12 Ways to Look After Laid-off Employees (on a Budget)

12 Ways to Look After Laid-off Employees (on a Budget) Making employees redundant is never easy.  If you are keen to  keep your reputation and PR in tact and  look after the  staff  who have worked hard to achieve their and your  business  goals here are a few pointers to help you do so on a budget. 1.  Help them market themselves Provide them with training in the key areas of presentation. I would suggest as a minimum CV advice, Interview training and  LinkedIn  training.  If your budget can be extended how about social media training with regards to job seeking and research, cover letter advice, salary negotiating, how to find a job quicker and how to stand out as a candidate.  Could  an in house employee do this?  Or could you outsource  this and ask  someone to come and speak to them? 2.  Thank them Personally thank every one of the people that you need to let go. Why not send them a personal letter as a recent client did  with excellent results. You could send a personalised present or gift for example What to do next? (Available on Amazon) with the letter to thank them. 3.  Additional skills training There are good platforms out there that could help.  LinkedIn  for example  has  LinkedIn  learning, which  has  over 9,000  courses that  can develop talent and keep skills current.  Organisations  can buy  into  a  package, which  will allow their redundant employees access to these courses.  There are government courses that you could look into and individual IT skills courses that various companies run. Perhaps ask your exiting staff which training would be most relevant and useful for them and the correct level so that the assistance is targeted and not wasted. 4.  Coaching Rather than buying into a big outplacement package where people are provided with a number of sessions of coaching why not tailor it to what they need. Match the coach and employee  personality wise  and also the specific coaching requirement to who is best to deliver it.  Again ask those who are being let go what they need and tailor it. 5. Facilitate introductions Can you approach  a  similar or connected company  that may need to employ the kind of candidates you are letting go? Is your organisation part of an umbrella of organisations, do you have any sister companies or offices abroad? Do any of your network run similar organisations who you could approach? Or have you seen any companies advertising recently that you could approach? 6. Tap up your network Can you utlise your network and make some introductions for those you  have  to let go? Even if the answer to the above (number 5 point) is no do you have any useful connections or contacts that might help your employees in the future. Perhaps look through your LinkedIn contact list for this. 7.  Agencies Can you talk to the agencies that you have used to recruit staff in the past and ask them to help those that are now looking for work. Use these relationships. Could you invite them in to speak to the group? They should be very happy to assist you. Some may even have some opportunities for your exiting staff or offer IT skills training. 8.  LinkedIn Would it be an idea to ask a LinkedIn employee to come in and speak to those you are letting go. To talk through their linked in premium, their job search app and other techniques on looking for work.   In my last company someone came in to see us and spoke through their recruitment package so maybe you could combine the meeting with a chat with you first for future needs? 9. Write your staff testimonials and references These could be done on  LinkedIn  as testimonials or endorsements  or in written form if your company policy allows it.  This should really help them moving forward. 10.  Movement Are there any opportunities to hire some of the redundant employees on a temporary or part time basis to assist you with overflow work whilst they look for their next position? 11. Mentoring Could you offer a months mentoring for those that you are letting go and perhaps assign some senior staff to be an exiting sounding board? Boundaries will need to be put in place on this as as to not over run their time, however perhaps it would be a nice gesture to offer them and show you care. 12. Doing things differently Can you communicate with them as their boss leader that you want to do things differently and that you care about their well being. Communication at the early stages I think is key. Being open and transparent about the process and how you are going to help them moving forward. The leader of the company being involved in this message will have added impact. About the author: Charlotte Billington is a Career Coach. Last year she wrote the book What to do Next?  which is a self awareness practical exercise book which has proved very helpful for those found in a redundancy situation on a budget.  

Does Resume Now Free Really Work?

Does Resume Now Free Really Work?Would you be interested in checking out the HR Toolkit that I developed called 'Resume Now Free' to make it easier for you to send your resume today? When the recession hit, the world's largest employers either closed or were forced to downsize their staffing capabilities, so they didn't have as many resumes to process.This left many people in a rut. If you know how to submit a resume, you could be in a very good position, but if you want a decent and career-oriented job today, you are going to need to improve your skills and your portfolio. The most obvious of those skills that you will need to work on is your resume.So how can you help yourself by submitting your resume today? Well, you are going to want to start by reading the large database of listings that I have made available for you on my website. Once you read through the database, there will be opportunities to submit your resume to dozens of employers. I find that these lists are always upd ated, so that means that you won't even have to go anywhere else to do this.Then you'll want to take the training offered in the HR Toolkit by visiting a local job training institute and receiving training on using the database. If you want to get into more advanced skills such as creating bullet points and writing a cover letter, then you can attend a job training course that will give you all of the tools and training that you need to be successful. However, if you are a complete beginner, you may want to start with the basic tools and training that I offer on my website.To be able to make sure that your resume is complete, you will need to have a cover letter that lists all of your qualifications. After you submit your resume, you will also need to make sure that your cover letter gets forwarded to each employer. In this way, you can make sure that the employer sees your contact information and knows what you have to offer.It is recommended that you always list your specific acco mplishments and skills as you progress on your career path. For example, if you are currently an assistant manager, you may list all of the positions that you have held, rather than listing all of the titles that you have held. In addition, in your career summary, you will need to list any jobs that you have done that require special training and expertise.Finally, you may want to use your cover letter to list your business skills and experience that can help to land you the job. You may also want to list your hobbies and educational achievements as these are also important things that can help you land the job.There are many tips that can be found in the HR Toolkit that you can find on my website. Check them out and you should be able to make the most of your resume submission.

Applying Through Job Boards - Effect On Personal Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Applying Through Job Boards - Effect On Personal Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When you apply to a job through a job board, how does it affect your personal brand? Do you think that applying through a job board makes you look like a superior candidate? Most candidates dont think that it makes a difference how they apply for a job because hiring managers hire the most qualified candidates, right? If thats what you think, its time to wake up and smell the coffee. It didnt use to matter, when there were candidate shortages. Employers were so starved for candidates who had minimum skills that it didnt matter how you applied for the job. That changed in 2007 when skilled candidate shortages turned into job shortages and it still applies today. Today it definitely makes a difference how you apply for a job, because how you apply affects your personal brand. 7 ways a job board application affects your personal brand: You brand yourself as poorly connected: If you were connected, you would have gone through your connections to get introduced to the hiring manager. When applying through a job board, you give the first impression that you dont know anyone in the company and that you have few (or no) industry connections. Recruiters, HR reps and hiring managers dont view job board applications as their first choices for many reasons, including that the company isnt your first choice if it was your first choice, you would have invested the time to build company and industry relationships, creating necessary introductions to the hiring manager. You brand yourself as timid: Some employees create their own opportunities and build their own doors. When you apply through a job board, rather than building your own doors, youre waiting for one to appear. Employers looking for a can-do, self-starting candidate rarely find those attributes through job boards. You dont brand yourself as a creative problem solver: As a job seeker, the first problem youre trying to solve is getting through HR and getting the hiring managers attention. Applying through job boards isnt a creative way to solve this problem. Since nearly everyone tries to solve it, you make it tough to stand out by using the same approach. Instead, by networking your way to the hiring manager, you give the impression that you can think out of the box to find creative solutions. You brand yourself as unexcited about that specific opportunity: Recruiters, HR reps and hiring managers expect that the candidates who are really excited about the opportunity offered will find a way to get themselves introduced to the hiring manager. It takes effort to network your way to a hiring manager, only those candidates who are truly excited about the opportunity take the time to build (or find existing) connections to the hiring manager. You brand yourself as passive, not active: When you apply through job boards, you approach reaching a hiring manager in a passive way. Because job board applications are passive, by design. Think about it when you apply through a job board, you send in your resume and then wait. This is one reason why few hiring managers, recruiters or HR reps appreciate it when youve applied via job board (passive) and then try to follow up via phone/email (active). You brand yourself as a follower, not a leader: When you apply through a job board, the entire process is following instructions even though you know the instructions are dysfunctional and inefficient for everyone involved. So you look like someone who can follow instructions, rather than someone who will take charge and improve inefficient processes. You brand yourself as a plan B candidate, at best: Plan A candidates are applicants the hiring manager already knows: Internal transfers, past employees and people who have networked their way to the hiring manager. The hiring manager bases the job requirements on plan A candidates. Hiring managers choose job board candidates when their budgets are too low to snag their plan A candidates, when they cant convince plan A to leave their old jobs, when they cant arrange an internal transfer, or the plan A candidate doesnt pass background screening. Then they look at candidates from job boards or who applied through the companys website plan B. You can make the best impression, or just an average impression its your choice. So now that you can see how your application method brands you will you choose to be an A candidate? Or the candidate considered when plan A doesnt work second choice. Author: Phil Rosenberg is President of http://www.reCareered.com, a leading job search information website and gives complimentary job search webinars at http://ResumeWebinar.com. Phil also runs the Career Central group, one of Linkedin’s largest groups for job seekers and has built one of the 20 largest personal networks on Linkedin globally.

Out Of The Office And Into The Snow With Whimsical Winter Vacations

Out Of The Office And Into The Snow With Whimsical Winter Vacations Long hours, stressful schedules and too much work often result in a feeling of burn out before the end of the year. Why not recharge your batteries with a whimsical winter vacation jam-packed with cool ice and fresh snow? Turn the out of office’ on and switch off your work brain. It’s time to experience winter the real way. Santa Claus in Lapland This is one of the most whimsical trips in the world if you have children and love the spirit of Christmas. The jingling bells of reindeer, the promise of Christmas and a magical winter wonderland all await in Lapland. And it is of course home to the ever elusive Santa Claus. A holiday to Lapland brings back all the traditions of Christmas wrapped up on one big bewitching experience.   As you cross the Arctic Circle, you’ll arrive at your chosen hotel or cabin surrounded by snowy forests. You’ll be able to go tobogganing, make snowmen, enjoy a snowmobile safari and take a Northern Lights tour. Children will love the husky and reindeer sled rides. Children will squeal in wonder as the get to meet Santa’s elves, visit their Igloo workshop and see some incredible ice sculptures. You’ll also get a private meeting with the man himself (that’s Father Christmas if you hadn’t guessed)! Skiing in Mont Tremblant If skiing and snowboarding are your thing, why not escape to Mont Tremblant in Canada this winter? This world-class ski destination has all you need for a whimsical winter vacation. Tremblant chalet rentals will give you a true home-away-from-home feel where you can kick back and relax in style. Blue skies, fresh snow and experiences such as dog sledding, ice skating and snowmobiling. It’s the perfect place to rejuvenate the soul.   Mont Tremblant has some of the best slopes in North America. So if your idea of awesome winter fun is practising a few of your show-stopping jumps, this is the vacation for you. The Scandinavian style pedestrian village will ensure you forget all the stresses of home. And you can also enjoy Alpine touring, après ski, first tracks and snow-shoeing. Get refreshed this winter and jump right into this superlative snowy destination. Glaciers And Icebergs In Greenland For the ultimate Nordic experience why not escape to Greenland this winter? If you are looking for something amazing, spellbinding and truly different, this is the vacation for you. An enormous ice sheet covers most of this incredible destination. That means you can get up close and personal to some awe-inspiring glaciers and icebergs. You can drive, sail or take a helicopter ride up to the glaciers from most towns in Greenland. And it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The scenery here is outstanding and will take your breath away. It’s the perfect place to connect with the wonders of nature. Sailing among the glaciers is an out-of-this-world journey. You can sail through these shimmering forces of nature on both day and evening tours. You can also hike up to the top of an Ice Cap and for the very brave, you can camp overnight on one too. If you want a mind-blowing winter holiday, Greenland is the place for you. Images: Reindeer   Snowfield   Iceberg

Writing a Successful Resume and Cover Letter

Writing a Successful Resume and Cover LetterIf you want to write a successful resume dealing with writing, one of the most important things that you need to consider is what type of writing you will be doing. The two main types of writing are resume writing and cover letter writing.Resume writing is a process that involves a lot of detailed preparation, such as proofreading and rewriting. It also includes choosing a professional writer to be your professional and personal writer. When you choose a professional writer, the writing for your resume should be free from grammatical errors.Cover letter writing is about establishing a personal connection between yourself and the company. With your cover letter, you are going to introduce yourself to the employer. The letter is also used to answer questions that the company may have in regards to your qualification and qualifications. When writing a cover letter, the first thing that you need to consider is what to include and what not to in clude.Include the most personal information possible, including your personal experience, education, and work history. You should also include your skills and hobbies. The last thing that you need to include is your contact information. This can include your telephone number and email address.You do not want to overwhelm the employer with information because it may cause him or her to become confused about your expertise. This can make you appear ignorant and unprofessional. You should also be aware that there are some things that should not be included on your resume and cover letter.The most common mistakes when writing a resume and cover letter is leaving out any important information, such as tax records, court cases, credit checks, job experience, financial records, etc. All of these things should be considered when writing a resume and cover letter, as they are crucial to the success of your job search.Another mistake that is made when writing a resume and cover letter is usin g the wrong format. The letter that you write should be written as if it were an interview. If you do not know what this means, it means that you should not focus on your qualifications and skills, but rather focus on your accomplishments and achievements.A good way to avoid mistakes when writing a resume and cover letter is to seek the advice of a professional writing service. Such a service will review all of your content and make sure that you are following the proper format. They will also suggest how to properly use specific words and phrases in order to create the right impression about you.

Labor Market and Robotics. What Awaits Us [Guest Post] - Career Pivot

Labor Market and Robotics. What Awaits Us [Guest Post] - Career Pivot Labor Market and Robotics Copyright: nmcandre / 123RF Stock Photo A rapid development of technology brings us lots of advantages. High-tech devices have become so smart that now they’re able to aid us in many ways. Lost your phone? No worries because now you can easily track it. Need to write something down, but don’t have a notebook and a pen? Your phone is here for you! And you even don’t have to tap on the screen, just say what you need and your phone will write it down. For sure, our lives have become easier and comfy. There are lots of things we don’t have to worry about anymore. But what if such rapid development of technology will actually deprive us of one thing we cannot exist without â€" our job? What if robots will eventually replace us at the workplace? While in some countries fast development of robotics has solved in labor market, people still wonder whether they eventually lose their job to robots or not. For sure, robots perform better and faster, they’re tireless, but still very expensive. But when money is not an issue anymore, which jobs robots will take over first? Here are 7 jobs which are likely to be taken by robots in the nearest future. For More:Beware Automation and Robots Will Sabotage Your Career Electricians and Plumbers There’s no doubt that first jobs that robots will take over are connected with household support. There will be no need in hiring people to carry out electrical reticulation or fix pipes in your bathroom. Nowadays there are many robotic supplies for people of these professions already. And when robots will replace human electricians and plumbers is only a matter of time. For More:Will Technology Replace Your Job? Probably! [Infographic] Surveying and Mapping Technicians It may be any technician really. Surveying and mapping technicians already feel that they’re losing because robots determine the accuracy of their work. For sure, people of these professions will lose their jobs someday, because robots will perform their duties better and more accurately. Besides, such aspects of this profession as mining and underground survey can definitely put human life in danger. So why not just replace these people with robots and stop risking their lives? For More:Surviving Creative Destruction in the 2nd Half of Life Listen to the most recent episode Construction Workers This is yet another profession that will be taken over by robots. Construction works are very dangerous and sometimes may lead not only to physical health problems but also to some mental health issues. Every year construction market develops and implements new high-tech aids in construction technology. Robotics helps constructors in any way possible to make their job less difficult and dangerous. But what if this good helping hand will eventually turn into a hand taking thousands of jobs away from builders and engineers? There’s no doubt about that. For More:Living in a “Career Disaster Area” at the Age of 65 IT Developers and Office Machine Repairers Yes, this is true. Jobs that are so highly paid today will be among those first ones to be taken by robots. Recently people got in some sort of euphoria, thinking that work in software development will make them rich and secure them for life. But with rapid technological development, anything is possible, really. And it’s not so hard to program a robot to write a code. Or take office machine repairers for instance. People desperately need their help nowadays, when it comes to a broken computer or fax machine. But like electricians and plumbers, people who come to our home or office to fix our computer will undoubtedly be eventually replaced by quick and smart robots that will fix our devices in no time. For More:Repurpose Your Career â€" Next Up: The Second Half of Life [Podcast] Financial Analysts People have already started to understand the value of technology when it comes to financial issues. It all started with the invention of the calculator, and even those are not of a big help nowadays, because we all have our computers. But where’s the evidence that people themselves won’t be replaced by robots? They’re already better accountants and financial analysts than we are. So we only have to accept the fact that this will happen sooner or later. For More:How to Protect Your Career from Future Extinction, Now [Video] Receptionists and Personal Assistants If you’re tired of constant paperwork and a needy boss who calls you at night asking to solve some issues, then you’ll probably be happy for a robot to take your job. No doubt that robots will eventually replace human assistants and receptionists. There are many companies that prefer robots to do this job, rather than humans. So if you’re a personal assistant or a receptionist, you’d better ask for a promotion or start looking for another job. For More:How to Move Abroad and Take Your Job With You Waiters and Waitresses For people, who have faced bad service at the restaurants and cafes, this will be a major excitement. But for those, who earn their extra money while studying at the university or those, who’ve always worked in this sphere, this news will become the major disappointment. It’s already happening in China, and who knows, maybe it will soon happen all over the world. It’s just a matter of time. But there’s no doubt that robot won’t spill soup all over your new shirt or dress. As you can see, there’s a lot of evidence that eventually robots will replace us at our workplaces. But are we ready for this though? Now is the time when we need to start thinking about the future of the humankind and to assess risks of rapid technological development. For sure, now it seems like a fairy tale we live in. But what will it turn into in several decades? No one knows for sure. This post was written by Tom Jager. Tom is a professional blogger and works atAwriter.He has degree in Law and English literature. Tom has written numerous articles/onlinejournals. You can reach him atG+orFacebook. Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? 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Summary Sunday Fresh Job Search Strategies for 2018

Summary Sunday Fresh Job Search Strategies for 2018 Were already a month into the new year, hows your job search going? Refresh your job search and apply some new strategies. Fresh job search strategies include submitting an ATS-friendly resume, a robust LinkedIn profile, and taking a proactive approach to your job search. All these are spelled out in the articles I shared this week on social media. They did so well, Im featuring them here. JOB SEARCH Avoid the Resume Black Hole With These Tips by Amanda Augustine | TopResume Not getting contacted after you submit your resume? Are you putting your contact info in a header? Are you  using fancy fonts or charts? Common typos can even hurt your chances. Learn how to easily fix common resume mistakes. Are You CHASING or BEING CHASED by Employers? by Will Thomson | Bullseye Recruiting In this article, Will talks about how defeated he felt during his job search. Most job seekers feel this way. Its a painful  process. He shares four things you can do to shift your job search strategy and feel like you have more control. LINKEDIN 10 Quick Hit Tips to Get Your LinkedIn Profile 2018 Ready! by Donna Serdula | LinkedIn Makeover Your LinkedIn profile is too important to ignore! If its been awhile since updated it, use these 10 tips to spiff up your profile! CAREER A Side Hustle Can Enhance Your Career by  Caroline Dowd-Higgins | Huffington Post Call it a gig, extra-income or testing your entrepreneurial savvy. Its crazy to put all your eggs in one basket (one job). Explore some of the options in this article. At the very least, give the idea of a side hustle some thought! Career 101: General Skills You Must Polish to Succeed [Infographic] by YouTern How well have you mastered these skills?  These will make you a  better employee, a better team member, and a better choice for the job. by ResumePrime

What to Do About Gaps in Your Resume

What to Do About Gaps in Your Resume This is probably one of the most common questions job seekers face when creating a new resume. The traditional chronological resume can be daunting when there is a gap in employment. Knowing that you will have to explain the gap during an interview can  be even more daunting. No worries!   There are several ways to deal with this problem, and any expert resume writer can easily communicate your value regardless of whether or not youve been unemployed for a period of time. Employers understand that there are numerous, legitimate reasons job candidates have gaps in their employment records. You might have taken time away from work to pursue  an advanced degree, care for a sick family member, or even raise a family. No matter the reason,  its best to use a resume format that will highlight your skills and downplay these gaps. Remember that just because you were not officially working, it doesnt mean that you were idle and learning nothing. You want to play up these points as much as possible without focusing on the periods when you were not employed. A closely related issue is where someone has had many jobs in a short period of time. This can make a candidate look unreliable when printed on a resume. Again, a resume that highlights skills over chronological employment is normally the best fit. Its not uncommon for freelancers, technical support personnel, and other contract workers to have been contracted by  several employers during a short period of time. What is important is making sure that your resume shows the expertise and skills you learned, as well as what accomplishments youve  achieved in each job. The best resume writers will focus the  reader on  a candidates skills and expertise, to the point that gaps and/or short contract jobs become a non-issue. If you are writing your own resume, you need to do the same. If you are having your resume professionally created, discuss the matter thoroughly with the writer and make sure that the best possible version of  YOU shines through in the final product.