7 Things to Consider When Reviewing Employee Rewards

7 Things to Consider When Reviewing Employee Rewards It’s well known that recognising and rewarding employees for excellent work helps to ensure they feel valued for their efforts; creating a culture of high performance, increasing employee engagement and improving recruitment and retention. However, as with salary and benefits packages, an organisation’s approach to reward and recognition may need to evolve to ensure it remains appealing. For example, a recent survey by Sodexo revealed that millennials would rather receive experiential rewards for hard work over financial gifts. While a study by Reward Gateway highlighted that recognition is just as, if not more important, than financial reward. It found that 59% of people would rather work for a business where they received recognition over a higher salary job where they felt they weren’t recognised. If this has made you think it’s time to review your approach to reward and recognition, here are some things to consider. How often do employees receive rewards or recognition? We are seeing a shift towards employers creating a more continuous culture of reward and recognition. Instead of focussing on rewarding staff on an annual basis, or during performance reviews, employers are looking for innovative ways to thank, praise or reward employees as and when they do good work. Are you offering what your employees really want? Staff surveys are a useful tool for monitoring what employees would most appreciate and find engaging. It also gives you the chance to check if what you are currently providing is still appealing. Rewards often work best if they contribute a little something extra to everyday life. This could be money, shopping or experience vouchers, or travel incentives. Or it could be extra time off to spend with family or to enjoy some additional leisure time. When it comes to recognition, do employees place the most value on a personal thank you from managers? Or would they prefer a shout out of some kind from their peers? Are rewards available fairly and is the criteria understandable? All employees should understand the criteria behind any reward system in place and there should be equal opportunities for all team members without it becoming overly competitive. If it’s perceived to be easier for those working in roles with obvious goals and objectives to earn rewards, those in less target-driven positions or support roles won’t be engaged or motivated in the same way.   Are you making the most of ‘free’ rewards? It’s estimated that UK businesses spend over £35 billion a year on employee recognition but rewarding success doesn’t have to be financially based, or expensive for the business. Simple and sincere acknowledgments still go a long way. We’ve seen lots of companies find ways to reward their teams with inexpensive treats, which also bring people together, from cakes on a Friday to breakfast rolls on a Monday. Other incentives which don’t necessarily break budgets can be based on time. For example, an extra day’s holiday in December to get all the festive shopping and planning sorted, or to attend a child’s school play. Or, as we do here at Pure, time outside of the office to spend volunteering or fundraising for local charities. Do you have a recognition culture which spans from the top level down? While managers are often best placed to spot good work and give praise and thanks when it happens, they should also be recognised and rewarded by their own line managers and senior leaders for doing so. Senior leaders can also make a big impact by providing praise and thanks directly to employees. Recognition which comes directly from the top can really help to paint a bigger picture. Those in more senior positions are better equipped to share the direct impact a project or success has had on the overall business and why employees should feel proud of their contribution. Does your reward and recognition fit with your culture and values? Aligning rewards and recognition with company culture and values will have more impact on increasing engagement. It can also influence cultural change by sending out important messages about the value of employee contributions, the positive behaviours valued within the organisation and empower employees to bring company values to life. Are you making use of social platforms? Social media can be a great platform to give ‘shout outs’ to employees for their hard work or to share praise they’ve received. This not only shows employees they are valued and worth posting about but also highlights the organisation as a place where efforts are recognised and rewarded. Internal social platforms such as a staff intranet or internal newsletter can also be used to recognise and share employee successes, or as a hub to run peer-to-peer nominations for recognition awards.    

Resume Writing in Communication Skills

Resume Writing in Communication SkillsA good resume is one that includes enough material about your achievements and accomplishments, but it is usually best to have a few features that take advantage of your communication skills. Communication skills are what define you as a professional and they are one of the key factors that determine whether or not you will be successful in the job search. However, many job seekers make the mistake of only including information that includes their academic accomplishments.In fact, if your goal is to work with a communications company, or if you want to be an experienced public speaker, you are going to need some of the best communication skills possible to do your job well. If you're not comfortable talking about yourself, what you've accomplished, and why you should be hired, then you may be unable to effectively demonstrate these communication skills in a job application. It is therefore important to include some references on your resume.Refer ences can be extremely valuable when it comes to hiring a professional. The best reference for your resume should be a well-known person who has worked with you before. This person could also be someone that you personally know and have worked with. No matter how competent a person may be, it is still essential to list references on your resume.People who are highly qualified in their fields and who have excellent communication skills tend to be well respected by employers. It is thus important to use these individuals as references when it comes to your resume. If you decide to include a reference, you should make sure that you meet all of the following requirements. The first requirement is that you must provide the person's contact information such as a phone number or an email address.The second requirement is that you must be a reliable source. This means that you must not put up a scam or any other type of warning on your resume. Furthermore, you must make sure that you do not misrepresent the information on your resume.Another requirement for a good reference is that you should have your references also be registered as members in the American Academy of Communicator. This is especially true if you are adding your references to your resume online. You do not want to give off the impression that you are not looking for new information. Instead, you want to appear that you are committed to finding someone who will be a perfect fit for you.Last, but not least, you should take care to write about specific education or experience. If you are applying for a position as a public speaker, but you have nothing to speak of as a public speaker, then you should say something like, 'Public speaker is a specialty in my teaching that I worked on during my master's degree.' However, you do not want to have to refer to this as a 'specialty' because that implies that it is not a part of your education.Finally, you should include the most relevant work experience that you have listed on your resume. While you may be a great educator, you should not list it on your resume because the fact that you are a member of the American Academy of Communicator will not be seen as an indication that you are a competent communicator. This is why it is important to provide references as well as current work history.

Using LinkedIn To Boost Your Career

Using LinkedIn To Boost Your Career If you haven’t yet registered for LinkedIn then what are you waiting for? LinkedIn is not only a website that advertises jobs, it is the world’s most powerful career networking site. With over 128 million users registered in the US alone, the worldwide reach of LinkedIn is phenomenal. LinkedIn Promotes You If you are looking to progress your career in any type of industry, you can use LinkedIn to build up your reputation. To start with, you can set up a really great profile that details all of your key skills and experience, in a similar way that you would build a resume. People from all over the world who are looking for a specific skillset to fill a role would be able to find you by searching for your skills. Then you can strengthen your profile even further and improve your reputation by getting endorsements from people that you have worked with. By selecting the skills that you provide, your colleagues and ex-colleagues can endorse you for those skills, building up a skill profile that people can review and see that you are an expert in specific areas. Furthermore, you can create great content to share with people that will enable you to expand your network if people share your content. LinkedIn Showcases Your Work An example being, if you work in IT and you wanted to build up your reputation, you could provide an article or maybe an attractive infographic that summarizes some key IT problems that businesses face, along with their solutions. If your content is knowledgeable and of high quality, then people will like and/or share your content with others. You will start to be seen as an expert in this area and this can lead to job opportunities further down the line. If you have delivered consistently great content on a topic, people in your industry will connect with you and endorse you, meaning that potential employers will be able to view your interactions and see that you are well regarded in your industry. LinkedIn Networking One of the other great parts of LinkedIn is that your network can help you find a job that you wouldn’t normally have found. Someone might post something to their network to say they are looking for someone for a particular role, say a marketing executive, and ask for recommendations. If you have marketing experience such as email marketing listed under your skill sets, and have been endorsed by many, relevant employers, you network will allow the recruiter to contact you, or for you to contact the recruitment agency for a more in depth job description. This recruitment process tends to work well for recruiters. If someone of respectable quality has recommended people for a job, then they are likely to be a good quality of candidate. It also gives the recruiter the opportunity to do some background research via your profile to see if you are a good fit for the role. Overall, LinkedIn is a great tool if you are looking to start or further develop your career, or if you are an employer looking to fill a job position. . Images via Pixabay.

Career Success Tips for Women - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Career Success Tips for Women - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I realize Im sticking my neck out here a little since Im a guy. What does a guy know about helping women succeed? Given that I have coached a lot of women and helped them advance in their careers, I believe I have some basis for the information that follows. If you are a woman reading this post and feel you have additional suggestions from your perspective, please feel free to add to the ideas presented here. I realize there are many more ideas that likely have not crossed my mind. Let me take a crack at suggesting some things that women can do to improve their career situations: Choose I professional field that is in high demand. One example is STEM science, technology, engineering and math. Not only re these areas crying for talent, but also they are traditionally underrepresented by women. The old stereotypes and prejudices have largely gone away and women have great opportunities today. Develop your managerial skills and pursue such positions. Younger and more progressive companies are truly interested in placing women in managerial positions. Get clear on how your emotional intelligence, listening skills, people skills, etc. provide you an advantage and explain your advantages in persuasive ways in job interviews and other career encounters. Women, as a group, tend to have natural advantages over men in these valuable areas. Build your self-confidence and get coaching in being politely assertive, so that you are not shy in discussing the skills you have, the value you provide and the results you have delivered. You must speak up for yourself in a positive way. Seek out and gain a female mentor who is successful and ahead of you in their career. Formal mentoring programs exist and you can also find someone individually outside of such programs. Review your LinkedIn profile and resume. Make sure they are competitive. If you feel youre not being treated fairly or underpaid, decide whether it is reasonable to discuss these things with your boss. If warranted, pursue them. One or more of these actions may be exactly what you need to move your career forward at this time. Think them over carefully, decide which seems most feasible and take action now. Theres no time like the present to get the career and income you deserve.

A Few Tips on How to Write a Story

A Few Tips on How to Write a StoryThe writing process has a lot of steps and each of these steps is an opportunity to make sure that the writing is what you expect it to be. Here are a few suggestions that can help you get started with the writing process. You will want to have some sort of structure or idea of what you are going to write.Remember, the first thing you need to do is set a goal. Determine what will you want to accomplish as a writer. Once you know what you want to accomplish, make a list of who you will work with to get you there. Keep in mind that every project requires someone. Make sure you choose the right person for the job.Start the writing process by thinking about how you will create the story. Think about the style, format, theme, character, setting, and other elements that will make your story unique. In order to get started, you will need to take the time to think about how you will create this story.You will find that the best way to write is through the us e of notes and ideas. To get started, you need to jot down everything you remember from the story you are working on. This may seem like a daunting task, but it will be well worth the effort when you come to write. Don't just be quick on your notes; take the time to write something down as frequently as you need to. It will help you stay on track.After you have taken the time to jot down notes and ideas, you need to set aside time to write. When writing, if you find yourself stuck or simply don't feel like writing, consider putting aside some time ata time. Spend some time at a time writing, this will help you keep the writing process fresh. As you become more comfortable with the writing process, you can add more writing to your day.As you begin to get more comfortable with the writing process, you can work your way up. Once you have completed one section, you can go back and do it all over again. The writing process can be lengthy. Don't let the length of the writing process intim idate you. It is a very rewarding process that can bring great joy to you.Remember, the purpose of writing is to get the words out onto the page. There is no stopping you, until the words are written down on the page. Make sure that the words you are using are appropriate and have the right tone. The best words to start with are the ones that have the most impact.In conclusion, keep in mind that the writing process is not one of monotonous tasks, but rather it is a journey in which you create stories and earn accolades as a writer. The more you learn about the process, the more you will enjoy it. By remembering the tips above, you will begin to see a different side of the writing process.

Fast food, slow reactions - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Fast food, slow reactions - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog In an interesting Danish study from 2005, two groups of truck drivers were given a controlled diet for two days. One group had healthy food, focused on stabilizing thir blood sugar levels. The other group ate junk food. Yes, the sacrifices some people make in the name of science. The drivers were then placed in a truck simulator that tested their driving. The study found that the drivers who lived on junk food had slower reactions. When going 70 kph. on a highway, they needed 30 meters more to notice a traffic block and stop the truck than the drivers eating healthy food. Source (In Danish). Who knew that burgers could be a traffic hazard Question: If junk food slows down the reaction times of truck drivers, do you think it might make other kinds of workers grumpy, tired, irritable and less creative? Whats your take? Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Boomers! 6 Ways to Minimize Ageism in Your Job Search

Boomers! 6 Ways to Minimize Ageism in Your Job Search For Baby Boomers making a career change, fear of age discrimination looms large. You have a great set of skills, you are a good team player, and you have plenty of energy to work for many more years. Yet, you have the sinking feeling that the world is judging you based on your age. There are two myths that everyone “knows” to be fact: #1: Ageism can’t exist because it’s illegal. True, explicit age bias is illegal. Under Federal law, an employer cannot discriminate in its hiring process based on a job applicants race, national origin, gender, pregnancy, age, disability, or religion. State and local laws may specify additional protected classes based on factors such as the sexual orientation of a job applicant. There is, however, something called “unconscious bias” â€" or preconceived stereotypes â€" in evaluating others, despite a conscious effort to do otherwise. Unfortunately, in the hiring process, It can cause recruiters and hiring managers to make decisions that are not objective; and ultimately they miss opportunities. #2: Age is the #1 bias that companies have during the hiring process. False. Every minority feels that discrimination is working against them. Unconscious biases are manifested in communications and relationships with women, minorities, people with accents, people who dress differently â€" anyone who is physically, culturally, or behaviorally different. While hearing “you’re not alone” is not helpful, it’s important to consider. Minimizing age discrimination Your goal is to minimize ageism. By “minimize,” I mean remove the most common triggers of a hiring team’s unconscious biases. Put yourself in the recruiter or hiring manager’s shoes for a moment. We might profile them thus: their age is 28 â€" 35, if they are a recruiter, and 35-45, if they are a hiring manager. Their concerns about someone “too old” could be based on any or all of the following questions: Are they comfortable with using business software? Can they use our technology? Can they be social with the team and collaborate with a diverse group? Do they have the energy to roll up their sleeves and work long hours, if needed? Do they appear to be overqualified for the position, so they are likely to be bored after 6 months and then leave? Change your job search process to maximize your success Update your résumé Use a template optimized for an Applicant Tracking System and an automated review, yet is readable and appealing to human readers as well. For example, I prefer the Calibri font throughout. Remove the dates of your college or university graduation, only provide the last 15-20 years of detailed work experience. Create a category called “Positions prior to the date of the last detailed position you provided” and simply summarize the top skills you want to highlight Here are the most rules important to follow: Do not include the contact information that appears at the top of your résumé in the “header” section of the document; put it in the “body” section. Submit a Word document, not a PDF. Remove any underlining, graphs, or tables. Ensure you have the most common key words and phrases found in most of the job descriptions you are aiming for. Remove unnecessary information about your prior companies. Have an excellent LinkedIn profile It’s simple; if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you don’t exist. Period. Hiring teams will look for you on LinkedIn and you must be found. You need: a current picture, at least 15 years of work experience displayed, recommendations, and a summary. LinkedIn has great tutorials and will walk you through every step to get you to a “100% Profile.” I recommend you copy and paste your résumé into LinkedIn so your information is consistent. Use LinkedIn to make connections Just having a profile is not good enough. Build your network by adding connections with personal contacts. Connect with current and past co-workers, bosses, and professional associates. Reach out to total strangers that you would like to communicate with. Contribute articles and updates. Show that you are current with the latest network techniques. Use the LinkedIn tutorials located in the help section. Prepare your interview answers NOW This is not a college assignment; don’t wait until the week or the night before your interview! You need to be high-energy, confident, clear, and concise in your responses to their questions. And, you need to have great questions to ask them. You never know when you will get a screening call from a recruiter. Guess what? Those are interviews, too. You need to pass through that gate to get through to the face-to-face interview. Be prepared for video or web-based phone interviews Most first round interviews are via the phone, with a recruiter or the hiring manager. Some will send a SKYPE link or use any one of the many web conference technologies (WebEx, GoToMeeting, Zoom), so be prepared to “go on camera.” As a career coach, I use these technologies and find that some of my Baby Boomer clients struggle with them. Test all links, run the compatibility test sent with most web conference invitations. Make a Skype test call to a friend to make sure your audio and video functions properly and get help if you have any problems. Dress nicely â€" at least above the waist â€" and be ready to be seen. Be sure you are on the call a few minutes early! Face-to-face interview energy Invest in a nice, updated interview outfit. Stand tall, smile, look everyone in the eye, have a nice handshake, and lean in a little. Be sure you have a neat folio with a pad and pen to take notes. Show high interest, ask interesting questions, and be sure to express your desire for their position. Be aware that ageism is possible, though likely hidden. You can be prepared. Learn current techniques for every step of your job search and present yourself as energetic, confident, and highly relevant to the needs of the hiring team. Age is just a number, it does not need to define or limit you as the right candidate for a great position. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class right now and immediately access the most comprehensive job search system currently available!