Would You Pass the Work Life Balance Test

Would You Pass the Work Life Balance Test Work life balance three little words which are often used to describe a comfortable relationship between your work and home life. Every employee wants this, and apparently every great company offers it. But do they really? I am not so sure. Have you ever stopped to wonder if you personally actually have a balance between your work and personal life? If not, ask yourself these questions: Are you taking your work home with you, perhaps you even work while on the train or bus to work? Do you work more than 40 hours per week? Do your colleagues contact you out of hours or when you are on leave? Do you find yourself reading/replying to work emails over the weekend on your smart phone? Is it difficult for you to take time off to attend events such as your child’s birthday or school sports day? Are you exhausted when you get home, keeping you from fulfilling your family commitments? Do you spend enough time with your family? Are the kids always in bed when you get home? Do you find you have no time to spend on self-development, or your favourite hobby? Do you lie in bed at night thinking about work issues? Are you stressed about your work? Well, if you have answered ‘Yes’ to some or most of the questions above, then your work life balance quotient is extremely poor and it needs fixing! Now let me ask you this: Have you ever considered applying for another job because your current role does not give you the balanced life you desire? I am certain that most people have. Why? Because I hear this every day from candidates who seek my help to secure a new role.  What if your team felt this way? Could you be risking losing your high performing team members by pushing the boundaries so they too do not have a healthy balance between work and life? I meet with up to 10 candidates per week who are considering a new career opportunity, most of these suggest an improvement in their work life balance is a primary reason for looking for a new role. I ask them what does this need to look like for them to catch their eye and every time I hear a different response. I believe that if you were to poll 50 people on their perception of work life balance you could have as many as 50 different answers. People want different things and it is impossible to fulfil everyone’s needs. Commonly people want a shorter commute to work, reasonable working hours to spend time with the family, and increasingly people want flexibility in their work arrangements.  Whatever the individual responses maybe, they generally come under one category and that is simply ‘Time’. We expect so much of our people and take up so much of their time, and yet time is the one crucial commodity that everyone craves. Technology: The advancement of technology affords many of us the opportunity to have a flexible working arrangement. Smart phones, tablet computers, cloud based IT systems and super fast Internet connectivity should make this simple, but in fact it does the opposite. We continue with our fixed working arrangement but still use the tools available to us in an attempt to get ahead, work harder and be more effective, but we end up using these to do yet more work and become a slave to our emails and never switch off. The danger we face with this is loosing our most valuable team members. We happily accept they are committed and loyal employees, but blindly ignore the fact they are working too hard and will inevitably burnout. And then they leave you to join another business. We all agree that employees want and deserve a better work life balance. But is this just a fashionable statement we use to attract people, when really we want to get more from our teams for less? The bad news for the Australian demographic is that we desperately need to offer more to our workers. These days most Australian families have the husband and wife working in full-time or part-time jobs while the children are looked after by expensive childcare services. Better work life balance for employees: So how can we promote a better work life balance for our employees? Allow your employees to work the hours they are employed to do, over 5 days and no more. Don’t expect your team to work when they get home, unless you are offering a flexible working arrangement. Embrace flexible working arrangements, set clear expectations around these and give your team the chance to prove themselves working away from the office. Take a look at your parental leave policies, do they allow enough family time. Embrace cultural change and your employees differing commitments or beliefs. Allow your employees time during the workday to take a break (not just eat their lunch), encourage them to do something they enjoy like exercise or shopping or study. Reward your staff for high performance with extra time off work, add it to their annual leave balance to take when they wish. Do something special once in a while that they will remember, like take them out for the day to an event, or a team building exercise, or maybe just send everyone home at lunchtime on a Friday! It is too easy to forget that a happy employee is a productive employee. An employee will only stay happy if they genuinely feel they have a balance between their work and lifestyle commitments. Just imagine how productive your team would be if they were all happy employees? Author: Paul Simms is an executive recruiter with 15 years of experience across the Australian and UK markets. He is the founder of  Wright Executive  a specialist business within the Accounting and Professional Services sector.

Technical Resume Writing for Jobseekers

Technical Resume Writing for JobseekersTechnical resume writing is not necessarily reserved for computer programmers or computer-oriented business people. It can also be used by other professionals who are seeking employment, such as engineers, architects, carpenters, and plumbers. The main reasons for this are that the technical resume is more relevant to the job being sought than other kinds of resumes, and the technical resume is a more succinct means of providing information to the potential employer. For most professionals with work experience in these particular fields, the importance of being able to present a convincing technical resume cannot be overstated.To start, any technical resume should start with a description of one's technical knowledge and skills. Being able to provide a proper overview of what one has done and gained valuable skills can help to entice the reader to look at one's qualifications more closely. However, any technical resume should not go into great d etail about the specific areas of expertise. Since the technical resume focuses on the skills, abilities, and knowledge a person has, it is important to stay clear of using information that may be deemed more general by a prospective employer.Technical resumes should contain the following information: the names of the employers; the dates and locations of each employer's service; the names of the individuals who held the jobs; and the names of the places from which the jobs were obtained. The length of each job is important to consider. The length of the job will influence how important technical skills are to the company that is hiring. A very brief resume may be sufficient for one-time work experience positions or for those seeking temporary employment.Any technical resume will include a section for education. This should consist of the names of colleges attended and the dates. The dates should also be of a frequency that is related to the time frame of the job at hand. Many peopl e find that going back as far as high school is a great way to emphasize their skills. On the other hand, some employers prefer an updated resume that highlights their individual achievements, rather than listing the specific years in which the work was completed.The next part of any technical resume is the personal information section. The kind of work a person has held will determine the level of detail that is included in this section. An individual who has worked in the building trades may opt to list work experience and building code violations. A mechanic may wish to share details about the job they held as a mechanic at various auto dealerships.Lastly, the subject matter of the technical resume is important to consider. Technical information, in general, should focus on the skills required for the job at hand, but the specific details are worth noting as well. For example, 'IT systems administrator' does not necessarily mean that the person has IT knowledge or has worked as a n IT administrator in the past.In general, there are two types of resumes that are generally considered for technical resume writing purposes. The first is a general format that outlines all of the technical skills and knowledge required for the job, as well as the general level of technical expertise required.The second type of technical resume is the specialized format that highlights specific skills that the person has acquired as a result of their experience. The specialty needs to be included in order to ensure that the person is actually qualified for the position.

STYLISH AND FASHIONABLE DRESSES IN 2017

STYLISH AND FASHIONABLE DRESSES IN 2017 One thing that never goes out of fashion is fashion itself! Trends come and go, but one thing that is always trendy is fashion. Thus, to remain in style and keep you fashionable, given below are eight stylish and fashionable dresses in 2017 that mesmerize you: Shirt Dresses One of the stylish dresses of 2017 that has taken the fashion world heavily is the shirt clothes. In this year 2017, shirts are back in style the shirt dress. Several cuts and styles are available such as drop waists, asymmetrical hemlines, high slits, mandarin collar it represents everything. Shirt dresses are just the proper thing if you want to be fashionable and stylish. Long Vests Long vests are now fashionable! One of the reasons why long vests are a favourite of all is as it has a slimming effect on the body and consequently, is liked by most people. These can be worn with almost everything for a sporty look, teaming it up with a cute top and shorts works wonders. Wearing vests with plain tops and jeans also goes well. This is the fashionable dress that can be paired off with anything, and this is why theyre completely back in style! Capes â€" This year, the caps is ruling the roost, so you have to chuck out the shrugs and jackets. Capes resemble a poncho a lot, and it is due to the fact it has a look that has become acceptable by all immediately. Capes look great when bought in neutral colours and worn with above the knee boots. So ensure you get a cape this year! One-shoulder tops + attire One-shoulder dressing was not invented because we’re looking for an option to the now supersaturated cold shoulder and off-the-shoulder styles. It is a fashion from the 80s that just got back, anticipating for its restoration. And it is perfect for the winter because you are not flaunting too much but enough. If you love it, you can give it a go! Statement sleeves We love an outfit with a lot of difference, and the statement sleeve is what has caught the attention of the fashion world. These vintage-inspired pieces have emerged as a long lasting fashion dress in recent months; we like this one specifically because its easy to wear and comfortable due to the fact we know what fashion is. Get your hands on this type of tops and enjoy! Sweatpants Tucked Into Socks Once considered the closing in dork fashion, tucking your sweatpants into your tube socks has become a style that has grown to be influential (if unconventional) fashion gods like Shia LaBeouf. And in this generation of graphically printed logo socks, there may never be a better time to join this fashion trend. Calf-High Socks With Shorts Just like the new trend of graphic socks are ideal for tucked-in sweats; they are also the type you will love to be wearing with shorts this year. Whether it is with a pair of gym shorts, carry out your morning exercise or with some looser, Public School, or Second/Layer, easy-going shorts from Off-White, long socks are the new socks. Bleached Jeans â€" Denim was not popular in 2016 than any year in recent times (way to the upward rise of elastic waist suit trousers, Dickies, and track pants), but there are some alternatives for the brand new year that might make denim poised for a comeback. Gucci, the hottest brand in the world, has made a massive push for bleached denimsâ€"an 80s favourite we have seldom endorsed over the past three decadesâ€"so expect the other brands to follow up. Make sure you follow all these lovely styles and remain in fashion! About The Author Rachel Stinson has always had a knack for writing, food, fashion, and sports especially Golf. Blogging has combined all four for her with an added bonus of enthusiastic audiences. She expertly analyzes real estates, restaurants and online fashion stores with respect to pricing and people involved and can express her opinions in an unhesitant, engaging manner for all matters.

Graduate Admissions Tests What You Need to Know

Graduate Admissions Tests What You Need to Know Guest Post Applying to graduate school can often feel like navigating a bowl of alphabet soup. There’s an acronym for almost everything, from the forms you fill out for financial aid to the tests you need to take. It can all feel pretty overwhelming, especially when you aren’t sure about the differences between various aspects of your application and which ones are even necessary for the track you are pursuing. One area that gives many students pause â€" or might even keep them up at night â€" is the variety of graduate admissions tests. Depending on the type of program you’re applying to, the admissions department may require that you take and pass a specific test to show that you have the basic knowledge necessary for success on the program. While some tests are designed for specific types of career paths â€" the LSAT for Law school and the MCAT for Medical school â€" if you are applying to a business-focused program, you have several options: the GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, or the GMAT, or Graduate Management Admissions Test. Start at the Beginning In some cases, the choice of which test to take is already made for you: the admissions criteria specifically lists which scores the committee wants. In that case, you need to take that test, even if you’ve already taken a different one. Standardized admissions test scores give committees an objective measurement by which to compare otherwise comparable applicants; since most graduate programs only have space for a limited number of applicants, your test scores can make the difference between being accepted or not. In other cases, test scores aren’t required for admission or they are optional. If the program doesn’t require a test, there’s really no reason to take one, as they can cost several hundred dollars to take and require an investment of time, both for studying and taking the test. But when test scores are optional, taking an exam can improve your admission prospects. Solid scores on a graduate admissions exam can help bolster an otherwise lackluster application, showing that you have the ability to manage the coursework even if your undergraduate GPA is lower than you’d like or you don’t have an extensive work history. Taking a subject-specific graduate exam like the GMAT can also give you a taste of the type of work you’ll be expected to complete at the graduate level before you enroll. Choose the Right Test In the absence of any specific guidance, which test should you take? In general, if you’re applying to business school, or a business-centered program, the GMAT is the better choice. Most top-tier business schools only accept GMAT scores, as there is a clear connection between a high score on the test and success within the program. Also, the GMAT has a greater focus on mathematical concepts, including probability and statistics, than the GRE, which places more emphasis on vocabulary. Choosing to take the GMAT even if it’s not required can also improve your career prospects, as many recruiters for top-level corporations review applicant test scores as part of the screening process. Many firms, especially those in banking and investments, will only consider candidates with competitive GMAT scores and won’t accept GRE scores. However, the GRE is still a valid option for many students. Because the GRE scores are good for five years, many students opt to take the GRE soon after finishing their undergraduate degrees while information is still fresh, even though they have not yet decided on a graduate study path. Students with a liberal arts background, who may not have the mathematical skills of a business major, may score better on the GRE than the GMAT, thanks to the focus on verbal skills. It’s this focus on verbal reasoning that make the GRE a good choice for those applying to business-related programs, such as a master in public administration, or for an MBA with a concentration in a humanities or liberal arts subject. Regardless of which test you opt to take, you should aim for a score within the 80th percentile or above. This generally means a focused program of study on the test material using study guides or a formal course, and taking multiple practice tests to get familiar with the testing process and the type of questions you’ll be asked. And of course, even the highest GRE, GMAT or other test score cannot take the place of an impressive application packet. If your essay, personal statement, resume and recommendations are all top-notch, any test score will only be the icing on the cake â€" or the crackers in the alphabet soup of graduate admissions.

How to Write a Good Affiliate Program Resume?

How to Write a Good Affiliate Program Resume?Affiliate program resume writing is a marketing technique where in your work history, you share your clients and websites with recruiters or employers. Recruiters or employers will check on your proficiency in your area of expertise in order to be sure that you will be able to do the job. You will then be in a position to recruit affiliates for employers, gain more clientele and be paid. This will greatly affect your income.The employer wants to hire people who are qualified and motivated enough to handle the clientele that they have. In order to achieve this, you will have to write relevant information about the clients and their circumstances. The recruiter will also look into your records when it comes to references and contacts.Certain situations could have led to their hiring you. You should mention the date and the situation of each person that has hired you. It is recommended that you put their name in the records and provide some r eferences.In the employee relations section, it is imperative that you relate all of the details. You need to include in your resume what job positions you were working, what commission your client has given you and the number of affiliates you have hired. Employers will be interested in your experience and expertise and thus, it is essential that you consider these factors while writing your resume.You can find several sample resumes available on the internet. These resumes will give you a good idea of how your resume should look like. There are some free templates and e-courses available online and these templates can be used as a basis for the resume.Resumes can be printed and made to order. You can use them for reference purposes if you decide to go back for a job interview. Once you have finished writing the resume, you will have to fill in the required details about yourself including the contact details. The following will be considered: education, work experience, background , certifications and qualifications.In your profiles, you will be required to list any new skills that you have acquired over the years. There are many sources where you can get these skills and information. You can find the skills you are interested in with some companies and search the Internet for them. You can even buy services to research and prepare for your job interview.Make sure that you have prepared yourself for the interview and have written yourself with confidence. Make sure that you show off all of your best traits so that the employer can see how knowledgeable and experienced you are. With your career prospects looking great, you will be earning more money than you have ever thought possible.

5 Things That You Need To Start A Business

5 Things That You Need To Start A Business Have you ever dreamed of starting your own business? Starting a new business doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds, there are steps that you can take to make your dream come true. Of course, before you go about starting your business, there are some things that you’ll need to have first. Find out more about the five things that you need to start a business in this article. Research You can’t just jump into starting a business without doing any research to back up your plans. This is a very important part of the process so think about the different things that you’ll need to research. You’ll need to know more about the target customer base, the location that you are thinking of opening your first store and the various licenses and training that you’ll need to get started. Time If you want to start your own business, you’ll need to have enough time to do so. This means that you are willing to sacrifice some of the other things in your life such as your free time or your current job to spend time working on your business. This is a big commitment so make sure that you have the time that you need. Money Businesses need money and if you don’t have the right funding then you won’t be able to get it off the ground. Make sure that you get your hands on an online bank account to help you manage your finances and then talk to some investors. You might be able to try crowdfunding or asking an angel investor for some help to get your business started. Patience Unless you come up with a ground-breaking idea that is going to go viral in no time, you are going to need to have the patience to wait for your business to take off. You’ll need to put in the work and things won’t always go to plan and this is going to take a lot of patience. Make sure that you have thought this through carefully and that you won’t give up when it takes a little longer than you expected. A Business Plan The final thing that you are going to need if you are going to set up your own business is a business plan. This is an extensive document that will outline everything that you are going to do throughout your first year or two as a business owner. You’ll need to think about how you’ll spend the money and come up with projections on your profits. Don’t even think about starting your own business without spending some time on your business plan. Final Verdict Make sure that you are ready to start your own business by ensuring that you have everything that we have listed in this article. Once you do, you can get started on making some money and achieving what you want.

186 Anfernee Chansamooth - Founders Connect - Jane Jackson Career

186 Anfernee Chansamooth - Founders Connect - Jane Jackson Career Happy New Year!   It’s now 2020 and this year my aim is for you to gain 20/20 vision â€" total clarity in your career so you make confident decisions about your career and your business.In each episode of YOUR CAREER Podcast, I provide valuable career development advice or fascinating interviews with professionals who have made amazing career changes!In today’s rapidly changing world of work, managing your career has become more and more challenging. How do you stay relevant? How do you keep your skills up to date? What skills will remain in demand and how can you land your dream job in this digital world in which the recruitment process is constantly evolving?For support to manage your career, The Careers Academy online is where I provide all the support you need.   There are career management resources, personal branding and LinkedIn programs for you together with confidence building programs, resume writing masterclasses, and much moreJoin my monthly group career coaching sessions PLUS have a one-on-one coaching session with me!Visit www.thecareersacademy.online for all you need to take control of your career. I can’t wait to see you on the inside!In episode 186, I am delighted to interview talented entrepreneur Anfernee Chansamooth who made the successful transition from corporate, as a senior project manager at Hewlett Packard, to marketing and digital media, before launching several successful businesses.  Together with his wife, Cindy Pham, they co-host the Founders Connect podcast found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.Enjoy this podcast interview and if you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest episodes and career development advice, follow me on  LinkedIn! And, as promised in the podcast, here is the link to my  free JOB SEARCH GUIDEIf you’ve always wanted to start your own business too, enjoy thisFREE Build Your Business Masterclassand find out if you are ready for the road to entrepreneurship.Start today!WHERE TO FIND ANFERNEEWebsite:www.foundersconnect.co Twitter: www.twitter.com/anferneec