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Savannah Container Volumes Up more than 14 percent in February

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 17:03:34 GMT

Intermodal Rail Sets Monthly Record!

General Labor Midway, GA

lisa@horizonsav.com (Lisa Yannett) — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:54:58 GMT

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General Labor Midway, GA

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 20:24:01 GMT

General Labor in Midway, GA

Responsibilities:

- Assist with various tasks in a warehouse environment

- Load and unload materials from trucks

- Move materials to designated areas within the warehouse

- Follow safety protocols and guidelines

Requirements:

- Previous experience as a laborer or in a similar role preferred

- Ability to lift heavy objects and perform physical tasks

- Strong work ethic and ability to work well in a team

- Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Giant Container Ship Blocked Suez Canal!

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:00:00 GMT

What an unbelievable story to hear about this giant container ship that blocked the Suez Canal for nearly a week. This container vessel was carrying 18,300 containers of cargo. It is one of the largest container vessels and it ran aground on Tuesday after being lodged sideways across the waterway. I read that it cost the global economy an estimated $400 million dollars per HOUR ?!?! Being in the port city of Savannah, this hits close to home. We see these container ships all the time coming in and out of our waterways. I also own a staffing company which works with many distribution centers who rely on these container ships to bring in their products. I am not sure if the Savannah Port was affected by this blockage but I know it hurt a great deal of the economy. Not exactly something we need anytime, but especially not in the middle of a pandemic.

At least 360 ships, carrying everything from cars to oil to grain, wait at the canal’s northern and southern entrances and an additional 300 ships were en route to the canal over the next two weeks. Some ships have already diverted to the African route. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, making it the shortest maritime route to Asia from Europe. Since its completion in 1869, it has become one of the world’s most heavily used shipping lanes.

I will have to admit that I was not familiar with the Suez Canal. But it has been interesting to learn more about this because of where I live and my business. Thankfully the vessel was freed earlier today but I am wondering how long it will take the economy to recover from yet another misfortune?!? https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2021/03/26/how-evergreens-ship-got-stuck-in-the-suez-canal/7010375002/

Types of Warehouse Jobs

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 15:09:00 GMT

When it comes to operating a distribution center or warehouse, it takes a lot of moving parts and people to keep things running smoothly. As a staffing agency that specializes in warehouse work, we are often asked what kinds of jobs we have available. Hopefully this list will help answer that question. Here are some of the common types of warehouse jobs that Horizon Staffing typically staffs.

General Labor

The most common warehouse job that Horizon Staffing fills is general labor. Responsibilities of a general laborer can include loading and unloading, picking and pulling orders, packing and fulfilling orders, and managing, retrieving and organizing stock. Responsibilities can vary based on the company, but these are just some of the general responsibilities.

Machine operator

There are several different types of machines that are essential to warehouse functions. Some include Stand-up forklifts, sit-down forklifts, and Electric Pallet Jacks (EPJ). These job positions often require the applicant to have relevant and recent machine operating experience, but some companies are willing to train a dedicated general laborer when it comes time hire a machine operator.

Stand-Up Forklift

Sit-Down Forklift

EPJ

Obviously, not all machines look the same. So, the forklifts pictured here might not be the ones our clients use in their warehouses, but these are the types of machines you will see in a warehouse.

These two positions – general labor and machine operator – are the main types of warehouse jobs that Horizon Staffing typically hires for.

Occasionally, we do get clients who are looking to fill administrative or supervisory positions. For individuals searching for these kinds of positions, we always recommend that the applicant complete the application process, even if we do not currently have a position available.

When we receive an order for a specialized position, we typically look within our database of applicants first. If we don’t find a qualified applicant in the database, then we list the position on different job boards. You may never know we were hiring for the position you were looking for if you aren’t in our database.

Are you looking for work? Our application is right here on our website! We hire in the Atlanta and Savannah areas.

How To Shine During an Interview

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 03:32:00 GMT

The biggest mistakes that you can make in an interview are lying and not being yourself. Yes, your qualifications matter. But they don’t matter near as much as your authenticity. If you want to shine during an interview, you need to know and do these things.

Research:

We’ve said it before, and we will say it until the end of time. Do your research before you go into an interview. Research the company, its history, purpose, management, etc. Look up recent news articles about them and any press releases. Knowing your facts and being able to showcase that in the interview will give you so much confidence and help you put your best foot forward.

Practice

There are several common interview questions that you need to be prepared to answer. Those include things like “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and “Why do you want to work here?”

Practice your answers to these questions so that you aren’t spending the entire interview trying to think of answers. Just be careful not to over practice so that you sound like you’re reading from a script.

Be honest

While an interview is meant for you and the recruiter to get to know each other better, the recruiter did their research on you just like you did on the company. They performed reference checks and reviewed your resume. If they haven’t done that before your interview, you can bet they will after, so don’t lie. Don’t embellish your work experience or qualifications. They will find out and it will not be good for you.

Be yourself

You were called to the interview because the recruiter wants to get to know YOU. Not the person you think they want to see. The most important thing you can do to shine during an interview is to be yourself.

Do you have any more tips on how to shine during an interview? Drop them in the comments!

Benefits of Hiring Through a Staffing Agency

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 14:45:00 GMT

There are many benefits of using a staffing agency. A staffing agency is inherently designed to benefit companies who hire new employees frequently or are constantly searching for specifically qualified candidates.

Staffing agencies typically have a niche or specialty that they exclusively hire for. For example, Horizon Staffing, located in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, specializes in light industrial positions. That means that if you need to hire for your distribution center, you should consider giving them a call, but if you’re a hospital looking for nurses, they probably won’t be able to connect you to the right candidates.

No matter the company, location, or position there is a staffing agency that can help connect your company with qualified candidates.

What do staffing agencies do?

Staffing agencies build a database of candidates. After meeting with a new client (hiring company) to get the specifics of what candidate the company is looking for and descriptions of the positions that need to be filled, the staffing agency then combs their database for candidates who match these specifications.

If one is not found, the recruiters then advertise the position to receive new applications. These new applicants undergo a screening process to determine their qualifications, skills, and eligibility to work.

During this entire process, the client does not have to do anything. When the staffing agency locates a qualified candidate, they then send them to the client for either a second interview or to start work immediately.

If you’re looking for more information about staffing agencies, check out the American Staffing Association for current statistics, trends, and news regarding staffing agencies.

Benefits of a Staffing Agency

1. Time:

Staffing agencies have spent years building their database of candidates. They have access to significantly more candidates than you will find with a simple job search. Where it could take you weeks to locate a qualified candidate, staffing agencies could have the right person sitting in their database.

Not to mention, all of the paperwork that comes with a new employee would be handled by the staffing agency. Not only are you saving time finding the candidate, but also after they are hired.

2. Expertise:

Another benefit of using a staffing agency is their expertise.

While you know best what candidate you need, staffing agencies know best how to find them. Because their sole job is to search through applications and locate qualified candidates, they know the market and trends. Even though staffing agencies have specific niches, they come into contact with more than one type of group of people, unlike a company’s human resource department.

Not to mention, your HR department probably has other responsibilities and can’t dedicate 8 hours a day to searching for a new employee. Staffing agencies can.

3. Cost:

This goes hand in hand with saving you time. If your HR department doesn’t have to dedicate the time to find a new employee, you don’t have to allocate the money to pay them for it. Also, costs related to marketing the open position would fall to the staffing agency instead of you.

4. Network:

It’s already been said, but let’s say it again. Staffing agencies have built an extensive database of job seekers. They have access to a larger network of candidates than the average HR department. While some positions will need to marketed, many positions are filled with existing candidates within the staffing agency’s database.

5. Retention:

There is a reason staffing agencies are commonly known as temp agencies, but it probably isn’t what you think. They aren’t called ‘temp agencies’ because their turnover rate is high. Rather, the name comes from the fact that most employees hired through staffing agencies start as a temporary employee.

After a trial period where they are able to learn the process, company, and position before they are offered a permanent position. When you hire through a staffing agency, the employee is on the staffing agency’s payroll, not yours, until they become a permanent employee. This means that if the employee quits before becoming a permanent employee, this doesn’t affect your turnover rate.

6. Providing resources and guidance:

Staffing agencies have experienced recruiters who know the ins and outs of the hiring process. They provide resources and guidance to job seekers including resume and cover letter tips and dressing for an interview.

Learn more about the benefits of using a staffing agency for job seekers here .

Unspoken Office Rules You NEED to Know

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 12:32:00 GMT

Every office culture is different, but there are some unspoken office rules you need to know.

1. No loud music

It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people crank up the tunes in the middle of a quiet office. If you want to listen to music while you work, invest in some head phones and keep the volume low enough that your coworkers can’t hear it.

2. Label your food

In many offices, a lot of items, such as coffee, food, and snacks, are provided for employees to share. For this reason, label anything you don’t want others to touch. Along with this, respect other people’s labels. Just because theirs looks better doesn’t mean you should help yourself.

3. Avoid strong smells

This goes for food and perfumes. Avoid bringing anything that has a very strong smell. Not everyone wants to smell you heat up the salmon you cooked last night. On the other side, strong perfumes can cause headaches. Don’t be that person

4. Don’t get too personal

It’s great to make connections with your coworkers. I mean, you almost spend more time with them than you do with your family, but make sure you set healthy boundaries and avoid getting too personal. Remember, you’re in a professional environment with other professionals.

5. Don’t discuss salaries

You’ve probably heard this one before, but let me break it down for you. People have different backgrounds, qualifications, job requirements and time with the company. All of those things go into deciding a salary for an employee. Don’t discuss your salary with your coworkers because it will inevitably lead to someone getting upset with their rate or how much you make. If you want to talk salary, meet with your supervisor.

Do you know of other unspoken office rules you wish you had known before you broke them? Share them in the comments!

Posts like this one: 5 Questions You Need to Ask on Your First Day

3 Productivity Killers When Working From Home

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 19:57:00 GMT

When you’re working from home, you don’t have the focused environment that the office provides. Understandably, you could be killing your productivity by making these easy mistakes. Don’t worry though. If you identify these mistakes in your daily routine, we’re going to tell you just how to fix them.

Social Media

One of the biggest killers of productivity is social media. When you’re working from a computer, and especially your phone, social media can be a deadly temptress. What starts as a 5-minute break can easily turn into an hour of meaningless scrolling, a.k.a. wasted time.

The great thing is there is an easy solution to this problem (unless you have to be on social media for you job) – log out.

If you struggle to stay off of Facebook or Snapchat while you’re working, logout of those accounts when you’re on the clock. It’s easy to open an app or pull up a browser that you’re already logged into. By logging out, you’re adding another step and hopefully a deterrent to your distraction.

Children

While you can’t just get rid of your children when you have to work from home, there are ways to limit the distractions that come with having to parent while you work.

Distractions: Supply your children with ample things to keep them distracted while you’re working. Whether it be toys, movies or crafts, find things they can manage with little supervision that will keep them distracted for pockets of time.
Meal prep: Kids have to eat, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend excessive amounts of time cooking their meals and feeding it to them. In the evenings, prepare easy to cook or ready to serve meals that they can feed to themselves. Obviously this won’t be of much help if you have a young child that still needs supervision while eating or is bottle/breastfed, but it is a great way to save time with the older ones.
Separate: An easy way to eliminate the distractions that come from working at home with children is to have a designated workspace and play area. It may seem logical to work in the same room as the children so you can keep better supervision of them, but if you use solutions 1 and 2, number 3 will be much easier. Have an area toy-free that you can focus on work, and help your kids learn to play in another area. Get more advice on setting up an office at home here .

Netflix

Now this doesn’t specifically target Netflix as a productivity killer, but rather your TV and anything you put on it. Some people swear by having a movie or TV show playing in the background while they work, but this can actually limit your ability to focus on work, even if you don’t realize it.

Just like with social media, there is an easy fix to this. Don’t have a TV where you work. Avoid the temptation of turning on your favorite show by eliminating the medium. No TV – No temptation.

Instead of turning the TV on, consider listening to one of these playlists to help you focus.

Have you found other ways of staying productive while working from home? Share them in the comments!

5 Questions You Need to Ask on Your First Day on the Job

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:18:00 GMT

Your first day on the job can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Even if you’ve worked in a similar position before, there are bound to be differences between how your previous company operated compared to the new one. Make sure you ask these important questions to make your transition and smooth and successful one.

1. Who do I report to?

No matter what your role or the company’s purpose, there will be some form of a chain of command. Make sure you understand your place and who you should report to with questions and completed tasks. Make sure you ask who you report to if your direct supervisor it out, too.

2. What are the key things you want me to focus on this week?

You may already have experience in your new role, but it’s best to ask what your supervisor wants you to focus on to make sure you are working towards the same goal.

3. Where is the bathroom?

It’s a natural need, we know. Don’t get lost on your first day because you’re embarrassed to ask where the bathroom is. If you don’t want to ask your supervisor, ask a coworker.

4. When (and how long) is lunch?

Don’t assume that because you’ve always had an hour for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. that this company operates the same way. Ask before you’re starving when lunch time is.

5. What’s your name?

Get to know the people you will be working around. Find out who handles what aspects of the business and who you will need to contact for what information. Your coworkers should be your team, so make an effort to connect with them.

For interview tips to get you to that first day on the job, check out these 2 great blog posts.

How to Calm Interview Nerves in 2 Easy Steps

The Key to a Successful Interview: Leave Something Behind

How to Calm Interview Nerves in 2 Easy Steps

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 14:32:00 GMT

I wish there was a superfood or magical drink I could recommend that would calm your nerves during an interview. Unfortunately, scientists haven’t invented it yet. However, there is one sure fire way to walk into an interview with confidence and walk out of it feeling even better – PREPARE.

I can GUARANTEE that if you adequately prepare more than just the day before the interview, you will exude confidence and leave those pre-interview nerves in the trash. But telling you to prepare is kind of vague, so let me break it down for you.

Research

PLEASE. I beg you. Do NOT go into an interview without researching the company and its employees. Here are some ways you can research any company.

Website – Read the company’s website. I don’t mean look at it or check out the home page. I mean READ the website. Go to every page and read the content from top to bottom. Look at their most recent blog posts and think of ways you can mention them in the interview.
Search – Do a Google or Bing search of the company and look for articles written about them recently. Identify achievements or groundbreaking work they are doing. These are great things to bring up in the interview and will show your genuine interest in the company, not just the job.
Social Media – Find the company on social media and look at what they post about. You can go one step further and engage with some of the posts. You never know, the social media manager may be present during the interview and recognize your name from the notifications.
LinkedIn – I separate this from social media because LinkedIn allows you to see who the employees are for a company and connect with them. If you really want to show interest in joining the company, send connection requests with the employees listed on LinkedIn. If they accept your connection, scroll through the content they’ve shared. These could be great icebreakers.

Practice

Doing your research isn’t enough. Just like with anything you want to excel at, you need to practice. But practice what? Here are some things to frequently practice at least a week before you interview.

Answers – All interviews are intended to gather information, so most of the questions are similar no matter the position. Practice your answers to some of the most common interview questions (Tell me about yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why did you leave a previous position? How will you be an asset for our company? What makes you different than other applicants?) There is nothing more nerve-wracking than being asked a question and sitting there in silence for minutes while you try and pull together an answer.
Questions – You may think that an interview is a chance for the recruiter to interrogate you, but it is a chance for them to get to know you and you to get to know the company better. Prepare some questions about the company and the position you are interviewing for.
How would you describe the office environment here?
Why is this position available (Is this a new position or did someone leave it? Why did they leave?)
How will you measure success in this position?
What opportunities are there for growth within the company?
Basics – This may seem childish, but practice introducing yourself and your handshake. From the moment the recruiter calls you back to the conference room for the interview, you can show confidence. Your handshake is a sure-fire way to start the interview with confidence. Practice standing up and shaking someone’s hand. Get your friends and family to help you. Don’t wait for them to extend their hand to you. Reach your hand out first and show that you mean business.

If you want to add an extra WOW factor during your interview, put together a leave behind. Learn more about that by clicking here to read last week’s blog post!

The Key to a Successful Interview: Leave Something Behind

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:58:00 GMT

You probably go into an interview with very little in your hands. Your phone is in the car, keys in your pocket, and your resume is tucked inside a notebook you will use to take notes during the interview. What if I told you that you’ve forgotten something? Not sure what it is? Let me help you. You need a leave-behind.

What is a leave-behind? I can hear your panicked voice already. You’ve been preparing for this interview, and you want it to be as successful as possible. That’s why you want to put together a folder with content that you plan to leave with the interviewer at the end of the interview.

You more than likely submitted samples of your work when you applied, but the interviewers may not have seen them or might not remember what was your work. For that reason, you want to pick some of your best samples. Showcase your writing skills or graphic design experience. If you’ve managed social media, bring some analytics that highlights your talent to reach an audience. All of these should be found in your online portfolio, but it is much more convenient for the interviewer if you have physical copies to show them and discuss during the interview.

Here are some key things you should include in your leave-behind.

Folder – Don’t ever leave a stack of loose papers. Head over to Walmart and get yourself a cheap folder with prongs and a pack of plastic paper cover dividers . You won’t impress them by buying the most expensive folder and professionally laminating each paper. Something cheap will do.
Resume – ALWAYS have a copy of your resume. ALWAYS. When you go into the interview, they will likely have a copy of your resume already. Bring several copies anyways. Some interviews are conducted with panels, and nothing is more inconveniencing than having several people lean over one sheet of paper. Print several copies, and put them in the front pouch of the folder.
References – As you know, your references should not be on your resume, so print out your references and put them as the first page in your leave-behind.
Writing samples – If you have a lot of experience writing, or the position you’re applying for requires a skilled writer, you NEED to provide proof of your writing skills. Pick 2-3 of your best writing samples, and include them in your leave-behind.
Graphic Design – Graphic design is a sought after skill these days. Many positions require applicants to have some knowledge of graphic design programs like Photoshop and InDesign. Show the interviewer that you have the skills they’re looking for by including 3-4 samples of graphic design work that you have done.
Analytics – Creating compelling social media posts is impressive, but to impress, even more, provide analytics of social media accounts you’ve managed. Include the following and engagement when you started compared to when you left.

What NOT to include in your leave-behind

Your selfie – You may think that having your picture in your leave-behind will help the recruiters remember you, but it can cause more harm than good. Including your image can open up the door for the interviewers to make a decision based on bias. You want them to call you back because of your qualifications, not your face, so focus on your skills and experience instead of your appearance.
Your address – No interviewer on the earth needs to know your full home address. While it’s fine to provide the area that you live in to assure the interviewer that you can make the commute to the office, they don’t need to know exactly where you rest your head at night.
Bad samples – Your goal is to impress the interviewer. Providing samples with grammatical errors or poor design will only guarantee that you don’t get a callback.
Plagiarized work – While it may impress them in the interview, the truth will come out, and let me just tell you – recruiters talk with other recruiters.
Group work without attribution – This falls under plagiarism, technically, but it needs to be stated separately. If you were not the sole author or creator of a piece of work, you need to attribute it to all contributors to the project. It is okay to provide group work in your leave-behind, but make sure you highlight the portions that you worked on the most.

Do you include something in your leave-behind that didn’t make our list? Put it in the comments below!

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ending July 31, 2020

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:36:00 GMT

President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law on March 27, 2020. Under the CARES Act, individuals who qualify for unemployment receive an extra $600 a week in benefits. These extra benefits, known as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), are crucial for some Americans to making ends meet.

Despite many states still facing rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, the CARES Act only allows for PUA until July 31, 2020. Beginning August 1, 2020, individuals on unemployment will receive only their state benefits.

In Georgia, the minimum weekly payment is $55 and the maximum is $365.

If your unemployment benefits are about to end and you are looking for work, apply with Horizon Staffing here .

HEROES Act

The United States House of Representatives passed a bill in May 2020 titled Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. The HEROES Act would extend PUA and provide Americans with a second stimulus package. The proposed stimulus would provide $1,200 per person, including dependents, regardless of age. The HEROES Act is currently under consideration in the Senate.

To read more information about the HEROES Act click here .

President Trump on second stimulus

President Trump assured the American people on Monday that the second stimulus packed was coming “very soon” and would be “very generous.”

The only proposed stimulus package currently is the HEROES Act that is waiting to be voted on in the Senate.

According to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), the HEROES Act would be the last round of stimulus checks if passed.

Georgia Coronavirus Update

Georgia has seen a rising number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations throughout June and has reached the highest level since the start of the pandemic. According to the Associated Press, Georgia has averaged 1,073 infections reported daily over the last seven days.

Over 66,000 Georgians have been infected, and 2,652 people have died statewide, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Stop the Spread

Continue to practice social distancing and proper handwashing to stop the spread of COVID-19. Sanitize areas and items that you use frequently and avoid using other people’s items. If you have returned to work where you are in close proximity with other individuals, wear a mask.

Please refer to the CDC for more advice on how to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Navigating Job Boards – Finding the Perfect Platform

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:10:00 GMT

There are so many ways to share job listings or apply for open positions. We’ve broken it down and explained some of the most common job boards today.

ZipRecruiter – Most people don’t know this, but ZipRecruiter is actually a search engine much like Google and Bing. ZipRecruiter is great for job posting because it pushes your post to 100+ job boards but keeps all your applications in one place. Unfortunately, it doesn’t post to large job boards like Indeed, Monster, or CareerBuilder, but you can share your job on LinkedIn for an extra charge. It is simple and easy to create a job on ZipRecruiter, and their prices are reasonable, which is always a plus. As far as job seekers, it can be a little more difficult to find the specific job you’re looking for, but with the right search terms and an updated profile, you can find the job of your dreams on ZipRecruiter.

Indeed

Indeed gives you the ability to post jobs for free (terms and conditions apply), and is easily used on mobile devices. It also allows you to sponsor listings and get them in front of jobseekers quicker. Indeed is one of the largest job boards with over 250 million visitors each month. For job seekers, you can upload your resume and send it easily to recruiters.

While LinkedIn could be viewed as a professional’s Facebook, it is also a job board. The downside to posting your open positions on LinkedIn is that there is no free option. However, if you’re looking for someone with specific experience, you may want to consider paying to post on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great platform for professionals to network and share industry information, but it is also ripe with young professionals looking for entry-level positions and experienced professionals looking to make a career change.

Facebook

Yes, Facebook is a job board. Though Facebook is predominately used to connect socially, it allows companies and individuals to connect professionally as well. You can create job listings, for free, on a business page, and share them across Facebook Jobs and employment groups. You can also boost your job listing on Facebook and have it reach more people much faster. Compared to other job boards, boosting your job on Facebook is a cheaper option.

Monster.com

While a little bit pricier than other options, Monster has a lot of really great features. One of the most impressive is the Job Fit Scoring that scans your interests and skills and tells you how much of a match you are for certain positions. Monster also offers free resume assessments to make sure you are putting your best foot forward with your resume. The price might be a turn off for some recruiters, but there are more users on Monster than Indeed. The cost might be worth it. You decide.

There is more research that you could do to decide which platform best works for you, but there is an easier option. Staffing agencies do the research, job posting, resume screening, and more for you! Rather than spending months trying to find the right candidate from thousands of applicants, hire a staffing agency that will only send you the most qualified applicants who are screened and ready to work. Save your company time and money that could be used in other areas of your business.

Staffing agencies are great for job seekers also. Instead of sending your resume to the closest 100 marketing companies or applying to every warehouse in the area, find a staffing agency that staffs in your industry and send them your resume ONCE. They will match you with an employer that is looking for someone with your skills.

If you’re thinking about using a staffing agency but still aren’t sure, check out this great article that further explains the benefits of staffing agencies.

You already know you want to hire a staffing agency? Perfect! Give us a call today at 912-355-5966 to find out how we can help you achieve your goals!

10 Ways to Win at a Job Fair

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 16:43:00 GMT

A job fair is a great opportunity for you to get your resume to several employers at one time, but it can be an overwhelming situation if you don’t prepare properly.

1. Do your research

Job fairs are an opportunity for many employers to attract job seekers at the same time, meaning there will be several companies looking to hire new employees. Before you go, research what companies will be at the job fair and what kinds of positions they offer. Having knowledge of who will be there and what kind of positions they are looking for will give your more confidence. Job recruiters want people who are enthusiastic and serious about getting hired, and your preparation will be an indicator of your commitment to your job search.

2. Give yourself time – Come early

Most job fairs last for several hours, but you don’t want to wait until the last minute to show up. Getting their early will not only show the recruiters that you are serious about getting hired, but it will also give you plenty of time to speak with everyone you would like to. It will also allow you to go back to tables to ask more questions and make yourself more memorable to the recruiters.

3. Create an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a quick summary of who you are and what you are looking for. It needs to be so quick, that you could give the whole thing to someone while riding in an elevator. Highlight your job interests and experience. Make sure you keep it relevant to the positions you are looking for. If you are trying to get hired as a daycare teacher, you won’t want to talk about your experience as a bartender. Mention positions that will highlight your relevant skills for the open position.

4. Bring copies of your resume

Your resume is a snapshot of you. It should allow recruiters to quickly see your skills and experience to determine if you have what they are looking for in their open positions. Bring several copies of your resume to leave with the recruiters. Not only will they be able to see then what experience you have, but they will also have something to take back to their office that will remind them of their conversation with you. Recruiters speak with many people during a job fair, so it is hard for them to remember each person. By giving them your resume to keep, you are making it harder for them to forget you.

5. Be open

Even though you probably have a certain company or position you are looking for, be open to other opportunities. Visit each table to see what positions they are looking to fill. You may be surprised by the types of positions some companies are hiring for. Even warehouses and construction companies need administrative personnel and clerical staff. Even though the company may specialize in one field, they may be hiring for a variety of positions across many fields.

6. Dress for success

You want to dress as if you are going to an interview because essentially a job fair is a massive group interview. Dress in a way that presents yourself professionally. Wear clean, fitted, and appropriate clothing with no holes or tears. Ladies, make sure your dresses and skirts are no more than 4 inches above your knee and that your clothes are not too tight. Gentlemen, wear slacks with a nice button-up shirt or collared shirt. Stay away from jeans, flip-flops, tank-tops, and t-shirts.

7. Be professional

You want recruiters to take you seriously as a potential employee, so you should show them that you can be professional in your behavior. Avoid slang and profanity. Make sure you are still being yourself, just your most professional self. Remain calm if you are denied a position.

8. Stay calm and confident

Interviewing is always nerve-wracking, but it is important to stay calm. You want to show that you are confident in yourself and your ability to perform in the position you are applying for. Avoid biting your nails or fidgeting with your hands. If you need to, put your hands in your pockets or fold your hands in front by your waist. Practice your elevator pitch and talking about yourself before you go to the job fair. The more you practice what you will say, the more confident you will be in your delivery.

9. Take notes

You are going to talk with a lot of people in a short amount of time. There is no way you will remember everything that is said and who it is said by. Take a notepad and pen so you can take notes while you are talking with recruiters. Some may require follow-up steps, and it is important that you get all the important information correct. Being prepared in this way will also impress the recruiters and show them that you are reliable, detail-oriented, and committed to finding a job.

10. Ask for business cards/contact information

Before you leave each table at a job fair, ask for a business card or the contact information of the recruiter that you speak with. Go ahead and input that information into your phone’s contacts. This will ensure that you can contact them easily for any follow-up steps they require. It will also ensure that you don’t decline an important phone call simply because you do not recognize the number. This way, if you get a call for an interview, you will know who you are answering the phone for and be able to greet them personally.

Do you have any advice on how to stand out at job fairs? Share it in the comments below!

How To Appropriately Call Out of Work

Tue, 26 May 2020 12:52:00 GMT

We all get sick or have an emergency at some point in our adult lives. It is inevitable. Any time you are unable to be at work on time, you need to notify your employer. Many employers have strict policies regarding a no-call-no-show, an individual who didn’t show up for their shift but didn’t notify their supervisor beforehand and may call for immediate termination. Avoid losing your job over a situation you could have easily prevented, and follow these easy steps to make sure you’re covered when you have to call out from work.

Call your supervisor

It seems obvious, but I want to say it. If you are going to be late or need to miss time at work, call your supervisor. Let them know as soon as possible about the delay or issue so they can prepare their day accordingly. If you wait until the last minute before your shift, or even worse, after your shift has started, to let your supervisor know you are having an issue, you create an unnecessary inconvenience for them and your coworkers. By notifying ahead of time, your supervisor has time to find someone to fill your position while you are unavailable.

Be prepared to answer “Why?”

If you’re going to miss work, your supervisor is going to want to know why. It is a common and justified question, so be prepared to answer it honestly. Are you sick? Did your car break down? Did your sitter just call and tell you she quit? Whatever the reason, keep your supervisor informed. Explaining why you will be late or absent can help your supervisor understand your situation and save you from consequences.

Plan to return

When you speak with your supervisor, plan with them on when you will return to work. If you came outside to a flat tire, let them know how long until you’ll have the tire changed and be on your way. A doctor’s note may be required in order to return to work if you are sick or injured. If you’ve lost a loved one and need time off for the services, tell your supervisor when you will be back in town.

By providing a return day or time, you are showing your supervisor that you still value your position and intend to return to work. If you don’t call or provide a plan for returning back to work, your supervisor may assume you resigned and fill your position with someone new. If you don’t know when you can come back, be honest. Let your supervisor know ahead of time and keep in contact with them until you can return.

Most Common Resume Mistakes

Thu, 21 May 2020 14:30:00 GMT

Your resume is the first impression a potential employer has of you and making one of the resume mistakes we talk about can be an instant disqualifier. Some employers admit to discarding a resume if they find even one grammatical or spelling error. A recruiter starts with a massive stack of applicants and resumes to go through which means their starting focus is on rejecting applicants. To make their job easier, the recruiter will look for the smallest mistake or reason to disqualify you. Help your chances and avoid these common resume mistakes.

Spelling and Grammar

The number one disqualifier for any resume is the presence of spelling or grammatical errors. A resume with incorrect spelling or grammar tells a recruiter that you lack attention to detail and the ability to proof-read. These are key skills for any employer, which is why if an applicant shows they don’t possess them, it is an instant ‘no’ for the recruiter.

Personal Pronouns – One very common mistake seen on resumes is the use of personal pronouns. Your resume should never include the words “I,” “you,” “she,” or “he.”
Incorrect Tense – This should go without saying, but when you describe a past position, make sure you use past tense. As well, when you describe a current position, be sure to use the present tense. Recruiters pay attention to details like that, and incorrect use of tenses can put you in the fast lane to rejection.

Format

The layout and format of your resume need to be clear, clean, and concise. The recruiter needs to be able to quickly skim over your resume and identify your strengths, experience, and the type of position you would be a good fit for. There are several mistakes you can make when formatting your resume.

1. Too much text

I get it, your resume is the only tool you have to impress the recruiter and land the first interview, so you want to put as much information about yourself as possible to paint the biggest picture for the recruiter. However, putting too much text on your resume can result in the opposite. By decreasing the margins and text size and crunching as many words as you can onto the page, you might overwhelm the recruiter and land your resume instantly in the ‘no’ pile. The recruiter is only going to spend about 30 seconds looking at your resume. They want to be able to glance through it and be able to identify the key points.

On the other side of the spectrum, you can use too few sentences and too many bullets. An overuse of bullets causes the recruiter’s eyes to glaze over the same as long paragraphs of text. Bullets are meant to be used for important information, so if everything is bulleted, then everything is important, and if everything is important, then nothing really stands out. Use bullets to highlight your responsibilities at previous positions and important skills you want the recruiter to notice.

3. No keywords

Every job posting will have keywords about the job requirements and skills the applicant needs to have. Recruiters are looking for those specific words when they are scanning your resume. If they don’t see any correlation or overlap between your resume and their job description, they are moving on. People tend to think they can send the same resume on every application, but that is a huge misconception. You should rewrite your resume for every job you apply for. Reword your experience and skills to include keywords from the job description. Recruiters want to know that you have the specific experience and skills they are looking for and doing this will make sure you stand out.

4. Hard to read font

This is one of the easiest resume mistakes to fix. Stay away from cursive and italic fonts. Choose something simple and easy to read, not just printed by digitally. Many resumes are reviewed online now, and some fonts are more difficult to read online than they are when they are printed. Test out different fonts to find one that you like but also works printed and digitally.

Professionalism

Your resume should show that you are a qualified professional and you take your career seriously. There are two ways that you can unintentionally tell the recruiter something different.

Unprofessional email address – The email address you provide on your resume is a large indicator of your professionalism. We all have our first email address, but that doesn’t have to be the one on your resume. If your email is LadyKiller@hotmail.com or iheartjustinbieber77@gmail.com, then it is time for an update. I recommend having an email address that is your name. You can add numbers if just your name is not available, but make sure they are not inappropriate. The good news is, making a new email is completely free.
Irrelevant social media URLs – In some positions, it would be beneficial to include links to your social media profiles. However, your social media is not relevant to all positions. Unless you are applying to a position where you will be required to write, manage social media, or be in the public’s eye as a representative of the company, there is little need for a link to your Facebook page. If your accounts are full of inappropriate or offensive content, it will do more harm to include your URLs.

If you want more resume help, we hosted a Facebook Live Resume Workshop. Watch the video here .

Interview Outfit- Dos and Don’ts

Mon, 11 May 2020 16:54:00 GMT

The key to impressing any employer is showing confidence during your interview, and a sure way to feel more confident is to dress the part. Every interview is different, which means you may have to switch up your go-to interview outfit. You’ve heard “dress for the job you want not the job you have,” but that can be not-so-good advice sometimes. You don’t want to be like Brennan and Dale and wear tuxedos to an interview to clean toilets.

Dress the part

When you’re picking out your interview outfit, take into account the actual job you will be doing if you are hired. Take whatever you would wear on a daily basis to work, and spruce it up a bit. If you would wear jeans and a t-shirt to work, wear slacks and a collared shirt for the interview. If you would wear slacks and a blouse to the office, add a blazer for the interview. There are 2 styles of interview attire – business casual and business professional.

Business Casual

Business casual outfits for men and women.

Business casual is acceptable for most job interviews and provides a more relaxed look while still looking presentable. Stables for business casual in a woman’s wardrobe include solid color or simple pattern blouses, black and khaki slacks, light sweaters, low heels, and flats. For men, business casual looks like slacks with a solid color collared shirt or button-up with dress shoes.

Business Casual Don’ts

T-shirts
Tennis shoes
Bold patterns
Bright/neon colors
Clothing with writing
Dirty clothing
Ill-fitting (too tight/too loose)

Business Professional

Business professional outfits for men and women.

Some interviews will call for a more formal attire. This is where a business professional outfit will be worn. A business professional outfit for women consists of a pantsuit or a dress suit. The key is the blazer. Often, a business casual outfit can be made into a professional one by simply adding a blazer or suit coat. For men, you will also want to wear a tie. Always keep it simple with a solid color or basic pattern.

If you need more inspiration for your interview outfit, check out our Pinterest page .

Why Use a Staffing Agency? Benefits for Job Seekers

Tue, 05 May 2020 17:57:00 GMT

In today’s age, there are more ways to apply to jobs than ever before. From ZipRecruiter and Indeed to Facebook group posts, company websites, and in-office applications, job seekers can face hours submitting just a few applications. For someone looking for a job, and needing one. quickly, all these avenues can seem overwhelming. That is where a staffing agency comes in.

Staffing agencies, like Horizon Staffing, have the tools and resources to quickly place people in full-time and temp to hire positions. We are the connection between companies that are struggling to fill their positions and people who are struggling to get hired. According to the American Staffing Association, more than 3 million people are employed through U.S. staffing agencies and businesses each week. With numbers that high, there must be a reason more and more people are turning to staffing agencies when looking for a job.

Personal support and access to more job opportunities

Recruiters at staffing agencies have access to multiple clients searching for employees, which means that at any given time, staffing agencies are hiring for many positions ranging from clerical, medical, hospitality, general labor, and skilled labor positions. No matter the position you are looking for, staffing agencies provide assistance with the application process and may even have laptops in office for you to conveniently fill out the application.

Less time spent searching and applying

When you apply at a staffing agency, you are applying for more than one position at a time. Instead of having to spend hours searching the job boards and hiring groups or driving around town looking for help wanted signs, you fill out one application with one company. From there, you interview with a recruiter to determine where your skills and experience would be used best.

Getting hired faster

Most job openings at staffing agencies are available for immediate start. Meaning you could interview on Monday and be at work on Tuesday. And because staffing agencies have so many positions they have to fill, you are almost guaranteed a position.

Georgia Unemployment Claims up almost 17 times from March 2019

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 15:07:00 GMT

Georgia unemployment insurance claims rose from 18,746 to 312,520 from March of 2019 to March of 2020. As a result of COVID-19, many Georgians have lost their job resulting is a massive spike in unemployment claims.

The Georgia Department of Labor shows unemployment claims for each county on their website. You can find the document here .

How do I file for UI Benefits in Georgia?

If you have been permanently laid-off or are unable to work due to the coronavirus, you will be responsible for your unemployment claim. Click here then scroll to the bottom to begin your unemployment claim.

According to the Georgia Department of Labor, you will need to have the following information available before you begin applying:

Your Social Security Number
Your work history for the past 2 years (including the name, address, telephone number, employment dates, rate of pay, total earnings, and information about your job separation for each employer). If you received severance pay or retirement pay, you must know the amounts.

If your hours were reduced or you were temporarily laid-off, ask you employer about them filing on your behalf.

CARES Act and Unemployment

Under the CARES Act, indviduals eligible for unemployment may also receive an extra $600 a week. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is subject to taxes and child support. You can learn more about the CARES Act here .

If you or someone you know are looking for work, we hire for some of Savannah’s best logistics companies. Apply at www.horizonstaffing.com/apply then give our office at 912-355-5966 .

How to Win During Your Virtual Interview

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:17:00 GMT

To keep in line with social distancing protocols, many companies that are still hiring employees have switched to a new interview process – virtual interviews. Platforms like Zoom , Skype and Google Hangouts allow companies to interview potential employees without being in the same room. Even though you are interviewing from the comfort of your home, it is still an interview and you should treat it with the same importance. All interviews can be nerve-wracking, but the changes that come with a virtual interview can make it especially overwhelming. Though the essence of the interview won’t change, many aspects of it will require you to prepare differently. That’s why we want to give you the do’s and don’t’s of virtual interviews. If you take our advice, you’re sure to win during your virtual interview!

Do

Practice interview questions – typical interview questions include “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths and weaknesses,” and “Tell us about a time you overcame an obstacle in the workplace.” Practicing answers to these kinds of questions will help ease your nerves and confidence during your interview.
Wear a professional outfit – Even though you won’t be in the office with your interviewers, you still need to dress the part. You may think that because you will be sitting and the interviewers will only be able to see your top half, you still need to wear a complete professional outfit. So, yes, you have to wear pants.
Print your resume – Your interviewer will most likely have a copy of your resume on hand, but you need one too. During your interview, you may want to make references to your resume, and having your own hard copy will show your preparedness and only help you during your interview.
Make sure your computer is updated – Imagine this: your interview is scheduled at 2 p.m. You power up your laptop at 1:30 p.m. to find out you have a hefty update required before you can log on. The day before your interview, check your laptop for any needed updates and get those taken care of.
Do a trial run – practice using the app, website or software that you will be using for your virtual interview. Have a friend pretend to be the interviewer and practice the interview, from start to finish to get all the kinks out before the real-deal.

Don’t

Wing it – This is still an interview, so you need to treat it with the same significance you would if you were driving to an office to interview.
Wear stripes or loud patterns – Camera don’t like patterns or stripes. They create weird images on your interviewers screen, so stick to solid colors that look good on camera.
Chew gum – This goes for in-person interviews also. You might think ti will keep your breath fresh during your interview or help you focus, but really it can be a horrible distraction for your interviewers. Plus no one wants to see you smacking on gum while you’re talking to them.
Go to a public place – Unless you absolutely have to, don’t go to a public place for the interview. Instead, find a quiet area in your house. Make sure the decor behind you isn’t too distracting.
Panic – No matter what, keep calm. Your interviewer is most likely conducting virtual interviews for the first time. They have their own struggles and nerves coming into the interview. Keep your cool and you will do great!

Working from home – The new normal

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:53:00 GMT

In response to COVID-19, many companies have been allowing their employees to work from home. Radio broadcasts are coming from the living rooms of the broadcasters. Teams are meeting through Zoom or other video meeting platforms. Most employees who are now faced with the challenge of completing their work from home have never faced this kind of situation before. In an office, there are few distractions. Your coworkers are right next to you and your supervisor is usually easily accessible for guidance. When working from home, you have to find ways to stay productive and make the most of your situation.

Pick a Space

If you’re one of the many faced with taking your work home, you need to pick a space to work. You may be tempted to compile your analytics or draft documents on your couch while watching Netflix, but don’t. Pick a spot in your house that you can set up like an office space. The reason we haven’t always been working from home is because our houses are full of distractions. If you’re going to maintain productivity, you need to set up a space in your home that allows you to work as distraction-free as possible.

Manage your time

Plan your daily schedule, and keep your team updated on it. Decide when you will work and when you will be off the clock. You need to keep boundaries between your work and home lives, just as if you were driving to your office everyday. Be reasonable when planning your schedule. No matter how much you plan, there will always be something that comes up, especially if you have children. Allow a degree of flexibility in your schedule to account for the unplanned.

Take breaks

Don’t expect to work for 8 straight hours or to make it through the day without having to stop a couple of times. The Pomodoro Technique is a highly recommended technique designed to boost productivity. To use the Pomodoro, you set a timer for 25 minutes. In the 25-minute span, get as much work done on a certain task as you can. When your timer goes off, you take a short 5-10 minute break. Have a cup of coffee, walk outside, meditate, or anything else to clear your mind and give your brain a break. After four 25-minute sets, you take a longer break – 15-20 minutes. Plan your tasks and cut out distractions in order to be your most productive self.

Don’t get stuck on 9 to 5

You’ve committed a number of hours every day or week, but that doesn’t mean they have to be during a certain time. Work early morning while your children or spouse are still asleep. Take advantage of naps for young children and bedtimes for those in your house. You’re not required to get all of your work done while everyone in your house is awake. Be smart and take advantage of quiet times in your house.

Working from home is a big change for a lot of people, so make sure you are prepared and have a plan in place. Try not to be too hard on yourself if it takes some time for you to get adjusted to your new normal.

If you’re out of work, apply with us.

Georgia Ports – “An Engine of Economic Prosperity”

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:37:00 GMT

In a Savannah Morning News opinion piece, Casey Cagle, Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor pointed out that Georgia’s Ports “have harnessed their true potential to generate an engine of economic prosperity for our entire state.” He also noted that “Georgia’s geographic location gives us many strategic advantages…allowing Georgia to serve as the seaport gateway for 80 percent of the nation’s marketplace.”

He explained how “within two days of docking in Savannah, the goods from a vessel can reach over 80 percent of the United States.” As he noted “businesses can import raw materials and develop finished products all over Georgia. This creates jobs.”

Great News Horizon Staffing Just Opened a New Location in Pooler at 400 US Hwy 80 West

Georgia Ports Setting Records

From the 10 months (July 2016 to April 2017), Georgia’s seaports in Savannah and Brunswick were ahead of fiscal year 2015’s record-setting pace, according to Griff Lynch, the chief executive of the Georgia Ports Authority. At that juncture, he projected that the total amount of cargo through the two ports would outpace the almost 32 million tons (29 million metric tons) of imports and exports Georgia had in the fiscal year 2015. That was the busiest year yet for the two ports, but it was helped along by a short-term surge in business due to labor issue on the West Coast. This forced many shippers to reroute a lot of their cargo to ports on the East Coast, including Savannah and Brunswick. Lynch also thought the Port of Savannah would also break the record of 3.6 million container units from 2015 and that it would be a more sustainable, long-term trend.

“What we have going on here is just true, organic growth,” Lynch said during a recent meeting board meeting for the port authority. He attributed some of the growth to the expanded Panama Canal this summer. This has enabled larger ships with weightier loads to come to and move through the Savannah Ports. A more robust economy, evidenced by more imports and exports, has also spurred growth.

Expanded Panama Canal Sends 40% of Traffic to Savannah Port

Cagle also believes the relationship with Panama and its President, Juan Carlos Varela, a Georgia Tech graduate is a “particularly significant” one for Georgia and the ports. Currently, 40% of the traffic that passes through the Panama Canal ends up at the Port of Savannah. This is likely to increase when the harbor is dredged.

From July 2016 to April 2017 (fiscal year 2017) the Savannah and Brunswick ports handled 7.5 percent more total cargo tonnage than they did during the same period last year.

Lisa Yannett, V.P. Horizon Staffing

General Labor Jobs in Garden City Area – Non-TWIC and TWIC Holder Positions Available

Want a TWIC Card? Find Out How to Get One Here.

Savannah Economy Rebounds from Hurricane Matthew with Healthy Growth in Q1 of 2017

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 19:26:00 GMT

“The Savannah metro economy returned to healthy growth in the opening quarter of 2017,” according to Armstrong’s Coastal Economic Monitor .

The local economy put the effects of Matthew behind it in the first quarter of 2017, as the economy saw “gains in total employment, boardings at the airport, retail sales, port activity, and consumer confidence.” But electricity sales did suffer due to a warmer than usual weather in the winter months.

The forecasting Coastal Empire leading economic index increased markedly, a signal that the “underlying indicators shook off the effect of Hurricane Matthew, which dented the economy in the previous quarter.” The regional labor market and housing market got back on track trending positively as they have the last few years. Building permits were a big winner as issuance started to grow again after a lackluster 2016. New claims for unemployment insurance also dropped to its lowest level in 17 years.

The Coastal Empire coincident economic index increased 1.2% (4.8% annualized) to 178.4 from 176.3 (revised) in the previous quarter. The pace of expansion quickened to more than double that of the previous quarter and returned growth to a level exceeding that experienced during spring and summer 2016.” – Coastal Empire Economic Monitor

Job Outlook

Total employment for the Savannah MSA during the first quarter averaged 178,500. That’s 1,900 jobs (+2%) more than Q4 of 2016. Business/professional services, leisure and hospitality, and retail trade all increased by more than 500 workers, while manufacturing lost 100 jobs.

Savannah Ports

Savannah’s port facilities continued to set records. For six consecutive months —November through April— the port has set new monthly volume records. So far, seasonally adjusted container handling has grown 4.6% no a quarterly basis. It has jumped 10% from a year-ago.

Tourism

The tourism industry saw a bit of a lull, as seasonally adjusted hotel room rental revenue ticked down in Q1. This was attributed to “above-average hotel sales along I-95 during the fourth quarter as a result of Hurricane Matthew.” The Monitor predicted that activity would “return to trend growth during the second quarter.” Hotel revenue still outpaced year-ago revenues by 7.7%.

The number of persons taking tours in the city increased 5% and is 5% higher than last year at this point. Boarding at the airport did even better and was up 15% for the quarter and on the year. The leisure and hospitality sector of the economy also saw it’s employment hit an all-time high of 27,900.

Forecasting Index Rises Sharply

The Coastal Empire leading economic index leaped 2.8% percent (+11.8%, annualized), climbing to 158.3 from 154.0 in the Q of 2016. (See red line on the graph at the top of the article.) Changes in residential home building permit issuance, consumer expectations in the South Atlantic states and the US leading economic index drove the index upwards. In addition, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell significantly following a jump in Q4 of 2017 due to Hurrican Matthew.

Housing

The housing market also performed well. Building permit issuance for single-family homes (seasonally adjusted) climbed for the second straight quarter. It jumped 12% from Q4 and 6% from a year ago. So 496 homes have been permitted for construction, 52 more than in Q4 of 2016. But the average valuation of building permits for single-family homes did drop $7,000 from $233,000 to $226,000 or 3% for the first quarter of 2017.

Unemployment

Hurricane Matthew’s impact on the regional job market faded fast after Q4. Initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) plunged 40% to 535 per month for Q1 — the lowest mark since spring of 2000. In Q4 of 2016, the jobless filed 898 claims. The regional unemployment rate also decreased from 5.1% (Q4/2016) to 4.8% (Q1/2017). from 5.1% in the previous quarter. By comparison, the unemployment rate stood at 5.2% in Q1 of 2016.

Bottom Line

After a temporary setback in Q4 of 2016, the Savannah regional economy is back on track and outpacing its performance in 2016. The Monitor expects this show of strength to continue through the rest of 2017.

Hinesville, Georgia Job Fair – Monday, Feb. 13, 9-11am

Sat, 11 Feb 2017 23:10:00 GMT

Where:

Hinesville Dept. of Labor

When:

Monday, February 13 from 9-11am

Positions Need:

Distribution center in Midway, Ga is looking for:

General Laborers
Maintenance Mechanics
Packers
Shipping and Receiving

All positions require submitting to drug test & criminal background check

Bring 2 ID’s to show identity & eligibility to work in US

CALL TODAY (912) 662-8522 for immediate interview

O R

Apply Online Now

TWIC Holders Needed for GA Ports – Tons of OT – Call 912-355-5966

Wed, 20 Jul 2016 15:48:00 GMT

Savannah, GA Horizon Staffing, Inc.

Compensation

$9 to $11 Hourly

Benefits Offered

Medical

Employment Type

Full-Time

Put your TWIC to use!

General Labor, Forklift, Clamp and Slipsheet Operator positions open

Requirements

TWIC Card
GA Ports Credentials
Safety vest
Ability to lift 20lbs to 50lbs
Ability to stand for 8+ hours

Job Descriptions

General Laborer
Warehouse work.
Unloading cartons onto carts
Loading cartons into out going trailers.
Stack pallets by hand
Place appropriate labels/stickers on boxes
Shrink wrap by hand
Secure wrapped boxes with straps
Forklift Driver
Following all safety guidelines for forklifts
Loading and unloading trailers
Putting away product in a timely manner
Clamp Operator
Experience required

Please apply in the office on a Tuesday or Thursday between the hours of 9am and 11am. Must be willing to submit to background check and drug test and must provide 2 forms of identification to show US employment eligibility and Identification. Must have a valid TWIC to work on the GA Ports.

About Horizon Staffing, Inc.:

We are a full-service staffing service which places temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire applicants. We have been in business over 40 years.

This position is a direct hire position.

All Jobs at Horizon Staffing, Inc.

Savannah Economy Revs Up in Q1

Sat, 16 Jul 2016 00:51:00 GMT

The Savannah metro economy sped up in the first quarter of 2016. Total employment and most other economic indicators drove and strengthened the regional economy according to a the Coastal Empire Economic Monitor , published by Armstrong State University.

The labor and housing markets both trended up and consumer expectations in the South Atlantic states remained consistent. The Economic Monitor predicted that the pace of growth in Q2 would continue at about the rate of Q1.

Current Economic Indicators Pick Up Pace

The Coastal Empire coincident (measures current activity) economic index rose from 171.8 to 172.5. This was a welcome trend as it had dipped some in the second half of 2015. The index grew at an annualized pace of 3.3% for Q1 of 2016.

The index measures things like growth in total employment, electricity sales, retail sales, port activity and consumer confidence. All except consumer confidence drove the index higher in the first quarter. Even though consumer confidence was weak in Q1, it looked as if it is headed back up for Q2.

Labor Market

Employment in the Chatham, Bryan and Effingham area rose by 1,300 jobs and averaged 175,600 for the quarter. That represented a growth rate of 3.6% compared to the same time last year. This is the seventh quarter in row that job growth has been above the 3% mark.

Savannah metro area employment has averaged a 3% increase — the best growth rate since pre-recession days (2005 to 2007). But the recent job increases have come from a wider area of job sectors, unlike the pre-recession job growth which was primarily driven by construction activity.

Here’s a quick overview:

Business and professional services employment gained 700 jobs — 10% more than a year ago. Tourism and retail added nearly 300 workers. As a whole, the service sector grew by about 1,200 jobs. Tourism continues to thrive in Savannah as more people visit the area. In fact, tour buses and trolleys saw a 6% increase for the quarter compared to the first quarter of 2015. Auto rental sales (+3%) and beer/wine/alcohol sales (+4%) have also climbed higher compared to last year.

Manufacturing added 200 jobs, but construction lost 100 jobs. Despite the losses, construction has held steady at 6,400 for the last five quarters, while employment in manufacturing rose to 18,100 jobs during the first quarter of 2016.

Leading Indicators Rise Too

The Coastal Empire leading (future activity) economic index rose 1.4% (5.5%, annualized) from 152.4 to 154.5 — thanks to the average value of building permits for single-family homes going up and new filings for unemployment insurance going down.

Housing Market

Since early 2015, 500 or so building permits have been issued for single-family homes each quarter. For Q1 of 2016, the number of new home permits dropped 4.4% from 509 to 487. The number of building permits issued was down 1% (6 units) from a year ago. But the average value for building permits for single family homes climbed 23% from $205,600 to $251,800 . But look for it to settle back down in Q2, as it has hovered around $205,000 for the last year.

Labor Market

Initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) declined 14% from 758 to 651 claims. The number of new UI claims is down 15% compared to last year. Also, the Savannah area unemployment rate has dropped dramatically during the last year from 6.5% to 5.2% (seasonally adjusted).

The Economic Monitor summarized their findings by saying that Savannah’s current economic activity has “picked up during the opening quarter of 2016” and forecasted that Savannah’s regional economic growth “is sustainable through the end of 2016.”

You can read the entire report here.

Need a Job? Check out our job openings @ horizonstaffing.com .

Need workers? Find out more about Horizon Staffing here .

Job Fair – Horizon Staffing Savannah, GA

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 18:00:00 GMT

How To Get a TWIC Card

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:21:00 GMT

TWIC actually stands for Transportation Workers Identification Credential . Now that’s a mouthful, but the reason for the card is really pretty simple: It is a security clearance required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act for workers to access certain secure areas of the the U.S.’s maritime facilities and ships. In other words, if you work at the ports or with a company that has to access these areas, you’ll probably need the card.

The good news is it is relatively inexpensive and easy to get.

The Transportation Security Administration does a background check to figure out if you’re eligible for the credential. U.S. citizens and immigrants (in certain categories) can apply for a TWIC card.

How Do I Apply?

Step 1: Complete the online application or you can apply in person at an application center.

Step 2: Schedule an appointment online or call (855) 347-8371 weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments take priority.

Savannah Location: IdenttoGo

What Do I Bring?

Provide required documentation , be fingerprinted and take a facial photo. Bring your current U.S. passport or a driver’s license and birth certificate. See other acceptable documents .

How Much Does It Cost?

A new applicant pays $128 (non-refundable) for a card that lasts 5 years. You can use a credit card, money order, company check or certified/cashier’s check. ( You can qualify for a lower payment of $105.25 if you present a valid driver license with a hazardous materials endorsement, or a Free and Secure Trade card. If you choose the reduced rate, your new TWIC card will be valid for five years from the chosen document’s issue date .)

If you have lost your card and need to replace it, you will pay $60.

How Do I Get the Card?

You can choose to have your card mailed to your home address or you can pick it up at the application center. You can check your status online at any time.

Savannah Economy Levels Off in Q3, But Continued Expansion Expected

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:08:00 GMT

Armstrong’s Coastal Empire Economic Monitor summed up Q3 with this assessment and forecast:

“the coincident index of economic activity suggests that Savannah’s economy leveled off during the third quarter. In some ways, this is an artifact of the data in which it was difficult to sustain the exceptionally high previous growth rates in port activity and tourism. In that sense, it is less troubling, especially given the positive momentum in total employment growth and the continued increase in the forecasting index that maintained its signal of continued economic growth for the region. As it stands, expect continued expansion in the Savannah metro economy through mid-2016, perhaps with some moderation in growth as compared to the previous year”

The Savannah economy slowed down somewhat in Quarter 3, at least compared to previous growth rates. But, is his a big concern? Michael Toma’s forecasting mode, says not really. His optimism is spurred by the fact that the Leading Index which gauges future economic activity is still trending upward.

Good News for Q3

On the bright side, Savannah’s economy saw solid gains in total employment and consumer confidence. However, port activity, retails sales, and plane boardings trended down, which has not been the case of late. Electricity sales held steady, as did hotel sales, but the net effect of these trends kept the Coincident Index (which measures current economic activity) flat.

Savannah’s Economic Expectations Tempered Some

Even though the Coastal Empire leading economic index did rise, it did so at a “a slightly slower pace than the second quarter.” This caused the Economic Monitor to downgrade earlier projections a bit. However, the Coastal Empire’s economy should still end the year on a positive note. Bottom line: Savannah’s economy should keep growing into the mid-point of 216, but a little less than what was originally expected.

“The Coastal Empire coincident economic index was level, holding steady at 171.8 (see chart). After averaging a 1.3% annual pace for the previous three quarters, growth slowed to zero in the third quarter. Growth in total employment provided most of the lift to the index, while increases in consumer confidence in the south Atlantic states also played a supporting role. However, seasonally adjusted retail sales did not rise with consumer confidence, and in fact, fell about 10% from the previous quarter and remain 4.7% below year-ago sales, after adjusting for inflation.” – Economic Monitor

Why Port Activity Slowed Down

Port activity which had been a primary driver of Savannah’s economic growth underwent some important changes in Q3. Labor issues on the west coast, which had redirected more cargo to the east coast began to trend back to norms following the passing of a labor agreement. Before the west coast labor strife, the market share was 4-to-3 in favor of the west. During the labor impasse, it evened out, but now is moving back to more historical norms.

Asia and Europe’s economic woes also impacted our port activity, pushing cargo down 5.5% (seasonally adjusted). However, Savannah’s port activity is still up 7.4% for the year, after topping out at 26% in April of 2015. Despite, the ups and downs, Savannah’s ports remain on a “on a longer term sustainable trajectory,” which is good news for the area economy.

Savannah Area Jobs Increase by 1,500

Savannah”s metro area (including Chatham, Bryan and Effingham) added 1,500 jobs and averaged 171,500 for Q3. During the last 12 months, employment has increased 3%, which is lower than the 4% growth rate at the close of 2014. However, the jobs picture is outpacing the long-term average of 1.6% since 1990.

Business and professional service jobs gained the most, gaining 500 jobs. The sector has climbed 15% over the last year. It now stands, third behind Savannah’s leading job producers leisure/hospitality and education/health. Retail jobs rose by 400 workers, while local government gained 300 jobs. Tourism jobs stayed the same. Manufacturers gained 300 jobs, construction jobs continued to trend downward, dropping 100 jobs.

– Lisa Yannett

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Savannah Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.9%

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:02:00 GMT

The Savannah metro area, which includes Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties, saw its unemployment rate drop to 4.9 percent in November. This was its lowest level since May of 2008. It stood at 6.1 percent last November and 5.3 percent in October of 2015.

Initial unemployment insurance claims for Savannah dropped 3.9 percent, from 847 to 819. However, the number of unemployment insurance claims did rise 2.8 percent from October of 2015. Many of the new claims came from those working in administrative an support services.

Savannah was the only metro area in Georgia that had it’s unemployment claims go down from November of 2014 to November of 2015.

Savannah Jobs Increase by Nearly 174,000

The Georgia Department of Labor also revealed that the Savannah metro area had a total of 173,900 non-farm payroll jobs in November. This was 2.4 percent increase from the 169,900 jobs in November 2014. The key finding is that the rate of jobs are increasing faster than the area’s population.

During the year, Savannah added 4,000 new jobs. Professional and business services led the way, gaining 2,400 jobs, followed by retail trade, transportation and warehousing. Manufacturers added 700 jobs. These additions offset the 1.6 percent decline in leisure and hospitality jobs. Government employment remained flat.

Georgia Jobs

Metro Gainesville led Georgia with a jobless rate of 4.2 percent and the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region suffered the highest at 6.8 percent.

Georgia’s overall seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for November fell slightly from 5.7 percent to 5.6 percent. The rate was 6.7 percent in November of 2014. Over the year, Georgia gained 93,000, which is a 2.2 percent job increase, besting the national average.

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US Jobs Exceed Expectations in December of 2015

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 02:45:00 GMT

Over the course of 2015, the US economy added 221,000, on average, per month. While this is a drop from 2014, when jobs grew at an average rate of 260,000 non-farm jobs per month, it still marks one of the better years for job additions in the last 16 years.

The October jobs report was also revised upwards, making it an even better month for job gains than it once appeared, as 307,000 jobs were added. This made October the strongest month for job growth in 2015. November job gains also went up according to recent revisions. That means 50,000 more jobs were added than was initially thought. And that makes Q4 (October, November and December) the best 3-month run for job gains in 2015.

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Unemployment Rate Stays at 5%

As mentioned above, the unemployment rate remained flat, coming in at 5 percent. Many economists think it will stay around that level for the foreseeable future. The U.S. unemployment rate has not fallen below 5 percent since 2007.

Wages Stay Low

Unfortunately for some workers, wages did not see much improvement. Average hourly earnings increased by 2.5 percent,but the Fed says 3.5 percent is the optimum target level. Fed officials and economists had hoped that a tighter labor market would raise wages closer to that level.

Labor-Force Participation Stays Low

The Labor-force participation (which measures the percentage of the labor force that is actually employed or looking for employment) ticked up slightly, but it still stands at its lowest level (62.6%) since since 1977. There are also a lot of workers who have taken part-time positions because they couldn’t find full-time jobs.

Summing It Up

Job increases and the unemployment rate signal that the economy is moving in the right direction. But rising wages, greater labor force participation, and more full-time employees in 2016, would indicate the economy is transitioning from a “tentative” recovery to a more robust and long-lasting one.

-Lisa Yannett