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.

Tips on How to Write the Perfect Resume

Tips on How to Write the Perfect ResumeIf you're looking for an easy and quick way to get noticed, look no further than your resume. With your resume, you're not only letting your employer know what you've done, but also what you can do for them. Here are some tips on how to write the perfect resume for yourself.First of all, it's important to realize that there is no such thing as the perfect resume. What's best for one person might not be right for you, and vice versa. Instead, focus on what's important to you and what you can offer.Your resume should include information that will put you at the top of the pile. That includes a job title and a short description of your skills and abilities. When applying for a job, you need to be very specific about your qualifications, so think of what you're looking for in a job first. Then follow that with your job title and skills to put your job in the perfect light.After you've described your job, it's time to get your resume down on paper an d begin writing it. It might be a good idea to take a few minutes and just sit down and brainstorm with your resume on paper, using your favorite word processor, to come up with a strong statement of why you're the perfect candidate for the job.Next, you need to list down all your professional experience, from your education to your volunteer work. Include information about your professional connections. For example, if you have several years of experience, mention that you're a graduate student or someone who's working toward a master's degree. Don't forget to include any awards, honors, or other awards you've received.When filling out your resume, make sure you cover all the bases. You don't have to list every single job you've ever held, but put emphasis on those jobs that show you have an ability to work with people. In addition, mention any internships you've had, and even jobs you've worked part-time. And when listing your professional connections, include your phone number, f ax number, email address, and the type of phone call you received each week.Finally, when putting together your resume, consider the type of job you're applying for. If you're applying for a fast-food position, your resume should include details about how you worked as a cashier, or how you worked at McDonald's during a family vacation. It should also show examples of your job responsibilities.

Coworkers Makes Me Uncomfortable Hovering, Staring

Coworkers Makes Me Uncomfortable Hovering, Staring Q: How do I deal with a coworker who is overly attached to me? I have an issue with a male coworker of mine. When I started out at the job, we became good friends and I had joined his family for dinner a few times but it always felt a little awkward and began to feel like he was getting too close to me. He seems to take interest in everything that I do, regurgitates my calendar to me if I have any kind of out-of-town events or hanging out with friends, whatever it may be, and picks up any hobby that I have. It’s driving me crazy! I recently talked to my boss about it, and he reassured me that this coworker tends to attach himself to a specific person and tells that person everything. It made me feel a little bit better, but I still get uneasy vibes from him. I finally talked directly to my coworker about how I was feeling and that I feel like he’s gotten too close to me. Things seemed to have gotten better for a little while, but now he is constantly staring at me â€" he sits right next to me â€" and it makes me feel SO uncomfortable. And if I ask a coworker a question, he jumps in immediately to answer before even giving my coworker a chance to answer. I’ve read your articles about addressing the staring, and will probably try that out this week, but another thing he does is constantly apologize to me for every little thing. He apologizes profusely for things that don’t even matter. Read More: My employee has a crush on me A: Your boss thinks that the fact that your coworker does this over and over with different people somehow makes it better? If you made it clear to your boss that your coworker is making you uneasy, that’s a really inadequate response. If your boss knows this is a pattern and knows that it’s creeping people out, he should talk to your coworker and tell him that he needs to dial the intensity of his interest in people way down. We can’t make your boss do that, though, so let’s focus on what you can do. One immediate thing: It sounds like it would help if you were able to put some physical distance between you and your coworker, so could you sit somewhere that isn’t right next to him? Assuming you need your manager’s okay to to do that, I’d say this to him: “Fergus continues to make me extremely uncomfortable with the amount of personal interest he takes in everything I do. He stares at me, makes unwelcome comments, and generally gives me the impression that he’s interested in me in a way that isn’t appropriate for a coworker. I feel uneasy about his interest, and I think a lot of this would be solved if I weren’t sitting right next to him. Given how uncomfortable he’s making me, will you okay me moving to another desk?” Also, you may need to be more direct with your coworker himself. I would say this: “Fergus, the issues we talked about earlier are coming up again. When you stare at me, jump into conversations I’m having with others, and initiate so many private conversations to apologize for things, it makes me uncomfortable. I’d like you to stop.” I know this won’t be a comfortable conversation, but what he’s doing now is making you uncomfortable too. Since you have to choose between two uncomfortable options, take the one that makes him more likely to stop. Also! Keep in mind that if he’s genuinely a nice guy who doesn’t realize how uncomfortable he’s making you, he’ll respect this request from you â€" in which case, problem solved. He might a bit hurt or embarrassed, but he’ll abide by what you’re asking him to do. (And really, nice people don’t want to creep out other people, and want to be told if they’re inadvertently doing that.) On the other hand, if he’s not a nice guy, then that’s all the more reason to speak up clearly and explicitly, so that you’re on record as telling him that his behavior is unwelcome, and then are able to more easily escalate if it continues. Read More: How to reject a coworker who’s romantically interested in you Q: My job was eliminated, but I’m being told it wasn’t a layoff I work part-time in customer service for a mid-size retailer. Yesterday my coworkers and I were pulled into a meeting with HR and informed that the part-time position was being eliminated, but it was definitely not a layoff because they’re offering us inventory running or retail positions. However, the positions we’re being offered are not just completely different jobs but have drastically different schedule requirements that are impossible for me on public transportation. Obviously they have a legal right to do whatever they want, but how do I address this on job applications going forward? Is it okay to say I left because my position was eliminated even if it was “definitely not a layoff”? I’m afraid saying I quit because I couldn’t accommodate a schedule change will make me sound flaky even if the change is from regular office hours to working until 11 p.m. Read More: I found out my coworker is getting laid off A: It sounds pretty clear to me that your position was eliminated, which is the definition of a layoff. Yes, you were offered a different job, but it was a completely different role with a completely different schedule. They’re probably telling you that it’s “definitely not a layoff” because they don’t want to have to pay unemployment if you file for it, but your unemployment agency is highly likely to see this as a layoff â€" or at least as a change that renders you eligible for unemployments benefits â€" if you explain it the way you have here. That said, you want to make sure that what you tell prospective future employers lines up with whatever your old company is going to tell them. Because of that, it might make sense to say, “They eliminated my position and offered me a different role with a nighttime shift.” These questions are adapted from ones that originally appeared on Ask a Manager. Some have been edited for length.