Why Laughter Is the Life of the Office

Why Laughter Is the Life of the Office Having a chuckle at work can have some serious benefits for your business. Not only does it affect employees wellbeing state of mind, but it also can boost precision and productivity. Where has laughter gone? Its been suggested  that children laugh around 300 times a day, and an average adult laughs only 4 a statistic that reflects a sad reality for  most of us!  Laughing can be the key to  improving the mood in the office;  whether youre a boss with a team of unmotivated workers or a worker that feels stuck in a rut. Start laughing and you could find your situation changing very quickly. Respected or liked? If youre  a  manager of people,  sometimes it may feel like you have to choose between being liked or being respected. My advice is ditch deciding between them, and be both. If you find that perfect balance, it will make your life a little easier you wont have to worry too much about  holding back  or hiding your fun side.  Despite popular belief, you can actually have a laugh with your employees and still  maintain respect. It may just take some time to  find a good middle ground. Enjoyable workplaces Businesses are spending millions on employee engagement schemes  to enhance their  brand. The reason? Not enjoying your job is the antithesis of creativity and productivity. Without a known positive culture and reputation, attracting and retaining talent becomes really tough. You spend the majority of your time in the workplace, so you need to enjoy your time there. Of course, the office needs to be optimised for working, but in equal measures you need to be relaxed, comfortable and happy in the workplace. If youre happy, the work will improve and creativity will sky-rocket. Laughter  is the best medicine “Your sense of humour is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health says  Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D. Laughing has a whole host of benefits for your mental health. It has incredible strength as a stress reliever, and it releases endorphins in the brain that can leave you feeling happier. Physical benefits As well as being fantastic for your mental health, laughing can keep you physically fit too. It turns out that laughing for 10-15 minutes can burn 50 calories and have a similar effect to exercise (source). Theres also a host of other benefits including reduced blood sugar levels, improved sleep and better blood circulation. Its definitely time to get laughing! Shift your perspective Sometimes situations at work can seem threatening and scary, meaning youre easily put off tasks that need to get done. Laughing and the introduction of humour to a workplace can make these tasks seem at least a little less daunting and ultimately achievable.  When you dont take things so seriously, your perspective shifts and you can gain a whole new outlook on things. This is true for both work and personal life. Learn to lighten up! Infectious Not only will laughing seriously improve your time at work, but it will also have an effect on those around you. I recently watched an advert created for Coca Cola that showed a man laughing loudly on a train. Before long, the rest of the carriage was chuckling along with him. Positivity is infectious. If youre looking for your dose of laughter for the day, look no further weve got you covered: Ive been there racoon Ive been there. ?? Raccoon accidentally dissolves candy floss, and breaks our hearts https://t.co/HIS18lC0if ???????? NDrew ? (@ScotJock) February 8, 2016 I was trying to enjoy a nice bath but pic.twitter.com/hzjaBNLzvL hails (@hbarinsky) May 17, 2016 Leaving my browser history open in case anyone in this coffee shop tries to steal my laptop when Im in the bathroom. pic.twitter.com/IOo89Vypy7 Chelsea Lockwood (@chelsealockw00d) March 16, 2014 okay thanks pic.twitter.com/xQpctehYfB rob (@robwhisman) July 10, 2015 How do you keep your employees happy at work? We want to know. Let us know your stories in the comments below. Image credit: Shutterstock

Resume Pet Peeves

Resume Pet Peeves Writing resumes for a living has given me plenty of  opportunity to review  career documents that range from  engaging to appalling.    Although there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to creating a resume, there are certainly best practices and current trends  to abide by. Some tips  to  avoid include my personal resume pet peeves: 1. Missing contact information.  Yes, I really see this and I am sure these poor people are sitting at home waiting for a call or an email that is never going to happen.  An employer can not contact you  for an  interview if they don’t have  the means to do so. List several options to be safe! 2. The use of personal pronouns. A resume is a subjective document and you are the implied subject, so eliminate the “I, me, or my” throughout.  Add in some action words instead! 3. Large groupings of text.   It is common knowledge that employers typically scan a resume for just a few seconds before deciding if it passes or fails. If a resume  is content heavy  it runs the risk of key points being buried and overlooked.  Provide a good balance of text and white space and use short and succinct result-based statements for greater impact. 4. Boring and bland. This goes for both appearance and content. I can spot a resume template a mile away, as can most employers. So don’t use one. As for content; best not to copy something you saw written somewhere else. It has already been said. Find a new way to sell your skills so you can stand out. 5. Resumes over two pages long. Although certain circumstances warrant resumes longer than two pages; it is rare. Lengthy resumes lack strategic content. If your ‘essay’ rambles on, the recruiter will most likely tune out. 6. Reverse chronological formats. Yes, I admit it, I don’t like them. They also fall into the boring and bland category above. Today’s current resumes are best compiled into a combination format for more flexibility and greater enhancements. 7. Times New Roman font. It is an overused and overdone font (similar to Arial). There are so many other great fonts to choose from; a personal favourite of mine is  Calibri.8. The tired closing line: “references available upon request”.  Employers will request these as needed, so avoid wasting space stating the obvious. 9. Overstated superlatives with no supporting facts. If you are going to write that you are an outstanding communicator, or fabulous team player, you gotta provide the proof. Employers will not be sold on words alone. 10. An objective. Again, too obvious and overused.  A better use of prime resume real estate  would be a  snappy profile at the start of the document that catches the eye of the recruiter. Think about this. If some of these points are getting under my skin, imagine how the employers feel reading these every day. I bet they are silently begging job seekers to avoid these simple mistakes. Don’t let one of these blunders be the fatal error in your job search.

Ten of The Best Careers to Pursue After School

Ten of The Best Careers to Pursue After School Your time at school was hopefully fun and somewhat carefree. But, as the time to go to the job market draws closer, hard questions become a part of every student’s thought process. Issues like which high paying jobs are available, where to stay, what career path to take, among other matters, become pertinent. Of all these topics, the best careers to pursue often tops all the others since in most cases, the job you get hired to do determines your net worth over time. Here are ten of the best careers to pursue after you are done schooling. Theoretical Physicist Do you smile just a little bit when Dr. Sheldon Cooper wows you with his prowess in the sciences of space, matter, time and energy in the hit show, The Big Bang Theory? Is this something you would consider doing? A career as a physicist will allow you several specializations including astrophysics, medical physics, optical physics, and also atomic and molecular physics. The take-home in any of these roles range from US$ 57,000 and US$ 105,000 per year. Software Engineer The business world, and indeed many segments of the economy, have seen many innovative and disruptive solutions that the blockchain, IoT, and other related technology have made possible. Most of these techs transcend various industries and are providing solutions that define how humankind operate today. If you would want to be part of this brigade that uses science to craft solutions to the world today, then be prepared to subsist on anywhere between US$ 62,000 and US$ 110,000 annually. Financial Manager Do you relish the prospect of maximizing the profits of your would-be employer? As a financial manager, you will provide business cost-cutting measures as well as producing financial reports for the firm. For your troubles, be prepared for a take-home median annual salary of US$ 90,000. Anesthesiologist During surgical procedures, there is an integral member of the team whose role is to ensure the patient does not experience unnecessary pain. Where necessary, the drugs an anesthesiologist administers may put the patient to sleep for the duration of the operation. This role requires precision since the dosage administered has to be just right. In addition, one requires a degree in medicine, a medical school degree in certain instances and several years of residency. The median annual compensation for an anesthesiologist is US$ 100,000. Surgeon If you like good pay and can keep up with stress and believe in the call to save humanity every so often then here is a career path you may want to consider. As a surgeon, you will hover over several operating tables day and night treating a range of malaise using the scalpel. If such a description tickles your fancy, then brace yourself for compensation that is upwards of US$ 100,000 per year. Aerospace and Aviation Engineer If you are enrolled in or are planning to register for some of the best aviation courses in the world, then you are probably thinking of a career path related to handling commercial, military or other spacecraft. As an engineer in the aviation industry, your roles may include aeronautical or astronautical concerns. The former deals with spacecraft while the latter concerns itself with the propulsion of the various aircraft. The annual salary for careers in this industry range from US$ 80,000 to US$ 130,000. Statistician Applying mathematical principles to gather, analyze and advance numerical data in a way that makes sense of day-to-day situations is fun, especially for individuals gifted in math. The employment opportunities for such individuals with the right qualifications exist both in the private and public sector. The mean salary for statisticians is US$ 120,000. Actuary Actuaries are statisticians who apply their mathematical prowess to deal with risks related to insurance. Working in collaboration with accountants, actuaries help insurance firms determine profitable premiums and appropriate policies. The mean take-home salary of an actuary is US 122,000. Electronics and Communication Engineer Of all engineering disciplines, electronics and communication specialty probably cuts across the most. Professionals in this area may specialize in the aviation industry in aircraft controls, or mobile devices, satellite communications, and even medical instrumentation. In these fields, electronics, and communication engineers design and develop new technology that meets emerging communication needs. The average take-home salary of an electronics engineer is US$ 125,000. Petroleum Engineer Energy makes the world go round, and the world’s key source of this commodity is petroleum energy. The engineers that help extract it from the reservoirs beneath the surface of the earth deserve to hold one of the higher paying jobs. The work of petroleum engineers includes studying the earth’s formation, designing appropriate drilling methods and equipment, and overall planning of the drilling operations. Engineers that settle on this career path may earn between US$ 100,000 and US$ 160,000 per year. If youre looking for a successful future, these are ten of the best careers to pursue!

How to Find a Job Abroad in 5 Steps

How to Find a Job Abroad in 5 Steps As the current economic climate shifts, now may be the perfect time to look into jobs abroad. Working overseas not only improves your salary but can also boost your career in the long term especially if you’re aspiring to senior positions. More and more organisations are looking for professionals with international experience and a global perspective on top of excellent skills to help them compete. So how can you kick-start your international job search? 1) Find out where the jobs are: The Manpower Employment Outlook Data Explorer shows local labour market forecasts for 42 countries worldwide. Every quarter, they publish hiring plans from various industries and employers. You can also access historical information for specific countries which might be useful if you want to anticipate demand in certain areas. 2) Compare countries: HSBC’s Expat Explorer provides information from expats about finances, quality of life and even what it’s like to raise children abroad. You can compare two countries side-by-side and find otu how other people have experienced various facets of life such as: healthcare access, accommodation, transportation, local culture, social life, etc. Apart from the league tables, the site also provides in-depth information and reports through the ‘Findings’ section as well as practical day-to-day tips from individuals living abroad. 3) Figure out tax and immigration rules: Depending on your nationality and the country you are looking to work in, you may have to go through an extensive visa application process. Certain governments have tough immigration policies that make it expensive and unattractive for employers to hire foreigners unless their skills are highly sought after. However there are countries which have bilateral agreements to allow free movement of labour with certain nations. The EU for example, allows workers to take up employment and live freely anywhere within the territories of the European Community. Always check your eligibility for work permits or visas before applying for jobs. Otherwise it could be a frustrating process. Recruiters and HR departments will sometimes shy away from even interviewing individuals if it means they will have to go through a 6-8 month process of visa applications after the hiring process. Taxation systems vary between countries as well as the tax rates. It’s important to get an idea of the taxes you are liable to pay locally as well as any double tax reliefs you would be entitled to during the course of your foreign employment. Some countries like the US will have tax treaties that allow an exemption from, or a reduction of the 30% tax depending on your nationality. You can access a handy guide here from Ernst Young which summarises the basic laws and regulations applicable for more than 150 countries. 4) Find local job boards/job aggregators and career sites: Search Latte, a tool originally built for webmasters and SEOs, can help you in your job search by tricking Google into showing you the search results for a foreign location. Normally, Google uses your location in order to serve you the most relevant web pages based in your country. However if you are conducting an international job search, e.g. living in the UK while looking for jobs in Switzerland, Google will not necessarily show you the same results that someone in Switzerland would see if they did the same search. This means you could be missing out on excellent jobs or career sites. Searching for “java jobs in switzerland” using Google.co.uk will show UK or international job boards that have a handful of jobs in Switzerland. However by using Search Latte to search for “java jobs” and selecting .ch which is the country’s top level domain, the location and the language applicable to your search, Google is tricked into showing you a different set of results. As seen in the image below, the results contain websites that are specific to Switzerland which have more jobs than the previous search and provide a truer reflection of the local jobs market. 5) Build your network or find hiring managers online: Majority of jobs are not advertised and are often filled through referrals from employee networks. But if you’re living abroad, how can you network with professionals in your target country? LinkedIn offers a great opportunity to connect with people from around the world. You can use it to network with your colleagues in other countries who might help you with an internal transfer or by researching hiring managers for that job you want. Apart from the steps highlighted above, you can also search the relevant website for Indeed in your target country as well as checking the career sites of countries with an international footprint. Do you have your own tips when searching for jobs abroad? Share them in the comments.

7 Tips to Win the Job Interviewers Attention

7 Tips to Win the Job Interviewer's Attention Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comIn order to win a job interview, you have to make sure that you catch the attention of the interviewer in a good way. Interviewers have a long list of candidates that they screen through before they pick the final choice, so if you want to nail that job, then you have to stand out. Here are a few tips on how to do that.?1. Take Note of the Handshake?Believe or not, your handshake already gives the first impression to your interviewer. You must have a firm but not too strong of a handshake. You don’t want to give a weak handshake because it will give the interviewer the impression that you are not strong willed. You also don’t want to give too hard of a handshake because you might crush your interviewer’s hands. A simple firm handshake will do.2. ?Be EnergeticWhen you’re in your job interview, you have to be energetic and enthusiastic. If you’re not enthusiastic about yourself, your interviewer will feel the same. Show your energy, and your interv iewer will have the impression that you will also put the same kind of enthusiasm in your work.3. Don’t Reveal Too MuchevalWhat you say can be used against you. That’s why it’s good not to reveal too much about yourself; otherwise, you could be backed into a corner. The key here is to stick to your resume and whatever is written there. Your resume will be your blueprint for your job interview, so don’t deviate from that.4.Be FriendlyIf you want the interviewer to remember you, one of the things to do is to be friendly and try to make friends with the interviewer. Even if the interviewer is not too friendly, try your best to get on his or her good side.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.com5.Always Focus on How You Can Fit in the CompanyOne of the biggest job interview mistakes that beginners make is that they make the interview too centralized on themselves. When you’re in the interview, always remember that although the interviewer may care about what you did in the past, the inter viewer’s primary concern is actually how your skills can help the company with their goals. With this, it’s good to always focus on how you can be an asset to the company.6.Bring Some Visual AidsAlthough this may not require of you, it does give you some brownie points. Visual aids refer to supplemental documents or data that shows your expertise in a certain field. For example, if you are applying for the position of a graphic artist, then bring your portfolio. The same goes if you are applying for to be a writer, social media specialist, or any other job.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.com?7. Ask Good QuestionsAnother rookie mistake that a lot of people make is that they don’t ask questions. Interviewers want their applicants to ask questions because it will show the interviewer that the applicant is not afraid to know more and to ask for things. However, you have to ask the right questions. The tip here would be to ask questions that involve how you can help the company further th eir goals and other details about the job such as work hours and specific tasks.If you want to ace your interview, then you have to be a cut above the rest; otherwise, the interviewer will just see you as one of the applicants. You want to show that you are different and that you can really contribute to the company with your talents. These tips will help you to ace your job interview and give a good impression to your interviewers.

3 Success Tips from an Old Dog

3 Success Tips from an “Old Dog” My Uncle David calls himself an “Old Dog”, but the reality is he’s one of the most youthful 70-somethings I know. Not only that, he’s managed to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. In fact, he is a valued senior advisor to a successful tech company CEO. Most recently, he gave some sage advice to my daughter’s Millennial friend â€" let’s call him Brian. It all started when Uncle David asked Brian for help reading his Rand McNally map (yes, the paper kind!). Having forgotten his reading glasses, Uncle David needed Brian’s help to figure out the best route for getting to a restaurant in LA. Being 25-year old techie, Brian hasn't ever used a paper map â€" why would he? So naturally, Brian asked, “Why don’t you just plug the address into your phone app and get the directions that way?” That’s when Uncle David said, “I’m an ‘Old Dog’ and Old Dogs still prefer the old paper map system for navigating roads.” Uncle David then talked about how he tries hard to keep up with the latest technology and stay fresh, but made the point that the younger generation â€" the “New Dogs” â€" can also learn from the “Old Dogs” like him. They had a great discussion and here are the three takeaways that Brian told me he’s decided to adopt from the “Old Dog world”: 1.   Be invested in work This means two things: First, caring about your colleagues and taking the time to understand their traits and personalities instead of just thinking of yourself and your own concerns, and Second, taking work seriously as a commitment rather than thinking about it as just a paycheck. This means thinking about how to make your work product and workplace better even when you’re not in the office, and not turning off at 5pm. As Brian said, it’s the opposite of what he’s seen other junior people do: arriving at 8:29 for an 8:30am start, and then being out of the door at 5:00pm whether or not the project is done. 2.   Still rely on face-to-face communication In an age of email, SMS, SnapChat and FaceBook, it’s the personal touch that counts. Too much is lost in translation when you lack the in-person interaction and clues. Face-to-face is still the best way to build trust, connection and relationship which is what “doing business” is all about. 3.   Be selfless This means giving help without expecting anything in return. You don’t have to be Mother Teresa, but you’ll be more effective if you focus on doing the right thing rather than viewing what you do as part of a transaction. This is great advice and kudos to Brian for taking it on board. More than that, I am fascinated by these three takeaways because I spend much of my time coaching senior executives and high-potential professionals on the rise, and they’re working on just the opposite: Being a little less obsessed with work, Learning to harness the power of new modes of communication, and Being a little more “selfish” with their time and negotiating for what they want. So, I’m thinking we all have much to learn from the “New Dogs” too. In the end, Old(er) Dogs and New(er) Dogs both have something useful to share, and the ideal is to have a blend of the best from each “world”. And yes, the best discoveries often live at the intersections… What have you learned from someone from a different “world” than your own? And what wisdom have you shared with them?

The Best Resume Writing Site

The Best Resume Writing SiteAre you trying to find the best resume writing site? If so, keep reading this article to learn more about the types of sites that are available on the Internet today.There are different resume sites out there today. Some are very good, some are very bad, and some are somewhere in between. The key is to know where to look.A good resume site will allow you to submit your resume and then make suggestions about what you need to do to improve it. Not only will they suggest improvements, but they will also have a back-up plan that will let you know if your resume isn't the best it can be.The first thing that a good resume site will tell you is what kind of education you need to have in order to be hired. They may also suggest courses you need to take, depending on the position that you are applying for. You may be required to take a refresher course every couple of years, as well.If you have taken a course that is relevant to the job you are applying for, your p otential employer will be able to see the quality of the information that you have studied. That will help to determine whether or not you have what it takes to do the job. Make sure that you are doing all you can to bring in the right type of candidates to fill your position.Another thing that you should look for in a resume writing site is feedback. Not all of them will offer feedback, so it is important to find one that does. Make sure that your resume is carefully reviewed by experts.Finally, if you don't get any feedback, then make sure that the review of your resume is positive. Avery negative review could send you back to the drawing board, wasting your time and energy in an attempt to find a good resume writing site.So, when you are trying to find the best resume site, keep these things in mind. Good luck!