The service industry employs 30.7 million people nationwide. That’s 1 in every 10! And, since the service industry is the “fastest growing sector in terms of the number of people employed”, that’s a stat that’s on the rise.
But there’s a problem that’s also on the rise: recruiting and hiring employees within the service industry.
Open calls, social networks, and large job boards such as Craigslist just aren’t cutting it.
Job seekers apply to countless numbers of job listings without the chance to gather more information about the job or business to see if it’s a quality fit for them. And there’s no good way to tell if a job is an opportunity or a dead end when you’re looking at an ad on Facebook.
Employers and hiring managers are spending their time sifting through piles of paper just to find a suitable candidate when they should be spending time considering job seekers who are qualified for the position in terms of skills, experience, and culture fit.
And it’s a waste of time and money for both sides, because although these methods are great in terms of quantity, they don’t do much when it comes to quality.
Sirvo is the solution.
Sirvo is a recruitment platform for the service industry. Connecting employers, professionals, and job seekers.
Professionals that are looking for a job (or something on the side) create profiles that not only show off their professional accomplishments but also their shining personality. Can you say the same about (literally) one-dimensional, paper resumes? Doubt it.
Businesses create company profiles and job listings in a matter of minutes. Full-time or event staff, managers or promo models, in a pinch or ongoing – we’ve got you covered. You can even close job listings, then reuse them later. All for a fraction of the cost of traditional hiring channels.
By combining social, jobs, and streamlining the application process, Sirvo is leapfrogging the industry into the modern age of connectivity. With just a click: apply to jobs, organize candidates, message members, and more. Sirvo does the busy work, so you can get back to what matters.
“Sirvo is where you go to connect with your service industry peers, because whether you’re working, searching, hiring, or influencing within the industry, we’re all part of this dynamic community that is in need of a home base.”
Interested in our beginning? Check us out at https://gosirvo.com to sign up for beta.
You’ve probably seen quite a few Now Hiring signs since summer started, and whether you’re looking for a summer gig or something more permanent, here’s why you need to capitalize ASAP.
Employment on the rise. The job market isn’t as bleak as it was once was with job growth reaching a 15-year high in 2014, and projections of stable or even increased growth throughout 2015. And it’s looking like the economists are going to be right! According to the Manpower Group nearly 25% of U.S. employers expect to add to their workforces during the upcoming months, which evens out to about 16% after adjusting for seasonal variations.
Even more so when it comes to summer jobs. Looking for some extra cash this summer? If so, the time is right with 80% of employers expecting to hire the same, or more, seasonal employees as 2014. The industries expected to add the most summer positions are hospitality and retail, with eating and drinking establishments alone projected to add at least 500,000 jobs this summer season.
Competitive pay. If you’re worried about getting stiffed at your summer job when it comes to your paycheck, think again. Summer employers are expected to pay an average hourly wage of $11.52, up from last year’s $10.39. In fact, 53% of employers plan to pay summer works $15 per hour or more.
Potential for long-term. On average, employers are expected to fill at least 35% of their summer positions with previously hired workers. That means that landing a job this summer could mean you’re set for the next few if need be. Not to mention, work experience is a valuable commodity these days and goes a long way in either turning your summer gig into a full-time job or securing your next position.
Flexible work schedule. Summer means vacation for many whether it’s getting outdoors more often than not or going on trips with friends and family. Since most summer positions are part-time, averaging 27 hours per week, you can still find time for both work and play!
Need help getting the ball rolling? Sign up for Sirvo beta to find your next job.
Don’t get caught with your pants down; the top 10 oddball interview questions for 2015 plus the intention behind each according to Glassdoor and their associate director of corporate communications, Scott Dobroski.
“What would you do if you were the one survivor in a plane crash?” –This question was asked of an Airbnb trust and safety investigator job candidate.
As with all the oddball questions, interviewees should relate their answers back to the workplace. In this case, a potential response could include how to ensure the survivor’s safety, as well as checking the rest of the plane to make sure there were no other survivors. Asking about nearby resources, such as radio or cell phone towers, could also help show the interviewer that the applicant can think ahead and plan for emergencies.
“What’s your favorite ’90s jam?” — A Squarespace customer care job candidate.
While this might seem goofy, this open-ended question is a way for a candidate to show off their positive qualities. These can be very short responses, as long as you relate it back to the workplace.
“If you woke up and had 2,000 unread emails and could only answer 300 of them, how would you choose which ones to answer?” — Dropbox rotation program job candidate.
This is the type of situation that almost everyone deals with today, but it also allows the candidate to show how he or she would prioritize in a potentially stressful situation. Candidates could note that they’d search for names of people and subject line terms that would need attention first, for example.
“If you had a machine that produced $100 dollars for life, what would you be willing to pay for it today?” — Aksia research analyst job candidate.
Candidates could ask the interviewer for more information, such as whether there is only one of these machines available or if there’s a glut. Asking about whether there is risk involved — such as whether the owner could be targeted by criminals — could also help show analytic skills, Dobroski noted.
“What did you have for breakfast?” – Banana Republic sales associate job candidate.
This sounds like small talk, but it allows the interviewer to gauge whether the candidate is an upbeat person and can relate to other people. Sales associates are asked questions all day long by customers, and keeping upbeat energy is important.
“Describe the color yellow to somebody who’s blind.” — Spirit Airlines flight attendant job candidate.
This question tests a candidate’s sensitivity and how they gather information. Before giving a final answer, he or she could ask whether the person is partially blind and when they became blind, helping to formulate the best possible explanation given the situation.
“If you were asked to unload a 747 full of jellybeans, what would you do?” – Bose IT support manager job candidate.
Unloading a plane full of jellybeans is no small task, so this allows a candidate to show off their project management skills. An interviewee could ask what the budget is, when the deadline is for unloading the plane, and whether they have machinery or staff to work with. That will help demonstrate the candidate’s ability to think through all the possible dimensions of the challenge.
“How many people flew out of Chicago last year?” — Redbox software engineer II job candidate.
This question for an entry-level engineering job is, not surprisingly, geared toward assessing a candidate’s analytic skills. The interviewee could walk through their thinking, such as how many flights go in and out of Chicago each day, how traffic surges at the holidays, and come up with an answer. The interviewer isn’t interested in the correct answer, rather the thought process used to arrive at his or her conclusion.
“What’s your favorite Disney Princess?” — Coldstone Creamery crew member job candidate.
This question is all about getting a candidate to show their personality. Companies want to hire those that will be a good fit in terms of work style, company culture, and professional values.
Interviewers know when they’re asking unexpected questions, so it’s alright to take a few seconds to consider the question, ask a few of your own, and talk through your reasoning before arriving at a conclusion. Just remember to stay calm, definitely don’t laugh or scoff, and stay away from one word or expected answers.
Deciding whether or not it’s time to find a new job can be confusing. It’s difficult cutting ties when you’re unsure how far the fall is, however if one or two of these six signs ring true for you, it may be time to take that leap of faith and start searching for new opportunities.
You Aren’t Improving. Your career should be moving forward in at least one direction. For some, that means promotions or raises. For others, that means learning new skills or sharpening old ones. No matter what keeps you motivated, you should be experiencing some kind of forward momentum. If you aren’t, it’s a sign that your career has become stagnant.
Ask yourself this critical question: If you stay with this job another year, how will you progress? If you don’t have an answer or don’t like the one you came up with, it’s that time.
Your Company’s Future Isn’t So Bright. All companies experience ups and downs, so if your company is in one of those downs, try not to worry. However, if it looks like the unpleasant situation is bound to grow worse in the coming years, getting out early is advisable.
Are there more layoffs each year than the year before it? Is your company in a dying industry and doing nothing to differentiate itself? If any of these is the case, your company won’t be around for much longer, so move on to the bigger and better.
You Don’t Respect Your Boss. Jobs involve more than just the work; they involve people as well. As such, what would be the perfect job can be ruined by bad leaders. Your boss should be someone who inspires you, motivates you, and helps you learn new things throughout your career. If your boss is unsupportive, or incompetent, or some terrible mix of the two, don’t let yourself suffer any longer. Good bosses are hard to find, but it’s worth your effort to try and find them—or start your own business and become your own boss.
You’re Severely Undervalued. Your boss and co-workers should see you as an integral part of the team and recognize you when you’ve done exceptional work, whether it is with money or a simple “nicely done”. When your accomplishments aren’t acknowledged or your ongoing work isn’t appreciated, maintaining a high level of performance is challenging not to mention feeling satisfied with your job.
If this is the case more often than not, you owe it to yourself to look for a position where you’re not only valued, but where you feel valued.
You Aren’t Passionate About the Work. You’ll never have a job where you’re excited to go to work every day. That’s a fact. However, passion isn’t always about excitement or happiness; it’s about thriving in your environment and being motivated to continue.
So ask yourself this: Even if you’re stressed or angry about a problem at work, are you invested in solving that problem?
If so, then you should still consider yourself passionate. If you have no real interest in your work and you’re just going through the motions, it’s time to find a different calling.
You Don’t Fit the Culture. Company culture can make or break your work experience. When you fit in with the tone, the dress, the attitudes, and the behaviors of your workplace, the actual work is your focus. If your own work preferences are at odds with the culture, you’ll be preoccupied with just that instead of your job and you’ll never be able to reach your potential. In this case, unless you have the influence to actively change the culture of your workplace, the best path forward is to quit and look for a job closer to your ideal environment.
Obviously, one factor may not be enough reason for you to quit your job. Honestly, no matter how much you like a job, there will always be something that makes it difficult or unpleasant at times, and even bad jobs have their good sides. So don’t use this list as the be-all and end-all.
Instead, let it guide you in understanding your current situation and how you feel about it. Think mindfully but critically, try to separate your needs from your wants, and go with the decision that makes the most sense for you.
Last but not least. Remember that there’s no harm in exploring your options, and Sirvo is here to help! Sign up now to kick-start your job search.
