Office wardrobe hacks

Office wardrobe hacks by Michael Cheary On top of your day-to-day responsibilities, there’s enough to think about without stressing over what to wear to work in the morning.From meeting deadlines and budgeting on lunch to finding where the stationary is kept and networking, the last thing you want to do is worry about your work wardrobe. While looking professional and stylish at the office is essential in our opinion, you don’t have to blow all of your wages on the task.As a helping hand, we’ve come up with five simple hacks that will make your wallet (and your boss) very happy:1.  Invest in neutral foundation pieces and add in a few new tops to spice things up each season No one will notice your neutral-coloured blazers, trousers, and skirts that you wear on repeat. Invest in quality basics, and mix things up with standout tops and accessories.Top styling tip: Try a sleeveless jacket for the ultimate layering item and team your new favourite work tops with a classic pencil skirt.2.  Shop fo r versatile pieces that can be worn on and off-duty Streamline your wardrobe by focusing on pieces that can easily go from Sunday brunch to Monday-morning staff meetings with a change of accessories, outerwear, and/or footwear.Top styling tip: A work shirt dress goes a long way and is the perfect addition to a summer work wardrobe, just add a lightweight duster coat and a pair of courts and you’ll be winning best dressed at the office party in no time.3. Repurpose your off-duty pieces to work for the office Yes, it’s entirely possible to wear your favourite going-out piece to the office! How, you ask? Layer a short dress over a pair of trousers, wear a low-cut dress over a turtleneck shell, or top a flowery dress with a structured blazer or jumper.Top styling tip: If you’re ever in doubt on whether something truly isn’t office appropriate, do the fingertips test.  A skirt is too short if when standing with your arms down your side the skirt touches your fingertips.  Who knew 4.  Wear the same combination of signature jewellery pieces every day Simplify your morning routine and save your cash by selecting personal, versatile pieces that look great together and that you love enough to wear every day.Top styling tip: It’s all about layering delicate necklaces on top of eachother right now, try these twist necklaces for a delicate take on the trend.5.  Develop your own personal uniform Top styling tip: Nothing works better or is more transitional than a pencil skirt with a tucked in tee. Keep some tops on rotation to keep it fresh.Now all you need to do is put our advice into action! Develop your own personal uniform by taking our summer workwear quiz.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our priva cy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Stand Out From Your Competition, Improve Your Communication Skills! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Stand Out From Your Competition, Improve Your Communication Skills! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Successful job candidates, the ones who get hired, do two things better than anyone else:  They send the “right” messages and deliver them in a powerful and compelling manner!  A candidate first sends these messages with their resumes and reinforces them in their job interviews. You need to be prepared to answer this key question: ”Why should I hire you?” All other messages must support, defend and compliment this main message.   Most candidates don’t realize how crucial it is to develop their communication skills so they can answer this question succinctly. Many students make the false assumption that if they are socially adept, outgoing and popular with their peers they will also be well received by hiring managers. Unfortunately, this is typically not the case. Chatty, friendly and high-spirited does not necessarily translate into other character traits that are desirable in the workplace. Having strong communication skills is crucial for many reasons in the workforce: One needs to know when it’s important to listen and hold back and when its necessary to respond.  There are many subtleties in communication and the best communicators strengthen their personal brand using their ability to articulate to influence others’ opinion of them. They intuitively know “when silence is golden” and how to “read between the lines” when the situation is tough. It’s important that you clearly communicate how you have used your ability to inspire, engage, influence and persuade others to achieve improved results i.e. I was able to achieve major increases in revenues. I designed a marketing plan that increased sales by 50%. I was an effective negotiator, mediator and moderator:   I negotiated the first long-term union contract in theatres history.   Showing results that depict the impact you had on a firm’s growth is far more impressive than telling the hiring manager that you have great “peoples skills.”  As Jay Block, an internationally certified Career Coach and resume strategist quips, “So what, my dog also has great people skills” and she will never get a job.   In other words, if you merely describe yourself as having these character traits but have no accomplishments to back them up with, you will probably reduce your chances for getting noticed and getting hired. Developing the right message and practicing your delivery o f this message will ultimately make the difference for whether or not you get the offer over your competition. Customizing your resume to match the requirements of the position and making your qualifications understandable to the recruiter is a critical exercise because it focuses your message to include achievements that are relevant to the hiring manager.   It should include  both qualitative and quantitative achievements.   Quantitative achievements are specific achievements, for example, increased sale $1.3 million a year, improved customer service levels from 91.3%-98.5%.   Qualitative achievements are non-measurable results but are accomplishments as well:   Significantly improved the level of customer service, improved efficiency while lowering personnel turnover. There is no substitute for preparing and practicing for your job interview. Knowing more about the company, understanding the demands of the job youre seeking, learning about the hiring manager’s key challenges, will give you the basis for which to prepare your responses to interview questions. Ask someone to videotape you answering typical interview questions. Select words that aren’t clichés and make sure you have concrete examples of instances where you’ve used the skills you mention to further the goals of a current or previous organization. Here are some examples of transferable skills: Communication skills include: expressing ideas, facilitating discussions or meetings, listening, negotiating presenting, speaking a foreign language, speaking and writing effectively. Research and planning skills include: analysis, brainstorming, coordinating events, focusing on details, forecasting, goal setting, information gathering, organizing, problem solving, record keeping. Interpersonal skills include: coaching, conflict resolution, crisis management , delegating responsibility, handling complaints, motivating, team building, Leadership skills include: dealing with change,   decision making, enforcing policies, ethics, implementation, management, persuasion, time management and training All things being equal with respect to your grades and previous work experience and references, the scale will be tipped in your favor for getting hired if you can show that you are more aware of the hiring managers needs than any other candidate and that you have the skills and abilities to help the manager accomplish his goals. Make it about them more than about you!   Stand out by learning to tune in to the ways you can apply your sills to assist them with specific challenges they face. The main challenge of the job interview is not so much to sell yourself, but to sell the “fit” between what you have to offer and what the job for which you are being interviewed calls for. Remember to highlight the right skills and attributes for the job which you are applying for and don’t ever misrepresent yourself. If you can prove that you will add value to the firm in an area they need support, you will greatly improve your chances for getting hired. Author: Beth Kuhel, M.B.A., C.E.I.P (Certified Employment Interview Professional) Beth is Founder and President of Get Hired, LLC.   She advises students on how to bridge the gap from school to career.  Beth is the co-author of From Diploma to Dream Job: Five Overlooked Steps to a Successful Career (available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461087082) Her coaching assists students to successfully match their needs, interests, passions, skills, and personal goals with the needs of a sustainable industry in a sustainable location.  Beth is also a resource for print and online media and offers workshops for University Career Service Departments, High School Guidance Counselors and College Alumni Associations. See website for more details about Beth’s services www.fromdiploma2dreamjob.com  

Why the Tech Industry Needs More Women

Why the Tech Industry Needs More Women The tech industry  has always been a male dominated field and though there are more women in todays workforce, less are choosing to join the sector now than 20 years ago. Not only this, but there remains  a  significant pay gap between men and women and many women report everyday sexism in the workplace, which is off putting for females looking to join the sector. So  what are the main issues holding women back from entering the tech industry and what can be done to  make women feel more valued within the field. Next Generation Recruitment have put together an infographic looking at a few stats, issues and whats being done to improve the industry for women, as as bid to encourage more females to take on a role in tech. How many women currently work in tech? Less than 7% of tech positions in Europe are filled by women. In 2014  only 26% of those working in the tech industry in the US were  women, down from 37% in 1991. Women are the minority in tech leadership, making up less than 20%. Some of the most notable women in tech: Ginni Rometty CEO, IBM Elaine Coughlan Co-founder Partner, Atlantic Bridge Capital Anna Christina Ramos Saicall CEO, B2W Cher Wang Co-founder  Chair, HTC Why are there so few women in tech? Gender stereotypes can discourage girls from studying subjects such as Maths and Science which are typically seen as male subjects. Less women are studying STEM subjects so there is a lack of female tech talent. Hiring mangers are more likely to hire people who are culturally similar to them, so a team of men are likely to hire more men with similar hobbies, interests, etc. 73% of people believe that the tech industry is sexist. 52% say that they are aware that women are paid less than men. Why does the tech industry need more women? Gender diversity is good for a company. Fortune 500 companies with the highest representation of women on their board outperformed those with the lowest female representation by 42% return on sales. The tech industry needs more women working in the sector to ensure there is future talent. Whats being done to encourage women to join the tech industry? Education is being improved. More female role-models being championed. Negative stereotypes are being challenged. Networking and mentoring opportunities are being strengthened. Find out more below! [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Desperate People Dont Get New Jobs, Try This Approach Instead

Desperate People Dont Get New Jobs, Try This Approach Instead Just like in the world of dating, looking desperate is not going to get you anywhere in your job search. When someone sees the glint of desperation in your eye, they question your motives and you lose credibility in an instant. Sure, there is a correlation of number of job applications and number of interviews you land but what if you could get the ratio down to one interview per application? Or even better, how about getting interviews without applying? Spraynpray applications The old school way of applying for jobs is not really working in today’s economy. Employers are inundated with resumes from hopeful jobseekers, sometimes receiving hundreds of applicants for one single position. Employers also tend to get a great deal of open applications that are not related to any particular jobs. This indicates that the applicant is on the desperate side and just wants the employers brand on their resume. Recruiters constantly have adverts out for various positions in their field. These adverts will render a number of applications on a daily basis, mainly from candidates adhering to the ‘spray and pray’ methodology. Anyone that sends the same resume and cover letter email to 20 positions in one day will have to be classified as desperate and recruiters run to the hills when they see it. Simply applying for any job that is out there and even for jobs that arent out there is not going to be the way forward. All it does is putting the desperate stamp on your resume and yourself. Someone told me to… The typical expert advice in a tough market would be to call up the recruiter and/or employer and make sure they read your resume and put you at the top of the pile. In this day and age, this won’t make you stand out and if anything you will only come across as desperate and ascertain your resume goes either to the bottom of the pile or in the trash can. A hiring manager wants enthusiasm from a new employee, not desperation. But shouldn’t I try all means to get a new job? Of course you should try everything, but you only get one chance with each company and you want to make it count. Instead of you applying, imagine being headhunted or even contacted direct by a hiring manager. This would put you you in a much stronger bargaining position which you can leverage from, especially if get a job offer. How to avoid looking desperate Have high standards and only agree to look at jobs that you really want. An interviewer can spot an opportunist jobseeker a mile away. By only applying for the right roles for you, you will save time and effort for the ones that really count. Furthermore, recruiters and employers will respect your integrity and remember you for the next opportunity they have that is more relevant to your preferences. Do whatever it takes for the recruiter or employer to contact you instead of vice versa. There are a number of ways you can work on your  branding, start getting active online, give talks in your field and raise your profile. Employers and recruiters will be all over you like ducks on a June bug. Action plan Take a long-term approach to your career and work on your personal brand today. Start writing blog posts about your industry, zeroing in on a few companies with the help of social networking, get active in online groups and recruiters, head up industry events, the list goes on and on… Conclusion The point I am making is that you want to turn the table and be different to other jobseekers. You don’t want to be pushy, if anything you should be pushed into an interview. Just like the dating game, the hard-to-gets seem to get lots of offers and can pick and choose. Avoid looking desperate, keep your high standards and dignity when looking for the next position and I am convinced you will fare better than ever. Related: How NOT to Contact Recruiters on LinkedIn. Image: Shutterstock

3 Better Ways For An HR Manager To Handle Workplace Issues - CareerMetis.com

3 Better Ways For An HR Manager To Handle Workplace Issues Handling workplace issues is a tricky job. Are you able to resolve them invariably? No, right? No one really can!If you think the job of an HR manager is to hire or fire employees only, then you are wrong, my friend! He/she has to handle all the situations that relate to the humansof the organisation, i.e. employees, mid-level and top-level management personnel and even the cleaning operation staff.evalDon’t lose heart or think you are not a successful HR!The following tips for specific workplace issues can help a HR Manager achieve better results consistently:1. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTIONevalEither it is hiring a candidate or retaining an employee, the HR manager needs to be a skilled communicator as well as a strategic thinker to ensure that his actions are in favour of the organisation, and in no way fraud the candidate or the employee while negotiating about the job-in-question.The following are some general concerns that you must have an answer for:A) Hiring a candidate1. Comp lete details of the job profileThe brief that you have for the job profile is not enough to communicate the role to the deserving candidate, so you must either have the complete profile with you or invite the head of that particular department for the final negotiation round.This will allow you to handle all his queries with utmost transparency.2. Expected and finalised salaryThe candidate might be hoping for a particular figure, so be ready with convincing answers if your decided number does not match his desired amount. Formulating responses on the spot might mislead the candidate, or you may also lose a deserving one.B) Retaining an employee1. Hierarchy levelsevalThe reason for an employee to leave his organisation is usually a better place, a better salary; a situation you might be familiar with, but what if the employee has issues with the hierarchy levels?You cannot fire a deserving employee or his senior/junior just because he is facing any problems with them. Do you know how to handle this situation?The best method is to communicate his thoughts with the concerned person in the most positive manner and devise a new approach to make sure the same hierarchy issues are not repeated.2. Salary negotiationIf the employee is quitting because of salary issues, then you need to have the right answers to convince him to stay and help your organisation reach its goals.evalSalary negotiation is an acquired art, which requires profound communication skills to make both the parties happy If the conflict is among the employees of the same team, then asking their manager to talk to both of them individually is usually the most preferred way, but will it not be better if the manager can listen to both the sides, clear the unnecessary doubts, and then the angry employees can resolve it among themselves in a closed room.The possibility of a heated argument or any communication gap reduces, and the chances of conflict resolution are much higher.B) External conflictIf the dispute is among the employees of two different teams or departments, then the resolution is a little tricky!evalBut the right way is not to ask their respective managers to resolve it among themselves; it is better to check the following and avoid any ineffective solutions:1. Different teamsThe conflict among the employees of two different teams but the same department can be solved in the way mentioned in “internal conflict” section above or by practising team-exchange programmes so that the employees get to know each other, which will help in clearing the matter more efficiently.2. Different departmentsTo resolve the conflict among the employees of two different departments can be resolved by efficient communication between their managers and the employees-in-question. This can also make use of a closed room, but their respective managers should not leave it at any point, to prevent heated arguments or unresolved conclusions.Conflicts are the primary reasons for lack of produ ctivity among different departments, so make sure your organisation does not suffer from losses or inefficient outputs because of such disputes. Rectify them right away!3. HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNSHealth and safety of your employees should be on top of your priority list. This includes design structure of the organisation, emergency exits smoke alarms, precautions for harmful chemicals or any pungent smell-causing activities, make sure the structure is cleaned every day, hiring pest control services regularly and much more.evalThe employees might have specific concerns regarding behaviour/habit of some other employee or any structural issue, so do you know how to deal with that?The following are three rare examples which can help you understand such situations better:A) Smoking or unhygienic habits of an employeeMany employees have the habit of smoking inside their office premises or habits like not taking a bath regularly, not wearing clean clothes or having a foul body odour.If other employees are facing issues because of that particular employee, then do you know how to take care of the situation? He might get offended if others tell him of the situation, so is talking face-to-face right away the best solution?Sophie Meaney from Amberjack, suggested an efficient manner to rectify this issue. She says that the right way to go about it is by sending an official mail to that employee which will explain the whole situation to him in a polite way.If it continues, then you should send him a written warning for the same. If he is still ignoring the policies of the organisation, then having a face-to-face discussion is the only choice left.B) Lack of proper emergency exitsIf the organisational structure does not have adequate emergency exits, then you should be prepared for some additional construction costs.Don’t wait for the employees to notice it or a disaster to happen before making any budget allotment to the construction costs; instead, hire professional s right away!Every structure needs to have the right number of emergency exits at the right corners to ensure the safety of the employees in case of a disaster.Handle with care; your employees are your responsibility when they are inside the office premises.

Why Google+ Deserves Your Time Attention (Guest Post)

Why Google+ Deserves Your Time Attention (Guest Post) Im excited to share a follow-up post from social media career expert Miriam Salpeter. Miriam was a recent guest on Making a Living with Maggie sharing tips on social networking for career success. Read below for her tips on how to leverage the latest social media tool, Google+When Maggie and I talked about social networking on her show, Google+ was very new on the social media scene, and we didnt get to discuss how it might be useful for job seekers to explore. Hopefully, youve taken some of the advice we shared about LinkedIn to heart, but dont forget a well-rounded social media strategy (including a variety of networks) may help you achieve your plans sooner. I was delighted to take Maggie up on her offer to share my thoughts about Google+ and how using it could help you achieve your career and business goals.Keep in mind, there are three big reasons to use social media:To expand the number of people you know and who know you.To learn new information pertinent to your field from m entors and thought leaders, andTo illustrate your expertise with a community of people who may connect you to opportunities based on learning about you and what you know. Having spent time using Google+ for the past few months, I believe this new social scene allows users to accomplish all of these goals. Like Twitter, it is an open network, allowing members to learn from and share information with people they dont already know. Without any introductions, anyone is free to find and follow people who provide useful details and information pertinent to their careers.Think about the possibilities! If you are interested in learning about an industry, organization, or niche, you can search Google+ (or use one of the applications popping up to help you search it) and identify people who are actively discussing topics that not only may interest you, but could open exactly the right door you need to go through to make your next career or business move.Another factor to consider making Googl e+ worth your time Googles hold on search traffic. Google+ will help improve your find-ability by connecting you via the network to an extended social search community. For example, when you are signed into Google+, and you use Google to search a topic, Google likely populates your search with results from members of your Google+ community. Similarly, those community members will find you when they search for topics.Finally, whether or not you decide to actively engage on Google+, this new social network heightens the importance of your Google profile. If you use any of Googles products (Gmail, Google voice, etc.), you have a Google profile. Some recruiters are already chomping at the bit with excitement about tapping into a new network profiling details such as work history and expertise. Since Google+ automatically populates its profile using the Google profile, many who have a skeleton description will (and should) update it with useful and detailed information, which makes Goog le+ a great go-to place for employers and hiring managers to search for potential candidates.Thanks again for your insights Miriam! For more, check out her newly releasedYour Guide to Getting Started on Google+, an eGuide walking you through how to update your profile, find people to follow and tips to make it easier for recruiters and potential clients to find you on Google+. In it you will fine tips, tricks, and links to help make your Google+ experience more efficient, effective and successful. Learn more about the Guide HERE.

How to Write a Great Resume - The Keys to Success

How to Write a Great Resume - The Keys to SuccessWriting a great resume is the most important step when you are trying to land a job. Your resume is your key to success or failure in a job search. So make sure that your resume is up to date and all that.You need to know how to write a great resume if you want to get a good job. There are many different ways to do this, but there are a few basic tips that can be used by anyone. For starters, you need to be aware of all the important parts of a resume and make sure that they are included. Make sure that your goal is to tell a good story and show that you have a variety of skills that you can provide to the employer.Keep in mind that your resume is your key to getting a job. That is why it is important to read through this advice and follow it, no matter what kind of job you are looking for. Remember that you don't have to write a perfect resume, but if you follow these simple tips, you will be doing yourself a lot of good.Prepare all t he necessary documents. Even if you are just looking for an entry level job, you will still need all the necessary information on your resume, including skills and experience. This includes professional licenses and certifications. You will need a letter of recommendation from a previous employer, as well as any certificates or other credentials that you hold.You should also make sure that you include your education. This can include the schools you attended, your professional degrees, and even military training. If you took advantage of any financial aid programs that were offered at school, be sure to include them in your resume. These can greatly help you land a job. Make sure to list all of your prior employment at the end of your resume.Now that you know how to write a great resume, you can move on to the next step. It is important to understand that your first impression is going to be made when you are applying for a job. The best way to do this is to build a good relationshi p with the hiring manager.Be polite and approach them with a real and sincere demeanor. Tell them what you can do for them and that you would be interested in a job in their company. You want to show them that you are a hard worker who has potential. When you are a polite and easy going person, it shows that you care about the job, and your co-workers will think the same thing.So, now you know how to write a great resume. By following these simple tips, you will have a chance to land that dream job.