When reading over job descriptions, most job seekers tend to make the same mistake, they look over the basic requirements and base an application decision on that and possibly that alone. While this may result in some call backs, it can also be problematic when the basic requirements are not always what employers want applicants to focus on. If you meet the basic requirements listed for a job, that’s great, but that shouldn’t be where you stop reading. In reality, you should be reading at least a little bit of each sub section of the job description including job duties, hours, pay and any additional information that may have you making a much more informed decision. When reading through a job description, ask yourself the following questions:

• Job duties: Do the job duties listed in the job description align with what you have previous experience in or something that you can relate to? Have you performed these types of tasks in the past?
• Hours/Schedule: Are the hours listed something that you feel you can make work given your current situation? Take into account any additional responsibilities you have including second jobs or personal commitments.
• Pay Rate/Range: Is the pay rate or pay range something that aligns with what you are currently making or what you aspire to make? If there is room for negotiation, do you meet the preferred qualifications to get you to that point?
• Job Location: For many job seekers, job site location can be a make or break factor when applying for positions. Is the job location something that you can make work on a daily basis? Are you truly willing to make the commute, taking into consideration traffic and other factors outside of your control?

Something else to keep in mind is if you are trying to apply for positions that may be one step up in your career from where you are now. If this is the case, the same type of concepts apply but doing your due diligence and research on the roles you are applying for will help you greatly. Check out various job descriptions and companies with similar job listings to make sure that this type of role is right for you. The main take away here is that a job posting is simply a guideline for job seekers to work off of. The job description will not give you every single detail of a job, nor will it fully explain whether the job is a good fit for your skill set. This is information that you have to determine on your own given your previous experience and what it is you’re looking to do to further your career.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Before jumping on the seasonal work bandwagon, there are some key points to consider when determining if this is the right move for you or not.

PRO: The additional work can help to build your resume and fill in any seasonal gaps due to other positions you may work throughout the year.

CON: The pay is traditionally lower than the full-time, year round work and the hours tend to be longer, working evenings and weekends as needed.

PRO: A seasonal position could be an excellent way to get your foot in the door at a particular company or industry if you are just starting your career.

CON: Due to the short-term nature of many seasonal positions this time of year, companies tend to not invest a lot of time and effort into training for these roles.

The bottom line for anyone seeking employment this time of year is to decide what is most important to you in regards to your future position. If you are simply trying to build your resume and bring in some extra cash, seasonal work could be a great option!

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, riding a bus to school is 13 times safer than riding in a passenger vehicle and 10 safer than walking to school. The reality is that more children are hurt outside the bus. Given that pedestrian – vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death for school age children, it’s vital that truck drivers pay attention to posted signs, signals and traffic. Below are tips to help keep our kids safe this school year:

• Watch for school zones – Look for signs and flashing lights during school hours.
• Slow down in school zones and stay alert – Children are unpredictable.
• Watch for crossing guards.
• Watch for school buses – All states have strict laws regarding passing a stopped school bus.
• Never pass on the right side of the bus.
• Adjust driving hours if possible.
• Minimize use on secondary roads, use freeways and highways when possible.
• Have a heightened sense of awareness on rural highways and state routes for stopped buses.
• Be aware of traffic congestion in college towns.
• Don’t block the crosswalk.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
• Don’t honk your horn or rev your engine to rush a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
• Make sure your headlights are on.
• Take extra care to look for children near schools, residential areas, parks and playgrounds.

While drivers are always safety conscious, it is important they not take it for granted. Don’t be tempted to make a call or fall victim to any other distraction that may take your eyes off the road. We all need to adopt a safety-first mindset if we are to keep accidents at a minimum and our children safe.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

According to recent research, it has been determined that the Driver pool is declining for a number of reasons.

• Lower Turnover Rate: As the demand for goods and products increases across the country, the amount of freight having to be delivered to consumers and companies is also on the rise. This is giving Drivers more loads and routes to work which results in Drivers not having to seek work elsewhere. However, if the need for freight continues to increase, companies will have no choice but to add to their Driver workforce to make up for the increased demand. A single Driver can only move so much freight before they hit capacity. This then takes the full circle of dealing with a Driver shortage.
• Low Pay Rate: Even though the overall Truck Driver pay rate has continued to increase over the past 13 years, when you take into account inflation and the cost of living, Drivers today are actually making less than they did in 2005!
• Lack of Respect: Feeling respected and appreciated while performing your duties as an employee is a fundamental need that we all share. Because word of mouth is such an important aspect for companies seeking qualified Drivers, respect plays an even greater role in their recruiting process. In fact, research performed by Randall Reilly found that 71% of Drivers surveyed would be willing to make less money if it meant that they were respected at work.

Although it may feel like this issue is out of your hands as a prospective employer, there is something that can be done. In today’s job market it is more important than ever to focus on the value of your employees rather than the bottom line cost. Why? The overhead and overall cost to retain qualified individuals within your company is ultimately less than having to recruit over and over again. In fact, the industry average for rehires and referrals is around 30% of all hires. The best way to do this is to determine the type of individuals that best suit your open positions. For instance, if your company specializes in OTR or regional routes, try and tailor your advertising and positions on the idea that the Driver will get see places across the country. You want to reach people who enjoy travel and even a little adventure.

As an employer, you want Drivers to know who your company is and what you offer. Focus on brand awareness and benefits of working for your company. This information is important to prospective employees and even more so if you are trying to get referrals from existing employees. It cannot be stressed enough how important increasing the organic value of your positions can be for a Driver looking for a long-term career.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

I know it may be hard to believe that your summer job working at the local pool as a lifeguard or picking up part-time hours at the downtown ice cream parlor could have had a lasting impact on your your overall wellness and professional success. But in fact, that may be just the case. Here are a few benefits summer or part-time work can have as you start your career path.

1. Increased confidence and independence: Having the ability to earn your own money, no matter how much or how little can have a huge impact on a person’s confidence. It is during these first part-time or short term positions that we learn to trust our own abilities and grow confident in our still developing skill set. Customer service, patience and even interpersonal skills are all concepts that you may grow more confident in after your first opportunity for employment.
2. Time management: While balancing going to school and participating in extra-curricular activities during the school year can certainly help you to develop time management, these skills can lose their potency if you find yourself sitting around the house all summer. The best way to get prepared for college and adult life in general is to continue to practice prioritizing your days. The older we get, the more full our schedules seem to be. With that in mind, the time management skills we learn early on can help us be better prepared to juggle work, home life and even hobbies.
3. Stand out among your peers: After high school and even college, it is important that you have already started growing your work experience. While a summer gig at a fast food restaurant or mowing lawns may not necessarily prepare you for a future career in an office setting, you don’t want to walk in to any interview with a blank resume. Being fresh out of school and having work history already under your belt will set you apart from your peers as future employers will see this as a sign of your willingness to work and dedication.
4. Learn more about yourself: While many of us may think we know what we want to do for a career going into a summer job (means to an end), those experiences may actually help you get to know what you like and dislike regarding work related activities. For instance, working at that local ice cream parlor may make you realize that you truly enjoy working face to face with the public but it also may make you realize that the food industry isn’t for you. Anything you can gain from previous employment to help you make a better career choice down the road, can be more than beneficial.
5. Broaden your social and professional circle: It’s all about networking, networking, networking! Throughout high school and even college, you will consistently hear your peers and colleagues discuss the importance of networking. Networking allows you to meet new people that you may not have had interactions with previously which can open up the door for new opportunities for growth professionally and personally. You never know, you may meet a good friend or potential future employer while working that summer position.

The bottom line here is that although that summer gig is great to bring in some extra cash, it can also help to prepare you for college, future employment and simply growing as an adult. Keep in mind that just because these jobs are not the most glamorous or may not pay higher than minimum wage, it is the important skills that we learn in these positions that can help us on our way to the career we want and are striving for.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

At this point in the market, it would be typical for this large of a discrepancy to result in a demand for higher wages. However, economists saw an increase in wages of less than 3% from April into May which is anything but typical. What it is coming down to is that if employers want to find the qualified and skilled talent they are seeking, they will either have to raise wages or come with up creative incentives to lure new talent in the door. This job market is also instilling a lot of confidence in employed workers to jump ship and find a different job that may offer better benefits and incentives.

On top of the unemployment rate dropping to 3.8%, tied for the lowest rate since 1969, the number of individuals counted as not being in the labor force (ie retirees) is now at a record of 95.9 million, a 21% increase over the last 10 years.

What does all of this mean for employers? Not only is the demand for skilled and qualified talent continuing to rise, but it is projected that this trend is only going to continue as more jobs open up due to more people leaving the work force. Now is the time to invest in employee retention and build a company culture that will not only entice current employees to stay put but will encourage skilled and qualified talent to take a closer look at your company and what you may have to offer.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

1. No one is perfect so stop trying to be. This is a simple but very important tip to always keep in the back of your mind. Everyone wants to do their best in life in general but most of the time perfection is not attainable and trying to achieve it can cause physical and psychological damage. As you climb the professional ladder, responsibilities and duties increase and life can get more complicated. Rather than seeking perfection in what you do, strive for excellence.
2. Put your electronic devices down and slowly walk away. This is some advice we could all use, not only in our professional lives but in our personal lives as well. Whether you’re at work responding to emails or scrolling through social media in your spare time, we are constantly bombarded with screen time. This is not just hard on our eyes but can become overwhelming mentally. If unplugging all together seems daunting, try baby steps. Try not responding to emails while hanging out with family or friends and instead of scrolling social media during your child’s sporting event, sit back and enjoy. Remember, that it is okay to live your life in the moment and not feel the need to have constant updates and interruptions.
3. Exercise is important for not just your physical health but your mental health as well. Exercise, in any form, is a proven method to reduce stress. When trying to juggle a career with growing responsibilities at home, it seems that exercise is always the first thing to go out the window. This may be doing more harm than good. Exercise can include going for a walk with your family after work or even participating in meditation or yoga when you’re able. These less intensive methods of exercise can have some of the same stress reducing benefits as going for a run or visiting your local gym. In any way you are able, try to incorporate exercise and being active back into your lifestyle.
4. Focus on activities and people that benefit you. Finding yourself mindlessly scrolling Facebook or Instagram when you could be getting chores done around the house? Try and limit the time wasting activities to save room for things on your to do list. It may not seem like fun at the time but you’d be surprised at how good it feels to get items marked off. Continually getting cornered by the office talker in the morning? Politely excuse yourself so you can return to your desk and begin your day. This may sound selfish but it really isn’t. You can only be a good friend, co-worker, parent, etc. when you are feeling confident and organized throughout your day.
5. Consider re-organizing your life schedule and structure, switch things up! Where there is comfort in the predictability and knowing what to expect out of your day, sometimes this can actually add undue stress. As you grow in your career and personal responsibilities change, it can become difficult to keep up with old routines. If making dinner every night is causing undue stress, try planning out meals ahead of time or prepare freezer meals. If your daily trip to the gym in the morning is becoming too much a burden, try going after work or during your lunch. No one’s daily, weekly or monthly routine is necessarily set in stone. Simple, small changes can make a huge difference in your overall stress level at home and work.
6. Don’t over do it! As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day so don’t expect to improve your work life balance overnight. The key here is to take small steps in an effort to make the change more feasible. You want to start exercising again? While it sounds like a good idea to set a goal of going for a walk everyday after work, it will be much easier to obtain a smaller goal of walking 1-2 nights a week. You can always build on your goals when you start to see success.

Striving to have a healthier work life balance is something that all working professionals should aim for. Today, it is estimated that 94% of working professionals are working more than 50 hours per week and almost half are working 65 hours or more. The hope is that these tips will help to remind you that regardless of what it means to you to have a solid work life balance, it can be attainable with small, incremental changes.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

The current Trillium Drivers that came to the meeting all received a high viability t-shirt, important safety reminders, safety kits with a safety vest, ice scraper, gloves, etc., and were able to ask questions as needed in regards to safety while on the job, providing an open forum for employees to engage with branch staff.

Safety is and always will be at the top of mind for all Trillium Employers across the country. From all of us at Trillium, thank you to the Indianapolis Drivers branch and your dedicated Drivers for continuing to put safety first on and off the job!

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Typically, individual employers develop a workplace dress code specific to their working environment and industry. For instance, for many manufacturing positions, long pants and steel toe shoes are required year round due to the nature of work being performed. In other workplace environments, the dress code may be more casual, allowing employees to wear jeans and tennis shoes while on the job.

As an employer, it is important to update and remind employees of what the dress code is throughout the year, especially in areas where the climate changes from season to season. The more communication provided to employees, the less confusion there will be on both sides involved.

As an employee, always read and understand your employer’s specific dress code. If you have questions or concerns, reach out to the Human Resources department who can assist in clarifying anything that may be confusing or unclear. The more you know regarding what is and is not appropriate for your specific working environment, the less headaches later. While wearing flip flops, shorts and other warm weather gear is hard to resist this time of year, it is important to be knowledgeable about your employer’s dress code as it laid out in the employee handbook.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

• Software Developer
• Dentist
• Physician Assistant
• Nurse Practitioner
• Orthodontist
• Statistician
• Pediatrician
• Obstetrician and Gynecologist (tie)
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (tie)
• Physician (tie)

As you may notice, it appears that the majority of the most sought after positions for 2018 are in the medical and sciences field. But why? While other factors such as job location, hours, work to life balance, etc. may come into play, the main qualities that job seekers look for in a new career seem to be universal. Job seekers tend to gravitate towards those positions that offer higher salaries and opportunities for growth. Healthcare and Healthcare IT are expecting to be two of the fastest growing industries now through 2026. In fact, it is believed that between now and 2026, employment in Healthcare will grow 18% and the employment rate is expected to continue to grow .7% annually, which is an increase of .2% over the past 10 years. This could translate into 2.3 million new jobs overall in that same time frame. Currently, Healthcare positions occupy 20 of the top 25 careers on this year’s complete list.

However, the healthcare boom isn’t just focusing on doctors and nurses but healthcare technology is playing a huge role. Positions such as Information Security Analysts and IT Managers are becoming more sought after and in higher demand. More and more companies and organizations are looking to technology to not only make their processes more streamlined and profitable, but to guarantee they stay competitive in their respective industries. Now is the time for soon to be graduates to take advantage of the technological boom and let it help to grow their future careers.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.