Berks & Beyond Blog

Any staffing service can claim they’re the best, or that they’ll find you the right job opportunity.  But we’re not just “any staffing service.”  So, we thought we’d go straight to the source – and show you what our employees have to say about their experiences with Berks & Beyond:

York

“Berks and Beyond has been the primary force of my success in finding and maintaining employment.  Not only did they professionally jump right in and find the right job, but continuously kept me updated on better opportunities.  Each and every client has a personal relationship with Berks and Beyond.  I can respectfully say Berks and Beyond has treated me like family from the start.  Thank you Berks and Beyond!”

Sincerely,

Haile Danzler

York

“Dear Bonnetta:

I just wanted to once again say thanks for everything.  You really followed up and worked hard to find a job/career match for me.

You made it happen.

I want you to know that although you may think it is part of your job, you did go above and beyond.  Most agencies would not continue to follow up as you and your team of professional employees did.  I know that God will continue to bless you and your family for your kind heart and caring personality.  You have made a difference in my life, when I thought there was no where else to turn you and your team opened up the doors of opportunity for me and for that I am truly grateful…

I just want you to know I appreciate it so much and may God Bless you for that.   Have a nice day and stay sweet.”

Thank you,

Kenneth Lund

Pottstown

“At a previous employer, I did not feel like I was part of a team.  Working at Berks & Beyond focuses on excellence and teamwork.  Their approach is friendly, flexible and a very can-do attitude.  The staff is very nice and helpful, and I enjoy working with them.  In my position, no day is exactly like the day before and my job is not boring.  I have never worked for a staffing agency before, but I really enjoy it and have broadened my horizon.  Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”

Michael Houck

Write Your Own Success Story with Berks and Beyond

Contact a Berks & Beyond recruiter today.  We’ll match your skills, experience and interests with the perfect job opportunity in the York, Pottstown, Allentown, Reading or Harrisburg areas.

Did you know…

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the policing division of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has announced a 10-day window for employers to correct minor errors found on audited I-9 forms.

ICE is currently on a nationwide sweep to check employer maintenance of the I-9 form, which is used to verify employees’ authorization to work in the United States.

Minor, or technical, errors (also called “paperwork errors”) usually refer to the absence of a home address or birthdate on the form.  Such errors are to be corrected in 10 days to avoid any further difficulties, fines or adverse action.

Substantive errors, on the other hand, which are those involving core data such as citizenship status or even the employee’s signature, are subject to significant penalties.

The USCIS form I-9 must be completed for each employee upon starting work and must be maintained for three years or one year after the employee has left his or her job, whichever comes later.

As a leading staffing firm in Southern and Central Pennsylvania, Berks & Beyond ensures that each of our employees is thoroughly screened and that all required paperwork is completed before our employee goes to work for you.  We stay on-top of compliance issues to effectively minimize your legal exposure.

Source:

http://www.personnelconcepts.com/compliance-alerts/ice-10-days-to-correct-minor-19-mistakes/

Are you new to the world of social networking?  Looking for fresh ways to enhance your career prospects?  If so, use these quick tips to turn a social networking profile into a powerful career-building tool.

Find the right site for your career interests.  Begin by browsing the different “networks” provided by major sites like LinkedIn and Facebook.  Click through each network’s subfields to determine which sites have areas that match your needs and interests.

Build your profile carefully.  When creating a profile for career purposes, make sure that the information you post is accurate and appropriate.  Start by reviewing other profiles, then mirror the style and content of the best ones.

Choose an appropriate profile picture.  Your picture makes a critical first impression on a recruiter.  Be sure it’s a positive one.  Only post pictures that are “neutral” (i.e., not sexy, costume-like, or potentially alienating) and appropriate for business.  If you already have a profile picture, review it with a critical eye to ensure it prepresents you in a professional manner.

Maintain distinct identities.  If you use sites for both personal and professional purposes, separate your virtual lives by establishing dedicated social networking pages.  Direct all co-workers and business contacts to your professional page and ask them to “friend” you there.

Manage your privacy settings.  Take advantage of the technology sites like Facebook offer to limit what potential employers can learn about you.  Like other features, privacy options are continually updated – revisit them periodically to ensure your settings keep details about your religion, political beliefs and relationships private.  As a rule of thumb, assume that everything you post is public, except what you explicitly designate otherwise.

Post content, links and news.  Post timely content that highlights your professional area of expertise.  By including relevant links on your profile, you: demonstrate your concern about developments in your industry; position yourself as an informed expert; prove your commitment to improving yourself as a professional.

Garner recommendations.  As your online professional network grows, seek opportunities to obtain and post recommendations from superiors, co-workers, subordinates and satisfied clients.  Their third-party perspective gives readers a more objective view of you as a professional.

Complement your social networking job search activities.  Register with Berks & Beyond and gain access to a multitude of rewarding job opportunities that never make it to job boards or other online channels.

To get ahead in  this world, you have to “put your best foot forward.”  But, there’s a fine line between respectable self-promotion and shameless bragging.  So how do you use self-promotion to advance your career, without coming across as a show-off?  Use these quick tips to tactfully toot your own horn:

1. Realize that context is everything.  To successfully self-promote, your comments need to be relevant to the conversation.  Bringing up your latest success while your boss is talking about his favorite TV show will not earn you any points.  Bide your time until the conversation switches gears.  Research has shown that once a topic has been raised, a subsequent boast is not viewed as inappropriate – because it’s in context.
2. Wait for the right moment.   Believe it or not, it is okay to steer a conversation toward a topic relevant to your accomplishment.  However, changing topics doesn’t give you license to just blurt out what you’ve done.  Be patient and wait until your conversation partner asks a question that gives you the opening you need.
3. Be a tortoise, not a hare.  Self-promotion is about building a long-term reputation for yourself; establishing trust and respect in your workplace (or the marketplace).  So get in it for the long-haul by making self-promotion a habit.  Set daily goals for doing something small – sharing an idea, reaching out to someone, showing up at an event – and measurable results will follow in time.
4. Promote your ideas.  Beyond talking up accomplishments, you should also spread your ideas, concepts and vision.  By promoting your ideas (as opposed to just your deeds) you will give co-workers and superiors something to support – without being “turned off” or threatened by your success.
5. Know yourself.  Are you like most people, who err on the side of caution and don’t talk themselves up enough?  Or are you the type who tends to talk easily about yourself and your accomplishments?  If you’re unsure, ask a trusted friend into which end of the spectrum you fall.  The art of successful self-promotion depends upon having the self-knowledge to realize when to toot your own horn, and when to let your actions speak for themselves.

Let Berks & Beyond help you put your best foot forward.  When you come in for an interview, our experienced staffing specialists will learn about your skills, interests, experience and needs – then show you where your strengths lie.  We can help you master the art of self-promotion and find the perfect employment opportunity.  Just give us a call.

A little perspective is a good thing.

As a staffing firm, we at Berks & Beyond try to learn all we can about your business and industry – because better understanding leads to better staffing results for your company. 

Today, I’d like to turn the tables.  Here are a few key facts and statistics, compiled by the American Staffing Association, that will help you better appreciate our business and the U.S. staffing industry:

• Number of workers.  America’s staffing companies match millions of people to millions of jobs – every day.  On an average day in 2008, U.S. staffing companies employed approximately 2.6 million workers.  All told, staffing firms hired an estimated 11.2 million temporary and contract employees in 2008 alone.
• Industry size.  In 2008, the staffing industry generated roughly $86.2 billion in sales:  $70.7 billion from temporary and contract staffing; $15.5 billion from search and direct placement.
• Number of U.S. staffing companies.  Approximately 6,000 staffing firms, operating roughly 20,000 offices, are currently operating and have been in business a year or longer.
• Areas of growth.  The fastest industry growth is occurring in professional and technical staffing.
• Factors affecting industry growth.  America’s work force is changing.  More people are looking for the flexibility that temporary work provides.  Additionally, employers are tapping into the flexible labor market to keep fully staffed during peak periods.

Want to learn more?

Visit the American Staffing Association’s website to view and download reference documents that provide current information about the U.S. staffing industry.  To learn more about the services and benefits Berks & Beyond offers, please visit our website.

The following top candidates are highly skilled, motivated, and ready to go to work for you:

MILLWRIGHT, SHIPPING/RECEIVING, FORKLIFT/WAREHOUSE

Candidate Initials:  C. R.

Skills and Experience:  Over nine years of experience as a Millwright; eight years experience in Shipping/Receiving; two years as a Machine Operator; three years as a Set-up man.  This candidate has worked at Universal Industrial, Lawrence Shiffs Silk Mills and Perkasie Industry Corporation. 

Education:  H. S. Diploma

Desired Pay:  $12/hr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Heidi at Heidi@berksandbeyond.com or call 484.945.0516.

GENERAL MANAGER

Candidate Initials:  T. H.

Skills and Experience:  This candidate has 10 years experience as a General Manager within the hotel industry.  Skills include management, inventory control, budget and review of profit and loss, hiring, training and payroll processing.

Education:  Two years at South Eastern Academy in Hospitality

Desired Pay:  $46,000

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Bonnetta at Bonnetta@berksandbeyond.com or call 717.843.0031.

QUALITY CONTROL/FINAL INSPECTION

Candidate Initials:  V. T.

Skills and Experience:  Skilled candidate with 10 years of experience in Quality Control and Final Inspection.  Was responsible for blueprint reading and GEO; inspection and data of electronics; understanding all tolerances and their classes.  Has used Ramscope and view precis machines for inspection and data.

Education:  H.S. Diploma

Desired Pay:  $15 – $16/hr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Bonnetta at Bonnetta@berksandbeyond.com or call 717.843.0031.

ACCOUNTING CLERK

Skills and Experience:  Dependable individual with 10 years of broad-based experience in the accounting field:  A/P, A/R, tax preparation, payroll, etc.  This excellent worker also possesses HR experience.

Desired Pay:  $10/hr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Allison at Allison@berksandbeyond.com or call 610.376.9675.

BOOKKEEPER

Candidate Initials:  R. L.

Skills and Experience:  Excellent computer skills, data entry, accounting, A/P & A/R, e-mail, internet, and strong customer service skills.  Has also worked in retail.

Education:  H.S. Diploma

Desired Pay:  $10/hr.

To learn more about this candidate, please contact Katie at Katie@berksandbeyond.com or call 610.435.9270.

New Location Will Facilitate Staffing Firm’s Continued Growth

Allentown, PA – Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the relocation of its Allentown, PA office.  The staffing and placement firm, which services much of Southern Pennsylvania, has moved its Allentown branch to the location where People Unlimited operated for 10 years.  Effective immediately, Berks & Beyond’s new Allentown address is: 1820 Union Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18109.  The phone number has stayed the same: 610.435.9270.

“It was clear that our Allentown office had outgrown its existing space.  The new location is ideally situated for our company to continue to grow in a market we have now served for over a decade,” says Chris Garner, President of Berks & Beyond.  “The Union Boulevard address will provide even better access for clients and applicants in cities such as Fogelsville, Souderton, Quakertown, and Harleysville.”

For more information, or directions to Berks and Beyond’s new Allentown office, call us directly at 610.435.9270.