Express Ocala Job Seekers Blog

You want to be the best employee you can be. Professional, organized, and enthusiastic. But you also want to be you with your own opinions and personal life. Reconciling these two worlds is difficult. How many email accounts do you need? What about social media? Do you add all of your work colleagues on Facebook? Do you really need a LinkedIn? We’re here to answer all your question. Let’s get started. Keep Multiple Email Accounts You should have one professional email that consists of some variation of your first and last name (for example, johnsmith@gmail.com or john1smith@gmail.com). Use this email for applying to jobs, networking, and any business cards you might have. You don’t want to be contacting potential employers with coolguytom42@yahoo.com or sillygaltonya39@att.net. However, there’s nothing wrong with using fun, less professional emails for other types of websites, like your favorite online stores or silly newsletters. Be Careful with Social Media If you want to add your co-workers on social media, go for it! However, be aware that it’s …

Should You Still Apply? You worked hard in college, and now you’re looking for a great job. But everything you apply for lists two to three years of “real world” experience. This is a problem grads across the nation are dealing with. Some companies ask for a four-year degree and three years of experience for an entry-level, which can seem impossible. However, if you dig into your college accomplishments, you can find exactly what they’re looking for. Here are a few things to focus on in your resume. Study Abroad If you ever studied abroad, be sure to put that on your resume! Employers are always looking for differentiators when they look at resumes and spending a semester or two in England or Beijing is sure to impress. Study abroad shows that you’re willing to learn, can adapt, and have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. Extracurriculars Did you act as a treasurer for your fraternity or sorority? Maybe you were a member of the Multicultural club and helped …

If so, it’s time to act. It’s hard to believe it’s back-to-school season already. Summer break has come to an end as college students across the country move back to their dorms or apartments. Many of these students will take up an unpaid internship during their spare time. These positions can be a great way to get on-the-job training and experience. However, what if you start your unpaid internship and notice that you’re not learning anything? You aren’t given much (if any) direction, and the only time your manager asks for your help is when he needs furniture moved or a window washed. Is this normal, or are you being taken advantage of? Look for these warning signs. Your Manager Isn’t Interested in Changing You sit down with your manager and make your concerns known. You tell them you don’t feel comfortable with tasks that aren’t related to your desired profession, as you aren’t learning anything useful. Perhaps your manager rolls their eyes, and says they’ll find you other work. …

Is this a trick question? This is one of those questions interviewers ask that can really stump job applicants if they aren’t prepared. It can seem like there has to be a right answer, that you have to choose taking charge or receiving direction. However, there’s plenty of room for personalized answers that relate to you specifically. Not sure how to start crafting your reply? We’ve got you covered. Be Honest Interviewers aren’t trying to trick you. If you like taking the lead and being a go-getter, tell them that! However, it’s perfectly fine if you would rather stay in the back and support the rest of the team. This question pops up so managers know what you’ll be like to work with if you get the job. The only wrong answers are those that are unclear or make it seem like you don’t like working at all. Choose Your Words Carefully If you aren’t a take-charge kind of worker, instead of saying that you “really don’t like to be …

File this information and store it for later! 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 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. Data Entry Specialist In this month’s Job Spotlight, we’re organizing information about data entry specialists. Responsibilities include filing and handling mail, data-entry, typing, and other office-related tasks. The position also requires regular interaction with management and other office staff. Required Education: High-school diploma Pay Although pay varies depending on a variety of factors (e.g. experience, industry, geographic area, etc.), data entry specialists can make $13-$16 an hour, on average. What Data Entry Specialists Do: Data entry specialists deal with a variety of responsibilities, which may include: Typing and filing reports Maintaining records Collecting data Providing information and greeting customers/clients …

We’re living in a job seekers market; that means there are more jobs available than qualified individuals to fill them. That’s great for those job searching, but less than great for companies. Companies need to be incredibly competitive to attract and retain top talent. One of the ways they accomplish this is by offering beneficial perks. Pay raises and other traditional benefits like a good insurance plan are typically expected, but things like a relaxed dress code or flextime can really tip the scales when job seekers are choosing a place to work. But which perks are the most important? We want to know, and you can help by voting in our poll—what perks are most important to you? Have anything else to say about your most-valued work perks? Let us know in the comments section below!  

And why does it matter? We all have bad boss stories. Maybe you had a boss yell at you every day, never show up for work, or take credit for a project you completed solo. Or perhaps your manager just didn’t really care or acknowledge you at all. All of those bosses are lacking one key trait—empathy. In a recent study, Businessolver® found that 91% of CEOs “believe empathy is directly linked to a company’s financial performance, while 93% of employees say they’re more likely to stay with an empathetic employer.” However, while 92% of CEOs think their organizations are empathetic, only 72% of employees agree. To find out whether your boss is empathetic, look for the following qualities. They Listen An empathetic boss cares about you as a person, not just an employee. They ask you about how your family is doing, listen to your vacation stories, and remember what you say. They want you to succeed and know how your personal life affects your work life. They Encourage You …

Staffing companies have something for everyone. College students have a lot to worry about—classes, homework, quizzes, tests, extracurricular activities, and of course, trying to maintain some semblance of a social life. Combine all of that with looking for your first post-university job, and life can get hectic. Luckily, Express Employment Professionals is here to help. We’re a staffing company, which means it’s our mission to put people to work. If you haven’t considered a staffing company before, here are a few reasons why you should start now. Part-Time/Summer Jobs Need a summer job to help keep up with expenses but not sure how your skillset fits in? Or maybe you’re looking for a part-time job to help with expenses during the semester? Staffing companies can help. When you work with a recruiter, they help you find a job so you don’t have to spend time searching online. These jobs can range from industrial to an office setting and everything in between, so you’re sure to find something you’re qualified for. …

Every quarter, Express Employment Professionals International Headquarters conducts an ongoing Job Insights survey to track hiring trends across a wide range of industries. We want to share these results with you, so that you can know which industries will be hiring. Going into the second half of 2019, the employment market remains positive with little concern about recession in the short-term. Forty-six percent of survey respondents said their employment markets are “trending up” in the third quarter of 2019, and only 10% forecast a downward trend in employment activity. Additionally, 97% of respondents reported that they do not currently live in an area in recession. So, it appears in the short term recession isn’t a concern for most business leaders. The long-term outlook, however, shows some signs of caution within the next two years. The top segments hiring in the third quarter of 2019 include General Labor (Industrial): 36% Skilled Labor (Industrial): 32% Administrative/Office Clerical: 20% Accounting/Finance: 9% Healthcare: 6% Do you foresee your country entering into another recession? 3 …

Let’s be honest. Prepping for interviews is tough. You’ve probably read hundreds of articles telling you what to wear, what time to show up, etc. etc. etc. And it can get ridiculous how specific some so-called tips can be. Like “don’t look your interviewer in the eye too long” or “don’t get up and leave in the middle of the interview.” We all know that stuff. Luckily Tripp and Tyler are here to make light of those ridiculous interview tips. Watch the video below and tell us what you think in the comments section!  

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 […]