Why Brexit Doesnt Mean Exit for Employers

Why Brexit Doesnt Mean Exit for Employers Peter Cheese, CEO of the CIPD, says: “Now, more than ever, we need Government and businesses to put people and skills development at the heart of their thinking.” Theres so much at stake, so many opportunities and so many risks if we get it wrong everything is at stake from our future trade systems to basic workplace rights for our workers. Many British employees feel less secure in their jobs and pessimistic about the future. Our employment law is a complex mix of EU  and UK-based legislation and as well as workforce issues directly related to Brexit, we urgently need to address the issues of employment rights for the growing number of self-employed and contract workers. The workplace is changing fast but Brexit won’t have any real impact on employment law in the immediate future. Endless possibilities In British boardrooms the issues exercising business leaders are by large centred on the uncertainty arising from Brexit, be they social, economic or financial issues. That uncertainty is not likely to disappear any time soon. In reality, at the moment it is a bit of phony war, nothing is going to change much over the next two years or so, but we can equip ourselves to cope with likely developments. We live with uncertainty in the natural course of events, nothing is certain but death and taxes. A more positive view says that where there is change there is opportunity, it’s a question of finding how to best exploit the change to your advantage. The possibilities are endless in a landscape so changeable and volatile. In addition, the pace of technological change means that the workplace and the workforce are in a state of flux, so the scope for innovative and creative thinking is significant. We need to be forward-looking and encourage employees to look beyond the immediate situation to make the most of future opportunities. Focus on the positive In an uncertain environment, there is a good chance that employee engagement will suffer, and that will impact on the organisation in terms of productivity. There are things that HR can do to mitigate the impact of uncertainty: Communicate employees want to be kept informed, and to feel confident that they understand the organisational direction and their role in meeting objectives and controlling their own future. We are already seeing the impact of Brexit as companies say they cannot afford to wait for the negotiations to conclude and so are making plans to move offices to Europe, and individuals are acquiring second passports if they have the right to do so, it pays to be prepared. Plan look to the future and where the organisation wants to be. Present this vision in an attractive way that enables staff to move forward with their own goals and aspirations aligned to corporate values and standards. Reassure staff by exploring possible scenarios and the impact on the business, focus on the positives and possibilities, and ensure you have a culture and structure that allows people to raise their concerns and make themselves heard. Prepare â€" encourage staff to engage with learning and development needs, the need to up-skill is imperative and the benefits in terms of resilience accrue to both individual and organisation. You can’t save your way out of a crisis, you need to be proactive and invest for the future and Brexit may act as a wake-up call to ensure that we make serious efforts to up-skill staff for the challenges ahead. We need to accept where we are, deal with the reality of the situation and encourage and support the workforce as we march towards a bright, new future. Positivity has to be key to retaining and motivating good employees. A focus on engagement should help to mitigate the negative impact of the current uncertainty and insecurity.

How to Turn Your Blogging Hobby Into a Job

How to Turn Your Blogging Hobby Into a Job Blogging is something that can be done purely for fun, or as a method of earning an income. If you’ve been blogging as a hobby for a while and are really enjoying it, it definitely makes sense to try and earn some money from your new pastime. No matter what it is that you blog about, there are plenty of different ways in which you can turn your blog into a good little earner. Whether you’re hoping to use your blog in order to make some extra cash for the holiday season or want to be able to eventually quit your regular job and blog full-time for a living, we’ve got some tips to help you get started. Your Online Presence If you already have a blog which you maintain often and are hoping to make some money from, you’re probably familiar with most of the essentials when it comes to blogging for beginners. However, one of the main things which is not as important to bloggers who do so as a hobby is increasing their online presence. After all, if you’re not earning any money from it, it doesn’t really matter how many people viewed your latest post! However, when you’re hoping to make an income from blogging, it’s vital to improve your online presence as much as possible. This could include setting up blogger profiles on social media accounts, guest posting on other blogs, or being active in forums. Monetizing Methods In order to make a profit from your blog, there needs to be something on there which you can earn money from. As great as it would be, content alone and a large blog readership can’t earn you any money on its own. One of the most popular methods of monetizing a blog is through adverts. Google AdSense is one of the most commonly used, as it is easy to set up and start earning. This type of advertising is known as pay per click (PPC), where you’ll earn money for each user who clicks through to the ad. Along with this, there are a number of other methods of monetizing your blog, for example selling advertising space or joining an affiliate marketing program. Remember that when it comes to ads, it’s important to make sure that they’re there, but don’t clutter your blog. Achieving an Income Making an income from your blog is not usually something which can be done overnight. In fact, making a decent amount of money from blogging could be something that takes you months or even years, depending on the amount of work that you put in. Since blogging has become more and more competitive with hundreds of new blogs in various niches cropping up every day, it’s vital that you understand exactly how much work needs to be put in in order to eventually make an income. Blogging can be a great hobby, but why stop there when you can use it to make money? Making an income from blogging may take some hard work, but the end results are definitely worth it. Images: Main   Blogging

Why having a terrible interview was the best thing that ever happened to me University of Manchester Careers Blog

Why having a terrible interview was the best thing that ever happened to me   University of Manchester Careers Blog Im Jordan Paterson and In September I started a Masters in Forensic Psychology Mental Health at the University of Manchester after graduating from the University of Bolton in 2013  with a 2:1 in Criminological Forensic Psychology.  After completing my degree, I started a fixed-term  Graduate Internship at the University of Bolton in the Careers Service.  Other experience includes some volunteering at a special needs charity, as well as working at a Respite Care Unit and a short stint at McDonalds. Every student goes through that period of “what do I do after I graduate?” It caused me and others I know great anxiety, especially during our 3rd years when stress levels are already at an all-time high due to dissertations, placements, finances, etc. In the 1st half of my 3rd year (late 2012), I made an executive decision; that I would apply for a teacher training course in Psychology. There are a lot of reasons why this seemed like a good move. 1. I’ve always had an interest in teaching 2. The courses are funded 3. It meant I could continue studying Psychology 4. It gave me the opportunity to study in a different city But most importantly of all 5. It staved off entering the real, scary world of job hunting I told myself at the time that reasons 1-4 all had more significant weight in my decision to apply than reason 5, but in retrospect I can honestly say that isn’t true. I can also say honestly that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being scared with where your future might lead you after graduation. For me, the task felt particularly daunting as at this point I’d never had a job, not even part-time. I had some volunteering experience at a special needs charity which involved kitchen and till work, but that’s it. Anyway, I applied to 3 Universities. Two rejected me pretty quickly after, stating that I did not have the relevant work experience. However, I managed to get an interview at the other one for a reserve place. This was it. I had my foot in the door and nothing to lose. What could possibly go wrong? A lot went wrong. I turned up at the specific campus where interviews were taking place. I was nervous as hell; I must have gone through at least 10 cigarettes in the 2-3 hours that I was there. When I turned up, everyone was in a suit. I wasn’t. This wasn’t quite the horrific fashion faux-paus it may seem though, as I’d turned up in some smart shoes, black trousers, black shirt and a nice coat, so I at least looked smart. It wasn’t like I’d gone to it in converse, blue denim jeans and a Slayer shirt. All the candidates applying for the qualification in various subjects were sat down in a lecture hall. This is when I noticed a lot of the candidates were a lot older than me. Admittedly some were around my age, but many were several years my senior. This combined with the presentation they gave us began to make the whole process far more daunting. The presentation wasn’t designed to scare, but prepare. However it still didn’t help my nerves. After it had concluded and then a short break, we were taken to a room where all the interviewees for the Psychology course were to be interviewed as a group. Yup. As a group. Pretty terrifying stuff. We were given a hypothetical situation on a student who wants to study Psychology at college and takes her parents to an open-day, but her parents are not too fond of the subject. What proceeded was everyone in the room vaguely trying to connect their relevant experience to the question. I may sound bitter, but every time I tried to interject with my point that “many people misinterpret what Psychology is about”, I kept being cut off. Not a good sign if you want to be a teacher. Then we had 1-1 interviews. I was up pretty early. It was merciful; I could get out of there as quickly as possible. I’d come to the conclusion I was completely out of my depth and my answers to the questions asked reflected that. The interviewer mentioned I was still young and I could still get the relevant work experience I needed. I was done for. At the end of the interview, I mentioned what I’d wanted to say during the group interview and left after the interviewer had debriefed me sending me on my way. I knew I hadn’t got it and the train ride home felt a lot longer than it actually was. A few weeks later, that was confirmed. They’d undoubtedly made the right decision and I harbour no grudge against them for it. Now to the title of this post, it was the biggest wakeup call I’ve ever had. I knew I had to pull my finger out in the next few months, get a 2:1 and get out. Then I’d take the next step. No more worrying about just after graduation, just the immediate future. Anyone who’s known me long enough, has worked with me or even just read this blog knows that shortly after graduation it went Respite Care Worker, McDonald’s, Graduate Internship and Master’s course coming up for me. Those 1st two jobs really helped me build some much needed character and backbone. On a particular period of 7 days (Sunday-Sunday) I worked 8 shifts, including a 5pm-2am shift at McDonald’s shortly followed by a 9:00am-3:30pm shift at the Respite Care Unit. On one day, I did a 9:00am-3:30pm shift, followed by a 5:45pm-11:00pm shift the same day. I don’t want to come across as bragging, it’s just to give some means of comparison. Around 10 months after one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life, I was working myself very hard. I’d gone from looking for a way out of entering the scary real world to working 2 jobs. Through my experience at both of these, I’m on the path I’m on today. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up applying for that teaching course again, it’s still certainly something I’d love to do. I’ll just be a lot more prepared this time. I’ll definitely wear a suit too. All Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted Applications and interviews career planning careers Interviews my story postgraduate postgraduate study

Why You Need a Lifeguard to Get a Promotion - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why You Need a Lifeguard to Get a Promotion - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career No matter where you live and where you want to work, there’s probably an ocean between you and what you want. No, I don’t mean the vast body of water that covers 71% of the planet. It’s not that you live in the UK and want to work in the US. Not that kind of ocean. It’s the ocean of thoughts that swim around your brain. Constantly circulating thoughts, feelings, and past experiences. These include the hurts, insults, misunderstandings, false accusations, lack of validation and other debris leftover from all the people who ever spoke to you unkindly â€" accidentally or intentionally. All the efforts you made that went unrewarded. All the dreams that couldn’t be sustained, in reality. This internal pollution typically isn’t visible at the surface. I know. I have an ocean, too. I’ve had to dredge it, sift it, cleanse it and recirculate it. It’s actually part of the work I do regularly, along with checking my calendar and making my bed. It’s a daily ritual. So, when I speak to you, my ocean is clean and clear. That freshness allows me to simply say what I mean. Ask what I need to know. Listen to what you say. Hear what you mean. In almost every interaction, I see all the old trash that litters the present consciousness of the person I’m speaking to. Largely, this is my job. I am a communications and career coach. When you speak, I listen for what will move you forward and what is holding you back. If my ocean of thoughts were littered with the remnants of uncomfortable past experiences, I would not have a clear mind to help you read yours. While you may rarely speak to a communications coach, most everyone else you speak to knows what I know, just in a different way. They sense that something is wrong with you. They might think you’re unqualified, overqualified, defensive, evasive, irritable, moody, inconsistent, unreliable, nervous, rude or just nutty. If you have not succeeded, it’s largely because your ocean stops you from being entirely present and clearly engaged with the people and opportunities around you. That’s what’s cluttering up your communication and stopping people from trusting you, liking you and caring about you. Thats why they are reluctant to hire you, promote you, award you a raise, invest in you and otherwise help you get where you want to go. It’s why you’re stopped, stalled, irritated, and find yourself stuck with “difficult” people. Its why you dont get a response to your resume or calls, its this sense that youre somehow not right. The fix? Get yourself a stack of index cards. With every negative thought like a desire to complain, procrastinate, challenge authority or otherwise undermine yourself â€" take a card and write it down. Then ask yourself: “Who first told me that?” “Who gave me this impression of myself or the world?” Do it now and ever stop. Oceans need lifeguards. You are yours. If you want more tips on this, email Nance@NanceRosen.com. Subject line: Ocean. ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

The Telecommuters Guide to Staying Sane

The Telecommuter's Guide to Staying Sane Telecommuting is a progressively popular work preference in many businesses and industries, and its usage is expected to increase in the future because of new innovations in computer and communication technology.It is a practice in which an employee works at a location, usually at home, that is remote from the actual business facility at which he/she is employed.evalIn simple terms, instead of traveling to the office, telecommuters use telecommunication links like a computer, email, telephone, and other facsimile machines in order to keep in touch with co-workers.Telecommuting jobs are usually offered by industries such as marketing, customer service, and sales. Here, employees enjoy their freedom to balance work and personal obligations leading to being more productive due to fewer distractions. But there are certain situations when employees get distracted easily.Sometimes, they find it sulking and isolating since they don’t have the chance to work with their co-workers. Some rem edied these distractions by finding a specific place like their own home office, libraries or coffee shops.There are still a lot of things you need to know about telecommuting. So if you are curious or interested how it works, this article will help you.Things You Need to Know About TelecommutingevalAs said, there are some things to consider when you want to know more about telecommuting. These are essential things to consider to effectively manage the job. Let’s go through these one-by-one.Telecommuting as a Business OptionMany decision-makers are considering applying telecommuting as an optional strategy to their business model since it seriously saves expenses related to building and bills.On the part of the employees, a telemobility policy of the company they are working with is advantageous because they could avoid stresses from traffics and additional transportation expenses.evalHowever, some employers hesitate to use this kind of strategy as they usually fear that their emp loyees will become less productive. But this problem has already been contradicted by various surveys and descriptive studies.Not Every Employee is Suited for Remote WorkTelecommuting strategy and letting your employees work isolated entails a good degree of discipline, allowing them to learn how to be flexible and to effectively manage time. But if you happen to observe that your employee is temperamental, and isn’t able to meet deadlines on time, he is clearly not suited for the remote home job.In assessing who is suited for this kind of job, ask yourself first if the job is possible to be done outside the office and make sure that you are properly equipped with right technology to make it happen.You should also ask your employer about his motivations and what drives him to keep working hard. And lastly, it is important that you run a trial and make a plan to ensure the success of this strategy.Train and Educate Workers for Telecommuting SuccessevalIn telecommuting, communicatio n between employer and employee is essential, while the education, as well as adequate training of the employee, is necessary; together, these are the important factors you have to think first if you are considering to apply telecommuting.Prepare your employees and ensure that not only the managers are well trained but also everyone, in order to ensure the successful deployment of the said strategy.And before making any time schedule, plan out first a flexible working strategy, then devise a plan to be implemented and make sure that the communication is your topmost priority.Telecommuting Saves MoneyTelecommuting can help both the employers and the employees save money. It is proven by a recent study stating that a company letting a single employee work as a telecommuter can save them $10,000 while a hundred employees will save up to $1 million on different kind of expenses.On the other hand, an employee given the privilege to work at home will save up to $6,800 on a yearly basis.Al so, it has been proven that telecommuting boosts employee’s satisfaction that increases their productivity and their sense of loyalty. It also gives the employee a chance to balance their work and personal life.Telecommuting also provides more opportunities that will help a business or the employer to scale back in multiple possible ways. Speaking of employer’s benefits, the most obvious cost saving opportunity that they can have is the reduction in overhead that will save them $11,000 a year! Other benefits include higher retention rates, fewer employee’s sick days, and lastly, the evident decrease in travel cost.Self-DisciplineSelf-discipline is important in working as a telecommuter. You have to control your urges to lay down your warm bed, open the television, ignore your pet, and munch in your fridge contents. That is why you have to set rules for yourself when it comes to checking personal emails, social media, personal calls, text messages, and even playing with your pe ts.evalYou have to avoid this kind of destructions by setting your mind that it is work time, you can’t accept visitors, think about personal matters, do household chores or any appointments not related to your work. Only allow water or coffee and do not accept food at the work desk.You can also make a priority list on every day of your work in order to keep you goal-oriented and increase your drive to finish the work that needs to be done.Check Your SanityAll of us, at some point in time, lose our sanity that hinders us from finishing what is needed to be done. In order to keep your sanity during these insane work hours, you have to finish the easiest or basics.Another tip is to simplify your daily routine to have more time. And if you’re thinking that increase in time demand means you no longer able to enjoy your “me-time”, you are wrong!You just have to be creative in utilizing that small amount of time of yours and never let hectic schedule hinder you from doing the thin gs that help you relax. You badly need it so you have to allow at least 30 minutes to do your personal stuff. It is also helpful if you have a friend that understands your situation and will make your working hours more enjoyable rather than tire and sulking.evalLastly, you must learn to separate your work from a personal business and stop talking and blabbering about how stressed you are at work as it will not do you any good and it could not lessen even a bit of your stresses.And if you are losing motivation and the drive, always keep the end goal. These are the things you need to consider in order for you to achieve a successful business.Things to Avoid When TelecommutingFirst, do not skip introductions since when we know someone personally, the relationship tends to be stronger and more collaborative, so take time to learn about your faraway co-workers.Also, it is important to remember that in telecommuting, communication is essential so assumptions are very dangerous and never leave it as it is. Reach out to a co-worker to clarify things and ask assurance if what you are doing is right.Avoid being a phantom employee that seldom communicate with managers, make sure that you are never forgotten and always stay in the limelight because it is more advantageous to your part and never be the obstacle that hinders achieving your company’s goal.

How to Find a Career You Love - Jane Jackson Career

How to Find a Career You Love - Jane Jackson Career If you are looking for a career change or youre in between jobs and don’t know what to do next, this article is for you.     Here are the first steps you need to take that will help you to make the right decision to find the job youll love.1.                         What do you enjoy doing?Imagine leaping out of bed in the morning and looking forward to everything youll be doing at work today.   List everything that excites you and gives you energy.Then, imagine dragging yourself out of bed in the morning because of what you will be doing at work today.   List your energy drainers.Identify what you enjoy doing and be honest with yourself about how skilled you are in each area.   If you are highly competent in something you love then it will be easy for your to market that skill, if you are lacking competency in something you love, are you willing to upgrade your skills through extra study or work experience?You will be happiest in roles that will give you abundant opportunities to perform those activities that inspire you.   Of course every role will have some responsibilities that won’t make you leap for joy, however roles that provide 80% or more opportunities to do what you love will give you an extra push to leap out of bed in the mornings!2.                         What Values drive you?Many clients I have worked with were not aware of their core values and consequently couldn’t put their finger on what was missing in their careers and personal lives.   Whats important to you in your personal and professional life?   Could it be reward and recognition, financial independence, affiliation, work/life balance, friendships, belonging, acquisition of knowledge, independence, teamwork, technical/functional competence, leadership or dedication to a cause or service?   Or is there something else that is really important to you?   All values are important however there are some that will be more important depending on different stages   in your life.     You need a role that aligns with your current values.   You need to work in an organization that respects your values for true satisfaction.One of my past clients had a very successful career in a global financial services organisation and her compensation package more than made up for the long hours she was required to work and the late night conference calls she was required to attend plus the frequent overseas travel.   This satisfied her until she and her husband started a family.   With this change in her personal life, her values changed.   The role was no longer satisfying in the way it used to be.   Her top values of recognition and advancement changed to family and work/life balance.   It took some skillful negotiation and realignment of her role to create a win-win situation for both her and her employer at that stage in her life and career.   What stage are you in now?3.                         Research industries and organizations that inspire youOnce you have identified you r preferred skills, your level of competency and your personal and career values, conduct research to find out which industries and organizations within those industries that may be a good match.Use the Internet, library or professional association for your initial research and then talk to people within your network who may be able to guide you especially if they work in an area that interests you.     If you don’t know people who can provide in depth guidance, ask for a recommendation to someone who can or consider a career coach who will be able to assist.Think about the Can Do, Will Do and Best Fit screnarios.   You want to find a role that you ‘Can Do’ well with your level of skills, knowledge and competencies as well as one that fits in with the ‘Will Do’ personal preferences regarding the way you are willing to work â€" hours per week, length of commute, etc., and the ‘Best Fit’ for you regarding your personality, values and corporate culture.4.                         Qualifications Through your research you may find that you need additional qualifications or skills in order to perform successfully in a role you have identified.   Whether it is an MBA , a Certificate IV or simply a driving licence, are you willing to take the time and effort to gain those qualifications or skills?   If the answer is yes then take that next step towards your desired role.   If the answer is no then continue your exploration and research through your network or with your coach to discover the right role with the right company that will value and benefit from the existing skills and knowledge you love to use.Once you have considered all that is important to you, if you need to gain clarity and direction, devise a marketable resume or require assistance with your interview techniques, visit www.janejacksoncoach.com for more support.

Resume Writing Format

Resume Writing FormatAs someone who has been employed as a resume writer, I have discovered that there are many variations on how to write a job application and resume. Here I will discuss a few of the most common formats to help you and the reader be more confident that your resume is a good one.Resume for Humans: I've seen some very boring resumes in my time. Although it's not acceptable to use a resume format that is not professional, I would still like to point out a few basic things that should be incorporated. Just like there are those who are using PowerPoint presentations, and I don't recommend it, there are also some individuals that are submitting resume formats that seem very professional but simply are not.You should always include your name at the top of your resume, since this is the first thing that will catch the eye of the reader. Your last name should be followed by your job title. The name of the position should be included below the job title, and then the last na me. The paragraph above the position should be no more than two sentences. This is also the place where you should start your contact information.It goes without saying that the right resume is necessary for an interview, so it's important to make sure that your resume follows a certain format. Check if your resume is full of commas, commas are not allowed as part of the resume. By using commas, it will make your resume look messy and irregular. Always keep your resume neat and make sure that each section includes a specific job title.Your job application and resume should never end with a list of education qualifications, your professional contact info, etc. Once you get a job, remember to check your resume and follow the guidelines listed in this article.Job Application and Resume Template: This is the first step to becoming a professional resume writer. It is a process that takes time and practice, as you need to make sure that you do not miss any details, and that you follow the correct formatting, also called format. Once you have the templates in place, you will be able to give each resume a professional look, and you will know how to add content to your own resume. Always remember that when you are using a template for your resume, you must change the style, color and style of the template to match the color and style of your resume.These are some of the most commonly used resume templates and formats, but it doesn't mean that you have to use one or the other. I advise you to be creative with your own resume and submit it to different places. Keep in mind that having great resume skills can get you the job you want, but it will also get you more interviews, which means even better opportunities for you!Be aware that just like anything else in life, you can succeed and fail, if you decide to follow the right path and make a mistake while writing your job application and resume, it can happen. By following the three tips mentioned here, you will be sure t o create a quality resume that will allow you to land a job interview and be hired.