Is retail the right industry for you? Whether you’re entering the workforce for the first time, returning to employment after years of caring for your children, or just want to switch career paths, take a look at what you need to know about finding a job in the retail field. Why Choose a Career in Retail? If you’re not sure which career is right for you, learning about the retail industry can help you to make an informed decision. Careers in retail come with plenty of benefits. These include: A flexible schedule. Does a Monday through Friday nine-to-five day sound ideal? Some retail jobs offer these hours. But if you would prefer to only work evenings, weekends, or partial days, retail jobs often have flexible schedule options. A variety of job positions. Don’t worry if sales isn’t your strong point. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), forty-four percent of retail employees don’t work in sales positions. Other retail jobs include technology, marketing, finance, and management. A social setting. Do you enjoy being around other people? Jobs in retail provide you with the chance to work as part of a team or directly with customers.  Along with these benefits, it’s also possible to work in some retail positions without spending years in school. While specialized retail careers (such as marketing or technology) will require a college degree or beyond, you won’t need this type of formal education to work in an entry-level sales position. This means you can start working in retail right away. How Can You Find a Job in Retail? There are a few different ways that job seekers can find work in a retail setting. The method you choose depends on your experience, the type of position you want, and your personal preferences or comfort level. While you can go

Does your small but growing business need to hire help? This stage in any small business’s life cycle is a delicate time. You need to keep up with demand and encourage growth, but you also likely still have a tight budget and are new to many aspects of being a business owner.  Before you rush out to hire your first employee, though, consider adopting another strategy instead: working with a temporary agency first. How can this help you and your business? Here are a few important ways. 1. It Saves Money and Time Many new employers aren’t aware that hiring employees is an expensive and time-consuming task. An employer can spend an average of 33 to 49 days looking at applications, conducting interviews, and vetting candidates. You could be spending that valuable time on their business operations. In addition, you may pay 25% to 40% over the salary offering once you add in things like taxes and benefits.  Temporary workers reduce these business costs by letting the staffing agency take on the work of being an employer. They screen candidates and only present those who fit your needs best, and then they foot the bill for payroll while you pay an agreed-upon amount for their services.  2. It Prevents New Red Tape A small business that has largely gone under the radar of government oversight will find itself subject to much more regulation when they become an employer. You’ll have to register with the IRS and state tax agencies, file new tax forms, and track remittances. You’ll now be subject to state labor boards and the federal employer rules. And you’ll need to keep abreast of employment law changes.  Rather than mire your small company in new layers of red tape, let a staffing agency handle this and concentrate on your business.  3. It

As you bring in new workers, you undoubtedly want the most qualified individuals without breaking your payroll budget. And one way to help ensure that you get that talented workforce and improve your company’s effectiveness is to hire a diverse mix of employees. Why does diversity in hiring matter? Here are some ways it benefits the company. 1. A Broader Range of Skills If you only look at one pool of candidates, you may get a much narrower range of skill sets and experience. The more you venture outward to reach other groups, including other age ranges and genders, the more you get different talents and skills. For instance, your company can benefit from an older worker who spent decades working in sales as well as from a young person who’s savvy in social media. By putting these divergent skill sets to work as a team, their potential is much greater than either has alone. 2. Introduction of Fresh Ideas When people look at the same problem in different ways, they are more likely to find different solutions. This helps an employer because employees can think outside pre-established boxes. One staff member may have always handled a particular task — such as the bookkeeping — the same way, but it may not be the most effective or efficient way to do so. When you hire someone who looks at the task differently, they may have a much better solution. You might find that the amount of time that project takes is reduced, the work is more accurate, or you understand it better. 3. A Better Company Reputation Clients value diverse companies and inclusive experiences. One reason is that customers appreciate working with people who both reflect their life experience and those who represent a different way of looking at things.

Does your company have a big project it wants to or needs to undertake? Perhaps you want to research a new product line, open a pop-up or seasonal location, or conduct a large-scale internal audit. Unfortunately, finding the time, resources, and willpower to complete a project of this size can be daunting when the business is already busy enough.

What should you look for when you hire temporary or seasonal workers? While you want many of the same attributes that make good permanent workers, there are some unique differences that any employer should seek when vetting candidates for a seasonal position. Here are seven of the most important.

Seasonal work is an important source of extra income for many Americans. But what if seasonal employment isn’t enough income or you want to pursue your career farther than such employment allows?

Do you need to hire seasonal help for your business? If so, you do well to get started long before that big crunch time happens. Why? Discover five of the many benefits of hiring seasonal employees earlier rather than later. 1. Your Hiring Pool Will Be Stronger While you may have a seemingly large pool of seasonal workers, the best candidates will find work first. The longer you wait to start finding and offering employment to this pool of individuals, the more competition you face from other businesses doing the same thing. Coming out strong and early is especially important if you can’t compete as well as you’d like with a higher wage, better benefits, or a more attractive pool of jobs. And even if do you have a better package than your competitors, you may not be able to lure over employees who have already committed to another position.  2. You Can Train New People If you start well before your busy season, you have time to train staff properly. Without training, your new employees may be limited in what they can do for you and your clients. With more time to learn the job, though, you can rely on them to take on more involved tasks, to step up for permanent staff, and even to provide new and fresh insights into how the jobs they are doing could be improved.  3. Your New Staff Feels Comfortable Employees who feel that they know their job — even a temporary one — often provide better service. Letting seasonal people settle into their job may involve a little extra time, but it boosts their chances of success. They will have time to learn how your company works, what the nuances of the job are, and how to prioritize tasks. This improves