Why Holding Women Back is Bad for Business

Why Holding Women Back is Bad for Business The benefits of a diverse workforce are plentiful â€" from increasing innovation to boosting the bottom line. But despite the steps taken to address inequality and gender biases in the workplace, there are still several challenges unfairly holding women back in their careers â€" and the UK’s businesses are at a disadvantage as a result. Data published last year by the ONS  revealed that women are still significantly more likely to have caring responsibilities for dependents than men â€" and the challenges of returning to the workforce after having a child are well documented, with many women feeling unable to return to work. These issues are not only a huge roadblock in the path to equality, but they also negatively impact UK businesses and productivity levels. Quinyx’s research  further substantiates this â€" with nearly a quarter (22%) of female shift workers reporting that considering if a role will fit around childcare and family life is the top factor they consider when assessing a new job â€" compared to just 10% of men. UK employers need to act to address this issue and help female employees smoothly transition back into the workplace after pregnancy or breaks from work to care for dependents. Not only this, but businesses should strive to implement workplace practices that will help level the playing field and support women to remain in work and climb the career ladder as far as their own ambition permits. Flexibility is key 22% of female shift workers in our survey reported feeling they do not have enough time with their families, with a further 9% reporting that their family life is suffering as a result of a lack of flexibility. Offering a flexible schedule is key to enabling women to stay in the workforce and paving the way for a future generation of female leaders. By giving all employees the flexibility to create their desired work-life balance and choose the schedule that is right for them, employers will find themselves with staff members who are motivated to work hard and remain loyal to the business. Removing the flexibility stigma While the number of businesses offering flexible working is gradually increasing, the concept is yet to be fully embraced by some business leaders as it (wrongly) has a bad reputation. We’re stuck in an impasse in which too many companies still associate flexible working with high costs and scheduling nightmares â€" but this is far from the truth. With the right tools and technologies in place, flexible working can be easy to implement for organizations of any size or industry. By allowing company leaders and employees to collaborate on a schedule that is mutually beneficial, flexible working as a standard practice can help to improve retention levels, reduce costs and boost employee happiness. In fact, 17% of women surveyed in our study stated that they would be more productive at work if they were given flexible working options. Keeping up momentum in a stretched economy This year, the UK has experienced a steady incline in the number of people working, and according to the ONS, this is due in part to a continuing increase of women securing or returning to full-time jobs. This can only be good news for UK businesses, that are now operating in an even tighter labor market that has been strained by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The new lack of access to European talent means UK companies must take new steps to attract and retaining talent within their own borders. Flexible working is a key approach to tackling this challenge, helping to boost the productivity levels of those already in the workforce, but also to reintroduce women back into the workplace who had previously faced obstacles from factors such as caregiving responsibilities. Providing flexible working options is a win-win not only for the UK economy but for the women eager to continue down their career paths without facing unconscious workplace biases. Knocking down the barriers to inclusivity While it’s clear the UK is making progress in encouraging and supporting women to stay, and return to, the workforce, there’s still progress to be made. Business leaders have a responsibility to make it clear to staff that flexible working is not a lesser form of work. Ensuring that all workers â€" men and women alike â€" who are working flexibly are afforded the same career opportunities is vital. For employers to get the most from their talent, they need to champion flexible and part-time structures and invest in tools and technologies that help to progress women up the career ladder regardless of their working patterns or personal responsibilities. About the author:  Quinyx  was founded in 2005 by  CEO Erik Fjellborg  after a summer spent working at McDonald’s. After witnessing how difficult it can be for managers to sort shifts manually, Erik built one of the world’s first  fully web-based Workforce Management solutions to do the heavy lifting.  McDonald’s loved Erik’s solution and became Quinyx’s first customer.

Using a Teacher Resume Example Will Help You Get the Job

Using a Teacher Resume Example Will Help You Get the JobIn case you need help writing your teacher resume, you can use a teacher resume example. Teachers are hired based on the quality of their teaching. They are given high expectations and no one wants to disappoint them with mediocre performance. Therefore, you should make sure you meet the standard.Resume examples often include pictures that serve as a demonstration of the skills required for the job. You can use these examples as inspiration to write your own. Simply find one that is easy to understand. Your writing will improve drastically once you understand the steps to writing the resume. In fact, your resume will be so clear that you will be able to read it right from the paper.Creating a schoolteacher resume is not difficult if you follow the guidelines given in an example. Your basic steps are to write down all the relevant information such as your educational background, work experience, teaching experience, licenses, awa rds, honors, and certificates. The best way to do this is to ask your references to provide you with their contact information. Do not forget to provide them with your curriculum vitae as well. This is a complete list of your qualifications for the job.Once you have finished the first paragraph of your teacher resume, it is time to begin filling in the rest of the information. Your personal story will be one of the most important parts of your resume. You want to make sure that you relate your skills and experiences to the job opening you are applying for. Use your credentials to help you build a convincing story that will impress your readers.A teacher resume example will help you avoid blunders that could cost you the job. All of the people who wrote the examples are professionals. Their samples were polished to perfection. This is the only way they could come up with a sample that is up to date. If you use a sample that is older, you will be disappointed with your results.Teacher s are not the only professionals that can benefit from a curriculum vitae. A doctor, dentist, and lawyer all need to have one. Because these professionals do a lot of traveling, they have to write a curriculum vitae to ensure that their educational qualifications are up to date. When you use an example you will see what they mean. You will also be able to understand the importance of the information you provide.The best thing about a teacher resume example is that it helps you avoid making mistakes. You can always use the sample as a guide, but you should be able to recognize when you are making a mistake. Most people make a mistake every once in a while. In fact, it is common to make a mistake when you are trying to make a good impression.Using a teacher resume example can help you increase your chances of landing the job. In order to get the job you have to stand out. By writing your resume using a teacher resume example, you can be assured that your application will get noticed.

Looking for New Job NOT Being Disloyal to Employer! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Looking for New Job NOT Being ‘Disloyal’ to Employer! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Loyalty is indeed an admirable and highly valued traitâ€"in personal relationships, i.e., our friends, families and spouses (or significant others). And oh, did I mention how very important it is to also be loyal to ourselves!? When it comes to business situations, howeverâ€"and in particular the business relationship we have with a current employerâ€"the waters can rather quickly become quite murky regarding the whole issue of loyalty. For a surprising number of men and women, looking for a new job while currently employed is tantamount to being grossly disloyal to their current employer. Some people even compare the feelings they experience in this situation to those they might experience if they were “cheating” on their spouse! I have actually had candidates approach me for assistance in finding a new job after they had already quit their existing jobs because they said they simply felt “too guilty,” “too disloyal,” to look for a new job while they were employed! (Once they became unemployed I couldn’t help them, of course, because no hiring company is going to pay a “headhunter” a fee for finding a candidate they can easily find themselves!) Reality check! In virtually any job market, and that’s particularly true in today’s job market, it is always, always, always easier to get a new job if you currently have one than if you are unemployed! No matter what you say is the reason for quitting an existing job to search for a new one, potential employers will almost always perceive your leaving primarily in negative terms, e.g., “He/she probably quit because he/she was about to be fired anyway.” Where Your True Loyalty Should Lie When it comes to loyalty in business, your primary focus should always be on yourself and on your overall, entire professional career. In other words, you should determine what’s best for you and your family, not let the company you happen to be working for at the present make those decisions for you. If you don’t take FULL and COMPLETE control of your own career, your own destiny, by default, you’ll end up leaving it to the capricious whims and ever-present uncertainties inherent in any business organizationâ€"including your current employer! Being all too human, most of us tend to endow the company we work for, no matter the size or specific business focus, with certain, positive, human characteristics, such as warmth, caring, reliability, etc. All well and good perhaps, but this perception tends to overlook one very important fact about any business entity: Businesses are not “social organizations,” at least not in the traditional sense (and general understanding) of that term. The company is not the employees’ “family,” and fellow employees generally are not necessarily one’s “best friends.” A companyâ€"any company!â€"is in business for one primary reason and one reason only: To make money! Or at least it better be, because if it isn’t in business to make money, it won’t be in business long! On Any Given Day . . . Make no mistake about it, when (notice I didn’t say “if”), on any given day at some point in the future, your job becomes redundant and/or counterproductive to your current company’s ability to make money, you and your job will be history, usually without so much as even a moment’s notice or a fare thee well. It won’t matter how long you’ve been with the company or how much of a personal/professional contribution you may have made to the company’s overall successâ€"or even, the intensity of the “loyalty” you have consistently shown the company. You might even be told something like, “Hey, it’s not personal, it’s just business.” And you know what? That is precisely what it is, business. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the company and/or the people running it are “bad,” or “evil,” or “uncaring,” it is just business. Happens every single business day. Let me give you a recent example of what I’m talking about here. Just as I was putting the finishing touches on this blog, I received an email comment from one of my LinkedIn connections regarding a posting I made about how tenuous one’s position can be in today’s job market. The comment was so appropriate and timely for this blog that I couldn’t resist including it! Here is what the man had to say: “My ‘wake-up call’ was after talking with my District Sales Manager. I was (telling him) about all I (felt) I had done for the company. He looked at me and said, ‘When you get that check every other week you and (the company) are even!’” ‘Nuff said? What You Actually Owe Your Current Employer Without question, as long as you are being paid a wage or salary (and provided benefits?) from a company, any company, you do owe that company, but what you owe is not undying, irrevocable loyalty! You owe the company your very best efforts and the honest exercise of your talents and skills while you are physically on the job or officially representing the employer elsewhere. You also of course owe the company honesty and integrity. That’s about it! Anything you do while you are not “on the job” is your personal business! And that includes looking for a new jobâ€"for whatever reason(s)â€"on your own time and using your own facilities and resources. The substance of the last sentence in the preceding paragraph is of course a key consideration if you decide now is the time to start looking for a new, better career opportunity, while you still are employed. Never, never, never conduct your new job search on “company time.” Don’t use your current company email address as your contact email, and certainly don’t use your company phone number as your contact number. Make sure that every single aspect of your new job search is done “on your dime.” (Remember, I said that you do owe your current employer both honesty and integrity!) One other thing: Don’t be concerned that you may lose out on career opportunities if you have to tell potential employers (or those hiring professionals representing them) that you can only be contacted, or contact them, “after business hours.” Any “headhunters,” hiring managers or Human Resources professionals worth their salt will certainly understandâ€"and respect!â€"the necessity for your taking this approach while you are currently employed. Believe me, if you have branded yourself as a candidate worthy of additional consideration, you definitely will get it. Have I convinced you of where your first, your true loyalty should lie when it comes to your career, your life? I hope so! Now, if you do indeed have a genuine desireâ€"or need!â€"to seek a new job, your dream job, go for itâ€"guilt-free! Author: Skip Freeman  is the author of “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever!  and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of  The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Specializing in the placement of sales, engineering, manufacturing and RD professionals, he has developed powerful techniques that help companies hire the best and help the best get hired.

Step-by-Step Formula for Writing LinkedIn Recommendations

Step-by-Step Formula for Writing LinkedIn Recommendations LinkedIn recommendations that are well written and properly compiled can have a lot of impact. If you are asked to provide a recommendation (for a colleague, client, partner, coworker, or employee ) it can be a daunting task to ensure you provide something that is meaningful and valuable. Here is a simple formula for creating a LinkedIn recommendation that resonates: • Start with how you know the person (1 sentence). Give context for the relationship beyond just the job title and organization/company/school, although that can be a good way to start your recommendation. (“I’ve known Jill  for 10 years, ever since I joined XYZ Company. She was my lead project manager when I was an analyst.”) • Be specific about why you are recommending the individual (1 sentence). What qualities make him or her most valuable? Emphasize what the person did that set him or her apart. What is his work style? Does she have a defining characteristic? To be effective, recommendations should focus on specific qualifications. • Tell a story (3-5 sentences). Back up your recommendation with a specific example. Your recommendation should demonstrate that you know the person well â€" so tell a story that only you could tell. And provide “social proof” in the story â€" give scope and scale for the accomplishments. Don’t just say the individual you’re recommending led the team â€" say he led a 5-person team or a 22-person team. Supporting evidence: numbers, percentages, and dollar figures lends detail and credibility to your story. • End with a “call to action” (1 sentence). Finish with the statement “I recommend (name)” and the reason why you would recommend him or her. In the first sentence, you describe how you know the individual and give context about why you are qualified to recommend him or her. • (Name) and I have worked together… • I’ve known (name) for (how long)… For the second bullet point, you can set up the description of his or her qualities by providing an overview sentence. Here are some examples: • Able to implement… • Able to train… • Consistent record of … • Customer-centred leader… • Effective in _________ • Experienced professional in the _____ industry • Held key role in ________________ • Achiever recognized for… • Proficient in managing multiple priorities and projects… • Recognized and appreciated by… • Served as a liaison between _________ • Subject-matter expert in _____ • Team player with… • Well-versed in … Examples: Jason  had a consistent record of delivering year-over-year sales revenue increases while also ensuring top-notch customer service, working effectively with the entire 7-member sales team to make sure the client’s needs were met. Or Michelle  is a subject-matter expert in logistics, warehouse planning, and team leadership. Her ability to take the initiative to ensure the thousands of items in each shipment were prioritized for same-day processing made her an indispensable member of the management team. For the storytelling section, you can choose a “Challenge-Action-Result” format to describe the project: • Challenge: What was the context for the work situation on the project? What was the problem that the project was designed to tackle? • Action: What did the person you’re recommending do? What was their specific contribution? • Result: What was the outcome of the project â€" and can you quantify it? Choose descriptive adjectives to include in your recommendations. Instead of describing someone as “innovative,” choose a word like “forward-thinking” or “pioneering.” Finally, always ensure the recommendation is truthful and on-brand with the persons career and/or career target. If you dont know how to best support the person in a recommendation ask!  For more tips on writing solid LinkedIn recommendations see my post on LinkedIn How to Write Lucrative LinkedIn Recommendations.    Need more information on LinkedIn?  Check out 11 Things to Avoid on LinkedIn

Writing a Winning Resume Competency B.7

Writing a Winning Resume Competency B.7Writing a winning resume competency B.7 is not as difficult as one may think. You can find many resources that will provide you with plenty of tools to help you when writing your resume. You just need to know what they are so that you can utilize them.One of the best places to start for B.7 is your interviewer. When the employer is interviewing candidates, there is a chance that they are reviewing the resumes and identifying strengths and weaknesses. This is an excellent opportunity to use B.7.Your interviewer can identify some of the things that they look for when reviewing resumes. They will want to know if you have the capacity to do the job. They will also want to know your work experience and education.B.7 is the ability to perform the duties of the job. What does this mean? It means that you have the knowledge and skill to perform the job and the knowledge and skill to do it well. These are the two areas that should be addressed in the con tents of your resume.In addition to talking about your capability to do the job, you will want to talk about your skills. Identify the skills that you possess and bring them to the table in your content.To be very successful, you will need to show the employer that you are an expert in the field and have the knowledge and skill to do a good job. This is the area where you will learn how to write your own resume and succeed in writing a winning resume competency B.7.There're many ways to build your skills. One way is to seek out a mentor who has been in your position before. Another way is to use one of the new products available on the market to improve your skills.If you truly want to succeed in writing a winning resume competency B.7, you will need to take action. It is never too late to begin the process of improving your skills. With just a little time and effort, you can be on your way to being the successful applicant that employers desire.

Feeling Like a Wobbly Beginner - Kathy Caprino

Feeling Like a Wobbly Beginner Happy Birthday Geminis! Todays my birthday, and I am particularly energized and excited about the possibilities on this special day, after a long bout of moving backwards or sideways (retrogrades tend to do that!).     But Im not always feeling this confident and surethere are other times when my lack of expertise and insecurity get the best of me.   Have you been feeling wobbly or less than competent in starting something new and unfamiliar?   Or are you struggling with what should be working but isnt?   If so, read my latest newsletter for tips from the wonderful and inspiring coach Cheryl Richardson (thanks for sharing, Cheryl!) for dealing successfully with the impostor mode that all of us experience when we embark on a new beginning.   I remember when I was writing my first book Breakdown Breakthrough   I longed to arrive at the expert phase of having my own  book.   I must laugh now (lovingly) because once the book was published, I was launched into the most extreme state of beginner that Id ever faced!   Dealing with top media, learning to be a powerful advocate and spokesperson for working womenall of it was so important to me, yet I felt like such a newbie initially I must say, it was highly uncomfortable and I couldnt wait to stretch beyond it.   But as Cheryl points out,  as we keep on keeping on, and receive support of those who believe in us unconditionally, we move through this impostor phase, and arrive on the other side confident about what we know, and open to admitting what we dont.   Im embarking on a new book now; but unlike before, I  have a  bit more of a clue about what I dont know, and Im fine with that! Please share your comments and stories here of when you felt like a wobbly beginner, and how you progressed through that phase to Consciously (and Unconsciously) Competent!   Wed love to hear. Keep on keeping on, o ye beginners! Happy breakthroughs, Kathy

Handy Tips For Happiness, Health and Safety at Work - CareerAlley

Handy Tips For Happiness, Health and Safety at Work - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. It makes sense for your employer to care about your health and happiness. Happier workers mean more productive workers which is beneficial for them, plus its likely to mean less sick days and better workflow in general. Employers know theyre liable for your health and safety, and have strict rules in place to protect you when youre at work- however, things can sometimes go wrong. Here are a few things you can do which will benefit both you and your employer. Improve Your Work Space Ergonomically designed desks and chairs will help to reduce back, neck and wrist strain. They will allow you to stay comfortable while youre working and cut the risk of you needing time off due to strain injuries. Enough light is also important- harsh fluorescents can cause headaches and eye strain. Daylight bulbs are a far better option, or even better still- move desks to be closer to windows. Natural light is a mood booster, meaning youll be far happier at work. Adding living plants to your desk and office is another easy change you can make. Studies have shown time and time again that plants boost mood and improve productivity, especially in the workplace. Make sure walkways are kept clear, and fire exits arent blocked. All it takes is one careless mistake to risk your life or cause a serious accident, so you and your employer must stay vigilant. Employers know theyre liable for your health and safety, and have strict rules in place to protect you when youre at work- however, things can sometimes go wrong. Tweet This Get Kitted Out Certain workplaces will require you to wear various items of protective clothing. On building sites, for example, a PPE consisting of ahard hat, a high visibility vest, and steel toecap boots are all essential. In certain factories, you might need special gloves, ear protection or eyewear. Whatever it is, make sure you have the right gear and equipment for the job, and its being used or worn correctly every single time. Getting lax or lazy could lead to a life-changing accident. link Get Properly Trained Proper training should be given when you start a job, as well as periodically afterward in some cases to ensure your skills are up to scratch. If youre injured at work because you havent been given the correct training, your employer is liable, and you are able to claim compensation. If this has happened and youre wondering what to do or what to expect from a workers comp claim, do some research online or speak to a lawyer for more advice. You should be completely capable and feel confident in your role. As David Rowland, Head of Marketing at Effective Software, says; Directors must have an understanding of the role safety performance plays in the performance of their business. In accepting corporate responsibility for health and safety, directors need to be proactive in developing a positive safety culture for their workplace. In the long-term this leads to an internal cultural shift that can have an indirect impact on external brand affinity and brand loyalty. Photo by Micaela Parente on Unsplash Ask About The Risks People can be wary about asking their boss about the risks of the job, but it shouldnt be this way at all. At the end of the day, this is your health so it is something that always needs to be taken seriously. When youre doing a job, you need to be aware of what issues this could cause you later down the line. Whether its a burning kitchen, dangerous chemicals in a factory or the risk of falling boxes in a warehouse, it pays to know exactly what the risks are so youre able to avoid them. PeopleWork: The Human Touch in Workplace Safety Price: $19.99 Workplace safety is failing. Despite better procedures now in place on the job, people are still getting hurt. The problem lies in our thinking. We must shift the focus from rules to relationships. Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 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 find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. 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