Surprising Facts About Gender in the Job Search

Surprising Facts About Gender in the Job Search A lot has been done in recent years to create gender equality in the workplace and although women are in a better position business-wise than ever before, there is still a long way to go before true equality is achieved. Although every individual is different and stark generalisations can not be made, differences have been observed about how men and women approach their job hunt  and their careers. This infographic by MedReps suggests that gender impacts how individuals play the job search game and also how employers tend to respond to male and female applicants. Factors such as the way the job description is worded and which platforms the jobs are listed on can influence whether men or women apply and findings suggest that outdated stereotypes and gender bias  still have a sway over employers initial opinions of applicants. Job Applications: Men are more likely to apply for any role that takes their interest, even if they only meet 60% of the requirements. Women are more selective and will only apply for jobs that they think suit their skills and personality and fit 100% of the requirements for. Men are not influenced by the use of masculine and feminine traits in the job description, however women are commonly deterred by typically masculine terms such as assertive, independent or aggressive. They are much more likely to respond to terms such as dedicated or responsible. Employers should be careful about how they word their job descriptions to avoid any gender bias. Interview: Before knowing anything about the candidates skills or experience, employers expect male candidates to perform better than women. Based on appearance, employers would be twice as likely to hire a man than a woman. Women who describe themselves in feminine terms such as warm or supportive are less likely to be considered for a job in a male dominated field than if they were to use masculine terms such as assertive. To create equal opportunities employers should assess candidates on a combination or hard and soft skills. Salary Negotiation: Women often still earn less than men in the same role, despite a successful salary negotiation. Medical sales is one of the many sectors where men earn more than women. Employers should place employees on a pay-scale based on job level, experience, education and skills; not gender. RELATED: How Can We Achieve Gender Equality in the Workplace

Stop Complaining Theres a Better Way

Stop Complaining â€" There’s a Better Way Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Csl2XxtHQGtrjaZEBmrvOw',sig:'IMphyzKdTYodIt2l0CrFth6CrTkei_2xAVMTyUQO-54=',w:'507px',h:'338px',items:'135537807',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Complain (k?m-'plan) possibly from the Latin com “with” plangere “to beat the breast.” to  express  dissatisfaction,  pain,  uneasiness,  censure,  resentment,  or grief;  find  fault to  tell  of  ones  pains,  ailments,  etc. to  make  a  formal  accusation We complain a lot, and we all believe we have good reasons. From changes in technology to the smell of tuna sandwich in the break room, you’ll find someone with a gripe in every cubicle. But is anyone listening?   What do we really want to see come from our complaints? Are you effective when you complain? Complete this sentence: When I complain, I get: Results Ignored A lot of grief A stomach ache If you answered a, skip to the next post; you’re excused. But if you answered anything else, keep reading. If you can’t get over what’s bugging you, you can at least improve your technique. First, stop making complaints. I looked up the word “whine” and its definition included three mentions of the word complaint, including this: “To utter in a high-pitched nasal sound, as in a complaint.” Not a good look on anyone. Words matter, so let’s stop making complaints and start airing grievances. What’s the difference? Intent, for one thing. A grievance is a professional assessment of a situation that implies a wrong, an injustice â€" something to be corrected. It implies you’ve given this some thought, and that you expect a reply and corrective action. A complaint: is hasty, often made in the moment (see grumbling) is emotional (usually ill-tempered) and based on personal preference or perception makes people defensive can be ignored if delivered by a chronic “complainer” A grievance: is carefully thought out is based on logic makes people aware of an injustice or wrong that should be righted requires action or response Airing a grievance requires some thought and, by extension, delays the process. Time and distance may even help you decide that the issue is not so problematic after all.   As a manager, one of my most effective responses to complaints was to ask my staff member to put it in writing. Having to reason through the problem and its impact often helps someone develop perspective â€" or come up with a solution on their own. One other significant difference between a complaint and a grievance is that a complaint is often issued to the most convenient target, not the most effective. How often have you been on the receiving end of a complaint you could not fix (and may not even care about)? A grievance is delivered to the person(s) with the power to make decisions and find solutions. If you’re unwilling to talk to the person with power over your grievance, perhaps you should rethink how important the issue is to you. Finally, a grievance allows you to follow up. You’re not merely airing your complaint again; you’re checking in to ask about progress on the solution. If you receive action, be sure to acknowledge and thank the person who helped change things for the better. It’s not only lonely at the top, it’s often thankless.   You can be the change you want to see, as well. Checklist for a grievance: Have I got all the facts right? Is my information accurate and my source reliable? Have I made my case clearly and logically? Have I avoided provocative or emotionally charged language that might undermine my case or my credibility? Have I stated my case to someone with authority to take action on the issue? Am I willing to become a part of the solution if necessary? Am I willing to accept with grace an answer that is not what I wanted to hear? Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. Benjamin Franklin

Dating online with confidence

Dating online with confidence Online dating with websites like Match, OkCupid, E-Harmony and others is an exciting experience for both new and regular users. The beauty of using a dating website is that you could meet the love of your life talking to someone you would either never approach on the street or be approached by. Dating online allows us to contact a variety of people, they could live just up the road or on the other side of the country. No matter what sort of relationship you are looking for, it’s so easy to set up a profile online and get chatting with like-minded people. Finding love online is a new and thrilling affair for most and nothing should take the fun away from you. This is why it’s so important to be careful with your personal information and you must protect yourself when using anything on the Internet, whether you are doing your weekly shop or using a dating site. We’ve highlighted a few simple ways to stay safe and make your search for the love of your life as easy as possible…  Hold back personal information The main issue, and one that is never your fault, is that you can’t really be certain at first, with whom you are talking to online. Mr_Handsome or LittleMissPretty might look and talk the part but he or she could be hiding behind a fake profile, complemented with stolen images and an alias. Of course, you would be extremely unlucky to come across one of these people (and lets face it, we all put up pictures that make us look a lot better than in real life) but it’s vital that you keep your eyes open to everything and anything that could happen. It is so important that you hold your full name, phone number and where you are located close to your chest, until you are absolutely certain the person you are talking to is the real deal. A quick Google search of their name should help you discern whether they are telling the truth or not. Always use a reputable site It’s important that you only sign up to a highly regarded dating website that is well known don’t be duped by a cheaper subscription or deal. Check that the website is secure and endorsed by security service providers such as McAfee or Norton Antivirus. You should also ensure that the site offers customer service and has policies against inappropriate activity, so if something does go wrong you know who to contact to resolve the issue. Be aware of the opportunists According to statistics, from research conducted by Get Safe Online and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, online dating fraud costs victims £24.5m per year, there were 2,800 reported online dating crimes in 2013 and 63% came from women. Sadly, there are a small minority of people out there who are more than happy to take advantage of a person’s good nature, so it is important that you know what to look out for. If someone is overly friendly or familiar and open about their personal problems straight away, keep a close eye on the conversation and if they ask for money to help them out of a bad situation. An online dating website is never the place to seek help for money troubles, so if someone asks you to send them cash, quickly block and report them to the site owners. A small majority of people using dating websites find themselves trusting the person they are talking to too quickly and end up not only heart broken, but out of pocket. If you think smart you will never have any problems and could soon be meeting up with Mr or Miss Right. Create a new email address If you want to communicate with another member of a dating site via email then it might be worth keeping all communication on that site rather than giving out your personal address right away. Then, perhaps once youve already been on a couple of dates with that person and begin to feel comfortable, you could exchange email addresses with them. Trust us, it’s not all doom and gloom! As long as you make sure you stick to these basic safety rules the Internet should be a fantastic opportunity to make friends, discover new things and even meet the love of your life.

Why You Should Avoid Overtime - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why You Should Avoid Overtime - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Imagine this; your boss calls a company meeting to tell you that next year, you won’t be paid until mid-February. Most people would be outraged. Yet this is the amount of unpaid overtime the average UK employee works each year, according to the TUC. Not only do Brits work longer hours than any other country in Europe, they also take the shortest lunch breaks and have the fewest public holidays. Enough. All those extra hours haven’t stopped Britain from having the lowest productivity of the G7. Working excessively long hours is unproductive and, in the case of most people who clock up over 48 hours, illegal. So before you spend yet another evening chained to your desk, here’s five reasons to think twice: 1) It’s Really, Really Bad for You  If you’re regularly working late, you’re probably not getting enough sleep, which will impair your brain activity, depress your mood and damage your decision-making process. You’re also increasing your risk of heart disease and strokes. Plus, cutting away at your leisure time doesn’t just put a  strain on your relationships with friends and family â€" it negatively affects your mental health. A 2013 study found out that to achieve optimum happiness people should spend seven (waking) hours each day relaxing. Put effort into maintaining a healthy lifestyle alongside your work-life and prioritize your overall well being. Take time away from your desk to eat full, nutritious breakfasts and lunches. Go to the gym in your lunch hour or after work. Turn down taking on yet another project to give precedence to time with your loved ones. Becoming happier and healthier will boost all aspects of your life; including your job satisfaction. 2) It Shows a Lack of Skills How many candidates in job interviews wax lyrical about their superb “organisational and time management skills”? The ugly truth is that if you’re taking more than your contracted hours to complete your work tasks then you aren’t fully utilizing either of those skills. Employers want workers who can manage themselves effectively â€" and that means being able to prioritize, and to delegate when appropriate. Start each day writing a To-Do list of tasks to be completed. Rank these from the most to least pressing, and work on them in that order. Any work you don’t have time to complete will be non-urgent and can be left for another day. If your manager is piling more tasks on you than you can cope with, don’t let yourself get buried under. Have a discussion with them about which projects should be your immediate focus. For all other assignments, give them a clear and realistic deadline on when you can complete it. As long as you communicate, your boss won’t think you’re slacking off. Incidentally, if you follow these tips and still find yourself with more urgent tasks than can be completed in a normal work day, speak to your boss about reassigning some of your workload or look into hiring extra staff. 3) It Makes You Bad at Your Job Study after study shows that taking breaks produces far better workers. The reason is simple our brains experience fatigue just like the rest of our body. So if you’re regularly skipping lunch or working ten hours straight every day you won’t be producing the highest quality of work you’re capable of. Furthermore, a study by The Economist discovered a negative correlation between productivity and working hours â€" suggesting that those who work less hours actually get more work done. Learn to recognize when your body is telling you it needs a break. If you find yourself dragging over a task that you normally speed through, then put it down and take five minutes to yourself. Always take your lunch hour, and take it away from your desk, to put your mind off work and give your brain a chance to reset. Make post-work plans, even if it’s as simple as going to a spin class or cooking dinner with your partner. Not only will this force you out of the office by a certain time, it’ll also provide you with a reasonable excuse should your boss or colleague ask you to do something time-consuming late in the day. 4) It Creates Unrealistic Expectations Once your boss is used to a 24-hour turnaround on any task s/he sets you it becomes incredibly difficult to backtrack without appearing to be slacking off. And no matter how empathetic your manager is, the only person who really knows when you’re doing too much is yourself. Be upfront about the amount of work you can take on, both when you start a job and during your tenure at a company as your role and abilities evolve. Such candid communication is likely to result in managers setting realistic workloads and targets. If you find you cannot complete your expected workload within your set hours, then approach your manager and ask for a meeting to discuss ways you could streamline or simplify your workload. They’ll either help you brainstorm some ideas to improve your efficiency or realize they’re allocating too much work to you. If the problem is that your workload can fluctuate significantly from day to day, ask about implementing some form of flextime so you don’t burn out. 5) It Doesn’t Get You Promoted An oft-repeated rule is that those who wish to get ahead should arrive at the workplace before their boss and leave only after they depart. Yet when bosses are actually asked about their criteria for promotion, working long hours doesn’t even make the final list. Of course being enthusiastic and a hard-worker is likely to get you far, but you can show these attributes by throwing yourself into every given task and maintaining a positive attitude, not by falling asleep at your desk at 7am. If you want to be rewarded for your work, you need to demonstrate to your boss how you can add value to the company. Companies love employees who come up with innovative ideas, show initiative, and give each project 100%. These are the people they want to promote, not those who have become ill, miserable and unproductive from putting in excessive hours! Beth Leslie writes  graduate careers advice  for Inspiring Interns, the UKs leading  graduate recruitment firm  which  specializes  in finding candidates their dream  internship. To  hire graduates  or browse their  graduate jobs London, head to their website.  

Using a Resume Writing Service in Santa Clara, CA

Using a Resume Writing Service in Santa Clara, CAIf you are seeking a resume writing service Santa Clarita, CA, with professional writing expertise, you are in good company. There are many top notch Santa Clarita, CA resume writers available, who are ready to meet the needs of clients needing specialized resume writing services.Whether your resume is for a job opening at a fast food restaurant, a part-time position at a local call center, or an executive position within a Fortune 500 company, a Santa Clarita, CA resume writer will be able to help you create a personalized and effective document that shows all the skills you possess. For the most part, a Santa Clarita, CA resume writer will be able to use the services they provide to tailor your resume to your specific need, such as those who specialize in medical billing or clerical positions.No matter what kind of business you are in, you can find a Santa Clara, CA resume writer who is able to write your resume to meet the exacting standards of your company's vision. Whether you are a stay at home mom who wants to put her personal skills to work for her new business, or a stay at home dad who wants to put his professional skills to work for his new business, a Santa Clara, CA resume writer can take your professional resume and transform it into a unique and individualized document. Your information can be tailored and creative ideas can be applied to transform your career dreams into reality.Resume writing services are very helpful for those who have been laid off, who have given up hope of finding employment, or who have had a personal experience that caused them to lose their dream job. Every job is unique and every employee has a specific set of skills and abilities. You should be able to express your unique qualities in a format that is relevant to your role within your company.There are resume writing services who have expertise in many different fields, such as human resources, contract services, paraleg al, finance, healthcare, and other specialized areas. If you need help in creating a resume that is both professional and specific to your skills, a Santa Clara, CA resume writer can assist you.When you are looking for a Santa Clara, CA resume writer, it is important to understand exactly what your expectations are. The type of resume services available will depend on the experience and skill of the writer. Some resume writing services are geared towards academic and professional candidates, while others focus only on those who are seeking employment.A Santa Clara, CA resume writer will be able to assess your specific needs and write your resume to meet those needs. If you are looking for assistance in creating a resume that has specific skills, such as those who have specific degrees, experience or certifications, a Santa Clara, CA resume writer can make sure the resume you create meets those specific qualifications.Most top notch Santa Clara, CA resume writers will use the same te mplates for their clients to create a resume that meets their unique needs. It is important to make sure the template you select is appropriate for your industry and your role in the industry.

Your Most Important Job Search Tool - Hire Imaging

Your Most Important Job Search Tool - Hire Imaging My client, Connie knew that she wanted to find work with an employer close to home. She was interested in financial security and a place where she would feel valued. Her background was in various roles, ranging from customer service manager for a Fortune 500, to sales leadership for a startup. Was Connie ready to walk out the door and nestle into a new job? No! Before Connie even started her search, she needed tools for her job-search job. An iPad salesperson needs a demo to show people. Farmers need the right equipment to till their soil and harvest their crops. If you’re in career transition as Connie was, you need career-transition tools. Me, myself and I. “Your destiny is not for someone else to manage â€" it is your destiny.” The above, written by Byron Pulsifer in “The Hard Part of Balance,” could have been talking about your role in your job search. You are without doubt, the most important tool. It’s your skills, your talents and your special traits that will land you the job. You must know who you are. You must know what you offer. You must convince others. First, name your skills. How? Look at what you’ve been paid to do. Begin by reviewing your past work history: past job descriptions, performance evaluations, email with feedback and kudos, special projects or temporary assignments. Sometimes those things that seem routine can be forgotten. They can, in fact, be important clues to your value. Glimpse back at your education. What does your academic background say about you? It may be very interesting to a global employer with a South American presence, that you blended a major in Economics with a Spanish minor. Include any professional development. Scrutinize content. Does a communications course taken add value to your potential contributions as a liaison with the central office of a healthcare provider? The latest CRM technology certainly helps support your case as an impactful account executive. Outline your volunteer work. You’ve spent hours coordinating your daughter’s soccer team’s competition. You’ve served with Meals-on-Wheels for nine years, and taken your children along to learn the essence of helping those in need. You initiated your neighborhood watch, and have a block of more-secure folks maintaining proactive, systemized security efforts. Inventory your volunteer work â€" all of it. It will help you identify those skills perhaps not used in paying work. Examine your personal characteristics. While skills and qualifications are central, personal character is equally important. The most common reason for terminating employees is not incompetence, but the inability to get along with others, habitually showing up late or missing work, or other undesirable traits. In the same vein, companies hire people they like; and they hire candidates that will fit into their workplace and culture. It is totally up to YOU to identify those traits that make you likeable, admired or a fit, right along with those skills that make you a competent teacher, salesperson or software engineer. Know and show. Of course, identifying your skills is only the first step. You need to be able to convince others to want your skills, qualifications and traits. Christopher Columbus told people the world was round, but until he landed in the New World, no one believed him. Similarly, saying you are hard-working and responsible falls â€" ah-hem, flat. So how do you win folks over? Use your voice. Practice sounding interested and enthusiastic. This is especially crucial on the phone, because folks can’t see you. Your voice has to “say everything”! Avoid monotone; vary your tone to get people involved. You become more interesting and believable. Try calling a friend or family member. Speak to them when you are smiling. Then, switch to a frown and continue talking. Afterward, ask them if they could tell the difference. Then, try it again with them having a heads up. Use your whole body. When you’re face to face, look directly at people when talking to them. You lose credibility when you look away too frequently. Your body language can help you sell your value. You seem more confident when you have good posture and your head up. Last week, I spoke to a hiring manager who told me she did not hire someone because of their slouch. “He seemed as someone who would simply disappear at the onset of a challenge,” she told me. Video yourself describing your skills. Are you interesting enough to keep an employer’s attention? Do you think you should add some pizazz to your presentation? What might it be? Flesh it out, tweak and refine, and practice! Practice telling yourself and everyone who will listen, who you are; and what you have to offer. Convey your career charisma! You’ll be right on track to convince employers that you are the best person for the job. Do you have any ideas to share on knowing and showing who you are? I’d love to hear from you! Photo: Mayr

Learn from Both Sides of Your Internship Hard and Soft Skills

Learn from Both Sides of Your Internship… Hard and Soft Skills 28 Flares 28 Flares Dave Ellis is an original member of the YouTern team where serves as the Content and Community Manager, and enjoys his role as the company’s “Man Behind the Curtain”. In his spare time, Dave volunteers, rescuing and rehabilitating sea lions and baby elephant seals. Connect with Dave on  LinkedIn  and follow him on  Twitter! Congratulations! You were hired for that internship you worked hard to get. This is important because as you may know, internships are becoming essentially a required first step for young professionals toward starting a career. How important is your internship? A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) of almost 16,000 undergrads showed that 60% of paid interns received a job offer. Each internship presents two sides to your potential learning… the tangibles and the intangibles. These are commonly referred to as “hard skills” and “soft skills”. To increase your chance to get hired, you’ll need to learn from both of these sides of your internship. Many interns make the mistake of only focusing on the hard skills. They don’t realize that both skill types are equally important to career development. Your Internship… Side One â€" Hard Skills For many young professionals, an internship is your first exposure to a “real” job. You’re eager to learn everything you can about your chosen industry. And this is great! Because before hiring you for any job throughout your career, employers will want to know that you have the tangible skills to fulfill their needs. This side of your internship involves “hard skills”. These are the day-to-day duties of your internship. At this level, be ready to get your hands dirty with social media, code, spreadsheets, press releases, financial analysis… whatever your assignments involve. On this level of your internship, do your absolute best to impress every day. Complete your assignments on time and as perfectly as you can. Remember that your internship is not a job… yet. Every day, remind yourself that your internship is essentially as an extended job interview. Learn as much as you can in the limited amount of time that your internship extends. Ask questions, go beyond your assignments and present your own project and assignment ideas to your boss. Develop your job-related skills and learn about the industry as a whole. Think of your internship as on-the-job training and get everything out of it that you can. Develop some mentoring relationships. Many of the people around you have developed skills beyond your current ability. Speed up your learning curve by developing a relationship with others who are willing to teach you what they know. Your Internship… Side Two â€" Soft Skills The ability to complete assignments and tasks is one side of the hiring equation, and an important side to your internship. However, employers also want to hire employees who have the interpersonal, or soft skills, to fit with their company’s culture and help you work well with others. These skills are just as important to develop as hard skills. They may even have an advantage over their harder counterparts because they’re transferrable from job to job, industry to industry. Your soft skills include confidence, coachability, personality, likeability, professionalism. Soft skills can’t necessarily be “taught” in the same “read the directions” manner that a lot of hard skills can. This doesn’t mean though, that they can’t be easily learned. Become an observer. This may be one of your first experiences in a professional environment. Observe how people dress and speak in an office setting, and how they interact with one another. It’s often different than in the “outside world”. Each company has its own culture. Especially if your internship is with a company you hope to obtain a permanent position, learn the protocols and behavior nuances of that company. For example, is there a casual, friendly atmosphere? Or perhaps it’s more formal and hierarchical. Of course be yourself… but act accordingly. Network, network, network. The more people you get to know on more than just a first name basis, the better. It’s an un-written rule in business that people hire people they like. Sure, it’s a professional environment but you can still make friends… be likeable! Remember, your internship offers two separate but interdependent sides to what you can learn. Employers want to hire employees who not only can complete assignments but who also have the personal skills to “play well with others”. In each of your internships, look for ways to develop both sides and you’ll dramatically increase your career development, and improve your chances to get hired.