The September 2021 jobs report had conflicting information about America’s workforce and the jobs they do. It said:
- Unemployment fell to 4.8%, the lowest since the pandemic began.
- The number of job openings was at record highs.
- Wages increased across most sectors.
- More than 25 million people quit their jobs in the first 7 months of the year.
If you’re one of the many people not working right now, this data could be confusing. How do you know if you’re ready to get back into the world of work? Should you take a job now or wait for something better to come along?
Take this short quiz to find out.
- Can you cover your childcare or eldercare needs while at work?
- Do you feel safe from COVID?
- Are you feeling burned out?
- Are you uncertain about what you want to do in your next job?
If you answered YES to at least one of these questions, you may be ready to work IF you can find a job that’s flexible, safe, and well paid, where people care about you as a person. It’s not an impossible situation. Keep reading for answers and guidance from United Talent Staffing.
Childcare & Eldercare Issues
Parents and caregivers struggle to ensure their loved ones are cared for when they are at work. Shifting school schedules and exposure to COVID can make planning difficult if not impossible. Working remotely from home isn’t always possible or an answer to competing priorities.
Answer: Look for a job that gives you the flexibility to adjust your schedule if issues come up.
Flexibility is one of the hallmarks of working for a staffing agency. These firms allow associates to stay flexible and call off of work, within established guidelines, as needed. If an issue at home prevents you from working on a particular day, the staffing agency will keep its jobs filled from within their ranks. Staffing companies don’t advocate irresponsible behavior – they expect people to keep their commitments as much as possible – but they do offer the kind of flexibility today’s workforce seeks.
Safety
Safety today usually means, Am I safe from exposure COVID-19? COVID vaccines or weekly testing are available, free of charge, in most locations. Booster vaccines and vaccines for children are also now becoming available.
Regardless of your vaccine status or beliefs, you’ll want to be sure a prospective employer’s vaccine, mask, and distancing practices match your needs.
Answer: Ask about a company’s COVID protocols early in the application process.
Employers should be used to answering this question openly and honestly. When you work with a staffing agency, your recruiter will handle this discussion for you. They know what COVID-related matters are covered by the employer and what is required of employees. Then, your recruiter will work to find you a position where there is a match.
Burnout
Job stress and burnout are real in every job type and sector. These conditions are a leading cause of people quitting their jobs or abandoning their job search altogether.
People want to feel valued for the work they do. They want to feel that their employer and managers care about their health, well-being, and life. These are normal human needs. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, care, and courtesy at work.
Answer: Job seekers have options. You can be choosy today.
When applying for a job, ask about the culture, the work-life balance, and level of stress in the workplace. Many hiring managers allow candidates to talk to existing employees to get unfiltered input on these topics.
Staffing companies know this first-hand. They employ thousands of associates and make their living by recruiting and retaining them. They know the culture at every client’s business: is it fast-paced or relaxed? highly social or independent?
Your recruiter is your advocate to ensure you’re placed in a job where your emotional needs are met, and where burnout can be mitigated.
Your Next Job
Many job seekers have been out of the workplace for an extended period. Their former jobs – even former employers – may no longer exist. They may feel rusty and unprepared to get back in the game. They may not even know what job they qualify for, and so they stop looking.
Lack of confidence, fear, and anxiety can easily set in. Equally common is the desire for change – new career, new industry, new environment.
Answer: Get an honest assessment of your skills, then try out a new job or two.
That may sound like a fantasy, but helping candidates figure out what they qualify for is one of the top skills offered by staffing company recruiters. These professionals are experts at identifying positions you may never have thought or heard of.
When a possible fit is uncovered, a staffing company can give you the opportunity to try a new position or skill on a temporary basis to see if you like it. This is one of the biggest reasons people like working with staffing agencies: the ability to find new bridges to the right job.
Let’s Talk About Money
Regardless of your childcare, safety, stress, or confidence issues, no job is right unless the wage works for your budget and household. For the last several years, pay rates have been stagnant, but recently, minimum wage, salary, and raises have all begun to increase.
Job seekers today have access to extensive online data about pay rates and are empowered to know what to ask for and expect as they re-enter the job market or look to change careers.
Answer: A staffing company recruiter is your advocate for the best pay.
Staffing company recruiters also have this wage data and work hard for their associates to ensure they get the best pay possible. Staffing companies also consult with their business clients about the pay rates they need to offer to attract a quality workforce.
Are You Ready to Go Back to Work?
When your answer is “Yes!” a staffing company can be your ally and advocate in the job search.
Staffing firms put 3 million people to work in an average week, according to the American Staffing Association. You can be one of them!
People work with staffing agencies to supplement their income with temporary jobs until the right job, right time comes along. They know that these temporary positions offer flexibility, variety, and skill-building. And they know that temporary jobs can be a pathway to permanent, full-time employment.
There is never a fee to the job seeker when they work with a staffing company recruiter. There’s no risk – only reward.
To learn more about working with a staffing company, contact United Talent Staffing. Recruiters are available at community branch offices in West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Visit United Talent Staffing online to find a location near you.
United Talent is ready to go to work when you are.