8 Top Tips to Promote Work-Life Balance in Your Office

8 Top Tips to Promote Work-Life Balance in Your Office It’s no easy task achieving work-life balance in today’s unpredictable and fast-paced business world. As we’ve become more dependent on technology and social media, it’s also becoming difficult to separate work from our personal lives. We recently conducted a global study to discover which countries ranked the best for overall work-life balance and cross-compared the findings with the latest World Happiness Report. Our  study found two-thirds of the world’s happiest nations also rate the highest for work-life balance. While the UK appears in both reports, it is only 28th  in the world for work-life balance and 19th  for overall happiness. Research suggests there is  still room for improvement  when it comes to businesses promoting better work-life balance for their employees. So, how can employers help staff achieve this and boost overall workplace well-being? 1. Encourage time off The American Sociological Association suggests a larger number of vacations lead to a  decline in the psychological distress of people. Holidays are not a luxury, they are a necessity. A break from work will provide your employees with the chance to switch off and enjoy themselves. They’re a great opportunity to recuperate and recharge and it’s essential you communicate this to your teams, to improve staff productivity and focus when they return to the office. An effective way to encourage staff to take time off is to implement a mandatory system, where it is required staff to use up their entire annual leave each year. 2. Implement short breaks The human body was not designed to stare at a bright screen for hours on end without any downtime. To combat this, it’s essential to encourage small breaks throughout the day for your staff. Why not consider installing a social area in your office, where people can get away from their desks and take their minds off work? Consider encouraging light exercise as well, to break up the day. Maybe you could introduce walking meetings outside the office or a lunchtime running club. Some leading companies invite meditation practitioners to run internal seminars, to enable staff to learn the best coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, during particularly busy periods. 3. Ask employees for guidance If you are struggling to come up with innovative ways to improve your employees’ work-life balance, why not ask for their input? If you notice people are struggling to find balance, then find out what changes  they  think would improve their situation. Collaborating with teams will provide more insights into the way they think and feel. To help facilitate these discussions, consider having regularly scheduled meetings, or implement  real-time feedback  programmes. This way you can accurately gauge how your people are feeling and make adjustments to ensure they have the right balance. 4. Practice what you preach   If you tell your teams to leave on time and not work over the weekend, but you’re sending them emails during these periods it sends mixed messages and puts pressure on your staff to mirror your working hours. It’s important to respect the balance and privacy of employees when they are not in the office. This means you should avoid contacting them outside work hours and allow them to fully switch off and recharge. 5. Offer flexible working A flexible schedule does not mean employees can come and go at will, which is usually an employer’s main concern. But it doesn’t need to be complex either. In fact, it can mean something as simple as introducing employee choice when it comes to the start and end times of their working day. More sophisticated flexible schedules such as a four-day work week or telecommuting require more planning, but flexible work schedules are a cornerstone of work balance, so they may still be worth considering. 6. Time off is exactly that A Mental Health Foundation  survey  revealed over 40 percent of employees resented their current job role because the long hours meant they were neglecting other aspects of life outside of work. With this in mind, it’s important to set up the expectation, when an employee is on holiday, they should give themselves a proper break and enjoy spending time on leisure activities. As an employer, make sure you honor their annual leave and don’t contact them unless it’s truly an emergency. Give the staff a chance to relax so they return with their batteries fully charged. 7. Dont expect overtime as the norm Don’t confuse commitment, engagement, and dedication with 60-70 hour weeks. It’s okay to expect employees to occasionally work long hours if an activity is particularly time-sensitive (i.e.: a new product launch, or a trade show for a few days). However, employees can’t sustain an extraordinary level of energy and long overtime hours as a constant work expectation. Staff will check out, burn out, and even leave if long hours and extraordinary effort are considered normal. 8. Consider job share or part-time options Not all jobs require a full-time employee. Consider the talent that may be available to your organization if you hired employees for part-time hours. With the appropriate two people, job sharing can also work effectively for employees whom you want to retain while they have to prioritize other personal commitments like raising a family. Creative businesses should consider a multitude of avenues to support employees in their quest for work-life balance. About the author:  Melissa Lyras, Brand and Communications Manager,  Spotahome.

How to Use a Resume Builder App

How to Use a Resume Builder AppUsing a resume builder app can be very helpful if you are planning to use the internet to help with your job search. This is an app that will assist you in creating a resume for your job search. There are many websites out there that offer this type of app and can help you save a lot of time and effort.Using an app like this can make it easier to design a resume because you do not have to write each section one by one. Instead, the app will collect all of the information that you want to include in each section of your resume and it will get them all at once. This makes it a lot easier to use because you don't have to type out every section.If you are searching for a resume builder app, you should try to find one that is easy to use and does what you want it to do. Some of the best resume builder apps that I have found will ask you to fill out a short form so that you can get all of the information that you need about the company you are applying for. Y ou will also be asked to put in some basic information about yourself as well.The goal of the form is to gather some of the most common information about you. After you have filled out the form, you will then have the ability to make changes to the information that you put into the form. You may be able to change a few of the details that you put in or you may have the option to edit or delete some of the information that you are giving out.If you want, you can even choose which fields you want included on your resume. It is also a good idea to check the free version before you pay to get access to the paid version. Sometimes the paid version will offer more options than the free version and you may want to choose the one that offers the options that you want.Once you have gathered the information that you want to include in the important sections of your resume, you will then be prompted to save your resume. You will be given the option to either save it as a pdf file or you can ev en save it to your computer. Depending on the app that you choose, you will also be given the option to print it out if you want to.Most of the time, you will not have to worry about all of the important sections being too long. The application that you use should be able to take care of everything that you need. This is a great option because you will be able to be productive on the internet while you are filling out your resume.When you need to be in touch with people who might be looking at your resume, you need to be able to quickly send it off to them. You should be able to send it off in just a few seconds after you finish all of the important sections of your resume. Make sure that you are finding a resume builder app that can get your resume to the person that you need it to go to.

What To Look For In A Rental Property Â

What To Look For In A Rental Property   With house prices soaring faster than ever, renting is becoming an increasingly long-term option. Especially in the bigger cities, where prices are at a premium. With that in mind, you’re looking for a homely, practical rental property that comes without problems. In some cases, that’s easier said than done. In today’s post, we’ll show you what to look for in your next rental property. We’ll look at everything from location, to condition, to the landlord. Remember, you’re looking for a place to call home. And that means finding a fair price with little or no hassle. Here’s what to look for in your next rental property. Price in the market Because house prices fluctuate so wildly, it’s not always easy to pin down a fair price. So, our first piece of advice is to do some thorough research on the surrounding location. Using a website like GreyLoft.com, you can get a sense of the market. What’s the average price for a two-bedroom flat? What’s a fair price for a particular location? An estate agent will also help you out, but arm yourself with knowledge first. Location With any property hunt, location is the all-important factor. The location you choose dictates the quality of life you’ll lead. It dictates the price you’ll pay, and your subsequent budgeting. Consider how far you’re willing to travel for work, and set a limit on the commute time. That should help you draw up a list of possible locations. Be sure to visit each of them, and get a sense of what they’re like. Are they likely to move up in the world? Or are they deteriorating? Take a look at content.moneyinstructor.com for more information on why location matters. Are bills included? Renting is often a minefield when it comes to additional costs and extras. When you’re looking at prices, make sure you know what’s included. Are council tax and utility bills included in the price, or will you have to pay them separately? This information makes a big difference to the overall cost of the property. If you’re looking at an apartment building, is there a service charge for the shared facilities? Make sure you’re getting to the bottom of every payment, and factoring that into the cost. A responsive landlord When renting property, you are reliant on the landlord when things go wrong. If there’s a problem with the plumbing, you need to know they’re on the other end of the phone. Remember, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to make sure the property is habitable. If you’re about to sign for a house, ask to speak to the landlord to get a sense of their behaviour. General condition of the property You can tell a lot about the property from a first viewing. Simple factors like whether the house is clean is a great indicator. Look out for damp and mould on the walls. While viewing the property, check that all the lights and electrics are working properly too. Follow these rules, and you’ll find the perfect rental property! Good luck, and let us know about your rental experiences. Image Source; Image Source; Image Source

Recruitment Could You Handle It

Recruitment Could You Handle It How many people say “I was a recruiter for a bit once”? Its definitely far more than those who say “Ive been a recruiter for 10 years and counting”. Why? Why do so many try it and leave it after a relatively short period of time? Theres certainly not many with 5+ years of experience out there who arent agency directors or started up their own businesses. So when it comes to placing them (looking at myself as an example) if I wanted to try to place myself or someone similar to me Im not sure I would know where to start. So what happens? Do people burn out? Do opportunities disappear? Is it cheaper to hire and train at a junior level? What are the elements of being a recruiter that sees so few collecting a five years (or longer) service award in recruitment? The commonly cited statistic is that 80% of people who enter this industry fail in the first 2 years, leave, and are never sighted again. I dont know the answer but here are some of the core challenges facing a recruiter. It involves sales. Sales is not for everyone. However, there are very few roles that are broader than “just jobs” than arent. The difference with recruitment is your product your candidate has an opinion, a life that can change and a say: the final say no less. The consideration of a counter offer never considers the time and effort spent matching the candidate with the client, developing the spec and convincing the client. If the decision is to one to stay put then the deal falls through. You still did a great job but there is no reward just a fall through. No one remembers the other candidates only the appointed. There is no second place, and recognition and reward is a massive part of what makes people feel successful and gives us job satisfaction. Working hard and doing your best when it results in achievement is awesome, working hard and doing your best but not reaching your placement goal at no fault of your own can be soul destroying. There is often no lessons to be learnt, with nothing you could do differently, its just one of those things which could well be the corrosive factor that grinds people down and the grass starts to look greener. People like to be liked and recruitment has a poor reputation for integrity and service. When you say youre a recruiter people can reel off a list of bad experiences best voiced with disappointment, at worst loaded with hatred. Recruiters who dont listen, dont return calls, to those who tell out and out lies the sector is poorly perceived. I have always found this an opportunity to be different and a background that allows me to excel. However being unable to find a way of being proud of what you do can really eat away at the bedrock of feeling successful. As a role that involves sales when its good, its very good and I dont just mean the fees! Its far from trivial â€" jobs, careers, whole lives are interwoven and a recruiter is integral to big life changing stuff that makes a difference to where people spent most of their time and how they live their lives whether they move house, have children, go on holiday (not what soft drink they have with lunch!) In any other transaction one party is likely to feel they got a great deal but in order to get that the other party is likely to feel compromised. In recruitment when it all comes together its fantastic â€" happy candidate, happy client, happy recruiter! Bottom line is recruitment is a flipping hard job that demands serious hard work to be put in and the rewards will come.  If you are even a little bit work-shy then forget it: you and recruitment wont make the distance. Graft, focus and place that focus on the cumulative big picture and you will be rewarded with a lucrative, satisfying long term career. So what are your thoughts, what sorts the men from the boys and the wheat from the chaff?

Writing an Objective For a Resume for Administrative/Teller Jobs

Writing an Objective For a Resume for Administrative/Teller JobsWriting an objective for a resume is the process of including information about you for the purpose of creating an image for yourself in the eyes of the employer. A number of things need to be included on the objective, which is a part of your resume, as these are the key elements that will help the employer make a decision about whether to interview you or not. The importance of including this element can be highlighted by the fact that most employers are able to evaluate you in just one reading of your resume, so it makes sense to place as much of it as possible on your resume.Writing an objective for a resume should have a relevant purpose and should also be written in such a way that it displays the skills that the applicant has, but will demonstrate as the employee possesses them. There are some general themes to consider when you write an objective for a resume, which will help you determine what types of informati on you will include in the objective.The first thing that is important is to include information about relevant experience and work-related skill sets. This section should have the specific type of experience that was gained through an administrative/teller job, where the employee will demonstrate ability to manage a team, manage time, meet deadlines, deal with clients and deal with competitors.The second section to include is information about the applicant's educational background and qualifications. Since applicants with administrative/teller jobs often demonstrate the skills required in that area, it is wise to include this section. This section will help demonstrate your ability to manage time and allocate resources to project assignments.The third major section to include is a personal statement, which will ask the applicant to express their personal goals and ambitions. The statement should display your ability to exhibit the personality that the company desires to see on the job. While these sections are generally part of the resume, they will still be unique to the administrative/teller jobs that you will be applying for.The fourth section of the objective to include is a brief description of the employee's work history. This section will demonstrate to the employer that the applicant possesses the skills that the company requires for a successful work environment, as well as demonstrating the ability to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines.The fifth section to include is a summary of achievements and performance on previous projects. This section will show the employer that the applicant possesses the essential skills that they require for successful accomplishment of the company's objectives.The most important parts of an objective for a resume are the first two sections and the summary. Other sections, such as career history, educational background and details about skills are also important to include in the resume, but the sections above provide a good basis for those that are specifically applying for administrative/teller jobs.

Three Tips for Better Resumes - Sterling Career Concepts

Three Tips for Better Resumes Three Tips for Better Resumes If you’re interested in helping your resume stand out to potential employers, here are three tips for improving your resume’s readability: 1. Break up large amounts of text Create a document that your reader will want to read! Break up large blocks of text. Bullets should be 2-3 lines max. Summary paragraphs should be 5-7 lines max, and paragraphs within a job entry approximately 5 lines max as well. Adding white space and breaking large amounts of text into smaller blocks adds to the pages readability and helps keep the readers attention. 2. Make your bullet points count Reserve bullets for actual achievements. Make each of your bullets worthy of receiving a bullet point. Answer the question so what? or how did this benefit or help the company? for the reader. Lead with the result, and quantify your accomplishments whenever possible with dollar amounts, percentage improvements, or other figures. Content that is more descriptive of what you did in that position can be included in short paragraph form. This way, the content that is bullet-pointed will jump off the page for the reader and have the opportunity to make an impact and stand out. If there are too many bullet points, they blend together and lose their impact. Aim for no more than 4-5 bullets per job entry. If you truly have 8-9-10 bullets for one job position, break the bullets up into 2-3 labeled subcategories to maintain readability. 3. Incorporate charts and graphs Whats one of the best ways to improve the readability of your resume? Insert a chart or graph to break up a page of full text. Graphs can be powerfully effective at showcasing improving sales or revenue trends or increasing number of accounts under management. Charts can be helpful to highlight key financial points or lists of clients or products. Incorporating these ideas will help your resume earn a place at the top of the pile, instead of in the literal or virtual recycling bin.

Importance of Career Assessments to Employers and Employees - CareerAlley

Importance of Career Assessments to Employers and Employees - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Most professionals change jobs from one employer to another or from an occupation to a different one either within the same organization or different employers. Researchers have established that most adults will switch as many as ten jobs within their first 20 years of work; changing after every two years. Constant switching of jobs can be triggered by a number of factors from the companies individuals work for, to their own reasons. It is not easy to clearly define what one really wants to do and be, as most things appear good enough, but with career assessment, one can finally define a career path. Career Assessment With the assistance of expert human resources managers and counselors, professionals unsure of what they really hope and wish to attain in life can be assisted in finding the right path. It presents a window of possible opportunities and help professionals discovers the areas, experiences, trainings and education required to make the next sound career move. Through an array of tests and assessments, individuals can identify careers that suit them. Information An informed person makes informed decisions. Professional career assessment guides an individual into making sound career choices and saves the management from spending resources trying to train workers for the next career moves. Regular career assessment is timeless and it has to be done from time to time. This is because of the regular changes in organizations, managements and structures may affect employees and make them want to reconsider their positions. Employee Interests Happy employees love their jobs and strive to deliver the very best. Nothing in employment is better than doing things that are of interest and focusing on improvement. Employers must see to it that the right people hold the right jobs that interest them, not just because there is no one else to hold such positions. In the end, the companys profitability will increase and the employee will deliver the best. Please note that interest alone does not qualify an individual for a job, and therefore doesnt guarantee anyone success. Viable Suggestion Unlike what many professionals are meant to believe, undertaking career assessment doesnt miraculously predict the future for anyone. In fact, career assessments are only meant to offer guidance on the route to follow, by giving suggestions based on the results. To ensure that this critical purpose is achieved, it is very important that high standards of honesty are observed. Deliberate provision of false information only skews the final results of career assessment and you will likely not find an answer to your career woes. The Bottom Line Individuals, who work in a fulfilling career exhibit confidence at work, are happier and more productive. As a result of their industriousness, the companies they work for or just relevant departments record better results. Through career assessment, such employees can identify their ideal career paths and pursue them. Employers on the other hand can sleep easy knowing that the very best professionals are holding the crucial dockets. In the end, there will be trust, confidence, happiness and above all, productivity at work. Author Bio Haword Roze is a University Lecturer and Editor of Exams Key. He is researching on University Programs since last three years. You can find his 642-883 Exam Papers Jobs from Top Universities and Colleges from all over the world. 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