Massachusetts’ unemployment rate fell to 6 percent in April, down from 6.3 percent in March, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, while Massachusetts added more than 9,000 jobs in March, the state lost 1,600 jobs in April.
One explanation for the lower unemployment rate and fewer jobs is that people who become discouraged and stop looking for jobs are no longer counted as part of the workforce.
Wonder what it’s like to work at PSG?
Kristen Coppins has built her career over 11 years at PSG. Hear her story about the training and promotions she received to go from being a temporary employee to a Director at PSG.
“The cool thing about PSG…is that you don’t have to wait…to move up…the company will promote you when you’re ready…I was given a new opportunity and they created a new role for me.”
“…this is something that I know not many other people my age can say.”
-Kristen Coppins, Director at PSG
PSG employees rallied to support the OneFund Boston, a fund to support those most affected by the tragic Boston Marathon bombings. Last week, PSG staff members were encouraged to pay a small fee to come to work in casual wear and their favorite Boston-themed hat. The money raised has been donated to the OneFund Boston.
PSG is also proud of its employees who run the Boston Marathon each year, including Brian Sohns, who ran the marathon this year, and past years’ runners Liz Walker and Rachel Frisbee.
PSG staff dress casual to raise money for OneFund Boston
As part of its Guaranteed Work Program (GWP), PSG proudly supports several Boston non-profit organizations, including Rosie’s Place. James Bianconi is one of the PSG temporary employees who is occasionally sent to work at the Rosie’s Place offices, where work involves coordinating fundraising mailings and performing data entry.
“Thank you to the Professional Staffing Group for including Rosie’s Place as a sponsored non-profit in your Guaranteed Work Program. All of the temporary employees who have been sent to work at Rosie’s Place have been professional, helpful and hardworking. We are so grateful for your support!” said Katie Amoro, Development Officer at Rosie’s Place.
Rosie’s Place was founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in the United States. Its mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. Today, Rosie’s Place not only provides meals and shelter but also creates answers for 12,000 women a year through wide ranging support, housing and education services.
PSG employee James Bianconi with Katie Amoro, Development Officer at Rosie’s Place
In its latest monthly unemployment update, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said that preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 8,100 jobs in March and the state’s unemployment dropped from 6.5 percent to 6.3 percent.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate had been as high as 7.1 percent in recent months, making it higher than the national average unemployment rate for the first time in six years. Currently the national unemployment rate is 6.7 percent.
In addition to the estimated increase of 8,100 jobs in March, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised its February estimates to show a net gain of 5,500 jobs in February, up from the previous estimate of 3,800 jobs. State officials say Massachusetts has seen a net gain of 50,400 jobs in the past 12 months.
The biggest job gains were in the Education and Health Services sector, which added 5,700 jobs in March.
PSG is proud to support several Boston non-profit organizations through its Guaranteed Work Program (GWP). Through the GWP, PSG sends temporary employees to work in the office of an area non-profit when no client has requested the worker for that day. That’s how Richard Lestage got his assignment to work for Boston Partners in Education recently.
Boston Partners in Education pairs volunteers with Boston Public School students to help them gain the skills, self-confidence, and the motivation they need to succeed in school and in life. During the 2012-2013 academic year, BPE matched over 5,000 students in 72 schools throughout the city with 732 volunteers. BPE recruited, trained, placed, and supported volunteer academic mentors to work with students one-on-one, in small groups, and with entire classrooms. Academic mentors gave a combined 27,773 hours of their time to work with these K-12 students, resulting in an in-kind contribution of nearly $1.3 million to the Boston Public Schools.
“Boston Partners in Education is so grateful for the pro-bono support we receive from Professional Staffing Group through their non-profit partner program. We jump at the amazing opportunity to have a skilled and friendly PSG worker assist us with crucial work, especially when faced with tight deadlines. Because of PSG, we are able to complete a variety of tasks on time and on budget. We truly appreciate the support!” said Pamela Civins, Executive Director of Boston Partners in Education.
Keri Walsh, communications manager at Boston Partners in Education, adds, “Richard played a vital role in helping us complete a 3,000 piece direct mail project recently. It was so nice working alongside Richard, and I enjoyed learning about his background and career goals.”
Richard Lestage with staff at Boston Partners in Education
PSG staff members recently attended 2014 Work Without Limits FriendsRaiser, an event at MIT Sloan School of Management designed to introduce the non-profit and its work to the Boston business community.
Work Without Limits is an organization whose mission is to increase employment for individuals with disabilities. Work Without Limits partners with state and community organizations and employers to build sustainable and effective employment programs and supports for people with disabilities. Through research, targeted projects in the community, and by engaging businesses and employers, Work Without Limits focuses on ensuring that people with disabilities and employers have resources and information to assist them to go to work and achieve their employment goals.
PSG is a founding sponsor of Work Without Limits.
Sean Pulera and Jennifer Shepherd, PSG Onsite Staffing Managers at BCBS, attend 2014 Work Without Limits FriendsRaiser
Q: What tips do you have for negotiating salary?
A: This is a good question, because there are lots of factors to consider when it comes to salary negotiations.
My first recommendation when considering salary negotiation is to do research so you understand the market and how you and your salary, or salary offer, fit in it. Salary.com is a good place to start to get a base salary range relevant to your position and experience, but then you have to consider the employer’s situation, the job market (demand) for that position and the economy overall in your area. If you are interviewing for a new job, the salary you are offered is based on these things, as well as how your interview goes and whether or not you are currently employed and, if so, what you’re currently making, as well as how your experience and education compares to current employees and their compensation within the organization. The employer will make you a salary offer based on all of these factors. They may make another candidate a different salary offer for the same position.
Understanding the situation is important so that you go into the negotiation (or not) with the right expectations. In my work, it’s common to see candidates whose expectations are out-of-line get stuck without a job because they don’t get offers or turn them down because they are below their out-of-line expectations.
Once you have vetted your expectations, here are a few ‘do’s and don’ts’:
Do:
Understand what you’re worth – Understanding your value will help you enter negotiations with a realistic outlook. A recruiter can help you understand what salary range is appropriate for your industry and experience levels.
‘Monetize’ your skills – Where it’s appropriate, frame your work in terms that show real monetary value. For example, customer support skills can be framed in terms of how much time or money was saved by resolving issues faster.
Remember why you’re doing this – Think about why you want the job and what it is that you’re looking for. It shouldn’t only be about the money. Even if that’s an important factor, keeping the other reasons in mind will help you focus on the big picture.
Don’t:
Don’t mention money too early – Let the employer bring up the subject first. If you ask about salary too early in the process, it will seem as though this is your primary interest. Focus on getting the offer first! Some interviewers bring the topic up early to use it as a screening tool. In that case, you can respond with an honest answer about what you’re currently earning and what your hopes are, but you should also stress how important it is to you to find a rewarding job.
Don’t ignore other parts of the compensation package – Salary is only part of an offer; it’s important to consider the whole package and the other benefits being offered, such as healthcare insurance, retirement investment programs, tuition reimbursement, etc. as well as other aspects of the work like the size, culture and reputation of the organization, the commute and more.
Don’t lose track of the big picture – When candidates become too focused on one particular aspect of the job search – getting a raise of a certain percentage, being offered a certain job title – they run the risk of missing out on opportunities that might be right for them.
About the Recruiter
Frank Gentile is a 20+ year veteran of the staffing industry and an experienced recruiter. As a Director at Professional Staffing Group (PSG) Frank oversees the permanent placement division.
In its 2014 list of the Boston area’s largest temporary placement firms, the Boston Business Journal recognized PSG as the sixth largest staffing firm in the Boston area, based on the average number of temporary workers supplied daily in Massachusetts. This is the 12th consecutive year that PSG has been named to the list and the second year in a row that PSG has ranked #6.
PSG’s staff of 60 recruiters and managers puts more than 1,000 temporary workers to work in office support, technical, creative, finance, healthcare and human resources jobs each day in Massachusetts.
According to the latest report from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Massachusetts gained 3,800 jobs in February and the state’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5 percent, from 6.8 percent the month prior. The latest report also revised the number of jobs lost in January from 4,500 to 3,900.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate has been slowly trending downward since reaching its recent highest level of 7.2 percent in August. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 6.7 percent.
Read more here.
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