The coronavirus outbreak has served as a wake-up call. Even after the last of the patients have recovered, the COVID-19 crisis will leave significant soul-searching in its wake. For employers and workers alike, a key question will relate to remote jobs. What permanent mark will the coronavirus make on corporate structures and workflows?

The spread of COVID-19 has brought many serious questions to the forefront. It has underlined concerns about medical preparedness (and toilet paper preparedness). The crisis has also challenged the way we do business, illustrating the advantage of work-from-home options.

Once the medical emergency fades, and the economy returns to normal, firms will need to review their policies. Looking ahead to the next potential disaster, they will need to design procedures to better respond to any similar situations that might happen in the future.

Here are a few general concepts workers and employers should both keep in mind as they consider the future of remote jobs and how to respond to potential outbreaks:

Maintaining Flexibility

The coronavirus forced people to change their routines quickly. Individuals and businesses that remained light on their feet fared better than those who couldn’t react to a quickly evolving situation. The outbreak underlined a cardinal truth: he more ... Read More

It’s been years since job hunters have had to face an economic downturn. Whether its created by an outside event, like the COVID-19 outbreak, or through the natural ebb and flow of the business cycle, a weak economy creates a challenging situation for job seekers. However, there are steps you can take to remain a strong candidate.

Job Hunting in a New Reality

The last few years have seen historically low unemployment rates. Even as recently as February, the unemployment rate came in at 3.5%, hovering near its lowest level since the late 1960s.

However, those figures came in before COVID-19 hit the U.S. The quarantines and work stoppages that have come as a response to the coronavirus will have a dramatic impact on the economy. No one knows precisely what will happen. Some officials are warning of a massive spike in unemployment, possibly to the 30% range.

One thing is clear: the job market going forward will be dramatically different than the one we’ve gotten used to.

Navigating an Economic Downturn

Over the last few years, the labor market has been a seller’s market. With unemployment low, skilled workers have had notable leverage. Since most people had ... Read More

Culture has been a hot topic in the recruiting industry for a few years now. Still, there are companies that continue to either overlook its importance or misunderstand its meaning. There are a variety of ways that workplace culture has an impact on the hiring process, and it can be difficult for both parties if an employee finds they’re not adjusting to their new working environment well.

When hiring for new candidates, it’s crucial to remember that there is more to a person than just the set of skills they bring to the table. It’s likely that you will find several candidates who meet the requirements for a position you’re looking to fill. But something else you need to consider is how candidates will make a positive addition to the team, and if they’ll flourish.

Defining Your Culture

Before you can hire the best fit for your company culture, you first need to know what your culture is.

If you’re unsure, it’s actually easier to figure out than you’d think.

Every business has a culture. It’s communicated to employees in the way you do business and in the values you hold as an employer. A business can easily make the mistake of thinking culture ... Read More

With increased worker mobility and the rise of the gig economy, staffing agencies have become a key career-enhancement path for many job seekers. However, some candidates remain concerned about the details. They fear that using a staffing agency will become expensive or end up losing them money in the long term.

This just isn’t true. Staffing firms are not expensive for job seekers. On the contrary, their services come at no cost to you. They offer an amazing, zero-expense way to push your career to the next level.

In today’s economy, staffing companies represent a significant portion of the job market. Each week, more than three million temp and contract employees work for staffing firms in the U.S. On an annual basis, the number of people hired through this process reaches almost 17 million.

The role of recruiters is only growing. One survey indicated that more than half of hiring managers (54%) expect to see their use of staffing agencies rise in the next half-decade. Clearly, this represents a significant source of potential opportunities.

However, it’s important for you to understand how staffing firms make their money and how they operate on your behalf. Here are ... Read More

Lots of companies with long-standing employee policies concerning tattoos have been forced to review them in recent years. Even so, many firms still have deeply ingrained prejudices (however misguided) against job applicants with ink. It leads to a conundrum every time an opportunity comes up: should you cover up your tattoos for the job interview?

There’s no denying the fact that tattoos have become more prevalent in recent years. A few decades ago, it might be rare for a job applicant to have a visible tattoo (especially in a white-collar setting), but now, studies show that more than a third of young adults sport some ink.

Data compiled by the Pew Research Center showed that 38% of adults under 30 have at least one tattoo. Meanwhile, further stats indicate that multiple tattoos have become normal, with 70% of people with tattoos having more than one (and one out of every five has at least five tattoos).

Even with the normalization of ink and wider acceptance in the workplace, you still have a decision to make when interviews come up. Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

Read the Situation ... Read More