The US vs. the European Economy
According to the latest Labor Department figures the US economy added 313,000 jobs in February. This is the biggest gain since July of 2016 and is more than the number economists had expected. The unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%, which is the lowest in 17 years and wages grew 2.6% in comparison to 2017. We added half a million jobs during the first two months of 2018. The economic reports also show the month of February being the 89th consecutive month of job gains, which is the longest streak since the Labor Department started tracking these numbers in the 1940s. The industries that made the biggest job gains include: Banks and financial institutions with 28,000 jobs. Manufacturing businesses hired 31,000 workers. Construction gained 61,000 employees, Mining industry held up to 9,000 new hires. This is great news for South Florida because Miami is ranked among the top 100 cities to find jobs in 2018. Out of a total of 182 US cities, the WalletHub study revealed that our city came in 51st. “College graduates, especially, will see a strong boost in their job prospects,” WalletHub stated. “But your luck of finding work depends largely on location.” WalletHub findings are supported by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity that reported Florida had an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent and Miami-Dade County with an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent. This current trend in economic growth is not exclusive to the US. Europe’s economy is expanding at an even faster rate. The European Union consists of 28 European nations and generates an estimated 30% of the world’s GDP and in 2017, the eurozone experienced a 2.5% economic growth. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. The region has seen unemployment fall to the lowest level since 2009 and factory productions are up at 3.2% from last year. “Anything the U.S. economy can do the eurozone economy can do, slightly better it seems,” Jacob Deppe, head of trading at online currency broker Infinox Capital told CNN. “With both the U.S. and eurozone growing in tandem and with Asian economies on a roll, the hope is that 2018 delivers continued growth, further confidence, and economic stability for the first time in a decade.” The US job market is heading in the right direction and Europe is experiencing substantial growth. Overall, the global economy is doing pretty well. As we continue into 2018, we should expect to see more growth for both the US and the European nations for the new few years. To search and apply for a job in the hospitality and events sectors, please visit our job portal
How RMG Staffing Sees Millennials Impacting the Job Market
How RMG Staffing Sees Millennials Impacting the Job Market According to many surveys, the U.S. economy added a little over 2 million jobs within the past six months. But the number of workers between the ages of 20 to 24 dropped by just over 200,000 jobs during that same period. The 20-to-24 age category was the only group to shed job opportunities during the past six months. Even though the age group of 35 to 44-year-olds showed the second lowest job growth, they still had 200,000 more people than Millennials employed with that same time frame and employment among workers aged 55 and over rose by 742,000. “Millennials, it seems, really are the job hoppers people say they are. Those born between 1980 and 1996 are the most likely to look for and change jobs,” according to Gallup’s new report ‘How Millennials Want to Work and Live.’ The report found that found that 21% of millennial workers had left their job in the last year to do something else, a number that is more than three times higher than that of non-Millennials who report doing the same. Some Millennials might be getting out of the job market to continue their education. They are also the one who are more flexible with their work schedules. According to a new study by Bentley University, 77% of Millennials acknowledged that flexible work hours would make their workplace more productive for people their age. With their consistent usage of social media and technology that allows them to communicate and work anytime and anywhere, this statistic comes as no surprise. But as the millennials become the majority, employers will continuously be pressured to adjust to their preferred work schedules. This leads to the expectation that non 9 to 5 work schedules and telecommuting to become a common workplace practice instead of being labeled as a ‘special privilege.’ Some reports suggested that by 2030 a majority of Millennials will be done away with the 9-to-5 workday entirely. “We’re not there yet—so what will the transition look like?” Alexandra Levit asked on The Muse website. “My guess is that we’ll start with ‘easier to swallow’ flex-work arrangements, such as job-sharing (two employees split the workload and time commitments of one 40-hour per week job), day shifting (some employees work from 7 AM to 3 PM while others work from 10 AM to 6 PM), and on-peak/off-peak work schedules (employees work more hours during their busy season and vice versa).” A look at some Millennial findings from the Intelligence Group: 64% say it’s a priority for them to make the world a better place 72% would like to be their own boss. But if they do have to work for a boss, 79% of them would want that boss to serve more as a coach or mentor 88% prefer a collaborative work culture rather than a competitive one 74% want flexible work schedules 88% want “work-life integration,” which isn’t the same as work-life balance, since work and life now blend inextricably Currently, one in three American workers is Millennials, born between 1982 and 2002. By 2020, it is estimated that Millennials will account for nearly 46% of the active workforce. Based on those findings, RMG Staffing believes Millennials are the future of the workforce.
Artificial Intelligence – Instead of a Hostess, You Have a Robot
We at RMG Staffing will continue to stay on top of the latest trends in the industry. A new wave of the future is coming and no, we’re not talking about 2018. We’re talking about artificial intelligence where computers don’t just perform mental tasks but also think for themselves. It’s called deep learning. It essentially involves feeding a computer system big data, which it then uses to make decisions about other data. This data is fed through neural networks. These networks, called logical constructions ask a series of binary true/false questions, extract a numerical value, of every bit of data which pass through them, and then classify it according to the answers received. IBM’s Watson computer is a perfect example of deep learning artificial intelligence. Watson even appeared and competed against contestants in Jeopardy. The idea for IBM’s Watson had been in existence since the late 1970s and as we head towards 2018 and beyond the capabilities of artificial intelligence will surpass our wildest imagination. This past October the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology hosted The ICAICS 2017: 19th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science. The conference brought together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of artificial intelligence and cognitive science. It also provided a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of artificial intelligence and cognitive science.One of the conference’s most appealing segment consisted of a talk and paper presented by Lipeng Zhang, Limei Li, and Yanming Pearl Zhang. Titled “Using Information Theory to Observe Natural Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence,” they talked about Pepper, a friendly humanoid robot that uses deep learning to act and think for itself. “Pepper is the first humanoid robot capable of recognizing the principal human emotions and adapting his behavior to the mood of his interlocutor,” SoftBank Group Corp stated, a Japanese multinational telecommunications corporation. “To date, more than 140 SoftBank Mobile stores in Japan are using Pepper as a new way of welcoming, informing and amusing customers. Pepper also recently became the first humanoid robot to be adopted in Japanese homes.” Pepper had also made an appearance at Oakland International Airport. The 4-foot-tall human-shaped robot was hired by Pyramid Ale Taproom in Terminal 2 to drum up business, offer menu advice, give directions and be a charming addition to the dining experience. And during October of 2016, another company brought similar humanoid robots to the San Jose International Airport in San Jose, California. Named Norma, Amelia, and Piper, the three gave travelers airport directions, danced and even took the time to take selfies. Softbank recently announced that it’s highly advanced AI-powered NAO robot is being used by Hilton Hotels across the U.S. as a concierge. In a partnership with IBM’s Watson program, the robots are called “Connie,” and named after Hilton Conrad Hilton. “Connie isn’t simply a NAO robot with some basic programming added. Hilton’s version is powered by Watson software, which enhances its natural language processing so Connie can better understand human speech. It was also designed to improve over time and the more it interacts with people, by storing every question guests ask for future reference. Besides answering inquiries about the hotel, Connie will also be able to recommend tourist spots, restaurants, and other destinations, since it has access to WayBlazer’s travel platform,” Softbank revealed in a press release. These deep learning and artificial intelligence initiatives are taking the businesses and hospitality industry by storm. The humanoid robots will eventually replace kiosks and dramatically improve businesses’ customer service. Will they completely replace humans? Only time will tell.
A Coach For Life
It’s that time of the year again. The time we send the year off with a bang by partying until, well you know, like Prince said. “Like its 1999.” But besides the partying, another thing we usually do around this time of the year reflects and looks back on the good, the bad and the in-between of the previous year. It’s time to think, write down and begin to commit to New Year’s Resolutions. Some of the most popular resolutions tend to be losing weight, stop smoking, career advancement, saving for or buying a new house. Research has shown that about half of all adults make New Year’s resolutions. However, fewer than 10% manage to keep them for more than a few months.The main reason why people don’t stick to resolutions is that they set too many goals or they’re unrealistic to achieve. They may also be victims of “false hope syndrome”. False hope syndrome is characterized by a person’s unrealistic expectations about the likely speed, amount, ease and consequences of changing their behavior. “’New Year’s resolution’ is kind of this buzzword that can make people crazy,” said Dr. Stephen Graef, a sports psychologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center revealed to CBS News. “Most people have a toxic relationship with the term. So from the beginning we set ourselves up for failure because we know that anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of people are going to ultimately get off their path of resolution.”In order to be successful in accomplishing New Year’s resolution run must be proactive throughout the entire year. New Year’s resolutions should be a daily task throughout the 365 days of the year and one of the best ways to accomplishing daily goals is to have a life coach. If LeBron James needed a coach on his route to winning a national championship, we all should obtain a life coach in our own route to being successful in life. 7 Reasons Why You Need a Life Coach 1. Makes You More Accountable.2. Saves You Time And Gets You Efficient Results.3. Saves You Money.4. Saves You Stress, Pain And Frustration.5. Gives You Ideas You Never Thought Of.6. Gives You Insights Into Yourself.7. Gives You A Stronger Sense Of Belief And Self-Confidence.But despite the obvious benefits of obtaining a life coach, some still frown at the idea. But really, life coaches, at least the good ones, give you a a great workout for your brain; they know that we are only going to listen to ourselves, because ultimately we’re all a little clueless about our own miraculous epiphany to change anything about our comfortable but unhappy lives. “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it,” is a wise and famous quote from author Charles R. Swindoll. It’s also the same quote Andreina Pradas who runs the Inhance Company located in Miami uses in coaching her clients through the highs and lows. She is described as the “Happiness Ambassador, Coach, Transformer of consciousness and Creator of the 3 Steps to the Profit through Happiness.” A life coach for SBE and Shore Club Hotels, Andreina has also helped our employees at RMG Staffing. To paraphrase RMG Staffing CEO Ricardo Michelangeli, Andreina provides the mentorship and the coaching in our daily pursuit of happiness. The end of the year is upon us. Start thinking about your New Year’s resolution. Write them down. 2018 is set to be an awesome year and one can certainly obtain goals and be happy with the aid of a life coach.Connect with Andreina Pradas.
The Best Jobs in Hospitality Industry and How to Find Them
We at RMG Staffing know that finding a job is always a difficult undertaking. Not only is difficult, it also comes with tremendous stress and headaches. And if you’re unemployed and short on cash, the ordeal in applying for a job, going through the interview process and waiting for a reply from a prospective employer could leave you distraught. Also, hotels and restaurants have had their own battle in building their staff. It’s a never ending battle for both employers and prospective employees to line up in the perfect match. To help improve this alignment one of the things that needs to be done is to increase the awareness. Prospective employees need to know where are the best jobs in the hospitality industry, how much they pay and what are the required duties and responsibilities. And employers need the proper screening in place before opening their doors to applicants. As an agency that specializes in the hospitality industry, if you’re looking for jobs in a hotel or a restaurant or if you’re a hotel or restaurant looking to upgrade your staff we have you covered. Top Jobs in the Hospitality Industry Hotel Manager The current median salary for a hotel manager is around $90,000 and could reach up to $125,000. Duties and responsibilities of hotel managers include supervising staff, property management and the allocation of funds to various departments. Entry level hotel manager position requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of seven years of experience within the industry. Restaurant Cook Manager A restaurant manager is the conductor of the insanity that goes in and around the kitchen. The entry level salary starts at the mid-40s. A lot of restaurants reply more on experience than education but if you want to work your way up to a higher position, some require a bachelor’s degree through culinary school. Bartender A bartender is one of those jobs that doesn’t need a higher education to make the big bucks. Though bartender school has been very popular, as long as you know how to mix drinks and have the experience to back it up, the salary for bartenders could start as the minimum of 30K to the hundreds of thousands. Waitress/ Waiter A waitress plays a vital role in the success of a restaurant. Like a bartender, you don’t need an education to be a waitress. It all comes down to experience and your skills in customer service. Most waitresses gets the majority of their income from tips and depending upon where you work at, a waitress salary range between the mid-30s to 60K. Executive Chef In addition an extensive amount of experience working in the kitchen, the top restaurants require culinary school for their chefs. The earning potential for executive chefs, especially those at the best restaurants is astronomical. Entry level starts around the mid-60K and could go as high as the millions. Head of Housekeeping If you’re lucky enough to work at a five-star hotel or a world renown resort, as a head of housekeeping, you could be making as much as $75,000 a year. The minimum education level for this position is a high school diploma but requires extensive experience in the best hotels and resorts. Where to Find Them? So now that you know the income level for some of the best employment position in the hospitality industry the obvious question you might be asking is, “Where do I find these job?” or as a prospective employee you might be asking is, “Where are the top-quality employees?” To answer both questions in one shot, just call RMG Staffing. For prospective employees, let us do the searching for you, and for employers, we do all screening and training. Through our years of experience in the staffing industry, we have accumulated a large amount of industry IQ to help you succeed.
How to Succeed in Hospitality Industry?
Some of the most rewarding careers aren’t easy, and in no industry is that more true than hospitality. While hospitality gives you the opportunity to work directly with people – and in most cases, make those people extremely happy – you’ll have to work long, often unpredictable shifts, stay on your feet for hours, and because people are always watching you, be on you’re A-game at all times. As fun as this career may be, it’s easy to let it get the best of you. So if you’re passionate about the field, learn more about the personal and professional skills you’ll need below to see if hospitality is the right path for you. Always focus on the customer. In hospitality, no one is more important than the customer. In fact, how well you treat them will make or break your success. The concept is simple – the goal of hospitality is to make customers, clients and guests feel welcomed, comfortable and like a true VIP, all to make them come back for more. Think of it this way: your service is the product, and if customers don’t like a product, they won’t buy it twice. Be flexible. As we mentioned earlier, when you work in hospitality, there’s no telling what your hours might be, and you need to be ready and willing to work when you’re needed. Whether you’re working at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. – on either an average Monday or a holiday – you’ll need to be adaptable, versatile and resourceful, and always have an open mind. In hospitality, there’s no telling what responsibilities you might be tasked with. Be positive. Success in hospitality depends a lot on your ability to make positive connections with clients, guests, vendors and even other employees. Remember: hospitality is all about comfort and service, and having a smile on your face is an easy way to make guests feel comfortable and respected. Learn how to multitask. No matter what you do, when you work in hospitality, you’ll need to be able handle multiple responsibilities at once. In just one afternoon, you might be asked to clean up a spilled drink, handle an unhappy guest, setup a VIP table for 20 and work the bar, all while staying calm and keeping a smile on your face as you greet new guests. The industry is fast-paced, always changing, and at times, even a little hectic. But if you love the job, you won’t let it get to you. Pay attention to detail. As they say: “It’s the little things.” Details can make all the difference, and the more impactful they are, the more your guests will remember them. Make sure your uniform shirt is clean and tucked in – it will make you look professional and passionate about what you do. Clean up every last drop of rum that customer spilled on the floor, make sure your plates and glasses are evenly spaced, and wherever you can, go above and beyond for every guest. Guests, and employers, always notice the details, and in time, you’ll be rewarded for it. Interested in hospitality? Contact RMG Staffing here to see if we have a position for you.
Is Virtual Reality Impacting the Future of the Hospitality Industry?
Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we live our lives, so it’s inevitable that some pretty incredible innovations to the hospitality industry are on the horizon. If you’re not already familiar with virtual reality, prepare for it to rock your world. Markus Schreyer, vice president at The Americas at Design Hotels AG, writes about hospitality industry innovation on his personal website, and he offers some fascinating insights on how virtual reality might change the face of travel. He notes that Facebook CEO and Co-Founder Mark Zuckerberg has already declared technology will allow people to visit destinations across the world virtually one day. This might not be too far in the future, as Schreyer mentions Facebook’s 2014 purchase of Oculus, a virtual reality technology startup, for $2 billion. 3 Ways Virtual Reality Could Change the Hospitality Industry As an industry insider, Schreyer is privy to all the latest hospitality trends and he has some pretty exciting ideas about how virtual reality could change travel as we know it. Prior to a Stay Choosing a hotel can be a difficult decision for guests. Virtual reality could walk them through the grounds for a preview. From touring the hotel room they would be staying in to visiting the restaurant and pool area, people would be able to make an informed decision by seeing the grounds with their own eyes. During the Visit Hotel staff could provide a second-to-none guest experience with the help of virtual reality. Schreyer suggests a host of possibilities, including the ability to change the restaurant and room service menus to each person’s native language, offering a guided path to their hotel room and providing a hologram personal trainer for in-room exercise. After the Trip Maintaining contact with guests after they depart is key, but doing so using present technology can be a challenge. Schreyer believes the onset of virtual reality would make this much easier, allowing management to increase brand loyalty and encourage customers to return to the property every time they’re in town. The fun and vibrant Miami hospitality industry is an incredible place to work — but you already know that. If you’re an employer searching for top talent or a skilled professional ready to start the next chapter in your career, RMG Staffing wants to help. Contact us today to learn more about our Miami employment services for employers and job seekers!
How to Find a Miami Hospitality Job
Miami is one of the best cities in the country for hospitality workers. From May 2015 to May 2016, the industry saw a 3.7 percent employment growth in the city, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Of course, getting ahead in such a bustling city can be challenge, but RMG Staffing is here to assist. 4 Ways RMG Staffing Can Help You Get Ahead Want a great job in the Miami hospitality industry? RMG Staffing can help make your dreams a reality by offering the following benefits. Career Counseling. There’s many different directions to take your hospitality career, so the sheer volume of options can be overwhelming. RMG Staffing will help you evaluate all the different possibilities, so you can choose your best fit. Whether you want to be a front desk assistant or a bartender, we’ll work with you to find the best position for you at one of Miami’s top hospitality companies. Resume Assistance. Writing a winning resume is hard work, but when you partner with us, you won’t have to worry if yours will make the cut. Our skilled recruiters know exactly what hiring managers want in an outstanding resume, and we’ll help you craft yours into a masterpiece sure to impress. Interview Prep. Knowing exactly what to wear, say and do to impress a hiring manager during a job interview can be nearly impossible when you go it on your own. When you work with us, your recruiter will help you prepare. In most cases, your recruiter will already have a relationship with the employer, so they know exactly what the company is looking for in the right new hire, allowing you to gain a competitive advantage. Connections to Leading Employers. We work hard to maintain relationships with the best hospitality employers in Miami, so we’re always be in-the-know about new opportunities and can help you get your foot in the door. Many companies also post jobs exclusively through RMG Staffing, so if you’re not working with us, you’ll never even hear about the open position. Searching for a rewarding position in Miami’s vibrant hospitality industry? RMG Staffing is here to help you find a job that makes going to work fun. We offer temp-to-hire, direct hire and payroll staffing positions, as well as temporary staffing for banquet events. Contact us today!
The Top Traits of Successful Hospitality Employees
Millions of Americans are employed in the hospitality industry — and many couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. It’s an area with a wide variety of career options, but this field isn’t a great fit for everyone, as a very special personality is needed to succeed. If you’re a professional considering entering the industry or an employer searching for workers to join your team, learn seven traits needed to excel in the hospitality sphere. Personable Most employees in the hospitality industry are frequently face to face with customers, so being friendly and outgoing is a must. If clients are made to feel unwelcome by a rude, unpleasant staff member, they’ll take their business elsewhere. Team Player First and foremost, the job of hospitality industry employees is to provide guests with an outstanding experience. Each staffer has a defined role, but the customer is always the number one focus, so people have to be willing to pitch in anywhere they’re needed. Patient Working with some customers can be trying, but the best hospitality workers are always able to remain calm and collected. Incredibly tolerant, these people don’t sweat the small stuff. Their easy-going disposition always makes guests feel comfortable and appreciated. Good Listener The ability to listen attentively is a must in the hospitality industry. Whether tending to the needs of a guest or taking directions from a supervisor, employees must listen carefully so they can take the appropriate action. Excellent Multitasker Everything moves at rapid pace in this industry, so employees must have the capacity to do many things at once. For example, bartenders must be able to greet customers sitting down at the bar, while making drinks for those who have just ordered. Organized Staying organized is the secret to successful multitasking, so employees need the capacity to put a system in place to maintain order at all times. Everything takes longer when working in a constant state of disarray. Detail-Oriented In this industry, it’s often the little things that mean the most, so staffers must pay attention to every last detail. For example, you want a hotel housekeeper who takes the time to carefully inspect every surface in the room to ensure not a speck of dirt is left, instead of someone who tries to get their job done as quickly as possible. The hospitality industry is a major force in Miami. Whether you’re a professional searching for a new challenge or an employer trying to find top talent to staff your company, RMG Staffing is here to assist. Contact us to today to learn more about our exemplary staffing solutions and outstanding career opportunities in a variety of roles.
How IT Has Changed the Hospitality Industry
Technology has changed the world as we know it, and the hospitality industry certainly hasn’t been left behind. Major advances in the IT world have allowed businesses to become savvier than ever, offering major benefits to both customers and companies. Ever-increasing IT developments are majorly impacting the way the hospitality industry functions. Mobile Check-In. In the past, tired and groggy hotel customers were forced to wait in line at reception to check into their rooms, but this is becoming a thing of the past. Many chains, such as the Hilton brand, are rolling out a mobile check-in option, allowing guests to choose their own room and even request amenities one or two days prior to their visit. Big Data. Restaurants are using big data to track everything from the number of free drinks given to make amends for employee mishaps to the rate at which condiments are used. Collecting and measuring more data than ever makes it possible to cut costs, learn more about customers, recognize trends and offer a better customer experience. Smart Appliances. The smart appliance trend, allowing people to control things like light switches, televisions, room temperature and their alarm clock from a tablet or an app, is starting to infiltrate into hotel rooms. Companies like Starwood are currently testing a host of features to add to hotel rooms to make stays even more luxurious. Online Bookings. Using the Internet to make travel plans is nothing new, but an increasing number of restaurants are now allowing customers to book tables online. Sites like OpenTable and SeatMe allow diners to find an open reservation and claim it in the click of a mouse. Other sites, like Tock, not only take reservations, they also collect payments upfront, so restaurants don’t have to worry about losing money for no-shows. User Review Sites. In the past, people only had word-of-mouth reviews to help them decide if a certain hotel, restaurant, cruise line, theme park or any hospitality industry business was worth their time and money. These days, it’s a common practice for people to consult user-review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor prior to booking just about anything, so businesses are now under added pressure to provide outstanding service. The hospitality industry is thriving in Miami. Whether you’re searching for a new Miami job in this exciting field or need to find talented professionals to fill open positions at your company, RMG Staffing is here to assist. Contact us to today to learn more about our Miami temp-to-hire, direct hire and payroll staffing positions, as well as temporary staffing for banquet events.