More than ever people are glued to media sources seeking information leading towards good news about new found economic growth and stability in the job market. Staying in hopeful spirits many fear their company is the next to participate in a massive layoff, leaving many to depend on state issued unemployment checks or other means income to maintain a certain lifestyle. One can’t be sure of an unpredictable market, but one can rely on minimal, but not limited entry level jobs. Someone is always hiring- basically, its just matter of what you’re willing to sacrifice, submit to and cutback on spending money on unnecessary items. More less, reconditioning and reprogramming your thought process can grant you a whole new outlook and respect for your money. Learning to discipline over spending may be hard at first, but in the long run it’ll pay off and you can reap the rewards later.
If in fact you’re one of the unfortunate ones affected by a lay-off, I constructed a list of employers that has openings in the St. Louis metro area that are accepting and/or hiring for new talent to meet their needs.
Best advice to landing a new job that is comparable to your needs is to develop and iron clad resume (which I will talk about at a later time) and cover letter. Always follow up and remain tenacious, but not over bearing.
Below is a list of employers hiring now in the St. Louis metro area. Employers are not listed in any particular order as to good vs. best. All serve the same purpose; getting you hired!
1. Express Scripts- a fortune 150 company and a large pharmaceutical enterprise which provides little to no cost medication to patients without insurance or government assisted benefits, such as Medicare part A and B. Several programs are available such as; Astra Zeneca, Novartis, Pfizer, etc. are just to name a few programs. Drugs are listed on a formulary, which patients can get a prescription from their doctor, submit it to Express Scripts which is then filled and shipped out. Positions include data entry, patient advocate, patient call teams and alternate funding….etc. Must abide HIPAA (Health Information Portability Accountabilty Act) laws- seriously, pass drug test and backgound check Application process is fairly simple and you can apply either one or two ways; via website at : www.express-scripts.com/careers or at corporate: 1 Express Way in Cool Valley behind Hanley metro station.
2. United Healthcare (UHC) – an institution dedicated to nothing but healthcare insurance entities. Mainly positions are customer service based, where as a rep, benefits are quoted and you handle insurance claims. Job specifications generally require speaking with customers about sensitive information, adhere to HIPAA laws is a plus, UHC is very strict as well Express Scripts when it comes to this. Also you’ll assist customers with HSA/FSA accounts (Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts). I’m sure UHC have implemented several other programs. Currently they have openings for provider phone reprensentatives. To apply online go to : http://careers.unitedhealthgroup.com/
3. Home Depot (formerly Home Decorators) located 8920 Pershall Rd in Hazelwood is seeking customer service reps to be part of their team. Being partof a direct seller of home merchandise can reap a lot of benefits. Commited to hiring quality employees with a high level of professionalism while maintaining current customers satisfiation and gaining new ones. As one the largest home decor retailers they offer a wide variety of rugs, home furnishings, outdoor funishings and hundreds more! Becoming an employee can be very rewarding. If you have excellent customer service skills are looking for a great place to start… apply online: https://careers.peopleclick.com/
4. Soft Surroundings used to be part of Home Decorators, but since they transitioned to Home Depot, Soft Surroundings became a separate company that performs equally well in sells and share the same principles and intergrity in choosing qualified applicants. Processing orders for women apparell and accessories can be exciting. It’s as though you’re a personal shopper helping customers choose beautiful clothing and some home bedding items. Both HD and Soft Surrondings require the same criteria in looking for candidates; previous customer service and/or call center exprience, accurate data enty, able to solve problems, posses strong communication skills and have positive attitude. Both are great companies to a part of. Like to know more visit: http://www.softsurroundings.com/ and cick on careers to get started.
5. Last, but not least, Centric Group has opportuinites for part-time customer service reps. The nations leading supplier of food, personal care and electronics in the commissary market needs exceptional people to place orders, track shipments, answer questions and multi-task. Must be upbeat, professional and organizational. There are other openings as well with 2 locations to choose from. To learn more and how you can be part of the Centric Group family apply now: http://www.centricgroup.com/ and click on job board.
As with any job the most part in keeping one- is to show and show up on time. The above mentioned employers make every effort to inform potential employees about attendance policies. Multiple occurences make it hard to hire anyone, even if you are a good employee. Your track records speaks volumes about past work experiences, work ethics and performance, as well as any recogniton or accolades recieved-out of which is useless if attendance issues out weigh them. Familarize yourself with any future employer expectancties to make sure the job is right for you. If you need a flexible schedule due to school, part-time may be a better choice. If full time is needed, then make all the necessary arrangements to have you affairs in order.
The most crucial time on a job is the first 90 days. Mainly, this is a “trial period” for you and the company to get more aquintated with one another and grasp a better understanding of what is expected from both parties. Employers want to make good on their investment. It cost an average of $40,000 to train new hire, so hiring someone to just keep a seat warm is fruitless. You must perform a specific duty exceptionally well in the area hired for. Look at it this way, would you want to hire someone who has a record of always being tardy, or someone who is riddled with excuses? Didn’t think so, put things into perspective from a employer point of view.
If you feel as though your current job is no longer meeting your needs, try to broadening your horizons. Look for openings within, apply where qualified. If by chance none are available, seek other internal routes. Don’t just give up, assuming the worst. Gain more skills to help “pad” your resume, make it more attractive-skillfully wise to hiring companies. If your current job has lead you to boredom, try rekindling the the spark that first drew you to apply in the first place. See the world with new eyes, view things in a positive manner and weigh pros and cons as to whether you should stay or go.
I found it much easier to stay planted and bloom and then make lateral moves, especially with the economy under stress. Don’t quit a job because you get frustrated with co-workers, customers or your boss. Find an outlet to release any pinned up aggressions. For example, its nice outside, get out from behind the desk and eat outdoors, talk a walk during lunch hour, read a book ….etc. Stay away from office gossip, its not good food for the soul. I’m not asking to be anti-social, but try to do things differently-meet new people that work with you. If you provoke change you may re-discover a whole new person within, which could actually make your current work environment more enjoyable.
