Tidbits for Friday, Feb. 8th, 2008

Tidbits for Friday, Feb. 8th, 2008 2 Contest Win, Contest Coming Soon In December, JobMob won 2nd place and US$50 in the My Best Blogging Achievement group writing project for The Crux of JobMob. Although that contest was for bloggers, the prize money will be used for a new contest hosted here soon on JobMob and you won't need to be a blogger to enter. Short Interview on BlogsWeLuv BlogsWeLuv allows you to interview yourself by responding to their 10-line questionnaire. If you're interested in learning a bit more about

Employees Who Stay In Companies Longer Than Two Years Get Paid 50% Less - Forbes

Employees Who Stay In Companies Longer Than Two Years Get Paid 50% Less - Forbes New piece by Forbes (online) claims that employees who stay in companies longer than two years get paid 50% less. The study is carried out by comparing average wage rise (of 3%) to the wage rise one gets when moving jobs. This is compared over a 10-year period and also includes the rate of inflation (typically 2%). These days the normal wage rise is about 3% and inflation is around 2%. In real terms that is a wage increase of a mere 1%. And if your wage increase is less than 3%, then in real terms you are taking a pay-cut. Now compare this to moving a job. When moving a job, you can demand a higher salary and the raise could be anywhere between 10%-30%. Generally, the overall package difference between jobs has to be 30% for a new job to make any valuable difference to your career. Forbes claims:  Staying employed at the same company for over two years on average is going to make you earn less over your lifetime by about 50% or more. Why are people who jump ship rewarded, when loyal employees are punished for their dedication? The answer is simple. Recessions allow businesses to freeze their payroll and decrease salaries of the newly-hired based on “market trends.” These reactions to the recession are understandable, but the problem is that they  are meant to be “temporary.” Instead, they have become the “norm” in the marketplace. More importantly, we have all become used to hearing about “3% raises” and we’ve accepted it as the new “norm.” Read the full article on Forbes.com. | Forbes.com 20

5 Ways to Streamline the Recruitment Process Without Cutting Corners

5 Ways to Streamline the Recruitment Process Without Cutting Corners It’s fantastic when employers are faced with a large field of potential candidates, especially if it’s due to the creation of a strong employer brand. The only downside is the amount of time it can take to narrow down the field and find the right person. Here’s some potential options to streamline the process, without sacrificing on thoroughness. 1. LinkedIn profiles Would you be surprised if the person you’re looking for isn’t using LinkedIn? If so, consider allowing potential candidates to send their LinkedIn profile in the first instance. This doesn’t stop you asking for a dedicated CV later in the process. The LinkedIn profile could be used as a first step to see if the candidate has the outline skills and experience you are looking for. It saves the candidate time as their profile is likely to be more up to date than their CV. You can also consider shortening the timeframe for applications to be submitted as you don’t have to allow for candidates to complete lengthy forms or update old documents. 2. Pre-recorded interviews Pre-recorded video interviews are becoming more common to help narrow down the field. This format consists of a questionnaire to which candidates are asked to video record and submit their answers. It’s often used at the stage when an employer may previously have used a phone interview to make shortlisting decisions. It benefits candidates as they have more time to consider the questions before they record the answers, and they can do the recording at a time which suits them. For employers, the visual element provides a better sense of the candidate than a phone interview alone. They can also view the recordings at their convenience and not have to juggle booking in a series of phone calls. It also makes it easier for more people in the organisation to view the videos and to have a say in the decision-making process. 3. Psychometric testing Including a psychometric assessment as part of the selection process can help ensure only the most suitable candidates make it through to the final stages. This type of assessment uncovers factors which are hard to determine from a CV or interview alone. It helps to provide a more rounded assessment of a candidate by providing insight into behavioural traits, motivation, values and personality; supporting employers to find the best cultural fit. The tests can be completed online, enabling both the candidate and the employer to submit or review the answers at a time which suits them. 4. Skype interviews A Skype interview is as close to a face-to-face interview as you can get without the time and cost of getting everyone in the same room at the same time. A video call can be particularly useful if you are interviewing people from a far afield or if you have hiring decision makers based at different locations. A panel interview can be created with colleagues calling into the video conference, or the interview can be recorded and shown to others afterwards. There are many positives to using this approach but it is worth bearing in mind that it can challenging for all involved. While it is a very visual conversation it still doesn’t have quite the same feeling as being in a room with someone. This can make it harder for either party to warm to one another. To balance this, if you are using Skype interviews try to use the same approach for all candidates involved this stage. This will prevent the potential of unfavourably comparing those you were able to directly engage with against th ose you spoke to online. 5. Group assessment days Many organisations are likely to set tests to assess skills and competencies as part of the recruitment process. Doing this within a group assessment day means you can see all shortlisted candidates in one go. The day can be made up of activities to suit the organisation and the role and can include group exercises as well as individual tasks and interviews. Group activities can add an extra dimension which can reveal social skills, team work, communication and capabilities under pressure. The effectiveness of this approach can depend on the type of role recruiting for. Dominant personalities may take over or the pressure may put some candidates off. But if you’re looking for confident leader, or a great team worker, then this style of assessment could be particularly useful. 6. Recruitment agencies A good recruitment agency can save an employer a great deal of time. We get to know our clients inside and out, putting us in the best possible position to source, screen and create a shortlist of only the highest calibre candidates for interview.

Modern and Chic CV Package

Modern and Chic CV Package Modern and Chic CV Package Your CV can definitely help you get your feet in the door if done right. No need to start from scratch though, this complete CV pack will help you get started in your job search journey. Buy Now $15The pack is available for instant download after purchase.This premium resume pack includes:A professionally designed resume template in Word format (US letter size)A 2-pages resume version is also included for longer resumesA matching cover letter in Word format to go with your resumeA job interview tracker in print-ready PDF formatInstructionsFree email supportCustomization processExtract the files from the ZIP file using your favorite ZIP extractor (such as Winrar, Winzip)Install fonts listed in the documentation if necessaryOpen and edit the .DOC files with your own contentOnce done editing, it is recommended to save the file as PDF previous article First impressions are key at interview, are you interview ready? next article 5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Resume you might also likeSm art Portfolio Complete Resume Pack

How To Survive A Toxic Work Environment CareerMetis.com

How To Survive A Toxic Work Environment â€" CareerMetis.com Have you noticed that work is making you ill or depressed?There can be many different causes for this response, but one that can leave you feeling particularly out of control is the toxic work environment.Such a workplace is defined as one where negativity reigns, incompetence at the top leads to bad morale among the rank and file, or bullying and other antisocial behavior makes you reluctant to show up each day.evalWhichever combination of these toxic ingredients is making you sick, it’s important to take control as soon as possible to for the sake of your physical and mental health, your productivity, and your career. Quitting is not always an option, so let’s look at some ways you can make a toxic work environment bearable â€" and even improve the conditions around you.In the morningevalHow you start the day can set the pattern and your frame of mind for what’s to come. A toxic workplace leaves you feeling out of control, so start with small gestures of control before you go to work to energize yourself for what’s ahead.‘Control’ before breakfast doesn’t mean yelling at your children or forcing your other half to drive you to work! Rather it refers to little rituals you can do to ground yourself. Making your bed. Preparing a decent breakfast. Even getting up half an hour early so you can sit in a cafe for half an hour and read a book.The important thing is not to let work infect this time, so keep your notifications switched off until you clock on.During the workdayGetting by at a toxic workplace is a lot about creating your own space: your own social and mental space.Think long and hard about which issues you’re willing to be drawn into and which you’d rather give a wide berth. It is probably not your job to deal with every problem that arises as a result of poor management or understaffing.Concentrate on your own game, acknowledge learning experiences as they happen and try to take part in development opportunities as they come up. Ideall y you will work with and for your employer as well as yourself, but if the employer treats you like trash then concentrate on excelling for your own benefit.evalTake a closer look at the people around you, too. Which are the ones that are dragging you down? Cliques, emotional vampires, and bullies can all create a bad atmosphere and sometimes it seems like you’re the only one to notice. Slowly start to distance yourself from such figures the best you can.If it’s possible to develop an alternative social groupwithin work Keep your mind busy, inspired, and entertained and it will dwell less on the horrors of the day. It could be yoga, evening classes, a pub quiz, or long walks with friends: when you define yourself boldly outside of work, you have a suit of armor for when you return to the fold the next day.Sounds winnable? Here’s some more tips to help you conquer that toxic work environment!

A Business Owners Guide to Setting up Payroll and Managing It like a Pro

A Business Owners Guide to Setting up Payroll and Managing It like a Pro Most businesses owners hate dealing with their payroll, but it doesnt have to be a pain! Heres a guide to setting up payroll and managing it like a pro. One of the most difficult things about being a small business owner is managing your finances. This is especially true if you have employees working with you at your company. But, setting up a payroll doesnt have to be the nightmare people often perceive it to be. Not sure where to start? Dont worry, weve got you covered. Lets take a look at how you can go about setting up payroll as easily as possible. 1. Obtain Employee Records Before you begin, youll have to acquire payroll documents from your workers. There is a handful that you need to collect, so lets briefly go over them: The State W-4 Serves as a state tax withholding document. The name could vary depending on which state your company is based in. The Federal W-4 Declares what tax rate you need to use for that specific employee. The New Hire Form As the name suggests, youll need to have this on hand so you make sure you report any new hires to the state. The I-9 Form Declares the workers eligibility to seek employment in the United States. Once youve collected all the necessary forms, youll be ready to 2. Calculate Their Total Work Hours This step is fairly straightforward. The only additional factors to consider are salary and overtime. For regular hourly employees, you simply add up the hours on their time sheets to get the total of hours worked. If these hours add up to 40 in one week, youll need to make note of this for calculating overtime pay. Employees are who salaried generally do not need to have their hours tracked. After youve added up your employees hours, you can see how much they made. 3. Calculate Gross Pay For each week, add up the hours your employees worked and multiply that number by their base pay. Any hours over 40 are multiplied by 1.5 times the base pay for overtime. For example, lets say that you have a worker who you pay $10/hour. He worked 50 hours during a busy week. So, youd calculate 40 x 10 (base pay rate) = $400. But, then calculate 10 x 15 (overtime hours at overtime pay rate) = $150. Thus, he would have earned $550 for that week. If math isnt your thing, dont worry. There are plenty of ways to calculate these numbers automatically. 4. Calculate Deductions This is the section every employee loves. Before you can give your workers their checks, youll need to take money out for things like state tax, federal tax, social security, and benefits you may offer. But, the process for calculating this is straightforward. You simply add up the cost of each deduction for each employee and then subtract that amount from each employees check total. 5. Calculate Net Pay Finally, youll have the amount youre supposed to pay your employees. How you actually pay your employees is up to you, however, whether you choose to write checks manually or utilize direct deposit. As long as youre paying your employees the appropriate amount, there shouldnt be any issues. If youre looking to automate this process too, software like the California Pay Stub Generator can help make your life easier. Setting Up Payroll Can Seem Difficult But it doesnt have to be. With the tips above, youre sure to get through the srtting up payroll process smoothly and efficiently. Want to learn other tips on how to make your business more productive? This article has plenty of useful information.

5 Tips For Updating Your LinkedIn Profile

5 Tips For Updating Your LinkedIn Profile LinkedIn is one of the most important places to have an online presence because it is currently the top networking site for professionals of many industries. This is where a potential employer will look you up to see if you are a good fit for the job opening and where many people find the connections that bring them a career. Its a very valuable resource and worth taking the time to make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and contemporary. If your profile is out of date or incomplete, how is being on this vital networking site doing you any good? In fact, an out of date, incomplete profile will probably be doing your career harm because it reflects badly on you. So make the investment and get that profile in shape because good things will happen as a result. 5 Ways To Start Updating Your LinkedIn Profile Turn off the notifications while you are editing. Nobody but you needs to know that you are updating your profile until you are ready to present it in complete perfection. Do you want to know when others are tweaking their stuff? I didnt think so. Be very, very picky about your profile pic. There are plenty of professional photographers or good amateurs who can do the job and give you a polished, professional photograph for your polished, professional profile. No selfies can match that. Keywords are how the search engine finds you. That means your profile has to use the words you want to be found by. Put those keywords in your headline, your summary, and the various sections in a natural manner. Add personal details. You are a unique individual and this is one place you can show that individuality with volunteer work, publications, and more. Look at all the possible additions to your profile and consider them carefully. Create a custom URL that is easy to remember; it is an easy process on the right side of the page when you are editing your profile. Keep your name and lose the numbers and look like the professional you are becoming. LinkedIn Profile Development is an ongoing process because you should be adding to your completed profile regularly as you progress in your career. Its much easier to update a professional profile once you have done the foundation work.