselves, potentially earning more while setting their own schedule. What Mechanics Do: Mechanics deal with a variety of responsibilities, including: …

Do you believe your age has been a factor in your job search? Age discrimination is illegal. But that doesn’t mean employers don’t make a certain set of assumptions about your personality and abilities based on your age. It could be that you’re young and experienced, but employers just don’t believe you know what your resume says you do. Or you could be a tech-savvy, more seasoned employee confronted with hiring managers that assume you don’t know how to use simple programs. Regardless of your age, we want to hear from you. Let us know if you believe age has been a factor in a hiring decision for a job in our poll! Tell us why you believe your age has or has not been a factor in a hiring decision.      

Is there such a thing as being too punctual? The big day is here, and it’s time to head off to your interview. But how early should you get there? Is it okay to be a bit late because of traffic? The answers to these questions are incredibly important because your punctuality could make or break your getting the job. Here are our suggestions. DON’T Be Too Early Ideally, you want to walk into the doors of the company you’re interviewing with about 15 minutes before your interview starts. Getting there any earlier than that could be a burden for the front office coordinator. But you should get to the company parking lot about 30 minutes before your interview starts. That way you can build in a buffer for traffic or anything else that might happen on the way to your interview. It also allows you a few moments to yourself to prepare before you walk in the company building. DON’T Be Late (At All) Getting to the company with …

Culture is the most important aspect of a company and is the very foundation of the organization itself. The common values and beliefs that make up this foundation help dictate not only how a company operates, but also how its employees interact with one another. There are several factors that can create cracks in the foundation, but one factor in particular can cause lasting damage: unresolved conflict. According to a comprehensive workplace conflict study by publisher CPP, Inc., 85% of employees experience conflict in some form at work. While conflict may not be avoidable, embracing conflict and working toward resolving it within your company saves the culture in three ways. Builds Employee Loyalty and Retention In a tight labor market, employee retention is not only important to remain successful, but it is crucial to maintain a strong culture. If culture is comprised of the shared values of an organization, then employees are the ones who live out the culture every day. Without employees assimilating and maintaining shared values, your culture …