Mom-and-pop shops ramp-up hiring for the holidays abor Day is behind us, the kids are back in class, and the shelves are already stocked with oversized bags of Halloween candy. That means consumers will soon be inundated with advertisements for holiday sales, and retailers are already staffing up to serve the hordes of holiday shoppers. While shoppers will rack up most of their credit card charges online and at the big box stores this season, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) will still enjoy a major boost to their bottom line. In fact, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates 20 percent to 40 percent of all SMB retail sales occur in the last two months of the year, and in 2016 Deloitte reported that roughly 40 percent of consumers planned to do their holiday shopping at local retailers. It’s still too early for most analysts to gauge how SMBs will fare this holiday sea-
L
son compared to the mass merchants, but since we deal in real-time data at ZipRecruiter, we’ve got the leading indicators that show exactly how SMBs are feeling about the holiday high season. According to the number of job openings posted to our site by SMB retailers in September, they’re feeling pretty bullish this year. A sentiment that is apparently not shared by their gargantuan competitors. MOM AND POPS OUT-STAFF THE MASS MERCHANTS
In 2015, two years before The Atlantic famously reported on “the great retail apocalypse of 2017” following a string of major retailers going out of business, job openings at large organizations (500+ employees) posted to ZipRecruiter.com outnumbered small retail openings 2-to1. Today, not only have SMBs closed that gap, they’ve eclipsed the hiring numbers of large organizations, with nearly 30 per-
cent more job openings posted to ZipRecruiter in September than their big-box counterparts. Both SMBs and large companies have shown holiday season hiring bumps from August through October going back to 2015. But this year is different. While seasonal retail jobs at SMBs continued their upward trend in August, falling incrementally in September, openings at large companies declined in August and dropped dramatically in September. Local businesses may actually be better insulated against the threat of ecommerce than one might expect. MORE SMB JOBS, FEWER EMPLOYEES
Anticipating strong consumer demand this holiday season makes sense given the historically low unemployment rate. The tight job market is a good reason to expect soaring sales, but it also means employers are fighting over a much smaller
pool of applicants than in years past. According to the ZipRecruiter Opportunity Index, which measures the ratio of job openings to applicants, there was one applicant for every retail job opening this September. In September of 2017, there were three applicants chasing every available retail opening. This year there are not only thousands more available jobs, there are also far fewer applicants. A few retail giants, such as Kohl’s and J.C. Penny, have already announced plans to offer generous employee discounts, retention bonuses, and additional hours hoping to snag the few remaining available workers looking for a seasonal gig. SMBs have an edge of their own, given our research that shows job seekers generally prefer to work for SMBs. But the motivators that draw job seekers to smaller companies, like being able to see their impact on the company and enjoy a closeknit culture, are likely more pronounced in individuals looking to join an organization for the long term, and might not be as relevant to seasonal job seekers. Ultimately, cash is always king, especially when it comes to temporary and seasonal work. If SMBs want to be successful with filling their hiring needs, they are going to have to budget for bonuses and plan to offer more than what they are used to shelling out for seasonal staff. (Jeffery Marino/ZipRecruiter)
Cavalier Cavalier Logistics, Logistics, a premier a premier provider provider of global of global transportation, transportation, logistics logistics andand warehousing warehousing services services forfor 30+30+ years, years, is seeking is seeking entry entry level level andand qualified qualified professionals professionals to join to join ourour winning winning team team in in Sterling, Sterling, VA.VA. If you If you would would likelike to join to join a dedicated a dedicated team team andand contribute contribute to atosterling a sterling reputation, reputation, wewe have have thethe position position forfor you.you. Cavalier Cavalier recognizes recognizes that that ourour continued continued success success relies relies on on every every team team member. member. To keep To keep up up with with thethe demands demands of our of our growing growing company, company, Cavalier Cavalier is seeking is seeking motivated motivated self-starters self-starters to join to join multiple multiple departments. departments. Cavalier Cavalier Logistics Logistics is proud is proud of our of our employee employee retention retention statistics: statistics: • 30% • 30% of staff of staff serving serving from from 11 to 11 30 to 30 years years • 30% • 30% of staff of staff serving serving from from 6 to6 10 to years 10 years Currently Currently Hiring: Hiring: • Logistics • Logistics Agents Agents – Import – Import andand Export Export • Warehouse Agents • Warehouse Agents • Class A and B CDL Drivers – Local & OTR • Class A and B CDL Drivers – Local & OTR From agents to drivers, Cavalier hires full-time positions with From agents to drivers, Cavalier hires full-time positions with fullfull benefits. If you enjoy a fast-paced environment, have great benefits. If you enjoy a fast-paced environment, have great customer service skills a team player – contact today! customer service skills andand areare a team player – contact us us today!
Cavalier is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Cavalier Cavalier is an is an equal equal employment employment opportunity opportunity employer. employer.
personnel@cavlog.com personnel@cavlog.com oror faxfax to to 703-935-2583 703-935-2583 . . Please Please email email resumes resumes to to N ONPOH O PH NO E NCEA C L LASL, LPSL, EPAL S EE A.S E .
www.sungazette.news
October 25, 2018 1
Automation isn’t killing retail jobs, just changing them here was a time when people chose to use the self-scan checkouts at the grocery store because there was no line. Now the automated lines can be just as long as the old school version. Whether it’s because we’ve become accustomed to scanning our own groceries, or it’s because we just don’t want to interact with other human beings, consumers are clearly embracing the new automated retail world. Today, consumers are pre-paying for lattes from their phones, ordering Big Macs from four-foot tall touch screens and Amazon is actually testing out a completely automated grocery store that utilizes an ‘all-seeing eye’ to scan items in your grocery cart and bill your credit card as you walk out the door. But does that mean retail jobs are
T
a thing of the past? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, retail jobs haven’t begun to evaporate quite yet. With 15.9M jobs as of August 2018, the retail industry continues to grow, in spite of the fact that self-scanning checkouts have been in use for nearly two decades. What is changing, however, are job descriptions. According to ZipRecruiter data, retail and customer service job descriptions have begun to evolve since the introduction of automated checkouts. CHANGING SKILLS REQUIREMENTS IN RETAIL’S NEW AGE
We looked at a sample of half a million retail and customer service job descriptions posted to ZipRecruiter.com over the last two years to find out if skill requirements have changed as a result of the automation revolution. Among the
top twenty skills required by employers, cashiering skills dropped steadily in importance throughout the latter half of 2017, and actually disappeared entirely by February 2018. There was, however, one skill that has become increasingly important in these careers, and that is customer relationship management. In February of 2018 (the time when cashiering skills dropped from the list), customer relationship management skills ranked eighteenth out of the twenty skills mentioned most often in retail job descriptions. As of this August, customer relationship management skills ranked as the third most important on our list behind customer service and communication skills—both consistently the most commonly mentioned skills in nearly every job description, even outside of
service-based industries. INCREASED AUTOMATION, BETTER CONSUMER RELATIONS
We’re still not convinced automation will kill retail industry jobs. Right now it just seems to be changing them. As more automation gets introduced into the consumer experience it will become more important for service representatives to engage with customers. Nobody wants to see the entire marketplace become a post-apocalyptic nightmare devoid of emotion altogether. The best retailers will figure out how to optimize this new-found bandwidth among their employees who no longer have to work the cash register. And the best candidates will come equipped to their next retail job with excellent people skills. (Jeffery Marino/ZipRecruiter)
PEDIATRIC RN/LPN (Licensed)
Our busy happy stimulating pediatric practice in Alexandria and Fairfax has upcoming openings for both FT and PT positions. These include some eve and weekend hours each month with travel between both offices. Ideal for nurses returning to the work force. Competitive salary plus benefits. Orientation provided. Send resume to cmaschedule@aol.com
MECHANICS NEEDED K&M Service and Rental locations have full-time positions open for small engine mechanics. Duties include diagnosing and repairing tractors, lawnmowers, chainsaws, and other small engine equipment. Salary based on experience.
SEND RESUME TO management@kmlawnandgarden.com kandmrentals1@gmail.com or stop by to apply in person.
2
October 25, 2018
www.sungazette.news
Warehouses are stocked with workers but can they deliver? ransportation and Warehousing is an industry divided. As ecommerce retailers and logistics companies ramp up hiring for the holiday shopping season, the disconnect between warehouse and transportation jobs is perhaps more starkly defined than ever. Put simply, storage and distribution centers are having zero trouble finding willing workers to fill open roles, even with today’s ridiculously low unemployment. Transportation companies, on the other hand, are desperate to fill empty driver’s seats to meet the delivery demands of one of the most prosperous consumer bases in history. It’s hard not to think that the mismatch between warehouse workers and the drivers transporting the goods has something to do with artificial intelligence (AI). After all, autonomous vehicles in the form of self-driving forklifts and drones already have a major presence in most large-scale warehouse operations. But self-driving cars, especially tractor trailers, have yet to
T
Seeking Foreman, Equipment Operator & Quality Control Inspector Come Grow With Us: (Purcellville, VA)
•Equipment Operator - skid steer/ excavator experience required.
•Quality Control Inspector -
college degree in Construction/ Geology/Environment al Science degree or 1 year of experience in a QC role within the construction industry. •Foreman – oversee a 5-man crew installing ground improvement solutions using heavy equipment. 1+ years of heavy construction Foreman experience required.
reach the level of autonomy necessary to replace the old-fashioned trucker. DRIVERS WANTED
Job openings along every stop of the way, from long-haul truck drivers to delivery drivers, have steadily increased over the past several years, thanks to the rise of ecommerce. But the simmering labor shortage has reached a boiling point as the holiday season draws near. Truck Driver openings posted to ZipRecruiter in August 2017 increased 85 percent year over year, which is obviously phenomenal growth. However, the number of job seekers applying for Truck Driver roles back then increased 100 percent over the same period. So, despite the surge in openings last August, there were still fewer Truck Driver jobs available than applicants, with about two job seekers chasing every Truck Driver job. The data for this year tells a very different story. Truck Driver openings continued to increase at an impressive clip, WAREHOUSE
PAGE 18
Due to program expansion and internal promotions our award winning facility is seeking to fill the following positions: Mental Health Specialists – In this role you will work directly with our patients. The successful candidate must have high school diploma and 6 months experience, or Associates degree and 3 months experience, or Bachelors Degree in Human Services field. This is an excellent entry-level behavioral health position. While all shifts are available, priority will be given to candidates who can work on the Evening (3p-11:30p) or Night (11p-7:30a) shifts. Flexibility with scheduling is essential. Sign-on Bonus available. Registered Nurse – Full-time all shifts and PRN – Must be licensed in Virginia or in another Compact state. Sign-on Bonus available. Special Education Teacher - Preference for candidates with current Virginia license. Will consider candidates qualified for Provisional License. Must have a Bachelors degree. Psychologist – Must have a Virginia current Virginia license. Prior experience in a residential setting is preferred. Community Liaison - Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Business, Healthcare or experience in a related field such as Sales is required. A minimum of two (2) years’ experience in direct sales and/or marketing. Experience in a behavioral health setting is helpful. Therapist – Must have a LPC, LCSW, LMFT or under an approved supervision plan (RIC) in Virginia. Prior experience working with children and adolescents in a behavioral setting is preferred.
./7ČŠ()2).' 2//&).'ČŠ&/2%-!. 15!,)49ČŠ#/.42/, 2//&ČŠ2%0!)2ČŠ4%#(
We want to meet people who are driven to serve at-risk youth and want to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. We offer training, a competitive pay-scale with a generous benefits package including a health, dental and vision insurance; a 401k plan with company match, Paid Time Off, discount programs and a tuition reimbursement plan for eligible employees. All applicants who are offered a position are subject to a criminal background investigation, pre-employment drug screen and Tb test.
%84%2)/2ČŠ2%-/$%,).'ČŠ 3!,%3
North Spring Behavioral Healthcare is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Learn more about us and apply online at www.northspringleesburg.com.
%(1(),76 y -EDICAL $ENTALČŠBENElTS y 0AIDČŠHOLIDAYS y 2ETIREMENTČŠPLANSČŠAREČŠAVAILABLEČŠ
AFTERČŠ ČŠDAYSČŠOFČŠEMPLOYMENT
Apply and check us out on our Careers website at www.geoconstructors.com or send your resume to www.employment@geoconstructors.com.
y 0AIDČŠPERSONALČŠDAYSČŠAREČŠ
All positions - Willingness to be away from home every week with a weekend home every two weeks.
).&/ 0%!+2//&).'#/.42!#4/23 #/-ČŠ
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
North Spring Behavioral Healthcare offers safe and secure Psychiatric Residential Treatment and Inpatient Acute Psychiatric programs designed to restore a sense of hope and stability in the lives of young people.
AVAILABLEČŠAFTERČŠ YEARČŠOFČŠ EMPLOYMENT 0,%!3%ČŠ%-!),ČŠ2%35-%ČŠ4/ ČŠ /2ČŠ#!,,ČŠ"5$ČŠ ČŠ ČŠ 4/ČŠ3#(%$5,%ČŠ!.ČŠ).4%26)%7
Learn more about us and apply online at www.northspringleesburg.com North Spring Behavioral Healthcare 42009 Victory Lane, Leesburg, VA 20176
www.sungazette.news
October 25, 2018 3
WAREHOUSE
Town of Dumfries ~ Town Hall Town Planner Code Enforcement Inspector Program Manager For more details and information on how to apply go to http://www.dumfriesva.gov/about-the-town/employment/
COMMERCIAL PAINTERS WANTED
PRIMARY VENTURES, INC. Long term, full-time opportunity. Hourly Pay rate based on Experience. Must have Driver's License and own transportation. US Citizens preferred. Most work is in the Northern VA area. Must provide own Tools (brushes, frames, 5-n-1, etc.) Apply online http://www.pv-va.com/application.html Or call (703) 257-6488
INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE We’re looking for a hard-working, self-starting sales and marketing professional to join our growing team. This salesperson will focus on Classified Advertising, including Recruitment, Business Directories, Church Announcements, Legals, and other key categories. You’ll be selling into the region’s largest group of community weekly newspapers, as well as digital ads on InsideNoVa.com. The ideal candidate will have a record of success in sales positions, preferably in a business-to-business environment, as well as a willingness and ability to develop new leads and make cold calls on businesses throughout Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William, Fauquier, Culpeper, Rappahannock and Stafford. Knowledge of ad design and Adobe Creative Suite is preferred. This is a full-time position that can be based in either our Woodbridge office or our Warrenton office. It offers a small base salary, a book of existing business, and unlimited commission and bonus opportunities. Benefits include paid holidays and vacations, medical and dental insurance, and a 401(k).
up 130 percent year over year in August, and jumping 17 percent since July. While demand continues to surge, the number of applicants has essentially remained unchanged since a year ago, leaving 1.5 job openings for every applicant—an alarmingly low supply of drivers as we approach a potentially record-breaking holiday shopping season. WAREHOUSE WORKERS APLENTY
A major reason why logistics companies are in such dire need of drivers is because the facilities warehousing consumer goods are staffed up and ready to ship. Just as in all “declining” industries, such as retail and manufacturing, warehouse jobs are still being added each month, thanks to a strong economy and robust consumer spending. However, there are far more applicants than openings, which means most storage and distribution centers will not suffer from the historically tight labor market this season. Warehouse jobs posted to ZipRecruiter increased a healthy 75 percent year over year in August, and showed a marked seasonal bump as well, with openings up 20 percent since July. Notwithstanding the many new warehouse jobs added in August, there were still four applicants competing for every job. To put that in perspective, nearly a quarter of a million
October 25, 2018
job seekers competed over about 50,000 active jobs on ZipRecruiter in August. THE AMAZON EFFECT
Even though Amazon is at the forefront of the AI revolution, having already implemented drone technology and giant robotic arms to perform many of the logistical tasks at their distribution centers, they are operating at such an enormous scale that they still need thousands of humans to perform the tasks for which robots aren’t equipped. News recently broke that Amazon is already hiring warehouse staff for their new, 21,000 square-foot distribution center in Baton Rouge, which is expected to be up and running in 2019. Warehouse jobs grew 43 percent year over year in rural North Carolina, where Amazon plans to build a new distribution facility and is set to hire 1,500 employees. Warehouse openings also spiked 21 percent over last year in Provo, Utah, which is just outside of Salt Lake City, where Amazon has begun hiring for a new distribution center slated to open by the end of the year. But the droves of applicants hoping to grab warehouse work this season can’t all rely on Amazon for a job. Given the labor shortage in transportation, and demand for customer service reps at brick and mortar retail establishments, there’s no reason why they should be left out in the cold. (Jeffery Marino/ZipRecruiter)
Want to work from your home office?
The Sun Gazette is hiring! We need self-motivated people willing to dial for dollars, email for monies and/or pound the pavement… we are looking for two salespeople to represent our company’s marketing options to area businesses. We publish two weekly community newspapers that are delivered to high income households via direct mail, an incredibly attractive target for most businesses. One newspaper is delivered in Arlington, and the other in Great Falls, Oakton, McLean and Vienna. Our ideal candidate(s) will live in/near these areas. We have run a lean sales staff for a long time so there is plenty of opportunity, many of the businesses in these areas have not received a sales call from us recently, if ever. While we will hand you a small book of business after your training is complete, our goal is to expand our advertiser base by having you pull in new accounts. Compensation is based on your sales performance: we pay every other week for ads sold into the previous two weeks’ editions. Benefits are also available. Training will happen in our Leesburg office during your first week. Other than a weekly sales meeting (over the phone) and an occasional in the office meeting, you have the freedom to plan your schedule. Our ideal candidate(s) either has sales experience or has the desire to escape retail/restaurant service by learning how to sell.
Send your resume to Vicky Mashaw, Advertising Director, vmashaw@sungazette.net
SunGazette
Apply online or via e-mail to: tfields@insidenova.com
4
FROM PAGE 17
We are an equal opportunity employer.
www.sungazette.news