Which companies are taking care of their employees during Corona-virus

Which companies are taking care of their employees during Corona-virus

By Sam Bauer

It’s easy to talk about which industries are doing well during the pandemic. Streaming services have seen record increases in viewership, Costco’s bulk buying has become more attractive, and against all odds, people are buying Goya beans like there is no tomorrow. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, is set to become the world’s first trillionaire because of Covid. But profit in those industries doesn’t mean that the entry level workers are seeing the same benefits. I’m not going to call them unskilled workers, I’m a firm believer that there is no unskilled labor, just undervalued skills. There has been an increase in worker complaints for Amazon, and it would not be an unfair assertion that the working environment has gotten worse in spite of Amazon’s continued success.

So who is taking care of their workers? Forbes does have an exhaustively researched list of the best companies to work in every industry. Unfortunately, it was written in 2019 and doesn’t factor in a global pandemic. Just Capital created a ranking system for the top 100 US companies committed to their workforce but even better, it has Covid Corporate tracker, which allows you to look up most major american corporations and see what benefits they are offering their stakeholders (links below). Time to do a little cross-referencing and see which names pop up the most.

• Facebook*- offering paid leave to parents who need to take care of children out of school.
• Zillow*- allowing employees to work from home for the rest of 2020.
• Cisco- commits to no layoffs during 2020.
• ServiceNow- commits to no layoffs and plans on creating 1,000 US jobs.
• Black Rock- commits to no layoffs and no pay cuts even if employees can’t come back to work.
• Microsoft*- offering back up care for the children and elderly relatives of workers.
• Alphabet*- offering financial assistance and paid sick leave.
• General Mills*- offering back up care and financial assistance.

*Companies that appeared on all three lists

I’d like to end this post with a huge thank you to anyone who does independent fact checking. You are

amazing and criminally underappreciated.

https://justcapital.com/reports/culture-of-health/

https://justcapital.com/reports/the-covid-19-corporate-response-tracker-how-americas-largest-employers-are-treating-stakeholders-amid-the-coronavirus-crisis/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/justcapital/2019/08/29/the-33-best-companies-for-workers-by-industry/#36e2fc487d3d

Cheap Technology to help with Virtual Interviews

Cheap Technology to help with Virtual Interviews By Sam Bauer

With Covid 19 still in full swing, many companies have opted for virtual interviews instead of in person ones. This does have some benefits, such as only having to dress professionally from the waist up and being able answer difficult questions in the comfort of your own home. But there are some major drawbacks, the biggest one is that these interviews often rely on third party technology. Not to mention the extremely unfair fact that your technology is part of the interviewer’s first impression of you, regardless of the position that you are applying for. I had an interview a few weeks ago, where my tiny computer could not handle the responsibility of running Zoom with 5 other devices connected to the WIFI. Needless to say, it did not go well. To help with that, I found 5 pieces of technology to help bolster the tech you most likely already have (i.e. your computer and phone). The best part? They are all 25 dollars or less. 

(Disclosure: I am not a computer expert so do your research before you decide if this list is right for you)

Cyber Acoustic Headphones: They might look like something straight out of a computer lab and they sure don’t look as fancy as Bose or Samsung headphones but you don’t need them to be. They work with both computers and smartphones, so if your phone is your only option you’ll still manage to look professional without asking the interviewer to repeat themselves.

Price: $9.86

https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Acoustics-headphone-microphone-AC-204/dp/B0055CR9M0?ref_=Oct_s9_apbd_simh_hd_bw_birY&pf_rd_r=G3ZNQH3H0E0GY6G3NYW6&pf_rd_p=a1c26881-468a-546f-bca3-21be8566b67c&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-11&pf_rd_t=BROWSE&pf_rd_i=172456

Cat8 Ethernet Cable: If your laptop is your only option and it has an ethernet port, I would 100% recommend getting an ethernet cable. Most of us are living with other people so bandwidth might get dicey when it comes time to interview. An ethernet cable means you get first dibs on the WIFI rather than your family watching netflix in three separate rooms. Just remember that this isn’t foolproof. Too many devices or large downloads will clog up your internet access despite your priority access.

Price: $8.99

https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Outdoor-Connector-Weatherproof-Resistant/dp/B07QLXC6QR/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2GQQVMI5JXJ8E&dchild=1&keywords=ethernet+cable&qid=1594741730&s=electronics&sprefix=eathe%2Celectronics%2C168&sr=1-5

Wansview PC webcam: This is the more expensive item on the list but it is also the cheapest on Amazon and it works with almost every operating system under the sun. Even though cameras usually come built into most laptops sometimes the resulting image isn’t flattering. This camera is a cheap upgrade and like I said, no matter what computer you have this will work with it.

Price: $23.79

https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-Wansview-Correction-Streaming-Conference/dp/B088D3VXC6?ref_=Oct_s9_apbd_onr_hd_bw_birY&pf_rd_r=X4ADCZ6AEQW3H1PTKYXJ&pf_rd_p=f3e16cda-fdef-5b98-b290-c8c7661d2113&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&pf_rd_t=BROWSE&pf_rd_i=172456

Phone Stand: If you don’t have access to a computer, then most likely you’ll be using your smartphone in the interview process. In that case, a phone stand is pretty self-explanatory. Both you and the interviewer will have uninterrupted views of each other and you don’t have to do the whole thing one-handed.  

Price: $10.95

https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Foldable-Compatible-Nintendo-Readers/dp/B07F8S18D5/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=phone+stand&qid=1594744309&sr=8-4

Performance Troubleshooting: If you’re worried about how your device will handle whatever interview software the interviewer is using, troubleshooting software is an easy way to find out. Trust me, finding out the day of your interview that your computer can’t handle the software is embarrassing and annoying. Most computers already have troubleshooting software installed but they don’t always work as advertised. Just in case, I found a list softwares that are easy to download, free, and are a bit more sophisticated than the pre-installed variety. 

Price: Free

https://windowsreport.com/troubleshooting-tools-software-windows-10/

How to Maintain your Mental Health while looking for Jobs

How to Maintain your Mental Health while looking for Jobs

Written by Sam Bauer

Let’s be honest with each other; the job search process is soul crushing. I know because I’ve been doing it for the past two months, ever since I graduated amidst a global pandemic. My peers, much more accomplished than I am, have been glued to the jobs boards just as much as I have. And on top of that, social convention dictates that you must handle this growing sense of panic and failure with grace and humility. Unless we as a society change the way we handle hiring and firing, this is the reality that faces anyone trying to find a job. 

Here’s some tips that have kept me (somewhat) sane during the job search:

1. Acknowledge just how discouraging this process is. Absolutely no one thrives under constant rejection and you shouldn’t be expected to either. Your feelings of anxiety and frustration? Totally valid. 

2. Do not job search all day every day. Allot a specific time every day to look on job boards and apply but once that allotted time runs out? Do something else. Job searching all the time means neither you or your brain get a break to emotionally process which, trust me on this one, does not speak well for your mental health.

3. Invest in a staffing agency.

4. Recruiters can help.

5. Try and be kind, especially to yourself. If you let a rejection get the best of you for a day, forgive yourself. Sometimes doing your best on a particular day means only being able to operate on 50% of your potential. That should still be commendable even if it doesn’t feel like it.

www.BestLogicStaffing.com HELPING BUILD A BETTER WORKPLACE

Bookkeeper (Part Time/Construction background) | jobmagic

Bookkeeper (Part Time/Construction background) | jobmagic

Happy Memorial Day!

Director of Quality | jobmagic

Director of Quality | jobmagic

Job Hunting Tips - BestLogic Staffing

• Network! Think of the people you know -- relatives, friends, professors, classmates, co-workers at summer jobs, and others. Make more of an effort to meet with people, and use these conversations to ask their advice, to make them aware of your job search, to learn more about their jobs or their organizations, and to get the names of others who might be useful in your job search.
• Target your Résumé. Make sure your résumé is targeted to the employers who receive it. Make sure your résumé is easy to read and the most important details stand out. Make more than one résumé if you are applying to more than one industry.
  
• Be prepared. You should have a copy of your résumé at all times. It is also a good idea to have fresh copies of your résumé prepared in case you are called to an interview at the last minute.
  
• Create a contact database. Write down all the employers you contact, the date you sent your résumé, any contact made, people you talk to, and notes about those contacts. Keep a notepad with you at all times -- take notes as soon as you hear about an opportunity or when you leave an interview. Get into the habit of updating your database daily.
  
• Make a "to do" list every day. This will help you organize your list of priorities and keep you focused on finding that perfect job.
  
• Try the buddy system. Link up with a friend who is also job hunting. Arrange to speak weekly and report on accomplishments, best practices, and future plans.
  
• Learn how to talk about yourself. Throughout your job search you will speak with many people at different levels. You must be comfortable having conversations about yourself with other people. Keep in mind that you never know who may end up being useful to your job hunt.
  
• Prepare an elevator speech. You never know who you'll meet in an elevator, in line at the coffee shop, or on the street. Know what your skills are and how to communicate them. You should be able to tell prospective employers and others you meet what you can offer. You should also be able to talk about how your skills relate to the industries that interest you.
  
• Find out all there is about employers in your field. Remain current on any issues or developments in the field, read trade journals or professional publications, and read the newspaper. It is extremely impressive during an interview if you know about the latest merger or coup in the industry.
  
• Practice for each interview. Practice is key to interviewing well. Friends, relatives, and career services counselors can help you formulate strong answers to questions you might not anticipate.
  
• Follow-up with leads immediately. If you find out about a position late in the day, call right then. Don't wait until the next day.
  
• Stay confident. Job hunting takes time and energy. Remain confident, but prepare yourself for challenges ahead. Don't get disgruntled if you are still looking for a job and it seems like everyone you know has an offer. Most students find their jobs after graduation.