5 Ways to Keep Your Staff Motivated This Holiday Season

5 Ways to Keep Your Staff Motivated This Holiday Season Keeping employees focused as the holidays approach can be a challenge. As the festive spirit spreads, distractions from work pile up. But there are simple things you can do to make workers feel appreciated and motivated at this time of year. A recent survey by the online print company, instantprint, has revealed that 94% of employees want some form of reward from their employers at Christmas this year â€" and it doesn’t have to be strenuous or expensive either. There are a wide variety of things you can do for your staff this holiday period to keep them focused and motivated. 1. Give them Gift Cards Instantprint’s research quizzed 1,500 workers about what they would like their festive reward from their employer to be. Gift cards were the top choice with 29% of the vote. Gift cards are a great option if you want your employees to have some form of a physical gift from your company. You can now purchase a variety of cards, valid in stores for all tastes. Providing these for your staff during the festive period will allow them to choose a gift that means something to them. 2. Arrange Early Finishes Being able to leave work early is a great benefit as Christmas approaches. A shorter working day lets employees complete that last bit of Christmas shopping, spend more time with their loved ones and get into the festive spirit. 28.9% of workers said that an early finish would be the best thing their employer could give them this festive season. If it’s workable for your business, try to provide this for your staff. You could create a schedule throughout December, allowing you to plan for a few employees taking early finishes each day. Or, you could close-up early on the 24th so that everyone can get home and prepared for Santa’s visit. 3. Splash out on an Open Bar for the Christmas Function Most companies will have some sort of festive outing, whether organized by staff or management. These events can help make and cement strong bonds between your teams, creating a positive work environment. One way to encourage Christmas parties and make sure attendance is good is to provide an open bar for your employees. One in five workers lists this as their most desired reward from their employer this festive season. Your open bar does not have to last the whole night, even just the first one or two drinks will be appreciated. If you want to make sure everyone benefits from the bar equally, you can issue drinks tokens to staff, which they can use to purchase drinks throughout the evening. 4. Give your Staff Physical Gifts One in ten employees would like a physical gift, chosen by their employers. This could be food, drink or a practical gift, like a travel cup. If you choose something that will last, like a travel cup, it can have a dual purpose. Not only will it be a show of appreciation to your staff, but you could feature company branding on it, creating a new avenue for increasing brand awareness. 5. Make a Charitable Donation At this time of year, it’s always good to think about those less fortunate than ourselves and try to help them out. Giving a donation to a local charity in the name of your employees can help them feel good about the company they work for and the good they are doing in the world. 7% of staff would like their employer to choose this option as their festive gift. If you’re looking to keep employees motivated this holiday period, these ideas should set you on the right track, but you don’t have to limit yourself to just one. If possible, try combining a few to get the most from your staff this Christmas. About the author: Hannah Rogers is a Content Specialist with Search Laboratory. She has expertise in HR, regularly writing about employee motivation, company cultures, and other related topics.

Does LinkedIn Profile Picture Discrimination Happen Updated for 2020

Does LinkedIn Profile Picture Discrimination Happen Updated for 2020 Have you ever asked yourself, Does LinkedIn profile picture discrimination exist? or Will putting my picture on my LinkedIn profile make recruiters and hiring managers discriminate against me? According to this research, the answer is, Yes.  However, putting your picture on your LinkedIn profile can also make it more likely that members, including recruiters and hiring managers, will engage with you.  Arguments for a PhotoI think of LinkedIn like its the hallway outside an industry conference keynote speech. You wouldnt mingle with the other attendees wearing a mask. Thus, in general, you shouldnt show up on LinkedIn hiding your face.In addition, your photo displays on profiles where you write recommendations and endorse skills. Those affirmations carry more weight when you show your face than if you dont.The Potential for DiscriminationSadly, many people worry that using their photo will cause recruiters and hiring managers to discriminate against them.Their  concern might be MSUing (making stuff up), or it  might  be smart.People who discriminate do just that, they discriminate. If they dont like your gender, age, weight, race, etc., a profile photo will certainly help them figure it out quickly.What to ConsiderThe calculus here is, if they met you in person, versus in an online photo, would you be able to overcome their prejudice?The question is important. When discrimination happens, it affects our ability to earn a living.For all the benefits LinkedIn offers, this is a real concern for many people.Anecdotal Data  I originally shared this post in 2013 with a strong bias for including a photo. Im reissuing it because I have additional information to share:1. You will see comments (below) where people clearly encountered discrimination with a photo and got better results without a photo.2. The successful candidates in my last two C-suite searches didnt have photos on their profiles. I didnt care.3. I often get people in my page one search results who dont hav e photos. My eye isnt drawn to them as quickly, but LinkedIn doesnt appear to be penalizing them in search results.I still think its usually better to show your face than not, but its a career myth that you always need a photo on your LinkedIn profile.What you always need is good judgment about whether or not to use a photo â€" and maybe a change or with/without testing as described in the comments below.Let’s Connect on LinkedInPlease don’t hesitate to invite me to connect on LinkedIn  here:  Donna Svei, Executive Resume Writer.The more I know about my readers, the better I can make my blog.Image: Fotolia.com/biker3 Updated November 2019 2014 2019, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.Donna SveiDonna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, writes all of AvidCareerists posts. She has written for and been quoted by leading business, general, and career media outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Bu siness Insider, Lifehacker, Ask.com, Social Media Today, IT World, SmartBrief, Payscale, Business News Daily, and the Muse. Let her background and experience inform your job search strategy and decision making.Learn more about Donnas executive resume writing service or email Donna for more information. LinkedIn â€" Profile Pictures (6 Posts) Does LinkedIn Profile Picture Discrimination Happen Updated for 2020 Have you ever asked yourself, Does LinkedIn profile picture discrimination exist? or Will putting my picture on my LinkedIn profile make recruiters and hiring managers discriminate against me? According to this research, the answer is, Yes.  However, putting your picture on your LinkedIn profile can also make it more likely that members, including recruiters and hiring managers, will engage with you.  Arguments for a PhotoI think of LinkedIn like its the hallway outside an industry conference keynote speech. You wouldnt mingle with the other attendees wearing a mask. Thus, in general, you shouldnt show up on LinkedIn hiding your face.In addition, your photo displays on profiles where you write recommendations and endorse skills. Those affirmations carry more weight when you show your face than if you dont.The Potential for DiscriminationSadly, many people worry that using their photo will cause recruiters and hiring managers to discriminate against them.Their  concern might be MSUing (making stuff up), or it  might  be smart.People who discriminate do just that, they discriminate. If they dont like your gender, age, weight, race, etc., a profile photo will certainly help them figure it out quickly.What to ConsiderThe calculus here is, if they met you in person, versus in an online photo, would you be able to overcome their prejudice?The question is important. When discrimination happens, it affects our ability to earn a living.For all the benefits LinkedIn offers, this is a real concern for many people.Anecdotal Data  I originally shared this post in 2013 with a strong bias for including a photo. Im reissuing it because I have additional information to share:1. You will see comments (below) where people clearly encountered discrimination with a photo and got better results without a photo.2. The successful candidates in my last two C-suite searches didnt have photos on their profiles. I didnt care.3. I often get people in my page one search results who dont hav e photos. My eye isnt drawn to them as quickly, but LinkedIn doesnt appear to be penalizing them in search results.I still think its usually better to show your face than not, but its a career myth that you always need a photo on your LinkedIn profile.What you always need is good judgment about whether or not to use a photo â€" and maybe a change or with/without testing as described in the comments below.Let’s Connect on LinkedInPlease don’t hesitate to invite me to connect on LinkedIn  here:  Donna Svei, Executive Resume Writer.The more I know about my readers, the better I can make my blog.Image: Fotolia.com/biker3 Updated November 2019 2014 2019, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.Donna SveiDonna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, writes all of AvidCareerists posts. She has written for and been quoted by leading business, general, and career media outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Bu siness Insider, Lifehacker, Ask.com, Social Media Today, IT World, SmartBrief, Payscale, Business News Daily, and the Muse. Let her background and experience inform your job search strategy and decision making.Learn more about Donnas executive resume writing service or email Donna for more information. LinkedIn â€" Profile Pictures (6 Posts)

Tips for Creating an Office Space that Any Diva Would Enjoy -

Tips for Creating an Office Space that Any Diva Would Enjoy - When you’re working for yourself or from home, having a comfortable place to carry out our day to day activities is important. Having a location that is free from all distractions and equipped with all the office supplies you need can make getting through each work day a lot less stressful. While many of us may start off with a small computer desk and a dining room chair, there are budget friendly options that will allow you to create an office space fit for a career woman such as yourself. Sure you might be cramped for space, or even tight on money, but these ideas are sure to help you out. Comfort Over Cost While sticking to a budget in business is especially important your comfort level is what is most important. If you’re sitting in a chair that has your legs cramped up all day, or working from a desk that does not allow the computer to be at eye level, you could end up doing serious damage to your body. If you’re really into ergonomics, you might consider looking into office furniture that will provide you with more comfort for a long work day. One option in particular might be a standing desk. There are many health benefits of standing desks;  improved blood circulation, more energy, and the ability to burn calories are only a few of the major proven reasons to stand. What’s great about standing desks is that they come in varying styles and sizes and also allow you to sit when you need to. Buying Used is Not a Bad Thing While some features of your home office require comfort over cost, other areas do not. When looking to purchase office equipment such as a fax machine, computer, or copier, it may save you some money by purchasing it used. When buying used equipment there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. First and foremost you should only purchase from reputable vendors to ensure the quality and actual arrival of the equipment. Some other tips when purchasing used office equipment is to check the warranties, and to ensure that they’re operational. Add Your Own Personal Touches Your office space does not have to be dull and boring, there are great ways that you can add your own personal touches to give it more of an aesthetic appeal. Some suggestions for this might be to apply a bold paint color, adding some artwork on the walls, or even adding accessories such as area rugs, vases, and candles. After all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the office, it might as well be something you enjoy coming to every day. Don’t Forget to Keep Receipts Now that you work from home as a business owner or freelancer, you’re going to be responsible for filing your own taxes each year. To avoid having to owe the IRS hundreds of dollars in taxes, you can save the receipts from the office equipment and decor and simply write it off. This will give you a significant reduction in your business taxes at the end of each year. However, having a receipt on hand is necessary to ensure you don’t get audited. So make sure you keep them in a safe place or scan them and save them electronically for future use. Create a Perfect Home Office! Well, hopefully these three tidbits of advice will help you in getting your home office space up and running. By making sure you have a comfortable, affordable, yet stylish office to retreat to on the daily basis, you can motivate yourself each day to accomplish new goals. Once your office is up and running, all that’s left is to effectively manage your time and get to business. When you’re sitting (or standing) behind your desk, talking on the phone or sending an email, you’ll notice a change in your mood and your will to strive for greatness.

Win or Lose, You Choose. The Critical Skill That Builds Your Messaging Power And Everyones Valuation Of Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Win or Lose, You Choose. The Critical Skill That Builds Your Messaging Power And Everyone’s Valuation Of Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career We hire the operations exec that keeps her cool under pressure; we don’t hire the guy for the C-suite marketing job, because he holds his knife and fork like a savage. We like the powerful and persuasive talker, but we offer the job to the guy who’s persuasive and listens, because he’ll gather the insights to consistently solve problems. Two of these people get it, and as a result everything they do positively impacts their brand. The other two need to wake up and smell the coffee before it is too late to make a mark. Critical communication The success of your every interaction with the world is determined by your mastery of eight specific communication skills. We hire the cool-hand and she gets ahead, the social savage wonders what happened with plans for jobs at the better companies and breaking into management. Each day you emit a constant stream of communication messages that dictate the professional world’s perception of you. Learn to manage this perception of MeInc more effectively (see Branding Has To Be Part Of A Career Success Plan). One of your paybacks will be elimination of a large part of your professional competition, those who don’t think these things through. What you say and how you say it Landing a job, promotions and professional success are impossible without good communication skills. But ask 10 people to define communication skills and over 80% of them will identify verbal and listening skills. Modern communication skills embrace much more. They are built of eight interactive component skills; each exerts a subtle but significant impact on your every interaction and the overall perception of the brand you are building.   There are four primary and four supportive skills: The primary communication skills are Verbal skills â€" What you say and how you say it. Listening skills â€" You listen to understand, rather than just waiting your turn to talk. Writing skills â€" Your written communication leaves a lasting impression whether you make any effort or not. What kind of impression is up to you. Technology Skills â€" Technology has changed the way we communicate and your ability to navigate the new standards in communication media has significant impact your professional image. The four supportive skills are more subtle, but nevertheless, impact every single interaction you have with others, they are Grooming Dress Your appearance tells others who you are and how you feel about yourself, it’s an important communication tool in managing the message you want others to receive. Social graces â€" The people who can impact your future always note how you behave, and how you behave towards others.   We live in a causal society but if your social graces are sketchy, you’ll never represent your organization in any significant way. Body language â€" What your mouth says must be in harmony with what your body says. Your body subconsciously displays how you feel deep inside, it’s a language of communication mankind learned before speech. Whenever there’s a disconnect between what your mouth says and what your body says, the body language is believed. Emotional IQ â€" Your emotional maturity in dealing with others in professional settings; especially at those times when you are under stress and most likely to retreat emotionally to childhood behaviors and act like a little brat. For a brand that carries you upwards, you must understand and manage your Emotional IQ. These eight communication skills are the foundation of every resilient brand. Nurture them in every aspect of your life and you’ll gain much greater control over how you are perceived and what happens in your life. I’ll introduce more critical skills that are foundational to a successful career next week. Author: Martin Yate (CPC) is the author of Knock em Dead The Ultimate Job Search Guide, a NY Times bestseller updated annually for 24 years.   He’s been in career management   for 34 years: Silicon Valley Headhunter and VP with the seminal and feared Executek, Director of HR for Bell Industries Computer Memory Division, Director of Training and Development for Dunhill . Martin believes that change is your future, branding is critical, but no one has ever taught you how to navigate this stuff.

How to Include Study Abroad on Resume

How to Include Study Abroad on ResumeMost of the job seekers who want to include study abroad on resume do not know how to do it. The reason is, they do not have the proper guidance about how to handle the cover letter. However, in this article, I will teach you how to include study abroad on resume.When writing your resume, you need to give your main objective, your experiences and your accomplishments. However, you should also remember that the cover letter is still the most important part of your resume. The cover letter should be a self-introduction letter and the introduction is the reason why your resume is sent to the prospective employer. Therefore, your cover letter must be tailored to your personality and unique qualities so that the recruiter may see you for who you are.When writing the cover letter, the first thing you need to do is define your qualifications. Then, you need to find out how to include study abroad on resume. Once you have already given a brief introductio n about yourself, now you need to mention your previous schools that you attended. In this case, you need to mention the country that you attended and the year of attendance. You should also mention the program that you are taking so that the recruiter can check if you took the program that he or she is looking for.Secondly, you need to discuss with the recruiter your experiences and accomplishments that you gained in your past job and highlight the important point such as, how you were able to communicate to others effectively. Now, you should also tell the recruiter what your interests were, what you studied in school and other relevant information that may allow him or her to see the different side of you.Lastly, you need to add the information about why he or she should hire you because your cover letter should include all the reasons why you are suitable for the position. Now, you can start writing your resume and use your customized cover letter that will help you get the job you want.The way how to include study abroad on resume is not that difficult. There are many companies that provide curriculum vitae templates so that you may create a template of your own. This will allow you to avoid using traditional cover letters and it will also save you from the costs of hiring a professional writer to write the cover letter for you.You may also do research online and get templates from different websites that offer templates for free. However, to get the quality and professional look that you need, you can buy ready-made curriculum vitae templates from the internet. Once you have found the perfect template for you, it is just a matter of finding an online service provider and having the template ready for printing.The next time you are asking yourself how to include study abroad on resume, you can rest assured that the answer is right in front of you. Use your imagination and creativity to come up with a custom-made curriculum vitae template that will allow y ou to present the most professional looking resume possible.

25 Tips for Attending Online Career Fairs - CareerEnlightenment.com

During the FairThe big day has arrived! These tips will help you make the most of all the resources, meet-ups, and opportunities virtual career fairs have to offer.TAKE NOTESOnline career fairs often feature presentations, webinars, and chats. These interactions can help you to learn more about individual companies, network, and even improve your job-hunting skills. Taking notes will ensure you dont forget any important information and can help you highlight the best advice you hear during the fair.WEAR APPROPRIATE ATTIREYou may not be meeting people in person, but theyll still be able to see you if you need to talk over webcam so its essential to look professional. Do what you would do if you were heading into any professional situation, even if youre just online at home.TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARSIf a career fair is offering opportunities to learn more and improve your job-hunting and career development skills, then by all means take advantage. While not every webinar offered may interest you, make sure to make time for those that do.SHOW INTEREST AND INITIATIVEJob hunting isnt something you can do halfheartedly, even online. Show potential employers that youre interested in them by being the first to make contact. Send them your resume, introduce yourself, and make sure they know you really want to work for them.KEEP IT FORMALWhen chatting with employers and other job hunters online, make sure to keep your language professional. That means nothing inappropriate, no text speak, and no emoticons.NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORKOnline career fairs are an excellent place to network, just as their real-world counterparts are. Spend time not only talking to employers, but also others looking for work. You might make new friends or develop connections that can help you later on.BE PREPARED TO INTERVIEWInterviews are not guaranteed at on online job fair, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt be prepared. Always have everything you need for interviewing on hand, so if you get an opportunity you can jump on it.IF YOU HAVE TIME, BROWSE A BITThere can be a lot to take in at an online career fair, so if you have time, just browse around. You may see things you didnt know you were interested in that could help you find a job or even a new career path. It never hurts to look.START EARLYThe early bird gets the worm, as they say, and that advice is probably wise for attending career fairs as well. Dont wait until the fair is halfway over to start. Get in there early and start connecting!After Its OverDont just walk away and forget about your career fair experience once its over! Use these tips to ensure you keep the career ball rolling post-fair.ALWAYS GET INFORMATION FOR FOLLOW-UPIf you do interview with an employer during the career fair, dont bid adieu until youve gotten an email or phone number you can reach them at for follow-up. It will not only help put your mind at ease, but show them that youre truly interested in the job.REVIEW YOUR INTERAC TIONS AT THE END OF THE FAIRSome career fairs will let you go back and see what you said and did during the time you spent online. Review who you talked to, what interested you, and where you see potential. Stepping back can be valuable in keeping your career on track and helping you to find work.USE SOCIAL MEDIAShow just how pumped you are to be talking to a certain company or participating in a career fair by posting to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter about your experiences. Just remember to keep it positive, your future employers may see it.

Meetings Hell or heaven - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Meetings Hell or heaven - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog We recently developed a product in the Happy at Work Project to create better meetings or in our parlance happy meetings. We tested it on a few organizations and one group of leaders told us, that they normally have 20-30 hours worth of meetings a week. I was flabbergasted. Our product aims at making meetings more fun, productive and dynamic by distributing ownership and responsibility for the meetings content from one person (typically the manager) to the entire group. When everyone is involved in setting the agenda and prioritizing items, meeting participants become more focused, engaged and creative. And now The Guardian reports on a study on meetings which found that: 1. The more meetings one has to attend, the greater the negative effects 2. The more time one spends in meetings, the greater the negative effects The results speak volumes. It is impressive, Luong and Rogelberg write in their summary, that a general relationship between meeting load and the employees level of fatigue and subjective workload was found. Their central insight, they say, is the concept of the meeting as one more type of hassle or interruption that can occur for individuals. Notice that it is not meetings per se that are annoying people its bad meetings. Im pretty sure that fun, engaging, productive meetings would simply make people happier at work. Heres my question to you: What do you think it takes, to make meetings fun and productive rather than boring and stressful? 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