Background Checks-Red Flags to Employers

BACKGROUND CHECKS - RED FLAGS TO THE EMPLOYER!
Decisions you make today will affect you for the rest of your life, especially when you apply for a job and have a colorful background.  Many companies run a background check before selecting the best candidate for a position with their company.  When the background check is several pages long and shows a history of crime for many years, the company will choose someone with a cleaner background. 
Many companies or their customers (buyers) have a “No felony” policy, along with many government, school and other agencies even if the felony is seven years or older.  I have seen people with a 30 year old felony get turned down from a position with a company.
If our teenagers could see how their life would be affected, maybe some of them would make different choices in their life.  In my profession I see many people who have a felony and are ordered by a judge to either find a job or return to jail.  It is very difficult for them to find an employer who is willing to give them another try, especially because the felony is usually for forgery, grand theft, driving while intoxicated, etc.  It is easier to hire someone who has had a misdemeanor in their past but once you have a felony it becomes more difficult.
The Drug Court Program requires a certain amount of meetings so the availability to work becomes less, which makes it difficult to hire someone involved in drug court.   Spending time in jail makes you unavailable for work and employers cannot put their business on hold waiting for your return.  You are usually replaced and the company does not want to hire you back.
Occasionally I am asked to speak at different classes at school, church groups or community groups and enjoy giving examples of what to do if you end up in a difficult situation and don’t know what to do. Question:  “What would you do if your cousin, best friend, neighbor etc. asked for a ride to the store?  You drop them off and wait in the parking lot.  They steal something while they are in the store that you don’t know anything about.  They come out of the store, throw the merchandise in the back seat and jump into the passenger’s seat.  Security comes and finds the ‘good’s in the backseat and your passenger says, ‘It’s not mine.”  Who gets charged with grand theft which is a ‘felony charge’, the owner of the car or the passenger?  (Remember, your passenger said the merchandise wasn’t theirs)
Question: “What should you do if you walk into a store with someone (a mother, father, sister, brother, in law, best friend etc.) and they decide to steal some merchandise?  Do you walk out of the store with them?” (You didn’t steal anything)   Would you have enough nerve to take them to customer service and report that you came in with this person and they decided to steal something and that you were no part of it?
I find that honesty is the best policy and that there is no relative or friend worth you getting a felony as it affects you for the rest of your life and your so called friends move on.  Remember your past follows you.  Juvenile Records, Sealed Records or Withheld Judgments show up in your history.  The detailed information might not be available, but the dates do show up which puts a question in the employers mind as you have still been found guilty of a crime.

During the application process the employer looks for gaps in your past working history.  It is important to be honest and explain exactly what happened.  Maybe you have been a stay a home mom for a few years, or were enrolled in school and didn’t work during that time.  If you have been in jail you need to be honest and explain why and where you are in the rehabilitation process.   Yes there is hope but the best possible solution is to choose your friends wisely and stay away from dishonest relatives and friends and avoid a possible felony at all costs.  Everyone makes mistakes and your attitude makes a lot of difference.  Those who always try to blame someone else for their mistakes are not as likely to get hired as those who are honest and admit their mistakes and can tell others what they learned.
Our office just recently hired a man who had been in prison for 10 years.  His comments were, “I made a lot of mistakes, but I have learned and I’m not going back to prison.”  We placed him on a temporary assignment and he was not late once, never missed one day of work, and never complained or found fault with anyone else.  He was also willing to do anything for any wage even minimum wage.  He just wanted a chance to work.  Within a month after being released, he had his CDL License.  He now has a full time job and is doing well.  He paid his dues and did everything he was suppose to do so he was not on probation.  His attitude made the difference.
Your life is in your hands and your choices today determine where you will be tomorrow.
Brenda Bailey
Comments email: brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

Lets Get To Work - Questions you can or cannot ask in an interview

Let’s Get to Work – Questions you can or cannot ask in an interview

I have had the opportunity to participate in many interviews and have watched as people are selected from several candidates decisions are made on who the lucky one is that gets hired.  Many times the process of elimination is due to the answers applicants give during the interview. 

The most common mistake made during the interview process is not keeping questions related to the job description.   Personal questions such as: ‘Are you married?” “How many children do you have?” “Where do you live?” “What church do you belong to?” “Are you pregnant?” “Do you have a babysitter?” “Who are your parents?” etc. are questions that do not have any relevance to work.

When interviewing multiple candidates, use the same criteria for evaluating each candidate.  After selecting questions that are appropriate to use, give some thought to each answer given as there is not always going to be a “No” or “Yes” answer.  The questions that can be asked will give the interviewer a lot of information about the applicant.  Divide the questions into categories such as:

Category 1:  Pre-Screening Interview Questions

            A.  Discuss Salary-Is the wage we are offering suitable?

            B.  Why are you currently seeking a new position?

            C.  What were the top 3 job duties you had at your last job?

Category 2:  Behavioral Questions

A.  If someone told you that you had made an error, describe how you would react.

B.  Tell me about a situation you would have handled differently.

C.  What would you do if a supervisor asked you to get confidential information for them?

D.  What strengths do you have to make you a successful worker?

Category 3: General Questions

A.    What skills do you have that would make you the best candidate for this position?

B.     If you were offered this position, when would you be able to start?

C.     What are your short term goals?  What are your long term goals?

D.    Why have you applied for this position?

E.     Are you willing to work overtime and on holidays and week-ends?

Basic questions can give you most of the information you need such as:

A.  Are you available to work any shift and day?  (If yes, this means they have day care taken care of and have a ride to work)

B.  The job requires you to lift about 35 lbs. regularly during your shift.  Question: Are you able to lift 35 lbs?  (If yes, this means they are physically able to work)

C.  The job requires you to stand on scaffolding.  Question:  Are you afraid of heights?

D.  The job requires you to work around chemicals.  Question:  Are you allergic to any chemicals?

The question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” gives the interviewer a good idea to see if the applicant is only thinking about themselves or how they would benefit your company.  Answers such as “I want to earn enough money to own my own house, buy an expensive car or take my family on a vacation” are all good answers and shows long term goals.  Answers such as “I want to learn all I can and develop skills to help your company achieve their goals” is more suitable to being a good employee and caring more about the company instead of themselves.

Develop a good list of questions that pertain to the job description and you will have success interviewing and selecting the best candidates available.

Comments send email to brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

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Let's Get to Work - Interviewing for a Job

Interviewing for a Job - Do’s and Don’ts!

Before you go to an interview you should learn all you can about the company you are applying with and become familiar with the job description of the position open.  Only apply if you qualify.  For example, if the job requirement is 2 years experience you shouldn’t apply if you do not have the qualifications.  You might apply for a different position within the company that you qualify for.

Arrive 10 minutes early.  Dress appropriately for the interview.  Look like you put some effort into getting ready and not like you just climbed out of bed and threw something on.  Clean clothes neatly pressed that are business casual usually work best.   For men a long sleeve dress shirt with buttons and tie is always good and pants without holes.   For women a modest dress or pant suit without showing a lot of skin is nice.  Clean shoes with covered toes are best.  No flip-flops or sandals.  Clean hair neatly combed, hands washed, fingernails manicured, teeth brushed helps you feel good about yourself and prepares you to be more confident during the interview.

The first impression is made in the first 15 seconds of an interview.   A hand shake, looking the interviewer in the eye and a smile are important.  Don’t sit down until you are asked to be seated.  Stay calm and avoid fidgeting and slouching.

Be prepared to answer questions and always tell the truth.  Dishonesty gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing a job offer and termination.   If you have had gaps in your employment and have had several jobs in the past, explain why.  Be honest!

Never talk about your previous employer in a negative way.  Have a positive attitude as you are being evaluated as a potential co-worker.  Let the interviewer know what your skills are.  Don’t make excuses.  Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions.  Don’t treat the interview casually as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. 

Don’t give the impression that you are only interested in the salary and benefits, especially disclosing you are in debt and in need of a job.  Everyone applying needs a job or a change in employment or they wouldn’t be applying.  Remember the interviewer is looking for qualified candidates that will be an asset to their company because of their knowledge and skills, dependability and attitude.

Don’t chew gum, smell like smoke or use too much cologne or perfume.  Don’t take your cell phone into the interview or turn it off during the interview.  Don’t take your parents, spouse, fiancé, friends or pets to an interview.  If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, your probably not grown up and independent enough for a job.

When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake, make eye contact and exit gracefully.  After the interview make notes right away so you don’t forget critical details and when you should expect to hear what action you are expected to take next, if any.  Write a thank you letter to your interviewer promptly after the interview. 

Learn from each interview and don’t be too discouraged if you don’t get the position you applied for.  When one door closes another always opens.   Try to determine what went wrong and apply your experience to become better at the next interview.  Continue to learn and improve your skills.  There are classes and people in our community who can help you. 

Happy Job Hunting!

Brenda Bailey

Home: 208-650-4140

Email: brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

Let's Get to Work - Teach Your Children to Work

On June 25, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act to become effective on October 24, 1938.    In its final form, the act applied to industries whose combined employment represented only about one-fifth of the labor force. In these industries, it banned oppressive child labor and set the minimum hourly wage at 25 cents, and the maximum workweek at 44 hours.

 

In light of the social legislation of 1978, Americans today may be astonished that a law with such moderate standards could have been thought so revolutionary.  http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/flsa1938.htm

The DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is responsible for enforcing some of our nation’s most comprehensive federal labor laws on topics such as child labor laws.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/index.htm

http://webapps.dol.gov/FederalRegister/PdfDisplay.aspx?DocId=23891

Hours Restrictions

The age of the young worker typically determines which child labor rules apply. In particular, the age of the young worker determines how many hours in a day or week, or what hours in the day they may work. In addition to restrictions on hours, the Secretary of Labor has found that certain jobs are too hazardous for anyone under 16 years of age to perform. The section on Prohibited Occupations explains what jobs are considered hazardous for youth.

Hours restrictions for non-agricultural employees

14 years old is the minimum age for non-agricultural employment covered by the FLSA. The basic rules for when and where a youth may work are:

• Youth 18 years or older may perform any job, whether hazardous or not, for unlimited hours.

• Youth 16 or 17 years old may perform any non-hazardous job for unlimited hours.

• Youth 14 and 15 years old may work outside school hours in various non-manufacturing, non-mining, non-hazardous jobs. They cannot work:

• More than 3 hours a day on school days, including Fridays;
• More than 18 hours per week in school weeks;
• More than 8 hours a day on non-school days;
• More than 40 hours per week when school is not in session.

Also, 14- and 15-year-olds may not work before 7:00 a.m., nor after 7:00 p.m., except from June 1 through Labor Day, when their permissible hours are extended to 9:00 p.m. Under a special provision, youth 14 and 15 years old who are enrolled in an approved Work Experience and Career Exploration Program may be employed for up to 23 hours during school weeks and 3 hours on school days (including during school hours).
Hours restrictions on agricultural employees
The hours restrictions are the same for all youth, migrant children as well as local resident children.

• Once a young person turns 16 years old, he or she can work on any day, for any number of hours and in any job in agriculture.

• A youth 14 or 15 years old can work in agriculture, on any farm, but only during hours when school is not in session and only in non-hazardous jobs.

• If the youth is 12 or 13 years of age, he or she can only work in agriculture on a farm if a parent has given written permission, or a parent is working on the same farm. Again, the work can only be performed during hours when school is not in session and in non-hazardous jobs.

• If the youth is younger than 12, he or she can only work in agriculture on a farm if the farm is not required to pay the Federal minimum wage. Under the FLSA, "small" farms ( are exempt from the minimum wage requirements. "Small" farm means any farm that did not use more than 500 "man-days" of agricultural labor in any calendar quarter (3-month period) during the preceding calendar year. "Man-day" means any day during which an employee works at least one hour. If the farm is "small," workers under 12 years of age can be employed in non-hazardous jobs, but only during hours when school is not in session, and only with a parent's permission.

Put your children to work.  Work helps alleviate stress, builds character and self esteem, helps overcome obstacles, provides financial freedom and gives one a sense of accomplishment.   Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders.  Teach them how to work.

Brenda Bailey

Home: 208-650-4140

email: brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

Let's Get to Work - Qualities Employers are Looking For

Be a Great Employee!
The old fashioned principles of honesty, integrity and reliability remain the cornerstones of modern business.   Being on time is not good enough.  Being 10 minutes early allows you to be at your work station ready to work as scheduled.  This means you left your home in plenty of time to be to early.  This means you turned the TV off before midnight so you could get a good night sleep.  This allows you to get up on time refreshed and ready to put in an honest days work.  
Adding just a little extra time on your time card is not honest.  Using company time to text or talk on your cell phone is a major problem in today’s world.  Your employer is not paying you to take care of your personal business during work hours.  Use your lunch hours and breaks to make the necessary appointments and phone calls.  A favorite saying of mine is “When you clock in your personal life is put on hold until you clock out.”   Give your employer your undivided attention and you will be rewarded for your honesty.
Excessive absences are a problem in our society.  Sickness or death should be the only reason you can’t work as scheduled.  Your employer needs to have a doctor’s excuse if you are ill so they will know you have a valid reason why you are not at work.  We all have problems in life but work should be our first priority as we accepted the job and promised to do our best.
If you've got the right sort of attitude you can pretty much do anything.  Having the ability to listen and take instructions without being a know-it-all gives you a better chance to be hired and keep your job.  Being willing and able to learn on the job is so important instead of the attitude of “Well, this is how we did this on the last job I was on;” Or “Everyone does it”.
Most employers look for employees who are self-motivated and able to work independently with as little supervision as possible.  Technology is constantly changing and more and more employers are looking for employees who can improve their skills on the job.
Multi-tasking skills mean that you can effectively juggle more than one task at a time.  This is a skill that can be learned.  Answer the phone, receive and send faxes, use the copy machine, have a line of customers waiting, watch several machines at one time, stack the boxes, sweep the floor etc. is just a few examples.  There is always something you can do to be just a little bit better than the average employee or co-worker.
Always remember your boss or supervisor started out at the bottom just like you, but they have excelled above the rest to become the supervisor, plant manager, CEO or owner of the business.  They have worked nights and weekends, swept floors, washed dishes, waited tables, moved sprinklers, dug ditches etc. to be where they are today.  
Decide what you can do to become the best employee ever.  Be honest, be on time and be dependable and you will succeed.
Brenda Bailey,
Home: 208-650-4140
Comments:
email brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com  

Let's Get To Work...Filling out an Application

Filling out an Application – The Do’s and Don’ts

Your completed job application is the single most important item you will give a prospective employer and gives them more information about you than you realize.  Your job application will silently tell your employer if you are neat or messy, honest or dishonest, detail oriented or not, can stay on task and follow directions.  If you cannot fill out the application by yourself, it will disclose whether or not you can read or write.  

Your previous work history shows if you are one who hops from job to job or are a long term employee.   A job application gives the company a chance to ask pre-interview questions of candidates, and it gives you another chance to highlight your skills and experience.    

Come prepared and always bring information that you may need such as the required documents for identification (W-9), social security number, and your former supervisor’s information such as name, address, telephone number and email.  Also bring the addresses and phone numbers of personal references or information that may be required for a credit check.  Fill in all the information asked for.  Avoid answering questions with “See Resume” or “N/A” or “Upon Request”.

If you fill out a job application online, use spell check to edit your answers for grammatical errors. If you fill it a paper application use dark pen and carefully print all answers.  Ask for help rather than turning in an incomplete job application and remember to say “please” and “thank you”. 

Be dressed appropriately.  Be clean and neat in your appearance.  The first impression is really important.  A picture is worth a thousand words, and so the “picture” you first present says much about you to the person you are meeting.

For more information contact:

Brenda Bailey

Home: 208-650-4140

Email:  brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

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Young Living 2010 Product Guide

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Young Living Seasonal Essentials 2010 Holiday Catalog

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