How Appreciating Your Staff is a Win-Win for All

How Appreciating Your Staff is a Win-Win for All Everyone likes to be appreciated and nowhere more so than in the work place. Today (March 3rd) is Employee Appreciation Day, and while you may snigger or roll your eyes at the thought of such a day existing, surely it cant be a bad thing. Now there is the argument that you shouldnt just appreciate your staff just one day a year, a bit like the case for loved-up couples on Valentines Day. Surely if you appreciate someone you should tell them whenever they deserve the praise not  just on one day a year. But why is it important in the workplace? A recent survey by OC Tanner  found that  employees who received recognition at least one time in the past 12 months saw marked improvements in several areas compared to employees who didnt receive any recognition. Why should you  appreciate your employees Drive engagement Disengaged employees costs the economy $300 billion a year. Thats a fact. And you can boost your employee engagement by showing appreciation. Employee engagement is not just about happy employees, although it does help if you have a happy workforce. You may have heard the saying a happy wife means a happy life well the same can be said of your employees. A happy workforce in terms of engagement can have an effect on the amount of energy, effort, and passion employees bring to their work. And that’s important to bottom-line success. Retain talent Now this goes without saying. If you appreciate your employee and let them know just how much you appreciate them then the chances are they will stay committed to your company. They are unlikely to go elsewhere, or worse still to your biggest competitor. If they talk about how much they are appreciated at work then theres a good chance this will also help to attract new top talent to your company. Here are 5 ways to retain your top talent  as well as showing them appreciation. Increase trust Trust is the main driver that makes a company a great place to work. But the American Psychological Association reports 1 in 4 workers don’t trust their employers. Trust can be anything from past interactions with their company, whether they feel like things are done fairly and transparently, and openness in communication. It can even be measured by whether their values are consistent with the company’s values, how reliable the company is, and their perceptions of their company’s motives. The bottom line is trust is the expectation that workers can count on and rely on the company they are working for. How can you appreciate your employees? Just saying thank you Yep its as easy that. Be it face to face, in an email or in a staff meeting, just saying a simple thank you goes a long way to make an employee feel appreciated. The best thing about using this method of appreciation is its completely free. It doesnt cost you anything to say a simple thank you, but the rewards your company will reap by this small gesture is priceless. Gift vouchers Who doesnt like a bit of retail therapy? Whether you  want to shop till they drop or get your hands on that new must-have gadget, offering your employee gift vouchers as a way of showing your appreciation can go a long way. Some companies have things like employee of the month rewards where one employee is singled out for the great work theyve done and are often rewarded with high street vouchers or gift cards. Sometimes actually giving something as well as saying thank you goes a long way in making an employee feel appreciated. Caroline Stokes, founder of FORWARD, says: It’s important to acknowledge and recognize good work in the moment. Not once a year. Not just during review time. Maybe once a week if it warrants it, or even once a day can accelerate engagement and growth. For example, if you see that your employee or peer is consistently contributing strong ideas to the team, you can publicly acknowledge it in a meeting, or in a 1-2-1 with a ‘I have noticed in many meetings that you consistently bring strong ideas to the table and it makes a difference in moving the team forward with challenging issues. I want to take this moment to thank you for this, as it’s made a difference to our performance as a team The reason why many companies, bosses or colleagues don’t do that is counter-productive and counterintuitive. People get down in the weeds too often and focus only on problems, which can lead to burnout or a desire to work in a place that could scratch the itch of feeling fulfilled elsewhere. Employee appreciation can go a long way in making your business a success or a failure on many levels. So if you havent done it for a while or, in some cases, not at all, then what are you waiting for? Let your employee know theyre appreciated. Here is an infographic OC Tanner have put together from their survey results.

Resume Writing Scribd

Resume Writing ScribdIf you are one of the many who are interested in starting a career on a budget, resume writing scribd may be exactly what you need. You may not know it, but scribd is a fantastic option for creating resumes and cover letters.Before you start writing your page resume, it is important to know how much money you have to spend and what you want. The last thing you want to do is buy the best products out there only to find out that it will run you a lot more than you expected. In order to get the most out of your money, it is a good idea to create a well-designed resume.The first thing you need to know about resume writing scribd is to start with a piece of scrap paper. This is going to be the foundation of your resume. Everything you put on this first page is going to be on this page. This means that you can rearrange it and write everything on the first page.When creating a page resume, there are several things to take into consideration. One of the most important t hings is to make sure that the information you include is relevant. You also want to make sure that all the pieces of information fit together so that you do not end up in a rut.When you are starting out, it is a good idea to use a ball point pen. Most people don't have enough room on their computer desk to have a full-sized ball point pen. It is easier to write on a smaller page and then erase what you don't want to use on the top of the page. This allows you to move things around later without destroying them.Never forget to include your contact information. All of the people you will be contacting with your job will be able to find your resume. Having a contact number and email address is essential when you are looking for the perfect opportunity.After you have filled out the blank scribd, use a larger pen to write some of your education information. After all, this is what makes you unique. Keep it simple and just make sure that the amount of your education is enough to show tha t you have sufficient knowledge to be successful.As soon as you are done writing on the blank scribd, use a pencil. You are now ready to write on the next page. Remember to use a full-sized pen for this page. Next, if you have any extra time, you may want to write a few paragraphs on your education as well.

How to crack Strengths-based interviews

How to crack Strengths-based interviews Fundamentally interviewers are looking to answer the following 3 questions: ‘Can you do the job?’ ‘Do you want the job?’ ‘Will you fit in?’ Many people with be familiar with competency-based questions which form the basis of most job interviews. These look for evidence of transferable skills and are designed to answer the question ‘Can you do the job?’ They can be anticipated by looking through the person specification of job role you are applying for, and may highlight examples such as teamwork, problem solving and organising events or people. Typical examples of competency questions include: “tell me about a time when you successfully solved a challenging problem”, or “describe the role you typically play in a team.”  Highlighting the skills required by the recruiter means that it’s possible to anticipate and plan for potential competency-based questions before the interview. But what about those questions which are designed to look beyond your skills? How do recruiters get the answers to ‘Do you want the job?’ and ‘Will you fit in?’ The questions which can answer these are best described as  strengths questions and they are designed to elicit your motivation and values. With strengths questions the interviewer wants to know who you are â€" the authentic you. Graduate recruiters using strengths Ernst and Young, Barclays and Nestle are graduate recruiters who have incorporated a strengths-based approach to their recruitment and selection processes as a more effective way of eliciting responses from applicants. Standard Chartered Bank in Asia, one of the largest global graduate recruiters have also adopted strengths as part of their Graduate Development programme. These recruiters will have a range of strengths that they look to appoint against, although they will not expect all successful candidates to fulfil each and every one of these. However if your strengths don’t broadly align with the recruiting organisation’s then perhaps there may not be a good organisational/individual ‘fit’? In this case perhaps the recruiter is doing you a favour if they don’t appoint you. Here are some examples of strengths-based questions: Are you a starter of a finisher? What do you love to do in your spare time? What do you find quick to learn? How would a close friend describe you? What qualities would you bring to this team? Are you a big picture or a detail person? What activities give you an energy buzz? Give me an example of a weakness? Honesty is the best policy The best way to answer strengths questions is honestly. You cant prepare for these. These questions dont have a right or wrong response, so if you attempt to reply in the way you think the recruiter wants rather than what you actually think or feel, it’s likely that inconsistencies in your body language, a lack of genuine enthusiasm and expression may give you away. When you are describing the things you enjoy doing and are good at, your enthusiasm will come through in your answers. Youre likely to become more animated and your motivation will become apparent to the interviewer, which can only be a good thing. Tricky question: what are your weaknesses? For the ‘weakness’ question it is best to select a real weakness, (everyone has weaknesses after all) and to explain either what you are doing to overcome it â€" or how you use your strengths to compensate. This is a more honest way to respond that trying to ‘cleverly’ disguise a weakness as a strength. For example ‘my friends say I can be a bit annoying as I tend to be over-organised and write to do lists for absolutely everything.’ Recruiters see straight through this and it can be irritating. What if you don’t know your strengths? Student Careers and Skills run central strengths workshops each term which enable participants to complete a free Realise 2 Strengths profile. The profile identifies both your strengths and your weaknesses which can help you become more aware of what you have to offer as well as reflect on what you might say in response to strengths-based questions. Our careers consultants are qualified strengths practitioners and can provide 1 to 1 feedback on your profile. Feedback from students who have previously attended a workshop: “Just to let you know that since the strengths programme I’ve had 3 interviews, with the last one being yesterday. I’m delighted to be able to tell you I got two placements off the back of those interviews. I certainly think that the programme has helped me during these interviews so thank you very much for running the sessions.”  Law Third Year Undergraduate “The strengths profile program really helped me. It gave me a lot of confidence about who I am and what my scope for improvement is.”  Maths and Economics Second Year Undergraduate The Centre for Positive Psychology,    who designed the Realise 2 Strengths profile also have some useful pointers through their blog post:  How to prepare for strengths-based interviews. If you can’t wait for a workshop you can choose to complete a Realise 2 Profile at a discounted rate.  Just enter enter your Warwick e mail address and the code Warwick 2010.

In todays workplace, young job seekers hold the advantage

In todays workplace, young job seekers hold the advantage Companies are having a hard time recruiting and retaining young talent, and as a result are accommodating what would have once been considered extreme demands. The scales have tipped in favor of knowledge workers, creating a sellers market for the next 5 to 10 years, writes to Stan Smith, National Director of Next Generation Initiatives at Deloitte. Here are some reasons why so many younger workers have gained the advantage when it comes to negotiating the terms of a new job. The workforce is shrinking. The Department of Labor reports that from 2000 to 2010 there will be a 30 percent decrease of workers in their 30s and 40s. In addition, many Generation X parents are choosing to leave the workforce or cut back on hours in order to be home with their children. This trend is so pronounced that its creating a shortage of managers already. Many young people want their own businesses. The barriers to starting an Internet business are low. Viral marketing via a personal e-mail list and a few key mentions on prominent blogs can potentially catapult a good idea into a successful business. Since young people can effectively fund their own companies this way, many do not want to pay their dues by working for someone else and learning the ropes. The flexibility of owning a company is not only appealing, but also a way to avoid menial labor at the bottom of the corporate ladder. In fact, many young people are choosing the excitement of entrepreneurship over the stability of a good salary. If entrepreneurship is the first choice, a corporate job is a backup plan. Matt Humphrey, 20, and three friends just founded SlapVid, a company that cuts the cost of providing video content online. Humphrey thinks of the MBA program he is now in as sort of a backup plan in case SlapVid does not take off at the end of the summer. And in the event that he does not have another idea for a company before he graduates, getting a job at someone elses company is a second-level backup plan. Parents are a safety net. More than 50 percent of college graduates will move back home with their parents this summer. And most parents will like it. It used to be that returning home after college was seen as a sign of failure. Today, however, economists and sociologists see such homecomings as a smart response to exorbitant housing prices in big cities, and entry-level wages that do not cover living expenses. Three out of four of the founders of SlapVid are getting financial help from their parents. And Humphreys parents are typical in their enthusiasm for their childs adventure, and the tight relationship they share. They know they might have to support me for longer than they planned for, Humphrey said. Theyre definitely up for that. If I want to do something really, really cool, theyll support me all the way. They call me every day to see how Im doing. With such parental support, there is no need for a company to play the parenting role, which is what happened when baby boomers entered the workforce. And if there is no paternalism in corporate life, it becomes a scramble to figure out what businesses can leverage to scoop up young employees. The intimidation factor is diminished. People going to college today are working harder than I ever did in school, says Bill MacGowan, chief human resources officer of Sun Microsystems. These kids will find work easier than I did. In return for their effort, they expect to be well compensated by employers. As consummate consumers, they use technology to customize the way they view information, and they expect the same kind of customization when it comes to selecting jobs. They negotiate for vacation time, mentoring and training, flexible schedules, and even tricked-out laptops. And when it comes to negotiating, young people assume the adults at the office are on their side. Generation Y has been raised by parents who often acted more like friends and mentors. In fact, often a wide community was involved in helping a Generation Y child succeed including teachers, coaches, and private tutors. As a result, young people bring unprecedented confidence to the negotiating table. Some even have their parents in the room for added help, and many respected companies are willing to engage parents in the hiring process if thats what the candidate wants. Indeed, the scales have tipped and young people are in charge. For people who have been in the workforce for a long time and expected to be in charge, the new reality is difficult to accept. But its possible all employees will benefit from some of the changes. After all, demands such as more flexible schedules, are appealing to all employees, regardless of age.

Using a Reference List to Help With Your Job Search

Using a Reference List to Help With Your Job SearchCreating a reference list is one of the best things you can do to improve your job prospects. A reference list will help your job search as you get out there, but how do you go about creating one?The first thing you need to do to build your reference list is actually to have one. You see, sometimes employers are only after people who have built their own reference lists. If you don't have a reference list of your own, then you're not getting your foot in the door at all.When you're just starting out, it's easy to make a reference list on your own. Just think of the people who are close to you and ask them for names.Once you have a name in mind, write down every time you talk to them, what they like about them, what they dislike, and any other information that you think they might have. Remember, once you send out a resume, you have to stay consistent with it. Don't send a reference resume and forget about it until you get an intervie w.Your reference list can be any contact information for your past employers. It can be a number, name, email address, or even a phone number. You can also include more detailed information about the people you know, like their location, work history, and even their hobbies.When creating your reference list, make sure to include as many different companies as possible. Also try to include all of the ones that you think are hiring. The list will be very helpful when you're doing your job search in the future.Also, make sure to add people who already have a reference list on their resume. By doing this, you make sure that they are included because they can also refer other people to you.As you can see, creating a reference list is really quite simple. There is no reason that you can't start right now and build up to your reference list. Once you have your own list, you'll be able to find out who has applied for your current job, as well as find out who is available for future employme nt.

How Professional Resume Writing Services Can Help You

How Professional Resume Writing Services Can Help YouDo you know what exactly these pro Bono professional resume writing services do? Pro Bono or free service means that the company that you are hiring for, which is to write your resume for you, will be taking some time off from their usual tasks to assist you in writing your resume. Now, what exactly these companies do is to first of all identify a problem that you need to solve with your resume, so that they can provide a solution for your problem.In this way, they will be able to come up with an answer for your particular problem and write you a highly effective resume that addresses your problem. This is one way of attracting the attention of a potential employer.The next thing they will do is to gather a group of people who have some of the same skill sets as yours and help them in writing your professional resume. These resume writing services usually provide training to the writers on how to write professionally and explain th e qualifications of the candidates that are for consideration for employment.The resume will contain all the details of the candidates' work history. This resume will contain the candidate's educational background as well as the kind of work experience that the candidate has in his career. Now, the most important part of the professional resume that the companies provide is that it should be an eye-catching document that clearly expresses what the prospective employee can offer to the company.For the prospective employee, writing a good resume is not enough. As such, he must be very careful about all the details on the resume that he includes in the document. By including all the important information on the resume and making it clear and interesting, the prospective employee will surely be convinced of the worth of the person and may even consider hiring him for the job.You will find lots of pro Bono resume writing services that you can hire for your own needs. And many companies a lso offer help for free. Some people believe that if you want something done right, you should do it yourself.But in the case of errors and honest mistakes, the risk of losing face for the company is very high. Thus, you should hire a professional resume writing services that will not only look into your problem objectively but also make a judgment about the effectiveness of your skills and qualifications.Thus, it is better to take the help of these services and do it yourself rather than letting the free resources to do it for you. So if you really want to be a success in life, you must take the initiative and take up a project yourself and you will be surprised at the results.

Come with me to New York (if youre Danish) - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Come with me to New York (if youre Danish) - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I have an awesome event coming up: In October Im arranging a week-long trip to New York to meet some of the best and most innovative businesses and leaders on the US east coast. This is a chance to encounter the newest trends in leadership, business, innovation, customer service and employer branding years before they make it into the business literature. While most of the people well meet there speak English, the rest of the program will be in Danish, so you must speak Danish to participate. To keep the trip as useful and valuable as possible, were limiting it to only 20 participants and I can promise you one of the most interesting, inspiring and useful learning events ever. Im really, REALLY excited about it. Read all about it and sign up here (In Danish). Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Tough (Question) Tuesday Where do you bloom

Tough (Question) Tuesday Where do you bloom Magnet by Aimee of Artsyville. Put these back in your shop, Aimee! Believe it or not, with all the excitement going on, I couldnt think of a good question (isnt that such a relative word?) for todays installment of Tough (Question) Tuesday. So I started looking through my Inspiration folder on Evernote (yup, I clip all the images that I come across that excite me keep em there for a rainy day/blog post) came across this wonderful saying from Aimee. It got me thinking about how Im taking myself away from an environment where I most certainly do not bloom (thank you very much!), into one where I thrive. I grow. I stretch. I reach. I spark. I love. I connect. I bloom. So tell me, tell me: Where do you bloom? Do you need a lot of sunlight, fresh air water? Do you need a quiet room a paintbrush? Do you need a bathtub full of suds a glass of wine? Think about where you feel inspired, inspiring. Think about where you are what youre doing when the time flies its been nothing but fun. Then tell me, tell me your bloomin place in the comment section so I can help you till the soil. Wow, this was a good analogy.