The Importance of Appraisals

The Importance of Appraisals An effective appraisal and performance management process can have a significant impact on an organisation’s culture, staff morale and employee engagement levels â€" all of which enhance employer brand and support the retention of key talent within a business. There is debate as to whether traditional appraisal systems are still effective for the needs of an evolving workforce. Organisations such as Deloitte have announced that they are moving towards more ongoing discussions and feedback with employees. Whether its traditional six-month reviews and appraisals, or ongoing one-to-ones and performance catch ups, the important element is that there is a clear and consistent approach to performance management and reviews. A commitment to having appraisal conversations with employees can help to improve the bottom line by aligning individual performance with business objectives. It also supports the creation of a more people-focused culture and an environment in which employees will want to stay, progress and thrive. Employee recognition and rewards Appraisals provide the opportunity to recognise and reward employees and to ensure they feel valued for the work that they do. By monitoring performance and progress against objectives employers can assess whether to reward staff with salary increases, promotions or bonuses. It’s also a chance to say thank you and to provide verbal feedback and praise. Rewarding any successes highlighted doesn’t have to be financial. Although money still holds considerable importance, and salaries should be regularly reviewed to ensure they remain competitive and in line with performance, simple and sincere acknowledgements still go a long way towards maintaining employee engagement. New challenges and clear objectives Organisations with a great workplace culture are ones where employees feel a real sense of belonging. They understand what the organisation is trying to achieve, are inspired by its mission and values and recognise how their role plays a part in achieving overall success. The discussions which take place during appraisal meetings will help employees to understand how the individual objectives set for them will play a part in the wider business plan. This helps to give employees a sense of ownership within the collective vision and to empower them to achieve the results needed. It’s also a great opportunity to regularly review objectives and to provide ongoing challenges to ensure employees remain motivated by new goals and experiences. Continued progression and development Organisations which provide clear progression opportunities are attractive to new recruits and are more likely to be able to retain talented employees by mapping out a career path for them. Regularly looking at performance will help to identify when employees are ready to take on more responsibility. Setting aside the time to discuss an employee’s individual ambitions will also help organisations to spot and develop potential talent and build a strong succession pipeline. Culture of trust and openness In today’s fast paced business world, it’s more important than ever to maintain a meaningful, two-way dialogue with employees to help keep talented people within your organisation. One of the key enablers for achieving employee engagement is to ensure that employees have a voice and appraisal and performance review meetings can help to fuel discussion and empower staff to share their opinions. They will feel encouraged to influence innovation by feeding ideas upwards and the relationship which develops from open communication within appraisal systems will help employees to feel more able to approach and discuss any ideas or issues outside of these meetings as well. Support and training Open discussions on performance can help to identify any problems early and provides the opportunity to explore positive solutions. Managers can look at what additional training and support could be provided to enable the employee to achieve results which they would feel proud of. High performing employees can be supported with further training to help them to progress to the next level in their careers. Prevention of long-term dissatisfaction Issues can usually be nipped in the bud before they escalate to the point of someone leaving if they can be raised through appraisal meetings. It is a great opportunity for an employee to raise any worries or concerns, or to discuss any barriers which they feel are holding them back. Taking the time to listen to employees and address any concerns helps to create a happier workforce and will continue to fuel a culture of openness and trust. Supporting staff to deliver an effective appraisal system For appraisals and performance communications to work to best effect, managers need to feel effectively equipped to provide regular feedback and ongoing performance management. Investing in training for managers to able to deliver effective performance appraisals with an authentic approach is a worthwhile investment. Maintaining a natural management style will help them to foster the trust and respect needed to build open and transparent relationships and developing skills such as active listening and performance assessment will help to ensure a constructive appraisal system is in place.

How To Find The Career Path That Works Best For You

How To Find The Career Path That Works Best For You Choosing a career path can be extremely easy or incredibly difficult. It all depends on how well you know what it is that you want to do from the very start. Some kids say that they want to be fire fighters when they grow up, and then they grow up and actually become fire fighters. However most people realize that their childhood dreams aren’t really what they want to do in life. There are so many career options that it’s understandable how the choice can be a tough burden. Jobs range from highly corporate suit and tie jobs to work from home jobs, and it’s your job to find the right one for you. If you want to learn more about work from home jobs, check over here. That being said, here are some tips on how to find the best career path for you. Take into consideration what it is that makes you happy It’s incredibly important to love what you do. You surely know the saying: If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. That couldn’t be truer, but often times people don’t realize they can take their passions and transform them into lucrative businesses. Don’t forget to assess your realistic skills Doing what you love is great and all, but you need to be real with yourself and thoroughly assess what it is that you’re good at as well. For example, you might love music and would like to follow a singing career but if your pipes just aren’t made for singing, it’s not going to be quite successful or even enjoyable. Take a test that will help you answer the previous questions Sometimes it can be as easy as asking yourself, then surprisingly finding out that you had the answer all along. But it’s not always the case and those who can’t seem to find the answers themselves might need to look at some career tests. The way in which these tests help you is by asking all the correct questions, guaranteeing a somewhat satisfying answer at the end. Even if it turns out the test results aren’t to your liking, they can be a good pointer in the general direction. Learn from others and seek career experiences It can be a lot of help to actually start working towards a career when trying to find the right one for you. You shouldn’t be afraid to internship at different firms and see how you would fair in the environment of that particular business. Use online resources to explore employment possibilities or for a guide to job applications.  Additionally, you could try finding someone that can teach you the ways of a specific practice. That might give you more insight on how much you would enjoy doing it every day for a living.

4 Ways to Earn The Respect You Deserve As a Woman In The Workplace - Classy Career Girl

4 Ways to Earn The Respect You Deserve As a Woman In The Workplace We’ve come a long way since the days of the suffragettes (thankfully). Women have the right to vote, drive a car, and wear trousers. We can even open a bank account on our own. These are heady times. Jokes aside, while it’s good to remember how far we’ve come, it’s equally important to recognize that there’s still progress to be made. Being a female entrepreneur in today’s world is easier than it once was, but while your gender is no longer an impediment, the old boys’ club is still a thing. Granted, for the most part, it’s not malicious. However, that doesn’t detract from the fact that judgment according to gender rather than merits is incredibly frustrating. I’ve run my own communications agency since 2008 and during that time have had occasion to meet with a great many businessmen and women. The one thing I’ve realized is that, as a woman in business, sooner or later you’re going to find yourself face to face with old school sexism. The attitude is usually not intended to be condescending (that’s just how some guys roll), but that’s no excuse and you need to know how to deal with it. We’ve all been there. You’re in a business meeting and the men talk over you, or worse, they only stop their banter long enough to ask if you’re planning to quit work when you have kids. The easy way out is to keep quiet or laugh it off. We women are hardwired not to cause a fuss, after all. It might be uncomfortable, but don’t just accept this kind of behavior. It’s your career we’re talking about, and it deserves to be taken seriously, as do you. Taking a stand takes guts, but it gets easier the more you do it. Trust me. For now, these four pointers will help. 4 Ways to Earn The Respect You Deserve As a Woman In The Workplace 1. Dress For Success Wouldn’t it be great if men judged us on character instead of wardrobe? Sadly, this is not the case. While men can get away with wearing jeans and hoodies and still be taken seriously, women cannot. We need to find a balance between business and feminine. For us, casual isn’t an option. If you want your employees to treat you like the boss, you need to dress like one. That’s not to say you have to suit up  nor does it mean dressing in a way that makes you uncomfortable. Dressing for success is not the same as dressing to impress. As a female entrepreneur with her own company â€" you’re already impressive. Go for something that depicts you as confident and professional, but that’s also you. 2. Let Them Know Who’s in Charge It doesn’t happen every time, but I’ll often arrive at a client meeting with an employee and be ignored or spoken to in a condescending tone while they direct all business questions at my staff member just because he’s male. It’s annoying, but not entirely surprising. Female entrepreneurs might be ubiquitous in some circles, however, in certain industries we’re still very much the novel minority. Men have dominated the enterprise and commerce arena for centuries and as such, many of them have been conditioned to only view other men as equals. Talking to your staff members instead of you is the result of an unconscious bias. Normally, pointing this out will leave them suitably embarrassed. In this instance, a subtle correction should suffice. Occasionally they’ll carry on regardless (maybe they’re stubborn or maybe their bias is deeper than you initially realized). Whatever the case, it’s time to correct them with a little more force. If they try to call you bossy to downplay their actions, take it as a compliment. You are the boss, after all! Don’t back down. Getting to where you are has taken a lot of hard work and at the very least you deserve acknowledgment as their peer. [RELATED: 6 Female Leadership Strengths That You Should Be Proud Of] ? 3. Talking Over You Is a Big No No It isn’t easy to become an expert at something. Likewise, building a company from the ground up doesn’t happen in a failsafe vacuum. You can read all the business books you want, but ultimately nothing can beat the real-world experience of?success and failure. In other words, you obviously know your stuff. You need to remember that when someone tries to talk over you the next time you’re in a meeting. People do this for different reasons, but ultimately it’s easier to interrupt them politely and try and engage them in a discussion â€" rather than just sit and listen to their monologue. Remember though, just because they don’t know everything, doesn’t mean that you do. Always be open to discussing new ideas and new ways of doing things. Be friendly and polite, but whatever you do, don’t let them get away with explaining something you already know. That’s pushing things too far. ? 4. Know When It’s Time To Walk Away Everyone has their limits. Know what yours are and make sure you don’t ignore them. For many women, being submissive is our default. It’s part and parcel of who we are and suffering slights and indignities is merely an extension of that. It’s time to stop this cycle once and for all and, to put it bluntly, that means not putting up with any of that sexist nonsense. For female entrepreneurs, self-belief is as necessary as oxygen. However, just like nobody can breathe for you, believing in yourself is also an inside job. It’s understandable that you’ll be defensive in new business meetings, but it’s always preferable to go in with the assumption that you’re dealing with a reasonable person. Most people are reasonable and besides, many misunderstandings are small and easy to resolve. Of course, you’re always going to get that one prospective client who is boorish, condescending and just plain unpleasant to be around. They’re unlikely to change regardless of your approach. Remind yourself that they’re not worth the effort â€" no matter how much money is on the table. At the end of the day, you need to know when to walk away (or run, as the case may be). You can’t attach a number to your self-worth, so if someone isn’t giving you the respect you deserve, head for the door.

Most people die @ 25 and are buried @ 75

Most people die @ 25 and are buried @ 75 I got a jolt when I first watched a Prince Ea video. He has a way with words that brings you into the video and holds on to you. As he says in video below, you will never be the same again after you experience something new. I often use a Dan Sullivan question with my clients, “When will you die?” It turns out we all have a number in our head created from family experience and how we judge our physical health. But its just a number and you can manage that number now to be what you want. I know accidents happen, but that is the front half of actuarial table   the back half is mismanagement and not taking advantage of breakthroughs happening every day. There was a research study of 100 elderly people who were near death and asked what were their biggest regrets. It was never what they had done that they regretted, it was what they had not risked doing. We see that when working with executives between 55 and 70. Usually their focus isn’t on going for the next brass ring. Its how do they keep adding value and live on their own terms. A powerful question I ask them is: “If you were 90 years old and looking back over your life, what are your unacceptable regrets? When you look back will you be able to say you really lived… you took a risk to achieve something that truly illustrated your potential? But what if you are 25-40 years old   there may be no potential you can’t achieve if you can see it clearly and focus on your moonshot goal. Are you ready to find your potential and a build a plan? Get a jolt find out where the richest place in the world is! Prince EA is an American rapper, poet, film maker, artist and futurist. You will get Jolts listening and watching his inspiration. Follow the links on him in Google or visit his YouTube Channel.

Writing Dates on a Resume

Writing Dates on a ResumeWriting dates on a resume is not just one of the most important elements of your CV. If you have good dates on your resume, you will be able to impress the prospective employer with your knowledge and experience. Moreover, a good CV is something that will help you get a job that you are most suited for. With the right information on dates on a resume, you can give your interviewer the best impression possible.Most people think that writing dates on a resume is something that is only done by busy, unorganized workers. This is definitely not true. One of the best ways to write a good date on a resume is to make it chronological. Keep your resume chronological so that the date matches up with the job title. You will be much more likely to be hired if you are being hired in the position you have applied for, and that is always going to be a head-count position.The simplest way to begin writing dates on a resume is to put the dates in chronological order. Begin wi th the oldest date and work your way down through the dates. In fact, if you have had very few dates, you may want to write a few different dates so that you can use them to show different positions.Another thing that you can do is to list different jobs you have held along with the dates they were completed. You can also write each position as an individual job title and list each date you started at that job.Some other things that you can do when writing dates on a resume is to also include your hourly wage. You can include overtime wages or deductions you may have made. Do keep in mind that many companies may have a limit on the amount of hours you can work in a week. So, you should list how many hours you worked that week along with the date.Many people also find it useful to include the date on which they took the position. If you have worked several different positions, include the dates you worked each position. For example, if you worked at the office as a receptionist for e ight weeks, then you can put the date that you left your first position as a receptionist.Employers want to hire someone who has a lot of job experience. Therefore, it is useful to list all of the positions you have held in a chronological fashion. A good resume can help you get a great job.Even though it may seem complicated, using dates on a resume is really quite simple. In fact, you can use simple software to write the dates on your resume. Once you use software to write the dates on your resume, you will notice how easy it is.

How To Tell If You Need a Job Change - CareerAlley

How To Tell If You Need a Job Change - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Remembering you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Steve Jobs A friend once mused to me about changing jobs. When I asked him why doesnt he just do it, he said he was not sure if it was the right decision. After all, arent we all taught to stick it out and persevere, he questioned. Perhaps things will change? Plus, with the economy being the way it was, it was not exactly an ideal time to be finding a new role. We talked at length over lunch and I thought I would share the results we got out of that conversation. Before we go on, 2 things you need to ask yourself first: 1. Give Yourself a Week Before you give yourself a minor headache over whether to quit or not, first step back and question your motive. For many of us, it might be because of one disagreement with your boss in which case you might want to cool down before giving it more thought. The same is true if you just found out your wife is pregnant, for example, or in my friends case, when he met a high school friend who did better than him. Thinking about major life decisions when your emotions run high is a great recipe for disaster. 2. Whats Your Motive? What if your desire to quit wasnt triggered by one particular emotional situation? Before you go ahead and change your jobs, ask yourself if changing jobs really is the best way to accomplish what you want to achieve. For example, a lot of people I talked to cite meet new people as a reason to change jobs, but is that really the best way to do it? Can you just attend conferences and network? Others intend to seek happiness in switching jobs. Is that really it or is your life just missing other crucial ingredients? Everything checked so far? Great. Here are 3 reasons that I think warrants changing a job: 1. You Are Easily Distracted As a society, we tend to see people who are easily distracted as being unable to concentrate. And we accuse them as having ADHD. But have you seen these people when they are doing something they love, like playing video games or watching a movie? Thats right! They have no problem concentrating! Thats because psychological studies have shown the other side of the distraction coin: if you find yourself easily distracted, it may just mean what you are doing is not engaging you. And not only will you be easily distracted, youll also look forward to every break you can get. Classic symptoms include checking out at exactly when the break starts and checking in right on time. But why is engagement so important? Answer: because engagement is strongly tied to job satisfaction. It doesnt matter if you have great colleagues and great pay. If youre not engaged, youll be miserable. 2. You Cant Talk To Your Boss Its true that job hopping is often the fastest way to a raise, but that can often be resolved if you just talk to your boss. Contrary to popular belief, most bosses are reasonable and if you can show your value as an employee for the amount youre asking, trust me when I say they will be more than happy to offer that to you. Asking for a raise is but one issue that can be resolved by talking to your boss. Other issues include youre not being heard, someones bullying you, youre being underutilized or even if your boss is treating you like dirt. Like a man in a relationship, most times your boss doesnt even realize hes doing something wrong. The real issue arises when your boss is just too busy to talk to you and/or is plain refusing to do so. If thats the case, then perhaps quitting is good choice. 3. You Can Contribute More Somewhere Else The last reason to change jobs is if you can contribute more than you can at your current one. For example, there are only so many things you can do as a clerk even if your boss gives you more responsibility. What if you can contribute as a UN volunteer and save lives? What if you can participate in a national marketing campaign? What if you can be a deep sea diver and researcher? So if you think you can do more good if another role, definitely consider the opportunity. Andrianes Pinantoan is part of the team behind Open Colleges, an Australian online courses provider. When not working, he can be found reading up on psychology. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif

Girl Sings to Jon Stewart to (hopefully) Become Next Daily Show Correspondent

Girl Sings to Jon Stewart to (hopefully) Become Next Daily Show Correspondent 8 Flares 8 Flares Were no strangers to #HireMe campaigns here on Corn on the Job.  Weve talked about campaigns for folks wanting to work at Chipotle, Krispy Kreme, hockey sports sales, and even someone who just wanted to get a job in New York City. Today were sharing a video resume from Jannesse Davidson.  Shes hoping that her song to Jon Stewart will land her an interview and eventually, a job as the next Daily Show Correspondant. Take a look at her video and stop back for my comments below. Let it be known, I am not the most political person that this world has to offer, but the song kept my interest and I was inclined to stay until the very end.  A song is difficult to pull off and takes a bit of courage.  While its much more entertaining, you can also lose the audience quickly if the singers voice is lame or if the words used are corny/come off as trying too hard. Will this be enough to gain attention from Jon Stewart?   Well, all we know so far is that a video has been created.  What we dont know is, (and I will be following up with Jannesse) how is this video being sent?  Is she using social media to distribute the video and make sure the YouTube page is seen?  Is a link being sent in an email?  These are all of the questions that candidates must ask themselves when employing a #HireMe campaign. Its not always enough to just be creative and develop the content.  The #HireMe campaign must include tactics for reaching the target audience as well, which can take some extra time to do right, before it becomes a viral success. What do you think?  Will she get an interview?  Will she be hired?  What else would you like to see her accomplish with her #HireMe campaign?