Employment guide 2016

Employment Guide

March 2016

get the job

The right way to follow up after an interview

pg. 4

Give a professional impression

pg. 8

Job growth expected to lead state

pg. 10

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Features

PG. 18

PG. 12 Leprino Foods on verge of final construction phase at east Greeley cheese manufacturing plant

Colorado approves $18.85 million in incentives for 1,368 jobs

PG. 16

PG. 6

PG. 7

Landing an internship in college can help set you up for success

One of the best ways for a successful interview is to be prepared

Find the Right Internship

PUBLISHER Bryce Jacobson EDITOR Randy Bangert CREATIVE MANAGER Kyle Knoop BUSINESS MANAGER Doug Binder MANAGING EDITOR Nate A. Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITER Sharon Dunn 3 I Hire Employment Guide

Interview Checklist

Sales MANAGERs Stephanie Mighell Bruce Dennis Creative supervisor/Design Amy Mayer Recruitment Specialist Kindra Miller Classified account manager Kiara Garrett

Prevent Anxiety

Job searches can be stressful experiences

PG. 22

The Right Way to Follow Up After a Job Interview

HIRE EMPLOYMENT GUIDE 501 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631 P.O. Box 1690 For all editorial, advertising, subscription and circulation inquiries, call (970) 352-0211.

Send editorial-related comments and story ideas to: rbangert@greeleytribune.com For display advertising inquiries, contact: bdennis@greeleytribune.com March 2016, Volume 1, Issue 1.

Published by: Greeley Publishing Co., publisher of The Greeley Tribune, Windsor Now, the Fence Post, Tri-State Livestock News, and Energy Pipeline

Give a Professional Impression How do colleagues, employers and customers describe you? If your career is important to you, hopefully the words “true professional” are somewhere in their descriptions.

W

e all want to be the best at what we do, and carrying ourselves in a refined way is important to that goal. The good news is that acting like a professional requires no intensive training or costly investments. Simple behaviors and actions can help you earn the respect of those around you.

SHOW UP ON TIME

One of the easiest ways to create and retain a professional reputation is to be punctual. Keep appointments, hit deadlines and show up to work early. Nothing says “true professional” like an employee who can churn out work on time and within expectations of quality. Look into digital tools that can help you seemliness

maintain your meetings, especially if your job requires numerous conferences, phone calls or online engagements with many clients. Track your time to make sure you’re giving enough of it to certain projects and you’re prioritizing the most important ones.

BE FRIENDLY

This sounds simple, but being friendly in the workforce isn’t always an easy thing for people. Differing personalities and stressful deadlines can make this hard for colleagues to achieve on a regular basis.

Your goal is to be the calming force in the face of changing work environments. Motivate your peers to do better, but in a way that is collaborative and positive. Take on Hire Employment Guide I 4

extra work and avoid talking behind your bosses’ backs. Remember to make sure every team member feels valued and every customer feels important, and you’re on your way to making a strong professional reputation.

DRESS PROFESSIONALLY

This tip may cost you a little money up front. It is important to look the part, so spending money on a few nice suits and dress clothes will be worth the investment.

Dressing professionally gives you more confidence, which in turn positions you as a professional employee in the eyes of those around you. Employers will appreciate your professional attire because it creates a positive reflection on their business, as well. So update your wardrobe today, and don’t forget to keep it classy, professional and formal.

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Find the Right Internship Landing an internship in college can help set you up for immediate success in the job market once you earn your degree.

That’s a fact.

O

nly 30.7 percent of graduating seniors, without internship experience, received a job offer after graduation, compared to 42.3 percent among those with internships, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The research also found that interns got higher salary offers.

If your university has an internship program, you should be taking advantage of it. Besides the aforementioned benefits, a solid internship sharpens your understanding of your target industry and helps you form positive working relationships with professionals already established in the field. Keep an open mind when it comes to accepting an internship, and be ready to commit your summer months to it. Doing so will help put you ahead of the game.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

One trap many new professionals fall into is taking internships based on convenience. Maybe the office is nearby.

Maybe the hours are flexible and the workload is light. This is the wrong approach if you’re looking to set yourself up for future success.

Internships should be interesting and challenging. They should require heavy collaboration and your involvement in major company projects. This type of work experience is invaluable in preparing you for your first real gig. By the time you are hired, you’ll look back on your internship experience as highly instrumental.

PREPARE FINANCIALLY

While internships are ideal if there is monetary compensation involved, that’s not always the case. Working in a great environment that opens new doors for you may be worth it, even if you’re not getting paid.

If your dream company is offering an unpaid internship, think of ways you’ll be able to supplement your income during the summer. Consider some weekend work or ask your parents for a loan to float you through the duration of the internship.

Preparing yourself for working without pay may be difficult, but you could reap the rewards by earning relevant experience and forging invaluable relationships with the right professionals.

Hire Employment Guide I 6

Interview Checklist Job interviews have a way of making us nervous, forgetful and anxious. One of the best ways to beat the butterflies is to be prepared.

T

he more you know about the company you’re interviewing for, the better an impression you will make on the hiring managers.

Also, the more confidence you have, the stronger you will seem to your interviewer.

But acing the interview takes more than preparation and self-assurance. There are specific items you should bring with you to impress those on the other side of the table. Read on to find out the three most important things to bring so you never again leave an interview without knowing that you gave it your all.

RESUMES

your interview are several copies of your resume. If you know how many people you’ll be interviewing with, bring a few extra in case it goes well and you’re asked to speak with upper management.

Don’t forget your own copy that you can reference during the interview.

Having these items with you can serve as presentation notes that you can speak with when asked about certain experiences in your background.

Pack you resumes in a professional looking folder or briefcase to keep them in sharp, unwrinkled condition.

The most obvious things to bring to »checklist continued on page 20.

7 I Hire Employment Guide

Weld unemployment dips, job growth expected to lead state

By Sharon Dunn Greeley Tribune

W

eld County’s unemployment numbers for 2015 are probably the lowest they’ve been in 14 years, while projected job growth is expected to be among the best in the country this year.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday released monthly unemployment numbers, showing Weld was at 3.3 percent, below the state’s 3.5 percent in December.

“Certainly, 3.3 percent is an extraordinarily low unemployment rate, and with those kinds of numbers, you’re basically looking at full employment, and that’s consistent along the Front Range,” said Richard Werner, president and CEO of Upstate Colorado Economic Development.

Though numbers are preliminary, the December data put Weld’s annual average unemployment rate at 3.9 percent, which if it holds, will be the lowest the rate has been since 2001.

At the same time, a new job growth report shows Weld will lead the state in job creation in 2016.

Alexandra Hall, chief economist for the Labor Department, reported monthly jobs and unemployment numbers Tuesday show good news, even at a time when crude prices signal a global decline in the oil and gas industry, which has been responsible for much of Weld’s job growth in the last five years.

“We have a lot of reasons to believe we’re weathering the lower oil prices OK, and there’s some indication that perhaps for now, some of the jobs we shed in industry have been digested in the economy, which is starting to find a plateau of growth around 2.5 percent,” Hall said.

The state unemployment rate sat at 3.5 percent, with job growth of about 10,000 jobs over the month.

Those numbers, however, are all based on surveys of businesses and households, »weld continued on page 14 Hire Employment Guide I 8

2016 PROJECTED JOB GROWTH

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9 I Hire Employment Guide

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Negotiating

$alary

Y

ou’ve painstakingly prepared your resume, navigating through the nerve-wracking interview phase and are the final candidate. Your effort has been validated, but it’s not over.

Negotiating your new salary can be one of the most difficult aspects of the job search. It takes confidence and compromise, professionalism and patience. If executed correctly, it could leave you with an excellent salary and benefits package.

Open up to the idea of negotiating your next salary. Young workers are often the most prone to ending up with less than market value because they are overwhelmed with the job search experience and excited to take their first big professional opportunity. But settling for what is first offered can take money out of your pocket and set you back for years to come.

KEEP YOUR CARDS CLOSE TO YOUR CHEST

We all have that magic number in our heads when it comes to the salary we can accept in a new position. We know what it takes to pay the bills, and we know our current salary. Anything less can represent a step back in our professional career paths.

That’s why revealing how much you would be willing to accept is a mistake.

You should carefully address any questions that prompt you for salary information. The quicker you share this information with hiring managers, the quicker you lose your negotiating power. Try to play it safe by giving ranges of salaries that you would accept so you don’t back yourself into a negotiating corner.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

There are a number online tools at your disposal that can give you fair market value for your position, location and professional background. A couple are salary.com and salaryexpert.com. You also can check the U.S. Department of Labor website for career information specific to your industry. Do this research before walking into a negotiation so you can be equipped with accurate numbers.

The more you know about where you fit on the company’s food chain in terms of salary, the more confident you can feel in your negotiation strategies.

THINK IT OVER

Accepting the job offer too quickly is one of the biggest mistakes a candidate can make at crunch time. Today’s job market is challenging, but it is also more robust than it has been in years past. This means that there are opportunities out there for qualified professionals.

You should think through all offers.

Don’t be afraid to turn one or two down if they aren’t the right fit for what you’re looking to achieve. Patience is a virtue in the employment landscape, one that hiring managers and recruiters have to respect if they want to add you to their teams.

This understanding is also prevalent in negotiations, as you should feel entitled to ask for more money, benefits or stock options if you think the offer is lacking.

Hire Employment Guide I 10

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Leprino Foods on verge of final construction phase at east Greeley cheese manufacturing plant

By Sharon Dunn Greeley Tribune

Hire Employment Guide I 12

L

eprino Foods may soon be ready to begin a $10 million-plus third phase of its massive cheese manufacturing plant in east Greeley.

Officials at the international cheese and milk products production factory asked the City of Greeley to extend an existing development agreement that would give the company a break on $200,000 in taxes it would normally pay on construction materials and equipment.

The Greeley City Council will consider extending that agreement — which dates to 2008 when the company first came to Greeley — at its meeting Tuesday, but discussion of the topic is not planned.

Leprino came to Greeley in 2008, promising upward of a $270 million investment, including land costs, $143 million for the plant and $122 million in equipment.

Construction on the 847,000-squarefoot facility — its expected final footprint — began in 2010 after an extensive razing of the 100-year-old Western Sugar Factory, and the removal of 700,000 cubic yards of leftover lime deposits, the byproduct of years of processing sugar beets. Phase I and II are now complete, and the company has been operating for the past few years at 13th Street and 1st Avenue.

Company officials now plan to move onto the next two phases, “II B” and “III.” “These next phases would include additional milk processing and significant capital investment in the form of new manufacturing and processing capability and equipment related to the production of various dairy products, exceeding $10 million in value,” reports a summary of the project for the council meeting Tuesday.

Company officials have requested an extension of the agreement, which allows for a waiver of 50 percent of Greeley sales and use taxes assessed on construction materials, manufacturing and processing equipment, computer hardware and machinery installation retroactive to Jan.

13 I Hire Employment Guide

1, 2015, and extending through Dec. 31, 2018.

The summary reported that the rebate of the retroactive sales and use tax fees would be about $200,000.

“The next phase of sales and use tax is expected to net Greeley, after the 50 percent waiver, over $1 million in new sales and use tax proceeds,” the summary reported. A proposed amended agreement with Leprino states that it is based on the company exceeding $10 million in investments. If Leprino doesn’t reach that level, the proposed agreement states that Leprino would repay any incentives received.

In 2012, Leprino began operations in its first phase producing dry goods from milk. In 2013, it began its Phase II, producing cheese and beginning its whey production.

At full operating capacity, the plant is expected to produce 700,000 pounds of cheese each day and employ 500.

Leprino Foods is headquartered in Denver and is the world’s largest processor of mozzarella cheese, with sales to more than 40 countries through nine manufacturing plants across the country, and a joint plant with another operator in the United Kingdom. The company also has a manufacturing plant in Fort Morgan.

Greeley and Leprino Foods officials could not be reached for comment on this report.

WE ARE H

OP

Wa

»weld continued from page 8.

which are revised quarterly based on seasonality. more solid data.

The upside, however, is Weld’s economy More revised numbers, however, will is diverse and can withstand the losses in show the oil and gas downturn has indeed the oil and gas industry. hit the Weld area and the state, with all “Obviously, oil and gas prices will expectations of revising down the growth have an impact, but it’s something you in Weld when the numbers are evaluated have with all these industry sectors that in March. are absorbing these (losses), and we’re While Weld’s job numbers look on still seeing that,” Werner said. “You’re paper today to have grown by 3,800 seeing what we call regular growth across for the year overall, numbers through the board. Oil and gas grew at such an September 2015 may actually be revised extraordinary level, now we’re dealing down by 3,600 jobs to 99,100. Still, that’s with a normalized growth pattern.” above 2014, which ended the year with A recent report prepared for the U.S. 98,100 jobs.

Conference of Mayors by IHS showed “We’ve actually seen Weld ranks 15th across growth, and that’s an the country in expected UNEMPLOYMENT job growth in 2016. The important word, across the board in every report states Greeley’s RATES sector,” Werner said. metropolitan statistical “Those numbers have With December’s 3.3 percent area, otherwise known been above 2 percent. as Weld County, will see unemployment rate, Weld Those are really good a 3 percent growth this County could see an annual numbers.” year. average of 3.9 percent. The Hall said without a “To put things in last time the county’s annual doubt, the oil and gas context, we’re expecting average was any better was downturn is rearing 3 percent job growth 3.5 percent in 2001. The its ugly head in Weld. in 2016,” Werner said. rate has been inching down There’s just no getting “Anything above 2 is all year from a start of 4.2 around it, she said. great. The problem you percent in January 2015.

“It’s definitely having have is that job growth is — Source: Colorado Department of an impact in Greeley down from 5.2 percent Labor and Employment and the Weld County in Greeley (in 2015). area,” she said. “Since “Numbers like 5.2 the payroll jobs will be revised, and we percent, that’s astronomical. We’re still know they’re being revised down, there’s a growing,” Werner said. “That’s still a possibility the unemployment rate will be great story.” revised significantly in the Greeley area — Weld ranked the highest for growth not necessarily, but the possibility exists.” among the Colorado statistical areas Ongoing unemployment claims the report observed. Fort Collins, which in the oil and gas industry, as a state, includes Loveland, ranked 47th on the averaged 463 a month in 2014. Through list, with an expected job growth of 2.4 2015 so far, they have averaged 1,221 percent. Denver was even lower at 54. a month, a 163.8 percent increase. In But evidence of the downturn is Weld, the industry jobs are included apparent and closer to home. Casper, with construction for reporting purposes.

Wyo., will see the worst job growth in Statewide construction unemployment the nation, ranking 381 with 1.5 percent. claims didn’t grow quite as much, though Cheyenne ranked 328th on the list with a they’re expected to, given the industry’s job growth of 0.3 percent.

Hire Employment Guide I 14

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Prevent Anxiety Especially if you’re not consistently hearing back from companies to which you apply, the job search can be one of life’s most stressful experiences.

A

lukewarm job market can negatively impact your confidence and leave you wondering what you can improve to better your job opportunities. If you’re unemployed, financial worries can amplify your anxiety even more.

There are tips and tricks you can incorporate into your search to keep your head.

You’ll be happily employed before you know it.

CONSIDER NEW INDUSTRIES

Maybe you have a background of customer service within the retail industry.

You’re great with people and take pride in maintaining customer relationships. Just because you’ve specialized in retail settings doesn’t mean you couldn’t bring the same skill set to the legal, entertainment or manufacturing industries.

Keep your options open when searching for a job or you could pigeonhole yourself into a job sector that may limit you professionally. Create two separate resumes: one for the retail industry and one that indicates you’re open to »Anxiety continued on page 20 Hire Employment Guide I 16

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17 I Hire Employment Guide

Colorado approves $18.85 million in incentives for 1,368 jobs

Proposals range from 635 jobs in Larimer County to 20 in Broomfield

By Aldo Svaldi The Denver Post

C

olorado’s pipeline of pending corporate expansions and relocations continues to run full in the new year.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission on Thursday approved $18.85 million in job growth incentive tax credits to six employers considering the state for 1,368 jobs.

Project Transformation, a telecommunications firm with a presence in the state, received approval for $8.15 million in incentives in return for creating

635 new jobs in Larimer County.

Larimer County is competing with locations in Arizona and New Mexico for the customer service and technical support positions, which will carry an average annual wage of $44,550.

Project Geneva, a contract manufacturer of specialty medical devices, said it is weighing whether to locate 255 jobs paying an average wage of $45,212 a year in El Paso County or in Vancouver, Wash., where it also has offices.

The commission approved incentives worth $2.1 million to sway the decision in Hire Employment Guide I 18

the state’s favor.

Project Bluff, the code name for a Denver cyber security startup, received approval for $5.4 million in incentives if it adds 248 jobs in Denver paying an average wage of $117,923.

The firm’s chief financial officer said the company, which has raised $37 million in venture capital and counts 44 local employees, was under pressure from its investors to move to California.

in-state spending on 13 episodes of a halfhour country music and variety program.

Filmed in Centennial, the show includes a crew of 39 and cast of 9 and features local artists as well as scenes shot from across the state. In its second season, the show airs on RFD-TV, a cable channel that targets rural audiences.

“This show can bring a ton of revenue to the state,” Canyon said.

Other film rebates approved included $46,000 for a documentary on the formation of the National Park Service, which will celebrate its centennial on Aug. 25.

A documentary examining personal impacts of the murder of JonBenét Ramsey in Boulder, 20 years after it happened, received approval for a $50,000 rebate, but not before addressing questions on whether the show would put Colorado in a bad light.

“This show can bring a ton of revenue to the state,” Canyon said.

Other requests approved included:

• Project Apothecary, a Fortune 500 company looking to locate a research laboratory in either Weld County or Austin, Texas. The new $135 million facility would employ 170 workers making an average wage of $77,206.

The commission approved just under $2.4million in incentives.

•Project WTM, an advanced manufacturer, is looking to add 40 engineering and technician jobs in Jefferson County paying an average wage of $76,625. It received approval for $565,718.

•Viega LLC, a German maker of plumbing and HVAC equipment, received approval for $223,380 in incentives for 20 jobs at a proposed product training center in Broomfield.

The company has its U.S. headquarters in Wichita.

The commission also approved three rebate requests for just under $200,000 coming through the state Office of Film, Television & Media.

The Joey Canyon Show received approval for a rebate of $102,789 for 19 I Hire Employment Guide

The Hire Job and Resource Fair offers great resources for those seeking to find a job.

»checklist continued from page 7

NOTEPADS

Nothing shows an interviewer that you’re paying attention and are invested in the process like watching you take notes during your meeting.

Wait for key points to come up that relate to the company or the job responsibilities. There is no substitute for solid eye contact throughout your interview, but taking a few notes here and there will help your case.

Remember that you want any materials you take to an interview to be a reflection of what you represent as a professional.

Find professional note-pads and pens rather than the standard kinds you used in grade school.

BRAG SHEETS

If you’re a graphic designer, walking into an interview with-out your portfolio is like walking into a sword fight without a sword. Anyone in the creative services such as writing, advertising or design should have both paper and online portfolios to show. Find your best work and turn it into a brag folder that highlights your best and most diverse work.

Other materials that can make a difference in an inter-view include letters of recommendation, certifications, accolades and successful policies you have written for past companies. The goal is to leave your interviewer with an impressive stack of materials that both tell your professional story and sell your potential.

»Anxiety continued from page 16

transitioning into a new setting. This will help recruiters and hiring managers get a sense of your specific goals.

Maintaining a positive, flexible approach to your job search can help you make new connections and feel confident about taking on new challenges.

DON’T OVER-ANALYZE

It is human nature to wonder why you’re not getting the attention you feel you deserve. You put in the work of finding an open position, tailor your resume for it and submit your materials. Then the waiting comes. The longer you wait, the more frustrated you become. It’s during this time that your mind can wander.

Does your experience not match what the company is looking for? Are you

lacking some kind of training or project experience called for by the job? Sometimes asking yourself these questions can do more harm than good, and it’s best to stay focused on your objective: finding a job.

Keep plugging away with your job search and stay positive. It’s impossible for you to figure out what a hiring manager is basing his or her decisions on. The job could have been awarded to an internal employee with more experience with the company’s processes. Maybe the job announcement has been extended.

Regardless, staying focused on what you can control can help you maintain a good outlook on your opportunities to find a new job.

F IND YOUR DR E AM J O B Hire Employment Guide I 20

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The Right Way to Follow Up After a Job Interview

By Nicole Cavazos

S

o you’ve just interviewed for your dream job (or at least a dreamy job) and as far as you’re concerned, you nailed it! It’s only a matter of time before they call you with an offer. But after a couple of weeks pass without a peep, you start to get a sinking feeling that perhaps it wasn’t the slam-dunk you imagined.

At this point, you might feel as if it’s best to lick your wounds and move on.

But the better response would be to follow-up with the employer. In some

ways, the job interview is only the beginning of the conversation. While you certainly don’t want to be annoying, you want to stay on the employer’s radar.

Here’s the right way to follow up after a job interview, without being a pest.

Thank You Note

Of course, the first follow-up email should come in the form of a thank you note. This should always be sent, without fail, to every person you interviewed with as soon as possible, no later than 24 hours after the interview. The note should Hire Employment Guide I 22

be brief, friendly and conversational, restating your interest in the job and any relevant details on why you’re qualified.

The thank you note is also a great opportunity to add any significant information you may have forgotten to say in the interview. Here’s an example: If you’re really ambitious, you might even try to impress the employer with an idea that could add value to their company. For example, you could say, “Our discussion about (A, B and C) gave me an idea. Has your team considered trying [X, Y and Z]? I found it to be super effective in my last job.”

Make it easy on them by reminding them why you deserve the job.

Checking In

Sending a thank you note after an interview is the easy part of following up.

It’s a different thing when you’re following up after a couple of weeks. You might worry that checking in will make you seem annoying, or worse, desperate. But if you do it right, you won’t seem like either.

After all, you want them to know you want the job. Why pretend like you don’t.

If it’s been a while since you last heard anything, don’t jump to the conclusion that you didn’t get the job. Sometimes these things can take a while to settle, especially if the decision makers have a lot on their plate.

If you’re smart, you ended your interview by asking about the next steps in the process, the timeline and when you should expect to hear back. If that date has passed without a peep, wait a couple of days before following up to avoid annoying them.

You could say something like, “Hi Jane, I hope all’s well! You mentioned that you’d be finalizing your decision for the IT position this week. I’m eager to hear when you have an update. Please let me know if there’s anything I can provide to assist you in your decision-making process.”

23 I Hire Employment Guide

Stay in Touch

This is the part that takes a little finesse. Even if you don’t get the job, it might be useful to have this employer in your network. So rather than seeing them as a somebody who can give you something, treat them as colleague you’re working on building a relationship with.

This means keeping the conversation going by periodically sending articles or information that might be relevant to them or congratulating them on recent accomplishments.

See if it’s ok to add them to your LinkedIn network. But remember, don’t overdo it. Be cognizant of whether you’re being helpful or a nuisance. Always be genuine.

The key is to remain proactive and useful, not pushy and over-eager.

example thank you letter Hi [interviewer name], Thank you so much for meeting with me today. After learning more about the position, I’m very excited about the opportunity to join your team and help [create world-class marketing campaigns, inspire prospective clients, increase revenue, etc.] for [company name].

I feel like my past experience [creating mobile apps, working on catchy advertising taglines, bringing in new forms of revenue, etc.) would be great fit for your company.

Please keep me posted on the status of the hiring process. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Warm regards, [your name]

At Aims Community College, we are guided by four core values: Communication, Safety, Respect & Professionalism, and Trust. We’ve spent the last 50 years earning our reputation as a college that helps students achieve their learning goals and objectives, and we work each day to expand this legacy. If you share our values and can contribute to our mission of providing effective and efficient program options and services to our students, we want to hear from you!

We know that our employees’ lives encompass much more than the time they spend at work. To help them maintain a healthy work/life balance, we’ve compiled a generous benefits package: ê Medical, dental, vision

ê Short and long-term disability, life insurance ê Flexible spending account ê PERA

ê Paid time off, paid holidays

ê Tuition waiver/reimbursement and flexible work schedule

We’ve also incorporated unique benefits, including our comprehensive wellness program that includes wellness fairs, health screenings, flu shots, oncampus health and fitness classes, and more!

We have several full-time and part-time positions available. Check our website weekly for the latest updates: https://jobs.aims.edu .

Join our team!

W W W. A I M S . E D U GREELEY

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WINDSOR

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LOVELAND

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FORT LUPTON

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ONLINE

Aims Community College is an EEO Employer and an equal opportunity educational institution.

Hire Employment Guide I 24