Halloween Horrors in the Workplace

Halloween Horrors in the Workplace Weve all experienced the kind of horrors like spiders and the odd mouse which can have people screaming in fear in the workplace, but there horrors of another kind which are more common in the office the manager kind. Recent research commissioned by Perkbox  has found that over half of working Brits have had a nightmare about their boss at least once in their life, with 46% admitting they have had this occur several times. The research, which polled 1,000 employed UK adults, found that when asked what workplace horror they feared the most,   having a ‘bullying boss’ came top, chosen by 28% of respondents. This was followed closely by having a toxic workplace culture (21%), team conflicts and surprise overtime hours with the two latter chosen by 10% of employees. Interestingly, despite the rise of tech and new communication channels entering the workplace which in some instances may be oversaturating workplace communications, ‘communication overload’ came bottom of the pile and was only chosen by 3% of employees as their most feared workplace horror. With regards to mistakes at work that haunt employees the most, the more traditional error of calling a colleague by the wrong name ranked in the first place (19%), followed by making an embarrassing typo on a document (18%) and sending a confidential email to the wrong contact (13%). On the flip side, finishing early was the preferred treat, chosen by 40% of employees. This was followed by a company bonus scheme (27%), perks in the office such as table tennis, free snacks and coffee (18%) and free beers on Fridays (6%). Finally, when asked ‘what would a nightmare colleague have to do to annoy you the most?’, having bad manners such as chewing food loudly and not cleaning up dishes and mugs after themselves ranked in the first position. Taking credit for others’ work ranked in second place, followed by playing music extremely loudly and being an office slacker pretending to work. Madlena Pozlevic, Employee Experience Lead at Perkbox says: “With Halloween fast approaching, these findings are meant to give us a “humorous” insight into a side of workplaces that aren’t perhaps not surprisingly! quite so appealing to employees. Whether Halloween or not, as employers, we should take these findings as one of the many reminders that workplace rules around professionalism at work always apply, without exception. As these findings show, they certainly do not go unnoticed amongst employees.” TOP 6 NIGHTMARE CO-WORKERS: Having bad manners Taking credit for others work Playing music extremely loudly Being an office slacker Drops by your desk unexpectedly Being jealous of others Whatever the workplace horror may be, most of them can be quickly sorted out by management if theyve been raised through the appropriate channels. And whilst pest control might not be able to eradicate these office horrors, there are ways and means of getting rid of them for good. About the author:  Perkbox  is a platform that provides a unique employee experience, enriching the personal and working life of employees. It offers a suite of products including a platform with access to best in class Perks,  Perkbox  Medical,  Perkbox  Recognition, and  Perkbox  Insights. It serves companies of all sizes from SMEs to large companies such as Whole Foods, Nando’s, Caffe Nero and Levi Strauss Co. Headquartered in London, with offices in Sheffield and Paris,  Perkbox  has raised over £11.0 million in funding from the leading European venture capital firm Draper Esprit.

FlexJobs Survey Says Nearly Half of Military Spouses Feel Discriminated Against

FlexJobs Survey Says Nearly Half of Military Spouses Feel Discriminated Against (Courtesy Flexjobs.com) The  unemployment rate among military spouses  is 16%, more than four times higher than the civilian unemployment rate. According to a FlexJobs and Blue Star Families survey of more than 500 military spouses,  nearly half (46%) of military spouses have felt discriminated against in their job search  because they are military spouses. Read on for more of the survey results! As part of  National Military Appreciation Month  this May, FlexJobs and our partner,  Blue Star Families, are releasing these survey results to help employers and all of us better understand the sacrifices made by our nation’s military spouses, along with the rich talent and experience they can bring to the workforce, and the ways flexible and remote work options can help. FlexJobs is a proud supporter and a committed company of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s  Hiring Our Heroes’ Hiring 100K Military Spouses campaign. Military Life Military Spouse Job Discrimination It’s no surprise that survey respondents say their careers have been deeply affected by military spouse job discrimination. 91% of military spouses say  being a military spouse has had a negative impact on their career. 32% of military spouses have  had to leave a job at least three times  because of a military-related move. Because of the  difficulties associated with finding sustainable employment as a military spouse, 56% say at some point they have stopped trying to find a job. And 50% have tried to hide the fact that they are a spouse to somebody in the service to avoid military spouse job discrimination. But like most professionals, 81% of military spouses report that the primary reason they work is because of personal fulfillment, ahead of paying for basic necessities or saving for retirement. Simply put, military spouses want to work, just like many of us. And, they’re qualified: 71% of respondents have at least a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to only  about 34% of the general U.S. population. Flexible and Remote Jobs for Military Spouses We asked survey respondents to tell us which types of flexible work options they would most prefer. Why flexible work in particular? It’s a necessity for this group of professionals. A majority, 65%, of military spouses have felt like they had no choice but to leave a job because it did not have work flexibility. Jobs with a flexible schedule are the most preferred type of work arrangement for military spouses (77%), followed by fully remote work (71%), alternative schedule (41%), part-time (40%), partially remote work (40%), and freelance (22%). As we mentioned, FlexJobs and Blue Star Families partnered to conduct this survey because we’re both committed to providing employment support for military spouses. Blue Star Families builds communities that support military families by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including career development tools, local community events for families, and caregiver support. “Spouseforce, our career program, helps place military spouses into long-term jobs as well as asks them what they need to be successful,” Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families explained to us. “Most often, that answer is flexibility. Our military families tell us that having dual incomes is vital to their wellbeing, which is why we continue to work with companies like FlexJobs to provide portable, long term careers.” Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and serves more than 1.5 million military family members. With Blue Star Families, military families can find answers to their challenges anywhere they are. FlexJobs is honored to  support military spouses by providing a faster, easier, and safer way to find flexible work options, and we give special thanks to the military spouses on our own staff.

Top 5 Interview Howlers of All Time

Top 5 Interview Howlers of All Time We’ve all attended an interview in our lives, Dictionary.com defines an interview as a formal meeting in which one or more persons question, consult, or evaluate another person. To even get an interview request means that someone has decided that you might be suitable for their position, however, it doesn’t always go to plan! I’ve been in recruitment 7 years now (wow!) and in that time I must have literally arranged, briefed and debriefed 1000’s of interviews. Obviously I love it when a client says to me ‘Adam, that candidate is amazing, when can we get him/her back in and prepare an offer’. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen, sometimes the candidate is just not right for the client, or the candidate is looking for something slightly different than the client is offering which is particularly prevalent in the technical sector I recruit within. I’m not sure why, but there are a group of people that just do not take the interview process seriously, and during my time recruiting for technical staff, there have been some real interview howlers, but I thought I’d put the best 5 I’ve come across in that time to The Undercover Recruiter. In reverse chronological order: 5) Angry Birds: The man who turned up for his interview to be a QA for a blue chip client in a pair of sandals, shorts and a vest. When the interviewer asked him to come through he asked them to wait until he had finished his game on his handheld. 4) Dressed for a quick getaway: The candidate who was interviewing for a very senior position that turned up to the interview in a suit and a pair of trainers. Not black trainers, but bright white running trainers. Perhaps he was already considering the possibility of a quick escape?! 3) Interviewing for the wrong job: The candidate who turned up for an interview, was asked to complete a HTML coding exercise and pulled a book out titled ‘HTML for Beginners’, and then got up after ½ of the test and said he had to go back to work now as he only gets 30 minutes for lunch. 2) Employee of the month material: The person who didn’t answer their phone to me all morning, had an interview booked for 10am, turned up to the interview 4 hours late and then proceeded to shout at the client for not having the time to interview him, needless to say he wasn’t in receipt of a job offer. 1) Self-confession: Saving the best for last (and possibly leaving myself open to some serious mockery) how about the young recruiter with just a few months experience and very minimal money who managed to sit on some chewing gum on his way to an interview? He proceeded to go to a shop and purchase a black pen, scrub as much of the gum off as possible from his only suit and colour over the residue to not have it noticed by his potential client. I’m not so sure if I pulled that one off as well as I thought I did, but only the interviewer would be able to tell you…(hint, I don’t work for him now, and never have done!). What can we learn from howlers? So, in summary it might be an idea, when requested for an interview, to wear suitable attire (that would be a suit, and shoes!), know your technology before going to the interview, turn up on time, and, above all else, check the seat on the train doesn’t have chewing gum on it! Related: 10 Classic Job Interview Blunders You Must Avoid. Image: Shutterstock

Home Grown Businesses Who Do Well by Doing Good - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Home Grown Businesses Who Do Well by Doing Good - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.   Margaret Meade, cultural anthropologist If we look closely at our own communities we may be pleasantly surprised and proud of the many businesses that are doing well in their business and using their success to help their own communities. In my home town, Cleveland, Ohio I found a few deserving of attention and I’m sure there are hundreds more. I’d like to start a campaign to get everyone to notice those businesses who are doing well by doing good, so I’ve chosen to start by citing a few impressive ones in my backyard. Helping maintain dignity Michele Kaminsky, owner of  Mika’s Wig Boutique and  Spa  established her business as a gift to the community, providing a private setting for women to try on wigs as well as a salon and spa. Women who experience hair loss are already enduring considerable emotional stress. Michele said, “My goal is to create a positive, dignified experience for all women who chose to wear a wig, may it be for fashion, religious reasons or due to hair loss from illness”. Since opening in 2013 Mika’s has served over 1,400 clients for wigs, wig care and other hair coverings. Michele puts all of her profits back into the business and doesn’t take a salary. When a community member falls ill The Gathering Place, a cancer wellness and support center with locations in Westlake and Beachwood.    â€œWe are 100 percent privately funded, so the support we get from small businesses help us do our work in supporting individuals and families who are touched by cancer. Also, it’s a win-win for businesses who support our work as people like to do business with companies that are giving back to their community.”  Kris Austin, Director Community Relations and Marketing. Helping charitable organizations to help others Sherrie Foxmans party planning business,  Party 411, gives generously of her expertise to local charities. Foxman says, “Because a portion of my business is coordinating events for non-profits, I get involved with many charities that are small and not well-funded.  â€œMany are doing their first event or need assistance and visibility but they cant afford a planner and are at a loss on how to raise funds efficiently”. Being a friend The Friendship Circle  aims to provide children and teenagers with special needs with social and recreational opportunities to help them acquire self-esteem and lead a productive adult lifestyle. They also provide their parents with much needed respite and support.  â€œThe recruitment of hundreds of volunteer teenagers to administer these services creates a snowball effect whereby these young community members learn the benefits of giving back early on”. Estie Morozov, Program Director. A One Woman Thrift Shop Hannah  Appel runs a one-woman operation from her Beachwood home that provides clothing, household goods, furniture, dishes and cookware, toys, books and more. Her efforts touch more than 300 Jewish families weekly.  â€œIt’s all about keeping our eyes open to the needs of those around us,” Appel said in an interview. Doing good with their dough Orlando baking company  began as a small bakery in Italy in 1872, and  continually looks for creative ways to give back to the local community.  We believe in the work of the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland and are proud to be one of the founding sponsors of the networks annual fundraiser.  The city of Cleveland supports our family, so we want to support the city of Cleveland, and that’s one way we can do it.  It’s amazing that with the assistance of 1,000 volunteers, it feeds 60,000 people every month”. John Anthony Orlando, Executive V.P. of Operations A community centered business climate   Bo Burlingham, author of Small Giants: Businesses that Choose to Be Great Instead of Big, says, great businesses have “mojo,” which he describes as “the corporate equivalent of charisma in a person…Companies with mojo have a quality that make people want to be part of them.” He notes that invariably these “giants” emerge out of confidence in, and clarity about, their founder’s decision to put other goals ahead of revenue or geographical growth. Real change is created thanks to the cumulative efforts of many.    â€œOne of the key elements of mojo is that a successful small company is deeply rooted in the fabric of its local community.  It has what the French winemakers call terroir, the flavor of the soil in which it grew.”  This relationship with the community goes far beyond the usual concept of “giving back,” he says, to become very much a two-way street. “The community helps mould the character of the business, just as the companies play an important role in the life of the community.” Organizations that want to bring about social change don’t have to be big to make a difference.   The leaders just need to ask the right questions and seek partners in the communities directly affected by their cause.   When we collaborate as a community to alleviate stress in our communities, we strengthen our businesses, our city, and ourselves.   May it be Cleveland, Ohio, St. Louis, Detroit or L.A., there is great pride in what’s going well in our  own cities and spreading the word could have a positive effect that’s contagious.

What Can You Expect From Resume Writing Services At Atlanta GA?

What Can You Expect From Resume Writing Services At Atlanta GA?If you are looking for resume writing services at Atlanta GA, there are many places to turn to. You can find numerous ways to have these services come to your office or home and help you get a new professional resume. Many people utilize such services, as they cannot devote enough time to writing their own resumes, nor do they have the time to do it by themselves. That is why you can get these services to write your resume for you at a very affordable price.One of the things that is essential to having a professional resume is having a well written one. Many people struggle with this problem and many can attest to the fact that they would never have been able to do it on their own. Even if you use your head and are a good writer, unless you know what you are doing, you may be wasting a lot of your time.All of us need to put some effort into our writing, because it will pay off in the end. So what are some of the things th at you can do to keep this from happening? These are easy tips that can help you avoid getting your own resume cluttered up with technical terms and other words that don't mean anything to anyone but the person writing it.To begin with, when you write your own resume, you need to be aware of the various types of information that you should include. Do not be afraid to let all of your abilities shine through. This will help to get you noticed and that will be all that most employers want to hear.Of course, you also need to make sure that the information you are putting in your resume is accurate. If you forget something, you are going to get in trouble. You will probably have to come up with an explanation to the human resources department and be very brief and give them only the necessary information. Also, try to be concise. People do not want to read over your resume and every time they get to the end of it, they will be confused. Try to keep your resume at the bare minimum, but n ot too short, or you will not be able to impress any potential employers.When you are using resume writing services, you need to remember that you can be responsible and still include information that is factual. The most important thing is to be honest and be prepared. If you do not include all of the pertinent information that is required, you could jeopardize your chances of getting hired for that position.In order to make the career change from a secretary to a top executive position, you need to be fully prepared. A resume is one of the tools you need to make sure that you have met all of the requirements for this new job and have put forth the best possible effort. Resume writing services can help you with this, so make sure you use them wisely.

Is it Time to Clean Out Your Resume Closet

Is it Time to Clean Out Your Resume Closet One of the reasons why it is so difficult for people to write their own resume is that there is often so much emotional baggage attached to our careers and it is hard to let go of the things we experienced in each of our jobs. Writing a good resume forces you to make choices about what should and should not be listed in the document and the exercise is similar to cleaning out a closet of cherished items that no longer have a place in your life. If you were going through the clothes and accessories in your closet you would probably ask yourself these questions:1. Does this still fit? 2. Does this date me? 3. Is this item consistent with current trends? 4. Will I make the right impression with this outfit? 5. Can I pull this look off at my age? 6. Does this outfit make me look like everyone else? 7. Does this look match my industry/professional level?When was the last time you “cleaned out” your resume? Try asking yourself these same questions to determine what to keep and what to cut. If the information is not relevant to your current job target, let if go. Need some resume styling tips? Check out our Pinterest page.

Pride on the job - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Pride on the job - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Once again an excellent article from Fast Company on the importance on pride at work. There`s one thing Id like to add, namely that you cant do pride. Pride is not a practice, it is the result of one or more practices. The article even shows some of these practices like caring for employees, focus on learning, including employees in decisions and focus on long term results. Heres the list of practices, that I believe promote pride and happiness at work. 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