Tips For Preparing For A Job Interview

Posted on November 18, 2021 by John N. Frank

Job hunting can be a real slog and something that no one enjoys. This is why, if you manage to get through and secure a job interview, you want to make sure it goes as well as it possibly can. Job interviews can be cut-throat, but as long as you are as prepared as possible you will be in a much better stead for it to be a success.

It is important to keep in mind at all times just why you want this job and ensure you do plenty of thorough research in the run-up to the interview. A lot of companies use consulting recruitment agencies to aid with their candidate search and they can also help you throughout the process.


Here we have put together some top tips for preparing for a job interview that should get you that bit closer to getting the job of your dreams…

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

Research, research and even more research 

This is one of the most important things to do when preparing for a job interview. It may sound obvious, but it should never be overlooked. Give yourself plenty of time to do as much research as possible about the company and the role you have applied for.

Continue reading →
Posted in career switch, finding a first job, job hunting, Job search tips | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

How to Find a Job When You’re 65 or Older

Posted on October 12, 2021 by John N. Frank

Many seniors decide it’s best for them to continue working into their golden years as it provides them with a sense of purpose. Not to mention that it also improves financial security, mental stimulation, and social activity.

Finding a job that fits your needs and skill set can be challenging, especially if you haven’t had to job-hunt in many years. To help you, we’ve curated some tips for finding a job when you’re already eligible for medicare.

Update Your Resume

If you haven’t job-hunted in years, odds are that you don’t have an updated resume. Add only your work experience within the last ten years and make sure to showcase your skill set.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community while also developing more skills. You may also grow your professional network and find a job through those you volunteer with.

Consider Self-Employment

Many seniors begin their own businesses after retiring. Retirement is the perfect time to chase any dream you never got to pursue, whether it be cake decorating or consulting. This is a great way to bring in extra income and stay busy.

Whether you are wanting an activity to keep busy or financial security after turning 65, a job is a great way to spend your golden years.

Author Bio: Abby Christensen is a content creator with experience in a variety of industries, including finance and Medicare. When she’s not soaking up the latest digital marketing news, you can find her reading, playing with her pooch, or budgeting.

Posted in career switch, finding a first job, Job search tips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Online Interview Tips That Will Help You Get Your Dream Job During A Pandemic

Posted on July 23, 2020 by John N. Frank

Landing that dream job you’ve been painstakingly researching and waiting for to open up is nerve-wracking. Landing that dream job you’ve been painstakingly researching and waiting for to open up during a pandemic is frightening. Many businesses have taken a devastating hit as the pandemic continues to affect the job market with orders to close down businesses temporarily or lay-off employees indefinitely.

While job opportunities and employment are not scarce, businesses are transitioning to work-from-home set-up, which means job applicants are competing with a broader range and variety of equally qualified applicants that could be based anywhere in the world. More applicants mean more interviews, which means a smaller window to make a lasting impression on the recruiter. Continue reading →

Posted in job hunting, Job search tips, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

11 Ways to Prove Your Value at Work

Posted on March 18, 2020 by John N. Frank

Many professionals might say one of the most important skills to master is being able to prove your true value. In an interview for example, you only a few minutes to connect your skills and experience to the role’s bottom line. So it’s essential to be strategic about how you present yourself. Once you’re in you’re role, it becomes even more important to demonstrate your worth. Arguing for new responsibilities, negotiating a raise, or asking for a promotion, all require a clear understanding of your worth to your employer.

Whether it’s taking on an additional project or leading the team through a difficult setback, you will likely have many opportunities to bring something unique and valuable to the company. However, your boss may not always be aware of the great work that you do. That’s why keeping track of your accomplishments and finding opportunities to share them should be an important part of any job. Once it’s time to ask for a raise or promotion, being able to point to instances of success will become invaluable.  Continue reading →

Posted in career switch, working conditions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Essential Things To Think About When Running A Small Business

Posted on March 18, 2020 by John N. Frank

Running a small business can be exciting, rewarding but also daunting and stressful at the same time. Small business owners are renowned for wearing many hats and having to juggle several different jobs at once. However, there are some essentials that you can use to make your business run more smoothly and efficiently. 

Photo by Ken Tomita from Pexels

Let’s have a look at some of them below: 

A Clear Office Space 

You might not think that your office space is important, however, having a clear, well-organised office space to work from is essential to keeping your business running as it should be. Make sure you have the space that you need, plenty of places to file and store paperwork, products samples and employees information. Take some time each month to organise and sort through any post and paperwork that has piled up. You should also take this time to sort through your emails, ideally, you should do this at least once a week. As well as keeping a well-organised office space you need to create a pleasant working environment, make sure your desk and chair are set up properly, you have plenty of natural light and clean air. 

Look After Your HR 

When running a small business you are going to come across certain areas that you’re not as familiar with. HR is usually one of the areas that fall into this category, this is because usually, specialised training needs to go into it. This is why so many small business owners outsource their HR services or make sure they are using decent hr software and educate themselves with how they manage it. 

Your Marketing 

Your marketing is one of the most important things you need to think about. You could have the very best product or service, but if no one knows about you then it just won’t sell. You need to make sure you are working with a good marketing strategy and follow the latest trends. It is essential for you to have a responsive website for your customers to find you. Nowadays customer is less likely to use a business if they can’t see them online, even if you just have a page with your contact details it’s better than having no website at all. You should also think about looking into utilising social media as a marketing tool. Most people have a social media account on a place like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter, that they check on a daily basis and through the day. The majority of these are free to set up and incur minimal costs for advertising to reach a further audience which now makes it a favoured marketing tool by many businesses. Another great way to market is to create a blog where you can share relevant content with your customers, it will also drive traffic to your website which is fantastic if you have your products or services available to buy online. 

These three areas are three very important areas for any small business, do you have any others that should be included that you can share in the comments below? 

Posted in management issues | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

5 Ways to Redesign Your Home Office to Increase Productivity at Work

Posted on September 26, 2019 by John N. Frank

Photo Credit: Unsplash

If you’re working from home, chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time at your desk. How your home office is organised will affect your productivity, comfort and accomplishments.

The following includes five tried and true ways to redesign your home office to increase productivity.

Choose your location wisely

Feng shui refers to the auspicious arrangement of objects in space to achieve harmony. In other words, the location and positioning of your home office matters.

Start by placing your desk in the power position. You should be able to see the door from your office chair. Be sure to have a solid wall behind you instead of windows. Not only will this create a glare on your screen, but according to feng shui principle, you will lack support and authority. Make sure the view from your desk is pleasant, but not distracting.

It is important to separate your workspace and your personal life. Your home should feel like a refuge, while your office should promote mental clarity and focus. Place your home office in a separate room or area of the house. This is especially important if others will be home while you’re working as it will help reduce distractions. If your office is in the bedroom, use a room divider or even a large rug to separate the two areas.

Update your facilities

In this day and age, you’ll likely be spending most of your day working from a computer. A fast internet connection is your number one priority.

Having all the supplies and software at hand will minimise disruptions in the workplace. Spring clean your whole office and remove anything that’s unnecessary. Then, assign all remaining items their place to prevent cluttering. A cluttered office will reflect a cluttered mind.

Control lighting

You’ll be surprised at how much lighting can affect your productivity. Exposure to bright daytime lighting has been proven to be associated with lower daytime sleepiness.

Where natural light is not possible, opt for ambient, diffuse lighting over harsh light sources. Lampshades and recessed ceiling lighting are typically chosen in workplaces for these reasons.

Direct light, however, will be very beneficial in focus-intensive work. Lamps are useful for work such as filing and sketching.

Likewise, too much light can also cause a decline in productivity. Harsh, direct light can cause headaches, glare on your screen and eye strain. Prepare your office with both adequate lighting and lighting control using blinds or a screen.

Think ergonomically

Postural pain will contribute to reduced productivity. Sit as far back in your chair as possible to support your lumbar spine and encourage good posture.

Your eyes should be positioned looking near the top of the computer screen. This way, your chin will be parallel to the floor, preventing neck strain.

Your forearms should also be positioned parallel to the floor. If your wrists point upwards when using a keyboard, consider wrist support to prevent RSI. Soft support will also encourage circulation through the wrists and fingers.

To improve circulation through your lower extremities, raise your feet with a footrest. This will reduce pressure from both your legs and lower back.

Plan your day

Most people are visual learners. Using visual aids to plan your day will help you prioritise work and become more time-efficient. Organisational software is becoming more popular in the workplace. Otherwise, the old-school methods of whiteboards, post-it notes and calendars are also great ways to plan your day.

Redesigning your home office to promote productivity doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of cost-efficient ways to do so. Small tweaks in desk position, lighting and visual planning may be all you need for that extra boost in productivity.

Cloe Matheson is a Dunedin, Fla.-based creative writer who has written articles on a wide array of topics about travel, health & wellness, lifestyle and career. Read more of her works on Writings of Cloe.

 

 

Posted in working conditions | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Ultimate Guide To Background Checks

Posted on July 31, 2019 by John N. Frank

If you’re applying for a job after graduation or thinking of switching careers, a potential employer may request a background check during the hiring process. A background check should ensure that the information you provided on the employer’s application is accurate.

It also allows a potential employer to determine if you’re a good fit for the position and its company. Waiting until you’re in the middle of your job search to prepare for one is not the best idea. Knowing in advance all the information a potential employer might uncover can help you present your best self.

Prepare for a background check by doing as much detective work on yourself as possible. Start by requesting a copy of your credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus. Credit reports are often used to determine if an applicant can be considered responsible and financially stable.

Review your resume — be sure to spot any inaccuracies before the prospective employer catches them.

Run a background check on your criminal and driving records. Be aware of any red flags you may have such as a history of traffic violations. This can help prepare you for questions pertaining to your driving record — especially if the position for which you are applying requires a license.

Jobseekers should also review their social media profiles and posts for anything that may be deemed offensive. Conduct a thorough Internet search of your name and, if needed, clean up your online image by requesting the removal of unflattering information.

It’s imperative to be as accurate as possible when providing information to an employer, since it may withdraw a job offer if a discrepancy is found. For more tips on how to prepare for your next background check, see the accompanying guide.

 

Christian Moore is COO at Global Verification Network. He has more than 20 years of investigative and business experience with competencies including surveillance, competitive intelligence, pre-employment and course-of-employment background screening. 

Global Verification Network offers employment screening for big and small companies alike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in finding a first job, job hunting, management issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

14 Things Millennials Needs to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Posted on April 23, 2019 by John N. Frank

Finding a new job is stressful no matter what situation you’re in, from being laid off to willingly leaving your current position. After submitting numerous applications, you finally receive your offer—but is it a good fit? Don’t just take the first offer you come across. Take your time to evaluate to make sure it’s the right career move for you.

Learning to evaluate a job offer correctly is the best way to keep you from looking for another job shortly after. Employers are also incentivized to find the right fit because hiring and training are expensive. Millennials are especially known for leaving jobs frequently, but it may not be for the reason you think.

Forty-three percent of millennials plan to leave their job within the next year so learning how to effectively evaluate a job offer may help ensure their new position is the right one. Salary is important but there are many other factors to consider before accepting or declining. Culture, commute and work-life balance are examples of things that may not be outlined in your offer letter. Continue reading →

Posted in career switch, job hunting, working conditions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

4 Fantastic Financing and Forecasting Methods for Your Craft Business

Posted on March 11, 2019 by John N. Frank

Getting crafty will always be one of your hobbies and dream business ventures. When you actually managed to turn this into a reality you couldn’t believe your luck. Although it took a lot of hard work and perseverance you have managed to turn your passion for arts and crafts into a full-fledged company.

Whether you run it full-time or on the side along your day job, your craft business needs a lot of tender loving care. You have mastered the creative side of your job; that element is second nature to you. However, you need to get on top of the number crunching and planning. Here are a few pointers to help you along the way.

  1. Get on Top of Tax

Every business no matter how big or small needs to stay on top of their taxes. If you have never been great with numbers this can come as quite a shock, so you might want to consider hiring an accountant. Alternatively you should definitely look into MTD for VAT, which entails the government’s new Making Tax Digital scheme. Using approved accounting software you might soon have to store your financial records digitally. Check out the details and see if your business might need to get on board with this initiative. This will not only help you to keep track of your monthly earnings within your craft business, but it will also help you to forecast your future income. Continue reading →

Posted in management issues, working conditions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Off Work After An Accident? Here’s What You Can Be Doing

Posted on March 8, 2019 by John N. Frank

If you are ever involved in an accident and badly injured, you will need to take a considerable length of time off work. This can be frustrating for a number of reasons. Not only will you fall behind on your work and could end up out of the office loop, you might also be off for so long that you are no longer eligible for statutory sick pay. That’s because your employee is only obliged to continue paying you a partial amount of your salary for a limited amount of time.

This could be a bad situation to end up in but, thankfully, there are a few things you will be able to do while off work with an injury to make things slightly better and more manageable. Read on to find out more!

Look After Yourself

First of all, you need to make sure that you look after yourself. Your health should be your number-one priority so that you can quickly get over your injury. Make sure you attend all your hospital appointments and listen closely to what your doctors and nurses tell you. It’s also essential that you carry on with all your courses of medicine until you have completed them in full. If you ever stop taking any medicine, then your recovery could end up going backwards and it’ll take you even longer to get back to work. Continue reading →

Posted in health insurance, working conditions | Tagged | Leave a comment