13 Shocking Facts About Employee Engagement #WisdomWednesday

13 Shocking Facts About Employee Engagement #WisdomWednesday Taking a break from  work is necessary to keep any employee sane. The occasional Facebook browse, the slower-than-necessary trip to the kitchen for a coffee or the sporadic Im-on-a-beach daydream is totally normal. But when does this disengagement become a real issue? This infographic tells us the  disturbing truth about employee engagement and how it can effect your business. Takeaways: 88% of employees dont feel passionate about the work they do. This is a huge statistic. Its  very easy to  notice the difference between employees that are genuinely passionate about the work they do, and employees that are there simply to collect a pay check. 50% of adults work over 40 hours a week are employees feeling burned-out? Following on from the previous point 80% of employees would like to work fewer hours. Would  reduced hours  increase engagement and productivity? Let us know what you think in the comments below! 2/3 of todays employees feel overwhelmed. Do you? This infographic was crafted with love by Officevibe. RELATED: 5 Myths of Employee Engagement…Debunked! [INFOGRAPHIC]

5 Steps to Saving Your Tarnished Workplace Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Steps to Saving Your Tarnished Workplace Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I’ve written before about overcoming setbacks to your personal brand, but that piece specifically focused on your brand’s name. What about when your personal brand takes a hit in the workplace or in some way negatively impacts your career? This can be huge, and it’s something I’ve recently experienced myself. Bring some shine back to your personal brand 1. Determine where the problem originated Throughout January, I was interviewed multiple times by the Wall Street Journal about blacklisting. The result â€" and the reason I wanted to be interviewed in the first place â€" was a piece about how to get off a hiring manager’s blacklist. Unfortunately, my comments were severely misconstrued by many, leading to a public apology to my readers over on my blog. There was no question where the problem originated in my case â€" the article caused quite a backlash! But, if you find yourself in a similar situation in your workplace or career in general, you should first determine who or what lead to the negativity. 2. Reach out and request an in-person conversation If someone is tarnishing your personal brand whether rightfully so or otherwise, it is best to converse with them in person rather than other communication methods that could lead to further confusion and misrepresentation. Reach out, and hopefully they are mature enough to meet with you. 3. Ask for constructive feedback about what went wrong and what could be done to correct the mistake Again, be the bigger person, and ask for the individual’s feedback. What exactly happened? How did they perceive the situation? What was their advice for correcting the error? 4. Be willing to take the advice into consideration There are two sides to every story. Make sure you’re ready to hear whatever they have to say, regardless of whether or not you agree. Keep cool and don’t get defensive! That will only hurt you. 5. Follow through Whatever promises you make during this meeting, be sure you actually follow through with them. While these steps do not guarantee the individual will come around, you can at least feel more comfortable knowing you’ve done your due diligence to rectify the situation. Who else has had this experience? Has your brand ever been tarnished in the workplace? What did you do to correct the situation? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder president of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.

5 Steps to Become a Financial Trader - Classy Career Girl

5 Steps to Become a Financial Trader There are many ways to develop your career as a financial trader. From starting out in a full-time trading role for a financial company after finishing college, to making it on your own by learning how to trade in your spare time. You can become a financial trader by trading part-time and different routes will suit different lifestyles. Financial trading is an appealing career choice for many people. You can earn a good wage and many of the roles are full of exciting opportunities. However, it can take a lot of dedication and it requires certain skills and the right mindset. If you are determined and serious about becoming a financial trader, follow these five steps to turn your dreams into reality. 5 Steps to Become a Financial Trader 1. Conduct an Honest Self-Assessment Developing not just into a financial trader, but a successful one, has a number of requirements. You must conduct an honest self-assessment to ensure you meet all of  the criteria required to become a financial trader. Some of the most important skills to have include: Emotional control High level of focus Flexibility Analytical abilities Market knowledge Risk taker The role of a financial trader also involves long working hours, a lot of hard work and self-learning. If you are happy with these conditions and have the right mindset to put in the effort, then it can be a great career choice. If some of these skills or terms don’t apply or appeal to you, then becoming a financial trader will be incredibly difficult. 2. Learn the Markets Knowledge is power and to be a financial trader you need to know a lot. Everything from being aware of relatively obvious elements, such as trading hours and holidays, to knowing enough about the intricacies involved with pip movement, is required to ensure you make successful trades and investments. One option to get up to speed quickly is to learn forex at Fx Pro with the information available and free demo accounts. Practice is essential once you believe you have an acceptable amount of knowledge of the market. The best part is that you wont risk your own finances while practicing with demo accounts. Understanding all the different securities that can be traded and how other factors affect their prices should lead to more profits than losses in your future trading career. 3. Create a Trading Strategy A trading strategy or plan is essential for every financial trader, no matter what it is that you are investing in or trading. There are many different types of trading personalities, and along with the assets or commodities being focused on, this will affect the type of plan you create. Any professional trader will tell you that without one you are setting yourself up to fail. In order to create a personalized trading strategy, you need to decide on: Amount of starting capital. Entry and exit points. Maximum and minimum spends per trade (including leverage). Assets to trade. Maximum and minimum frequency of trades. This strategy will allow you to set appropriate stop losses for your needs. Your strategy can be adapted, improved and made more complex as you become more confident. 4. Set and Review Goals Every financial trader needs to have clear goals they are working towards to retain focus. From an overall aim to daily or weekly profit goals, being able to meet them will show how successful your trading career is going. In order to work out realistic goals, you will need to factor in the risk and reward ratios along with achievable profit margins. These should be reviewed daily at first, before spreading out to weekly and monthly reviews, showing where targets are being met and where they need to be adapted based on your trading performance. 5. Start Small When becoming a financial trader all on your own, even if you have plenty of starting capital, you should begin by taking small steps. Start out by making small trades and build up to put more money on the line when you begin to experience success. Once you have amassed a decent knowledge of the markets,  created a strategy and practiced making some successful practice trades on a demo account, you should be ready to begin your career as a financial trader. Good luck!

Great Leaders H.A.V.e What It Takes to Lead - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Great Leaders H.A.V.e What It Takes to Lead - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career People follow leaders for just one of two reasons. It is either because they have to, or because they want to. The difference is that leaders whose followers follow because they have to, apply position power. Position power is that granted them by their title in the organization and how it relates to those that are following them. Alternately, other leaders invest significant time and energy developing relationship power. The investment pays off with high levels of loyalty from their followers, who follow because they want to, not because they have to. The position power leaders invest little or no time developing the relationship because they don’t need to. In their mind they have a title and a position that allows them to dictate to get what they need from people, and often lead through fear and intimidation. For those that prefer to lead and influence through relationship power there are three specific traits worth developing, humility, authenticity and vulnerability (what I call the H.A.V.e strategy): Humility Humility is defined as the “quality or condition of being humble, modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance.” Many leaders believe projecting humility shows weakness or a lack of confidence and competence. This belief leads to the exact opposite, which becomes projecting arrogance. Humility, in the right dose and level, is an extremely powerful trait. Humility allows the leader to be open to feedback and to always look for ways to become an even better leader. Leading with humility also opens the door for the next trait, vulnerability. Vulnerability Vulnerability shows a leader is human and not perfect. Leaders that show their warts, share when and how they have failed, made mistakes, or made bad decisions, either in the past or in the moment, show their humility and humble personality. It takes tremendous personal strength, confidence and self-esteem for a leader to be humble enough to be open to showing some vulnerability. There is power in vulnerability because it leads to the trait that results directly in building the relationship power that creates deeply loyal followers, authenticity. Authenticity Part of the definition of authenticity is “genuine, real, reliable and trustworthy,” which is what leaders should be projecting. Position power leaders unwilling to be vulnerable project a false confidence that followers will see through, be uncomfortable with and will not trust. This makes loyalty impossible. They will create a compliance mindset in followers that get things done at only minimal levels. Leaders humble enough to be vulnerable will project an authenticity that is highly attractive. This authenticity creates a trust between the leader and his or her followers, developing a loyal bond and a commitment mindset that leads to high levels of performance. One caveat in applying this H.A.V.e leadership trait approach is that too much humility and vulnerability will not lead to authenticity, but rather a feeling of incompetence. So, applying the proper level of humility and vulnerability is important. This is more art than science. Yet, in over 30 years leading businesses I’ve found most leaders would do well to add more humility and vulnerability to their style, not less. What do you think? Leave a comment below and let’s start a conversation on the value of a leader’s ability to lead with humility, and vulnerability that creates an attractive authentic leader.

Tips For Writing a Good Volunteer Resume

Tips For Writing a Good Volunteer ResumeIt is well established that working for non-profit organizations that serve the needy communities is something that could be considered to be a very noble cause, therefore, for people who choose to volunteer, the work they do should not be overlooked by those who are interested in what they are doing. In this regard, it is important to have a good volunteering resume because your resume will be one of the first things that potential employers will see.Because there are no standard guidelines or criteria for someone who wants to work with a particular volunteer organization, you can be sure that your volunteering resume will reflect on your potential for success. The organization that you intend to work with may vary depending on the services you offer as well as the type of skills you have in helping others. Therefore, it is important that you have an accurate volunteering resume that will help you get hired.Because there are certain considerat ions you must remember when working with a volunteering organization, you should have the following on your volunteer resume. This is very important since the resume is not only going to be presented to potential employers, but your volunteer organization also needs to be aware of them. You should keep these points in mind before putting your volunteer resume together. They are:Volunteer experience - In order to get a job with an organization that seeks volunteers, you need to have volunteered before in the past. This will be important because it shows that you are dedicated to your work and that you can take initiative. It also shows that you are willing to learn new skills and take on new challenges. If you are an experienced person, your volunteering resume should highlight your prior work experiences.Volunteer experience - In order to get a job with an organization that seeks volunteers, you need to have volunteered before in the past. This will be important because it shows tha t you are dedicated to your work and that you can take initiative. It also shows that you are willing to learn new skills and take on new challenges.Volunteer service - This is another important factor that you should look at when creating your volunteering resume. A volunteer service agency will provide services to people who need assistance with different tasks such as food distribution, transportation, and other functions. If you were willing to help people with their needs, then you will be able to showcase your previous volunteering experience.Volunteering skills - Many people mistakenly believe that volunteering simply means spending time working in a place that is unrelated to your home. The truth is that volunteer work is different from regular work. For example, if you volunteered in a restaurant instead of working in the same restaurant, it would not mean that you were a good chef. Instead, it shows that you are good at service as well as customer relations.Keep in mind th at this volunteering resume should help your potential employer is impressed by your potential. They should be able to see that you are organized, responsible, and determined to help others. These are all great qualities that any employer will want to see in an employee.

The Three Core Ingredients of Writing a Resignation Letter

The Three Core Ingredients of Writing a Resignation Letter Letting your boss know that you’re leaving the company/organization is never a witty and ordinary conversation. However, a resignation letter written graciously can easily draw the difference between a stiff goodbye, and an opportunity for a long-term professional connection. In most cases, you submit your resignation letter two weeks before leaving the company. Such a letter officially announces your termination at the company besides providing important housekeeping information, like the last day of your service and other primary details. So if you have an impressive resignation letter, it assists you in ensuring a healthy conversation with your boss and a serene transition to your next venture. But how do you write a killer resignation letter? Writing a resignation letter is often a daunting task. And that’s the reason we’ve created a professional resignation letter template to help you kick off. Note that your letter has to be brief, and include only helpful and relevant information. Remember to be concise, specific and professional. Now let’s dive straight in! 1) The Fundamental of a Resignation Letter You don’t have to get innovative or sugarcoat your boss in the beginning. Simply state the position you’re resigning from along with the effective date. You must have talked to your boss and shared the reasons for quitting; however, you don’t need to elucidate them here. Keeping it simple is the most viable option. Sir/Ma’am,                                       Kindly accept this letter as a formal notification of my resignation from my position as (title of your position) with (Name of company/organization). My last working day will be (mention the day and date). 2) Thank You Note It’s always a brilliant idea to thank your employer for the opportunity while describing some of the key takeaways from the job. And yes, this holds true even if you’re excited to quit your current company. Remember that you may require the help of these people for reference down the line. Furthermore, leaving things on a positive note can leave a lasting impression. Thank you so much for the opportunity to work for the past (mention duration). I appreciate the opportunities I’ve had (mention responsibilities you’ve enjoyed), and learned (specific things you’ve learned during your service), all of which I will take with through my entire career. Finally, I wish you all the best and look forward to staying in touch. 3) The Hand-Off This is the final stage and has to be executed graciously. State your willingness to assist with the transition. You don’t have to dive into all the intricacies and not promise something which you can’t deliver. However, write a couple of lines ensuring an unwrinkled wrap-up of your duties and show that you’ll be in the game until the very end. As mentioned above, the hand-off needs to be two weeks before quitting. During my last two weeks at (company name), I’ll put my best foot forward to wrap up my responsibilities and train other members of my team. I’d be grateful if you could kindly let me know anything else to assist the transition. I wish you all the very best and thanks for the loads of opportunities given to me. Sincerely, (Your name) Below is an example of a resignation letter you can follow: Michael Miller, Senior Sales Manager, 150 Rachel Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43004 May 17, 2019 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF RESIGNATION Sir, With this letter, I hereby announce my resignation from the position of Sales Manager for CITI Ventures, effective May 31, 2019. It has been a great pleasure working with the entire team over the past five years. I would like to thank you for providing me the opportunity to be a part of creating some top-notch products, grow our sales team and working with fellow colleagues. In particular, I’ve learned a lot on marketing strategy in the digital marketing space, which I will take with me through my entire career. I’ll work to your advantage in wrapping up my duties and train other team members over the next two weeks. You will have my full commitment to ensure a smooth transition. Please let me know if there’s anything else assist the process. Sincerely, Mark Ashley Feel free to adjust based on your company culture and your experience, and submit it via the typical procedures at your place of work. And if you decide to return to your company (it happens), it’s remarkable that the last one thing on your file is your professionally written meticulous resignation letter.

5 tips for your video job interview

5 tips for your video job interview Welcome to the era of the video interview. Companies are increasingly using Skype, FaceTime or other apps to avoid the expense of ferrying promising job candidates to and from headquarters as part of the vetting process. When you boil it down, it’s similar to auditioning for an acting role â€" the way you look and how you respond to the unexpected (on camera) can make or break whether you get the part. In a recent Robert Half survey, senior managers recounted some funny video interview bloopers (you’ll seriously want to avoid these) and offered some helpful pointers, the most critical of which are: Be sure to do the interview in a place free of distraction and look your best with professional attire. the right way to approach a video interview with some practical dos and don’ts. Let’s focus on: 1. Do rehearse (and dress) the part It goes without saying that you’ll want to be punctual in taking the call, but also able to roll with the unexpected (we’ll get back to this point shortly). Before the interview, try to minimize pre-interview jitters and tech glitches. Test your technology and, if possible, rehearse with a friend. At minimum, record yourself and listen or watch. Get to a point where you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Sit up tall. Look lively. Smile. Use hand gestures. Avoid overhead lighting. Maintain eye contact with the webcam. Speak naturally as if the interviewer were sitting across the table from you. Wardrobe note: Choose an outfit that projects confidence. During your video interview trial run, make sure clothing patterns aren’t distracting from your presentation. 2. Do your homework Unlike an actor’s audition, the job interview is not a time for improvisation. You’ll want to learn as much as possible about the company and the position. Review the job description. Read the company’s website, glance at reviews on Glassdoor, and research the company using the “news” button on Google or your favorite search engine. If you know the name of the interviewing manager, look at his or her LinkedIn profile. Practice video interview questions during your “audition” with a friend. Be prepared with brief stories about how you performed in previous positions, and for the probable job interview question, “Tell me about a time when you … .” Ask your friend for an honest critique about your performance. 3. Don’t forget: Keep it simple Avoid talking too much, or too little. If you do nothing else, be sure to cite examples of how you’ve delivered results in past roles, and explain how you’d be a great fit with the company culture you’ve researched. By now, you’ve already practiced maintaining eye contact with the camera, smiling, and speaking clearly and with confidence. When in doubt, remember my law of threes: For every question, say no more than three short things, then stop talking. (Too often we babble too much in interviews). If the interviewer wants to know more, she will ask. 4. Don’t dwell on it if you stumble If you happen to misstate the recruiter’s name or make another gaffe, apologize, compose yourself, and proceed with the task at hand. To err is human. The manner in which you recover will matter more than dwelling on your mistake. 5. Do be flexible, whatever the environment In an ideal world, you’d be able to do the video interview from the comfort of your home office. The fact of the matter is, not many of us have that luxury, and recruiters today know this and are willing to accommodate unconventional video settings. If you must take the interview from your car, or at a coffee bar on your lunch break, or before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. because you’re concerned your boss might find out, most employers will understand as long as you do it with poise and professionalism. To recap, you’ll want to have worked out all the kinks before the video interview. Test your technology beforehand, make sure pets are out of earshot, children and spouses know not to disturb you, alarms and notifications are set to silent and, of course, dress appropriately â€" from head to toe. And don’t forget to send a handwritten thank-you note and â€" please â€" spell the recruiter or hiring manager’s name correctly. With a little preparation, you’ll be set to nail your next video interview. Good luck!