Archive for January, 2009

There was a time when people dreaded going to temp employment agencies. It basically meant that you were out of work and couldn’t find a job on your own.

Thankfully, public opinion now favors the services of temp employment agencies. These agencies help fill manpower gaps in large companies, while helping provide necessary skills and experiences for its patrons. Some people prefer to seek the services of such agencies because of its broad scope of connections with hiring companies.

Temp employment agencies usually cater to people who have attained high school, junior college or vocational education. Sometimes, these agencies also afford services to professionals who seek short-term employment for a host of reasons. The tenure of the jobs can be as short as one month or as long as a year. Often, highly skilled and qualified workers are incorporated into the company soon after their temporary tenure ends.

Most large companies seek manpower support for jobs in light industrial like check sorting, filling and tracking orders, forklift driving, messenger service, opening and filing mail, parts assembly, shipping / receiving, and welding. Restaurants also hire people from the agencies and positions range from bus staff, to cashiers, to wait staff and even to hosts. Clerical work or desk work for various companies may involve address databases, copying, correspondence, data entry, filing, mailing lists, mail preparation, spreadsheet management, and transcription. Often, when a company is swamped with clerical workload, suitable applicants from temp employment agencies are immediately given assignments. Janitorial and maintenance jobs are also offered in the agencies with such duties like cleaning and sanitizing building interiors, complex and/or simple repairs and carpentry, landscaping, painting and window washing.

Not all temp employment agencies have such a broad scope of services offered. In fact, some agencies have become so specialized that they offer only one type of staffing; example of which are agencies for licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and certified nursing assistants (CNA.) Health establishments like hospice, rehabilitation and nursing facilities all rely on temp employment agencies for their much needed skilled, licensed and certified manpower.

A temp or temporary employment agency is really a human resource job bank. It matches an applicant’s qualifications against the requirements and job descriptions given by a particular hiring company. More importantly, these agencies provide company management the valuable service of employee screening: like background checks, character checks, credit checks, and skills testing.

There are numerous temp agencies all over the country. Listings could be found in any phone directory and some even have their own websites. However, temp agencies prefer that people apply in person because they will have to first undergo initial interview and skills testing.

Did you know that thanks to California employment law and the backing of the current Governor, California will have the highest hourly rate of pay in the USA starting January 1, 2008? California employment law will then dictate that a worker’s minimum wage will be $8.00 an hour, up from $7.50 an hour.

In addition, workers under California employment law provisions will also receive an increase in meal and lodging credits by the same percentage as the minimum wage increases. Be aware though, that under employers governed by California employment law, they can use the increased amounts for meals and lodging to count against minimum wage when they provide workers with meals/lodging. Unfortunately, if you are a federal employee and work outside California, your wage remains at $5.15/hour. That bites!

The hottest issue in California employment law is the payment of overtime. This is an area of California employment law that is pretty much akin to stepping on a landmine. Why? Because there are two classes of workers under California employment law – exempt and non-exempt – and failure to know the difference can cost business big bucks. If an employee entitled to overtime is treated as exempt, they could be eligible to a nice chunk of change for overtime pay once the dust settles.

Is there a difference when paying an exempt versus non-exempt worker? Under California employment law, a non-exempt worker is subject to all pay rules set up by the Industrial Welfare Commission – that includes overtime. In other words, a non-exempt employee must be paid all overtime hours worked.

If you are in doubt as to what category your workers fall into, check California employment law codes and regs for the answer. If it still isn’t clear, then call the Department of Labor. In general to be an exempt employee it would depend on the level of responsibility they have, or their professional status. This doesn’t have anything to do with their job title, or whether or not they get a salary or and hourly wage.

As a general rule of thumb, employees considered to be exempt under the law are licensed professionals.  E.g. doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, and certified public accountants. Also exempt are managers who hire, fire, and train, and spend less than 50 percent of their time performing the same duties as their employees
The other two categories considered to be exempt are outside sales reps and those who create/formulate business policies for their organizations. Again, if you have any questions about exempt versus non-exempt employees and how to make sure they are paid according to the law, check with the nearest Department of Labor office. Save yourself some time and grief in the long run.

Searching for employment is very easy if you know where to look. It’s quite unfortunate for some who go on and on looking for a job in the wrong places and at the wrong time. Mostly, they end up with what they have at the beginning of their job hunting – nothing. Let’s take a look at some of the better resources for job hunting. You may have your doubts in your search for employment but many have found the jobs they want through these methods.

Like most the things that you can do online, search for employment can also be done online. There are literally hundreds of sites that you can use to search for employment. You can just Google for “jobs” and you’ll be shown hundreds of websites where you can find employment opportunities. There are websites that will give you thousands of job options and there are also sites that specialize in specific fields. The advantage of searching for employment online is that you can apply to many jobs at the same time, and this can be done in the comfort of your own home. However, as much as there are countless job offers online, there are also many people who are also in search for employment online.

Other than online job searching, you can also look for employment at a local employment agency. These agencies will help you in your search for employment by matching job opportunities with your personality and skills. They can refer you to jobs that are within your vicinity since most of the jobs available are localized. You can also find fast employment if you look for temporary work. There are many local companies that are looking for general labor and you don’t need experience or specific skills for these. Generally, compared to job searching online, an employment agency does not have so many jobs to offer, and applicants have to pay a fee when they get employment.

When looking for a job, you have to consider the place and the time. Job opportunities vary according to the seasons of the year and also the place where you are seeking employment. You also need to be aware of the trend of job transferring. Most offices experience transfer or resignation during the months of January and February, usually after the employees receive their bonuses. The best time to submit your application is end of December, and most companies call for interviews in January. If you’re interested in a hotel job, make sure you apply at least a month before peak season. Most hotels hire temporary workers around this time of the year.

Knowing the right time and place to search for employment is the key to successful job hunting. With enough research and patience, you will definitely find the perfect job you always wanted.

Opportunities for home based employment are now on the rise providing attractive benefits for a lot of people searching for a new job. A lot of mothers and students are the most likely types who seek for home based employment simply because it would be more convenient on their status or situation.

As of 2000, in the United States alone, there are over 4 million employees who are engaged in home based employment. In fact the statistics are increasing each year. That is why home based employment scams are also on the rise. Even though there are a lot of companies that truly offer home based employment, there are also a growing number of offers that are just too good to be true. If you have heard of those advertisements like “Earn thousands of dollars a day just by working at home,” then chances are it’s one of those home based employment scams spreading throughout the internet world today.

Now learn how you can detect a genuine home based employment from a bogus one. First, know that you cannot distinguish one from where it is being advertised. These offers can be posted in newspapers. The offer can be sent through email. Some would even call you on the phone while other offers come in the mail with impressive brochures and business letters. Remember, the package that comes with the offer is not a basis of it being a genuine and legal home based employment.

In general, you can categorize home based employment into two types. First type is you are being employed by a company, and the second is you start up your own business like a franchise of another company. Second thing to consider distinguishing a scam is this. If you are being employed, is your employer hiring you without any interview or even getting your resume? Do they get personal information like bank account including credit cards? If this is the case, research on the company before giving out any personal information. You’ll find a lot of helpful sites today that lists down the different types of home based employment scams. At the same time, get the name of the company and search it online. Go to their website and see what information you can get. Verify the contact numbers and addresses. If they are affiliated with other companies, verify those too.

Now if you are responding to home based employment that lets you start your own home based business, your contact should be able to lay out the whole business plan precisely and clearly. If that person cannot clearly explain to you how the business goes, then it’s most likely a scam. At the same time, if they promise you a profit that’s too good to be true, beware. Businesses, whether home-based or not, are all the same. You have to strive hard to make profits.

There is one heck of a lot going on in the rapidly changing world of employment law cases. Virtually daily the courts are handing down decisions that can affect you dramatically in many different areas.

Although employment law cases aren’t exactly something you would elect to cruise on a daily basis, there are sites on the Internet that you can search for employment law cases that have been summarized for you – just the highlights and what it could mean. The summaries are likely the best route to go as they make a great deal more sense than the legal versions of employment law cases.

Here are some recent employment law cases that could be of some interest to you – highlights only. If you want to look up the whole case, you can just search for AARP v. EEOC (3rd Cir. 2007)

What it says in a nutshell is, employers and retirees may be able to design retiree health plans and early retirement incentive programs to take advantage of the retirees’ eligibility for Medicare benefits. This is a landmark decision.
Why is this of potential importance to you if you are a retiree? It is important because fewer and fewer employers provide health benefits for retirees.  The reasons for this are corporations wanting a bigger profit, rising health care costs and of paramount importance, is if you qualify for Medicare on retirement, whether they can reduce/eliminate health benefits for retirees without violating federal age discrimination laws.
Many of the employment law cases you will find in your search are older cases, but are of great importance in terms of ratio decidendi – meaning the precedents they set for case law across the nation. The ratio decidendi is the ground or reason of the decision in a case.
Another area of employment law cases raising a few eyebrows are cases dealing with what happens when key employees leave a company and then begin to compete with the firm they just left. There is an important decision in this area in this case: Aero Fulfillment Services, Inc. v. Tartar (Ohio 2007). This case deals with rights and limitations employers face when a key worker leaves. It also lays out steps for employers to take if and when such an employee leaves, dealing primarily with company trade secrets, confidential information and customer retention/fishing.
As you can see, if you have an interest in this area, you could definitely learn a lot about various decisions that directly and distinctly affect the labor laws in the US. While they may not apply to you presently, chances are that later down the road, you just may be in a position where you need to know things like this.

Animals are like humans. It needs to be given utmost care. No Kill Animal Shelter is an organization dedicated to the welfare of stray animals. There are many No Kill Animal Shelters in the U.S. If you are one of those who care for animals, then start your career with No Kill Animal Shelter employment opportunities.

You can make a difference by working with organizations that extends care to animals. You can choose to be a veterinarian for that is one option you can go with No Kill Animal Shelter employment opportunities.

If you have a veterinary degree, then you can apply as a veterinarian. Your duties include for you to stop, manage, and treat diseases of the animals. On the other hand, having no veterinary degree does not prevent you from helping animals. You can be a veterinary assistant.

Veterinary assistantship is one of No Kill Animal Shelter employment opportunities. Basically, as a vet assistant, you will be assisting the vet doctor with his routines. You may also be tasked to maintain the daily nutritional needs of the pets. Cleaning for the pets may also be asked for you as well as getting the pets ready for adoption.

Aside from veterinarians, most animal organizations are also in need of adoption counselors. The said position is also available in No Kill Animal Shelter employment opportunities. The weight of responsibility is heavier with adoption counselors. You are required to choose individuals who will not simply adopt pets but will provide love and care for the said animals. It is your responsibility to converse with prospective individuals interested in adopting pets. Your tasks include:

1. Determine the type of pet the individual/family is looking for.
2. Find out what measures they will undertake to care for the pet.
3. Give details on the adoption process, expectations and necessary regulations.

It is necessary for you to have good interpersonal skills. By having so, you will not find it difficult to ask questions and relay information.

Animal caregivers are also an option with No Kill Animal Shelter employment opportunities. You can work in a full-time or part-time basis. There is a need for you to have passion in caring for animals. Other qualities that you should have are reliability and flexibility since it involves different duties. You may be tasked to perform the following duties:

• Attend to different animal assistance programs.
• Records animal profiles especially during adoption process.
• Undertake administrative duties such as public interaction, application screening and educating visitors of animal shelters.

In some instances, you may be asked to the veterinary’s assistant. You will be asked to assist on vaccinations, treatments and healthcare monitoring.
No Kill Animal Shelter employment opportunities offer you several work options that is in accordance with your educational background, skills, preference and most importantly passion.

Getting Ready with the Employment Pre Screening Test

If you are applying for a certain job, you will probably need to pass the employment pre screening tests. Regardless of the size of the company that you are applying for employment, the employer always finds his right to ensure that you are the right employee who can share the same goals with the company, which is to protect the investments.

The employment pre screening tests are carried out through psychometric examining, drug testing, and background checking. These and some more additional tests are used by HR professionals to proficiently sneak some facts which can prove that a certain applicant is of perfect qualifications.

Background checking is one common method for pre-employment screening. If you are an applicant, this procedure is set along with other employment pre screening tests which are often performed online or at the company. The written or electronic tests are often referred to as the aptitude tests that will assess your reasoning skills. Other tests include the technical aspects, depending on the position that you are applying for.

Employment pre screening tests are often done with the aid of reliable instruments like the Applicant Risk Profiler that is designed to determine if you, as the applicant, can maintain a safe workplace in spite of your negative behaviors. The Career Ethic inventory is another employment pre screening test that assesses your prospective attitudes. This will predict if you are capable of fitting into the organizational culture of the company where you want to be part of.

Other employment pre screening tests also include more special aptitude tests that focus on certain abilities such as space relations and visualizations, mechanical and symbolic reasoning, verbal comprehension, and numerical ability. On the higher level of application, you may be given the chance to take the PET or Professional Employment Test. This employment pre screening test is an instrument designed to assess your cognitive abilities and behaviors that you will probably use for your future professional responsibilities.

Some HR professionals may have not set their tests in line with the common standards of most companies. Hence, specialized standards are possibly brought in as their own technique on selecting the best candidates for certain positions. The unique method may include the employment pre screening tests that involve their own way of assessing the job applicant’s proficiency in a lot of factors that can affect work productivity.

If you are off to the pursuit of offering a long term contribution for a certain company, make sure that you prove yourself first by passing the employment pre screening tests. Taking it from there, it will be easy for you to set your way in grabbing your coveted position. Such tests are just transitory; afterwards, you should be ready for more screening procedures.

Employment agencies in Atlanta primarily serve four purposes:

• Finding jobs for unemployed or previously employed people
• Screening and matching job seekers according to qualifications
• Recruiting and installing qualified applicants into companies
• Working with employers to fill vacant posts

Like most agencies, employment agencies in Atlanta are subdivided into executive recruitment, temporary staffing firm, students’ employment office and talent agencies. However, before committing yourself to their services, you must first determine an employment agency’s credibility (just as they determine yours.)

Employment agencies in Atlanta (both public and private) are by law, required to have state licenses from the Department of Labor and permits to operate in the said state. Both licenses and permits must be displayed prominently within the walls of the agencies. Private employment agencies in Atlanta or those privately owned placement agencies have additional permits and licenses which must also be displayed. If these are not to be seen anywhere in the agency that you are applying for, inquire about them.

Most employment agencies in Atlanta offer more than job placement and skills testing. Some will offer career development training like:
• Cover letter writing (usually for executive recruitment)
• Resume writing
• Interviewing skills
• Worker’s rights and privileges seminars
• Etc.

Employing the aid of such agencies, you must first be firm (and hopefully qualified) in the jobs you wish to pursue. Misrepresentation of jobs is against federal law, and both job applicant and agency will answer for this lapse in judgment. Also by being specific with your chosen “field” of interest, you can choose among the many employment agencies in Atlanta that will serve your needs better and faster.

For example, if you have a degree/certification/license in nursing, but you wish to be assigned only to hospital facilities, you can approach medical employment agencies to help you find a placement in such facilities that specialize in cardiology, or trauma or neonatal care. If however, you prefer assignments elsewhere, medical employment agencies can then help you find a placement in facilities like occupational therapy, physical rehabilitation and even in educational centers that accommodates nurses’ training.

Not all employment agencies work or have the same scope of assistance. Some agencies will simply lead you to a list of job openings and leave the rest to you. You have to follow up on results and applications on your own. Meanwhile, other agencies will assist you in most every aspect of your job hunting expedition from letter writing to following through with your contract after hiring. Temp or temporary employment agencies will even give you a proficiency test to verify if you have the needed skills for the jobs available.

Another aspect you may want to consider is the rates. Different employment agencies in Atlanta will have different rates. Some agencies will require a portion of your salary on the first year that you are employed. Others become veritably your “employer,” supplying you with your paycheck for every accomplished job.