Thursday, May 28, 2020

Revealed What recruiters really want from you at interview

Revealed What recruiters really want from you at interview by Tom Bunkham Looking for tips on the perfect way to come across at interview? Or interested to uncover what the biggest mistakes are that you can make when heading in for the big day?We asked over 600 employers from across the UK for their biggest interview turn-offs and what theyre really looking for when they bring people in for interview.Find out in our infographic below and take a look at what UK employers do and dont want to see every time you interview for a new job.Copy the below code to embed this infographic on your site:div class=reed-interview-infographic-embeda href=http://www.reed.co.uk/resources/cms/blog/revealed-what-recruiters-really-want-from-you-at-interview-infographic.jpg title=Revealed: What recruiters really want from you at interview rel=nofollow  target=_blankimg class=reed-social-infographic src=http://www.reed.co.uk/resources/cms/blog/revealed-what-recruiters-really-want-from-you-at-interview-infographic.jpg alt=Revealed: What recruiters really wan t from you at interview width=765px height=2500px //a/divFind 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 privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Development Interview Techniques Job interview tips

Monday, May 25, 2020

Scott Rozman on How To Recover From Loss of a Dream Job - VocationVillage

Scott Rozman on How To Recover From Loss of a Dream Job - VocationVillage Scott Rozman responds to a music business professional who asks for career advice after losing his dream job.Hello,You astutely note, The only reason I was good at my job was that I truly love music and believed in my heart what I was selling. That same philosophy is relevant to your current struggles with finding a job. First and foremost, you need a change in mindset. Let me repeat that for emphasis since its SO important: First and foremost, you need a change in mindset! Believing that your dream and passion have gone up in smoke leaves little room for whats next and little, if any, passion for finding a job that excites you. Until that shifts, what you do, how you do it, and any other suggestions you receive or try, are, Im sorry to say, pointless. As someone who found a job and industry he loves, you know that its possible. Thats a step ahead of many.Now, you need to remember, reinforce, and get back to that belief that its still possiblenow. Daily affirmations, meditation, re-t raining your thought process to really envision being at a job you love again, all are whats needed. Let yourself play with new dreams, bigger ideas, and different possibilities. See what comes up. Let go of comparing and start imagining. If and when you do, your future signature might be Bigger and Better Music Bizzer instead of Ex-Music Bizzer.Scott Rozman, Certified Career Coach. Read another guest opinion about how to recover from loss of a dream job.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Why is it Good to Ask Questions in an Interview

Why is it Good to Ask Questions in an Interview Why is it Good to Ask Questions in an Interview? Interview Preparation / https://www.edenscott.com/blog Youve probably heard that you should ask questions in every interview.But does it really matter? And what happens if you dont ask questions in your interview?In this article Ill explain why it really DOES matter if you ask questions in your interview, and why most employers are *not* going to hire you if you dont ask questions in your interview.Well start with why employers care and then Ill show you some GREAT questions you can ask them after that!Why You Should Ask Questions in Every InterviewEmployers want someone who is going to enjoy their job, care about the work, and hopefully stay long-term.It costs a lot of money and resources to hire and train someone new and the last thing they want to do is hire someone whos going to leave soon after joining or give low effort.So employers want someone whos being careful and selective in their job search, and who knows what they want.One of the fastest ways to fail your interview is to seem like you dont kn ow what you want to do in your career!And one of the best ways to show an employer that youre being careful in your job hunt and looking for specific things is you guessed it asking questions!Think about it like this: If you dont have a single question to ask, how will you know its the right job for you?You cant.So the employer will assume you dont care what type of job you end up with, and are just desperate for any job. And this is how you get REJECTED.What Happens if You Dont Ask Questions in Your Interview?Here are some of the bad things that happen when you dont ask intelligent questions in a job interview:You risk being perceived asunprepared or disorganized.You will appear disinterested and lazy. Why would a hiring manager consider you for a job that you dont even seem excited about?The other 5 candidates that interviewed for the position all appeared excited; I can almost guarantee it in this economy. The one or two that didnt arent going to get to the second round of inter views.So we need to avoid this by asking a few good questions in every interview.Asking the right questions in a job interview can make the difference between getting hired and being rejected.Any hiring manager will want (and expect) to hear at least a few intelligent questions from you during the interview process.If youre interviewing with a few different people on the same day, you need different questions for each person. One of the worst things you can say to an interviewer is, the last person answered all of my questions.It might sound a bit difficult to formulate good questions for every person on every job interview, but getting organized can make it easier.In the next section, Ill break it down into a few key areas (with examples) that you can ask questions about. This should make your job of asking questions during a job interview into a much easier task.Job Interview Question Categories/Examples:Hopefully Ive now convinced you why its good (and practically essential) to a sk good to ask questions in your interview.Now here are some ideas for questions you can ask1. Questions about the specific job:Is this a newly created position or did somebody previously hold this position?Will anyone report to me, and who will I report to?What are some of the greatest challenges that this person will face?What type of training will I receive to help prepare for this role?2. Questions about the company:What type of person thrives in your companys culture?What type of growth and learning opportunities does the company offer?3. Questions about the future:What is the typical career progression for somebody in this role?How do you envision this person progressing over the next 2-3 years?If you want more ideas of what to ask, we have a list of the top 105 questions you can ask in an interview HERE.Tips and Mistakes to Avoid When Asking Questions in Your InterviewFirst, dont ask extremely basic questions about the company. Spend 5-10 minutes researching the company so th at you know a bit about the industry and the products/services that the company offers. Then you can ask more advanced/impressive questions, like I was on your website and saw ___. Can you tell me more about ___?Next, dont emphasize the future too much. Looking for growth is great, but you dont want to seem like youre only interested in taking a position so that you can advance beyond it within the first year. The hiring manager is interviewing for one specific job and they want to know that job interests you, along with future growth.Next, save questions about salary, dress code, and other company policies for after you know the company wants to offer you the job. Its especially important to avoid asking these questions in a first interview. This can get you rejected and Ive seen it first-hand.In a first or second interview, you really want to focus on asking questions about the work, the role youll play within the company and group, etc. You want to seem motivated to come in and q uickly get up to speed in this role. So ask questions in your interview that demonstrate this.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

5 Reasons to Start Your Business in Texas

5 Reasons to Start Your Business in Texas Earlier this year, WalletHub released their 2019 report for the ‘Best and Worst States to Start a Business’, comparing all 50 contenders to determine which state is the best to pursue your entrepreneurial goals. If you haven’t already guessed, Texas earned the number one spot as the overall best state to start a business in the United States. The methodology used to determine the top candidates included factors such as capital access, business environment, available talent and affordability of office space. The Lone Star State is currently home to over a dozen of Fortune 100’s “Best Companies to Work For” and a total of 1.7 million small businesses, according to federal data. Texas has also become a hotspot for startups in recent years. This includes the likes of now thriving tech companies that you’d expect to find in Silicon Valley, such as WP Engine, StackPath, Armor and BigCommerce, among others. What’s more is that CNBC Metro ranked Dallas as the number one place to start a business. Not convinced? Let’s take a look at 5 reasons to start your business in Texas. Suitable for Small Businesses Each year, Thumbtack conducts their United States Small Business Friendliness Survey. It examines how states throughout the US receive small businesses, including key components such as ease of hiring, regulations, training programs, tax code and other aspects. From 2012 through 2019, Texas has consistently scored an A or A+ for overall state friendliness. It was only in 2018 that the grade went down from an A+ to an A for the first time in four years. Upon further examination, you’ll find that there isn’t much to dispute. Most responses that pushed the grade down had more to do with the day-to-day challenges of running a small business and less with the state and its offerings. There’s also an abundance of resources available online that are geared specifically towards helping aspiring business owners in Texas succeed. For instance, you can find in-depth guides detailing everything you need to know about how to start an LLC in Texas. This includes valuable information surrounding naming your Texas LLC, choosing a registered agent, filing the certificate of formation, obtaining an EIN and much more. For further reading, you can learn how to do this at howtostartanllc.com. The linked guide provides a number of useful resources that will come in handy when registering an LLC in Texas. That said, small business friendliness isn’t the only reason why the state is a great place to set up shop. Abundance of Talent You probably know that who you choose to work for your business is key to your success. Fortunately, Texas is a talent hotspot. According to a recent study by Guidant Financial, Texas’ large population and educated residents are a major reason why the state is ranked so highly for small business suitability. Esteemed local universities, such as the University of Texas, make it easy for companies to gain direct access to talented and qualified team members. The combination of city hotspots like Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, coupled with the high number of educated graduates makes for the perfect place to find motivated job-seekers. Openness to Innovation When most people think about innovation in the United States, locations like Silicon Valley, Manhattan and San Francisco most likely come to mind. But consider the numerous events taking place in Texas that celebrate innovation, such as South by Southwest (SXSW), held annually in Austin. There are also a whopping 730 airports in the Lone Star State, bringing in a steady stream of new faces to check out the sights and sounds. Then there are the numerous industries that are currently thriving in Texas, including advanced tech and manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, computer tech, petroleum refining, energy and many more. And as the Texas Economic Development Corporation recently reported, the state is paving the road when it comes to job creation. In fact, Texas is currently leading the nation when it comes to job creation and plans to continue the trend in the next decade. Tax Benefits In the past, entrepreneurs traditionally flocked to Delaware and Nevada to do business. This is thanks in no small part to the states’ corporate-friendly tax laws. Nevada, for example, has no individual or corporate income tax. Beyond the two tax havens, there are more states that are passing tax laws which directly benefit small businesses. The Lone Star State is one to watch. As indicated in the 2019 Tax Foundation State Business Tax Climate Index, business owners in Texas are free from paying individual or corporate income tax. That, along with an economy that is only getting better with time, continues to make Texas the place to be for aspiring entrepreneurs. A Great Place to Live Business aside, Texas is simply a great place to live. This is important, as it’s likely that you’ll be staying there if you plan to set up shop in the state. Your environment, which includes the people around you and overall quality of life in your city, plays a major role in determining your mental and physical health, which in turn affects your performance. Your levels of focus, motivation and determination will influence your success in business. This is why choosing the right place to live really matters to an entrepreneur. Fortunately, Texas happens to be one of the best places to live in the United States for numerous reasons. This includes affordability, natural beauty, hospitality, weather and more. It’s also worth noting that the unemployment rate is lower than the national average. This may not matter to a successful business owner, but if things go south at any point in your venture, rest-assured that you won’t find it difficult to find a job to fall back on while you recuperate. Of course, it’s worth mentioning that theres no such thing as guaranteed success when starting a business, be it in Texas or anywhere else in the world. Planning, preparation and dedication are what matters. That said, reaping the benefits that come with being in the right state go a long way, so be sure to consider making Texas your base of operations.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Is Your Companys Time Off Policy Fair CareerMetis.com

Is Your Company's Time Off Policy Fair Do you give your employees unpaid time off? Or, do you pay vacation time and throw in a yearly bonus?Maybe you offer floating holidays or the standard two weeks of vacation time and eight fixed holidays. Whatever your policy looks like, it probably has its share of advantages and drawbacks.evalHowever, if you find more and more employees complaining about your time-off policy, it might be time to give it a modern update.With fierce competition for talent, an incredibly diverse workforce and a shifting legislative landscape, many companies are rethinking their time-off policies. In 2017, nearly one-third of all organizations increasedtheir benefits,including time off.New, more flexible arrangements allow employees to find a better work-life balance, keeping them more engaged with and committed to their company. How, though, do you decide which policies are fair?What Makes a Policy Fair?Creating a fair time-off policy will do more than makingpeople happy. It will establish clear guidel ines, foster an inclusive culture and work in both your company’s and employees’ interests. Ideally, there should be a healthy mix of unpaid and paid time off evalRoughly 98% of American businesses offersome paid vacation to full-time employees atan average length of 15 days. In this program, employers allot their workers a specific number of days for vacation time per year based on the length of the worker’s employment. A typical vacation policy will explain the rules regarding how and when employees can take their vacation days and whether unused days will carry over to the following year.To make your vacation policy fairer, you may consider offering the same amount of vacation time to every employee, no matter how long they’ve worked for you or their position in the company. Or, you might join the few who provide unlimited paid vacation time. Most employees will be unlikely to abuse their PTO and may even take less time off than they would if you offered a set number of d ays per year. Additionally, you should allowyourself the same number of vacation daysyou provide to your workers.2) Sick LeaveLike vacation days, sick days are typically determined by the length of time an employee has worked for a company. On average, workers receive seven sick daysper year at one year of service. The main differences between vacation time and sick days, however, are that sick days don’t generally carry over into the following year, and they don’t increase much with time.Moreover, more than half of employees use these PTO sick days as mental health days. Yet, one in five misled their employer as to why they were taking the day off â€" which may suggest the employees weren’t aware of their company’s PTO policy when it came to mental health sick days. To ensure your workers are honest and get the time off they truly need, consider publicizing your policy in an email or meeting to make everyone aware.3) HolidaysevalToday, many companies offer several paid holi days to full-time workers, including New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Labor Day. Some businesses also grant paid days on Memorial Day and Columbus Day. Most require their employees to take personal PTO to observe other religious holidays. However, just a quarter of employees say they are happy with their company’s holiday policies. Thus, employers may want to rethink their holiday policy to make it more inclusive.One way you might create an inclusive holiday schedule is by moving to a time-off distribution system, allowing employees to choose their own paid holidays. So, if they wish to work on Christmas Day or New Year’s, they may do so. If they want to use a paid holiday to celebrate Christmas Eve or Rosh Hashanah instead, they can. This policy update can help to make workers feel more comfortable, included and appreciative of their benefits packages.4) BereavementEmployees typically receive paid bereavement leave when a close family member or friend passes aw ay. Workers may use this time to make arrangements, attend the funeral and grieve. The number of days you offer is generally up to your discretion as most employees won’t require many of these days per year â€" if any.When creating your policy, consider how much time you would personally take off to grieve a loved one or make preparations. Then, use that estimate to create a policy. Be explicit with the number of days you offer to your employees and whether you require proof of the death. For instance, you may ask your employees to bring in an obituary or funeral program to ensure they use their bereavement PTO wisely and not abuse it.5) Parental LeaveevalRoughly 70% of workers say paid maternity leave is an integral part of a benefits package, and 56% say the same of paid paternity leave.Employees use this time to care for newborn babies and children. However, 31% say they don’t receive any paid parental leave. Thus, parents may be forced to use their personal paid vacation day s or sick days to care for their newborn or simply take unpaid leave.This may put extra stress on the parents who are already worrying over their newest member of the family.To make parental leave fairer, you may consider increasing the amount of time off you are willing to pay for. Typically, new mothers take 12 weeks off. Even if you can’t give them full pay while they are on leave, you may be able to offer them half-pay just to keep them afloat until they return to work. If your business is smaller and can’t afford to provide PTO for new parents right now, make it a priority for the future.6) Jury DutyIf the state summons your employees to serve on jury duty, you may offer to pay for their timespent serving, especiallyif your state has jury duty pay laws. Additionally, employers must allow time off for employees who must serve as a witness in court proceedings in states like Pennsylvania and Maryland. To ensure your employees are, in fact, serving, you may require they show p roof of their summons. This requirement is especially important if you are offering them PTO for serving.To make sure your policy is fair, keep informed of your state’s law and all the details surrounding it. For instance, some state legislation protects prospective jurors by preventing their managers from denying them their benefits because of jury duty. Moreover, some statesprohibit you from requesting your employeesto work overtime to make up for time spent serving on a jury.7) Voting TimeevalLast year, 44% of companies offered employees PTO to votein local and federal elections. Generally, this PTO is limited, as workers need only a few hours to cast their votes. Many states do have lawsrequiring employers to provide some voting leave benefits, whether it be paid or unpaid. However, some states also require employees to notify you in advance if they plan to vote during office hours.Of course, you want your employees to be able to vote during elections, and there are numerous w ays to help them do so. If you’re a smaller company, you might suggest your workers participate in absentee or early voting so that they can still work on election day. If your company is larger, you may offer PTO if your employees notify you of their intentions in advance.Factors to Consider When Crafting a PTO PolicyIn addition to state and federal legislation, the size of your business and workforce and your personal thoughts, you’ll want to consider a few other aspects when creating your business’ time-off policy. For instance, if you’re beginning to rethink your PTO policy, you might also want to update your benefits package â€" which includes a 401k, life insurance, and medical insurance. Maybe you can offer more PTO in exchange for less health coverage.Moreover, you should consider how much time your employees typically request off. If they don’t take time off often, you may consider offering unlimited PTO or more vacation time, knowing they probably won’t abuse t his privilege.Consider their demographics, as well. If you mostly employ younger individuals, they may prefer flexible PTO so that they choose their own holidays. On the other hand, an older workforce may value a fixed amount of vacation and sick days.evalAs always, the key to crafting a fair time-off policy is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.So, if you would take three or so days to grieve the death of a loved one, allow your employees the same choice.Also, ask for employee feedback regarding your current policy and take their suggestions to heart. If you sincerely value your workers, you’ll be willing to work with them to create a system that favors both them and your business as a whole.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Ace That Phone Interview! - CareerAlley

Ace That Phone Interview! - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Presenting yourself well in a phone interview is deceptively difficult. If you thrive on using body language and a charming smile to make a strong impression in interviews, the phone can nullify your best features and knock you back on your heels. With a smaller margin for error, even minor mistakes could have a big effect on how your interviewer receives you. There are definite advantages to being interviewed on the phone, and they shouldn't be ignored. Before you get on the phone you have the opportunity to lay out a variety of resources to give you a boost during your interview. Tweet This With that in mind, its important to enter a phone interview prepared for what is about to happen. Even though it may feel less formal than an in-person interview, you still need to give yourself the best odds against the rest of the competition. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash Give yourself ample prep time An oft-overlooked advantage of having an in-person interview is thepreparation processyou put yourself through: taking a shower, getting dressed, eating breakfast and walking or driving to work. While it can be tempting to roll out of bed five minutes early just to clear your throat ahead of the interview, its not a winning strategy your brain will be in a fog and you wont be putting your best foot forward. There is no single list of job interview questions that you can study that will allow you to be flawless. In the end, there you are likely to be surprised by the tough question in an interview sooner or later. Your best bet is to be prepared for the standard questions, and then tailor your preparation to the company. How, you may ask, can you tailor your preparation to a specific company? There many ways to find out specifics about company interviews. While every interviewer will ask different questions, there are some questions and styles that are standard for some companies. Read on. 4 Ways to Ace Your Job Interview Waking up, eating and moving around, by contrast, will get you active and energized and help you feel ready for that phone interview. And even though you might not be concerned about your attire, it can have an effect on how you present yourself even when you cant be seen. Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash Set up supporting materials There are definite advantages to being interviewed on the phone, and they shouldnt be ignored. Before you get on the phone you have the opportunity to lay out a variety of resources to give you a boost during your interview. Layout your rsum, talking points, information about your prospective employer anything that could help you sound more intelligent and on-the-ball. Call up valuable Internet resources and have your cover letter on-hand in case the interviewer asks questions regarding it. You could also make a list of questions to ask the interviewer at the end of the conversation. Stutters and gaps of silence can be crushing in an in-person interview, where youre expected to have all your answers to questions banked in your head. Theres even less of an excuse for it on the phone, so dont get arrogant and think youre above supporting materials. They can never hurt. Of course, nowadays a phone interview might take place over Skype or even aconference callthat puts you in conversation with multiple managers. All the more reason to be prepared with materials and if its a video call, make sure you dont look down at your notes too often. Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash Pick the right scene and be mindful of your tone Its not just what you say, itshow you say it and what else is heard in the background. Barking dogs and crying kids are always an unwelcome distraction. Set up in a quiet room and make sure all distractions are eliminated. Get a babysitter, if necessary, even if its just for 20 minutes. Phone.com Price: Get 20% off your Phone.com base service for 3 months with Phone.com Buy Now We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. And in that quiet, distraction-free setting, be mindful of your tone. Your words are important, but if the interviewer can detect any negative qualities in your tone, it can be a major turnoff. Make sure you sound uplifting and positive at all times throughout the interview. By putting in a little extra legwork ahead of the interview, you can save yourself from many of the pitfalls that your fellow interviewees might be subject to. Employers know the signs of a good candidate vs. a bad one even over the phone, so dont be blind to the observable factors that can make or break your interview. Personalized interview coaching Price: At TopInterview, each session is tailored to you and your unique goals. Your choice of comprehensive packages make it easy to get the help you need to nail your interviews. TopInterview offers three plans based on your needs Ace your interview We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to nail the interview and get hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Friday, May 8, 2020

Tough (Question) Tuesday How are you being supported

Tough (Question) Tuesday How are you being supported We May Not Have It All Together but Together We Have It All by Kari Machal Designs Last week, I received over $3300 in donations for my Avon Team in a 48 hour period (!!!). Every month, I get together with a group of gutsy, smart, funny, sweet, Brooklyn-based creative (aspiring and full-time) entrepreneurs to catch-up, ask questions, exchange resources, and get feedback on our ideas and offerings. At least every two months, I have a coaching or consulting call to talk about my business goals and untangle whats in my head and get my action steps down on paper (yes, life coaches have life coaches too!). Every day, I hear from at least a handful of people to ask how Im feeling and/or tell me theyre sending good thoughts my way. Multiple times a day, I hear I love you. Less often but still pretty damn frequently, I hear, I believe in you, Youre amazing, and Youre beautiful (yes, my husband is the ultimate support for me). How are you being supported? Cant wait to hear about it in the comments! -  If youre looking for your own  pressure-free, creative community, then come on over and be part of my Clubhouse! (Extra goodies if ya join pre-May 1st)