Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Bring Back the Lunch Break!

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Bring Back the Lunch Break! A recent Robert Half/OfficeTeam study found that nearly half of workers either dont take lunch breaks or take breaks that last 30 minutes or less. Many workers also spend their time multitasking while they eat. More than four in 10 (42 percent) reported that, aside from eating, they spend this time socializing with colleagues, while 29 percent admitted they do work during lunch breaks. Why has the traditional lunch hour diminished so significantly? The obvious culprit is technology. Now that it’s easier to keep typing away while we eat, we feel freer to do so. In fact, only a tiny 1 percent of survey respondents said they do nothing but eat their lunch. A secondary cause is a dysfunctional culture. Some organizations are so competitive that employees feel they must work around the clock in order to keep their jobs and get ahead. They view taking a well-deserved lunch break as a sign of weakness or laziness. In a business world thats more stressful than ever, putting in long hours without a break is bad for health, morale and productivity. How can owners and managers help turn things around? Walk the Talk Instead of paying lip service to the idea of taking a break, let your employees see you doing it yourself. Come on, it won’t kill you. As Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam, says, “Lunch breaks are a time to get in the proper nutrients and give your brain a restâ€"and that means you’ll have the energy and focus to get through the rest of the day.” This applies to you as well as your team. Make It a Communal Affair Put a big table in your break room or kitchen area and hold court there every day at lunchtime. Encourage your employees to join you. Show them that hanging out with colleagues (and yes, even the boss) and interacting on a personal level can be a fun way to pass the workday and get to know each other better. These gatherings can also spark creativity and innovation in your business. For the rest of my tips, head on over to the AMEX Open Forum.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Always Needing to Be Right

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Always Needing to Be Right When you went to school, did anyone ever tell you to be sure and choose the wrong answer on a test?At work, does your boss regularly tell you to make the wrong decisions?Probably not. From the time we are children, we are counseled to make the right choices, and how to look right and how to do the right thing. That often continues in the workplace, that need to be right.And, the more right we are, the more likely we are to become rigid in our way of thinking. But heres something to think about: By denying there is anything left to learn, we undermine ourselves and our companies. Failing to acknowledge that other people may have the right answer can really affect an individuals and organizations success. The most successful people, after all, often challenge others to come up with a better idea and then learn from that input.Of course, letting go of being right all the time takes courage. It means that you first have to admit that youve gone too far and you need to improve. But once youve done that, you should: Define what winning looks like to you. Think about what you really want, how you feel about certain issues in your life and at work, and how your life experiences have impacted how you regard those things. Look at how often your need to be right really interferes with what you want. If you shut people down by interrupting them with your right solution, or they turn away because you have proven them wrong, note this interaction in a journal. Keep track of what happened, your reaction, and what the price was, such as a less creative answer or hurting a relationship with a co-worker. Ask questions. Instead of jumping in with the answer all the time, become more curious. Ask others what they think, and give them a chance to respond. Only then should you offer your opinion. See the world in shades of gray. Consider how often your thinking is automatically right versus wrong. Try to look at all sides of the issue before making a decision.

Todays Very Bad Rap On Millennials Reputation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Todays Very Bad Rap On Millennials Reputation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Harvard University Institute of Politics reports that most Millennials will not bother to vote in the midterm elections. According to Fox News, Millennials are too busy “looking hot” or “depending on the government” to vote, and they should be discouraged from going to the polls to vote for their interests. Millennials? Could this be true? The generation who experienced the 2008 economic collapse perhaps harder than any other, along with the unending costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? You are going to be no-shows at the polls? The Millennials   who will suffer the legacy of those decisions for the rest of your lives â€" you are NON-voters? In perhaps the oddest reaction to the potential power of the Millennial vote, Fox News hosts have been actively discouraging young women from going to the polls for the midterm elections. Fox News host Jesse Watters referred to female Millennials as “the Beyoncé voters, the single ladies.” In an unanswered slur to young women, he said, “You know, they depend on government because they’re not depending on their husbands. They need things like contraception, health care, and they love to talk about equal pay.” “The Five” co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle discouraged young women from participating in elections and serving on juries. “Young women on juries are not a good idea,” she said. “They don’t get it!  They’re not in the same, like, life experience of paying the bills, doing the mortgage, kids, community, crime, education, health care.” States are taking away voting access from urban city dwellers and students at universities away from home. They have moved polling places out of densely populated areas where young people tend to live, and into suburban areas where the family-centric voters are. This bad rap on Millennials’ voting is intolerable. You are being run off and counted out because your interests don’t jive with those who have already gotten theirs â€" and don’t want your voice heard. There’s fear about your potential to vote your interests. Most Millennials need fair and equitable pay for yourself. You might need a strong working class and middle class, if for no other reason than these are the folks who buy stuff. You probably need clean energy and investment in infrastructure: because when the old folks are gone, you will be breathing the air, drinking the water and crossing the bridges and roads that are now crumbling. You’ll be living out whether radical climate change is science or not. Don’t believe the bad news about yourself. Show up and vote your interests. It’s what the old folks did in their day, and they shouldn’t have the last word on your future.

Visual Designer Job Description Sample - Algrim.co

Visual Designer Job Description Sample - Algrim.co Visual Designer Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs.

Credential Crush Keeping Those Details In Check - CareerMetis.com

Credential Crush Keeping Those Details In Check Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comIn today’s professional word, the information that you have on paper could be the most powerful tool in your arsenal. With so much competition in job markets, it’s never guaranteed that you’ll ever actually have your information read fully. So, it’s important to make sure that the key information is all there. And, that it’s very impressive.Of course, as with most things, there are some easy ways that you can make this easier for yourself. And, to help you out, this post will be going through a few of them. This is something that will take time and effort. But, the sooner you start, the better.The type of information that you’re storing is very important to consider. You need to have a record of your qualifications, studies, and other working history. A lot of people forget to include information like dates and times when it comes to this. But, this can make it very hard for you to fill in applications accurately.evalAlong with this, you will a lso need other information that the government provides. Things like tax codes and insurance numbers can be very important. Ideally, you need to have a record of everything related to your working life. You need to think about every aspect of your working life.Even small details, like the phone numbers of previous employers, can be very important. It’s easy to forget these little bits of data. But, they’re very important. You also need to consider educational awards, like certificates.Without this information, it could be difficult for you from the very start. You will struggle to write applications, as you won’t know what to put on them. If you get to an interview, you could embarrass yourself if you’re asked the wrong questions.And, once you’ve got the job, you may find it hard to fill in the forms that you need to get to work. In a world where credentials matter so very much, it’s important to make sure that you have all of the information you need.Some of these detai ls will be impossible to obtain again if they’re lost. It’s easy to find out exactly what you’ll need to start working. You just need to visit your government website to find out what most employers will ask you for. Alternatively, you could also talk to a recruitment company.The biggest part of this is keeping your own records. In most cases, the best way to do this is on a computer. Having a detailed copy of your CV, history, and qualifications will make it much easier for you to pick through for the relevant bits.Different jobs may require different information to be highlighted. So, having everything is a good place to start. But, when it comes to applying, you should break the information down and focus on your strongest skills for the job.evalThese records should include copies and the originals of any certificates you have. Some companies may require proof that you have the credentials you say you have. And, a certificate is the easiest way to achieve this.As well as ke eping your own records, it can help to have them stored elsewhere, as well. Most recruitment and job sites have services where they can store your credentials for you. This is usually done using a simple set of online forms, which take the basic information you have to offer.This can be a great benefit because it allows you to apply for jobs without having to put extra work into it. It also gives you a chance to store data somewhere that it won’t get lost.Your own computer may failat some point, potentially losing your records. But, if the basic outline still exists, you’ll be fine. If you don’t have this in place, you could end up having to start the whole thing from scratch. This isn’t good for anyone trying to get into a new career.evalThankfully, nowadays, it’s easy to handle those two previous jobs with one service. Over the years, the power of the Internet has vastly grown with the emergence of smartphones. Now, most people have access to the world wide web from thei r fingertips. And, this has been exploited by all sorts of companies.Credentialing as a Service or CaaS allows prospective employees to fill out their entire history and credentials in just one place. Then, when they want to share their information, it’s done through the app. Even applying for jobs is easier. You just let the app fill in the application for you, and then you hit the apply button.In some places, services like this have been very widely adopted. This means that it could be very easy to apply for a job or share information. As little as a tap of your phone could be enough.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comThese services are great for people who are very busy. In most cases, they will be tailored to a certain industry. For example, you’ll find a lot of these services aimed at medical professionals. But, they can be helpful to anyone. Especially if you’re looking to get into a professional field.It’s worth making sure that you have the best possible chances when doing s omething like applying for jobs. You should be looking to use every tool you have at your disposal. And, this is a perfect example of something very powerful.You just need to be able to use it effectively, which will usually involve making sure that you always keep a good record of your credentials. Remember; your new employer will require more than just a rough history.Hopefully, this will inspire you to start working harder to provide all of the information that you can to employers. Getting a job can be a stressful time. Especially when you’re not having any luck, and the clock is ticking.So, it’s well worth putting in the effort so that you are as appealing as possible to employers. Simply putting the work into this will show employers that you’re serious about the job you’re trying to get.

Going Directly to the Source

Going Directly to the Source Avoiding the job board game?   I hope so.   But I guess the best strategy is to leave no stone unturned. Photo by Patti Jacobs While there are many many mega job boards, one I truly believe you should know about and be talking about is LinkUp! Linkwhat? Its over on my sidebar to the right.   But in case you didnt know about it, let me give you the low-down. LinkUp About LinkUp Job Seekers LinkUp is the fastest-growing job search engine on the web. Completely unique among job sites, LinkUp only aggregates jobs from company websites. Our search engine indexes over 22,000 company websites and updates those job listings every night. As a result, jobs on LinkUp.com are always current, never duplicated, and contain no fake jobs or scam listings. On the go? Search for job listings that are found exclusively on company websites from your mobile device. LinkUp’s free Job Search Engine app allows you to search and apply for open positions directly from your Android, iPhone or iPad. Companies Do Source Candidates Directly Ive noticed that more and more companies are using their website as a job portal.   Many are investing in recruiting software that allows them to collect applications and resumes directly from their own sites.   I am sure there are statistics on this to support the increase, but heck, do you really care?   Bottom line, it can be more cost effective for some companies to do it this way. SoHow Do I Find These Jobs? I am so glad you asked!   It starts first with your developing a target list of companies you would like to work for! Change How You Look for Work explains why. Check out Business Finder Tool  (from CareerOneStop) Top 100 lists for your city Search companies within LinkedIn Glassdoor.com’s Best Places to Work, 2011 Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to work for, 2011 BusinessInsider’s 25 Best Companies to work for in America Get a listing from your chamber of commerce Ask your local librarian to help you conduct research Be A Great Detective Yes, being able to find the right opportunities is pretty important.     On HireFriday, there was a great post I shared which included a presentation Shally Steckerl, a very well-respected recruiter and candidate sourcing guru.     Learn how he recommends searching for opportunities here:   Finding Jobs Beyond the Job Boards. Going directly to the source of job opportunities by going to employers and their websites takes more time and effort, but LinkUp makes it a bit easier!   Let me know what you think.

Resume Writing Services Provide Valuable Information To Job Seekers

Resume Writing Services Provide Valuable Information To Job SeekersThere are many different types of resume writing services available that will help you obtain a higher level of success in your job search. These companies have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you get a job, but you may not know which service is right for you.Resume writing services are generally expensive, but they are important when it comes to getting a job. You need to have a professional-looking resume that is professionally written, with a professional feel to it. If you do not have the time or the expertise to write a resume, a resume writing service can create one for you. They have experience and know what it takes to get you noticed by your potential employer.Before you hire a company to write your professional resume, you want to make sure that you understand exactly what you want and need. You may be looking for a job that requires specific skills, such as computer programming, or you may be trying to find a job that will require a low-level of experience. Remember that any company that promises to help you find a job quickly may end up with more work for you in the long run.A resume is a small, important part of an interview process, so you will want to be sure that the resume writing company you choose has experience writing resumes that work well for their clients. You may also want to look at their track record, or simply ask them if they are certified to write your resume.It is important to know your current salary, job history, and potential future jobs. This information is critical for the resume writing service to create a professional looking resume that will stand out from the competition. Make sure that you request all of this information when you are researching a company to use for your resume.Another great benefit of hiring resume writing services is that the companies offer personalized services. They can write a customized resume based on your requireme nts and provide you with a resume that is relevant to your needs. If you are receiving a lot of job calls, there is nothing more frustrating than having an official looking resume that does not provide you with the information you need.With a professional writer, you can expect a resume that is professional, and that will impress your prospective employer. The writer can create a resume that includes your skills, educational background, and even your skills, history, and education history. These services make it easier for you to find the ideal job, while also increasing your chances of landing the job.You can use resume writing services to create a professional resume that has a professional feel to it. Do not overlook the value of resume writing services when you are looking for a job.