5 Signs Its Time to Hire a Professional Resume Writer

5 Signs Its Time to Hire a Professional Resume Writer5 Signs Its Time to Hire a Professional Resume Writer5 Signs Its Time to Hire a Professional Resume WriterIs it time to turn to the frs?Searching for a job is an expensive process. Commuting costs, interview outfits, dry cleaning, coffee dates, networking event fees they all add up. The last thing you want to do is spend any more money than is necessary to land your next gig.However, if youve been looking for work for a while and havent had much success, it may be time to invest in a professionally written resume. Resume writers are trained to not only help you tell your career story, but to frame the information in a way that will get past the electronic filters, known as applicant tracking systems (ATS), and catch the attention of recruiters.Here are five signs it might be time to hire a resume writer and why its worth the investment.Writing isnt your forteNot everyone is a born writer. You may be a pro when it comes coding, but that doesnt mean you know how to advertise your expertise in a way that will entice prospective employers. Focus on sharpening your marketable job skills. Let a professional writer figure out the best way to convey your talents on paper.You dont know what to includeWriting a professional resume can be a stressful process. How far back should your employment history go? What will recruiters care most about? Do you have to mention that job you hated, or can you remove it altogether from your work history? If you dont know where to start, consider getting some help from a pro. Its the resume writers job to know what recruiters are looking for and how to best highlight that information.You havent mastered the humblebragA great resume does more than simply list your work experience and education. It calls attention to your accomplishments and contributions that are worth bragging about. If you find it difficult to brag about your work, ask a professional to do it for you. A resume write r will find the words to describe the value you bring to a potential employer.Your resume is getting lost in the black holeDo you apply to job after job and never hear back? If so, then your resume may be falling into the infamous job-search black hole.Most job applications must pass through a software program known as an applicant tracking system (ATS) before they make their way to the hiring manager. If your resume isnt formatted properly or optimized with the right key terms, theres a good chance it never got past these initial screens.A professional resume writer can help your application avoid the resume black hole and make it through these initial reviews to the top of the hiring managers pile.Your situation is uniquePerhaps youre interested in changing careers and are unsure how to show off your transferable skills for a new industry. Or maybe you find yourself with some substantial employments gaps or a string of short-term or unrelated gigs that are dominating your resume. While you cant change the past, a professional resume writer can help smooth out a bumpy work history by calling attention to your strengths and downplaying any weaknesses in your career story.Hiring a professional resume writer might not be an option for everyone. But if youre applying to the right opportunities and still struggling to land interviews, it may be time to seek out an experts opinion. Investing in a professional resume may give you just the edge you need to shorten your job search and land the right job, sooner.Click on the following link for more resume-writing advice.Need help with your resume? Our TopResume professional resume writers can helpRecommended Reading10 Best Job-Search Apps to Get You HiredBad Resume Advice You Should Completely Ignore5 Things You Should Always Include on Your Resume

Mastermind groups 101 What, how, and should you join one

Mastermind groups 101 What, how, and should you join oneMastermind groups 101 What, how, and should you join oneChances are good that youve been hearing about or wondering about mastermind groups but arent quite sure if theyre for you. Its also entirely possible that you have no idea of what a Mastermind group is. Well dont worry weve got you coveredWe asked Business Efficiency Consultant Yvonne Heimann creator of The Bulletproof Business Planner for tips on everything from defining and creating a mastermind group to successfully running one.Whats a Mastermind group anyway?The focus and goal of a mastermind is to use the combined brainpower and experience of the group members to elevate, educate and help everyone, said Heimann. And unlike networking, its more of a collective experience.With peer ratgeberingHeimann said to think of a mastermind as a group of mentors that fill in for each others shortcomings, things we havent learned or experienced yet, allowing each member to brains torm, get educated, being held accountable and challenged.With a twis0, mastermind members are student and mentor at the same time and need to be willing to give just as much as they take.Choosing membersHeimann believes there should be a vigorous process to deciding whos in your group and who doesnt make the cut Mastermind applicants should go through a vetting process, just like employees, she said.Create a mission statementHeimann said every mastermind should also have a mission and vision statement, outlining the focus and goals of the group. It should also be determined what type of mastermind it is topic based (building online courses, marketing yourself), mission-based (run a 5k in 5 months), or is it a business mastermind (product-based businesses, online businesses).Measuring successUnlike traditional groups The success of a mastermind is straight up connected to its members Heimann said. Matching up members in regard to their level of expertise, revenue, and goals is there fore vital.So, deciding on the group focus will also help determine the success of each member If the focus of the group is advancing a skill, having members of the same job/business can be of great advantage Heimann said. On the other hand, A business builder mastermind fruchtwein likely will have more success including members that are alike but not the same, those who can complement each other rather than competing for the same market.Size mattersMastermind groups tend to run on the small side, with 3-5 serious members most common. Heimann said Not enough members and the group will lack diversity, too many, and voices wont be heard.One pro tip from Heimann When starting a mastermind, start it with beta test round of six months. That allows everyone to test it, potentially adjust the goal and gives everyone an easy excuse to leave if things dont work out. And be sure everyone is serious. Having a commitment sheet for each meeting as well as a penalty for no-shows will allow less c ommitted members to move on.You might also consider charging or setting up some sort of structure fee. Heimann said, Humans tend to value and commit more to things they have to pay for, so a monthly mastermind fee might be of advantage and is the standard.The structureMasterminds have two common structures, the hot seat or equal time approach.Heimann explains In a hot seat mastermind, all the time goes to one member each meeting. This structure allows for a deep dive and plenty of time for all other members to respond and advise. This kind of layout is great for weekly masterminds. If you plan on meeting less frequently, the equal time approach might be a better fit Heimann said Splitting up the meeting time in equal parts for all members will allow everyone to take advantage without having to wait months on end for their turn.Prep sheets are a thingCreating prep-sheets keeps everyone and the meeting on track. Heimann says to create some with questions and room for milestones includ ing What to share for your short updateWhat were the results of my business goals last monthWhat were the results of my personal goals last month (if any)Other news/updates?Current projects and prioritiesWhat could I really use support on right now?What help looks like to meWhats my expectation for todays meeting? Am I looking for support or am I just giving?What have I learned recently that could be beneficial to one or all my team members?

Marketing and Sales Manager Job Description Sample

Marketing and ausverkauf Manager Job Description SampleMarketing and Sales Manager Job Description SampleMarketing and Sales Manager Job Description SampleThisabsatzwirtschaft and sales managersample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements.Marketing and Sales Manager Job ResponsibilitiesAccomplishes business development activities by researching and developing absatzwirtschaft opportunities and plans implementing sales plans managing staff.Marketing and Sales Manager Job DutiesAccomplishes marketing and sales human resource objectives by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees communicating job expectations planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing job contributions planning and reviewing compensation actions enforcing polici es and procedures.Achieves marketing and sales operational objectives by contributing marketing and sales information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews preparing and completing action plans implementing production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards resolving problems completing audits identifying trends determining system improvements implementing change.Meets marketing and sales financial objectives by forecasting requirements preparing an annual budget scheduling expenditures analyzing variances initiating corrective actions.Determines annual and gross-profit plans by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas for regions projecting expected sales volume and profit for existing and new products analyzing trends and results establishing pricing strategies recommending selling prices monitoring costs, competition, supply, and demand.Accomplishes marketing and sales objectives by planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating advertising, merchandising, and trade promotion programs developing field sales action plans.Identifies marketing opportunities by identifying consumer requirements defining market, competitors share, and competitors strengths and weaknesses forecasting projected business establishing targeted market share.Improves product marketability and profitability by researching, identifying, and capitalizing on market opportunities improving product packaging coordinating new product development.Sustains rapport with key accounts by making periodic visits exploring specific needs anticipating new opportunities.Provides information by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and trends.Protects organizations value by keeping information confidential.Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities reading professional publications maintaining personal networks participating in professional organizations.Accomplishes marketing and organization mission by completing related results as needed.Marketing and Sales Manager Skills and QualificationsFinancial Planning and Strategy, Marketing Concepts, Positioning, People Management, Territory Management, Sales Planning, Competitive Analysis, Understanding the Customer, Product Development, Client Relationships, Creative ServicesEmployers Post a job in minutes to reach candidates everywhere. Job Seekers Search Marketing And Sales Manager Jobs and apply on now. Learn more about how to write a job descriptionHow to Write a Job Description Resource PageHR Salary Information Employee CompensationBenchmarking 101 How to Pay New Hires

5 signs youre much smarter than average

5 signs youre much smarter than average5 signs youre much smarter than averageIntelligence, or IQ, isnt what you know, but rather the pace at which you acquire new information. Longitudinal studies have shown that IQ is fixed at an early age, so youre stuck with what youve got.While IQ is far from being the only thing that determines success in life- research shows that it isnt even the most important factor- a high IQ still isnt a bad thing to have. In fact, I dont know anyone who wouldnt mind having one.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -Albert EinsteinMost of us move through life never knowing exactly how smart we are. IQ is a difficult thing to measure, and unless youre willing to fork over several hundred dollars to a trained professional, youll never know for certain what your IQ is.New research provi des some interesting clues linking early life experiences too, among other things, high intelligence. If any of the following apply to you, you just might have a high IQ.Youre anxiousIts hard to think of anxiety as a good thing, but evidence suggests that it might elend be all bad. Psychiatrist Jeremy Coplan studied patients with anxiety disorders and found that the people with the worst symptoms had higher IQ scores than those with milder symptoms. Other studies have found higher verbal IQ scores in people with higher levels of anxiety.And then there was a more complex experiment conducted at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel. Researchers asked participants to evaluate artwork presented by a software program and then triggered a fake computer virus, making it look as if it was the result of something that the participant did.They then sent the participants on an urgent mission to get tech support, only to throw yet another series of obstacles in their way.They found t hat the most anxious participants were also the most focused and effective at executing tasks. The next time somebody tells you to stop worrying so much, just tell them its your oversized intellect getting in the way.Youre left-handedIt turns out that all of those teachers who tried to force lefties to write with their right hands may have had it backward. While there is a small and, as of yet, unexplained correlation between being left-handed and being a criminal, there are some intellectual benefits to being a southpaw. One large study demonstrated that left-handedness is associated with divergent thinking, all the more so in males.This unique ability to combine two unrelated objects in a meaningful way is a sign of intelligence.You took music lessons as a kidThere are a number of studies demonstrating that musical training enhances verbal intelligence and executive function, a skill thats critical to focus and self-control. In a study conducted by psychologist Sylvain Moreno, 48 children between the ages of four and six participated in a computerized training program that was led by a teacher.For one hour per day, five days a week for four weeks, half the students completed a musical program, and the other half completed a visual arts program. At the end of the experiment, 90% of the children who received musical training showed improvements in verbal IQ. So, if you took music lessons when you were a kid, thats a good sign.Youre funnyClass clowns rejoice Research shows a strong connection between being funny and having high scores in both verbal intelligence and abstract reasoning. It appears that your witty banter is the product of a sharp mind. Now, you just need to come up with a joke aboutthat.Bringing It All TogetherThis list is far from exhaustive, so if none of the items above apply to you, it doesnt exclude you from having a high IQ. But if a lot of these items do apply to you, you just might be smarter than the average bear.What do the smartest peo ple you know have in common? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.ABOUT THE AUTHORDr. Travis Bradberryis the award-winning co-author of the 1 bestselling book,Emotional Intelligence 2.0,and the co-founder ofTalentSmart, the worlds leading anbieter ofemotional intelligence tests and training, serving more than 75% of Fortune 500 companies. His bestselling books have been translated into 25 languages and are available in more than 150 countries. Dr. Bradberry has written for, or been covered by,Newsweek, TIME, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, andThe Harvard Business Review.This article first appeared on Linkedin.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your pro ductivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

4 Reasons You Should Appreciate the Beginning of Your Career - The Muse

4 Reasons You Should Appreciate the Beginning of Your Career - The Muse4 Reasons You Should Appreciate the Beginning of Your CareerWe all want that promotion. We all dream of that corner schreibstube. And we all cant wait until the day when were at the top of the ladder- rather than hanging out on the bottom rungs.While theres nothing wrong with looking ahead, setting goals, and working toward something bigger and better, that doesnt mean you should completely lose focus on the things that are great about your career right now. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but those cheesy and clich Its about the journey, not the destination motivational posters in your sixth grade classroom were actually preaching some truth. While Ill never discourage you from chasing improvement and progress, Id love to inspire you to take a breath and pay attention to the things you love about your career at this very moment. Because, just ask any top executive- you might wind up with that sweet corne r office, but youre never going to get this time back. 1. You Have the Whole World Ahead of YouSure, there will be other exciting career transitions to look forward to- at least I certainly hope so. But, arguably, when youre just getting started is the most thrilling time. The world is your oyster, and you have your entire life and career ahead of you. Your options seem limitless, and- unlike the CEO- you have way more tomorrows than yesterdays. I legitimately squealed when I received my first paycheck from my very first full-time job. And, that feeling of pure exhilaration, optimism, and enthusiasm? Well, unfortunately, it doesnt come around too often. So, enjoy it while its here. 2. You Embrace Opportunities For Personal Growth and ExplorationTheres a certain point in your career when you find that youre not as into trying new things- you just know what youre good at, as well as what youre not so good at. And, while it sounds like that personal knowledge will help push you forward , I think the period of exploration is truly underrated.When youre beginning your career, youre essentially a sponge eager to soak up all of the knowledge and opportunities you can. And, while maintaining a similar outlook throughout the rest of your career is obviously advisable, its not always realistic. The longer youre out there in the working world, the more rigid and predictable your career path becomes. Simply put, you have less flexibility.So, treat this time period as your option to try new things and really explore all of the options that are out there for you. Because once you have twenty years of professional history in one area, switching things up becomes significantly harder. 3. You Are More Optimistic Than RealisticLets face it- theres a lot to be said for a heavy dose of optimism about your career. And, after a few years of dealing with stressful deadlines, demanding bosses, and office politics, that sense of positivity can naturally start to fade away. Sure, youll (hopefully) still enjoy your work. But, the little things will weigh on you more. However, when you still have your whole career ahead of you, everything has a certain shine to it. That overwhelmingly challenging assignment from your boss? Its a chance to prove your value That co-worker who wont stop talking to you? Well, you must be well-liked and trusted in your office That ridiculously tight deadline? Its a great motivator Yep, youre green, eager, and honestly, too blinded by your enthusiasm to realize that the person who actually deserves the promotion, isnt always the one who actually gets it. So, savor this sense of optimism for as long as you possibly can. Because the longer youre in the workforce, the harder it is to hold on to. 4. You Have Less Responsibility and StressYou may be anxious to climb the that ladder. But, have you ever stopped to think about what happens when you actually reach the top? Spoiler alert Theres a heck of a lot more stress and accountability on your plate. Youre not only responsible for your own performance, but youre also on the hook for the work of others and the success of the organization as a whole.If that sounds exciting to you, then more power to you You have something to look forward to. But, for now, enjoy your lower-stress spot at the bottom of the ladder. Youll have the view from the top eventually- and you might not always like what you see.Yes, having goals and striving for bigger and better things is great. But, do you know what else is great? Where you are in your career right now. So, dont be so focused on where youre going, that you forget to appreciate where you are. Trust me, it wont be long before youre looking back fondly on these times- from your seat in your corner office. Photo of mountain base courtesy of Shutterstock.

Find Out Who is Concerned About Google Docs Templates Resume and Why You Should Listen to Them

Find Out Who is Concerned About Google Docs Templates Resume and Why You Should Listen to Them Templates are a means to make your productivity life much simpler. The schablone also offers accompanying graphs as further tactics to visualise your wellbeing over a time period. Google Slides templates have been gaining popularity increasingly more in the last couple of years as an alternate to PowerPoint. Employing a template to design a spreadsheet will help you comprehend the crucial parts that are necessary to organize the job at hand. Based on your industry or whether youre an academic, you might actually have to use a CV template. Templates may be used for making CV, resume so as to apply for jobs. A template offers you a suggested structure for your documents, which means you can quickly begin writing. Instead of being required to create the identical document repeatedly, its possible to instead use a template and fill in the required details. If you often wind up creat ing the identical sort of Google Doc, you can conserve a great deal of time with a customized template. With a little creativity, youre able to easily use your partieal customized templates. You are able to easily replace the dummy content because of the drag and drop placeholders and choose from a wide range of resizable icons and vector shapes to improve your design. Its automatic-save feature helps to ensure that you dont lose your work. You will have the ability to familiarize readers with tabular data or merely simple statistics in an engaging method. Actually, one grand headline with a short article can be sufficient for the front page. If you would like more amazing presentation examples then you may want to have a look at Gorgeous. A newspaper template can be challenging to create on account of the large number of boxes needs for articles. The Benefits of Google Docs Templates Resume Get the docs file so you could further edit in your PC. Opportunely, google docs has a solution for it Basically, logging the game-by-game stats is all you have to do in order to make summary and comprehensive statistics Lets look at a mixture of free Google Docs and Microsoft Word templates. Contact Us website form is a standard mockup. Revision History The Google Docs Revision History feature is beneficial for job seekers because it permits you to observe any prior changes which were made to your Google Docs resume. Getting started with Google Drawings is incredibly straightforward, but the app includes quite a few drawbacks. Create a Google Gmail account if you dont already have one. Google includes lots of completely free templates as a piece of Docs. Google Docs may work nicely for one-off invoices or internal purposes but for continuing invoicing you might want to have a more professional alternative. Google Docs is an extremely effective tool for creating qualified event flyers you may easily share and distribute to others. You dont need to use a template for writing your very first e-book in Google Docs, but you may discover a theme you prefer. Its possible to download invoice templates in different formats from here. In some cases what you will need isnt a resume template in the slightest. Newspaper templates dont need to be complicated. Google Docs Templates Resume Help The template has a rather straightforward appearance and feel. With all these templates available it can be a bit overwhelming searching for the fantastic ones. The very first template on the list, Zane, is a multipurpose presentation template which can be used for any sort of presentation in any niche. Developing a newsletter template by yourself is time consuming. If youre on the lookout for a fast approach to begin your resume, google docs resume templates are among the handiest solutions around. The best choice is to use tools and software developed for making invoices. For any on-line business person or marketer, a spreadsheet is quite essential and employing the Google Docs templates, its quite convenient and simple to create one. Either way, it might be the right tool for many jobs. These days, theres very little effort you must put when investing in food menu template. All the slides may be editable so that you may customize every portion of the presentation and make it your own. Ensure youre collecting the crucial details like their budget and timeframe together with the finer details of their project to help you compile a concise quotation. The template includes an assortment of slides to present facts about your organization, your team members, and any other information that you have to include for a prosperous presentation. Choosing Good Google Docs Templates Resume Whichever service you decide on, I cant overstate the worth of working with an expert job resume template. Service Invoice will be convenient for any freelancer who works with an enormous firm. Maybe you have to create a business budg et, but dont understand how to structure it. Travel budget Sometimes even employing a template is an intimidating procedure. A Startling Fact about Google Docs Templates Resume Uncovered Read More should you save carefully. Save the document with an unusual titlewell require that in a moment. An events flyer doesnt need to become a complicated undertaking.

How to Deal with a Problem Employee - Spark Hire

How to Deal with a Problem Employee - Spark HireWhen an employee is being disruptive to the office environment, it can cause a chain of events that result in low morale and loss of productivity. However, a manager must tread lightly as they handle the situation. Though you may want to give that staff member an unscripted piece of your mind, professionalism is always a must. Here are some effective ways to deal with a problem employeeUse solid factsWhen it comes to disciplining a problem employee, youll want to rely on solid evidence to illustrate the situation at hand. Simply saying, You never seem invested in your work is not helpful for anyone. Instead say, I noticed you falling asleep at the meeting last week, and youve shown up to work late several times this week.Making general statements allows the employee to then deny them and get defensive, and may prevent the situation from getting resolved. However, giving specific instances where undesirable behavior has occurred is much harder to deny, and will force the employee to address the issue.Keep it controlledRegardless of how frustrating this individuals behavior has been, its important to present your concerns in a calm and controlled way. Raising your voice, ranting, and swearing make you look unprofessional, and can take some of the power out of what youre saying. Instead, collect yourself, and present your concerns in a calm and controlled way.Create a solutionInstead of simply exploding at the employee for their bad behavior and then sending them out of your office, its important to actually take the time to come up with a solution to the problem. While its necessary to fully express the problem to the team member, failure to come up with a resolution ensures that it will continue to happen. Work together to devise a way to keep everyone satisfied.Stand your groundAn unpleasant yet necessary conversation with an employee can turn into a debate if you let it. While you should let this team member voic e their concerns and thoughts, you also cant be swayed by their point of view. If theyve been acting in an undesirable way, you must let them know and not cave when they try to explain whats been happening. Respect what they say, but dont back down from your request for a change in behavior.Dealing with a problem employee requires carefully chosen words and the desire to find a solution to the issue. Keep your composure, yet stand firm as you demand a change in how the employee is performing.How do you deal with problem employees in your office?

Communication Skills for Workplace Success

Communication Skills for Workplace SuccessCommunication Skills for Workplace SuccessThe ability to communicate effectively with superiors, colleagues, and staff is essential, no matter what industry you work in. Workers in the digital age must know how to effectively convey and receive messages in part as well as via phone, email, and social media. Good communication skills will help you get hired, land promotions, and be a success throughout your career. Top 10 Communication Skills Want to stand out from the competition? These are the top 10 communication skills that recruiters and hiring managers want to see in your resume and cover letter. Highlight these skills and demonstrate them during job interviews, and youll make a solid first impression. Continue to develop these skills once youre hired, and youll impress your boss, teammates, and clients. 1. Listening Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with someone w ho cares only about putting in her two cents and does not take the time to listen to the other person. If youre not a good listener, its going to be hard to comprehend what youre being asked to do. Take the time to practice active listening. Active listening involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says to ensure understanding (So, what youre saying is). Through active listening, you can better understand what the other person is trying to say, and can respond appropriately. 2. Nonverbal Communication Your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice all color the message you are trying to convey. A relaxed, open stance (arms open, legs relaxed), and a friendly tone will make you appear approachable and will encourage others to speak openly with you. Eye contact is also important you want to look the person in the eye to demonstrate that you are focused on them and the conversa tion (however, be sure not to stare at the person, which can make him or her uncomfortable). Also, pay attention to other peoples nonverbal signals while you are talking. Often, nonverbal signals convey how a person is really feeling. For example, if the person is not looking you in the eye, he or she might be uncomfortable or hiding the truth. 3. Clarity and Concision Good verbal communication means saying just enough dont talk too much or too little. Try to convey your message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether youre speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want. Think about what you want to say before you say it. This will help you to avoid talking excessively and/or confusing your audience. 4. Friendliness Through a friendly tone, a personal question, or simply a smile, you will encourage your coworkers to engage in o pen and honest communication with you. Its important to be nice and polite in all your workplace communications. This is important in both face-to-face and written communication. When you can, personalize your emails to coworkers and/or employees a quick I hope you all had a good weekend at the start of an email can personalize a message and make the recipient feel more appreciated. 5. Confidence It is important to be confident in your interactions with others. Confidence shows your coworkers that you believe in what youre saying and will follow through. Exuding confidence can be as simple as making eye contact or using a firm but friendly tone. Avoid making statements sound like questions. Of course, be careful not to sound arrogant or aggressive. Be sure you are always listening to and empathizing with the other person. 6. Empathy Using phrases as simple as I understand where you are coming from demonstrate that you have been listening to the other person and respect thei r opinions. Even when you disagree with an employer, coworker, or employee, it is important for you to understand and respect their point of view. 7. Open-Mindedness A good communicator should enter into any conversation with a flexible, open mind. Be open to listening to and understanding the other persons point of view, rather than simply getting your message across. By being willing to enter into a dialogue, even with people with whom you disagree, you will be able to have more honest, productive conversations. 8. Respect People will be more open to communicating with you if you convey respect for them and their ideas. Simple actions like using a persons name, making eye contact, and actively listening when a person speaks will make the person feel appreciated. On the phone, avoid distractions and stay focused on the conversation. Convey respect through email by taking the time to edit your message. If you send a sloppily written, confusing email, the recipient will think that you do not respect her enough to think through your communication with her. 9. Feedback Being able to appropriately give and receive feedback is an important communication skill. Managers and supervisors should continuously look for ways to provide employees with constructive feedback, be it through email, phone calls, or weekly position updates. Giving feedback involves giving praise as well something as simple as saying good job or thanks for taking care of that to an employee can greatly increase motivation. Similarly, you should be able to accept and even encourage, feedback from others. Listen to the feedback you are given, ask clarifying questions if you are unsure of the issue, and make efforts to implement the feedback. 10. Picking the Right Medium An important communication skill is to simply know what form of communication to use. For example, some serious conversations (layoffs, resignation, changes in salary, etc.) are almost always best done in person. Yo u should also think about the person with whom you wish to speak, if they are a very busy person (such as your boss, perhaps), you might want to convey your message through email. People will appreciate your thoughtful means of communication and will be more likely to respond positively to you. More Skills for Workplace Success Review some of the best skills to include on your resume, incorporate them into your job search materials, and mention them during job interviews. How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Highlight Your Skills in Your Application Materials Include the skills that are the closest match to the employers job requirements in your resume and cover letter.Show Hiring Managers You Have the Skills They Need Job interviews provide an opportunity to show the hiring manager that you have the verbal communication skills necessary to succeed in a job.Use Your Communication Skills at Work Whether its participating in a company meeting or talking with a client, youll have many opportunities to show how well you communicate.

Commonly Outsourced Human Resource Functions

Commonly Outsourced Human Resource FunctionsCommonly Outsourced Human Resource FunctionsGenerally speaking, human resources (HR) deals with anything and everything that has to do with people in a company. Unfortunately, this mindset can result in the HR department managing a lot of tasks that take time and energy away from the HR activities that provide the fruchtwein strategic value to the company. For instance, an HR function like talent development is critical for a company to identify and groom its future leaders. However, payroll is a more process-driven task that can be outsourced effectively, thereby freeing up HRs time for the companys mission-critical HR needs. Its a matter of identifying which tasks HR should focus on to most effectively advance the companys mission and delegating the rest to responsible outside service providers. The outsourcing of HR has accelerated over the last decade and will continue to do so. Outsourcing allows companies to offload work that isnt par t of their core business and it also saves money, she said. While some companies may entrust their HR needs to a single outside firm, its more common to parcel out functions to a range of outside providers. So how do you decide what to outsource and what to keep in-house? Step 1 Identify Key HR Initiatives First, its important for HR to let go of the idea that it can be all things to all people. Define HRs strategic role in your company. Go back to the basics and write up some good old-fashioned job responsibilities for HR. Focus on how HR drives the companys overall mission. Decide what HR tasks are special to your company and important to the culture. Step 2 Consider Which Functions Can Be Outsourced Any roles HR is currently managing that fall outside of the sweet spot you have identified should be considered for outsourcing. There are good outsourcing firms that can efficiently handle activities like relocation, temporary staffing, background checks, and drug screening. While these processes are very important to the operation of the company, they do not drive the strategic mission of the organization. Even a critical function like regulatory compliance should be considered for outsourcing. HR compliance requires constant attention to stay up to date on the latest regulations and legal decisions. Most HR departments dont have that kind of expertise on staff. Outsourcing to a specialist can provide added insurance against the financial penalties and bad werbung that result from compliance gaffes like failure to properly classify independent contractors, for example. Step 3 Create a Team of Internal and External Specialists A company that enlists outside specialists to supplement on-staff talent is cultivating a strong team of HR professionals. In this era of lean management, most HR departments are not going to be able to have an on-staff expert to manage every HR issue. Step 4 Find a Trusted Partner or Partners Concerned that youll compromi se quality if you outsource certain HR functions? You can maintain control of important HR functions and help HR become a more efficient and effective player, but you need to find trusted partners. Do your homework. Compare benefits, the associated costs, and approaches of different firms. Conduct background checks to enaya the outsourcing firms reputation is solid. Be sure the Better Business Bureau accredits the firm, and talk to other companies that have used the firm. Read all proposals carefully. Make sure you understand the value you will receive in doing business with a particular vendor. Step 5 Explore a Plug-and-Play Solution One outsourcing option that works for some companies is to contract with a group purchasing organization (GPO). A GPO provides access to qualified, prior negotiated contracts with staffing firms, managed service providers and others. This arrangement can be a convenient, efficient, and cost-effective one-stop shop for a range of HR outsourced servi ces. Companies avoid the time and effort required for negotiating and managing multiple contracts. The GPO vets the best suppliers, leverage relationships to secure competitive contracts, and helps a company secure the resources it needs. The majority of the GPO market in the United States is focused on healthcare procurement. The major GPOs in this space are making purchases more than $200 billion annually for their hospital and related industry clients. There are no reliable statistics on the size of the corporate GPO market, which is newer, smaller and more fragmented, and in general more focused on procurement than HR outsourcing. According to a 2011 study by the procurement media site Spend Matters, 15-20 percent of Fortune 1000 companies are now using a GPO, and 85 percent of those companies reported savings of 10 percent or more. Step 6 Consider a Complete Outsourcing of HR For certain companies, it may make sense to consider a professional employer organization (PEO). A PEO takes over all of a companys HR functions by literally hiring the companys employees and becoming their employer of record for tax and insurance purposes. The practice is known as co-employment or joint employment. Through a PEO, the employees of small businesses gain access to employee benefits such as 401(k) plans health, dental, life, and other insurance dependent care, and other benefits typically provided by large companies. According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), approximately 250,000 businesses use PEOs. Outsource This and Not That There is no playbook for HR outsourcing. What functions stay in-house and which are outsourced to an outside specialist depends on the type of company, its strategic priorities, and the role HR plays in realizing those priorities. Here are the HR functions that are most commonly outsourced High-volume recruitingTemporary staffingBackground checks and drug screeningRelocationPayrollBenefits admin istrationCoachingCreating/updating employee handbooks and policy manualsCompensation program development/implementationWriting and updating affirmative action plansProviding sexual harassment trainingIndependent contractor compliance These HR initiatives tend to stay in-house Employee relationsCompensation design and deliveryTalent developmentCapital strategy planningSuccession planningHR strategyPerformance managementOrganization developmentRecruitingHR department management Outsourcing some, or even all, HR functions is a proven and widely practiced concept among companies of all sizes. Outsourcing enables a company to focus on HR activities with the most strategic value while saving money and benefiting from the specialized expertise of outside firms.

Women are working more than ever, but they still take on most household responsibilities

Women are working more than ever, but they still take on most household responsibilities Women are working more than ever, but they still take on most household responsibilities This piece was originally published for Women’s History Month in March on my  Forbes Women  column.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Women’s History Month has ended, but there is still time to celebrate how far women have come, while also pointing out areas where we can still do better as a society. Women have come a long way in terms of progress and equality, especially in the workplace. The wage gap between men and women has fallen over the past several decades. For the past 20 years, women have outpaced men in college attendance and degrees. Forty-nine percent of employed women in the United States, including 42 percent of working mothers, say they are their family’s main breadwinner. Of course, women have not achieved true equality in the workplace. In fact, according to a  2018 McKinsey Report, gender-based progress has stalled in recent years.The wage gap, gender-based discrimination, and sexual harassment still persist. (Fun fact:  Almost 60 percent of women would earn more if they were paid the same as men with equivalent levels of education and work hours.) But we definitely are better off than we were 50 years ago.However, while women are more educated and more employed than ever, they are still taking on most of the household and familial duties. And it’s not just about chores and childcare; women are also much more likely to be the ones who care for sick or elderly family members.Although working mothers spend more time on work, household labor, and child care than fathers, they are not more likely to have access to workplace policies such as paid family and medical leave, paid sick days, workplace flexibility, and affordable childcare.How does this imb alance affect women? Fifty-four percent of women took leave from work when first becoming a parent as opposed to 42 percent of men. Plus, women take ten times as much temporary leave from work as men upon the arrival of a child. Without a national paid leave policy, this usually means that women are taking home less or no money during their time off. This can lead to long-term financial consequences, due to loss of income and benefits, missed raises and promotions, and inability to fund their retirement accounts and Social Security. Women are eight times more likely than men to look after sick children or manage their children’s schedules, which will take time out of their work day or other daily responsibilities. After becoming a parent, women are more likely to switch to a job with greater flexibility and work more from home, which can result in lower pay. Twenty-one percent of women said they were paid less for doing the same work they did before they took time off to care for their children. Women are more likely than men to stop working to care for elderly family members, which completely removes them from the workforce, cutting their earnings and ability to save for important things like retirement. According to a  Merrill Lynch report, when a woman reaches retirement age, she may have earned a cumulative $1,055,000 less than her male counterparts when accounting for the lifelong pay gap alongside common workforce interruptions. Outside of the negative financial and career ramifications, women are also more stressed and have less time for self-care. In order to add a personal story to these study results, I spoke to an entrepreneur who had to balance work and family throughout her career. Tena Clark is the founder and CEO of  DMI Music Media. When Tena’s daughter was young, Tena worked in the television industry.This work required her to travel often and spend a lot of her time working. Tena was lucky to have a partner who took on the bulk of the childcare, but she still felt like she was missing out on her daughter’s life. In order to spend more time with her young daughter, Tena decided to leave the television industry so that she could spend less time traveling.When I asked if that decision impacted her financial, Tena said, “Oh god, yes. I probably could have retired at 40.” She felt like leaving the industry meant she was starting over in her career. However, she was able to rebuild her success and eventually started her own business.In more recent years, Tena has dedicated herself to prioritizing her financial hea lth. She now works with a Merrill Lynch financial advisor and feels safe and secure in terms of her finances.Things are still pretty dire for many women, especially women of color and low-income women. But all is not lost. There are things you and others can do to combat the imbalance of household labor, at home, at work, and in the political realm. Get Your Partner on Board:  Women are taught (both overtly and subtly) that they are the ones who must handle familial duties, even if it is to their own detriment. Changing this shouldn’t just be on women’s shoulders. Women and men both need to fight back against these traditional gender roles. If you are a woman with a male partner, talk to them about how this imbalance affects you. Start creating a more egalitarian distribution of duties at home. It won’t happen overnight, but continue the conversation every day and get your partner on board. Men: educate yourselves about this imbalance and why it matters, and start doing your part at home and at work. Advocate for Affordable Childcare and Paid Family Leave:  The United States is the only industrialized country without a national paid leave policy for mothers, let alone for fathers. Plus, the cost of childcare is unrealistic for many working mothers of young children. Push your elected representatives to propose and support legislation that would result in paid family leave and affordable childcare. Additionally, support organizations, like  National Partnership for Women Families, that are working for these laws to be implemented. These laws would support and uplift families across the board. Push for Change at Work:  Many companies have good intentions but have not made concrete changes that protect women at work. If you are a decisionmaker at work, act upon your values and push to implement. Treat equality as a business priority, since it should be one. Use this  McKinsey Report  as guidance for which changes to make. Even if you aren’t a decisionmaker, push your employer to make changes. Make it clear just how important this issue is to you and to other women everywhere. This piece was originally published on my  ForbesWomen  column.You might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people