Thursday, May 28, 2020

5 HR Benefits to Following Employee Fitness Trends

5 HR Benefits to Following Employee Fitness Trends Health and wellness have always been a hot topic in the workplace. Employers play a significant role in helping workers get healthy with programs perks and incentives. The goal is to create a happier, healthier workforce as well as to save on overall medical costs. Finding solutions that help employees strike a balance between work and wellness is and should be a priority for Human Resource professionals and recruitment companies. So it’s only natural that as employee fitness preferences evolve so should the benefits offered by employers. Corporate benefit and fitness discovery platform Gympass uncovered a shift in employee workout patterns. With data from over 42,000 gyms and studio partners worldwide, Gympass shares that 40% of their users workout between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. These “lunchtime lungers” are working professionals who prefer a midday workout to the typical early morning run or post-work gym session. More interestingly, their employers are responsible for facilitating their workday workouts. The chart below illustrates a movement away from specialized workouts. Studio-focused activities like indoor bicycle classes, boxing, pilates, and yoga polled to be less frequented by working professionals. In fact, full-service gym check-ins surpass all other fitness activities combined. This news comes contrary to mainstream fitness trend reports where the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association  (IHRSA) noted specialty gyms grew 70% between 2012 and 2015. Considering Gympass’ corporate partners include major players like Unilever, American Express, and Novartis these are important insights. Workforce trends like this matter a great deal. Shifts in employee fitness patterns ought to grab the attention of other decision makers with Human Resources and recruitment companies. Staying on top of corporate fitness trends like these can offer these five benefits: Industry Leadership: Adjusting your corporate benefit offerings based on the changing needs of the workforce can distinguish a company as a leader within today’s HR landscape. Staying in touch with a workforce’s changing needs can position an executive or brand as a thought-leader in this crowded space. Competitive Edge: Timely adjustments to corporate perks can strengthen employment offers across the board, creating a competitive edge. A more robust and bespoke benefits package makes for an overall more competitive offer. Increased Efficiency: New insights as shown in Gympass’ data can be used to reduce resources spent on unpopular perks. Maybe scale back on the costly Pilates studio partnership knowing most employees just need full-service gym access. Corporate Values: Being in touch with workforce trends, and offering up to date fitness benefits speaks to company values. This reinforces a commitment to a healthy work/life environment. Active Workforce: Tailoring fitness benefits to better work alongside the busy lives of employees offers realistic fitness solutions to workers. In turn, this encourages a more active corporate culture resulting in a healthier team. An annually scheduled audit of company fitness benefits can be another helpful way of keeping with the times. About the author:  Daniel Miles Hue Lee is the Principal Founder of D. Miles Media, a creative communications consultancy. Daniel is also a freelance writer covering all things food, travel, and lifestyle.   Gympass is a discovery platform that empowers companies to engage their workforce in physical activity by providing access to the largest global network of workout facilities. Presented as a corporate benefit with a flexible monthly contract, Gympass offers unlimited access to wellness providers at a subsidy of up to 70 percent off market prices. The company is headquartered in New York City.

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Future of Tech Recruitment Sourcing, Hiring and Retaining Top Talent

The Future of Tech Recruitment Sourcing, Hiring and Retaining Top Talent This post is sponsored by Technically Compatible.   Times have changed. We humans have never been more connected, and yet, never been more closed off. The dawn of technology has opened endless avenues to reach candidates and for a time made all our lives easier. Now, however, the information age has turned into the information overload age and it means that in order to reach and keep the best candidates new strategies must be applied to stay ahead of the rest. A Computer Science degree is just not going to give you a good developer And who better to discuss tried and tested, successful methods with than our peers, expert advisors and colleagues. The tech sector especially can be particularly troublesome. Not just because there is a skills shortage but because of the massive boom it has enjoyed, the recruitment challenges have subsequently been heightened as well. The problem with CVs Tech CVs are renowned for their embellishment (57%) and lack of clarity when it comes to experience (55%) so how can you be sure that what you see is what you get? This is only one of the many issues the tech industry is currently experiencing. The massive increase in demand for tech skills has pushed IT staff into the passive candidate bracket (only 15% are actively looking for jobs) and is making recruitment that much harder. Businesses need to be going to educators and saying what skills they need A pipeline issue? The pipeline is also contributing to the skills shortage and there are questions around whether those leaving university are fit for the workplace. So, what’s the answer? Is more training needed? Are code academies better places to start or do they bring their own problems? Is diversity really an issue? How do we fix the pipeline problem and where the h*** is all the top tech talent hiding? We always ask, “what if we train people and they leave?” What we should be asking is, what if we train people and they stay. The event Technically Compatible hosted an event to bring together experts from a cross section of the industry to spark discussions and share best strategies to source, hire and retain top tech talent. Highlights from the series can be found here. The focus is on the UK and primarily the North East of England where Technically Compatible are based but the issues, challenges and strategies are the same everywhere and can be applied anywhere on the globe, which is handy! Schools are not willing to release teachers from the classroom to get them properly supported and trained in the curriculum or by industry experts The idea is to generate debate around the industry’s most pressing challenges and highlight the opportunities we can take advantage of now, to create effective solutions for the future of tech recruitment. A Snapshot of Questions What strategies should you be implementing to source, attract and keep top tech talent? Is one more important than the other? What about data protection when it comes to sourcing people? What are the best ways to attract a more diverse, better workforce? Are we doing enough in the region to attract women and minority groups to empower our workforce? Not just from our region but also from outside it. Do people just use “diversity” as a buzzword but not actually believe it? Are universities the right way forward for training entry-level candidates? Are unis too restricted in their curriculum to change with this fast-moving industry? Does the industry need some sort of formal certification? Join in the debate with Technically Compatible here, or watch at your own leisure. The series has been broken down into sections for more manageable webinar-like chunks. Sourcing, Training, Legislation or Diversity â€" take your pick or watch them all. Let’s keep the chat going. About the author: Technically Compatible is an online IT skills testing tool designed to streamline the recruitment of IT, web and software professionals. The platform, which significantly reduces screening time and promotes faster, better hiring decisions, is used by companies all over the world to hire top tech talent.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Women at Work Sound Bites and Statistics from Women Who Lead

Women at Work Sound Bites and Statistics from Women Who Lead Todays infographic comes from Harrison Kratz at MBA@UNC blog. Women today are making professional strides at an unprecedented level. Women are starting businesses at 1.5 times the national average, a 20% increase over the last decade. Women are also pursuing higher education in record numbers; women now hold more bachelors and graduate degrees than men. There is still a disparity in earnings and leadership titles across genders, but there are more outspoken advocates of professional women than ever before. Notable leaders like Arianna Huffington, Sheryl Sandberg, Rachel Sklar, and Sarah Blakely help fuel this conversation in the media and champion for the advancement of women everywhere. If you’re interested in exploring the state of women at work, take a close look at this infographic that is full of statistics about this topic. Via MBA@UNC MBA Online Women 2.0 What do you think of the infographic?

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Life at the Bottom of the Totem Pole

Life at the Bottom of the Totem Pole Happy Monday, Career Girls! This is my first post in 2013 so it only feels natural to discuss our New Years Resolutions, but I think were all feeling slightly bitter that we vowed to wake up early for the gym and pass up all varieties of sweets So this  post is going to focus on another bitter idea: the  irrational belief that our first job will be our dream job. Throughout your teens, you’re under a ton of pressure to figure out what you want to do and who you want to be for the rest of your life. Then you finally figure it out, graduate from a reputable university and begin searching for that dream job that you know is just sitting there waiting for you. Yeah right. For some reason, we automatically assume that our first big person job is going to be the best thing since Simba and Nala fell in love in  The Lion King. Us Gen-Y ers are pretty confident people, as we should be. Were awesome.  But sometimes our confidence leads us to believe were above the grunt work that typically  accompanies  an entry-level position. While our brains are amazingly intelligent, we all will end up doing the following at least once: Running with a tray of coffee in heels on a cobblestone street in February snow Shredding your boss secret divorce documents Attempting to fix the copier until your entire arms and face are covered in ink Alphabetizing all the 465462132158 business cards your boss has ever collected Assembling binders highlighting all client work for the past year Scanning and sending. Scanning and sending. Scanning and sending. These little moments are when we want to cuss our college professors who led us to believe our careers would be awesome. These little moments are when we want to cuss those few friends who actually did find an amazing job after graduation. These little moments are when we need to suck it up and swallow the little pride we have left. Everyone had to start somewhere and that somewhere was most likely the bottom. We are a little luckier though, imagine what grunt work was like without technology?! I swear the unpleasant tasks don’t last forever (and if they do, you might have a bigger problem). You’ll learn a lot about life and yourself during those awful moments and the next thing you know, you’ll be sitting in a corner office with awesome views of the city. OK well not really, but you’ll definitely be doing a lot more legitimate work and a lot less b!tch work! Have any words of wisdom or advice for those starting at the bottom of the totem pole? Please share below â€" Career Girls can never offer too much support!

Thursday, May 14, 2020

10 Tips for Venturing Into a Career as a Freelance Engineer CareerMetis.com

10 Tips for Venturing Into a Career as a Freelance Engineer Engineering has always been one of the most important industries for the development of humankind. These days, many people choose to contribute to our society as architects, mechanical engineers, IT engineers, electrical engineers, etc.Those careers are not easy. They are demanding, require hard work and constant studying. Still, career-wise, they are fulfilling and often ensure six-figure salaries to those pursuing them.evalEngineers rarely spend their entire careers in one place, contributing to a single business or company. Working in one company can be the right decision for both the company and the engineer, but people of science tend to jump to other jobs so they can find the perfect one.However, nowadays, as freelancing is gaining momentum, it has become much easier for everyone to get what they want out of their jobs.Branches like architecture and civil engineering, for example, require constant learning about software, new technologies, building trends, etc. That is the reas on why many engineers prefer maintaining a level of independence, so they can keep growing and obtaining new skills.Engineers have good potential to work remotely as freelancers. If you want to try this, but you are not sure where to start, this article is just for you. In this article, we are going to give you some useful tips on making an organic transition to a full-blown career as a Freelance Engineer.1) Do as Much Research as PossibleThis is necessary when thinking about anything related to a new job or career. It is crucial to get as informed as possible from reliable sources, so you can know what to expect.There are probably many individuals in your industry who left their 9-to-5 jobs and became freelancers. Accordingly, the internet is abundant with pages and pages of freelance engineers’ tips that can help you get familiarized with the whole process.2) Ask Yourself Why Do You Want to Be a FreelancerIf you are not entirely sure what it is that you want to pursue through fr eelancing, we advise you to think it through.evalWe are aware that most people do not enjoy communing and spending their days in companies’ officesat a fixed schedule, which are probably two main reasons for getting into freelancing. If that is the case, your transition into the world of freelancing will be a bit simpler.However, if you are one of those people who want to start freelancing so you can have a more fragmented work schedule and free time to obtain other skills, there are more things to consider, one of them being the workload volume.If you dream about launching your startup or attending online classes to learn new software, you might want to be careful when picking a job. Find out what your potential employer wants out of you and how many hours you will need to work each day.If you get trapped in another demanding workplace, you essentially ventured into freelancing for nothing.3) Learn to Be as Productive as Possible with Your Job SearchevalNo matter how strong your current resume is, it is always a good idea to go the extra mile and impress your potential employer.Make sure you brush up on your skills and learn new ones. The job market is vicious and unforgiving, and you want to stay on top of your game. If some of your related skills can be sharpened or learned through online courses, make sure you give them a shot â€" Udemy is a good start.Once you are ready to get out there, try to put yourself on the market in the best, boldest, and most professional way. You can do this through a good online presence. Create a detailed online portfolio or even consider creating your web page. Let your resume and previous work experience be visible to those who might want to see it. Create an impressive LinkedIn profile and update it frequently. It is still one of the most prominent headhunting and job-seeking social media platforms, so make sure you use it to its full potential.Through your online presence and job-related social media, it will be much eas ier to network. Through connecting with larger groups of professionals and HR agents in your area of expertise, you are much more likely to land a freelancing job tailored to you.4) Get a Perfect Job by Utilizing Freelance PlatformsMost engineers out there who work by themselves are well aware of just how useful some of these freelance platforms can be.At one point, only a couple of websites, such as Freelance or Upwork were put to use by freelance engineers. However, nowadays, many others tailor specific platform departments just for these industries. For example, Fiverr recently introduced an entirely new platform for engineers of all sorts called Fiverr Industries, allowing experts in engineering fields to pursue prosperous freelance careers from the comfort of their own homes. Fiverr will even let you offer different “gigs,” allowing you to put all your assets and skills to good use and sell them. With a strong profile on one of these websites, you can attract a significant number of new clients willing to pay top dollar for whatever you care to offer.Still, make sure to do thorough research for your specific industry. Popular freelancing platforms are rarely specific, so they get crowded with many different options and various jobs. For instance, if you are in 3D printing and engineering, there are websites like Workana, Taskengo, Guru, and many more.Finally, briefly brush over some reviews of each platform you might want to use. If the experiences are mostly positive, give it a whirl. On the other hand, if you get to see a bunch of negative comments and unhappy freelancers, obviously stay away from wasting your time and effort. You put yourself through some tough times at school and you know just how much it is worth â€" do not waste it on people who cannot appreciate it.5) Always Be Careful WhenPicking Your ClientsevalFreelancing can be a joy when you work with the right people. It will not be simple at all times. Still, if you have continuous coope ration with that one client you enjoy working with, freelance work can be a cakewalk.Most clients you find on freelance platforms will contact you through their profiles. The profiles will inform you about their previous experience, work ethic, what they expect from you, and if they are reliable in terms of on-time payments.If you start cooperating with a client more often, make sure to be there for them whenever they might need you, and give them priority to other first-time clients. Building a quality relationship with someone who is a frequent buyer of your services helps your freelance credibility and, thus, lets you raise prices for your services.Do not forget to be self-appreciative and always know your worth. Do not work for miserable amounts of money just to keep the ball rolling. Your enthusiasm and confidence must be your priority.eval6) Maintain a Good Work EthicIt is essential to let the other party know you are reliable, hardworking, and overall ready to perform to the best of your abilities.In order to live up to your words, set a few things straight first. Carefully inspect what the client wants from you, and assure yourself you can do what they want. Set a certain number of revisions they can expect, examine the workload, and plan your time accordingly. It is crucial to meet deadlines at all times so that you keep your clients. A good piece of advice is to keep your communication strictly professional, especially at first. If you eventually develop a quality work relationship with your employee or client, in which case they choose to loosen the belt a bit â€" take it as a sign of success. If the client feels comfortable in your work and trusts your opinion, chances for your own success are much higher.7) Take Care of Your Mind, Body, and SoulDo not forget that you matter the most. Your health needs to be your top priority.Freelancers, especially those working in engineering, spend massive portions of their time in front of their computer screen s. That can cause damage to your posture and eyesight and often lead to insomnia, overworked mind, and several other states.As a freelancer, you will need to remember to set aside an hour or two of your day and dedicate that time to self-care. Stay hydrated, focus on quality meal prep, exercise as much as possible, and invest in a good chair, since you will spend quite a bit of time in it. Getting a gym membership is always a good idea, especially once you put a good dollar into it. Paying a bit more for it will stimulate your subconscious into working out more, and in return, you will feel much better.Once you stabilize your health, your mindset will boost drastically, and you will be much happier and more productive. Sharp mind comes from a strong body â€" you will likely witness it soon into your remote career.8) Solidify Your Business Plan and Keep Track of Your IncomeOnce you shift to a full-time freelance engineering career, your income will most likely fluctuate according to the amount of work you finish.Set some goals on what is the minimum amount of money you want to earn each month, and plan the number of your work hours accordingly. That will let you enjoy your free time more without the feeling of guilt, and you will maintain a stress-free climate when it comes to your earnings.Try to put some money aside for emergencies, in case you are unable to work at some point. When you know you have a secret stash in your bank, your days off can be much less stressful.9) Explore Different Sides and Environments of FreelancingPeople who used to work full-time in engineering, in many cases, did not get to travel as much as they wanted. With some time off, you can pack your bags, visit that place you have always wanted to visit and gain new perspectives.Many freelance engineers even choose to go a step further. For instance, it is now trendy to travelto a distant location, like an island in the middle of the ocean, and work from there. Drinking margaritas and s witching from your home office chair to a hammock can be a hoot.This way of remote working is often referenced to as digital nomadism. Deciding to live this way requires a lot of courage and a stable income, but many incredible stories as well. If you feel like this might be your ticket to a happy life, remote work just might be an ideal option for you.10) Relax, You Are in Control of EverythingMany people enjoy having a set career path, a consistent paycheck, and not having to think about much besides traffic and not being late for work.This comfortable rut is one of the main reasons people avoid freelancing. However, it is important to bear in mind that such a career choice is nowhere close to unstable. You are pulling all the strings, and the potential variables are minimal.You might feel anxious at first, but eventually, you will learn to let go and enjoy the new freedom you will find in freelancing. Your days will not be as empty as they used to be with a 9-to-5 job, and the fa ct that you will be able to spend more time with your loved ones will continuously reassure you about this big decision.All in all, we hope we managed to give you some food for thought about your potential career as a freelance engineer. This is a huge step for your professional life, but it will certainly do wonders for your private life and health as well. Remember to do a lot of research, know your worth, and put yourself out there in the best way possible. Good luck!

Sunday, May 10, 2020

College Grad Job Search - Preparing for Graduation - CareerAlley

College Grad Job Search - Preparing for Graduation - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If you are one of the thousands of people who will be graduating from college this Spring, there is a very good chance that youve not yet started your job search. Maybe you think it is a bit too early to be job searching (that is a big mistake). The sooner you get started on your job search the better. We are still in one of the best job markets weve seen in quite some time, although it is a little challenging for recent college grads. For many college grads, the tight job market may mean taking a job that either does not require a college degree, working in a different industry/job than your degree or working a job that is just not the job you want to do the rest of your life. Suggested Reading:Private Notes of a Headhunter: Proven Job Search and Interviewing Techniques for College Students and Recent Grads Career planning during college is very important and most colleges and universities have Career Offices to help in planning and in job search. For those of you who have not yet graduated, now is the time to start your career search. Job Search Preparation while in College: Visit Your College Career Center Your college career center is a great source of information and advice. Your college career counselor can help you create your job search plan, help you write your resume and can provide to companies that are looking to hire college grads. Create a Job Search Marketing Toolkit Job search is very competitive, especially for college grads. Create a job search marketing toolkit before you graduate (seeYour Job Search Marketing Toolkit Overview) Internships Working during your summer breaks will give you an edge over those who just party over the summer. Its never too soon to start, but even one internship between your Junior and Senior years can make a very big difference. Here too your college career counselor can help, but you can also take a look at5 Steps to a Great Internship Job Search Resources for College Students and Recent Grads: Monster College This site, which is a job search site, focuses on internships and entry level jobs but also has info on resumes and career advice. The site allows posting of resumes, saved searches, cover letters, internship advice, salary advice and much more. The right hand side of the page has a search engine for finding jobs and internships. There is a suggest a job for me section and recent articles as well. Collegegrad.com One of the best career sites for college grads, the broad range of information available on this site would classify it as a Job Career Site which also includes job search. This site also allows search and post your resume. There is a wealth of information on this site including Preparation (explore careers, resumes, cover letters and interview prep). There are tabs near the top of the page for Top Jobs, Top Employers, Top Careers and much more. Find jobs is center page with great links and resources. Quintcareers.com College Grad From Quintcareers.com, this is another College Student Recent Grad site. As they state at the start of the page, A collection of the best job-search resources for new college grads, this site focuses on college students and recent grads career and job resources. The site includes articles, searches and links to other related sites. There are quite a few additional resources (too many to list here), not the least of which is a job search engine at the top of the page. Definitely worth a look. Jobseeker Specific Career and Job Sites Another college specific page of resources from Quintcareers.com. This page offers an excellent list of resources for teenagers, college grads, college students temporary workers, executives and much more. This should definitely be on your list of to dos in your job search. College Info GeekCollege Info Geek is a great site to help you with all aspects of your college career, from learning how to study to getting the job you want (check out their Get an Awesome Job link). Tons of resources, links for studying, resources and tools for students and some great podcasts like Finding a Part-Time Job in College (Ep. 67)andHow Long Should it Take to Get Good at My Job? (Ep. 86). Apple.com Students New Grads A company site, Apple has a career section that is dedicated to students and college grads. The site is geared to students about to graduate, new graduates and those who graduated in the last year. There is also a section on campus events. There is a view all New Grad jobs on the upper right hand side of the page along with an events calendar, Intern Program and even a section for Student Developers. Career Tip of the Day:12 Resources for College Grad Job Search- Majoring in Employment We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to land your first job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Friday, May 8, 2020

How to Write a Resume For Australia 2020

How to Write a Resume For Australia 2020Writing a resume for Australia 2020 is a lot like writing one in your own country. The process for Australia is the same as it is for any other country, but you do need to be a little more careful. Here are some tips on what to look for in writing a resume for Australia 2020.Career Outlook The first thing you need to focus on is your career outlook and what type of job you hope to get. Some people would say that in this country the most common career is as a student, and you will find this is very true. You will also find that there are many entry level positions, which allow students to start right out in the job market.Work Experience Many students prefer to get internships, rather than work at companies directly. However, if you choose to work with a company directly then you will need to list your past work experience. Many universities will require this and it is always good to have a few work experience recommendations from someone you kn ow or someone you have talked to at a job fair. If you're going to list these, you will want to get at least three to four of them to make sure that they are all accurate.Skill Set Some schools will require you to list your skill set on your resume. The skill set can range from your education, your previous employer, and even your previous experience. You can also include job references and details about any extracurricular activities that you may have taken part in. It can sometimes be a good idea to list all three of these on your resume.Past Employment If you were previously employed, it may be helpful to mention this on your resume. You may not remember exactly when you were employed, but you should write a brief description of your job history. This will allow potential employers to see what you can do and will let them know that you have experience in a particular area. This information will help your resume stand out from others.Personal Information One thing you do not want to include on your resume is a personal information. This information includes your age, contact information, and criminal record. While it may be appropriate to include this information on your resume, it is best to keep this information confidential. Don't include contact information like your telephone number and address, unless you have permission to.Application Information If you are applying for a job overseas then you will have to include your application on your resume. There are a few things that you can include here. Your name, your address, your address in a country where you are planning to travel, your qualifications, your educational history, your details of any courses you have completed and some details about your work experience. When listing your qualifications you should also list your highest qualification and the level of your previous level.Work Experience and Education If you have obtained both work experience and education then you can include this informatio n on your resume. List your education so that they will appear at the top of your resume. You will also need to list any previous work experience that you have had in order to make sure that you are providing yourself with enough information to convince a potential employer that you have the qualities needed to do the job.