Category: Career Center

The U.S. job market is still strong with a national unemployment rate of 3.8%. While that number is a popular statistic running across all media channels, it may not feel that way to every job seeker. There are several industries such as hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare that are hiring. In some other areas such as finance and accounting, technology, and marketing, there are smaller pockets of hiring.

Regardless of the hiring trends, in today’s environment, a job seeker can utilize several channels to find employment. There are a variety of job boards, job search engines, social media platforms, and employment agencies promoting open job opportunities to a wide mass of job seekers who they never met or engaged with before. How should a job seeking candidate engage with a potential employer? While there are many answers and several steps, one common tactic that many candidates poorly pursue where employers are getting way too familiar with is Candidate Ghosting.

Ghosting is the process where the job seeker or candidate miraculously disappears during the employment application process with the employer. The ghosting usually takes place after the point of candidate engagement where the candidate has been either granted an official client job interview or even in some cases, an official job offer and start date. For their own reason, the candidate decides not to respond to the employment agency. They would rather abandon the process than simply give a reason for cancelling a job interview or employment offer. Running away from a professional career opportunity is their preferred option.

An employment agency is a licensed direct employer that employs a job seeker on assignment as an official W-2 employee on record. Some employment agencies employ job seekers in multiple states or all 50 states. Since employment agencies service multiple clients in a variety of disciplines such as finance, information technology, or healthcare, staffing firms deal with a variety of job seekers with diverse backgrounds.

No matter what job order requisition that an employment agency handles, there are candidates who still ghost or disappear during the employment application process. Why does this happen? There are many reasons. Many of which that are difficult to answer. Some candidates may feel that employment agencies are not real employment partners due to the transactional nature of the business. Some candidates may feel that the job may not be a real open job, but a bait and switch tactic to bring in the job seeker’s resume. Some candidates may also feel that the staffing firms is not really listening to the career objectives of the job seeker.

Whatever the case may be, an employment agency should build and develop trust with its candidates. The interview should be a fact finding mission to discover what really motivates the job seeker to take their next job opportunity. Follow up skills are important as the job seeker and employment agency should be able to contact each other within 24 hours via email or phone. An employment agency needs to be honest and available.

Now even when an employment agency communicates with a candidate with the highest level of professionalism in its interviewing and engagement, candidates still ghost staffing firms. Below is a list of some of the negative effects on the job seeker as a result of Ghosting:

Candidates who ghost will:

1. Lose out on the opportunity to work again on any future job order with an employment agency. Most staffing firms have centralized applicant tracking systems. They share the same data and recruiters can mark a candidate as a “Do Not Use.”
2. Obtain an overall bad reputation. Recruiters change jobs too and work at other employment agencies. They may remember a candidate name with a reputation of ghosting. The outcome is getting added to the blacklist of a second or third or fourth employment agency.
3. Damage relationships with the clients of the staffing firm. If a candidate was submitted to a client of an employment agency, that client has your name. When the candidate ghosts the agency, they also ghost the client. The bad reputation spider web has grown.
4. Negatively impact their own employee brand for the long term. Life has its ups and downs, and a candidate never knows when to expect the unexpected. Keeping a clean job seeker or employee brand is important. When life changes and one really needs the assistance of an employment agency, help may not be available.

Unfortunately, ghosting will never cease to exist, but employment agencies can implement some candidate recruitment process controls to mitigate those outcomes. An employment agency should add some quality control check points during its recruitment. One idea is to allow the candidate some time to think about whether they really want to interview or apply for a position. Request that they call you back at a specific time on a specific date with their decision. Another idea is to schedule an interview prep call via video (Zoom or MS Teams) where the employment agency and candidate meet in person to review the interview with the client. If the candidate does not appear for the video prep call, it’s time to cancel the interview with the client.

USA Today recently posted an article called “Is it bad to ghost low priority potential employers?” where the CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest HR professional society. Very timely and worth the read.

Happy Thanksgiving and Holidays! This is the time of year where friends and family get together to celebrate and spend quality time together. People should go out and enjoy good food, music, entertainment and more. It’s perfectly fine to share those moments on social media. Just remember that holiday fun doesn’t mean holiday embarrassment. Don’t share too much on social media this time of year. You may be looking for a job or working for a company that monitor’s social media profiles.

Social Media is a mainstay in the daily behavior of many job seekers.  Most online visitors spend hours scrolling through photos of other people’s lives on social media. Why not put this time into enhancing one’s own social media profile as a job seeker in New Jersey?  Networking online with a New Jersey based employment agency is a good idea to develop your online resume or social media brand.  With more than 75% of the global population active on social media, many employers are also using these social media sites to find new hires for temp jobs. To get started, below are three tips for a job seeker to maintain a social media profile:

1. Build your personal brand

As a job seeker in New Jersey, post informative content about yourself that relates to your hobbies, interests, and strengths. For example, a job seeker could use a social media site like “TikTok” to share constructive videos that displays performances or work products in order to appeal to employment agencies.   Additionally, a job seeker should only offer constructive comments that will impress employers when they research your name. Social media should be a platform meant to uplift one’s reputation by displaying the great things they have done or stated within their feed. To further explain, on X (formerly known as Twitter), job seekers can post public comments that contribute to work related conversations. This action may suggest to employers that one has a passion for their career and prefers to engage in meaningful discussion via social media. 

During this holiday season, spend less time sharing photos guzzling egg nog with cousin Louie or Lorraine and more time nurturing your online brand that compliments your resume. While it’s perfectly normal to post photos of celebrations, refrain from posting photos that highlight behavior that is inconsistent with a professional profile.

2. Utilize all key social media tools

Social media sites have several hidden tools that can promote a job seeker’s social media profile.  Employers prefer that job seekers care about the image they portray online.  It’s a good idea to create an educational bio about yourself.  Instagram permits its users to include a significant quote or fact about themselves so employment agencies can read noteworthy information when finding someone’s profile. Another feature offered through this platform is the ability to “tag” an account. It’s beneficial to tag keywords such as New Jersey employment agencies in posts in order to stand out as a potential candidate.  One can include photos relating to job interests and articles relating to one’s past experiences. Furthermore, a job seeker should also tag other people that they want to be noticed by so employers can find their social media resume in a timely fashion.

3. Make social connections

One commonality between all social media sites is the ability to form connections. It’s a good idea to follow those employment agencies that are of interest.  One can follow an employment agency on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.  Following a New Jersey employment agency will allow one to keep up with company news as well as display an interest in the business of the employment agency.  Networking on platforms like LinkedIn gives job seekers the ability to connect with employers, colleagues, and friends that may help them in their career path. Moreover, establishing these connections allows employers to view one’s social media resume.  It’s a useful tool for sharing skills and work experience with other employment agencies in order to find additional job opportunities. It’s also recommended that one network with multiple employment agencies via their social media sites. Not only does one lift its social media profile among a large group of employers, but a job seeker will also obtain access to job postings, thought leadership, and increased visibility among hiring managers.

Overall, job seekers in New Jersey should utilize social media to their advantage when building an online reputation.  It’s important to maintain an online profiles with these three strategies in order to find a job with a New Jersey based employment agency effectively. 

Happy Halloween to all UNIFORCE employees and job seeking candidates.

Speaking of dressing up, it’s always a good idea to dress for success for an in person or video interview. Remember to wear business attire for both types of interviews. Candidates should do their best not present themselves as a “monster”. The outcome may make the hiring manager treat a candidate like a “ghost”.

More tips on best interviewing practices.

It is beneficial for a job seeker to consider partnering with an employment agency. Choosing one that mirrors your integrity, work ethic, and similar core values.  This match allows an employee’s skills to shine and deliver a positive influence to an employment agency’s client.

The ability to influence others is a challenging skill to master, yet an effective one.  It encourages one’s career advancement, boosts credibility, and allows one to build a higher impact on the team and company.  This skill set is an asset for an employee on assignment at an employment agency.  The key is to make values and expertise impossible to ignore! 

It’s a worthwhile idea for a job seeker to research local temporary employment agencies, in order to determine if it is a worthwhile ally.  Partnering with the right agency will allow an employee to explore employment opportunities with a client that shares the same values as the job seeker. The benefit of working in a temporary-to-hire position provides an opportunity to try out a company and determine if talent is recognized and given the opportunity to shine.  All of these components help to create an engaged worker; a worthwhile strategy to seek a competitive advantage.

Temporary employees from an employment agency regularly can contribute unique and constructive skills, with competence and proficiency.  They can share their past experiences from various previous contract/temporary assignments from both large and small employers. In summary, temps can become a positive influence in the workplace. 

When temporary/contract employees successfully complete previous assignments, they arrive at their new assignment eager and ready to go.  They exemplify flexibility, a desire to start tasks quickly, and meld into the company environment. In fact, clients of employment agencies agree that minimal training was required when hiring an employee that demonstrated the same values and became a positive influence.   Despite the new company environment, employees are off and running, fulfilling the technical and soft skill goals of the new assignment. Often, their talent and influence is welcomed.

For the employment agency client, a fulfilled worker with a satisfied and energetic attitude, adds stability, productivity, and innovation.  This successful match can enhance the company culture with the full time employees.  Additionally, when an employment agency client has a positive outcome with a temporary employee, assignment end dates can be extended.

Employees who seek that their values align with the mission statement of an employment agency are more likely to find a position that fits their career goals.  Employees can look to their employment agency as an advisor. Together, both parties work closely to align each other with the right client company to make the perfect fit. When Human Resources departments review resumes and observe the same employment agency on several previous employment positions, that’s a recipe of success. A good match between the employee and employment agency has been made.

Temp agencies with a local presence in New Jersey and other states provide temp jobs on all different levels to employees seeking an opportunity that matches their career objectives.  Temp jobs are always in demand.  Businesses and health care organizations are constantly looking for employees, especially in an environment where the unemployment rate is so low.

In July 2022, the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.5 percent, reaching its pre-pandemic level. Therefore, in order to hire more employees, companies are adding temp jobs or long term assignments in order to hire people more quickly than they can with a full time hire.  The truth of the matter is that an employer usually can bring on a temp or consultant much more quickly than a full time employee.  A job seeker should understand that they can wait less time to get hired and start towards a temp or temp-to-hire career.

A temp job in New Jersey allows workers to be hired for a period of time.  Companies request temporary positions when they are in need of assistance immediately, due to a vacancy.  Hiring managers also don’t have to get approval from the central Human Resources process at times. In most cases, the temp job has a specific start date and possible end date.  Some reasons for the term or period could be due a maternity leave, a leave of absence, an employee resignation, or an upcoming project. 

Working through a temp agency allows all kinds of people to gain experience in the workforce. For example, a retiree looking to reenter the workforce may take a temp job to ease their way back into the workplace.  Furthermore, a college student on summer break may perform a temp job in order to build up their resume over those few months.  Temp jobs in New Jersey and elsewhere offer convenience to the needs of people in their current stage of life. Expanding knowledge and learning a new trade or skill on-the-job is only beneficial to a person looking to develop a career.. 

In full transparency, taking on a temp job shows an individual’s dedication because an employee is committing to a position for a specific period of time.  Sometimes starting smaller may lead to bigger positions in the future.  As one works diligently as a temp, employers will notice one’s strong work ethic. Working in a temp job provides immediate visibility and also gets one’s name out to other departments within an organization.  Additionally, more companies will notice one’s resume due to the additional experience and software skills acquired.  These experiences in a temp job will lead to connections with future employers.  Doors can only open for a full time position or internal promotion.

It’s important to understand that not all temp jobs stay temporary.  Some temp jobs in New Jersey and other states transition to a permanent (or direct hire) status. A temp-to-hire can occur when the company finally realizes that the temp is thriving in the role. A good lesson to learn why a job seeker would want to work as a temp is that “you have to be in it to win it.”  Employers really like to “try before they buy.”  

Social Media is now a mainstay in the daily behavior of many job seekers.  Most online visitors spend hours every day scrolling through photos of other people’s lives on social media. Why not put this time into enhancing one’s own social media profile as a job seeker in New Jersey?  Networking online with a New Jersey based employment agency is a good idea to develop your online resume or social media brand.  With more than 75% of the global population active on social media, many employers are also using these social media sites to find new hires for temp jobs. To get started, below are three tips for a job seeker to maintain a social media profile:

1. Build your personal brand

As a job seeker in New Jersey, post informative content about yourself that relates to your hobbies, interests, and strengths. For example, a job seeker could use a social media site like “TikTok” to share constructive videos that displays performances or work products in order to appeal to employment agencies.   Additionally, a job seeker should only offer constructive comments that will impress employers when they research your name. Social media should be a platform meant to uplift one’s reputation by displaying the great things they have done or stated within their feed. To further explain, on Twitter, job seekers can post public comments that contribute to work related conversations. This action may suggest to employers that one has a passion for their career and prefers to engage in meaningful discussion via social media. 

2. Utilize all key social media tools

Social media sites have several hidden tools that can promote a job seeker’s social media profile.  Employers prefer that job seekers care about the image they portray online.  It’s a good idea to create an educational bio about yourself.  Instagram permits its users to include a significant quote or fact about themselves so employment agencies can read noteworthy information when finding someone’s profile. Another feature offered through this platform is the ability to “tag” an account. It’s beneficial to tag keywords such as New Jersey employment agencies in posts in order to stand out as a potential candidate.  One can include photos relating to job interests and articles relating to one’s past experiences. Furthermore, a job seeker should also tag other people that they want to be noticed by so employers can find their social media resume in a timely fashion.

3. Make social connections

One commonality between all social media sites is the ability to form connections. It’s a good idea to follow those employment agencies that are of interest.  One can follow an employment agency on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.  Following a New Jersey employment agency will allow one to keep up with company news as well as display an interest in the business of the employment agency.  Networking on platforms like LinkedIn gives job seekers the ability to connect with employers, colleagues, and friends that may help them in their career path. Moreover, establishing these connections allows employers to view one’s social media resume.  It’s a useful tool for sharing skills and work experience with other employment agencies in order to find additional job opportunities. It’s also recommended that one network with multiple employment agencies via their social media sites. Not only does one lift its social media profile among a large group of employers, but a job seeker will also obtain access to job postings, thought leadership, and increased visibility among hiring managers.

Overall, job seekers in New Jersey should utilize social media to their advantage when building an online reputation.  It’s important to maintain an online profiles with these three strategies in order to find a job with a New Jersey based employment agency effectively. 

It is beneficial for a job seeker to consider partnering with an employment agency. Choosing one that mirrors your integrity, work ethic, and similar core values.  This match allows an employee’s skills to shine and deliver a positive influence to an employment agency’s client.

The ability to influence others is a challenging skill to master, yet an effective one.  It encourages one’s career advancement, boosts credibility, and allows one to build a higher impact on the team and company.  This skill set is an asset for an employee on assignment at an employment agency.  The key is to make values and expertise impossible to ignore! 

It’s a worthwhile idea for a job seeker to research local temporary employment agencies, in order to determine if it is a worthwhile ally.  Partnering with the right agency will allow an employee to explore employment opportunities with a client that shares the same values as the job seeker. The benefit of working in a temporary-to-hire position provides an opportunity to try out a company and determine if talent is recognized and given the opportunity to shine.  All of these components help to create an engaged worker; a worthwhile strategy to seek a competitive advantage.

Temporary employees from an employment agency regularly can contribute unique and constructive skills, with competence and proficiency.  They can share their past experiences from various previous contract/temporary assignments from both large and small employers. In summary, temps can become a positive influence in the workplace. 

When temporary/contract employees successfully complete previous assignments, they arrive at their new assignment eager and ready to go.  They exemplify flexibility, a desire to start tasks quickly, and meld into the company environment. In fact, clients of employment agencies agree that minimal training was required when hiring an employee that demonstrated the same values and became a positive influence.   Despite the new company environment, employees are off and running, fulfilling the technical and soft skill goals of the new assignment. Often, their talent and influence is welcomed.

For the employment agency client, a fulfilled worker with a satisfied and energetic attitude, adds stability, productivity, and innovation.  This successful match can enhance the company culture with the full time employees.  Additionally, when an employment agency client has a positive outcome with a temporary employee, assignment end dates can be extended.

Employees who seek that their values align with the mission statement of an employment agency are more likely to find a position that fits their career goals.  Employees can look to their employment agency as an advisor. Together, both parties work closely to align each other with the right client company to make the perfect fit. When Human Resources departments review resumes and observe the same employment agency on several previous employment positions, that’s a recipe of success. A good match between the employee and employment agency has been made.

The U.S. job market has been slowly improving on a statistical basis, but it has not returned to its pre-COVID numbers. In January of this year, the overall unemployment rate fell by .4% to a rate of 6.3%. The number of
long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more), at 4.0 million, was about unchanged in January and accounted for 39.5 percent of the total unemployed (source: US BLS).

While job seekers rightfully prefer to seek full time employment or a “permanent job,” they should also consider the option of working with an employment agency. An employment or temp agency, especially one based in Bergen County, New Jersey, has an abundant supply of contract or temporary assignments. A temp job is a great way to get back to work quickly.

During the COVID pandemic, companies are still burdened with headcount quotas or freezes due to the economic uncertainty. Companies also take a long time to make a decision on a new full time hire. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) needs to directly hands-on approve the budget for the new hire and HR experiences longer times to hire due to constant unexpected changes in their business climate.

While it is normal for job seekers to hold out and wait for the ideal full time job, the timing is always uncertain. Since the number of job seekers still jobless after 27 weeks has not changed, it may be worth to consider a temp job. There are many advantages to keeping a resume up-to-date and relevant.

These are unprecedented times and hiring managers, that read resumes for a living, understand the long gaps in employment and various reasons for jobs ending. But it is still vital to keep the resume and skills (computer and job-related) as fresh as possible. By accepting a temp job from an employment agency in Bergen County, New Jersey, a job seeker can bridge the gaps in employment and portray a viable current history of employment from a reputable organization.

For example, our employment agency was searching for a temporary or contract Customer Service Rep. for a 3 month project for a major client. We interviewed several candidates for the position and many preferred not to take a temp job. There were some job seekers who saw the value in taking the temp job because it presented new opportunities. Not only was our client a household name providing reputable corporate clout on their resume, but the temp job also provided the opportunity to work with the SAP system. Going forward, new employers would now notice this candidate as a potential hire for new job opportunities requiring the specialty SAP skill set. A new career road path is available.

Employment Agencies provide a variety of opportunities in a wide group of industries. Accepting a temp job may lead to an opportunity in a new industry or present a much needed career change. It can also provide a warm sense of purpose and facilitate self-worth when facing the emotional and psychological challenges of being out-of-work.

Consider partnering with an employment agency in your local neighborhood such as Bergen County, New Jersey. Some employment agencies, such as UNIFORCE, also provide job opportunities in other states as well.

During this highly stressful time, job seekers and employees are feeling anxious and uncertain about the present, and especially about the future.  An employment agency’s goal is to put as many job seekers to work as possible. Those employees fortunate to be working on a temporary/contract assignment, are at the heart of every company. Employees are the special ingredient for their own success as well as the employment agency’s success.

Family, community, and health are of utmost importance.  Believing in the power of working together, with care and compassion, and taking every precaution, will help reduce some of the workers’ pressure. Employment agencies and their client companies need to listen to employees’ responses, and monitor the situation carefully to support their employees while working. 

During this worldwide Coronavirus outbreak, managing work deadlines and goals while trying to balance these unprecedented life’s circumstances, and pressures happening at home, is of utmost importance.  Sometimes life’s challenges prepare people for changes in the world and for what lies ahead.

Due to the effects and the insurmountable and continuing pressure of the pandemic on society and our workplaces, all employment agencies and its clients are operating in unheard-of times.  In the midst of this uncertainty, it is important to find a moment of inspiration to keep heads up and spirits high.  There is ample room for connection and creativity, bringing a spot of happiness, while displaying extreme flexibility.  The situation isn’t there yet, but an ease and end to the lock down is on the horizon. 

It is an employment agency’s responsibility to continue to support employees with updates and developments. The goal is to diffuse any pressure on the temporary employee on their assignment.

It is our hope that employees and their families maintain continuing health and advised safety standards.