If you have started your job search it is probably obvious that employers and job sites like Jacksonville Works are pretty interested in your email address. It is difficult, if not impossible to apply for a job online these days without an email address. The reason is simple, email is the way that employers and job sites prefer to keep in contact with jobseekers.  In fact, when you're looking for a job, these types of communications and more may land in your email inbox: Job alerts from job sites that you have joined. Confirmation that an employer received your application. Invitations for interviews from employers. Job matches from job sites. Status updates from employers. Even employment offers! So yes, your email address is a critical part of your job search. And you probably already have an email address. But here's the question. Is the email address you have appropriate for a job search? Employers see your email address. Probably before they call you or even finish looking at your application or resume. For that reason, whatever you choose as an email address should represent you in a professional way. Your resume and job application is not the place for the fun email you may use to send messages to friends or sign into social media accounts. The goal is for the email address they see and use to communicate with you, to feel like they are emailing a colleague.  It is perfectly fine to have an email address for personal communications and another for professional purposes. So keep the fun, cute, sassy email address for personal use and have a refined, professional email for work.  Now let's get your email address that you’ll use in your  job search in shape.  What to Avoid in Your Professional Email Address Before we go further, let's point out a few things to avoid using in your professional email address. There are basically three things to leave out of the email address you’ll use for your job search.  Anything that reveals your age. That includes using your year of birth and year of graduation from high school or college. It's really easy to guess your age if you include these types of details. Profanity and vulgarity. It may be funny, but not so much when you're trying to get hired. Keep it clean.  Things that reveal your parental status. For example, Jadensmommy@emailprovider.com would not be a good email address to use for job search purposes.  In fact, when searching for a job, we recommend keeping your professional email simple and boring.    The Super Simple Way to Create a Professional Email Address for Your Job Search The super simple method we recommend is just using your name. That's it.  Think about it. When you email someone at their job, their email address is usually some format of their name. Employers are familiar with this format. Adopting this same format immediately gains some points in your favor. And we’re all about that when we’re trying to get the job. You can use this email format even if you have a common name. Here are some ways you can use your name to create your professional email address to use for your job search.    Professional Email Formats To keep it simple, we recommend using your name in your email address. There are several ways that you can do this even if your name is pretty common. Here are some example formats.   Use Your First and Last Name Separate your first and last name with a period, like this.   👉[First name]. [Last name] @ [email provider].com Example: Beth.Smith@gmail.com     You could also try this variation.   👉[Last name]. [First name] @ [Email provider].com Example: Smith.Beth@gmail.com Or, leave out the period and just use your name all together.   👉[FirstnamLastname]@[emailprovider].com Example: bethsmith@gmail.com This also works using your last name first, like this.   👉[Lastname][Firstname]@[email provider].com Example: smithbeth@gmail.com   Include Your Middle Initial If you have a middle name, that gives you even more options for possible email addresses. Unless you have a really short name, we don't recommend using your full middle name. An initial will work just fine.   👉[First name][Middle initial][Last name]@[email provider].com Example: bethvsmith@gmail.com   Use Your First Name Initial 👉[First Initial][Last Name]@[Email Provider].com Example: bsmith@gmail.com     👉[Last Name][First Initial]@[Email Provider].com Example: smithb@gmail.com   Add a Number Finally, if you get to the end of this format suggestions and no combination or name is available, try adding a number. Just remember not to use your year of birth. Also avoid the year you graduated from high school or college.    👉[First Name][1][Last Name]@[Email Provider].com Example: beth1smith@gmail.com Sources for Free Email Accounts  Before we wrap up, we also want to leave you with a few email service providers. All of these (as of this writing) offer free email addresses. We are partial to GMAIL. But that's because we create a lot of resources using Google Docs and Google Sheets, so if you already have a Gmail account, it makes getting these resources super easy. But with that said, any of these will fit the bill, so go with whichever you like best.    Gmail Yahoo!Mail AOL Outlook Mail.com   It should only take a few minutes to set up your professional email address. After you’re done, be sure to come back and  set up a job alert with your new email address. About Jacksonville Works When you're ready to find a new job, we're ready to help. Jacksonville Works is a local job site that connects you with hourly jobs in Jacksonville Florida. We're also your resource for job search tips and trainings to get you hired faster. Post your resume - it only takes a few minutes.

Hiring in 2021 is definitely a challenge. The days of just offering a paycheck are, if not over, aren’t cutting it  right now. Workers are demanding more from employers in exchange for their time, labor and talent. So, as a busy small business owner, what can you do to compete in the war for talent and get people interested in applying for jobs at your company? Well, we got you covered.   Here you’ll find ideas of how you can attract good employees to your business through the benefits you offer. Offering the right mix of benefits that support the whole employee and above average compensation are things that will generate more interest in your business and jobs. By giving job seekers and employees what they want, you as a business owner will ultimately get what you want, a fully staffed business .   We’ve organized this list into categories for easy reference. Under each category you’ll find ideas to add value for employees and strengthen your ability to attract top job applicants. Our team will  be adding to this list as we continue to engage with our community of jobseekers and learn more about what’s important to them in a job. So bookmark this page to come back for more ideas.      TIME OFF  -Birthday as an individual paid holiday -Holidays off with pay -Generous paid vacation -Paid sick leave for illness of employee, child or other family member -Unlimited PTO (paid time off) -Generous bereavement time that includes people outside of the employee’s immediate  family. FAMILY SUPPORT -Pet insurance  -Paid maternity and paternity leave -Elder care assistance  -Free summer camp for employee  children -On-site childcare -Assistance paying costs for childcare -After school care programs for employee’s children HEALTH & WELLNESS -Offer supplemental benefits like  accident, hospital indemnity, Id theft, life and short term disability insurance. -Annual fitness stipend -Health insurance pay -Pay 100% of employee health insurance premium  -Paid mental health days -Provide dental and vision insurance -Employee wellness programs  -Employee Assistance programs (EAP) -Flexible spending accounts and Health Savings Account  -Mental health services -Gym membership reimbursement    GENERAL PERKS -Significant discounts on whatever product or  service that your business sells -On-site services like car washes -Employee perks programs -Relaxed dress code -Free employee uniforms -Company-sponsored fun events -Unlimited coffee, snacks and drinks -Upgrade your facilities to create a nicer work environment -Free company swag -Free meals CAREER GROWTH -Growth opportunities within your business -Education assistance -Internal training opportunities and development programs WORK LIFE BALANCE -Fixed schedule  -Flexible schedule  -Allow employees to work from home  COMPENSATION -Offer a 401K with a generous employer match -Transportation assistance -Pay more than your competitors -Pay a  sign-on bonus -Pay a stay-on bonus   About Jacksonville Works Jacksonville Works  is a community job board. At J acksonville Works , we are on a mission to help local employers find great local employees. We are locally owned, locally operated and committed to helping business owners in Jacksonville hire. To get started,  post your job.

Looking for your first job can be exciting. It’s  a huge step toward Independence.  The right first job could be what unlocks the keys to your first apartment, car or pay college tuition. The work experience could make it easier to land a professional  job in the future.  And, let’s not forget, making your own money is pretty sweet too. But if we're honest, looking for your first job can also be scary as heck. I mean, if you've never done it before, you literally have no idea what to expect. So that's what we're going to do here. We’re going to demystify the hiring process for you. Knowing what to expect and what could be coming next, will boost your confidence. After reading this, you’ll know the typical steps in the hiring process. Knowing what’s coming will help you prepare and get to work faster. The Application The first part of any hiring process is the application. A business looking for employees will share their openings on job boards like Jacksonville Works or their own website. You may even find jobs on their social media pages. However a business chooses to promote their jobs, all employers will have some process for you to apply for the job.  Applying for a job lets the business know that you’re interested in the job they shared and want to work for their company. Applications are usually taken by either some type of online form or instructions on how to send in your resume by email or mail. However the business chooses to take applications, these tips will help you manage the process like a pro. Pro Tips Read and follow all directions carefully. Use a professional email address for your contact information. Provide all information requested on the application form or in the application instructions. Tell the truth. Make sure everything you share is accurate. Phone Interview Next up is usually a phone interview. A phone interview is a brief conversation with you and the hiring manager or human resources. Some companies do phone interviews as a way to feel out if you’re a good fit for the job before they continue with an in-person interview. So generally they'll ask a few questions to get to know you. They’ll want to get a sense of if the information on your application is true. You'll have an opportunity to ask them a few questions too about the job and company as well. Pro Tips: Choose a quiet place where you won’t be distracted for the phone interview. Use a landline if possible. If not, then plug your phone into the charger and pick a place where you get good cell phone reception. Practice your answers to common interview questions, so you’re ready for what you may be asked. Have two or three thoughtful questions handy to ask the person who interviews you. In Person Interview An in-person interview is a more formal face-to-face meeting between you and the employer. It is most common that you will come into the business and meet with a manager, human resources or both. Less often, the interview can be done virtually using something like Skype or Zoom.  During the interview, the person you're meeting with will ask you questions. A lot of questions. The  purpose of those questions is to help them figure out if you're the employee they have been praying for. That means they're going to ask questions that get to the heart of: Your motivation to work The likelihood that you’ll be reliable. If you are teachable. Your fit for the job. (If you can and want to do the job.) How long you’ll stay with the company if hired. Basically he or she wants to have a good understanding about your ability and desire to do the job. In addition to skills and willingness to do the work, your interviewer will evaluate if you have the temperament for the job and work environment.  You'll also be able to ask some questions during the interview. This usually happens towards the end of the interview. The interviewer may ask, if you have any questions for them. You’ll make a good impression by having two or three thoughtful questions prepared to ask. Expect for the interview to last about 30 minutes or longer. The interview may have just one hiring manager or you may have what's called a panel interview. A panel interview is a type of interview where a team of managers conduct the meeting. Sometime panel interviews will include employees who work in the position being hired. The members of the panel may either all ask questions or one person may ask questions and the others observe.  Pro Tips: Dress professionally and be well groomed. Prepare 2-3 thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. Show up on time. Plan answers to common interview questions in advance of your interview. Follow up with a letter or email after your interview. Second Interview After the first face to face interview, there may be additional interviews. Whether or not there will be additional interviews  depends on the company and the type of job.  Sometimes there are multiple interviews for management or very technical jobs. However, it never hurts to be prepared for a situation where multiple interviews may be required. A second interview may be with the same person you met with during the first interview or someone different. The second interview could also be a panel interview, a different person on the management team or  a higher level manager.  Pro Tips: Ask who will facilitate and participate in the second interview. Checks and Testing The next part of the evaluation process involves checks and testing. This may include: Criminal background checks Employment reference checks Skill testing Drug test During this process the employer will begin to complete various checks to further evaluate your fit for the job. You’ll be notified of any steps that you need to complete. Make sure to complete any tasks promptly so that no delays are caused. You may need to sign forms giving them permission to do a criminal background check or to reach out to reference you provided. You may also need to visit a clinic to have a drug test done.  Some employers may begin this process after making an offer for employment. So if you’re offered a job first, be aware these types of checks can still be done.  Pro Tips: Notify all of your references that they may be contacted by a potential employer. Sign any release documents quickly. Schedule appointments for drug tests and skill testing promptly. Job Offer So, after references are checked and the background check is successfully passed, you may receive a job offer. A job offer is when an employer decides that they want to hire you and present what pay and benefits they are willing to provide to get you to work for them.  Someone from the organization such as the hiring manager or human resources will contact you and formally offer you the position. That's when they'll go over how much that they're offering to pay, benefits, schedule and any other details.  You should be given an official offer letter that summarizes everything included in their employment offer. An offer letter should have the title of the position that you've been offered, start date, the rate of pay and any contingencies that you have to meet before the job is officially yours.  There you have it. These are all the typical steps that go into getting hired and going through an employer’s hiring process. So now that you know what to expect you should feel more comfortable, starting the process of finding your first job.   About Jacksonville Works When you're ready to find a new job, we're ready to help. Jacksonville Works is a local job site that connects you with hourly jobs in Jacksonville Florida. We're also your resource for job search tips and trainings to get you hired faster.   Post your resume - it only takes a few minutes.