10 Ways to Turn Your New Hire into a Great Employee

10 Ways to Turn Your New Hire into a Great Employee Finding a new hire takes a lot of time and money. In fact, it costs an average of $13,996 to replace an  employee in private industries, according to the Center for American Progress. In some industries, it can  cost as much as double the salary of the departed. That’s why you want to take the time to turn your new hire into a great employee. Here are ten things  you can do to transform your new hire into the high-performing employee of your dreams. 1. Prepare for the first day Fifty-six percent of new hires think about leaving when there are problems with internal processes.  New hires are excited about their new jobs, so they arrive on the first day ready to work. It’s important  to be ready for the employee by having everything ready to go. Don’t wait until after the new hire gets  there to find a place for him/her to sit and update the passwords on their computer. Instead, be sure to  have everything prepared and ready to go when your new employee arrives. By showing how organized you are, your new hire will feel as though they will also need to be that way,  which is a great lesson on the first day. 2. Listen to them According to the same study cited above, 66 percent of new hires will consider leaving their job when  they feel their manager doesn’t listen to them. Employees want to feel as though they are part of a team. They want to be able to share their ideas and  feel validated. It’s important to ask new employees what they think and congratulate them on their good  ideas so they know that they are an asset to the company. Doing so will make them more comfortable  sharing ideas in the future and increase their engagement, too. 3. Don’t throw too much at them too quickly New hires need to not only prepare themselves mentally with knowledge, but they need to be  emotionally prepared as well. Throwing them too much at one time can overwhelm them and make them  feel as though they won’t be able to succeed. Often, this kills any motivation the employee had. The best way to handle this is to set milestones and provide small batches of training material at a time.  Once the employee has completed a batch, he/she should receive another one, and so on and so forth. Each accomplishment will be a motivator to the new hire, will help them to feel accomplished in their  work, and will let them know that they’re on the right track. 4. Explain the mission of the organization According to a Gallup survey, employees who feel a sense of purpose where they work are more likely to  stay at that place of employment. From the start, managers should explain what the goal of the  organization is and how the employee’s job contributes to that goal. It’s important the employee  understand his/her position in the process of the goal and how his/her productivity matters. This will be  what drives the employee and gives them pride in the success of the organization. 5. Implement a rewards system It’s hard being a new employee. You can make it feel much better by rewarding new employees as they  hit a goal. For instance, in sales, a new employee may receive a bonus if he/she reaches a certain level in  sales. For those in other industries, goals may be more about task completion. Once one task is completed, the  new employee may receive a small reward. The rewards can be increased as tasks are finished. By the way, a rewards system isn’t just a good idea for new hires but for all of your employees. The more  appreciated and rewarded they are, the less likely they will want to leave and the more motivation they will have to work hard. 6. Don’t wait to assign projects It may be tempting to hold out on giving your new hire a project right off the bat, but it’s important that you do not wait. Be sure to give them relevant work right away, and link the projects to specific goals  so they feel their work has meaning. It may not be a major project, but if they’ve been training in a  certain area give them a shot to put their learning into practice. Put faith in your new employee to complete the task, but be sure to offer guidance along the way. They’ll  appreciate the support, and you’ll be able to keep an eye on how it’s coming along. After the project is  complete, provide plenty of feedback. Positive reinforcement, along with suggested improvements for  next time, will give them a good idea of what you expect in the future. 7. Find the new hire a buddy Coming into a new setting can be stressful for anyone. Make it easier by buddying the new hire up with  someone in your organization. The buddy provides a sense of comradery and support to your new hire,  and is perfect for answering questions about the workplace that the new hire may not be comfortable  asking their boss. Be sure to give your employee the resources they need to help your new hire, and consider giving them  an allowance to take the new employee out for lunch so they can get to know each other. Developing a  relationship with their new mentor is key to the new hire’s growth and development within the company. 9. Keep hours consistent Employees have personal lives they need to tend to outside of work. It can make it difficult to do that if  their hours keep changing or if schedules aren’t flexible. New hires aren’t as invested yet to deal with  fluctuations in hours as easily. If they are told they will work business hours but end up having to stay  late every night or are asked to come in early, they may be caught off guard. That can start to frustrate  employees and make them less motivated to work hard. Ways to do this: Keep the hours as consistent as possible. If there need to be changes, try to make them small and check with the employee to make sure  it won’t cause too much trouble. Oftentimes just being cordial enough to ask can impress an employee enough to keep his/her  frustration low. 10. Stay present It’s important to set up regular meetings to discuss the new hire’s performance. Each meeting should  have discussion on what’s going well, what can be improved, and any issues the new hire is running into. After the couple of weeks, your new hire will likely seem to get the hang of things. Don’t retreat back to  your office yet, though. Employment is just like dating, and you need to be committed to your employees’  happiness and success if you want to keep them around. Be there for your new employees, and  seasoned ones, too. It will help morale and keep you in the loop of how your team is performing, which  will help your employees grow into the great team members you want â€" and need â€" them to be. Keep these tips in mind as you welcome your new hire to your organization. You’ll likely see a difference  in the way he/she acts and how long he/she stays with you. Remember, the extra work in the beginning with new hires will pay off in the end when you don’t have to find replacements. Author: Sarah Landrum is a freelance writer and career blogger sharing advice on finding happiness and success in the work world. You can find her dishing out advice with a side of wit on Twitter @sarahlandrum and her career advice blog,  Punched Clocks.

How to Write a Technical Resume That Gets You Noticed

How to Write a Technical Resume That Gets You NoticedA technical resume is defined as one that focuses on education and related skills, or job experience. It may be a college degree or a certain amount of work experience; it may be totally required in order to pass the interview, or it may not be considered as relevant by the employer. It may also be used to gauge the potential of the candidate, so that they can match the information and experience with the job. Since many candidates are overqualified for the position that they are applying for, it is important to make sure that the right resume is used.The main objective of a technical resume is to boost the chances of getting an interview with an employer. An applicant must demonstrate that they are more educated, and that they have specialized in their field. In a lot of cases, a resume may not have a specific location or specific job title. This means that the applicant will need to be very specific when it comes to the particula r department or position that they want to be interested in.There are different types of technical resumes that have a great deal of difference. A degree will be written as such, while a Master's degree will have the 'M' portion written in the title. Both of these degrees will have a list of specific job titles to make it easier for the employer to match the applicant with the appropriate job.When there is no specific job listed, many companies will base their decision on a combination of the education, work experience, and job related experience. A candidate will need to write about what they have accomplished in each of the three areas. These accomplishments can be anything from a college major to a job that they have worked in previously. A lot of times a candidate will have both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree, but not a job.Another type of technical resume focuses on the specific industry in which the candidate works. For example, someone who works in the automobile i ndustry will need to include this on their resume. This type of resume is a little more detailed, and is more focused on the industry. With this type of resume, the company is looking at the specific field that the candidate works in, and is in need of people who have specific qualifications in the field.In many cases, an applicant may be listed under a specific industry, but might not work directly in that field. It may be important for them to get some form of work experience before getting on a technical resume. This would be helpful for them to show that they are willing to move forward with their career. While this is definitely not considered a bad thing, many candidates do not want to risk their job on a technical resume.It is very important to show that you can get along with people, since the employer does not want to be sure that you are going to be able to work with them in a certain job description. Having the ability to communicate will make your application stand out. Some applicants will be under stress, and they will be able to get along with co-workers and supervisors better because of this.Technical resumes can be quite difficult to write, and are definitely the toughest part of the job application process. They are written based on the education and experience of the candidate and are used to determine how qualified they are to work for a specific company. There are a few tips that will help a candidate to write a technical resume that will be successful in getting their application noticed.

Your job will be good if you have a friend at work

Your job will be good if you have a friend at work As a bulimic in college, the cafeteria was my focal point. At first, it was where I gained fifteen pounds. Not that anyone saw those pounds on me. In college I had the body of a model. Not that anyone saw that, either, because I wore an A-line skirt down to my ankles and an extra-large sweatshirt. Every day. A guy once asked me if I was an Orthodox Jew because I was so covered up all the time. I thought he was an idiot. Thats how big an idiot I was. I taught myself to throw up without a mentor. I just read about it, somewhere, when there was no Internet and definitely no one talked to me because (see above) I looked like a nut job. It got to the point where I was eating for hours and hours every day, because you can do that if you are going to throw it all up. And then I realized that if I was going to be in the cafeteria so often  then I should get a job there. So I took a job in the dishwashing room. There were five people, working at a conveyor belt of dirty food. We talked the whole time. Well, they did. I found I had nothing to contribute until we got to baseball. In high school I won fantasy baseball league by becoming an expert on base stealers and relievers because everyone ignored those stats in the draft. I was conversant on Rickey Henderson and Steve Bedrosian. I picked Vince Coleman up from the minors. The problem was that my only topic for talking was one where I displayed way too much knowledge. People dont want to chat about stolen bases by obscure rookies when they are washing dishes. People wanted to talk about dating. Or whatever people are doing in college that was dating. And I had nothing to say on that topic, not for lack of interest, but for lack of knowledge. So I jumped at the chance to move to the kosher dish room for washing. The best part of the kosher dish room was that only two people wash dishes there. When the other girl saw me, she quit. And I got my best friend the job. We spent two years washing dishes together three nights a week. I loved the job. We talked the whole time. We made a system where wed let everything pile up and then blast through it in a half hour. Which means we got paid to eat dinner and talk. And I realized that the most important thing I learned in college is that youll love your job if you have a friend. Im going to give you some links for that: Tom Rath got famous at Gallup for doing studies like the one that shows that people who have two good friends at work like their job. I loved that research when I first read it, but now I wonder: are all his co-workers the ones doing the research for the books that made him famous? Because they are not famous and I cant help thinking that his co-workers loathe him for his success and he is still happy at work but only because hes so rich and famous. But there are other people who presumably make very little money, like Cynthia Kong, who spends her days filling my inbox with research from her PR firm  about about the workplace, and she sent an infographic  the other day that said that co-workers are most grateful for their co-workers. I think its true, you need friends at work. Heres how I know. After college I was still throwing up. A lot. It is not uncommon for rich, white, professional women to be throwing up at work. Just statistically speaking. Because 10% of college women are bulimic and then college women go to the office, then 10% of office women are throwing up. And most bulimics are rich, white women. And most women cant stop throwing up completelyits like alcoholism. Which means its maybe more than 10% of the rich white women in your office who are throwing up. You cant tell a bulimic has a problem. You can tell an anorexic has a problem. And you can see that a fat person has a problem. But bulimics usually look fine. Its just that they have no friends. Its a lot of work to throw up during the work day because you have to sneak out and get all the food, and then you have to wait a little bit to throw it up, and then you have to redo all your makeup. Even if you have a routine that makes things fast like you really need a bathroom that is close to the food source, generally empty, and very well lit itll still take at least an hour. So if youre going to throw up for an hour a day you have to have no friends. Friends will notice and then youd have to face the fact that you are living the life of a drug addict and something has to change. I know because I had no friends. I worked for the first five years of my career having no friends at work. Or having only sort of friends, because I had to hide so often. I was pretending so much. Most of you are not throwing up. But many of you are hiding. At some point you need to realize that you are the only person who can make your job good. By being honest with yourself about who you are and what you need. And then taking the responsibility to get it. Friends come as the result of this type of behavior. And the  truth is that in order to get to a place where you have friends at work, sometimes you have to take a chance and change to another dish room.

Lessons I learned as an arbitrage clerk

Lessons I learned as an arbitrage clerk I learned my first lessons in the importance of workplace communication when I had a job in the British Pound trading pit at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. What makes the exchange special is that there are no pretenses: You dont have to be an Ivy Leaguer or a genius trader to succeed. The people who do succeed are alert, quick, and well versed in the art of communication. It is ironic that the most treasured office skill is most prevalent at the most un-officelike place. But the trading floor is a great classroom for people who work in a traditional office, especially those who remain stalled professionally because of a lack of communication skills. Lesson 1: Learn the secret language. Every office has a secret language. At the Merc, its hand signals. The trading pit literally a pit is filled with people waving and motioning because its so large and loud that people have to use hand signals to talk to each other. I had to take a class so that I could signal phrases like Prudential Bache has a large order in the British pound pit that needs to be filled at 68. The guy across the room might say, Watch me for an order coming in, and Id have to keep a close eye on him all day because hed only signal the order once before giving the business to someone else. The difference between buy at 68 and sell at 68 is the turn of a palm. At a standard office, the secret language may be that business is mostly conducted by e-mail or meetings, or that the boss likes to be presented with ideas in a certain fashion. If you dont communicate in the way that people expect, no one will hear you. Lesson 2: Build relationships during downtimes, and you will benefit during the fast times. When the trading floor is slow, the traders and clerks stand around talking; the scene resembles a bar. If you are not funny, or insightful, or clever, or at least good at laughing at other peoples jokes, people will not like you. And if people dont like you on the trading floor, it will cost you just like at the office. When trading picks up and phone orders from brokers stream in, people will trade with you or they wont. At the office, if you are disliked, you arent asked out to lunch, assigned good projects, or given help and support when you need it. Lesson 3: The small communication cues are the most important. In the office, this rule is subtle. For example, I had a boss who was great verbally, but whenever he got nervous he would bite his nails and, no matter what he was saying, all we heard was, This place is headed for a train wreck. People pick up on the most casual, seemingly trivial things. The great thing about the trading floor is that you get immediate feedback when you botch a small cue. When trading is fast, prices move fast, and if you miss a price, you could be held responsible for getting that price anyway. In the language of hand signals, a trader can say, I have 600 shares to sell at 70, in less than two seconds. The trader will make that sale by simply catching someones eye and seeing that person nod. If either one of those people makes even the slightest mistake, they could lose thousands or millions of dollars. It is not an exaggeration to say that poor communication skills are the number one problem that holds people back in the workplace. One manager I talked to at a Fortune 500 company said that most of her management time is spent coaching people on how to talk to each other so that teams work efficiently. And people dont even appreciate it, she says. For everyone out there who has been coached by a boss, be grateful. Because on the trading floor, youd otherwise be fired immediately.

Sales in Writing a Resume - Tips on How to Write Your Resume

Sales in Writing a Resume - Tips on How to Write Your ResumeSales in writing a resume is not a breeze. With many tips and advice, you can be successful in sales in writing a resume. Read on for more on this subject.When creating a resume, be sure to put in your requirements upfront. This can be a big help to potential employers when reviewing resumes. You might have a certain age range in mind, or a certain length of time you've been out of work.In addition, remember that the resume is more than just a sales pitch. There are key aspects that will help ensure that a resume is successful.One of the most important points of sales in writing a resume is to consider the abilities of the applicant's skills. Be sure to include what they excel at, and what may be lacking from the other candidates.You should also write a section about strengths and weaknesses. This will show how well the applicant can learn, and if they have the ability to work with others in a team.When you use a sales in wr iting and resume, you need to consider the applicant's skill. Make sure that the individual can perform their job effectively.Experience is also important. When a person has the experience to get the job done properly, they are more likely to get the job done properly.Writing sales in writing a resume does not have to be hard. Even if you do not think that this type of material is something that you are experienced at, it can still be done. If you just follow some simple steps, you can be successful in sales inwriting a resume.

Why more graduates are choosing a career in the recruitment industry

Why more graduates are choosing a career in the recruitment industry This article was written in collaboration with ICS.  Find out more about roles and opportunities available at ICS by downloading the Debut app. The recruitment industry can get a hard rep. It’s terribly misunderstood, continually missold to potential candidates and completely misjudged by those not in the know but we’re here to change all that, stat. To date well over 4,000 Debutants have chosen HR Recruitment as a sector of interest, so let’s get down to business. Many people think they already know what a career in recruitment entails; they think it’s a cut-throat industry where you can trust no one, but the distrust many people have of recruiters is unjustified and exaggerated. In fact the recruitment industry is so misunderstood we spoke to nine graduates currently working in the sector to get the lowdown on what it’s really like, and why they chose to pursue a career in recruitment. So, let Martin, Jethro, Sophie, Emma, Robert, Jeren and Oliver all Recruitment Consultants plus Irham, a Supply Executive and Andrew, a Sales Manager give you the real tea on what a career in the energising and fast-paced industry entails. Initial perceptions Just like a lot of people, some of the graduates we spoke to also had a distorted view of the recruitment industry in the beginning until ICS came along, that is. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we’ll come to the companies helping change perceptions of the industry all in good time. First things first, just what did these graduates initially think a job in the recruitment industry would entail? Well, for most of our interviewees (and most job seekers everywhere), money was naturally top of the agenda. Irham notes that the “potential to earn a significant amount within my first year” was one of his first thoughts regarding the industry. Similarly Andrew had heard “great things about the potential for earnings” within the industry. Given the dollar signs a lot of people see when they hear the job title ‘Recruitment Consultant’, it’s also no surprise that a lot of people believe that recruiters are “ruthless, money-obsessed mercenaries”, as Andrew claims! But on top of potential earnings, the challenges of working in the recruitment sector are also forefront in most people’s minds. Emma claims her initial perception of the recruitment industry was that it would be an overly “busy and challenging environment”; a cut-throat industry that consists of nothing but cold calls. Now dont let that put you off these are their initial perceptions, remember! Thankfully, Martin, Jethro, Sophie, Emma, Robert, Jeren, Oliver, Irham and Andrew did their research and discovered that actually, their fears were unfounded Changing views While some of the above is partly true (you can earn a lot (yay!) and it can be challenging), in reality there is much more to recruitment than meets the eye. Martin claims he feels “a real sense of belonging and job security” in his current role phrases many people wouldn’t necessarily associate with recruitment. Similarly Sophie, Emma and Robert all drew attention to the “friendly”, “fun environment” and the amazing people they work with respectively; see, not so scary after all! Most importantly, Jeren points out that the biggest misconception people tend to have of recruitment is that there’s “no progression”; it turns out that careers in recruitment allow for individuals to progress ”fairly quickly” an absolute God send for graduates looking to make their mark on the world of work in a short space of time. And as for the “ruthless, money obsessed mercenaries” Andrew described? They’re actually “some of the most loyal, honest people” he’s ever worked with. Take that, first impressions. Development opportunities Building on the above, it’s important to recognise that companies specialising in the sector are working hard to ensure development opportunities are abundant not only professionally but also personally. Over 3,000 of our users consider negotiation, persuasion and influential skills to be a top personal strength traits they can easily develop in recruitment. Martin notes that since starting his role, he has become “much more confident” and it has also improved his “ability to communicate in a more professional manner.” Sophie claims her “organisational skills have improved” and Emma has noticed an improvement in her “confidence and quick thinking.” Professionally speaking, again the opportunities available to graduates within recruitment are huge; Andrew was given the chance to build a “new desk within an entirely new sector”, and Irham was presented with a placement that lasted two months due to the “very specific requirements” of the client. Fast-forward and not only did he find the perfect candidate, but received a personalised thank-you card and has since built a “fantastic relationship.” Considering 20% of Debut users prioritise extensive client contact as an important workplace preference, the fact that “relationship / rapport building with both clients and candidates” is such a key part of the recruitment industry, as Irham states, clearly demonstrates why more and more graduates are looking into the industry. Ready, set, recruit In fact, here at Debut we received over 3,500 applications for roles in HR Recruitment in 2017, proving the industry is beginning to shake off those misleading misconceptions and more graduates are seeking experience in the sector. And our little collab with ICS will (hopefully) go some way to helping alleviate any other fears you or your peers may have about the industry. So, why are more and more graduates seeking roles in the recruitment sector? Well all we can say is please see above and ready, set, RECRUIT! Find out more about  ICS  here and check out their latest role here. Download Debut  and don’t forget to connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Why use social media to advance your career prospects - CareerEnlightenment.com

Why use social media to advance your career prospects Even in countries where employment rates are high, finding a well-paid job is not easy. One job ad can easilyattract hundreds of applicants. So, to land a job, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd.The personal touch still worksOne approach that can still work is going door to door to see if local employers are looking for someone. The personal touch still works. If you get to speak to the person responsible for hiring and make a good first impression they will remember you.When they have a vacancy, there is always a chance that they will think of you and get in touch before advertising the job.  The only problem with this approach is that keep out and warning  signs  like these ones  are becoming increasingly common.  Businesses are far moresecurity-consciousthan they used to be. So, quite a few of them now put up signage on their gates and doors advising people not to enter or ring their bell.If you see a sign like that, it is important that you heed the warning or instr uction. In many states, failure to do so could end up with the business owner calling the police.Clearly, that is not the impression you want to make.Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to make potential employers aware ofwhat you could bring to their business. A good place to start is social media.The fact that it is so widely used means thata lot of potential employers look at social mediawhen hiring. They use it in different ways.Let people know you are looking for workGo through each of your social media accounts and change your status to job-seeker. This lets everyone know you are in the market and avoids confusion.   Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Tidy upyour profilesGo through each of your accounts and make sure there is nothing controversial on your timeli ne, page, boardor other medium. You want to make sure you are seen in the best light possible. If you are in any doubt whatsoever, bin it.Use social media to networkIf there are firms or individuals you are interested in working for, or with, network with them. Go onto Twitter, re-tweet and comment. Do the same on their other social platforms. If you can, get involved in their projects and support their charity efforts.On other platforms like Facebook and Instagram, do the same. Share interesting articles and videos that relate directly to the work you do. Leave insightful comments on industry-related pages and boards. The more you network the better.Use social media to prepare for the interviewstageThis is also a great way to get up to date with what is going on in your industry. Anything you find out has the potential to come inhandy at the interview stage.Take a look at LinkedInLinkedIn  is not strictly speaking social media.  The owners of  LinkedIn  call it a professional netwo rk and that is a fairly good description. If you are a professional, it really is worth setting up and keeping your LinkedIn page up to date. Many employers still look there when they want to find out more about a candidate.They do so to see what skills others say you have and to see, in more detail, where your career has taken you. For certain professions, writing and uploading a few articles can also be a good idea.But, be sure to put your best foot forward. Really work on them. Make sure they are well-written, factually correct, informative and non-controversial. Before you publish, re-read your articles and try to put yourself in the shoes of a prospective employer. Doing this will help you to get the tone right.The above are just a few suggestions.Be creative and come up with your own ideas to maximize your efforts.

Should you ditch the cover letter - Hallie Crawford

Should you ditch the cover letter Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net In this day and age with technology and instant communication at our finger tips, people pay less attention to details and the little things that create a final product. This is especially true in the current job market. People begin to skip steps and slack off on things such as resumes. I recently read this article from FOX Business news, How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter. First impressions are critical, especially during a job hunt, and a cover letter is often a candidate’s firstand possibly onlyopportunity to catch a prospective employer’s attention. For college grads hitting the job market, a customized cover letter for a job opening is crucial to presenting themselves as a worthy candidate to an employer. People often think that cover letters are over-rated and not necessary, this is certainly not true. Even if an employer doesnt ask for one, you need include it with your resume. It shows you can communicate and pay attention to detail. It also shows that you care enough about the job to take the time to write one. The perfect cover letter can make you stand out from all the other job applicants. If you still don’t think it’s necessary, try putting yourself in the employer’s shoes. Why should they interview you? What do you have to offer them? Remember, its the first impression that counts. Do you have a success story or any feedback on cover letters? Please feel free to share in the comments section below. If you’d like more help with your resume contact us today! Job Search Coach