Happy Labor Day!
How are you celebrating on Labor Day? Whether you are heading to a BBQ, a pool party or a weekend trip to the beach, we hope you have a fantastic time! After all, the holiday pays tribute to all the hard work employees do throughout the year. So have fun, you earned it!

Fall is often a busy time of year, especially in the architecture, engineering and construction communities.  As you wrap up your work over the next few months and look towards 2017, remember RealStreet is here to help. Whether you only need an individual to help complete a project on time, or you need an entire team of professionals for a new endeavor, we have you covered!

Best wishes  in all of your endeavors!

Sincerely,
  
Katy Cook, CSP
Marketing Coordinator

What's New at RealStreet?
RealStreet Awarded 
a SeaPort-e Prime Contract! 
What does RealStreet's SeaPort-e Prime contract entail? 
  • The contract period of performance: June 2016 - April 2019
  • The contract has been awarded in three (3) zones: Zone 2 - National Capitol Region, Zone 3 - Mid-Atlantic, Zone 4 - Gulf Coast.
  • RealStreet is qualified to work in all functional areas. 
This is a great growth opportunity for RealStreet! We look forward to building new client relationships and further expanding our capabilities. Keep an eye on our job board, exciting opportunities are right around the corner!

Learn more about the new contract on  RealStreet's SeaPort-e webpage.

Interesting Industry Information
How is the Overall Workforce?
The U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a m onthly jobs report  soon after the beginning of each month. Each report describes the previous month's employment situation, based on data such as the number of jobs that were added to the economy and the unemployment rate. 


The July report shows U.S. employers added 255,000 jobs while unemployment remained at 4.9%.  For more information, check out the BLS' interactive graphs.

According to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), thirty nine states added construction jobs between July 2015 - July 2016, while construction employment only increased in twenty three states and the District of Columbia between June and July 2016. According to Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the AGC,  "while there is slack in key segments like infrastructure and parts of the country that are struggling economically, many of these declines likely have more to do with firms not being able to find workers than not being able to find work. "
Featured News Post
Three Challenges to Hiring the Best Candidates
Experienced leaders understand the importance of hiring ideal candidates for each position within their company. Unfortunately, all employers share this goal. With increasing demand, limited supply and a growing skills gap in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) communities, the sourcing process can be especially difficult.

A successful placement is well worth the effort, as a completely qualified new hire can provide an organization with the knowledge and skills needed to meet goals and achieve lasting success. The key, is minimizing the time-to-fill while sourcing the most qualified person available.

  Read the full post for 3 common challenges to hire the best candidates.

Seasonal Safety Information
September is National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). According to  Ready.org , NPM "serves as a reminder that we all must take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and also where we visit." The site provides a plethora of information and tools to aid in the education of others as well as for your own preparation. For example, the toolkit features the  FEMA mobile app , which provides safety tips, weather alerts, emergency updates and more.
Problems with PokeMon Go in the Workplace
Pokemon Go garnered a great deal of attention last month. To explain it simply, it is a game that utilizes a mobile app to collect Pokemon. Pokemon can be grown, hunted and traded. They can even have battles! The game even encourages users to get outside and be more active. Sounds innocent enough, right? 

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before the mobile app became more than a fun pastime for many users. For these individuals, the hunt for Pokemon did not end when they reached their workplace. They used their time on-the-clock to further their digital goals. In a recent Forbes study, 70 percent of the polled employees reported playing the game at work, with one-third admitting to spending and hour or more each day.

Employers are  cracking down  on this behavior because it: 
  • Wastes time (possibly leading to otherwise unnecessary overtime)
  • Raises safety concerns (as players often become too immersed in the game and are more likely to accidentally hurt themselves)
  • Opens networks up to security breaches (if downloaded on a corporate device hackers could gain access to sensitive data)
If you notice a problem, instruct employees to limit their Pokemon-play to their personal time, outside of the office. Remind them to use common sense when hunting (e.g. be aware of your surroundings and do not trespass). It won't help anyone if they fall down a manhole or walk out into traffic, simply because they couldn't peel their eyes off of their cell phone. 

Another issue employers in the construction industry face is the risk of trespassers (especially if a job site has been turned into a PokeStop). As stated in a recent Construction Executive article, "if someone steps on a nail or falls into a ditch on a construction site, the contractor could be held liable unless he can prove that he did everything possible to keep the site reasonably safe." the article also provides tips to reduce risk: 
  • Utilize fences and highly visible barriers
  • Use highly visible signage (possible incorporate the creative graphics - produced by reddit user MagdaProski - to encourage players to mind their etiquette while playing the game)
  • Install cameras and/or other security measures
These small measures might not eliminate the problem, but they will go far from a liability standpoint. 
Just for Fun...
Keep in Touch!
Feedback Wanted! 
We Value Referrals!
Would you mind taking a moment to
write a few sentences about your experience working with RealStreet?
Thank you!
Who in your network is looking for a new opportunity? 

Check our  open positions , to see if any of them are a match to the job seekers that you know.  At RealStreet, we value great candidates and when it comes down to it, we know you're the Real Deal! We have a great referral program that compensates you for every qualified referral you provide us.