Friday, December 27, 2019

How to Get a Job as a Journalist

How to Get a Job as a JournalistHow to Get a Job as a JournalistA career in journalism can mean working for a large metropolitan or national newspaper, a TV broadcast station, or a magazine. Entry-level positions also exist at smaller local publications. A successful career as a journalist takes dedication and a high level of energy. What it Takes Journalism can be an exciting career for someone interested in gathering, reporting, and analyzing information and presenting that information in a way that will be understood by others. Journalists are communicators by nature and are committed to playing a leading role in keeping the public informed. It is a competitive field that has changed dramatically over the last few years and is expected to continue changing as technology advances. Careers in journalism require people who are independent, flexible, creative, and highly innovative. Some would say that a journalist also needs to be persistent and even aggressive to be able to capt ure that next breaking news story. Fluency in a foreign language can be a huge bonus for those who would like to cover international stories. Additional Requirements Careers in journalism require a strong command of the English language and highly developed writing skills. Additional courses that provide a good foundation for careers in journalism include computer science, business, history, sociology, political science, economics, and psychology. Working in the field of journalism requires excellent IT skills such as graphics, desktop publishing, and photography because many entry-level positions combine the responsibilities of reporter, photographer, writer, blogger, and vlogger (video-based articles). Gaining Experience Jobs in journalism at large metropolitan and national newspapers, broadcast stations, and magazines are competitive. Most employers prefer individuals that have a bachelors degree in journalism or mass communications as well as broad demonstrated experienc e. Practical experience gained at school newspapers or broadcasting stations as well as internships with news organizations are critical requirements for jobs in this field. Additional Experience A graduate degree may be helpful for those looking to advance in the field. There are a number of masters and Ph.D. programs available in journalism. A graduate degree and/or in-depth knowledge in the field that a journalist will cover would most likely be a requirement for a high-level position. An advanced degree in education or public relations are highly applicable. The American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) offers some good suggestions for finding your first newspaper internship or job. Entry-level Challenges Working hours usually vary and can be very hectic. Last minute news reporting requires long and irregular hours. A job in journalism often includes many demands and substantial pressure to complete last minute assignments in record time. Moreover, journalists coveri ng political uprisings, wars, fires, and weather-related events are often in danger. Depending on the job, frequent travel can be required. Top Sites for Finding Internships and Jobs Journalism is an exciting and competitive field requiring perseverance. Here are some?top sites for finding internships and jobs in the industry. Employers seek qualified candidates with relevant experience when making their hiring decisions. Completing several internships in different publications will increase the likelihood of becoming a full-time employee. Most entry-level positions are available at small broadcast stations and publications. Careers in Journalism Some examples of jobs in the journalism industry include news analysts (news anchors, newscasters), reporters, editors, weathercasters, sportscasters, news correspondents, commentators, and columnists.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Micro Jobs and How to Make Money Doing Them

Micro Jobs and How to Make Money Doing ThemMicro Jobs and How to Make Money Doing ThemA micro job is, as the word implies, a very small paid task. A better word for micro jobs might actually be gigs because the word jobs might imply employment, and no micro jobs are for employees but only for independent contractors. Defining Micro Jobs The basic concept of a micro jobs, receiving a small fee for a small task, runs across many possible schrifts of micro jobs. These might include Online tasks These small tasks, or microtasks, can be done entirely online, requiring no real-world interaction. Buyers of unterstellung tafelgeschirrs advertise on micro job websites to find someone willing to do the task. Amazons Mechanical Turk is one of the most popular sites offering this type of micro job. Real-world tasks Similar to online tasks in that buyers of service advertise online for workers, the task is not completed online but in person. Websites promoting these types of micro jobs are ba sically a marketplace for odd jobs. Taskrabbit is one of the more popular real-work task sites. However, Taskrabbit and others like it usually offer online tasks as well. Crowdsourcing projects Using an online crowdsourcing platform, companies hire workers to do one small part of a larger project. Workers generally log on to a companys website and choose from available tasks. Clickworker is a company that makes use crowdsourcing for a variety of tasks. Website usability testing Remote usability testers review websites and mobile apps for a set fee (usually around $10), typically using a screen or voice recorder. Online services marketplace In these micro jobs, workers offer small services (usually for a set fee) and buyers browse the marketplace to find people offering the services they need. The website takes a fee from the the buyer, seller or both. Reward programs Some micro jobs may not offer payment in money but in points or something else. The tasks in these often involve mar keting products to the worker. Surveys Completing surveys as a work-at-home job has been around for a while and is, perhaps, the original micro job. How Micro Jobs Are Done Many micro jobs, particularly those of crowdsourced data entry projects, are done completely online from a computer. However, some micro jobs may be done in both in the real world and online and could require a cell phone. For example, a company may want you to go to a store and photograph a display of a product or conduct a price check and submit the information online via your cell phone. How Micro Jobs Pay Generally, these jobs pay very small sums, but they should require very little time. Jobs may pay anywhere from 1 cent to $50, and the idea is that the labor required should be in proportion with fee offered. That said, in order to make money, you have to work fast and take on as many tasks as you can. Since these are done on a contract (and not employee) basis, there is no guarantee that these micro jobs pay minimum wage. Most companies pay cash (usually through a PayPal account) but some pay in something other than cash, i.e. gift cards, reward points, services, bitcoins. Often the pay is calculated in US dollars but can be converted into a different currency when paid into a PayPal account. Related Definitions Crowdsourcing Similar to and sometimes used synonymouslywith micro labor, crowdsourcing often employs volunteer labor.Task Site Online forums that connect buyers and sellers of small services.Microlabor Similar to and sometimes used synonymously with crowdsourcing, micro labor is paid, though usually small amounts.Bid sites Sites like Elance, where workers bid on projects, are examples of bid sites the difference between them and micro labor is the pay scale and the complexity of the projects. Independent contractor Micro laborers are independent contractors but at the lowest end of the pay scale.BPO Business process outsourcing.Data Entry Some data entry companies employ micro labor by breaking up large data entry projects into disparate tasks done by a range of people.Outsourcing Using micro labor is a different type of outsourcing than offshoring or homeshoring.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

10 Companies with Unique Volunteer Opportunities

10 Companies with Unique Volunteer Opportunities10 Companies with Unique Volunteer Opportunities Offering employees paid time off to volunteer for causes they care about has become an increasingly popular company perk. Corporate Social Responsibility, as its formally known, can sound stuffy, but depending on the company it can mean trips to Chile, donating resurces to those less fortunate, teaching students abroad, and even free money in the form of matching gifts.Employers are now offering a variety of ways to give back that arent designed to serve the company but are customizable to the employee. Check out these 10 companies committed to volunteerism and encuraging their employees to give back during the workweek.AppDynamics Volunteer Details AppDynamics gives its employees 5 paid volunteer days off every year. They also have a community-focused program called AppD Cares that emboldens its people to come together and give back in ways that are most meaningful to t hem. We chose to spend ur week volunteering and celebrating the local traditions in a little town in San Pancho, Mexico and it has forever changed ur hearts. Our time with Entreamigos was spent helping local children celebrate the holidays at their annual Christmas Posada (party), preparing meals for the fellow volunteers and staff to keep them fueled, and organize their offices to keep them successful and prepared for the new year We are so grateful that we had the ability to take this trip with our VTO program and go anywhere in the world, doing any volunteer activity we were interested in. This organization has made a big impact on their small community and we were so glad to be a part of it Since this program refreshes each year, we will definitely be back for more in 2019 - Lauren Levy and Heidi Newiger, AppDynamics employees Open Roles Enterprise Sales Representative, Sr. Consultant, Senior Software Engineer, Project Manager, Senior Product Specialist, IT Integration Team Le ad, Data Scientist, Technical Writer, Digital Content Operations Specialist & more. Where Hiring San Francisco, CA Dallas, TX Milwaukee, WI Washington, DC & more.Colgate-Palmolive Volunteer Details Given that caring is one of their core values, Colgate has Colgate Cares Day where teams from across the globe give back to community programs and in service projects to help make the world healthier and happier. Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures reaches children around the world with free dental screenings and oral health education. Clean Hands, Good Health works to encourage children to wash their hands by providing handwashing educational resources. Plus, they provide free education along with preventive and restorative care to underserved children who may notlage have access to dental care. Open Roles Retail Marketing Specialist, Regulatory Affairs Supervisor, Controls Technician, Oral Care Consultant, Food Safety Technician, Associate Scientist, IT Operations Intern, Brand Manager & more. Where Hiring Atlanta, GA Topeka, KS Piscataway, NJ Charlotte, NC Hodges, SC Seattle, WA San Juan, PR New York, NY & more.TransUnion Volunteer Details TransUnion provides U.S.-based associates with a Volunteer Time Off day each year which can be used to donate time outside the office to a cause that matters to them. They also offer a matching gift program for associates who choose to make financial contributions to their selected causes. TransUnion will match up to $2,000 per year for each associate, in support of donations made to 501c3 organizations. Open Roles Java Web Developer, Threat Intelligence Analyst, Lead SOC Analyst, Marketing Campaign Planner, Sales Operation Specialist, Customer Support Operations, Solution Sales Advisor, Software Engineer & more. Where Hiring Chicago, IL Fremont, CA Crum Lynne, PA Arapahoe, CO & more.Solstice Volunteer Details The consulting firm has Ferris Buellers Day Off (FBDO) which is an extra PTO day which allows Solstie s to play hooky together. The only rule? They must do something epic We exist to prove what humanity is capable of. This can be done through pair-programming, on the client site, within our own personal culture, through philanthropic work, and through our R&D programs to better serve our Chicago tech community & the world at large. Employees also receive a $5,000 annual self-directed training budget which they can use on trainings, books, conferences, etc. for their personal & professional growth. Open Roles Mobile Architect, Scrum Master, Lead Developer, Principal/Director of Program Delivery, Product Consultant, Agile Transformation Coach, Senior UX Researcher, DevOps Platform Engineer, Director of Partnerships & more. Where Hiring New York, NY Chicago, IL & more.McKesson Volunteer Details As one of the leading healthcare companies, McKesson supports employee giving through Matching Gifts, up to $2,500 per employee each year. The also host their annual Community Days employe e volunteer event and the McKesson in Motion charity wellness challenge. When employees sign up, they earn funds for community partners. If an employee is going through a tough time, McKessons Taking Care of Our Own Fund provides grants to employees going through financial hardship due to natural disasters, serious illness, and other unexpected events. Its supported by donations from the company, the McKesson Foundation, and employees. Open Roles SAP Functional Analyst, Director of Records & Information Management, VP of HRBP, Director of Training Contact Center, Sr Director of Corporate Strategy, Database Architect, Director of Corporate FP&A, Sr. Java Software Engineer & more. Where Hiring Dallas, TX Richmond, VA Alpharetta, GA & more.Salesforce Volunteer Details Salesforce leverages our technology, people, and resources to improve communities throughout the world. We call our integrated philanthropic approach the 1-1-1 model. Since our founding, we have given more than $240 mio in grants, 3.5 million hours of community service, and provided product donations for more than 39,000 nonprofits and education institutions. Open Roles Director of Speakers Bureau, Engineering Manager, Workday Engineer, Sr. Manager Renewal Operations, Senior Manager of Software Engineer, DevOps Engineers, Manager of Revenue Accounting, Product Manager, Data Science and Machine Learning Technical Director & more. Where Hiring San Francisco, CA Boston, MA Indianapolis, IN Cambridge, MA Herndon, VA Dallas, TX New York, NY Mountain View, CA Atlanta, GA & more.NVIDIA Volunteer Details The NVIDIA Foundations initiatives benefit communities around the world through diverse efforts such as grants to accelerate cancer research and support patient care, a new AI-focused youth education initiative, and their employees numerous volunteer efforts. NVIDIA and its employees donated nearly $4.4 million and more than 9,000 volunteer hours in FY18 to support the work of nonprofits across the globe. Open Roles Senior Logic Design Engineer, Offensive Firmware Security Researcher, Senior Tesla Systems Software Engineer, Account Manager, Senior Data Engineer, Project Manager, System Software Manager, Service Reliability Engineer, Games Applications Engineer & more. Where Hiring Santa Clara, CA Oakland, CA Westford, MA Durham, NC Austin, TX & more.3M Volunteer Details 3Mgives supports initiatives that increase student interest in STEM and business to help build a diverse pipeline of future leaders. For example, our 3M Visiting Wizards program shares the magic of science with students through demonstrations and hands-on experiments. More than 800,000 students have seen science applied in demonstrations ranging from catapults to cryogenics. 3Mgives invests in programs that foster sustainable communities. In one example, 3M committed a $5 million investment to the Closed Loop Fund, a collaborative social impact resource that provides municipalities with access to capi tal needed to build comprehensive recycling programs. Open Roles Inside Sales Representative, IT Solution Manager Analyst, Key Account Market Manager, Production Operator, Quality Auditor, Senior Quality Engineer, Automation Engineer, Process Engineer, Principal Mechanical Engineer & more. Where Hiring Saint Paul, MN San Francisco, CA Flemington, NJ Maplewood, MN Monroe, NC Murray, UT Springfield, IL Washington, DC & more.Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Volunteer Details While the Gates Foundation works globally, they recognize that improving peoples lives often happens at the local level, where individuals take action in their own communities. Through 31 matching for employee charitable giving, paid time for volunteering, board service matching, community grantmaking, grantee site visits, our speakers bureau, and events throughout the year, employees have many opportunities to develop relationships with organizations that they personally care about. Open Roles Senior Progra m Officer, Research Project Manager, Deputy Director of Gender Integration, Interim Business Analyst, Senior Program Assisntant Senior Security Specialist, Associate Strategy Officer, Deputy Director of Strategy & more. Where Hiring Seattle, WAPatagonia Volunteer Details Patagonia gives employees throughout the worldwide operations a number of interesting opportunities to support environmental work. 55 Patagonia employees have traveled to Chilean Patagonia at company expense to spend three weeks helping to restore a former sheep ranch and create what will soon become Chiles newest national park. Every June, bicycle-loving employees throughout the company gather to celebrate and encourage sustainable commuting to work. Since 1993, Patagonia employees at their headquarters and store in Ventura have staged an annual 5K community fun run with all proceeds going to local environmental nonprofit groups. Open Roles Graphic Production Artist, Director of Photo Studio, Global Marketing Manager, Director of Customer Service, Assistant Store Manager, Video Editor, Material Developer, Environmental Programs Officer & more. Where Hiring Palo Alto, CA Ventura, CA Reno, NV Boulder, CO New York, NY & more.

Friday, December 13, 2019

Improve the Desktop Support Hiring Process

Improve the Desktop Support Hiring ProcessImprove the Desktop Support Hiring ProcessSkilled desktop rckendeckung staff are in high demand, and they dont stay on the job market long. To land your top candidate, you need to streamline your hiring process. But moving quickly doesnt mean acting hastily. Here are some ways to minimize the time it takes to evaluate candidates and make good new hires.Advertise rightIf your job posting is too generic, youll lose time wading through resumes from people who are the wrong fit. But if the ad has too many required items, youll discourage otherwise skilled candidates from applying. To get that Goldilocks pool of applicants, you need the just-right job posting, which comes from a strong job description.Carefully separate the expertise your ideal candidate must have and attributes that are just nice to have. For example, dont hesitate to stipulate a degree, but include in the posting that youre willing to accept as a substitute relevant work experie nce for the right person. And dont forget the soft skills necessary in desktop support positions, especially superb customer tafelgeschirr and clear and friendly communication.If you have a one-off project that you need help with, consider working with a staffing agency specializing in placing IT candidates to fill positions on a contract basis.An example would be finding someone to help with transitioning your organization from Windows 7 to Windows 8. And if the contractor turns out to be a good fit within your company, you can safely extend him a full-time offer for another position without having to worry about making a bad hire since youve had time to evaluate his performance on the job.Have a detailed planA mistake that some organizations make is not having a hiring strategy. Before you post a job ad, you should know how you plan to move applicants through the hiring process. Here are some items to considerNumber of interviews Will there be a phone screening? If so, who will co nduct them? How many in-person rounds will there be? A panel interview with several team members is usually more efficient than a series of one-on-ones.Interview questions Will each member of the interview committee be responsible for coming up with his or her own questions, or will you decide as a team?Skills test, such as preparing a broken PC and asking applicants to diagnose or fix it.Reference checks/due diligence How many references will you ask for and check? Who will be responsible for this task, the human resources manager or the new hires supervisor? Will this position require a background check or drug test?Hiring decision How will the top candidate be decided on?Job offer Who will have the authority for extending the job offer and, if necessary, negotiating salary?Use our salary calculator to determine what you should pay a desktop support analyst in your area.Know where to lookDepending on your needs, and considering how challenging it is to find talent right now, it ma y be more efficient to train internal candidates for higher tier help desk jobs than to look for external candidates. By tapping and developing in-house staff, you already know that they fit in your corporate culture.Promoting from within is also a great way to retain star employees. If promising staff express interest in more responsibilities and leadership roles, dont risk losing those motivated workers to another company.Promoting from within or redeploying full-time staff may partially address rising demands, but this step alone isnt likely to be the answer to all your companys desktop support needs. At some point, youll need to replace people who leave your organization. And youll also need access to fresh ideas and perspectives to help your company grow by bringing in new staff.Advertising on a few key job sites works fine if you want entry-level or general desktop support staff. But when you need someone highly experienced or with niche skills, you could be waiting a long tim e for the right people to apply.Lets say you need someone who understands Mac support in a Windows Active Directory environment - a less common skill. To find such a person, be more proactive. Start by checking Server Fault, for example, where you can gauge who is reputable in supporting Macs. Then search their posts for the skills you want.Because desktop support is a hot IT field, you cant drag out the hiring process for these professionals. To land the talent you need to grow your company, have a solid recruiting plan and be ready to offer a competitive salary.This post has been updated to reflect more current information.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

What Is So Fascinating About Www Myperfectresume Com?

What Is So Fascinating About Www Myperfectresume Com? Inside this section, you can acquire a concept of the pay you may expect if you choose to select this career. Before you commence adding job descriptions to yur resume, you might want to earn a list of accomplishments at every one of your jobs. This section delivers a number of the common questions that are asked during an interview for this sort of career. It offers the traits associated with someone who is a professional and successful in this career. Your resume is likely to decide whether youre rejected or if youve got a running chance. In honor of all our readers that are recent graduates looking for their very first job, and to people who are searching for a new gig, we provide these seven free resume templates as our way of creating your work search a little simpler. Youll acquire a notion of the job duties required together with the pay. If youre looking for work, you might be short on cash. Everyone values accuracy and competence, regardless of what job youre applying for. The previous suggestion is to use your very best judgment. When you have written a work description, search for ways to create your explanation more concise. Including a tiny job description under every one of your work designation is likely to make your resume even better. In addition, like most other resume builders, My Perfect Resume makes it simple for the work hunter to titel all their bases without forgetting a significant part of the resume. Submitting your resume is the very first portion of the job application procedure. So individuals who like My Perfect Resume and wish to keep it should consider this alternative. Resume services are all around the web, so you might have come across My Perfect Resume. To compose the most effective Professional Experience section, you must capture your full array of experiences, abilities, and most significantly, achievements. Hence, its essential to create a resume thats u nique and potent. Become involved in on-campus pursuits. Www Myperfectresume Com at a Glance Whether you want to use this resume builder once or become a subscriber, you will find a service which is easy, straightforward and possesses all key features a decent resume builder needs from assorted templates, cover letters, customization choices to pre-written phrases, writing ideas, spell-checking and just a work search engine. Next, consider prioritizing the information that you provide in each individual description. Plus, it provides a great deal of flexibility, according to a myperfectresume review. Please visit the website often for updates. There are other methods to begin your resume, based on your degree of experience its possible to take a look at our flow chart here. The dental profession demands knowledge of and capacity to use tools. Its possible to still use it in order to demonstrate the abilities and qualities you want highlighted. With this much riding on your resume, it is logical to seek out expert assistance. Myperfectresume reviews may be considered the same manner. Below youll discover a group of blogs I have selected that are related to this career and will help keep you up-to-date and in contact with your industry. By taking a look at topics covered youll get a summary of the regions you need to understand about. You are able to offer information and solutions. Its critical that the service you select knows for sure theyre only employing the ideal essay writers. In summary, the service exists, so should you wish to use it in order to find a top essay, thats reason enough. This service is basically a scam. Its our goal for you to have the ability to learn of the services offered and to offer contact information should you need assistance from your Sheriffs Office. Bear in mind, a resume is basically a sales document selling yourself. Industry trade publications are a fantastic supply of information for news associated with the industry youre getting into. Quite often when youre going through different kinds of services, you will wind up finding two very similar or even completely identical products supplied by exactly the same business.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

TalentGuard Announces New Release of CareerPath Career Development Software

TalentGuard Announces New Release of CareerPath Career Development Software Talent management software provider TalentGuard has announced the newest release of CareerPath by TalentGuard, an employee career development solution that automatically builds custom career paths based on an employees skills and interests. The personalized, interactive career development plan can be shared with others in the company. CareerPath allows companies to develop existing employees into a steady source of qualified talent from within. Before this innovation from TalentGuard, every career development program focused on employees moving up the vertical ladder in a very predictable way. By enabling employees to engage in a lattice approach, they take mora ownership over their career path and choose any number of job roles based on their skills, interests, experiences and preferences. Organizations simply dont have t he internal career framework or expertise to make this happen, said Linda Ginac, CEO of TalentGaurd. With our continuous focus on career pathing and innovation, our team at TalentGuard has passionately studied the needs of modern internal career mobility, and we have created an effective solution to this frustrating problem.Some of the key enhancements of the new CareerPath by TalentGuard include An updated end user interface with a cleaner design and more efficient interactions. Integration of Comprehensive Competency and Best-Practice Job Role Profile database consisting of more than 40 business interpersonal competencies, 400 industry specific functional/technological competencies, and more than 750 job role profiles, all fully editable. Social Enterprise 2.0 to enable employees to connect with co-workers for real-time feedback and recognition. The career pathing solution can connect employees career path interests with internal vacancies to allow them to collaborate with people holding similar roles.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Appreciation is the single most important thing for job satisfaction

Appreciation is the single fruchtwein important thing for job satisfactionAppreciation is the single most important thing for job satisfactionCompensation data and software company PayScale released newdata on employee engagement, showing that appreciation is the thing employees value most when determining how they feel about their companys culture.The reportsays that how people are paid relative to the market for their position matters relatively little in terms of employee satisfaction. What does matter is how employees feel about how they are paid, which has 5.4 times as much impact.The researchers surveyed mora than 500,000 workers for the report. Here are just a few of the findings, plus what companies can do to boost their success in the employee engagement department.The older you get, the more likely you are to stay put at workPayScales research found that employees ages 20-29 had an 8% higher chance of going on the job hunt again compared to those ages 40-49. The 30-39 year- olds were sandwiched in the middle of those two age brackets.But as ages climb upward, people are far less likely to leave Those 50-59 are 15% less likely to jump ship, while those 60+ are 50% less likely to.Why people leavePayScale found that company outlook had the biggest impact on intent to leave employer, (more than appreciation, development and others). The researchers found that someone who strongly agreed that their employer would be successful down the line is half as likely to aim to quit over the following six months than someone with a neutral perspective on this concept.Someone who strongly thought the company wouldnt succeed was 2.6 times more likely to leave compared to the neutral employee, the report found.How companies can make employees feel more engaged at workThere are a variety of ways to do this.Prioritize making workers feel like they matterMaking workers feel appreciatedwas just one of the takeaways of PayScales research.Its likely that employees would enjoy the benefits of having a heftier paycheck, but after citing things like spot bonuses and merit-based pay increases as ways to show workers appreciation, PayScales report makes it clear that money isnt the only solution.Encourage managers in your organization to get into the habit of providing timely and positive feedback for a job well done. Employees need to regularly hear the message that their work is seen and valued. They need to understand, and feel that the company understands, how their work contributes to the companys mission. Finding ways to convey appreciation can be a simple, cost-free way to increase employee satisfaction across the board, the report says.Dont keep employees in the dark about their performanceOutside research has found that letting employees know how theyre doing in the office goes hand-in-hand with recognizing their work.Giving workers positive feedback and chances to climb the corporate ladder can go a long way.Dont forget to encourage bondingTim Eise nhauer, Co-founder and President of Axero and a developer of Communifire,writes in Entrepreneurabout how doing this can help employees feel more engaged.Having fun together bedrngnis only breaks up the routine but also encourages creativity and collaboration. Sponsor a company softball tournament or host a monthly dress-up day, where employees can wear their ugliest sweater or sport a crazy hair color. Of course, management must also get in on the action, which further contributes to authenticity, visibility and communication, he writes.Appreciation is the single most important thing for job satisfactionCompensation data and software company PayScale released newdata on employee engagement, showing that appreciation is the thing employees value most when determining how they feel about their companys culture.The reportsays that how people are paid relative to the market for their position matters relatively little in terms of employee satisfaction. What does matter is how employees feel about how they are paid, which has 5.4 times as much impact.FollowLadders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard coveringHappiness,Productivity,Job Satisfaction,Neuroscience, andmoreThe researchers surveyed more than 500,000 workers for the report. Here are just a few of the findings, plus what companies can do to boost their success in the employee engagement department.The older you get, the more likely you are to stay put at workPayScales research found that employees ages 20-29 had an 8% higher chance of going on the job hunt again compared to those ages 40-49. The 30-39 year-olds were sandwiched in the middle of those two age brackets.But as ages climb upward, people are far less likely to leave Those 50-59 are 15% less likely to jump ship, while those 60+ are 50% less likely to.Why people leavePayScale found that company outlook had the biggest impact on intent to leave employer, (more than appreciation, development and others). The researchers found that someo ne who strongly agreed that their employer would be successful down the line is half as likely to aim to quit over the following six months than someone with a neutral perspective on this concept.Someone who strongly thought the company wouldnt succeed was 2.6 times more likely to leave compared to the neutral employee, the report found.How companies can make employees feel more engaged at workThere are a variety of ways to do this.Prioritize making workers feel like they matterMaking workers feel appreciatedwas just one of the takeaways of PayScales research.Its likely that employees would enjoy the benefits of having a heftier paycheck, but after citing things like spot bonuses and merit-based pay increases as ways to show workers appreciation, PayScales report makes it clear that money isnt the only solution.Encourage managers in your organization to get into the habit of providing timely and positive feedback for a job well done. Employees need to regularly hear the message that their work is seen and valued. They need to understand, and feel that the company understands, how their work contributes to the companys mission. Finding ways to convey appreciation can be a simple, cost-free way to increase employee satisfaction across the board, the report says.Dont keep employees in the dark about their performanceOutside research has found that letting employees know how theyre doing in the office goes hand-in-hand with recognizing their work.Giving workers positive feedback and chances to climb the corporate ladder can go a long way.Dont forget to encourage bondingTim Eisenhauer, Co-founder and President of Axero and a developer of Communifire,writes in Entrepreneurabout how doing this can help employees feel more engaged.Having fun together not only breaks up the routine but also encourages creativity and collaboration. Sponsor a company softball tournament or host a monthly dress-up day, where employees can wear their ugliest sweater or sport a crazy hair c olor. Of course, management must also get in on the action, which further contributes to authenticity, visibility and communication, he writes.This article originally appeared Nov. 10, 2017.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Tips for Asking Friends and Family for Job Search Help

Tips for Asking Friends and Family for Job Search HelpTips for Asking Friends and Family for Job Search HelpAsking family and friends for job search help is a great way to hear about job opportunities. Your friends and family care about you, and most of them will gladly help you in any way they can. However, there are ways to reach out to friends and family that are more helpful than others. Read below for tips on how to network with family and friends, as well as examples of letters requesting job search help. Tips for Asking Friends and Family for Job Search Help The best way to reach out to family and friends is through an email or letter. Read below for advice on how to write the most effective letter. Be specific. Your friends and family will be able to help you better if you tell them what you are looking for. Are you hoping for job leads? Informational interviews? New contacts? Let them know what you want so that they can help you.Keep it short. Your letter should not be t oo long your friends and family are busy and will be more likely to read a shorter letter or email. You might even use bullet points or a list to make it easier to read.Attach your resume. You might attach a resume to your letter or email to provide more information to your friends and family. This will also allow you to keep your letter shorter. Send some personalized letters. If you have particular friends or family who you would like to ask a specific favor perhaps they work at a company you want to work for, or they have a contact you would like to meet send them individualized letters. This will increase your chances that those people will respond to you.Be patient. Its hard to be patient when youre job searching, but its important. Wait a couple of weeks or even a month before sending one short follow-up email. In this email, say you are still job searching, and would still appreciate the assistance. Avoid sounding frustrated or upset. Be thankful. Individually thank every p erson who offers you help with your job search. Even if their advice was not particularly helpful, you would want to express your gratitude. Who knows when you will need their job advice again? It is important to remain kind and considerate. Also, remember to offer your help when someone you know needs a new job. What to Include in Your Letter or schmelzglas You will want to include a brief, friendly introduction to your family and friends. After your introduction, explain that you are looking for a new job. Provide a very brief explanation of your background (a description of your last 1 3 jobs), your ideal job, and a list of 3 5 companies you would love to work for. You can include this information in paragraph form or in a list. After this, explain what specifically you are looking for from your family and friends, whether it is alerts on job openings, informational interviews, or something else. Conclude with a thank you to express your gratitude. In your signature, includ e contact information even if they are friend and family who know your contact information, it is still useful to include this. Sample Letter Asking Friends and Family for Job Search Help Dear friends and family,I hope all is well As many of you know, I have been working as a marketing assistant at XYZ Company in New York for the past four years.I am currently looking to relocate to Washington, D.C., and am searching for a new mid-level marketing job in the city.If you hear of any open positions in marketing (particularly within the nonprofit sector) or can think of any contacts you might be able to put me in anflug with, Id greatly appreciate hearing from you.Ive attached my resume Id appreciate any help you can offer.Thank you all so much I look forward to catching up with each of you soon.Best,Firstname LastnameEmailPhone ExpandSample Follow-up Letter Asking Friends and Family for Job Search Help Dear friends and family,I hope all is well Thank you so much for all the leads and a dvice you have sent me so far as I look for a new marketing job in Washington, D.C. (specifically within the non-profit sector).I just wanted to let you all know I am still looking for a job opportunity, so if you hear of any open positions, or can think of any contacts you might be able to put me in prise with, Id greatly appreciate hearing about them.Ive attached my resume once more Id appreciate it if you could show it to any contacts you have in the industry.Thank you againBest,Firstname LastnameEmailPhone ExpandSample Personalized Letter Asking for Job Search Help Dear Aunt Elizabeth,I hope you are doing well It was so nice to see you and Uncle Jim at the Christmas party last month.As I believe my mom told you, after three years working for XYZ Marketing Company in New York, I am moving to Washington, D.C. I am currently looking for a mid-level job in marketing, specifically within the non-profit sector.I remember you telling me that you are former colleagues of James McMartin of ABC Advertising Agency. Do you think you would be able to put us in touch? I would love to ask him for an informational interview. He is so experienced, and Id love to hear his advice about the marketing industry in D.C.Thank you so much in advance. Talk to you soonLove,First nameEmailPhone Expand

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Strategies to Improve Your Payroll Staffing

Strategies to Improve Your Payroll StaffingStrategies to Improve Your Payroll StaffingIts a hot job market now for accounting and finance professionals. This is great news if youre job-hunting - but leid so great if youre responsible for payroll staffing.The Robert Half Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals highlights payroll as one of next years in-demand areas. In particular, organizations seek experienced payroll managers, especially ones who have their CPP (Certified Payroll Professional). With plentiful job openings but not enough skilled payroll candidates, whats a hiring manager to do?Here are six ways to refine your recruiting strategies so you can take your payroll staffing to a higher level to attract and hire the professionals your company needs1. Know what skills you need in this roleUnless you plan to provide training, youre probably looking for someone with competencies in data entry, payroll processing software and systems. Excel expertise is in demand , and in some areas, multi-state and international payroll processing experience is a must.As Carlie Boese, an Accountemps branch manager, points out, payroll clerks and payroll managers must also possess the right soft skills, such as theseCustomer service - Payroll is one of the most thankless jobs out there. No one goes to the payroll department on pay day and thanks them for their check. They only hear about it if something goes wrongA solutions-oriented approach - When there is a problem or a complaint, you need someone with the right attitude who can take that issue and think, What can I do to solve this?Dependability and attention to detail - Payroll is a deadline-driven position that affects their coworkers livelihood, so error rates must be low.2. Offer above-average salariesIf youre having trouble recruiting skilled payroll professionals, the problem may lie with the wages. Compare what youre offering with the latest local averages, which you can find using the Salary G uide and our Salary Calculator.Lets say youre a manager in Las Vegas and need to hire a payroll supervisor. The salary midpoint for that role is $71,000. A candidate with less-than-typical experience may be willing to accept less than that, but not someone with a rich work history, CPP credential and stellar technical abilities. 3. Sweeten the deal with extrasMoney is not always the most important factor to a payroll job seeker, says Dora Onyschak, Robert Half metro market manager and vice president.Find out what is important to your top candidate, she suggests. Is it a flexible work schedule? An easygoing work culture? Extra time off? The ability to work from home? There are many nonmonetary benefits that an organization can offer to overcome not offering top dollar.Many payroll functions today are accessible via cloud-based platforms, which means staff dont need to be physically in the office 100 percen t of the time. The mora flexible your company can be with scheduling and work locations, the more job seekers will be tempted to say yes to your job offer and keep their motivation in the workplace.Also consider your overall compensation package. The typical insurance package - medical, dental, vision, life, disability - and retirement plan are the minimum. Can you offer more? Some companies are getting imaginative with benefits, ranging from pet insurance to sabbaticals.4. Search from multiple frontsCourtney Angelo, Accountemps senior staffing executive, says she recommends a variety of recruiting tactics to find qualified candidates, from posting job openings online to broadening your network of referrals. As Angelo suggests, Good people know good people.Other strategies shes used? Take advantage of your companys social media outlets, like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, to maximize your employer brand, advertise job openings and form relationships with potential candidates.Also , go passive. Many top-notch payroll professionals arent actively looking to move on but would be interested in finding out more about cool opportunities. To find these passive candidates, step up your networking efforts at seminars and professional conferences.You might even try recruiting from within. Who better to serve as your next payroll manager than your sharp payroll clerk? When you promote existing staff, you save significant time and resources otherwise spent on recruiting and training. Youre also creating an environment where excellence and hard work are rewarded, which boosts morale.5. Move faster with payroll staffingMost employers take their time when deciding who to bring onboard. After all, hiring the right people is important when the cost of a bad hire is high. But if you wait too long, your first choice may lose interest and accept another job offer.In Phoenix, where Angelo works, unemployment is at its lowest in 10 years, with job creation at its highest. Its not unusual for top talent to get multiple job offers, so she warns, Employers will lose out on top candidates if they drag their feet.One solution is to streamline the hiring process. Keep the committee on the small side so youll have fewer calendars to coordinate. Try to schedule all interviews over one or two days, using video conferencing if necessary, and then make a decision quickly. And rather than checking references and backgrounds before making a formal job offer, flip it around Make the offer contingent upon satisfactory checks.6. Use temporary professionalsYou need a new payroll clerk or manager either because someone has left or the company is growing. Either way, as long as that vacancy remains unfilled, existing employees have to pick up the slack. Taking on extra duties can lead to stress and wear down an otherwise-productive team.An interim payroll specialist can help you get through a rough patch. Another option is to bring in someone with a temp-to-hire strategy. Tha t way, you can quickly fill a vacancy without having to invest much in the way of time or effort. If the payroll worker proves to be an invaluable addition to your team, with the right skill set and the right fit, you can quickly offer a full-time position.Its a candidate market for accounting and finance professionals, especially when it comes to skilled payroll clerks and managers. So scrutinize your recruiting strategies, revamp them if necessary, and start landing the workers you need.Looking for temporary help in payroll to move your business forward? We can help.1.855.432.0924