Work Life Balance The Real Scoop of Telecommuting and Flexible Work

Work Life Balance The Real Scoop of Telecommuting and Flexible Work I recently came across an article where our President  called for more flexible workplaces to accommodate those also trying to raise families.    Here is what he said: Many companies are already leading the way, embracing things like telecommuting, and flextime, and on-site childcare, and my administration is committed to supporting efforts like these. Not just by investing in paid leave programs and child care tax credits.   But also by making the federal government a model for the policies were encouraging. The benefits of flexible work arrangements are  huge when you think about the hours of driving time that  employees can save and the breaks  that could be taken at home to increase employees  productivity.   Companies also save money by decreasing office space and using telecons or  video conferencing for meetings.   Telecommuting saves our environment and conserves energy  by getting drivers off the freeway.  It also promotes safety and improves health because we arent rushing to work and stressing about finding the time to take care of all our responsibilities.   Research clearly shows the benefits of telecommuting for increasing productivity and  making employees happy. A recent Cisco study of its telecommuting employees found that: 69% of the telecommuting employees see increased productivity 67% said that their work quality improved 80% had an improved work life. So why arent more companies getting on board?   I think that part of the reason is that many companies  dont completely trust their employees even though employees desire to have  autonomy and flexibility.   Managers want to see their employees productive, working hard and not wasting time on facebook.   I think telecommuting and flexibility  will  be more effective when managers trust that  employees will get the job done just not between the hours of 9 to 5pm. Where I work now, we are allowed to work from home on government holidays and as necessary if an emergency comes up.    Of course it  is nice to have the option but I have seen first hand that it is looked down upon by others when you are not in the office.   You dont get as many work opportunities and you arent invited to as many meetings.   Even though the benefits of flexible working relationships are huge, I really dont see  Corporate America  changing anytime  soon. It is hard for me to imagine a women  changing from full-time in the office  to  part-time in the office  and still getting the same opportunities that she once had.   I know this is not how it should be but I know this is what happens in todays working world.    We are making dramatic improvements with Presidential support but  I think that the biggest roadblocks  are the  attitudes and mindsets.   We need to change  Corporate America so that  employees have the same opportunities even though they  may not  always be present  in the office. Do you agree with me?   Do you see telecommuting benefits and flexible work arrangements offered in your industry?

Can you be too busy - Debut university students stress

Can you be too busy - Debut university students stress This post was written by an external contributor. George Cook knows how to spot the signs when you might be burning yourself out.   Whilst at university, we’re constantly bombarded with extra curricular activities to take part in, and told of the need to gain extra skills and experience alongside our degrees. And all these things are what I enjoyed most about university, probably more so than my degree. Especially in my final year, I seemed to be doing more activities outside of studying. Student journalism, freelancing for national outlets, volunteering and sports were all part of my life alongside a degree. And things looks set to be incredibly busy for the year ahead. I’ve always prided myself on my time management and organisation, and I’ve needed those skills to keep on top of everything. But recently Ive struggled with being busy, and this is starting to have an impact on me. No social life Working nights especially has meant I’ve struggled to keep up with friends. When they’re free I’ve either been working or I’ve been sleeping. As someone who thrives off socialising with friends (more than likely in the pub), I find it hard missing out on all that. Whilst I love what I do, reporting on the news and writing, I also love and miss many of my friends. So when you do so much, how can this affect you and your relationships with your friends? Thankfully, many of mine understand how busy I am and most of them are in a similar predicament. But for others it can be so easy to fall out of the loop, to become isolated through doing too much. I suppose the main advice is to not lose sight of you and your friends by taking on too much. This can affect your mental health in many ways. Feeling as though you’re on your own can be a debilitating predicament, as you begin to think you’re the problem. If youre struggling, reach out to your friends and explain how you’re feeling. Stress Aside from the lack of social life, taking on too much can leave you extremely stressed. I often find myself getting stressed over different things and at different times, but there are many different ways of managing this, some better than others. I love a cup of tea, often with way too many biscuits (chocolate digestives are my favourite). Reading and writing helps, particularly about politics (even if the political situation is rather depressing at the moment). The occasional drink is also good to help you unwind, but just be sure not to be excessive with it. Tiredness All this stress and working leads to only one thing: tiredness. I like to think I thrive off of being busy and slightly tired, but lately I’ve felt very drained. This can have big impacts. It can prevent you from doing work, raise stress levels, lower you mood and even affect your health. Despite all of this, Im just a person who can’t sit around and do nothing. I know that tiredness may have affected my stress levels at times, but I think the prospect of doing nothing or being viewed as lazy is just something I can’t fathom. But know your limits There are only so many hours in the day. You’ll get bombarded with leaflets and people encouraging you to join their society, but you can’t do it all. The social side of university is of course amazing, but don’t forget about the degree you’re there to do as well. You’ll need to be able to cope with all the extra stuff during exam and essay season. It’s also important to just take time for yourself every now and again, even if its just an hour or so sitting quietly or watching your favourite TV programme. And remember, if youre struggling, don’t be afraid to say no to things. Your health is the most important thing at the end of the day. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

How to sail through a second interview - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to sail through a second interview Youve just received a call from the hiring manager with news that theyd love to invite you back for a second interview. Congrats! Although may not be long before the initial buzz wears off and you find yourself thinking: what does a second interview  actually  entail? Have no fear! Its important to realise that the company is sincerely interested in you otherwise they wouldnt have called you back.  The first interview is generally a way to weed out candidates  that dont fit the basic qualifications for the position. Second interviews can vary greatly, from a meeting with a CEO, to a presentation or a group task. Treat this stage with as much enthusiasm as you did with the first, just make sure that you dont become arrogant or complacent during your prep or even during the second stage. To help you, here are some tips on how to prep and nail the second interview! The News   Youre on the phone with the hiring manager, who has just given you a time and date for your second interview. Instead of bolting off the line as quickly as possible, try and squeeze some details out of them. Anna Skelton, Senior HR Business Partner at Jobsite  suggests asking for feedback from your first interview. Not only does this help you to identify the areas you need to work on and improve your interview technique for next time, it shows real self-awareness and an eagerness for the job. Having a little bit of a feedback can really benefit you and your performance in the second stage. You will know what areas you may need to work on beforehand which will give you a sense of reassurance too. Research, Research, Research   Before you hang up, you should also confirm with the hiring manager who will be present at the second interview. Your first interview was probably conducted by someone from HR or a hiring manager, as well as your potential boss. In the second stage, you will most likely meet someone more senior in the business, the person who will ultimately have the final say. Confirm with the hiring manager so that you can glean some information about the person/people on LinkedIn or the company website.  Its great for small talk and it will give you an idea of what their position is in the company and their level of expertise. Panel interviews are becoming increasingly popular, as it saves a great deal of time for the company.  So be prepared and print out multiple copies of your resume to hand out to the other interviewers. Get your head in the game Now is the perfect time to sit down and figure out what matters to you in a job.  Come up with a list of new questions to ask your potential employers in the interview  and also brush up on company info to really demonstrate your genuine interest. Think about how  you  and your skills are a good fit for the company. Always keep this in mind when you plan any answers to potential questions. Another way to show your enthusiasm is to discuss any news the company releases via their social media or website. Having this information show you stay up-to-date with their news and that you go that extra mile. Tips for Preparation   While a first interview involves more generalised questions, the second interview will be far more detailed and will be more behavioural-based. Make sure you come prepared with lots of stories of your accomplishments (think STAR Situation, Task, Action Result) and how your qualities and skills can fit perfectly with the job at hand. Diana Marshall, HR generalist at a national law firm based in Detroit confirms this.  Basically what I look for from the candidate is to articulate how they will be successful in the job, and what attributes they have. This is your chance to shine so go into detail with your past experiences. Elaborate on  how  you acquired those skills with examples from your past job in order to really paint the picture for your audience. Final advice Its important to never assume that the first interviewer has relayed feedback to the second. If youre meeting a second interviewer, its essential you go into as much detail about your experience, skills with as much enthusiasm for the position as you did in the first stage. Always remember to thank them for the opportunity at the end of the interview and let them know that you appreciate the time they have taken to meet with you.  Make sure you follow up to say thanks again  via e-mail or if you want to add on any information or examples of work that might have been missing in the interview. Good luck! Francesca Hooper writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for  internships  and  graduate jobsin London.

Do Americas Employers Really Care about Womens Issues - Kathy Caprino

Do America’s Employers Really Care about Women’s Issues Last Thursday, I had a wonderfully powerful meeting  with three inspiring colleagues who are authors affiliated with the publisher of my book Breakdown Breakthrough â€" Berrett-Koehler Publishers.   Each of these folks has a breadth of knowledge and diversity of experience that boggles the mind â€" they are exciting to be with, and fascinating to learn from.   They are Larry Ackerman of The Identity Circle, Jesse Stoner of The Seapoint Center, and Katherine Armstrong. (Thanks, my friends, for a deeply enlivening gathering!)  I highly recommend following their work â€" you’ll be glad you did. Based on what happened in our gathering, I’m reminded once again of the immense power of groups, and the transformative effect of open-hearted, authentic connection and collaboration.   One question we explored a bit that is near and dear to my heart was this â€" Do American employers really care about women’s issues in the workplace, or about advancing women into the ranks of corporate leadership?   I’m saddened to say that based on my work with thousands of women nationwide from hundreds of organizations around the country, I’m not at all convinced that a critical mass of U.S. employers care about advancing women to the senior ranks, or are ready to commit hard dollars to it â€" not yet.      Data speaks, and today, women represent only 15% of the leadership in U.S. corporations. In other countries (Norway, for instance), there are official, stated mandates and goals for the number of women who are to be supported to advance to leadership within corporations.   As far as I know, no such stated goals or mandates exist today in the U.S. Further, the U.S. ranks 72nd in the world, in terms of the percentage of women leaders elected to a national governing body, behind Cuba and China.    How can this be? And why is it? The word on the street in my consulting and coaching circles is that “women’s issues don’t pay,” and “women’s empowerment efforts just don’t get traction.”   I believe this has indeed been true here in the US during the past years, and I want to get to the bottom of this notable lack of a sanctioned commitment to advancing women in corporate leadership.   What do you think are the real reasons behind this? From the qualitative research I’ve conducted, there are numerous possible explanations, including: 1)           Those of us who care about this cause haven’t made a compelling enough fact-based argument to government or to American corporate leadership that advancing women is a MUST HAVE for the success of American business. And/Or 2)           We HAVE made a compelling argument with irrefutable data, research, and statistics, but the underlying “white male competitive career model” in place in corporate America remains intractable. And/Or 3)           As with most things in life, if we’re not forced to change (by an outside intervention, event or mandate), we won’t shift, even if we know we’re currently not on the right track. I’m on a mission to address all of these issues, and to support a breakthrough movement for corporate women.    For instance, I’m in the process of co-developing a new software assessment tool (based on my yearlong research and book Breakdown Breakthrough) that will help professional women explore their efficacy, productivity and engagement in their current job and workplace.   It aims to uncover too the risk level of women in all ranks of experiencing at least one of the 12 common yet “hidden” crises working women face today.   Where risk is widespread, we’ll provide follow-up support and training to help women overcome these crises.   Secondly, I’m focused on the development of new leadership training models and consulting programs that will help both men and women in corporate America deconstruct the outmoded “ male competitive career model” that many workplaces still support, and build a new, inclusive model that honors and nurtures diversity.   I simply refuse to give up.   For me, this outcome â€" of ushering women into the ranks of corporate leadership in greater and greater numbers each year is a MUST have for American business.   Supporting a full-out breakthrough movement for women in America is where it’s at for me.   So, what about you?   Do you think America truly cares about women’s issues as they relate to the workforce? Are you seeing evidence that corporations across the country are taking up the charge to help women grow in their leadership and management roles â€" and committing time, energy, and resources to this in an outward, measurable manner?   Are they walking the talk, or simply giving lip-service? Please share your candid views and  experience.    Tell me where I’m wrong â€" show me proof that corporate America does care in a big and widespread way about advancing women.   Show me where it’s working.   And tell me What do you think we need to do today to make measurable strides in advancing a critical mass of women into corporate leadership. Thank you for your input!

Career corner-Free Career Teleclass Finding a Career that FITS - Hallie Crawford

Career corner-Free Career Teleclass Finding a Career that FITS Free Teleclass: Love Your Job! Finding a Career that FITS” Im kicking off the new year with a FITS teleclass January 17th. I only do these a few times per year so reserve your seat now if youre interested! The details: Wednesday, January 17, 2007, from 12 noon-12:55 (Eastern). To register click here. Send this to a friend. Imagine what it would be like to have a career that fits you like a glove and that you truly enjoy. In this teleclass, you will leave with tips, tools and information to find it and begin to make it happen… Learn about the four major components of a satisfying career Identify and learn to overcome obstacles that may be getting in the way of you finding a satisfying career Get bonus tips to successfully make a career transition This class is for anyone looking for direction or wanting greater fulfillment in their work. Start the new year out right…Find a career that fits. Unable to attend? Click here to purchase the audio recording of this informative class for only $12.99. Or give it as a gift to someone you know who’s struggling with their career direction. By the way, theres still time to purchase Coaching Gift Certificates for the holidays. Life coaching gift certificates were featured on the Today Show last week. Theyre great gift ideas, feel free to contact me if youre interested.

Life, Death and Resume Writing Today

Life, Death and Resume Writing Today A Startling Fact about Resume Writing Today Uncovered For instance, if you've got the name of a single job title in bold, every work title ought to be in bold lettering. The support of qualified CV writers may give you a premium quality you will love. With their assistance, you will certainly have organize and well-structured CV. In general, obtaining an expert CV by yourself is really exceptional as it will provide you with a terrific opportunity to land on the job which you desire. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Writing Today Your professional experience must be noted down in a crisp method. Regardless of what set and what number of skills you possess, it is crucial to list them depending on the job you're applying for. Once you own a year or two of expert experience, it's considered a must to remove GPA from the resume. Possessing a professional resume is crucial. An individual has to be specific and clear. Since resumes are largely digitally sent, there is absolutely no need to have a printout and sign the resume. A search for an expert curriculum vitae services near me feature isn't a terrible idea for a high quality curriculum vitae. The End of Resume Writing Today Nevertheless, there's a difference and it's helpful to understand when to compose a CV vs resume. If this is the case, you need to find some good resume writing tips that give best outcomes. Attending interviews and job tests is the method that nearly all of you will need to follow. For instance, resume writer on the internet is totally client focused. A functional resume might not incorporate an individual's work history in any way or might have a concise collection of prior jobs at the base of the document. Video resumes are the current trend in the world today. The Fight Against Resume Writing Today Consequently, job seekers have to understand how to sell their abilities and qualifications with the assistance of t heir primary advertising and marketing document. Some not all, but a number of the freelance writers we encounter seem to have somehow picked up the thought that all they need to do to succeed is to be useful at writing. Proofreading is of extreme importance when you need to land that coveted job at a significant organization. Be certain that you highlight only the accomplishments and abilities which are connected to the job you're applying for. Want to Know More About Resume Writing Today? Start off with your expectations about a company which you want to get the job done. If you have several job targets tailor each resume to maximize the outcome. Use a career summary at the peak of your resume and make sure that you're positioning yourself as the appropriate candidate for the job. You ought to find specific job opening posted by a particular business you would love to submit an application for. A short resume goes a very long way. There are many ways to arrange informat ion on your resume, but the standard reverse-chronological resume is the most frequently used resume style and certainly the best course of action. Paired with a job-specific cover letter, you're sure to land at the cover of the interview pile! How to compose a simple resume isn't a question people ought to be asking. Resume writing Objective is a vital section in any sort of resume. There are plenty of statements one can utilize to make an effective resume. Ideally, a resume ought to be one-page long so make sure that the sentences are crisp and well-written. Once you choose the language, you've got to design your CV and a cover letter in the identical language.

4 Ways To Show Off Your Awesome Resume - Work It Daily

4 Ways To Show Off Your Awesome Resume - Work It Daily Job searching needs to be a diversified effort. You can’t put all your eggs in one basket. And, many people believe the only way to job search these days is to go online, post their resume to a job board, and spend time searching through the job boards looking for openings. Yes, this is a piece of the job search puzzle, folks, but it’s not the whole pie. You can’t rely on job boards alone to find a job. That makes your job search a numbers game, and you would have to spend 40 hours a week on every job board you could find applying for every position you are even remotely qualified forâ€"literally applying for hundreds of jobs a week to get a few call-backs and maybe one or two interviews. Don’t fall into the trap of believing a job board is the only place to find employment. Below are some great ways to diversify your search and open some doors: Social Networking Facebook: I read a surprising statistic the other day: These days, more people are finding employment on Facebook than they are on LinkedIn. I was shocked. I had to investigate that a little further. But I suppose it isn’t all that far-fetched, considering all the companies that are on Facebookâ€"not to mention the 950 million+ people on it. My recommendation here: Use Facebook to scout out companies you would like to work for to see if there are any openings listed on its pageâ€"and then apply if there are. If there aren’t, do some poking around; you may find a contact name you could send your resume and cover letter to. Twitter: Twitter people! Go get your tweet onâ€"or at least get on there and search for openings. Did you know that there are more searches performed on Twitter every day than on the largest search engine? Don’t know whom to follow? Follow @GreatResume and check out our followers. I have a lot of recruiters on Twitter that follow meâ€"and that I followâ€"who post jobs every single day. LinkedIn: Professional networking is a must! Get on LinkedIn if you’re not already, join groups related to your industry (great place to find jobs and get your foot in the door), and start making connections with people. Don’t just copy and paste your resumeâ€"put some time and effort into developing a search engine-optimized profile that will get you noticed. Recruiters, hiring managers, and companies conduct searches for people on LinkedIn every day to find someone who would be a great match for their organization. Our clients always place high in search results. Also, one more tip: Make sure your profile is 100% complete. It helps you to place well in search results. In-Person Networking Buy some networking cards. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile on your business card, professional blog, online resume, etc. It’s a great way to direct where people can find out more about your professional experience and expertise. Don’t hesitate to give one to everyone you meet. Also, find local meetings for professional associations related to your industry/profession. Attend these when and where possible, and start working on your elevator speech. Good Old-Fashioned Snail Mail Believe it or not, it still works. Target companies you want to work for, research the hiring manager’s name, and mail him or her a copy of your resume and cover letter. You would be surprised at how you’ll find out about positions you didn’t even know were open and how you’ll get a better response rate than just working the job boards. Think Outside The Box Really get out there and think outside the box. Create a job search website that includes your resume and professional background. Consider other means of searching for employment that you’ve never thought of before. In today’s job market (and amidst the dismal unemployment rate) it’s important to BE REMEMBERED. So do something memorable (but professional, people). And for goodness’ sake, if you’re going to sit on the job boards all day, spend some of that time finding some really awesome NICHE job boards that are right up your alleyâ€"or in this case, industryâ€"and post your resume there. It usually costs employers less to post openings on niche boards, and they know they’ll be getting candidates within only that specified field. As always, customize your resume before sending it out or applying online. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!