Lakeland Job Seekers Blog

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 […]

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 […]

Feeling a bit sore after a hard day’s work? Don’t discount that pain! It could be your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. In order to prevent serious injury or pain later in life, follow these warm-up tips before performing any physical work.  

Keep your brain healthy and strong. Work is hard. In addition to normal job responsibilities, you also have to deal with other people. And sometimes stressful conflict can pop up with co-workers, bosses, vice-presidents, and even higher up the chain. Occasionally those interactions go swimmingly. And occasionally they don’t. As defined by Merriam-Webster, a mental health day is “a day that an employee takes off from work in order to relieve stress or renew vitality.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it? If you find yourself dreading driving to the office every morning, bringing work home with you (either physically or mentally), or flinching every time your phone rings, it’s time for a mental health day. Here are a few signs it might be time to rest the ol’ noggin. You wake up (and go to sleep) dreading work. Your first thoughts in the morning should be something along the lines of “wow, I should brush my teeth,” or “I wonder what I should have for breakfast today.” They shouldn’t be “I really …

The interview is flowing nicely, you’ve aced your answers, and the future looks bright. Until this question pops up: “What three words would your co-workers use to describe you?” You haven’t thought about it before, so you stumble. You’ve been thinking from your own perspective this whole time, so switching gears to someone else’s point of view is tough. Avoiding this awkward interview situation is simple: just prepare beforehand. Not sure how? We’ve got you covered. Ask Your Co-Workers What They Think of You This is the simplest place to start. One of the reasons interviewers ask this question is because they want to know how you could fit into their team. And the easiest way to figure out what people think of you is to go straight to the source! Find a few co-workers or friends you’re close with (and your boss if you’re comfortable with that) and ask them what they think of you as a teammate. You don’t have to use these responses verbatim, but they should …

Interviews. You have an hour, maybe less, to make an incredible first impression. But that’s tough! There are so many ways you could mess up, from arriving late to wearing the wrong clothes to sharing too much of your personal life. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered. As a staffing company, we have plenty of experience with interviews. That means that we know what works and what doesn’t. Using Your Cell Phone That text, email, or social media update is right there, buzzing in your pocket. Resist the urge to check it! Interviewers are trying to get to know you, and that can’t really happen when you’re staring at a screen. Consider turning your phone off before walking into your meeting. Give your interviewer your undivided attention. If you don’t, they might think you lack focus and choose another candidate. Not Asking Any Questions (Or Asking the Wrong Ones) At the end of the interview, most interviewers ask if you have any questions. You should always have a few …

When we think of workplace injuries, our thoughts turn to accidents on construction sites or unfortunate incidents involving warehouse fork-lifts. However, plenty of injuries happen in offices every day. From tripping over electrical cords to slipping on someone’s spilled lunch, you never know what could cause an injury. Here’s a handy flyer to make sure you end up safe and sound.  

Connections make the world go ‘round Very few people enjoy professional networking events, and according to a study put out by Administrative Science Quarterly, there’s a reason for that. These events don’t work. Ninety-five percent of attendees hope to make new contacts, yet spend over 50% of the event talking to people they already know. Another study from the same journal shows that networking to advance your career can actually make you feel uncomfortable. Turns out folks don’t like using people for their own nefarious  career-furthering purposes. All of that is why Natasha Lyonne, star of Netflix’s Russian Doll and Orange is the New Black, has a simple two-step approach to networking. She spoke of her approach at The Cut’s “How I Get It Done” conference in New York, covered by Quartz. Get Out of the House “You gotta leave the house in this life,” Lyonne said. “I don’t want to do anything ever … If you give me a day off, my dream is to stay in bed all …

Spruce up your career with a housekeeping 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 pay and duties to why people do the jobs they do. Housekeeper In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re polishing our skills with some information about housekeeping positions. Responsibilities include a variety of cleaning activities, such as sweeping, mopping, dusting, and polishing. Required Education Short on-the-job training, sometimes a high school degree Pay Although pay varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.), housekeepers can make $11.84 an hour on average. What Housekeepers Do: Housekeepers handle a variety of responsibilities, which may include: Ensuring all rooms are cared for and inspected according to standards Protecting equipment and making sure there are no inadequacies Notifying superiors …

June is safety month, and we’ll be sharing useful graphics all month. Today we focus on industrial safety hazards. If you work in industrial environments, you know that workplace injuries are far too common when safety isn’t prioritized. From minor slips and trips to major injuries and worse, there are plenty of possibilities. In order to reduce workplace accidents, we created a graphic designed to remind workers of the best ways to protect themselves.          

Interviewers tell us about disruptive behaviors all the time. People that don’t make eye contact, never stop talking, or show up late. But today we want to turn the tables and see what interviewers have done that you found less-than-stellar. Whether they came in the door 20 minutes late, spent the entire time texting, or showed up completely unprepared, we want to hear about it. Let us know in our poll! View Survey Let us know more in the comments section below!

Check out the latest episode of Express Employment Professionals’ On the Job podcast! Five Loaves & Two Fishes: Filling the Hunger Gap Linda McKinney is an Italian woman in McDowell, WV, who runs the Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank with her husband. In a down-and-out coal town, she is single-handedly responsible for feeding 150 families each week. An interesting and eccentric character, Linda McKinney is a wonderful example of the goodness of humanity against all odds. Linda does her job with humility and without a need for thanks—because she does it for the people she knows and cares about. Where you come from and what’s happening around you drives you to do the job you need to do. Don’t miss an episode! Jobs give us a connection to our communities and the ability to provide for ourselves and our families. Your work may be your passion or it could just be the way you make ends meet. Each week, On the Job will share stories about the pursuit of work …