Perks at Work Big Deal or a Little Luxury

Perks at Work Big Deal or a Little Luxury When searching for a new role, prospective candidates are more often than not, sold by the incentives an employer offers. In recent years, employee perks have developed into integral factors of any office job, becoming less of a perk, and more of a necessity. With 19% of employees claiming to not receive any perks from their employer, it is becoming increasingly competitive between corporations to locate the most enticing benefits to satisfy and retain their employees. Google as the prime example has gone so far as to equip their offices with Energy Pods, in order give their employees some space to nap when in need of a bit of shut-eye. Although some of us may not be as fortunate as this when it comes to what perks we receive, Andrews Sykes Air Conditioning have collated some insightful research about the state of office perks. This national study looked into what perks are presently offered to employees and the ones people really want, as well as whether these benefits actually make a difference to the employee morale because after all happy employees, means a more motivated and committed workforce. The reality vs. the expectations of office perks In today’s office space, common perks include access to changing facilities and reclining chairs, but do these “perks” really make much of a positive impact on employees? Some perks although small, have a beneficial effect over a staggered period of time. The most commonly offered employee perk is free hot beverages, with over half of office workers having access to as much caffeine whenever they should like. However, the remaining half are expected to subsidize this cost themselves, which could be costing them up to £950 per year, the equivalent to an all-inclusive seven day holiday to Portugal. It’s these smaller incentives which are often taken for granted, that actually benefit the individual employee the most over time and encourage positivity amongst a workforce. What incentives would make you seal the deal? Sometimes, employees don’t want to sell themselves short with the little perks but are often lured in by the less accessible perks which are not offered elsewhere. The perk which office workers desired the most (43% of those included in the survey) was flexible working hours. This gives employees the freedom to work to their own schedule, which almost always results in better staff retention. It is this opportunity for employees to take more control over their working hours and their own time, which stimulates them to be more productive and motivated workers. The potential power of office perks The question on every employer’s lips is do perks actually make a difference to the morale and productivity of a workforce? The answer is an indefinite yes, with 20% of employees admitting they’d work harder if offered them, 37% revealing they’d be more motivated and a whopping 49% confessing they’d be happier. Given that stress is the number one cause of disengagement and absence for employees in the UK, it seems justifiable that this could be changed with the addition of a free bar after a busy day at work, or the ability to work from home when the traffic is a little too hectic. By treating hard-workers with the care and attention they deserve, businesses are more likely to see results in employee loyalty, a high retention rate and subsequently a lower turnover within a workforce. About the author: Olivia Stone is contributing  writer for research commissioned  by Andrews Sykes, the UKs leading specialists in air-conditioning and heating hire.  

Love Your Work and Life Challenge - Classy Career Girl

Love Your Work and Life Challenge Its almost here!  THE 2015 LOVE YOUR WORK AND LIFE CHALLENGE starts on Monday, February 9th!  We have over 300 women already registered and I am so excited to get started!! Remember your 2015 goals? Its now time to MAKE YOUR DREAMS HAPPEN this year with our FREE and FUN 5-DAY Challenge. Get ready for Anna and special guest experts to help you make 2015 your best year ever! Enough planning! Its time to turn your plans into ACTION. I cant wait to help you turn your dreams into a reality this year!  Were starting soon.  GRAB YOUR FREE SPOT HERE. So whats this challenge about? The Love Your Work and Life Challenge is going to be jam-packed with activity, fun and videos to help you make your 2015 goals a reality. The Challenge officially starts on February 9th but be on the look-out for pre-party activities in our private Facebook group beforehand! Join the Challenge Party.  Its free! See you there!

How to Grow Your Brand Using Social Media Psychology

How to Grow Your Brand Using Social Media Psychology When you meet someone for the first time, one question gets asked more than any other. What do you do? A typical response you get is the title of their position and the company they work for.   But is this really the answer? When you say it like that, its like saying your identity belongs to a company. That you are a part of that business. In reality we are in the business of ourselves.   You might not have an official incorporation or business license, but dont let that make you think you arent your own brand. Businesses are LICENSING you. They pay you over a period of time to help them with a problem you can solve.   When that problem is solved, or other opportunities arrive, you start a new license with the next company. Our Branded Web Instead of store front windows or billboard advertisements, for most of us our brands are on the web. Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and now Google+ are all avenues people use to investigate whether your brand is right for the job, remarkable, or engaging. Branding yourself is not just a matter of having business skills and then promoting how great you are at sales, customer service, or IT.   Thats boring, thousands of others are great at those things too.   You have to be remarkable. The greatest invention of all time, sliced bread, was a failure for 15 years before it became popular and a house hold staple. The problem wasnt the fact that no one needed sliced bread.   It wasnt until a marketer by the name of W.E. Long started promoting Wonder Bread that sliced bread began to take off as a household staple. Social Media Psychology Our online brands are the same way.   We each have remarkable talents and abilities, but maybe feel our skills are left sitting on a shelf, waiting to be sold. I recently came across some interesting connections between psychology and social media.   I thought I might share them here to help us build our brands more effectively. The 7%-38%-55% Rule Dr. Albert Mehrabian in the 60s further developed the study of communication by measuring how much we like and accept a message based on words, tone of voice, and body language. He found that we absorb meaning at the following intervals for each of the three forms; 7% from words, 38% from tone of voice, and 55% from body language. This was interesting to me for a number of reasons. First, unless you are using video heavily, you are only going to have 45% of the capabilities to get people to like your content, since body language is absent. At the same time you can risk people not liking your content if you do use video but your body language is poor. Second, since the majority of your branding will most likely be written, it is important to have personality in the writing. Personality is what gives your writing its tone of voice.   If youve read Tims A Daring Adventure or Srinivass Skool of Life, you know what I mean by tone. I have this problem.   Sometimes I write like a reporter instead of a person.   Sorry guys and gals. The Vividness Effect This was a new one to me, although I see it everyday. Remember when the iPhone came out and it was riddled with problems? You had to hold it a certain way to get calls, the battery died quickly, even Jobs demo failed.   If it had been any other brand the phone would have never succeeded.   So what happened? The vividness effect is what happened.   The effect occurs when people trump evidence with testimony or other subjective reasoning. Despite all the evidence and facts that the phone had problems, people still wanted the phone because of others experiences with Apple and a large belief that their particular phone wouldnt have the same issues. So how can we take advantage of this?   By using testimonies. LinkedIn is perfect for this.   Making sure you have at least 2-3 testimonies publicly shared on your profile can help convince people that your brand is strong.   If you have a site, you can do the same there.   We all know the power of social proof. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Weve all seen this triangle before in our Psychology 101 classes.   Yet it still serves as one of the key foundations for understanding human motivation. Two of the needs stood out to me in particular with regards to building our brands online.   Belonging and Esteem. Belonging:   The need to fit in and have a sense of being missed. I recently helped my dad sell his Ford Explorer.   Although I hadnt ridden in it for several years, I actually missed the car and was sad to see it go. There had been so many memories in that car that it was weird to know someone else would now be using it.   Keep in mind this was a Ford Explorer, one of the most picked on cars in history. Wouldnt it be great if clients or our bosses felt the same way about us as brands? We do this by fostering relationships. The biggest mistake people make when it comes to promoting their brand through social media is to make it all about themselves.   You help others love and feel a part of You as a brand by including them.   Comment on their sites when they come to yours.   Tweet others excellent articles or videos.   Get to know those in your online circles. Esteem:   The need to be respected and to have self-esteem and self-respect. When I think of the most respected online personaes Guy Kawasaki, Robert Scoble, and Chris Brogan come to mind. Their audiences adore them.   Every article, photo, and video they post is reshared by thousands.   Theyve mastered the art of gaining their audiences respect. I think our own brands grow from what we share as well.   Experts are seen as experts because they can consistently provide engaging content on their area of mastery. The 6 Personas of Online Sharers The New York Times created an incredible document showcasing The Psychology of Sharing.   Inside they outlined 6 personaes of online sharers. Studying these different types may help you see what kind of information you can be sharing to help build your brand the way that fits your personality the best. 1.   Altruists:   These are the people who share helpful information through being thoughtful and connected. You send a couple articles on nutrition and wellness to a friend with health issues because you know she was looking for help. 2.   Careerists:   These personaes share things related to business and are interested in exchanging ideas on how to solve problems in the work field. These are your friends who like to keep you posted on the latest trends in the workplace, business news, and productivity tools. 3.   Hipsters:   Sharing is a part of them. Mostly the younger generation, they are less likely to email but will share lots of creative content such as pictures, movies, and media. 4.   Boomerangs:   Post to get a reaction. These types arent afraid to post something controversial or provacative.   If they dont get a comment or feedback they feel they missed their mark.   They want validation and to feel empowered. 5.   Connectors:   Always passing the deals and opportunities to their friends. You see a great deal on a hotel package so you send it to your friends and then schedule a vacation together. 6.   Selectives:   Only share things with someone specific.   If it isnt relevant to them their is no point in sending it. Less likely to be on Twitter or to share public posts.   More likely to use email only. What Say You? Most of the time this blog is my journal of discovery.   Everyones comments have been so valuable to me and my learning. What have you found works well when it comes to building your brand online?   How do you get more engagement?   How do you grow your audience?

Resume Tips - Brand and Land - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Resume Tips - Brand and Land - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It’s common knowledge that we all spend what would seem to be ‘light-years’ painstakingly preparing our resumes only to find out that the initial review is about 10 seconds before the reviewer either dumps it in the ‘no thanks’ pile or the ‘maybe’ pile…ouch! So, what is it that can make or break that first quick review? Think strategically â€" what is the resumes #1 job? It’s to land you an interview (either in person or via phone). That being the case you only have a few seconds of the reviewer’s attention, so it is imperative that you use your personal branding right from the start. Excite the reader with your energy, passion and expertise. Let the reader know immediately how your expertise fits “their needs” (do not focus on what you want â€" after all, if you’re applying for the job that’s a no-brainer…right?) So, how do you excite the reader with your energy, passion and expertise? Skip…and I am serious here…skip the old boring resume ‘objective statement’, i.e., “Looking to secure a position with growth opportunities where I can contribute my skills and expertise to meet the needs of the organization.” That statement is a real snoozer… are you asleep? Don’t use ‘prime real estate’ on your resume to bore someone to death! You need a strong introduction â€" a summary/branding statement with punch! So get rid of that boring objective statement and use the top area of your resume to launch your personal brand, letting the employer know who you are in action, what they can expect to get from you and how you bring your value-add into an organization. This is the area where you tell them what you can do for them and let your expertise and brand work for you. Here are (3) introductory summary/personal branding examples Are you an IT Account Executive? Strong forward-thinking leader with demonstrated ability partnering with key-stakeholders across the enterprise to define, align and translate corporate IT strategies into tactical plans. Impressive track record of strategic engagement and tactical planning in both sales and marketing to maximize efficient solutions. Expert at building strong customer relationships and becoming a trusted source through service and top-performance. Are you an Administrative Professional? Resourceful self-starter with ability to operate independently and manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously. Strong collaborator with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. Exceptional ability to manage projects from initiation through completion, within strict deadlines. Valued for collaborative communication style and teamwork. Known for exceptional customer service and “can do” attitude. Are you an Event Planner? Dynamic, team-spirited contributor with a terrific eye for detail. Meticulous project manager with the ability to simplify details. Strengths in planning, negotiating, staging and promoting major events. Reputation for managing and delivering events ‘on time and in budget’. Thrive in energetic, fast-paced diverse work environment. Well versed in all facets of creative event planning including executive corporate meetings, recreational events, VIP relations, fundraisers, theme parties and more. Whatever your profession you have the ability to build a strong personal brand statement to use on your resume based on your unique value-add. So, instead of using the same ol’, same ol’ boring objective statement as an opener on your resume, get a head start on your competition and let your brand shine through! Author: Robin has taken her entrepreneurial spirit and teamed with executives in rapidly growing startup companies in the Silicon Valley, creating HR teams who helped to build incredibly talented organizations and mold strong collaborative, goal aligned cultures.  As an expert resume writer and recruiter, Robin has been on both sides of the hiring process and has a keen understanding of the employer’s needs and their approach to reviewing resumes.  As Co Founder of FiredUP Careers, Robin brings her entrepreneurial talents, along with her broad range of expertise and insight to those who seek career advice.   With her complimentary blend of career expertise in HR Management, Recruiting, Staffing and Coaching â€" Robin is an ideal coach for anyone who is open to creative possibility and possesses a forward-thinking mindset.  

A day in the life of a WPP Health Fellow - Debut

A day in the life of a WPP Health Fellow - Debut Naomi Walters, September 2019 Beyond research-based science careers Ending the second year of my degree, I realised that a life in research wasn’t really for me.   Science undergrads, particularly in the life sciences, are often advised to go into a career in medicine or scientific research both incredible career options but if you’re anything like me, you probably feel like it’s not exactly enough… like something is missing. Although there are students who feel right at home in archetypal scientific careers, some don’t. And I’m one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I love learning about the intricacies of the human body, probing the whys behind a theory and maybe even analysing a bit of statistical data (not so much the latter). However, I also like to colour outside of the lines a little. It’s not just the discovering; it’s also concocting a completely new and creative solution. It’s being able to look at the bigger picture and assess how the science that I love learning about can be used to have a larger societal impact. Science, creativity communication Maybe you’re a little like me, in that way? Maybe you like to read poems, maybe you love to debate, maybe you just love to communicate? But I mean, does a job like that even really exist?   A job that allows you to use your understanding of a mental illness to develop a campaign which promotes an app that delivers supportive advice? A job that allows you to research into why MPs aren’t funding a certain care treatment, in order to create material that assists in the changing of their minds?   A job that not only wants you to speak up, but really values your ideas?   Yes, a job like that actually does!  It’s called the WPP Health Fellowship, which I found in the final year of my degree. About WPP WPP is a creative transformation company, creating transformative ideas and outcomes for its clients through an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce and technology.     And while you may not have heard of WPP, you can be reassured that it’s a globally successful company with over £15bn in revenues and more than 130,000+ individuals found in over 100 countries.   The WPP Health Fellowship gives a selected few creative scientific graduates the opportunity to use their learnt scientific knowledge and innate creative streak to impact the world for better.     Why apply What really encouraged me to apply when I learnt about the fellowship was the strap line on their website: WPP cultivates science graduates into tomorrow’s brightest science communicators. This company is invested in using this two-year graduate scheme to develop your skills and nurture you into the most attentive, inventive and confident communicator; setting you up excellently for your career. By the end of it, you’ll be prepared for communicating with patient advocacy groups, health care professionals and everything in between, using a myriad of mediums.   I come into work every day, knowing that I’m making a difference, and I have loads of fun whilst doing it. My day might start with me researching media coverage around a scientific company, and it could then flow into brainstorming ideas for a campaign to increase awareness of a disease in the general public. After lunch, I could find myself planning the logistics of a conference for scientific professionals, and then I might finish the day preparing for future phone calls with journalists about NICE’s approval of a medicine.   And tomorrow, I’ll probably be doing something completely different. No day is the same, which keeps the job exciting. And, it also means that I’m constantly learning. It’s really cool to wake up every day and be excited to come to work. And I really wish that someone would have told second-year Naomi that there are careers out there that allow you to embrace your inner nerd, imaginative ideas and deep desire to positively impact the world. So, show-off scientist, I’m telling you. Find out more about WPPs Health Fellowship here, and discover how to be a successful applicant here.

Passion and Your Job

Passion and Your Job The topic of being passionate about your job has recently come up with a few clients and I thought it was time to readdress it with my audience. Last August I wrote about how passion related to career. Todays blog focuses on how individuals do not need to find passion within their given profession. Many of my clients have the question, if I don’t have the passion in my career am I destined to be miserable 40-50 hours a week? I get this question, particularly, from my clients who are currently feeling miserable in their jobs which, in many cases, extends to their lives. My question back to these clients is: what are you passionate about in your life? Identify What You Are Passionate About in Life Maybe it is a hobby or a cause. Maybe it is family or a relationship or a pet. Maybe it’s practicing a skill you have like writing, public speaking, or acting. Figure out the item or items that bring you passion. Once you have identified your passions, find ways to incorporate them into your life. For example, if you are passionate about animals, how do you incorporate that into your life? Perhaps you have a pet and you love taking care of her. I would ask, is that enough for you, or do you want to focus more energy and attention to this passion? Maybe you can begin volunteering at an animal shelter. Maybe you join the board of a non-profit focused on animals. Find ways to incorporate more of that passion into your everyday life. Focus on the Positive in Your Life So how does this relate to the job that I’m miserable in? Spending more time in the areas you are passionate about won’t erase feeling miserable at a job if it really not the right fit or environment for you. What it can do is give you something to look forward to doing each day or several times a week rather than focusing on how much you hate your job. It places your focus onto a positive area of your life rather than an area that is making you unhappy. Also, now is a good time to re-evaluate that career. Re-evaluate Your Current Career Can you get a job related to your passion? Most likely, if you are reading this blog, you can’t. This could be for many reasons: you need a job that pays more, you lack the skills to be a professional in that career, and so on. Can you get a job that is related to your passion? Back to the animal example: perhaps you are an accountant who isn’t passionate about accounting but is passionate about animals. Can you work at a non-profit related to animals as an accountant? The work tasks are still not your passion, but being in an environment that is related to your passion might make work a lot more enjoyable. List What You Need from Your Career Take the time to evaluate what you need out of a job. It might be a certain amount of money, it might be a location, it might be working specific hours. Now revisit the list â€" do you truly need all of those items? Which ones are nice to have and which ones are critical for you? Are there jobs you would enjoy doing, but you dismiss them immediately? Truly consider why you are dismissing the job. Answering these questions might change your outlook on the type of job you need. Making a job change, while it is not related to your passion, can have a big impact on your overall outlook. So rather than focus on the passion, focus on what you truly need out of a job and make sure those areas are satisfied. Use that extra time when you aren’t working to spend time doing items you are passionate about. Many individuals work to make money to live, but their work is not central to their life. It is a vehicle to meet their basic needs. Its what they do outside of their work hours that really matters to them. Others need their work to be meaningful. Meaningful work does not necessarily equate to passion. Identify the key criteria you need out of work and out of life and make sure those are areas are met. This should have a positive impact on your overall outlook. How did you find passion in your life? career? Share your story in the comments below!

Estimated Costs in Columbia, MO - Professional Resume Writing

Estimated Costs in Columbia, MO - Professional Resume WritingIn this article, I will address estimated costs in Columbia, Missouri and estimated costs in Columbia, MO, as I review and evaluate four different resumes. Those four resumes are typical resumes for the position that I am interviewing for, but my experience has been that those four include more than one statement of position, however, one would need to do a little bit of research to determine the exact statements of positions for each resume. However, all four of the resumes include the same stated job title and position, but not all states require that a resume also be a 'statement of position'.The two resumes that I will focus on are the resume for a receptionist position, which includes one job description and one statement of position. The resume also included a cover letter that was attached. Now let's take a look at how the costs compare for four resumes. As you can see, the cost of these resumes varies greatly based on the needs and requirements of the employers.The first resume I will discuss is the professional resume writing estimated costs in Columbia, MO, as I will compare the costs in Columbia, MO, to find out how much the resume costs versus the value for money. First, we will go over the cost to write a resume. The first page of a resume generally is the most expensive, because it will include the most text and the most space. It should be noted that the more text the more difficult it will be to skim through.After that, there are costs associated with photocopying, including the printing of a copy of the resume by Mary Jocelyn Mormaccos, the Copier. This is obviously a low cost document but still costs money. The cost is a little higher with a physical document, but when everything is combined, including postage and the cost of postage, the printcost of the resume is not really very significant.The next part of a professional resume will include costs to mail it. It will include the co st of shipping the actual item, along with the cost of postage. Cost will generally range from about $20-$40 for each job letter, while that same job letter mailed by FedEx will cost less than $25.The third part of a professional resume is the cost associated with the hiring consultant, Lisa Lindee, which will include the cost of the consultation and the fee for the service. We will then go over the costs associated with faxing, including the cost of the printing, and the cost of the faxing itself. The cost will be much higher with an on-line service like faxab. I believe that the cost of the email service should be relatively low, so the cost for that is a little high.The final part will include the cost associated with the employment agency, which will include the cost of the agency, the fees associated with the agency, and the cost of the agency's service. Cost will vary dramatically, with a professional resume costing a lot more than any other type of resume, but it depends on h ow the professional resume is written. I will discuss what I did in this article and give more examples of actual resume writing cost to evaluate your own project.