3 Challenges Facing HR in the Near Future

3 Challenges Facing HR in the Near Future The human resources sector is changing in all sorts of ways. And it’s important for HR workers to be aware of what these changes are â€" and why they’re occurring â€" in order to keep up with the trends. In the UK, it appears that HR will face three major challenges in the near future. 1. Increasing Competition There are already fierce levels of competition in the HR industry, but we have reason to suppose that employers will become even more competitive in order to attract top talent. Being a competitive employer means trying to find that perfect alignment between a candidate’s skills and what a company can offer in terms of perks, compensation, work culture and environment, development opportunities, and flexibility. However, the HR industry is continually redefining what these ‘benefits’ are. This will see organizations becoming even more creative in what they can offer candidates, which will make the industry as a whole more competitive. 2. Skill Shortages Many within the HR industry also worry about skill shortages becoming more of an issue in the future. The nature and extent of these skill shortages also vary depending on the specific sector in question. In this vein, one of the most acutely affected sectors, which is set to see further skill shortages in the future, is the healthcare sector. In the UK, there is currently a high demand for radiographers, mental health nurses, occupational health nurses, and health care assistants. But firms in general, not just in the health sector, are struggling to hire skilled workers. In order to avoid an ongoing skills shortage, it’s vital to combine sensible workforce planning in the short-term with effective talent pipelining for the coming decades. 3. Brexit Research suggests that Brexit is likely to present further challenges to the HR sector. Drawing on the previous point, the Open University revealed that 53% of businesses believe Brexit is going to exacerbate the skills shortage. Already, firms are struggling to hire the talent they need. In addition, if Brexit introduces restrictions on EU workers, then this could result in high turnover rates, as well as uncertainty in the workforce. Already, EU workers are worried about the impact of Brexit, so HR will need to make reassurances to existing employees and address their concerns. According to Bruce Walcroft at CoreHR, Brexit will have wide-ranging implications for HR, although these obstacles can be overcome. He said: “The consequences of Brexit will almost certainly create more work for HR professionals, from implementing legislative changes to applying for visas or processing the details of migratory workers. Of course, it’s hard to quantify the full impact of Brexit ahead of government negotiations and agreements on legislative reform and migration policies. The Brexit ripple may be wider than we expect but HR can use strategic planning, organizational flexibility and the adoption of disruptive HR technologies to settle the ship. The challenge of Brexit is to embrace the transition and implement an HR strategy that will lead your organization to further success in a post-Brexit world.” This point should be stressed. While the HR sector will present more challenges to employers in the near future, this simply means that professionals in the industry need to be adaptable and stay on top of changing trends. About the author:   Sam Woolfe writes for Inspiring Interns, which specializes in sourcing candidates for internships  and  graduate jobs. He is particularly interested in self-development, psychology, mental health, and the future of work. Most of all, though, Sam is passionate about helping people find work that is meaningful and fulfilling. You can follow him on  Twitter .

Why Size Matters in the Workplace

Why Size Matters in the Workplace If you dont get a job based on your weight in the fashion or film industry, some would argue that would be fair enough as most of these roles require a particular image. But a lot of people are missing out on job opportunities because of their weight, according to a new study published by LinkedIn. And its not just job seekers who are losing out. More than half (56%) of employers surveyed stated they believe they are missing out on talent due to discrimination against people because of their weight. Ngaire Moyes, a spokesperson at LinkedIn, says: We’ve seen a lot of discussion amongst the LinkedIn community and in the media about the stigma attached to weight. Our research suggests that bias based on weight is a factor in the modern workplace’. British businesses have come a long way in terms of diversity and inclusion in recent years, and the journey continues. There is a great deal of understanding about the value diverse businesses can drive and the importance of creating an environment where inclusion and belonging is fostered. LinkedIn members have a number of groups and discussions on this topic on our platform. We want to support them along with employers in opening up the conversation around size bias at work to help understand how the issue can be tackled. While only 16% of employers stated there wasn’t a bias against those overweight, the research among professionals and job seekers shows that those UK workers classified as obese according to their BMI, earn £1,940 less per year than their slimmer colleagues. The study found that these attitudes are shifting over time, with 68% of employers believing that discrimination has decreased or stayed the same over the past five years. Technology was identified as a driver of positive change, with 23% of employers stating virtual reality assessments and 19% stating screening candidates via bots as routes forward. One third (34%) of the employers surveyed reported that unconscious bias training was one of the ways to address weight bias in the workplace. Interestingly, the research also shows that employers are more comfortable hiring a candidate that is deemed to be overweight compared to someone who wears too casual clothing (38%), has brightly dyed hair (28%) or visible tattoos (23%). So what else can employers do to help tackle weight bias in the workplace? Lottie L’Amour is  plus sized blogger and advocate. She shares her tips on how employers can protect the safety and wellbeing of all of their employees. Treat size diversity in the same way as other areas of diversity and inclusion by adding size diversity to your policy and consider metrics to measure progress. Treat every employee regardless of weight the same, by not assuming what job functions or tasks they can or can’t do based on their body type. Make sure that your job descriptions don’t include physical or weight requirements unless they are essential to performing a specific role. Be sensitive when developing wellness and health programs ensure you’re not putting too much emphasis on weight loss or changing someone’s physical appearance by making activities voluntary. Educate your staff on what is and isn’t appropriate language to use when speaking about other employees appearances, especially around body shaming or appearance by holding workshops on positive, non-critical language.

Personal Branding Interview Liz Lynch - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Liz Lynch - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Liz Lynch, who contributes to the Personal Branding Blog every Thursday.   She is a networking strategist, speaker, author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following in Person and Online, and founder of the Center for Networking Excellence. Liz shares her thoughts on why you need to create your own personal brand to succeed, how she uses her social networks to create more opportunities and the ways building her personal brand has brought her success. Chad: You mention on your website that your first networking event lasted about 4 minutes â€" how can people get better at networking in person and online? There’s so much fear that can paralyze peopleâ€"fear of looking stupid, fear of rejectionâ€" this holds people back from reaching out to make those connections that can really have an impact on their businesses, lives and careers.   There are a number of steps to overcoming this fear. Get out of your own head and put your focus on other people. The more genuine interest you can take in getting to know others, the more they’ll warm up to you and the more comfortable you’ll feel. Do whatever prep work you need to do in advance to feel at ease. Practice your elevator pitch so you can say it smoothly and without thinking, have some conversation starters in your back pocket. Jump in and do it. Even though I did run out of my first networking event after 5 minutes, I did go to other events after that and grew more comfortable as time went on. Chad: What has creating your personal brand done for you and how people benefit from creating their own personal brand? The power of a personal brand for me has meant that opportunities seek me out. People come to me already primed to work with me, willing to pay the rates I’m charging. There’s no chasing, there’s no convincing. That really saves me time and shortens my sales cycle. Chad: What would your response be to those who think they are to busy to create their own personal brand? Without a personal brand you are a commodity. A rising tide lifts all boats, but when times are more challenging, the few prospects that are still spending will go with the names they know. You may be doing well now without a personal brand, but you risk falling off the radar screen at some point if you don’t develop a strong presence and differentiate yourself in a meaningful way. And since you can’t build a personal brand overnight, it’s better to get started now. Chad: You’re definitely a thought leader when it comes to using social networking â€" how can people use social networks like Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook to have more conversations? You bring up a very critical point, it’s about having conversations. Connections happen through conversation, that’s a two-way exchange by the way, not one-way. You have to find ways to talk to people, not at them. Using Twitter to continually broadcast promotional information about yourself is not going to get you far. People will eventually tune you out, like we’re all skipping through the commercials on TV with TIVO and DVR. The real key to using social networking is to be social interact with people, don’t push anything. Congratulate them on a success, connect them to useful information, help them advance their own agendas. That’s how you gain awareness, attention, rapport, and get them interested in listening to what you have to say. Chad: Is networking in person more of an art, science, or a mix of both? Is it a skill that can be learned? It’s absolutely a skill that can be learned. I’m proof positive of that. And I think there’s a bit of both art and science. I do offer a lot of the science in Smart Networking in trying to break things down for readers into step-by-step formulas, like how to put your elevator pitch together, how to ask for help from your network to give you the best chance of success. That kind of preparation can raise your confidence level. The art comes when you’re interacting with others. You have to be in the moment and fully present in the conversation to be able to flow with it naturally, where you’re able to actually hear what someone is saying because you’re not so consumed by what you’re going to say. I found that having the science down in advance and doing the prep work frees you up to enjoy more of the art in the interaction. Chad: What are some of your favorite social networks and how do you use them to connect, create more opportunities and increase your business? I like the troika of LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter because they do different things together they give a wide range of ways to build and strengthen my network. LinkedIn is the first place I go to research the backgrounds of people I may be meeting so I can get a sense of who they are professionally and whether we have any common experiences. People don’t put up as much of that type of information on Facebook. But I do like Facebook for the “stealth promotion” aspect of it, posting things to my profile page that give others a glimpse into what’s happening in my business. You also have a chance to post photos, videos and other things that can help you engage with your connections. And Twitter is my favorite for promoting other people. It’s so easy to reply, retweet, link to resources that others have posted, and help them spread their message. _______ Liz Lynch is the author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online (McGraw-Hill, 2009) and a sought-after speaker who brings a practical and insightful perspective to networking that has connected with a global audience. Her printed and audio products have sold on six continents, she’s been invited to speak at conferences and organizations around the world, and her writings have been translated into multiple languages. Liz is also founder of the Center for Networking Excellence, a company that develops products, programs and seminars to help entrepreneurs and professionals get clients, build their businesses, and accelerate their careers through networking.

Building Great Teams

Building Great Teams Organizational restructuring invariably means more emphasis on team working and team building skills are seen as essential to cultural, organizational and personal growth. Talent management relies on maximizing the potential talent of the team to be creative, innovative and effective in competing in a complex and challenging environment. If you want a team to work collaboratively in an atmosphere of trust and commitment to common goals. Success depends on familiarity with each others work style, experience on prior teams, and their clarity of purpose and performance is hampered if team members don’t work well together. Harnessing the potential of individuals as a team can be helped along with a few simple building blocks: Look for opportunities to mediate and resolve disputes before they escalate; ensure the focus is on the teams higher goals. Focus on the ways in which team members work together and endeavor to improve communication, cooperation, trust, and respect in those relationships. Encourage good communication and focus on the value of each team members contribution and show how their roles interlink to move the entire team closer to goals. Encourage problem-solving by empowering the team to work on creative solutions together, be open to suggestions and value the ideas of all team members, good ideas can come from all quarters. Provide clarity around goals and standards â€" how do you define success; do you have established clear time frames, and do all team members understand their responsibilities. Consensus is important as it leads to better decisions and improved productivity by securing every employees commitment to the work at hand. Encourage debate as this inspires innovation and creativity and lead the team to better results. 10Eighty defines a team as a group of people working together toward a common goal. High performing team members are co-operative rather than competitive and support one another in working towards the common goal. Build on strengths You need to know the team, what matters to each individual, what makes them tick, what motivates them to invest their energy and commitment and offer that discretionary effort that makes all the difference? We use a strengths-based approach to help individuals and managers understand their skills, values, and motivators and make the most of them. Aim to mentor team members, encourage them in passing on technical knowledge and sharing ideas and experience. Create a collaborative environment where employees feel comfortable to bounce ideas off each other and explore new perspectives. There are always innovative ways of doing business and it is important that new ideas are encouraged including the off-the-wall, outside the box, blue-sky thinking that can be inspirational. A strong team needs support to discover the best ways of achieving goals and a level of autonomy to question and brainstorm and learn from their mistakes and inefficiencies. Collaboration doesn’t necessarily mean lack of conflict, on the contrary, learning how to address challenges makes a team stronger and more cohesive. Collaborative teams work successfully when members pick up on each other’s feelings, share their concerns and have the skill to challenge inappropriate behavior and give honest feedback. Encourage and empower Try to encourage an environment where all team members feel valued and empowered as this helps team members own their work, taking responsibility for their results and accountability for their actions. Armed with a good awareness of team strengths and weaknesses the team can collectively discuss how team performance might be enhanced and how individuals can improve their contributions to the team. Team members learn from the thought processes of co-workers and use team discussion and reflection to compare team performance to goals. In essence, they develop greater levels of understanding and stronger working relationships among all members. Employees are inspired to achieve peak performance when they work in an organization where excellence is expected; the best way to motivate high performing teams is to make that commitment to peak performance in your field or industry.

How to Make the Stars Resume Writing

How to Make the Stars Resume WritingThe Stars resume writing is an excellent way to showcase your skills and abilities that would most likely be helpful in finding a suitable job. A skilled writer will be able to attract the attention of employers with this skill. Let's talk about some of the skills that should be included on your resume.First of all, let's discuss skills. Skills are often referred to as educational qualifications, professional certifications, or licenses. A combination of these two can also be used. These include training, education, experience, and training.They all have the educational qualifications that represent the level of experience that you have. Experience is all about the work you have done in the past. All of your previous work should be included to show the employers that you are capable of doing the work they are offering. An additional skill may also be required, such as customer service, or technical skills, for instance. These should be represented on your resume.With the skills, you can go to the next level. After listing your qualifications, now you will be able to add on the skills that are needed. This is where you can list your qualifications regarding any work-related tasks you have done. A good example of this would be doing any technical writing on software for your former employer.Now that you have shown the employers that you have the skills they are looking for, it is important to list all of the skills you have. A good way to do this is to list all of the applicable skills and then sum them up. It is suggested that you list the most recent skill first so that it would be easier for the employer to understand. Next you can choose one skill and sum it up by asking the employer for details about it.On the skills, you can choose the type of job the company is hiring for. You can also mention the skills you have that will make you more attractive to employers. By doing this, you are bettering yourself and making yoursel f more appealing to potential employers.Other skills include previous employers, and possible skills that you have developed since your previous employment. You can mention this if you have developed any new skills after leaving your previous job. Sometimes it helps if you can highlight any new skills that you have developed.As you can see, this is the very essence of resume writing. Skills are emphasized more in this kind of resume writing. A talented writer can make a huge difference in the way an employer decides to choose you for the job.

Im No Superstar. Im Just Average

Im No Superstar. Im Just Average Do you have to be a superstar to get hired today? I dont think so. Most of us are just average. But it will take a different mindset and require more work than submitting a resume online. Im Nothing Special Ive heard way too many job seekers proclaim they havent done anything outstanding, special or demonstrated herculean success. I get it, I havent either.  I havent received any company awards or employee of the year recognitions. Im just average and thats ok. Most of us are just average. We do our jobs and usually dont get a lot of praise. Welcome to the new normal. Instead of relying on external praise or recognition, you are going to have to start doing a better job of patting yourself on the back and taking credit where credit is due. And by the way, the majority of workers are average. My Education Is Nothing Special Either I graduated in the late 80s with a Humanities degree. My concentration was Ancient Greece and Rome. (Yep, I use this daily. Not.) Theres nothing in my formal educational background  that specifically qualifies me to do ANYTHING. I dont have a Masters degree or advanced certification. Technically, Im underqualified. In fact, when Ive applied to jobs online, just for fun, Ive been bounced out of the application process for NOT having an advanced degree. (Sound familiar?) This is why I am a hater of the online job application process. In fact, Ive never landed a single job this way. On Paper, Im Nothing Special In fact, summarizing my experience on my resume looks very lack-luster, run-of-the-mill, almost boring. Im just average. It takes a true skill to spin work experience into something meaningful. Most of us do not possess this skill and I think thats part of the problem. If you cant showcase what youve done in transferable terms that excite your reader, you pretty much fail. I am not a professional resume writer. I do have many friends who are and Im in awe of their writing and creative marketing skills! What I DO Have I have connections Ive built over the years and do my best to stay in touch with them. Im not always as good at this as I should be, but I know it is my lifeline and career insurance, so I value every connection I make. I also realize that giving back is more important than almost anything. I seldom ask my network for help. I regularly share information, insights, and make connections. I have an intense passion, some may say obsession, within the  careers and job search space. This passion leads me to read, think, write and speak on issues impacting  this sector. What is your passion? What do you do with it? The Shift In order to find your next role, it is going to take more than applying to jobs online. This is the WORST process ever and it is broken. Please, avoid it whenever possible. If you must apply online, then use the two-step method I outline here. You need to shift how you perceive the hiring process. Companies value hiring from these sources. Referrals Internal Transfers Direct Sourcing See, no job boards are listed here! Jobvites most recent Social Recruiting Survey (Ill be writing about that soon), CareerBuilders Survey and CareerXroads  sources of hire survey  all agree! Your job search MUST begin by targeting companies you would like to work for. This is how you get referred. This is how you get your foot in the door and this is how you stand out in front of those companies. It is targeted marketing. This is your new mission. Ask yourself how will I stand out in front of companies for whom I want to work and how will I prove I have what it takes to positively impact the organization? If you want to learn more about direct sourcing and how you can stand out, please read this post I wrote over on Job-Hunt.org. It Takes Effort To Stand Out Blindly submitting a resume wont cut it. You need to build relationships and YES, that takes effort. Identifying companies you would like to work for requires research. You have to figure out what parts of your experience you need to highlight and this requires analytical thinking. Its up to you to connect the dots so employers understand how you fit the role and this requires marketing skills. In short, standing out takes effort. This post explains how someone changing jobs and industry landed a job at LinkedIn by putting forth effort. But I Have Been Hired Before When I Applied  Online! Sure, it can happen. Roughly 10-12% of all jobs filled do come from job postings. But, look at where we are moving. 90+% of recruiters are using LinkedIn (according to Jobvite)are you there? Is your LinkedIn profile  the best version of you possible? Are you using the appropriate  keywords to describe your skills? Employers know that hiring talent in certain areas has become more challenging and project it will get even more competitive. Employers are looking for better ways of bringing in new talent. By the way,  employers have proof  that social networks improve the quality, quantity and time-to-hire. This is what I want you to pay attention to. Use Social Networks Use social networks  to meet people youve never met before. Use them to share ideas.  Sure, you can use social networks to promote yourself and the best way to do thathelp others! Provide value. Give something for nothing! Be a giver not a taker. If you get this concept and are willing to pay it forward, then I think youll benefit from social networking. If this doesnt make sense to you or you dont want to figure this shift out, then good luck continuing to search for a job like you did  5, 10, 20 years ago. (Sense the sarcasm?) People Hire People- Not Paper Look again at where companies credit they receive their best hires:  referrals, internal transfers and direct sourcing. All of these are based on your relationships with people.  Im no superstar, but I do know how to build relationships with people, in-person and online!  You can too!

Good Reasons to Choose a Lower Paying Job - CareerAlley

Good Reasons to Choose a Lower Paying Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Research has shown that for many people salary is not the top priority when it comes to finding an ideal job. Everyone wants to earn as much as they can, but there are some things that are more important in the long run. Benefits That Matter Some jobs have benefits that are more important than salary. Work/life balance is counted as the main reason why people accept a job. This could mean flexible working hours, which can help to give you the chance to be at home when you need to be. Research has shown that for many people salary is not the top priority when it comes to finding an ideal job. Everyone wants to earn as much as they can, but there are some things that are more important in the long run. Tweet This Some employers will pay for and give you the time you need to get more qualifications. It is great to be able to get on the job experience at the same time as completing some course work, and this will always look good on your resume. There could be any number of other benefits, such as health care or having a company vehicle at your disposal. Sometimes, the benefits package can amount to more than a higher salary and having to pay for these things yourself. source A Passion For The Job Some people would do a job for very little money if it is something they have a passion for. Typical examples of this would be nurses and teachers who do not earn great salaries but love what they do. Being happy in your work is vital for your mental health, and it is understandable why people opt for these types of jobs. The problem with choosing a career is that youre not often sure of what you really want to do for the rest of your life. While some people are lucky enough to know what their chosen path is from a very early age, others discover their passion later in life. Yet others settle down to do the job that life has handed to them even as they long for their dream job; they dont act out their dreams because of financial constraints the money is good at their current job and they know that dreaming of making the same amount at their dream job is as good as hoping for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Should You Choose a Job or Let a Job Choose You For some, it is not just that they do not earn a great deal, they also see that where they are working is underfunded and are trying to make a difference for the students or patients they are caring for. Crowdfunding for teachers to buy extra materials for their students, or to do something special for them, is in place, just as there are ways to help nurses improve the clinics they work in for their patients. Image source Better Positions Sometimes, it is better to accept a lower paid job that carries a title than a higher paid one where you are one of many. Being in charge of a project or a department will give you experience that could be vital for the future of your career. It will always be impressive on your resume if it shows that you were an office manager or a project leader, for example. Photo by Alejandro Escamilla on Unsplash Remote Working With any job, you have to consider the time and cost of getting there. If you can work remotely from home, both of those problems disappear. As well as the time you will save traveling, you will not have the stress of the rush hour commute and that has to be a better start to your day. This way of working is becoming more popular as it not only saves employees time and cost, but the employers do not need so much working space so they save money too. The digital world had made this possible, and as technology progresses, so the numbers of people working from home will continue to grow. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to identify and land your dream job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search