How Recruiters Can Survive and Thrive During the Summer Slump

How Recruiters Can Survive and Thrive During the Summer Slump With summer holidays fast approaching (I use the term very loosely given there are grey, foreboding clouds in the Lancashire sky, as I write this in June, with a cardigan and fluffy slippers on) I wonder how many recruiters are thinking ahead of how to ensure their desks don’t collapse whilst they enjoy their well earned time off. Whilst holidays are part and parcel of every day life, the summer poses it’s own challenges with long school holidays, (with some schools off for 6-8 weeks), thus creating potential issues for working parents in particular, and also the colleagues who are sometimes left “holding the baby” in their absence!  How do recruiters ensure they remain successful throughout the year, without creating a ‘trough’ of activity and subsequent income, yet still manage to enjoy their fortnight in the sun and not risk returning to zero.  Here are a few tips: The direct approach In the run up to your holiday, for the activity that is occurring beforehand and will run over this into your holiday time, facilitate a communication to allow your clients and candidates to have each others mobiles and emails so that they can continue to have a dialogue in your absence. Incentivise your team Your employer may already adopt a split fee scheme on candidate ownership, however, perhaps you can negotiate with a colleague to “proxy” manage your activity for a split of the fees. Or alternatively, you could offer a reciprocal arrangement when they take their holiday pro forma. Either way, choose a trusted colleague you know will maintain your professional approach to ensure parity for your clients. Boost your activity In the weeks before your planned absence, create more activity and opportunity for revenue by working harder and longer. It is simple economics. And whilst I am huge advocate for flexible working, in the run up to my (frequent holidays) I definitely create a crescendo of activity in the days leading up to my time away. Speak to people honestly Talk to your employer and explain what support you need in anticipation of your vacation and how they can assist you further. Can a resourcer shadow you for the week or so before you go to take over instead? Equally, speak to your clients and ask them to pre empt any potential issues so you can manage them accordingly. For working parents There are additional challenges facing working parents especially those of school age as you face the arduous task of finding suitable clubs and activities potentially for 4 weeks out of the 6.  Prebook your childcare in advance and ensure a calendar of availability to alleviate the guilt. Some holidays I have had no full cover so I work 7-1030am and then 4-7pm so I can get the kids involved in a home based activity and then enjoy something fun with them during the alternate hours. Honesty is the best policy I have always been very proud that I am lucky enough to work around the school holidays and I know I am not the norm. However, I have always encouraged clients and candidates to be totally open and honest. Therefore, don’t shy away from your pending absence- use it as a reason to steer faster processes and facilitate decisions before you go! Book your diary up I have always ensured that I have a busy diary for when I return from any holiday- definitely not the first day back obviously, but certainly by day 3 you should get yourself back out in front of your clients and candidates to get yourself “back in it”. Confirm everyone when you arrive back from your hols the night before you return so you can focus on answering those 765 emails and missed calls Remember, a holiday is a chance for you to rest, relax, bunjee jump, taste exotic foods, ski down a slope, visit a Roman ruin, lie on a foreign beach- whatever your choice of location, it is an essential time to remove yourself from the daily constraints of work, the constant pace of recruitment. Take your holiday allowance- use it to relax and chill out with your loved ones. Reflect, make plans, tick off bucket lists. Try not to think about work and don’t log on or check your messages unless you absolutely have to. Whatever and wherever you go this summer, stay safe and enjoy. Image: Shutterstock

Why Its Important To Your Career To Read Foreign Based Media -

Why Its Important To Your Career To Read Foreign Based Media - Dorothy said it first. This isnt Kansas, Toto. Gone are the days when you can do life by catching the front page of your local paper or five minutes of the TV news . . . including weather.   Our world is becoming more and more connected, and if you cant speak the language of international news and events, you have to at least be conscious of them. Truth is, you probably work for a company that is, itself, international, or is part of an international conglomerate. So there may even be international career opportunities in your future. The question becomes how do you keep up?   Since its doubtful youve got the time to read enough individual sources and sort through literally tens of thousands of articles that are published every day, youve got to find a better way.   Technology and the internet has combined to bring a solution, the news aggregator or news conglomerator. Aggregators and Conglomerators What They Do One of the biggest challenges we all face is filtering out fake news.   Or news from sources that are so biased the results are worthless.   While aggregators gather nearly everything out there, they also offer you the opportunity to select your trusted sources for your primary news feed.   You can also filter out types of news in which you have no interest.   Hate sports?   Its gone. You get the top stories from sites and sources that are of interest and that you trust to deliver an accurate account of the news. What Are the Options? The old standby was Google News.   But weve come a long ways and there are lots of options, including: News360. Flipboard. NewsNow. Pocket. SmartNews. Feedly. Gentle Reader Ms. Career Girl uses News360 and Gentle Reader.   Gentle Reader is one of the newest iterations.   Heres a snippit of info on those: Gentle Reader Gentle Reader    says you can boost your career by reading foreign-based media.   We think thats true.   And they have a great mix of media sources from around the world.    Gentle Reader gives you the freshest content in an easy-to-read format with no clutter and no ads.   Plus, you can add Twitter feeds to be part of your newsy meal. News360 News360 is an app that learns what you enjoy  and finds stories you’ll like around the web.   You can tag stories with a thumb up or down and it learns what you like, although its not perfect at knowing whether your nixing Alabama politics or some other element of the article.   The good news (no pun intended) is that theyre continually improving the platform. We recommend both of the above, to see what youre not seeing as well as what you are. Why Should You Engage in An International Mix of News? Reading across foreign based media gives you the edge in a job market that values the ability to think different and relate to diverse audiences. Get ahead of the game  and follow the news around the world. See how the story changes as each country  wakes up and journalists and news editors from East to West start to report, analyse and comment on events. It might just give you the chance to make up your  own mind. Makes sense right? So why aren’t you doing it already? Sign up!

Why Is Organic Food Better For Babies

Why Is Organic Food Better For Babies When it comes to feeding of babies, it is extremely important to keep in mind what we feed them with and whether it is good for their health. New Borns, toddlers and infants have to be fed with organic food. Now let us see why should we feed them only with organic food? It is only during this time that the various body systems of the babies such as digestive, immune and central nervous systems develop and grow. So during this time we should not feed the babies with the non organic food as they contain various toxic and poisonous organisms such as bacteria and other food borne pathogens that cause health complications to the growing babies. Organic food however does not contain any preservatives or other harmful substances that cause any disease to the babies thereby protecting the health of the babies.   Now let us look into what kind of organic food that we should feed our babies with. What Comes Under Organic Food Substances?  As we told earlier non organic food is not healthy for little babies. One of the main components of them is Genetically Modified Organisms called as GMO. Some of the food materials that should not be included in the diet of the babies include soy, animal products, corn and squash as they contain GMOs in them. Cow’s milk is one of the good components of the Best organic Baby formula. It is extremely good for the health of the babies as it has nutritious value that is more or less similar to that of the mother’s breast milk. It has lactose in it but however most of the times lactose is not added to it as it is quite expensive and sweeteners such as corn syrup or brown syrup is added that is not good for the infants. Another component that you should definitely add in your baby’s diet is palmitic acid. It is an important component of the breast milk and can be found naturally in the palm oil. Well most of the mothers want to add DHA and ARA oils to the formula in order to increase the fatty acids but however, these oils contain algae and fungus which may harm the baby. About Preservatives Synthetic preservatives should never be included in the organic baby formula because it does not give any nourishment and therefore does not do any good to your baby Now you might have become clear why should you choose organic baby formulas and why should you avoid using non organic formulas. Well, there are many different best organic baby formulas from various parts of the world that are available. You got to select the one that will best suit your baby. Some of them include, HiPP organic food formula which is a German based product having natural ingredients such as coconut oil and sunflower oil. Holle and Lebenswert are yet another organic baby formula that comes from Germany which provides milk, porridge, vegetables and other products of this sort. Compromise should never be done in taking care of the health of your baby. Opt for the best organic baby formula for your little one. Author bio: Maria is an author of many blogs.   She enjoys writing food related blogs and content

What Can Employees Do to Help Their Own Mental Health in the Workplace

What Can Employees Do to Help Their Own Mental Health in the Workplace While every company has a duty to offer its employees support if they are dealing with a mental health issue, there are certain things your staff can do for themselves to make sure they are as well as they can be especially in the workplace. This week our panel of experts share their expert advice on how you can help your employees help themselves when it comes to managing their own mental health in the workplace. Nick Patel There are a number of ways to improve mental health, including more exercise, higher quality and longer sleep, and better nutrition.   Although employees may not see how these are connected, studies have shown how one dimension of well-being impacts another.   Employees with mental illness should seek professional support and treatment as well as tell friends and family who can provide support when needed. Nick Patel, CEO of Wellable. Renae Shaw The most important actions that individuals can take to better their own mental health in the workplace is to pay attention to how they feel and how it fluctuates. Being aware of your mood and energy levels can help you identify issues early on and address them accordingly. It is also important to analyse your lifestyle such as your sleep pattern, nutrition, exercise, your attitude towards work and your sense of purpose. Making small positive changes for the long term will help you lead a happier and healthier life. Finally, ensure you maintain a good work life balance and prioritise what is important, at work and at home. Turn off your work emails when you leave for the day and ensure you leave your desk at work to get some fresh air and exercise at regular intervals. Being able to leave ‘work at work’ and take regular breaks from your desk means not being over-absorbed in your work and taking time for yourself, family and friends. Renae Shaw, Head of HR at Search Laboratory. Lee Keyes Employees should be informed about their insurance coverage including co-pays and deductibles, covered providers in their network, and navigating access to care. They should also be informed about leave policies including Family and Medical Leave in America, for example. They need to know about the minimum amount of information their employer (usually Human Resources) needs to know in order to process leave requests, and their own rights to privilege and privacy. Accessing good mental health care often involves self-advocacy by the employee, so they need to be assertive about their needs and rights when that is appropriate. Dr. Lee Keyes, is a Psychologist and Emeritus Director at the University of Alabama. Emma Mamo There are lots of practical ways we can help our own mental health and reduce stress in the workplace. Working out what makes you stressed or negatively impacts your mental health is a good place to start. You can then discuss how to minimise these triggers with your line manager and try out different things to see what works for you. Take small breaks away from your work station, ideally getting outside Identify thought patterns that contribute to stress and make a conscious effort to practice healthier thoughts â€" breathing exercises really help with this! Use time management and email management tools to support your productivity e.g. rules and categories to reduce the volume of emails coming directly into your inbox Plan your week in advance and at the beginning of each day, plan out what you’ll do in the morning and afternoon â€" block out times in your diary if this is helpful Celebrate every achievement, big or small Set boundaries between work and life outside of work â€" and make sure you’re maintaining a life outside of work and have a healthy work-life balance. Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind. Brendan Street Having an open dialogue with a manager may seem intimidating, but it can help make it easier for employees to communicate the fluctuations of their mental health and be clear about their needs, so managers know how to best support and accommodate them. Encourage employees to learn skills such as mindfulness, problem-solving, meditation and keeping a good work/life balance to help them cope in difficult situations. Small, regular actions, like setting an alarm to go home on time every day or making sure staff take a full lunch break away from their desks, can result in long-term, positive behaviour changes. Brendan Street, Professional Head of Emotional Wellbeing at Nuffield Health. Shona Davies People often talk about building resilience in order to better manage their own mental health and that will be different things to different people. For me, the key terms are flexibility, balance and self-care. Having flexibility in how and where we work is not always possible but if it can be done, do! Creating a balance between life and work so that we are able to make space for the people and places we love. And self-care whether that be a walk out in nature or a day in bed with a book. Making time for yourself is critical. . Shona Davies, Founder of Shona Davies Consulting. Chieu Cao According to some research we carried out, work is the most common cause of stress for UK adults with 59% experiencing it. In most instances it’s because we don’t know how to switch off work and properly rest. Mindfulness is probably one of the easiest and cheapest ways to help overcome this problem, helping us feel happier and healthier. It’s a great method to cope with anxiety because it makes one focus on the “being” rather than the “doing”, encouraging you to focus on the present state of mind.                       Chieu Cao, Co-Founder of Perkbox. Lucy Faulks There are many ways that employees can protect their mental health. We know that staying active, eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of sleep are all lifestyle factors linked to mental wellbeing but also that resilient people have strong support networks, find it easy to talk about problems, are self-aware (something that can be strengthened by practising mindfulness), and are able to see the bigger picture. Lucy Faulks, Co-founder of Elevate. Paula Whelan It is important for employees to have a good life/work balance, this will be helped by them not working beyond the agreed daily hours. Having hobbies and interests outside of work, taking regular exercise, getting enough sleep and having a healthy/balanced diet all contribute to positive mental health. Taking regular breaks from computers, having a lunch break away from the desk and positive working relationships with colleagues will also help. Paula Whelan, Head of Diversity Inclusion at Right Track Learning. Nicole Thurman We all have an obligation to acknowledge needs like depression, anxiety and substance abuse, then seek help. Its not always easy, especially when you are in the middle of it. It can be very hard to climb out of the despair that some people feel. At CHG, we really look to our leaders to identify and work with people who are struggling with mental health needs. Our expectation is that we take care of our employees and provide resources for them. For us, we have tackled it by acknowledging that mental health needs exist, providing services for people, and letting them know that its okay to use them. Employees should take full advantage of whatever benefits employers offer them. Nicole Thurman, Vice President, Talent Management at CHG Healthcare.

How to Write a Cover Letter For the Resume

How to Write a Cover Letter For the ResumeThis article will teach you how to write a cover letter for the resume. The objective of the cover letter is to convince the recruiter to call you for the interview rather than a job opening that you are already applying for.Before sending out the application letter, ensure that you have researched and gathered all the necessary information about the employer's position. You should be able to make use of the job description of the company you are aiming to apply for. Also ensure that the position is related to your area of interest. All these details are vital in setting the tone of the cover letter.This is usually done by hiring a professional resume writer. However, you can also use templates of the cover letter. This is an inexpensive approach to do to a writing a cover letter for the resume. Moreover, the templates are available in free templates online or paid templates in cyberspace.The cover letter is a one-page document which serves a s the first part of the term resume. It lists the salient characteristics of the company in which you want to work. In a nutshell, it is a welcome letter. It should not be used to announce your qualification to the employer but more as an introduction.Your resume can be the next portion of the cover letter. Hence, it must be professional and creative, setting the tone for the rest of the document. It should reflect the positive traits that the candidate possesses, even if they have many flaws.The first paragraph should be considered as a persuasive letter. Write it as directly as possible. Avoid extraneous words and unnecessary phrases. Leave an appropriate space for the resume, which will serve as a summary.Finally, carefully read the resume and get a clear picture of the requirements, making sure that you pay careful attention to every section. You must be able to identify the areas where there are necessary changes to be made. Also ensure that you correct any spelling mistakes an d grammatical errors.Also, write the resume in chronological order and consecutively. Once all the documents are prepared, you can start writing a cover letter for the resume. The writing is an easy task if you pay enough attention to detail.

6 Pointers to Ease Your Career Transition

6 Pointers to Ease Your Career Transition The Six P’s of Career Transition You are probably familiar with the five P’s of task accomplishment: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. When it comes to career transition and job-hunting, however, there are six additional P’s that will help you maintain your perspective during this wild ride and enhance your chances of a successful landing. Career coach, author, and military veteran Tom Wolfe, takes a quick look at each of these Six P’s: patience, persistence, professionalism, presentation, politeness, and preparedness. Whether you are returning to the workplace after raising a family, a transitioning military veteran, or someone who is simply ready to make a career change, these pointers will help you through the process. Patience. Things will rarely happen as quickly as you would like and you will need to be patient as you go about your job search. Your priority list will never be the same as that of a potential employer. You have your agenda and employers have their own. It is highly likely that the only time in your search when the time line is too fast for you is when you get a job offer and they want an answer quickly! Persistence. At first glance, this would seem at odds with being patient. Learning how to balance the two is one of your transition tools. Although that tool starts out a little dull, it will be finely honed by the time your search is over. Being persistent means not giving up, but it also means riding the fine line between demonstrating your level of interest and becoming a pest. Preparedness. Going into the job search with a high level of knowledge will eliminate many problems before they have a chance to arise. Knowledge of the organization, knowledge of the position and, most importantly, a high degree of self-knowledge are among the most critical elements of any successful career transition. Professionalism. Do the right thing. Do what you say you will do. Follow-up. Be on time. Return the calls. Honor the timelines and deadlines. Get the application form in on time. Write the follow-up letters. Change your voice mail message. Be respectful. Presentation. Look the part. Dress appropriately. Live up to the grooming and appearance standards that are expected of you. First impressions are important, but it does not stop there. Lasting impressions equate to memory, and being memorable matters in an interview. Speak clearly and with confidence, while maintaining your humility. Remember also the messages that are conveyed by eye contact and body language. Politeness. Be courteous. Say thanks. Smile. Look people in the eye. Just because someone is sitting in the guard shack or at the reception desk does not mean they are not important. Many organizations go out of their way to see what the administrative and clerical people think about a prospective employee. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class ® now and get the most comprehensive job search system available!

Career Booster Returning to School Can Help All Around - CareerAlley

Career Booster Returning to School Can Help All Around - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. An unsteady economy and slow job growth have many people considering a return to school. Perhaps you have thought about beginning a new career path, or perhaps you would like to finish that degree that you started. You may even want to grow further in the job you currently hold. All of these goals can be attained by returning to school for a new certification or degree. A return to school will be hard work, but it can translate into an increased salary along with a host of other benefits. Degree Holders Make More Money Studies demonstrate that those who hold degrees make more money. It is really that simple. The good news is that it has never been easier or more convenient to attain a two or four year degree. Schools are more willing than ever to cater to non-traditional students. In addition, online courses have become quite popular and employers are now viewing degrees earned online as equal to those earned at physical locations. If you find yourself stuck at the same level of salary, consider a return to school to advance your education. Simply earning a degree may help your salary to increase and help you move into a different financial circle. A Degree Offers Esteem Another great benefit of earning a new degree is that it offers esteem to the earner. People admire those that hold degrees and consider them experts in their field. Finishing school demonstrates that you can complete what you set out to accomplish. It offers employers the opportunity to see that you can succeed under pressure. Employers know how difficult earning a degree can be, and they reward employees who have accomplished this task. Education Introduces a New Social Circle There is a social element to becoming educated that offers untold possibilities. School environments are great places to network with professors and other students. You may meet people like yourself and become inspired when surrounded by like-minded individuals. You may also be given the opportunity to meet others who have strengths in your areas of weakness. These types of social interactions offer learning opportunities that cannot be found anywhere else. The ties and social bonds that you make at school can work for you throughout your entire career. The benefits of returning to school do not end at graduation. Access to Resources Returning to school offers the student access to nearly unlimited resources. School libraries are filled with valuable information and you will also have access to media rooms and inter-library loan. This allows you to take out works from across the entire nation. In addition, counselors and professors can help you to meet and contact the individuals you need to succeed. They can help to put you in touch with contacts that will enable you to apply your skills after graduation. The references provided by professors and counselors are a great addition to any resume. These human resources have a vested interested in working for you and helping you after you have graduated. Successful students bring acclaim and success to the school that educated them. If you have been considering a return to school for any of the above reasons, do not hesitate to contact an accredited university or trade school. The new skills that you attain can lead to a larger paycheck and a greater sense of self-worth. A degree or certificate is much more than a fancy piece of paper. It can be the key to a new and better life. The price of education is well worth the effort and expense involved. Many employers will even help to offset the costs involved in educating their employees. Author Bio Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates articles related to education. This article explains the benefits of returning to school and aims to encourage further study with a Masters Degree in Education . This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook