Berks & Beyond Blog

“To train or not to train?”

That is certainly not the question when it comes to your staff.  To remain competitive, ongoing employee education is important for many reasons:

• It keeps you and your staff on the cutting edge of your industry.
• It keeps your employees motivated, interested and innovative.
• It increases efficiency levels, while minimizing errors and delays.
• It boosts worker morale, confidence and collaboration.

So when it comes to your staff – especially knowledge workers – the question isn’t so much, “Do we need to train,” it’s, “How are we going to afford it?”  Here are a few effective ways to enrich your staff – without breaking the bank:

Cross train.  To keep workers from feeling isolated or stagnant when budgets are tight, consider rotating them through different tasks and/or projects.  Their new skills will make them more versatile assets to your organization, while encouraging collaboration among work groups.

Use inside trainers.  Does anyone within your organization already have the expertise you’re trying to teach other employees?  If so, consider developing that individual as an in-house trainer.  You can easily go online and access a “train the trainer” program, and then use your new inside trainer to educate other staff.

Leverage your training resources.  Building on the last point, your inside trainer can create a PowerPoint which covers the training material.  You can then use a software sharing program (such as NetMeeting or WebEx) to conduct the training with small groups at other locations – and save yourself the travel costs.

Bring in temporary experts.  If you lack internal knowledge or resources, consider hiring a trainer through a staffing service for a short-term contract.  Give him access to existing materials and the direct staff he’ll be training, so he can quickly and cost-effectively customize the training to your company’s culture, values and goals.  Once the training is complete, so are your additional expenses.

Barter training services with other companies.  Collaborate with other organizations to share your knowledge.  If a company is in the midst of a systems upgrade you’re considering, send a representative from your staff to observe, learn and share his findings with his colleagues.  Likewise, if your workers are well-versed in operating a specific type of new equipment, invite team members from another organization in for a training seminar.  Not surprisingly, collaborative efforts like these work best when participating companies are not in direct competition.

When you need highly trained and experienced workers immediately, give Berks & Beyond a call.  Throughout Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, we rapidly deliver temporary, contract and direct staff to keep your business competitive.  Contact us today to learn more.

Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. Relocates Carlisle Office to Accommodate Rapid Growth

Carlisle, PA –Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the relocation of their Carlisle, Pennsylvania branch.

The staffing and placement firm, which currently serves much of Southern and Central Pennsylvania, is moving its Carlisle office to keep pace with the rapid growth they have experienced since opening just eight months ago.  Located in the Historic District, the new Carlisle location will provide greater visibility and much-needed room to grow.

Although relocating so soon after opening was not Berks & Beyond’s original plan, President Chris Garner couldn’t be more pleased with the turn of events.  “The support that our clients in the Carlisle area have shown us has been tremendous,” states Garner.  “In return, we are renewing our commitment to this market by expanding our staff and office space.  The new Carlisle office will help us supply our valued customers with the quality of employees they have come to expect from Berks & Beyond.”

Berks & Beyond’s new Carlisle branch will open after the Labor Day weekend at 300 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013.  The larger facility will create two new full-time positions and will continue to provide clerical, industrial, managerial and technical staff for temporary, temp-to-perm and direct placement.

While Berks & Beyond currently provides staffing solutions to employers throughout much of Central and Southern Pennsylvania, the new location will further broaden the company’s service area to include the following towns and cities:  Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Middlesex, Mount Holly, Boiling Springs, Shippensburg and Newburg.

What do you think of when you hear the term “temporary employment”?

Most people regard temporary work as a means to earn extra cash, maintain a flexible work schedule, gain work experience or fill employment gaps.  Did you know, however, that temporary employment can also be a great option if you’re looking to change careers?

With a broad range of assignments and projects available, temping can be a highly effective way for you to break into a new field – but it probably won’t happen by accident.  To use temporary employment as a true career change catalyst, you must intentionally structure your work experiences.  Here are a few tips:

Choose the right type of staffing service for your career interests. Before registering with a staffing service, visit their website or contact the office directly to find out what types of placements they specialize in.  Some staffing firms place people in a wide range of industries and positions, while others specialize in a specific field.

Be upfront with your staffing specialist. When you interview with a recruiter, let him know that you are looking to change careers.  Tell him about your skills and experience and ask how they might transfer into a new field.  Discuss your need for challenging assignments that will help you try out different jobs, develop new skills and evaluate new career options.  When a staffing specialist understands your needs, he can do a better job placing you in opportunities that will drive your career change.

Treat every assignment as a learning experience. In addition to performing your required job duties, use each assignment as an opportunity to learn about the employer, the industry and potential career opportunities.  Ask questions, observe co-workers, talk to your supervisor and let him know that you’re looking to make a change.  Take as much knowledge and experience away from each assignment as you can.

Build new skills while on assignment. Most staffing services offer free skills training to individuals who register with them.  While on assignment, use non-work hours to take advantage of training resources, building skills that will help you in your next career.

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Tips for Managing Career Changes

If the thought of changing jobs and/or careers causes you anxiety, you’re not alone.  The truth is, there is a certain amount of instability inherent in changing jobs.  Here are a few suggestions to help manage the stress:

Focus on developing your skills. Choose projects/assignments/jobs that help you build new skills and develop expertise in a certain area.  When your learning curve flattens out, ask to be reassigned or look for another opportunity.  Continually building your skills will ensure you’re in demand.

Adopt a job changing mindset. Instead of focusing on the instability of a job change, view it as an opportunity.  Get used to the notion that you will change jobs frequently throughout your career.  When it’s time to make a move, your job changing mindset will make the transition much easier.

Keep your job changing skills sharp. You’re not going to stay at any job forever, and you don’t know how long it will last.  But if you keep your job hunting skills sharp – networking, interviewing, keeping on-top of temporary opportunities that serve your career interests – you will always be able to get work when your needs, or your company’s needs, change.

Berks & Beyond – Your Career Change Partner

At Berks & Beyond, we do more than just place you in a position.  We listen to your needs, learn about your skills and experience, and then present you with work opportunities that are a perfect match for you.  If you’re looking to make a job change, Berks & Beyond is the ideal partner.  Contact us today to learn more about job opportunities throughout Central and Southern Pennsylvania.

When it comes to finding rewarding employment, knowledge is power.

Whether you’re ready to contact a recruiter, want to speed up your job search, or are merely evaluating the flexible work options a staffing firm can provide, you need to begin the process by educating yourself.  Why?  Because if you understand our industry well, you’ll be better prepared to take full advantage of the resources and placement options we offer – and ultimately find that ideal work opportunity.

To get you started on the “path of enlightenment,” here is a list of common staffing terms (compliments of the American Staffing Association), as well as an overview of the occupational categories in the staffing industry:

Placement – A staffing firm brings together job seekers and potential employers for the purpose of establishing a “permanent” employment relationship.

Temporary Help – (also known as “contingent” or “on-time” help) A staffing firm hires its own employees and assigns them to support or supplement a client’s work force in situations involving employee absences, temporary skill shortages, seasonal workloads and special projects.

Temporary-to-Hire – (also known as “temp-to-hire” or “temp-to-direct hire”) A staffing firm employee works for a client during a trial period in which both the employee and the client consider establishing a “permanent” employment relationship.  At the end of the trial period the assignment may end, or the client may extend an offer for employment.

Long-Term Staffing – (also known as “contract” staffing) A staffing firm supplies employees to work on long-term assignments or discrete projects.  Employees are recruited, screened and assigned by the staffing firm.

Recruiter - A recruiter is a person within a staffing firm who is responsible for identifying and screening/evaluating qualified candidates for an open position within a client business.  The recruiter generally works closely with the hiring firm to determine which candidates are best suited for any open positions.

Typical Occupational Categories in the Staffing Industry

Health Care
Physicians, dentists, nurses, hygienists, medical technicians, therapists, home health aides, custodial care workers, etc.

Industrial
Manual laborers, food handlers, cleaners, assemblers, drivers, tradesmen, machine operators, maintenance workers, etc.

Information Technology
Consultants, analysts, programmers, designers, installers, and other occupations involving computer sciences (hardware or software) or communications technology (Internet, telephone, etc.).

Office–Clerical
Secretaries, general office clerks, receptionists, administrative assistants, word-processing and data entry operators, cashiers, etc.

Professional–Managerial
Accountants, bookkeepers, attorneys, paralegals, middle and senior managers, advertising and marketing executives, and other nontechnical occupations that require higher skill or education levels.

Technical
Engineers, scientists, laboratory technicians, architects, draftsmen, technical writers and illustrators, and other individuals with special skills or training in technical fields involving math or science (not including information technology).

Want to learn more?

Find out how Berks & Beyond can match you with the ideal employment opportunity.  With staffing offices in Harrisburg, Allentown, Reading, Pottstown and York, Pennsylvania, it’s easy to come in and learn more about our services, available jobs and what we can do for you.  Contact a Recruiter to schedule your appointment today.

Ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information coming at you each day?

With the barrage of data pouring in from newspapers, TV, the internet, social media, RSS feeds, e-mails, voicemails and good-old-fashioned face-to-face meetings, finding the critical information you need amidst all the “white noise” can be exhausting.

Take the BLS Monthly Employment Situation, for example.  It contains monthly employment estimates for over 1,000 industries from its Current Employment Statistics program.  However, the changes in these overall employment levels tend to be delayed in the monthly labor reports – making it a lagging indicator of economic trends.

Sound like a lot of white noise?

Not entirely.  Temporary help employment numbers, which are part of the monthly BLS report, are generally considered to be a coincident indicator for overall employment.  This means that changes in temporary help employment tend to forecast subsequent changes in overall employment and coincide with changes in economic activity.  Why?  Many companies use temporary staffing as a means to quickly adjust their operations to meet fluctuating demands for their products and services.

Here’s how to get current data for temporary help services in the BLS report:

1. Go to the BLS Current Employment Statistics home page.
2. Then select either the HTML or PDF version of the “Employment Situation Summary.”
3. Data for temporary help services can be found in Table B-1 (page 30 of the report’s PDF version).

 Effectively manage the economy’s highs and lows with Berks & Beyond Employment Services.

Our full spectrum of staffing services for Central and Southern Pennsylvania employers can help you run lean – while providing on-demand access to the talent you need to meet surges in demand.

Recently downsized or laid off?  New to the workforce?  Looking to earn extra cash?  Trying to break into a new field?

Consider working as a temporary.  Today’s staffing firms employee millions of individuals in virtually all fields of work, from day labor to executive, and offer a variety of advantages:

• Flexible work options.  Work when and where you want to work.  You can work only during school hours, take the summers off, or take an extended break.  As a temporary employee, you have the freedom to accept assignments that work with your schedule.
• Employee benefits.  In addition to a paycheck, many temporary staffing agencies provide benefits to their workers.  These benefits typically include vacation pay, sick pay, access to medical insurance and a 401(k) plan, and are available to employees who fulfill certain employment requirements.  Be sure to inquire what benefits are offered when you apply or interview.
• Opportunities for direct employment.  Temporary assignments allow you to get a foot in the door with an employer.  If an employer is impressed with your skills, work ethic and job performance, he can work with the staffing firm to offer you direct employment.
• Gain experience.  If you’re a recent graduate, re-entering the workforce, or would like to make a career transition, working as a temporary can help you gain valuable on-the-job experience.  In addition, many staffing firms offer free training to build or enhance your skill set.
• Variety.  If you enjoy new experiences or are unsure about your career path, temporary work can provide the variety you need.  You can test out different jobs, companies and industries – without long-term commitment – and find out where you fit best.

Ready to take the next step?

Join the Berks & Beyond team.  We’ll provide you with a rewarding temporary assignment that offers the variety, flexibility, benefits and job experience you need.