Is Communication the Key to an Engaged Workforce

Is Communication the Key to an Engaged Workforce One significant factor that can determine the engagement levels within an organisation is the quality of communication taking place between employees and those in leadership roles. Practices  such as taking employee feedback on board, conducting performance reviews and  generally  keeping staff in the loop about things occurring within the business are all factors that can contribute towards creating a highly engaged workforce. This infographic created by  Quantum Workplace  demonstrates just how important communication is for employee engagement and offers a few pointers for how engagement levels can be improved. How can employee engagement be managed? Engaged companies treat employee engagement as a year round activity, unlike disengaged companies who may treat it as a short-term project. Employees are partly responsible for their own engagement. Highly engaged companies are 6x more likely to say employees have a lot of responsibility for increasing engagement. The top 3 feedback tools that are important in highly engaged companies are performance management programs, recognition programs and annual employee surveys. Should companies conduct employee surveys? 5% of highly engaged companies surveyed their employees in the last year and the better the engagement the better the participation. In highly engaged companies 60% of employees participated in the survey, compared to 20% in disengaged companies. Providing a follow up to employee surveys is an important but often overlooked factor.  Employees whose managers follow up with them after a survey are 12% more likely to be engaged at work than those who receive no follow-up. What tools and tactics are used by engaged companies? One-on-one meetings between manager and employee, as well as whole company and department meetings. Regular emails from leadership and social media tools. Employee engagement surveys,  performance reviews and goal setting. What are the communication differences between engaged and unengaged companies? 86% of highly engaged companies conduct one-on-one meetings with employees, compared to 50% of disengaged companies.  Face to face has been found to be more effective, than emails from leadership. Exit interviews and employee surveys are prioritised over performance reviews in highly engaged companies, as it focuses on how things can be improved for employees to make their experience better. Whereas disengaged companies prioritise thing such as company newsletters. How to improve your employee engagement: Introduce a formal employee recognition program. Conduct an annual survey involving managers. Complement exit interviews with exit surveys. Conduct one-on-one meetings with employees. Commit to your engagement all year round. Image: Pablo

Top 10 CV Crimes Are You Guilty as Charged

Top 10 CV Crimes Are You Guilty as Charged When writing your CV, are you guilty of a series of crimes against employment? All rise. The CV court is now in session. Is your current CV doing your skills and experience justice? Are you courting a life sentence in the same job by committing these CV crimes? 10 CV crimes to avoid: Your CV should be a maximum of 2 pages. Your directions should be clear from your CV. Your CV is not aimed at your target role. An eye-catching, uncluttered CV will appeal more to recruiters senses. Showcase your pertinent experience, nothing else please. Dont make the recruiter play detective to find out what they need to know. The penalty of not securing an interview will outweigh the effort required to present a sound case. Back up your claims with quantifiable achievements, LinkedIn recommendations can support this. If your dates dont stack up, make sure you have some good answers ready for the recruiter. Check, check and check again to make sure your spelling and grammar do your CV justice. Find out if youre guilty below! [Source Giraffe CVs]

What is Business Casual Attire and Why Choose It for a Job Interview

What is Business Casual Attire and Why Choose It for a Job Interview What is Business Casual Attire and Why Choose It for a Job Interview? They say you should always dress for success. But what does that even mean in todays culture of   CEOs wearing black turtlenecks and or even white tees and the same pair of jeans? If you are stressing over just what you should wear to your next interview in a hip startup or a more mature mid-sized company, our answer is â€" opt for business casual attire. Its always a safe bet and we have some data to prove that.   Why Business Casual Attire is the Best Style To Wear For a Job InterviewWhile specific definitions of business casual dress may differ a bit, the attitudes toward business casual attire in the workplace have been summarized in a recent survey of workers conducted by Randstad US.79% of participants said that business casual (or just casual or no dress code at all) was supported by their organizations.33% stated they would quit their jobs if formal, conservative attire were required.Interestingly, 65% felt it would be important to wear a suit to an interview, no matter ho w casual dress may be within the organization.So what this data is telling us? Formal wear may not always be required at the office, but most recruiters prefer to see smartly dressed candidates.OK, So What is Business Casual Attire Exactly?If you are not much into fashion, it can be an ambiguous term, to be sure. Most often, though, business casual men’s attire means dressing up in:slacks or classic cut trousers (not jeans)a collared shirt (without a tie)a relaxed, casual blazer (if it’s weather appropriate)and a nice pair of shoes (no tennies, sneakers or flip-flops if you are an Aussie or Kiwi).Business casual women’s clothing is a bit more diverse as we, gals, definitely have more optionsbut that also often leads to the dreadful analysis-paralysis: you just can’t decide what to wear!So heres a quick cheat sheet for you too:Neutral-colored dress slacks and a collared blouse, shirt or sweater are always a good combo.A mid-length dress with short or long sleeves should be fi ne too (as long as it doesn’t have a decollete).Throwing on a casual suit is also fine. You can pair it with a plain tee and some dainty accessories for a more chill look. Or wear a blouse/shirt for a more polished look.As for shoes, low heels, flats or comfortable non-tennis shoes should be fine.Anyhow, if you don’t want to miss the mark with a potential employer, make your outfit more “business” than “casual”. In other words, avoid:Leggings/sportswearJeans (especially the ripped ones).Bright graphic tees or shirts with crazy, bright patterns.Wrinkled disheveled clothingSpike heelsLow-cut or otherwise revealing clothes.And Why Should I Get Dressed Up For That Interview?Face it:   when you put on a suit (or a business dress with jacket), you feel more professional overall. And that feeling can carry over into how you conduct yourself during the interview process and what first impression youll make.The simple truth is this: the better you look, the more confidence you ha ve.According to a recently reported study by Northwestern University, a group of people who wore lab coats, as opposed to artist smocks or no additional top, actually performed better on tests in science and reasoning. While their armor didnt make them smarter per se, it boosted their concentration, confidence and gave them an extra feeling of professionalism. So yep, that dress for success adage has scientific backings.Also, first visual impressions are pretty much permanent. You can’t “unsee” them.  So perhaps you’ve seen that commercial for a laundry product, telling the “story” of a blind date. The female is nicely and neatly dressed. The male has come in a shirt that has obviously “lost” its shape. He says, “You look great!” She says, “And you look amazingly (pause) casual.”Suffice to say that that guy wont score a second date. The same can hold true in an interview. Even if you are otherwise brilliant, some HRs wont be able to see past your disheveled l ook and too laid back attire. In other words, theyll keep concentrating on the fact that you walked in ripped jeans, rather than carefully listening to what amazing things youve accomplished at your previous position.So, is Business Casual Entirely Appropriate for an Interview?Let’s keep it real: the work and the workplace itself has significantly changed. Most companies are no longer fazed by people with visible tattoos, piercing or bright hair colors. And the dress of white-collar workers has changed along with it. Even in conservative institutions such as banks, we see business casual attire in branch offices we go to.So while too lax garments are still a no-no for an interview, business casual will likely fly by with most companies. To stay on the safe side, do some quick “check” on the organization you are heading to:Browse their social media and website to see how the average employee is dressed.If you see no-dress code folks, business casual would definitely be appropri ate.Also, those applying to senior roles will likely make a better impression by wearing a suit. However, it all depends on the organization.And if your research tells you that an organization interviewing you is conservative, then the formal dress is probably a good idea. The same goes for customer-facing roles in traditional companies. previous article Career (Con)Quest #10: Knock, Knock! Whos There? next article Career (Con)Quest #11: Not a Lost Cause you might also likeWhy Do You Want to Work Here? Best Answers to This Interview Question

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Its Time to Stop Mindless Collaboration

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese It's Time to Stop Mindless Collaboration It certainly seems to make sense that collaborating can lead to better results, but its the sort of touchy-feely subject that many senior leaders dont believe can lead to real bottom-line payoffs. But new research shows thatcollaborating in the right waycan boost revenues and profits and offer better solutions to customers, who in turn become more loyal. It can also lead to more innovation, and provides greater oversight and transparency that can reduce unethical or illegal conduct by individuals. Heidi K. Gardner, a distinguished fellow and lecturer on law at Harvard Law School, says that she was familiar with the skepticism about collaboration, and even saw companies suffering from collaboration overload. Thats when she decided to investigate. Plunging into data, interviews and surveys, she says she was surprised by the results and found that collaboration in many cases was even more positive than we thought. The key, however, is that in order forcollaborationto work, it must be done in an intentional way and not just for selfish reasons, she says. Specifically, it must be smart collaboration that focuses on putting together the right people for the right reasons, she says. Smart collaboration relies on a real diagnosis of what problem can be eased either complexity or scope or scale and you have to be convinced of the importance of integrating different kinds of knowledge, she says. Youre not throwing a team against it because thats what you always do or youre just using a team as a way to dodge individual accountability. Many customers now seek out those firms that can offer solutions to more complex problems such as with mergers and acquisitions and those answers often lie in collaborative efforts, she says. Further, Gardner says customers often are willing to pay more for specialists who can collaborate because such teams can arrive at a moreinnovative, integrated solution. In her new book, Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos, Gardner says that collaboration done the right way can work for any company, no matter its size. Sometimes people are doing collaboration mindlessly. There is justified cynicism (read more here)

Resume Writing Services - Find a Job Laid Back in Dayton OH

Resume Writing Services - Find a Job Laid Back in Dayton OHIf you're looking for resume writing services in Dayton OH, here are some things you should consider. Since so many companies these days use online technology to create resumes, it can be really easy to get bogged down and not be able to find the perfect one.The first thing to consider when it comes to finding a resume writing service in Dayton OH is how long it's been in business. The last thing you want to do is sign up with someone who has been around for less than two years.They need to be in the business for at least a few years. Otherwise, they may not have the expertise needed to do the job. It's important to also consider the amount of experience they have. If they have been around for a while, they may also be able to refer you to a company who can help you find the job you're after.Next, you need to think about the amount of experience they have. While this does not mean that they need to be rich or anything like th at, it does mean that they need to have done a lot of different jobs. If they've been doing freelance writing jobs for years, they are probably the right choice for you. However, if they have only been in the field for a few months, you may want to look somewhere else.Another thing to think about is the types of assignments they have had. If you have been on a job, but they cannot give you any specifics on what that job was, they probably are not the right fit for you. It's best to find a person who can give you as much information as possible.Last, but not least, you need to think about how well the writer knows the industry you are in. If they just started out, you might not have much in the way of references to call.If you have a business that has been operating for years, you should go to a more established service. You don't want to waste your time trying to find a resume writing service in Dayton OH who has never even written a resume before.The key to finding the right resume writing service in Dayton OH is to have as much information as possible. And once you have everything, you should start calling around to different ones until you find the right one.

What 80% of Us Dont Know (Or Ignore) About Our Job Searches - Pathfinder Careers

What 80% of Us Don’t Know (Or Ignore) About Our Job Searches - Pathfinder Careers What 80% of Us Don’t Know (Or Ignore) About Our Job Searches With this post, I am going to go out on a limb using some strictly unscientific data I’ve been quietly gathering from all of my discussions with hiring managers, recruiters, headhunters, and human resource professionals. Are you ready? Ok, here it is: 80% of all the résumés out there suck. Yes, I mean really suck. As in spelling/grammar/usage/punctuation errors, ugly or non-existent formatting, lack of keywords, cutting and pasting job duties instead of listing valuable contributions, inclusion of photos and other non-relevant personal information, and the ever-so-outdated objective statement which is the constant thorn in the side of anyone who reads the document, just to name a few. All of these horrible elements are still out there and still being circulated as application materials in all of their hideous, error-ridden, and totally ineffective glory. Now before you start rolling your eyes, clucking your tongue, and thinking indignantly, “Certainly, she’s not talking about not my résumé!” consider this: Most of these hiring professionals I’ve talked to have indicated that the 20% of the ‘good’ résumés that they see are only ADEQUATE (meaning the documents give them the basics of what they need to consider the applicant). Out of that 20% , less than 5% absolutely pop and crackle in the way we all think and hope our document does when it lands on the screener’s desk. Actually, I totally agree with that 5% number… Lots of prospective clients send me their documents, brimming with confidence that their résumé is superior and just needs some minor tweaks or  touch-ups. Oh, really? “Well, let’s take a look,” I say, and open up the file. What pops up on my screen isn’t pretty… most of the time. There’s a reason why so many résumé writers, human resource managers, and career professionals are constantly tweeting and writing articles on this subject.   We are literally screaming at the top of lungs… job seekers simply HAVE to punch it up a notch in today’s highly sophisticated job market. But the problem is that there are lots of people who simply are not ‘getting’ it whether they are just plain ignorant or too egotistical to admit their résumé isn’t up to current snuff â€" to their own detriment. To defend John and Jane Public, they don’t make a career out of tracking résumé trends. Most of us usually go through this update process perhaps every few years until we find a job, then we let the dust settle before calling up the résumé again years later. As a writer, I see technology continually reshaping the employment marketplace, and it is going to boil down to how you position and then format your credentials which will determine whether you attract the attention of first an applicant tracking system (ATS) and then a human resources live human being. However you go about it, you need elevate your résumé to the next level whether you buy a ‘how-to’ book to do it yourself or hire a professional.   It is a constantly evolving landscape, and if you want to stand out as a superior candidate, your background and accomplishments alone won’t cut the mustard anymore as ‘stand alone.’ We’re talking pushing yourself harder than you’ve ever pushed yourself before.   Everyone needs to see their résumé as a living, breathing roadmap of their career, and invest in themselves. Their livelihood depends on it.

How do I find a job

How do I find a job Finding a new job is not an easy task.   It takes discipline and focus.   I read a story in the Buffalo newspaper yesterday about an  computer operator  who had been looking for work for over a year. The man was at a job fair looking for any job he could find. Yes, you have to give him credit, but his approach is all wrong.   He is over qualified and presented himself as such. I  hear these types of stories a lot.   The media tries to make us feel sorry for these people.   To an extent, I do.   But really, what has he been doing? Heres what youll do: Part 1- know your capabilities and be able to speak about them. I mean really speak about them, like a confident sales professional. Part 2- focus on who needs these talents.   Everyone does, just in different ways.   You need to investigate this more, talk to people in different industries and run some ideas by them about your capabilities and how they might fit.   Obviously, this is done through networking. Todayright nowmake a list of 50-75 companies you would like to work for.   These are companies that would hire you for the type of work you do, period.   They need not have posted openings for them to be on your list. Part 3- network your tail off-   using Parts 1 2. The more focused you are in what you are looking for and where you want to do it, the more successful your results will be.   You will have more meaningful conversations that can lead to opportunities. If you are having trouble with thisseek help.   Ask a librarian.   Use your states DOL website.   In NY, this link  will ask you to select an occupation and county and will list 75 employers who  have been known to hire this  kind of job. Now, have a backup plan. What could you do if you just had to work?    What job would you do?   Set the wheels in motion today for lining up this job.   It could be a friends business that needs some help with their accounting, or promoting their business, or running errands or making deliveries.   Think outside the box.   Think like you are your own business, what solution could you provide.   Again, thinking about who you know, is there a lesser opportunity within their company you could fill? With the right mind set, you could easily find enough work this way to have a total income of more than what youd be getting on unemployment. Get  creative, think outside the box, be hungry!   You need money.   What can you do that someone is willing  to pay for?   Be able to fully explain the financial value to them.    Present the solution  completely.