Forget Sparkly Stereotypes, Hire the Diamonds in the Rough

Forget Sparkly Stereotypes, Hire the Diamonds in the Rough Theres much talk about organisations such as Microsoft reducing the UCAS points requirement and expanding the range of universities they will consider when hiring graduates.   In fact, theyve moved significantly further forward than many, when it comes to identifying the attributes of a  young person with brilliant potential. Still,  several organisations are stuck in a rut when it comes to shortlisting candidates, and continually fall back to traditional methods of deciding who to assess and meet. When a recruiter or HR professional is forced to  sift through dozens of applications on a daily basis, the hiring process can become dangerously formulaic. Deciding between the most qualified candidates can often come down to minute differences between resumes. A  red-brick university grad with a carefully crafted resume seems like an obvious choice over a job-hopping, state school graduate. But is the shining resume always the best choice? According to UPS’s human resources manager, Regina Hartley, it may not be. Silver spoons vs. scrappers Over more than 25 years at UPS, Hartley has evaluated more than her fair share of applications and she’s determined that the bulk of applicants fall into one of two categories: silver spoons or scrappers. The silver spoon, according to Hartley, is “the one who clearly had advantages and who is destined for success. The scrapper, meanwhile, is “the one who had to fight against tremendous odds to get to the same point.” It is the scrapper, argues Hartley, who may prove the more deserving candidate, despite a potentially imperfect employment history. The HR veteran points out that you can read a resume like a story, and those with a “patchwork quilt” history are well worth a close dive. Rather than interpreting a series of odd jobs as an indicator of instability or inconsistency, it could be viewed as a “signal [of] committed struggle against obstacles” and therefore of a candidate who is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Post traumatic growth The ability to use trauma as a catalyst for positive change is called “post traumatic growth. Coined in 1995 by Dr. Richard Tedeschi, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that those who are able to effectively harness their trauma often go on to great success, professionally and beyond. Examples abound in the business world; Steve Jobs, for example, faced hardship throughout his early life he was given up for adoption as a child, suffered from dyslexia and dropped out of school. Anyone familiar with Apple knows the rest of that story. Further to that point, a fascinatingly disproportionate number of the most highly successful entrepreneurs have dyslexia (35% in the United States). This may be because the challenges associated with the learning disorder forced those entrepreneurs to overcome the odds stacked against them from an early age. According to Hartley, many of the biggest business leaders “view learning disability as a desirable difficulty, which provided them an advantage because they became better listeners and paid greater attention to detail. Grit Recent research has been dedicated to determining a concrete way to measure this against-all-odds, can-do attitude. While teaching Year 8 math in the New York public school system, psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth noticed that IQ was not an accurate predictor of the best and worst students, and she became inspired to understand what was. Duckworth studied a wide swath of subjects students at West Point Military Academy, children in the National Spelling Bee, rookie teachers in the most difficult districts, and newly hired sales representatives to discern who in all these groups not only persevered, but excelled. She and her team found that across these diverse sample sets, the greatest predictor of success was grit. According to Duckworth, “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long term goals; grit is having stamina; grit is sticking with your future, day in day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality.” The good news? Grit isn’t solely an innate trait, but a characteristic that we can hone simply by willfully changing our mentality. We must understand that the ability to learn is not fixed, that it can change with effort and that failure is not a permanent condition. And HR professionals, for their part, must be willing to take a chance on a gritty candidate whose passion may have led to failures in the past the scrapper with the imperfect resume may be your next best hire. About the author: Kirstie Kelly is a writer at Launchpad, makers of video led HR software. She has many years of  experience  within recruitment and is passionate about promoting diverse and inclusive  workplaces.

Once upon a time role models, stories and finding your own career Pathways University of Manchester Careers Blog

Once upon a time… role models, stories and finding your own career Pathways University of Manchester Careers Blog Once upon a time, I wanted to be a vet. I was four years old, I liked animals and when we took my cat to the vet, I saw people who got to work with animals every day. So determined did I seem, that my mother even bought me a book about becoming a vet, Ms. Veterinarian by Mary Price Lee (the title might seem strange now, but back in 1976 it was rare for women to pursue veterinary careers; now nearly 60% of veterinary professionals are women). Events took an unfortunate turn for my cat and I discovered the less pleasant aspects of a vet’s job â€" so I just as determinedly decided that this was definitely not the career for me. How was I making my career decisions between the ages of 4 and 8? I had information based on my preferences (liking animals, and liking them alive), a role model (our family vet), and a book about careers as a vet. Seems reasonable, but it’s safe to say, I wasn’t really thinking about things much, just operating on impressions. I would like to say that this changed early in my career development but then this wouldn’t be much of a career story. My high school didn’t offer careers guidance. In those pre-internet days, I used the most ubiquitous and easily accessible form of information available, film and television. It may seem silly now, but thirty years later, children are still using television as a source of career information. So film buffs, it was 1981 â€" what film inspired me to be an archaeologist, and most significantly, at the age of 9, decide to get a PhD? Other than a bit of dirt under the fingernails archaeology seemed free of occupational unpleasantness (current archaeologists may disagree) and I pursued this path until 2003 but it still didn’t feel like the ‘right’ choice. Role models, as Robert Merton (he coined the phrase) demonstrated, are an important source of information about careers and professional identities- arguably the most important because often we are not even aware of their influence on our decisions. Role models show us and tell us what it’s like to work as a veterinarian, an archaeologist, a teacher, a careers consultant, a policy officer, an entrepreneur, an aid worker, a cartographer. Their career stories are valuable sources of information, advice, inspiration, ideas for experimentation, testing and exploring â€" but only if we don’t take the stories at face value and learn to ask our role models the right questions (although I admit, asking Harrison Ford what being an archaeologist was really like probably wouldn’t have got me much further ahead). The poet John Oldham said, And all your future lies under your hat. How can you make sure its the right hat? It wasn’t until I started working in careers as a researcher that I learned the critical questions to ask, of role models and their career stories as well as reflective questions to ask of myself. This is how you make the most of what role models have to offer, and how you incorporate their information into an personalised, informed decision-making process. Finally learning to do this helped me find my ideal career and set me on the pathway to becoming a careers consultant. At Pathways 2015, you will have the opportunity to encounter the career stories of a diverse range of professionals with PhDs (i.e., role models). This is an opportunity to get beyond vague impressions of jobs and career paths: What will you learn from hearing panellists stories? What questions will you ask them? What will you be listening for? What friends can you make on the day? What stories do they have that you can learn from? What can you teach them from sharing your own stories? In what ways do you hope Pathways 2015 can help you take the next step in your career? Image: Brown felt fedora by Ivy Dawned is licensed under CC BY 4.0 All Postgrad-highlighted Postgraduate Applications and interviews employability job market Options Pathways

Holiday Book Gift Guide for the Career Girl Who Doesnt Have Time to Shop

Holiday Book Gift Guide for the Career Girl Who Doesnt Have Time to Shop As the days get shorter and your workload gets heavier, we know how difficult it is to handpick gifts for all of your family and friends. The one gift everyone will love this year? A brand-new book. If you’re looking to do all of your holiday shopping online this year, these are the books you’ll want to add to your virtual shopping cart. Heres the Ms Career Girl holiday book gift guide for 2018: For the hopeless romantic: The Memory of You by Jamie Beck Steffi Lockwood has just returned to the town she used to call home, picking up a renovation business with her friend as a way to distract herself from the complicated parts of life. But when she runs into Ryan, the man she left behind years ago, she’ll find that she still has a chance at finding real love. As the two find their way back to one another, they’ll come to find that the time spent apart has been troublesome for both of them and the secrets they’re withholding could break the fragile relationship they’ve rebuilt. The Memory of You is a sweet   romance that hopeless romantics will quickly fall for. For the males in your life: What Have You Done by Matthew Farrell In Matthew Farrell’s What Have You Done, forensics specialist Liam will be put through the ride of his life that will have dangerous consequences for everyone involved. Arriving on the scene of a grisly murder, Liam quickly identifies the victim as a woman he once had an affair with. Unable to remember where he was and what he was doing the night the murder was committed, Liam’s reputation and morality will be questioned by everyone around him… including his own brother. A thriller about two brothers, an epic mystery and hidden secrets, this novel will keep the males in your life busy until New Years.  For the busy mom who needs an excuse to take a break: One Minute to Zen: Go From Hot Mess to Mindful Mom in One Minute or Less by Ali Katz With the ever-changing political climate, stress at work and the demands of motherhood, Ali Katz knows that women everywhere, moms especially, need some time to decompress before the beginning of a new year. In this new book, Katz teaches moms techniques that will improve their lives, lower stress levels and leave them feeling like they have a sense of balance in their life. Loaded with personal stories from the author’s real life, she blends story with self-help to bring families closer together and give moms a piece of mind when they need it most. For the mindful woman: Becoming by Michelle Obama Michelle Obama shares intimate details of her life in her bestselling debut memoir. Recounting her early days in Chicago, the ways in which she became a businesswoman and her days in the White Hosue, Becoming has quickly become a must-read book of 2018. With stories of motherhood, marriage and hardship, Mrs. Obama inspires her readers to follow their dreams and do what others say they can’t. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for the woman who always has others in mind, you can be sure they’ll love this memoir. For the thriller junkie: The River Widow by Ann Howard Creel This thrilling historical fiction novel from Ann Howard Creel tells the story of Adah, a strong woman who accidentally kills her abusive husband and then finds herself on the run from his family who is determined to avenge his death. Taking her stepdaughter with her, the two plan to leave town and get as far away as possible but when Adah finds a new potential for love, she’ll have to decide between the life she wants and the life she needs to provide for her remaining family. If you have a thriller junkie in your life, The River Widow will be the perfect addition to their bookshelf this year. For the sports lover: Never Shut Up: The Life, Opinions, and Unexpected Adventures of an NFL Outlier by Marcellus Wiley Ex-NFL player Marcellus Wiley has witnessed struggle and growth throughout his extensive career in the sports industry. Growing up in Compton with all odds bet against him, Wiley quickly learned that if he wanted to be successful, it was up to him to make it happen. Discussing the problematic ways of the NFL, the violence in the neighborhood that he grew up in and more, Never Shut Up gives sports fans an inside look at the industry they have grown to love. For the football fans and sports enthusiasts in your life, this memoir is one that will grab their attention and inspire their new year. For the girl who needs a good cry:  Boot Language: A Memoir by Vanya Erickson Vanya Erickson didn’t have it easy growing up. Having to take care of herself due to her mother’s neglect and a father fighting withdrawal and the aftermath of his service in World War II. Finding a connection to nature, Erickson found her own path to success at a young age and in Boot Language, she begins to make amends with her past and the ways in which her family’s failures shaped her into the woman she is today. Like any good memoir, Erickson’s debut book provides readers with a message of hope that despite the struggles of life, you are responsible for your own success. For the young ones: The Circus Thief by Alane Adams Alane Adams is back this holiday season with a picture book that the children in your life will adore. Continuing the epic adventures of 1920s Georgie, The Circus Thief details a visit to the circus that the young boy will never forget. Amazed at show horse Roxie, Georgie is delighted to meet the horse and ride on her back. But when he learns that Roxie will soon be sent to a work farm, Georgie’s dad makes a huge sacrifice for his young son. This children’s book is a great addition to the numerous toys and gadgets young kids will be receiving this year. For the person who loves a good Netflix binge: I’ll Be There For You: The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller Take a trip back to the early days of Friends with this insightful book about one of the world’s favorite throwback comedies. There’s no doubt that the cast of Friends made an impact on the lives of young adults in the mid-90s but with the success of streaming services, fans of the show have grown extensively since the early 2000s. Delving into the positive messages of the show, the impact it had on its viewers and its portrayal of friendship, I’ll Be There For You makes the perfect gift for loved ones who enjoy getting caught up in a weekend Netflix binge. For the social justice warrior: First Comes Marriage: My Not-So-Typical American Love Story by Huda Al-Marashi The idea of what it is to truly be American is well represented in this new book from Huda Al-Marashi, making it a light but impactful read for the social justice warriors in your life.   Having met the boy that would one day become her future husband when she was only six years old, Huda has always known that their culture’s version of love and marriage is different than that of America’s love stories. Now a grown woman, Huda can’t stop thinking about what her ideal marriage would look like and the ways in which she wishes she could have a conventional relationship with the man she will soon marry. As she navigates the murky waters of love across two different cultures, she finds that following her Muslim upbringing and growing a love that feels authentic will be harder than she expected.

Thinking of Going into Healthcare Try Healthcare Assistant

Thinking of Going into Healthcare Try Healthcare Assistant Being a healthcare assistant is a rewarding but tough job. If you’re thinking of leaving your old career behind and beginning the journey to a new one, then healthcare is a very admirable profession to choose. Healthcare assistants are often described as being the bedrock of the NHS, delivering care to patients in every setting. So what does being a healthcare assistant actually entail, and how do you get to become one? The Different Types of Roles Healthcare assistants usually work in hospitals or GP surgeries, under the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals. As such, the role can be varied, depending on the setting. There are therefore a range of different healthcare job titles that healthcare assistant falls into, from healthcare support worker to clinical support provider. Often, healthcare assistants work alongside nurses, midwives and doctors. As a healthcare assistant, you may also work alongside healthcare scientists, such as audiologists, helping them to treat diseases and operate machinery. Typical duties include the general care of patients, including: Washing and dressing Serving meals and assisting feeding Toileting Bed making Monitoring patients’ conditions Aiding mobility If you’re looking into becoming a healthcare assistant then you have to be prepared to be flexible with your time as you will usually have to work on a shift system, including nights and weekends. Some roles may be office hours, particularly if you’re working with scientists. If you’d rather work alongside physiotherapists, radiographers or occupational therapists (known as allied health professionals), then you may want to be a clinical support worker. Typical duties might include: Preparing patients for their therapy Setting up of equipment Assisting the therapist in treatment Record keeping Training and Qualifications There are no specific requirements to being a healthcare assistant, as usually your employer will train you in the skills that you need. Some healthcare assistant vacancies will look for applicants who already have a QCF (previously known as NVQ) qualification at level 2 or 3, for example in Health and Social Care. A level 2 will give you more responsibility, and a level 3 is often accepted as part of your application to nursing degrees. The role that you’re looking for will usually dictate the type of QCF that you’ll need. These qualifications are often the starting blocks for a job in the healthcare sector and can lead to career advancement along the way too. So, depending on whether you want to go into being a healthcare assistant permanently or you want to use it as a stepping stone to something great, you don’t necessarily have to go to university to become qualified to work in the health sector. If youre looking to find out more about healthcare professions, I suggest reading [amazon template=productasin=1449305024].

How Ergonomics Increase Productivity and Safety in Your Office CareerMetis.com

How Ergonomics Increase Productivity and Safety in Your Office Unproductive employees will cost you a lot of money. Luckily, there are several ways to boost productivity and ensure safety in the workplace. One way is by incorporating ergonomics into the workplace.Ergonomics is all about creating a work environment that’s conducive for employees to help them stay safe and work better. Failure to do so can lead to ergonomic hazards, which are a bit more difficult to spot since their effects aren’t always felt immediately.evalThe goal of ergonomics is to optimize the interaction between a worker and their work, making it easier and more efficient to perform tasks. It goes without saying that ergonomics and office productivity go hand in hand; let’s see how:1) Ergonomics Encourages Perfect PosturesPeople are built differently, which is why it’s important to have office furniture that can accommodate employees of all shapes and sizes.Ergonomics encourages employees to work in their comfort zone. With so many hours spent sitting at work, you n eed to keep your legs at a 90-degree angle to allow your feet to rest flat on the floor. This posture prevents aching feet from work, supports blood circulation, and helps workers to remain comfortable.Similar to the ideal position of feet and legs, back, arms, elbows, and eyes should also remain in the right posture to keep employees more comfortable and in turn, less fatigued and more productive.2) Ergonomics Reduces Highly Repetitive TasksTask repetition, especially coupled with other risk factors such as awkward postures, slows down work progress. Excessive and unnecessary motions should, therefore, be reduced as much as possible to achieve efficiency at the workplace.The whole point of ergonomics is to ensure employees are comfortable while working, allowing highly repetitive tasks to be done without the increased risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders While all jobs require some level of physical activity, other tasks demand workers to use some extra strength. High force requiremen ts are not only damaging to the workers’ health but also slow down work.Modern workplaces need ergonomic equipment to help reduce muscle exertion and work effort, which will, in turn, increase productivity. This includes using mechanical assists, adjustable height lift tables, counterbalance systems, as well as powered equipment and tools designed to improve workplace environment and ergonomics.5) Ergonomically-Designed Products Allow Workers to Work More QuicklyWe’ve already mentioned that ergonomic equipment optimizes postures, cut down on repetitive motions, and reduce high force requirements.All this makes a worker’s job much easier to do. For example, ergonomic computer monitors are designed to reduce eye strain, which allows employees to focus more on their screens without the risk of developing headaches; an ergonomic keyboard can help you type faster; while ergonomic cleaning equipment enables workers to clean larger areas, without needing to bend so frequently. All th is increases the quality and quantity of work, leading to greater productivity.6) Ergonomics Minimizes Work-Related ErrorsevalUncomfortable employees tend to be distracted by the discomfort and end up making simple errors that would have otherwise been avoided. These simple mistakes can end being quite costly. For instance, errors made when operating machinery can lead to severe injuries or wastage of raw materials, while mistakes made when making measurements can hurt the quality of products.On the other hand, ergonomic workstations provide much-needed comfort and allow employees to concentrate more on what they are doing, which often results in fewer mistakes being made. Also, ergonomically designed products are more efficient and make fewer errors.7) Ergonomics Makes Storage Easily AccessibleWhen it comes to workplace comfort, most people tend to overlook the accessibility of workplace peripherals, papers, and important files.Think of the number of times in a day you have to reac h over to grab some papers or drop to your knees to access important documents in the bottom filing cabinet. While this may seem small, it can take a toll on one’s body. An ergonomically friendly workplace will include cabinets that play multiple roles and store office equipment within easy reach.8) Comfortable Workers Are More EnergeticDiscomfort at the workplace increases fatigue and muscle aches. Employees who are in pain tend to feel tired and drained, which makes them less able to do their jobs well and faster. They are forced to take frequent breaks so as to stretch or lie down in an attempt to ease muscle strains and aches.On top of that, physical pain also affects mental energy. It’s difficult to feel inspired, or come up with innovative ideas, or solve problems when you’re constantly distracted by physical discomfort. In contrast, employees who are more comfortable, have more energy and higher working capacity.9) Ergonomics Reduces the Risk of InjuryMillions of employ ees suffer work-related injuries every year. This affects employers and employees alike.One of the biggest threats to workplace productivity is injury-related absences. They rob the workplace of a valuable workforce and cost employers a great deal of money in the form of compensation payments. Work-related injuries have physical and psychological repercussions on the injured person. An injured employee will easily lose their morale, which in turn affects their productivity levels.An ergonomically-friendly workplace makes work easier and helps cut down strain, which minimizes the risk of work-related injuries.10) Ergonomics Boosts Healthy HabitsevalThe introduction of sit-stand workstations has gone a long way toward achieving ergonomics and office productivity.Standing desks are believed to help employees keep fit, promote mental concentration, and even battle certain medical conditions that result from sitting for prolonged hours. That being said, it’s important to alternate betw een standing and sitting since using a standing desk for too long can be counter-productive. It can cause back problems and foot issues like arch pain and heel pain.Ensure you have on the right footwear when using a standing desk. Considering one’s gait affects other parts of their body like the hips, it’s important to see a podiatrist if you have any problems with your feet.11) Ergonomics can Boost the Bottom-LineOne of the often-overlooked benefits that ergonomics can provide to any business, is the positive effect it can have on the profitability of the business.In the current competitive business climate, companies and management are very conscious of cost savings and the taking of well-informed business decisions. In this process, management tends to place a lower emphasis on the influence of the work environment, on the health, safety, and morale of the workers.evalUsing ergonomics in the workplace to ensure that workers’ health and safety are improved, tends to have a p ositive effect on the bottom line, with the reduction in the company’s cost, which can be attributed to improved productivity, higher quality of work, less training expenses, and generally improved labor relations.The inclusion of ergonomics into the workplace also ensures retention of trained and skilled workers for much longer periods, which coupled with all the other benefits mentioned, makes any business more profitable.As we’ve already seen, ergonomics can have a huge impact on your company, including improving productivity. With such a competitive business environment, you want to make life easier for your employees and ensure they are motivated to work harder and better. What better place to begin than with an ergonomically-friendly workplace.

Quitting instantly improved the quality of my life - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Quitting instantly improved the quality of my life - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog This great comment came in yesterday from Stephan De Villiers: I quit my job today! Dont know what I am going to for sure, I just know that by quitting I instantly improved the quality of my life. I honestly think that fear of quitting a bad job is one of the main sources of unhappiness at work. Hating your job is bad enough but if you also feel that there is no way out, no matter how badly they treat you, then things become much, much worse. Conversely, knowing that you are free to quit and find something else makes a bad job situation easier to bare. But only if youre willing to exercise that freedom and actually leave that job. Which way to few people do. Kudos to Stephan for doing it! Related posts Top 10 bad excuses for staying in a crappy job. How to know its time to quit. Top 10 signs youre not happy at work. Best resignation letter ever. How Kim found the courage to quit. 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

How to Write a Job Experience Listing

How to Write a Job Experience ListingJob Experience listing is a type of resume that is used to attract applicants. Employers and other employers also consider it when they are doing a job experience matching. Some are lucky enough to find a Job Experience listing that they can use, but for those that don't, this article will tell you how to do it yourself.One thing to know about Job Experience listings is that there is an age range restriction to them. Most of the sites will only list resumes from people that are at least twenty years old. You can not go past this age, unless you find a site that allows you to add an 'other' section where you can provide a self-addressed stamped envelope and return it in twenty days.Another thing to know is that if you are going to use a Job Experience listing as part of your resume, you need to include all of the relevant experience that the company asks for. This is actually not very hard to do and you can usually get this information directly fro m the employer. It is also very important to make sure that the information that you provide matches what they are looking for in their resumes.If you are not a computer person, then there is one option for you to use if you want to write your own Job Experience listing. You can use a computer program to write your resume. These programs are available online and they make it very easy to create a Job Experience listing for your future employer.What you will need to do is type in the number of years that you have worked in the position that you are applying for and type it in as it is. You will then type in your name, contact information, and be sure to type in your location. Now all you have to do is turn on your computer and sit down to write your resume!There are other methods of writing a resume, but most of them are not very appealing to the eye. Writing a resume that includes a list of jobs is one of the most difficult things to do and take time to do. However, with the help of a computer and an accurate list of jobs that you have worked at, it is very easy to make a resume that looks professional. Remember that a resume is an essential document that will be used by your future employer when they are interviewing you for a job.It is important to find a site that allows you to post your resume and allow you to attach your resume to job applications that you send in. You can find a lot of Job Experience sites online that will allow you to attach your resume to applications that you send in. The benefit of using a Job Experience listing is that it helps you increase your chances of being hired and that means more money for you.If you would like to make sure that you have an impressive resume on hand when you first start looking for a job, then the next step is to create a Job Experience listing for your future employer. If you put your best foot forward when you first start searching for a job, then your chances of landing the job will increase dramatically.