Practical & Professional: The Right Approaches To Secure Home-Based Business Success

 

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If you are determined to turn your hobby into a business you need to get into the right mindset. Starting a business at home is an essential practice, but for many, this is the biggest battle of all to keep themselves focused and professional. So what are some of the most important rules to guarantee your home-based business is a success? 

Branding Is Everything

Branding is an amazing way to show your business as a key competitor in the market, but it also can help to cover up a multitude of home-based sins. A lot of people focus on the fact that they are a home-based business and this is part of their charm, and if this is something that really works for you, you can embody this within the promotional and packaging materials. But make sure you stick to your home-based ethics, which is why a business plan is so important, as you can lay out all your goals in one handy place.

Stay Practical 

Running a business at home means that you've got to have a practical approach, not just to how you run the business, but also how you run your life. If you are looking towards mass manufacturing, you've got to have the right support on board so you can keep your head above water in terms of your mindset. For example, if you are looking for support when it comes to packaging, you can click here and see the benefits of high-quality roll stock packaging for bulk items. Practicality is such an important thing that we can overlook especially when we turn around and realize that our home is strewn with packaging and promotional materials. Instead, focus on putting your working life into one simple part of the home and ensure you have the right professional and personal support on-side. 

Be Serious (but Not Too Serious)

You've got to have a professional facade, and when customers come to your place of work but you are still living at home, you've got to remember this may very well take the shine off what the customer thinks of you. In order to make a business that goes somewhere, thinking about that whole professional image in terms of your branding and how you conduct yourself is pivotal. One of the best ways to actually offset this potential lack of faith in your professionalism is to have a mailbox registered to a central location.

Customer Care Is Crucial

When you get a call, you’ve got to focus on that and give it everything! This means you’ve got to stop everything, which could mean keeping the kids occupied or letting the dog out. And while we've all learned about working from home, the fact is that if we are going to run a professional business we have got to be professional in every single way. Of course, there are so many things that we can do to make sure that our home-based business is a success, but a lot of it is how we conduct ourselves. 

It takes a lot of effort, especially during those first 12 months. But while working from home may seem like a benefit, in many ways it is a distraction. Make sure that you have the right mindset.

Getting Relationships Through Remote Working

Of all of the ways that the ongoing pandemic has been affecting our relationships, it might be a surprise that remote working is one of the elements seemingly taking a toll on how we get on with our partners. If you feel like this new arrangement has added some strain to your relationship, here are some of the potential causes, as well as what you can do about it.

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The relationship needs new boundaries

It might seem like having a partner at home all the time can seem like a joy, but the truth is that both of you are going to need space and time to yourselves and now, with one or both working from home, it’s up to you to create that yourselves. Otherwise, you can run into not just the problem of feeling like you have zero personal time, but the interruptions and distractions caused by living together without boundaries can start to affect your work-life balance, which can cause a lot of stress and productivity problems.

The physical side of staying at home

Working from home has a range of benefits, but it also brings with it some uncomfortable challenges, which can include the fact that many of us are moving much less than usual. A lot of people have packed on some “pandemic pounds” but it can be even worse for those who are working from home, which can lead to problems with self-esteem and even some loss of attraction. As such, care should be taken to live a more active life, even if you have to work out at home.

Changes in lifestyle can affect intimacy

A lot of us have seen some major mental and physical health changes as a result of being stuck at home all the time. Things like weight gain, loneliness, and frustration can start to affect how we experience and give intimacy. However, it is important to manage these things rather than simply ignore them and, to that end, a relationship counsellor might be a very valuable ally to bring into the relationship. Learning new ways to stoke and to appreciate intimacy is important in a relationship, even if things aren’t going to be the same as before.

Uncertainly plagues us all

It’s not uncommon for people to have doubts about their future plans, given that the pandemic and change in work-life has already introduced a lot of uncertainty. To that end, you might be putting a pause to future planning and this can give you doubts about your relationship or concern your partner about where the relationship is going. It’s time to take a moment to talk about the future of your relationship, where you want to be in a few years, and to understand that you might need a little leeway for that time to come just yet.

Any major change to how we live and spend time with our partner is likely to stress the relationship. However, this is far from unfixable and hopefully, the tips above give you the direction you need to work through it.

Five Team-building Activities to Boost Employee Morale

 

Employees are the greatest assets of any company because, without them, success will be unattainable. No one succeeds on their own; everyone needs a team of like-minded individuals working towards the same goal to make the impossible possible. And that’s why boosting employee morale is important.

Happy and satisfied employees are more productive because they know that their contributions to the company are being valued. These employees are motivated to give their 110% because their employers treat them right, which often leads them to become loyal employees who stay even when the company is facing adversities.

By working on employee morale, you can establish a strong workplace culture built on trust and mutual collaboration. If you feel like the people in your workplace isn’t there yet, here are five team-building activities that you can do to get there faster:

Schedule a Karaoke Night

Every company needs a chance to bond outside of the office, and the best way to do this is by holding a karaoke night. You can schedule the activity on a random Friday night so that everyone can bond over food, drinks, and a showcase of hidden talents. And it can be a nice way to relieve stress after a long work week.

It may not be as helpful in establishing teamwork as other team-building activities, but it sure can be a great chance to create strong workplace relationships. During a social event, you’ll be able to see one another in a different light and learn more about your colleagues outside the bounds of their jobs.

Going on a Fishing Trip

Not everyone enjoys being out in the open waters, but some people enjoy fishing trips to bond with their colleagues. If you prefer spending time in a more relaxed environment and have a friendly competition over who catches more fish, then you should go fishing for your next team-building activity.

Fishing charters are perfect avenues to develop patience and work on delayed gratification. Plus, with all the idle time you’re going to spend waiting for the fish to bite, you’ll have plenty of chances to share life stories and discuss things that are beyond the scopes of work. Besides, everyone deserves a day like this.

Book an Escape Room

There’s nothing like putting heads together to solve impossible puzzles and escape impending doom, or at least until the time is over. If you want to test your and your colleagues’ teamwork, patience, grace under pressure, and attention to detail, you should book an escape room for your team-building activity.

Plus, escape room themes can be very entertaining. A few of the most common themes for escape rooms are being trapped in a room with a zombie or solving a murder, which is great for thrill-seekers. But of course, you can choose a theme that will work best for your company because zombies are not for the fainthearted.

Plan a Boot Camp Weekend

Many people rarely have the chance to experience obstacle courses and physical challenges once they enter the corporate world, but you can change that. If you want a team-building activity that centers on athleticism, cooperation, teamwork, leadership, and competition, then a boot camp will be perfect for you.

Spending an entire weekend in a boot camp will increase your trust in one another and help you work on your communication skills. It will also encourage collaboration and stimulate creativity when building strategies on how to defeat the other teams. Plus, boot camps are perfect avenues to release stress.

Give Back to the Community

There are various ideas you can explore to give back to your community and support good causes. It’s a great idea to ask your employees for suggestions and to think carefully about the charities or organizations you want to help. Encourage your team to donate items for Goodwill Pickup, organize a charity gala, sporting event or fair, or choose a nonprofit every month and donate a portion of your profits. Doing something positive in the community is not only beneficial for organizations and the people they support, but it also brings employees together and it can encourage stronger relationships. 

While most team-building activities revolve around the idea of fellowship within your organization, you can also take this opportunity to give back to the community your workplace belongs to. Or you can choose a deserving cause that you want to support and hold a fundraising event in their honor.

As long as you’re all working towards a common goal, it can count as a team-building activity to boost employee morale. And what better way to bring people together than to find a good cause that everyone cares about? So, on your next team-building event, choose to support your local community. 

Team-building activities can only do so much to boost employee morale, and that’s why you can’t rely on them alone. The events will help strengthen your bonds with your colleagues, but they have to apply to your day-to-day lives as well. After all, the whole point of creating social interactions outside of the workplace is to forge stronger relationships that will help you work better as a company.

How To Manage Your Health When You're A Freelancer

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Self-employment has become a much more popular way of working for a lot of people. The COVID pandemic has also led to many more companies introducing remote and hybrid working as standard. There are huge potential benefits to this way of working, including creating a much healthier work-life balance for yourself. 

Yet many freelancers are finding that the opposite is true, and their health and wellbeing take a backseat as they build their freelance careers. 

So what are the health implications for freelancers and what can you do to keep yourself happy and healthy. 

Here are our top tips to get yourself into a great routine. 

Get the right insurance

If you don’t live in a country with free health care, it can be tempting to try and save money by skipping health insurance and hoping that you won’t fall ill. However, you need this safety net should you become ill or injured and unable to work. Many policies will also cover things like mental health support and alcohol rehab as part of their terms. 

Another good insurance policy to have is to have in place is income protection. This provides you with a percentage of your monthly income should you be too ill to work. You might wonder how this affects your health. If you do become ill and don’t have any income protection in place, you may keep working when you shouldn’t and prolong your illness or even make it worse. 

Keep regular working hours

One of the great things about being your own boss is deciding when you’ll work. This can be especially helpful if you have family or other commitments, or something crops up unexpectedly. But many established freelancers recommend setting a schedule and sticking to it as much as possible. Otherwise, you will find yourself working longer and longer hours and never being able to truly switch off. 

Set boundaries with clients and suppliers

The technology that allows us to work remotely, also means that we rarely switch off completely. Establish your working hours communicate these to your clients and protect your personal time as much as you can. 

If clients insist on trying to contact you outside of these times, stand your ground. Turn on your out-of-office if necessary and get yourself a separate phone number for your business calls. You can then leave it switched off or send all calls to voicemail after a certain time. 

Schedule exercise into your week

If your work involves working at a computer for long periods, then you’re at risk of a lot of different health issues. Initially, there are the aches and pains which come with sitting for long periods. Your muscles become tight and this can lead to backache, neck ache, and cramps. If this continues for a long time, then a sedentary lifestyle can result in weight gain and higher risks of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and a host of other conditions. 

Schedule exercise as you would an appointment with a client. Whether this is going out for a run, the gym, or doing a fitness video in from of your TV, find what works for you. Some people prefer to get out of the house to exercise, especially if they work from home, but if time is very tight then setting up an area in your home might be a good alternative for you. 

In addition to keeping you physically healthy, regular exercise can help you sleep and give you a mental boost too. 

Adopt a healthy diet

When you work from home, you’re never too far from your fridge, which can be a bad thing if it’s full of unhealthy snacks. A balanced diet is vital for good health so make your life easier by keeping tasty and nutritious food around and preparing your meals in advance. This way you’re more likely to avoid snacking or ordering takeout. 

Designate a workspace

While it’s nice to have the option of sitting on the sofa on your laptop to do your work, it can sometimes be helpful to have a clear distinction between your workspace and personal space. Whether you have a dedicated room or a corner of a kitchen table, you can increase your productivity and learn to switch off after you’re done for the day. 

Set your workspace up correctly

A poorly designed work area can cause you a lot of problems with posture, neck ache, and eye strain. Learn how to set up your workspace in a way that works for you. This includes where to position your computer, the correct angle for your wrists as you type, and the height and lumbar support of your chair. 

It’s worth paying a little extra money for a good ergonomic chair as it can prevent you from losing precious working hours to backache in the future. 

Work smarter, not harder

Running your own business means that you have a lot of different responsibilities alongside your core activities. Find ways to delegate or automate as much as you can. 

Network

Being self-employed can be an empowering experience, but it can also feel quite isolated at times. Especially if you are in a remote role with little face-to-face contact with people. 

A way to prevent this feeling is to network with other freelancers. Being around others who are dealing with a lot of the same issues as you are can be very liberating and is less stressful than networking for new business. Check what opportunities there are in your local area. If there is no face-to-face events, then you will be able to find a virtual one. 

Building connections with people is great for your confidence and mental health. 

Final thoughts

There are many advantages to the freelance lifestyle, but it’s still very easy to fall into bad habits that can have lasting consequences for your health. With some careful planning and some self-discipline, then you can ensure that you keep yourself mentally and physically healthy throughout your career. 

The Role of Organizational Culture in the Modern Workplace

 

The war for talent has gone more intense every year. To score top talent, companies are flaunting their work culture to appeal to job candidates, especially the millennials and Gen Zs.

In Singapore, SMRT CEO, Neo Kian Hong has done critical steps to promote a positive and structured work environment across all departments. This approach helped his company produce a professional workforce equipped with world-class skills.

Organizational culture matters a lot for companies, especially those who are conscious of how they are being perceived by their employees, customers, and media. This is because a strong culture has a great impact on the company's overall performance, retention, recruitment, and employee performance.

In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the role of organizational culture in the modern workplace and how it affects the way people work.

Defines the company's corporate identity

Organizational culture defines how the organization does business and how it interacts with its employees, customers, media, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders.

This means the organizational culture is a reflection of your business because it embodies how you do business. Similarly, it also represents your identity and brand image, which determines how employees and consumers perceive your company. Although you can easily share the cultural values of your organization through the company website and social media, it still pays to make it more apparent throughout the company by applying it to everyday operations and interactions.

Increases employee motivation

Most employers think that motivation to work lies in salary increases, paid holidays, flexible schedules, and health insurance. Truth is, organizational culture also helps in building motivation by providing an environment where employees feel their values are represented. From marketing products or services to employer-employee relationships, a strong organizational culture motivates people to work harder.

Employees take cues from the management when forming opinions about the workplace culture. Once they have adapted to the company's shared norms, this unifies management and employees. In turn, the unity will make employees feel they are a part of the organization. This leads them to feel more involved in contributing to the success of the business, not just for their personal accomplishments.

Nothing feels better when you're excited about coming to work every morning. You feel motivated to do your best not only for your professional development but also for the success of the company and your colleagues. This can only happen if you provide a supportive culture where everyone feels valued.

Better recruitment

First impressions are essential when attracting and recruiting top-performing job candidates. The young generation of job seekers, particularly millennials and Gen Zs, are now considering company values when choosing an ideal employer. For them, the hiring experience is a reflection of how the company cares for its people. They also prefer working environments with a clearly defined value and a strong sense of purpose.

Some companies recruit candidates based on whether they are culture-fit for the workforce, while placing experience as the second priority. This approach is called team-first corporate culture. It means if employees value their coworkers and feel at ease in their current work environment, they are more likely to be motivated to work harder.

Determining if a candidate fits the company culture is an effective deciding factor in the event when two potential applicants are neck and neck in the recruitment process. This can be done by providing personal tests that include a section on culture-fit to evaluate the applicant's workplace values.

Higher employee retention

Recruiting top talent is just half of the battle. Knowing how to retain them is where the real challenge begins. HR leaders reveal that employee retention and turnover are the biggest challenges in managing employees.

People who feel respected and valued at a company are less likely to leave. That's why companies need to create a strong organizational culture that reflects their mission statement and core values. Satisfied employees mean higher retention, which saves employers time, money, and effort in the recruitment process. But this isn't just a one-time thing. To make this possible, companies should take time to maintain and further enhance their culture.

Employees are expecting more than health insurance, paid time offs, and a large paycheck. They now crave a workplace that is supportive, rewards good performance, and offers plenty of opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. This explains why engaged company cultures have lower rates of turnover.

In the end, the main purpose of a strong organizational culture is making employees feel comfortable and satisfied at work. The office becomes a place where they can be themselves and can drive career to its fullest potential.

Career Opportunities for an MSCJ Holder

 

If you have a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) or you are planning to get one and you are wondering what jobs you can do with such a degree, you can rest assured that we have your back. 

The fact is that there are several jobs that you can do with an MSCJ. Therefore, in this article, we will look at a few of these jobs to help you choose your career path. Visit https://post.edu/blog/challenge-choosing-career-path/ to learn how to choose the perfect career.

Let’s begin, shall we?

1. Criminal Profiler

This involves the literal design and creation of criminal profiles that will enable law enforcement personnel to solve crimes. 

Such an individual will have to go through the process of examining different characteristics regarding a crime or crimes that have been perpetrated by a particular criminal. This examination will then allow the profiler to build the criminal’s personality profile. 

With this developed profile, the whereabouts or the criminal’s next move can be tracked down to enable the police or other law agents to apprehend such an individual.

2. Director of Court Services

For this professional, their primary duty is to plan and execute compliant processes and practices that will be carried out in court systems. 

Apart from the above duty, some directors handle certain specific projects in different programs which include financial auditing, jury systems, child support prosecution, records management, forms creation, court operations, etc. 

Furthermore, the director might be tasked with hiring and firing staff and will oversee coaching, training, as well as the orientation of subordinate staff. 

3. Criminologist

The job of a criminologist is to study the basic factors that motivate folks into committing crimes and breaking the law. 

This individual makes use of conducted research to define these motivating factors responsible for illegal and criminal behavior. When these factors are well-defined, the criminologist will use the knowledge acquired from the MSCJ programs to develop tactics to stop such crimes.

4. U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals carry out different kinds of law enforcement duties which include high and basic profile tasks. They can be part of different types of operations to bring felons to justice. 

In most cases, they aid of task forces assigned to track and arrest felons, protect judges or jurors, transport prisoners, protect witnesses, etc. 

5. FBI Agent

These federal agents are involved in dealing with national-level criminal investigations. The kind of crimes they deal with includes organized crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, foreign counterintelligence, extortion, white-collar crime, etc. 

FBI agents can obtain and execute warrants and even collect evidence. They are also allowed to appear and testify in court. They regularly interact with witnesses and even suspects as they gather evidence to aid them to close a case. 

6. DEA Agent

Agents under the Drug Enforcement Administration deal primarily with drug crimes. They investigate happenings within the drug industry and apprehend any perpetrator of illegal activities. 

Due to the vastness of the industry wherein they operate, the locations of operations of these agents are scattered across the globe. Hence, as an agent, you might be sent to a different country for an assignment. 

Some of the duties an agent will carry out include writing reports, monitoring activities that are drug-related, aiding undercover operations, organizing and handling efforts of anti-drug task forces, appearing in courts as a witness, arresting criminals, seizing evidence such as drugs, weapons, or money, etc. Click here to check out the DEA’s most wanted fugitives.

7. Forensic Psychologist 

This type of psychology deals with behavioral study to enable problem-solving such as lawsuits, insurance disputes, and custody conflicts. 

Forensic psychologists are usually found in civil courts where they work in association with felons to decide on the best solution for the case at hand. 

Furthermore, they are tasked with the assessment of persons to ascertain their proficiency regarding a case. They also administer therapy to crime victims and serve as second opinion providers in certain difficult cases. 

These professionals can also be given the duty of working with/on child witnesses to enable such children to provide the required information for that case. They can also be asked to provide a general evaluation of an offender to determine his culpability.

When it comes to cases where children are involved, it is the duty of the forensic psychologist to assess custody cases, provide follow-up to abuse reports, and also assist in deciding if a particular individual is qualified to take care of a child. 

8.  College Professor

With an MSCJ degree, you can become a college professor who teaches students a wide range of topics which include society criminology, law, crime patternism, and psychology, etc. 

Some of the duties that accompany this job include developing assignments, creating lesson plans, monitoring the progress of students via their tests, papers, and grades. 

A college professor will sometimes offer career path advice to students to enable them to select the best career path.

Conclusion

With so many job opportunities, you can see that you haven’t made a mistake in bagging or planning to bag an MSCJ. From the jobs above, you can decide on which one is best for you, and begin the process of applying for that job.

Cheers to your success!

Five Business Management Tips

Running a business can be a deeply exciting time, but if done wrong it can also be a time of great stress and anxiety. That's why it's important to know all the different tips that allow for smooth and easy business management. Whether you are a project manager, CEO or office manager, you have come to the right place as this guide has been created to recommend a few key ways that you can ensure solid business management. Read on now for all you need to know about smooth business management now. 

Know When to Outsource and When To Create In-House

To outsource or not to outsource: this could be the question that you are asking yourself when it comes to finding that balance between efficiency and cost. It is worth having a long think about the needs of your company and the cost of in-house teams. For example, when it comes to managed IT services then it's worth looking for a cheaper outsource-able option rather than hiring your own IT team. 

Ditch The Flat Hierarchy and the Open Office

Despite the best wishes of many people, businesses are not actually democracies. While it's important to make sure that everyone in the office feels respected and that their voice matters, having a flat hierarchy can often lead to confusion when it comes to people figuring out what they should actually be doing and who to look to for authority. That's why it's much better to have an established structure so you can have a proper decision-making workflow. Additionally, the open office — once a utopian idea for communal thinking — has been pretty much debunked as it increases paranoia and encourages an always-on culture that stifles productivity. Get rid of it. 

Pay Everyone on Time 

When it comes to paying your employees, the more often that you pay them on time — or if possible, even ahead of time — the more likely that they are to respect you as a business manager. Therefore, it is always worth making sure that you have the process and the money in place to ensure a smooth cashflow. 

Use Cloud Computing 

The days of emailing important documents is over, with the latest generation sick and tired of using email, which they consider an antiquated method of communication. As a result, it's better to use the latest technologies in order to understand what everyone is working on and when. Consider downloading a solid cloud computing package that can have your employees working on shared tasks together with minimum fuss. 

Listen to Others 

No business is a one-person job. Instead, it requires collaboration between a variety of different partners in order to be a success. That's why, as a business owner, you should definitely make sure that you are listening to your other employees when they raise concerns. You can actively court feedback by having an anonymous drop box or scheduling one-on-one sessions. Don't just listen either: make sure to take their advice and to convert it into actionable goals. 

8 simple ways to foster a positive work environment

If you run your own business, you need to create a positive work environment. Otherwise, you will have a high staff turnover rate and an unhappy workforce. This guide will provide eight simple ways to foster a positive work environment. 

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Prioritize onboarding and training

As new employees learn the ropes and take on more complex tasks, they will become happier with their work. You can prevent a high turnover rate by having effective onboarding and training plans in place that detail what's expected of every person joining your staff.

Introduce new hires to their colleagues

Take the time to introduce new employees to the rest of your staff. If you are a larger company, it's possible that they will never meet people in other departments and may feel disconnected from the company as a result. Be sure to make introductions at both an upper-management level and with new hires working directly with the new employees.

Create a comfortable work environment

The workspace should have comfortable furniture, sufficient lighting and air conditioning, and a relatively quiet environment. Employees should enjoy being in the office, which will encourage them to work for the company instead of looking for somewhere else to work. You should also provide a comfortable area for employees to relax during their breaks.

Conduct regular check-ins

As the founder or manager of a small business, you should regularly meet with your employees to check on their progress. This is especially important at the beginning of their time with your company because you can help them adjust to the workplace and establish clear career goals that tie into the overall goals of your company.

Get employees the equipment they need

Help your employees by investing in the necessary equipment for them to do their jobs better. This could be anything from a laptop or tablet they can use to more complex items including tools, engineering instruments, and chemicals. You can often find excellent equipment at trade prices. For example, if you run a healthcare business, you can use medical-supermarket.com.

Encourage collaboration and communication

Every workplace can benefit from establishing a more friendly environment that allows employees to communicate with each other more easily. You should create workflows so that team members will be able to talk with one another and share ideas. For example, if you're an accounting business, you may want employees to use a cloud-based accounting software solution such as Wave to keep everyone updated on company finances.

Develop a strong workplace culture

Let your employees know that you respect their efforts and acknowledge positive contributions. For example, you could make a rule that all employees will receive healthy snacks and drinks once they've finished a major project near the end of the week, so everyone is able to relax and celebrate on a Friday afternoon. This will let them know that you care about their well-being and want to make sure they have positive experiences.

Facilitate opportunities for learning

If your company offers continuing education, let employees know that you will pay for them to study in university. This could be either through tuition reimbursement or even an educational stipend. You should allow staff members to choose at least one course each year to pursue, as long as they agree to work towards a degree related to their roles in the business.

How To Write A Good Resume

Did you know that most hiring managers only glance at a resume for five to seven seconds before deciding whether the candidate is suitable or not? That might sound like a terrifying figure, but with a good resume, there is a lot you can do with those few seconds, and you can undoubtedly secure an interview, which is really what a resume is geared towards. 

If you want to make the best impression through your resume, there are some things to bear in mind. Read on to find out what they are. 

Photo by Lukas from Pexels

Use Keywords 

Understanding the importance of keywords is one of the best things to think about when you are learning how to create a fantastic resume that gets results. Many companies search for particular keywords in resumes, and if they can't locate them, they move on. Keywords that you should include will be ones that are stated in the job description for the role you're applying for. If the job advert talks about trading forex, for example, then make sure your resume has details about your work in this area. If the ad mentions organizational skills, give examples of how organized you can be – and mention the exact words that the business used. 

In essence, by including these specific keywords, you are showing the hiring manager that you carefully read the job advert and then chose to apply, helping them know that you are qualified and that you want the job. 

Limit Descriptions 

Finding the right balance between too much and too little information is one of the most difficult aspects of enhancing the quality of your resume. Your resume should be a snapshot of your achievements, so don't spend too much time providing work specifics for prior positions that aren't the one you're applying for. Only mention the essential facts; you can expand on these much more when you get to the interview stage, and remember, with just a few seconds to make an impression, the more succinct the information, the better. 

Plus, if you just throw everything at the resume, even things that are just not relevant to the position you're applying for, the hiring manager will have to skip over a lot of what you wrote, potentially missing out on the most useful elements. As well as this, having too much irrelevant information shows you haven't read the job description properly, which will give a bad impression. 

Keep The Font Clean

Many employers notice candidates attempting to make their resumes stand out by choosing a colorful and unusual typeface. Unfortunately, these typefaces may be distracting and draw attention away from essential information about you. It's far better to use standard fonts and write the resume in black ink on white paper. Although this might not look as though it will stand out in a crowd, whoever has to read it will be glad you kept things simple as it will be easier on the eyes. 

If you're not sure what to do to make your resume look neat, use a resume template. There are hundreds to choose from online, and they will show you just what font to use and even how to layout the resume for the best effect. 

Will Driving To Work Be A Thing Of The Past?

 

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As you may have noticed, we have been working from home for a few months now. This has led people to ask, what things about their work lifestyle could they change forever, since they have managed to continue being productive and effective in their roles at home? Lots of industries are in the firing line. Chief among them is the commercial real estate industry, but so too is the car industry. Driving to work might be a thing of the past, if you can work from home for 2-3-4 days of the week. Does this mean, public transport will get a boost in funding? Maybe it means that more eco-friendly personal transport will become popular. Here are the many reasons why taking a car to work is perhaps a soon to become a pastime.

Not as much stress

As the population of human beings on earth punches through 8 billion people, more and more people are on the roads. This has led to massive and common traffic jams around the world. As millions have been without the need to drive to work for so long, the stress of driving has been replaced with the calm of a morning stroll. 

Not to mention, you won’t be risking your life to some degree if you’re not on the road. If you have ever been in a car accident and have suffered a life-changing injury, you probably don’t see commuting to work by car the same anymore. But top car accident lawyers are still going to be needed for this reason. They'll still be needed to fight for compensation, so you can pay for medical bills and time taken off work.

A new wave of tech

It's not just cars, but every form of ‘old’ commuting type that is under attack from new technology and new lifestyles. For instance, if the hyperloop is successful, it could mean, you could hurtle from city to city, at around 300-400mph. This cuts every single train journey you can think of, (including the Japanese trains), in half. So you can get from Pittsburgh to Chicago, in about 41 minutes compared to 67 minutes by plane, and 125 minutes by train. 

Not to mention, this is also a safer form of transport as it will not be open air like trains are. Trains are subject to the weather, such as wind, rain, hail and snow. But, since the hyperloop is encapsulated, it can continue to function through heavy snowfall, monsoon season and more. Another reason why driving just seems old-fashioned. 

Great personal transport

Personal transport has made leaps and bounds in technology. Electric bikes can reach 20-30mph, allowing for riders to really make time if they are getting to work using their own steam. This is brilliant for those that live in the city and even for those that live in rural areas close to towns and cities. The ranges are generally about 10-20 miles, depending on the internal or attachable external battery packs. 

Rutland bicycles have made some great designs, such as the Levo and Creo. The batteries are situated in the front support bar, so it's out of the way and doesn’t upset the balance of the bike. With a 320Wh battery, you have lots of power and range. 

Not to mention you have electric scooters, skateboards, monoboard, and even electric roller skates. There really is no shortage of electric personal transport vehicles you can choose to help you get to work. And with ranges and power set to only improve as battery technology and efficiency motors are designed, commuting to work by car in a city or town, could be a thing of the distant past.

Love of driving

Some people just love to drive and they don’t want to give up the joy that it gives them. So perhaps, there will always be people who want to drive a car to work and back. For them, smart highways will be the future, as technology is integrated into the highways to make them more informative, more friendly to self-driving cars, as well as monitoring road conditions, vision distances, and traffic updates. This will all be displayed into your car’s computer console, so you can get seamless updates using the voice alert options. 

4 Steps for Setting Company Goals in the Workplace

 

Are you scratching your head right now trying to figure out if your company is meeting its goals? You are not alone. A big percentage of small business owners have not set their goals clearly. Sure, they have a vision of where they want to be in the future, but they haven’t laid out the plans on how to get there. Goal setting is the most important thing in achieving success in business.

Not only will setting goals provide direction for the company, but it will also keep your employees engaged. When they know the company is focused on achieving these goals, they are more likely to be more productive in the workplace. You should keep them informed about the metrics you follow, too, so they will understand the impact of their work on the company goals.

Identify Long-term and Short-term Goals

What are your long-term and short-term goals? For example, the short-term goal is to get 50 more followers to your social media pages in three months. You want these followers to be highly engaged with your brand. Choose quality over quantity always, but numbers will be a great measure of how successful you are in your short-term goal.

Commit to Your Goals

Show devotion to your goals. Seah Moon Ming wanted to change the culture in the company from a blame-seeking one into a problem-solving one. But to do that, the SMRT Chairman had to resign from his day job, which he did to spend more time focusing on the goals of the company. This is one example of how leaders and business owners sacrifice their own conveniences (and even money) to achieve the company’s goals.

Once you have set the plan, commit to it. Don’t second-guess yourself and don’t procrastinate. This will only delay the progress of reaching your goals. Staying focused on the goals of the company is the single most important thing that you can do to achieve the short- and long-term goals.

Make Your Goals Public

The most effective way of staying committed to your goals is by sharing them with others. Bring the goals to everyone’s consciousness. Share the list in an email or a company memo. This will make you accountable for your goals. The people who know about them will push you to work harder. It also works to make your employees look forward to fulfilling these goals. The demands of their everyday work will be more acceptable because they know these are in preparation to meet the goals you set.

Make them physically visible, too. You know what they say, right? Out of sight, out of mind? Print them and put the list on your wall, so everyone remembers it (even you). Aside from physically posting the list in your office, create an office document that will keep track of the goals, too. Share this document with your employees, so they can understand the importance and impact of the work they do.

Create Milestones and Connect Them With the Goals

You cannot have one lofty goal and try to reach only that. Create instead small milestones that are achievable in the short term. This will give you an excuse to celebrate these little wins. It’s a morale booster. Plus, it also keeps employees engaged in their work.

But more than creating milestones, you should also connect these milestones with your long-term big goals. The employees have to know that whenever you hit these milestones, you are getting closer and closer to your goals. It will benefit your company not only in terms of productivity but also in terms of retaining highly skilled workers. Engaged employees are more likely to stay at a company, becoming productive contributors and effective brand ambassadors.

The goals of the company are your destination. This is where you are headed. Every time you make decisions for the company, you have to consider where these decisions are going to take you. But more than just creating goals and tracking them, you need your employees to be in the same boat as you. This is truly the mark of how successful your company can become in the future.

First Impressions: Looking Great for Your Next Job Interview

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2020 has been a difficult year when it’s come to employment. The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic hit and the measures that governments around the world put in place may have slowed the spread of the virus, but they have also had a profoundly negative impact on a huge number of professional industries. Countless companies have collapsed, as they haven’t been able to operate under new laws, rules and guidelines. People have lost their jobs outright. People have been made redundant. Self-employed people have struggled to secure clients and work. So, if you’re looking for a new job, you’re not alone. The issue? Competition in pretty much any field for pretty much any role is harsh. So, you’re going to have to go above and beyond to secure the position you’re aiming for. Now, interview prep is essential. Practice answers to common interview questions. Research the company. Know what you’re talking about. But how you present yourself is important too. Even if your interview is over video chat, it’s still important to look good and make a positive first impression. Here are some steps you can take to achieve this!

Consider Your Outfit

First, think about what you’re going to wear. Sure, you may be on video call. But people can still see a proportion of what you’re wearing and you never know when you might be encouraged to stand up as part of an interview task. So, choose your outfit carefully. Generally speaking, smart is better than casual. But consider the company, determine what you think their expectations will be and match them. If it’s a formal and professional company, a suit or formal business wear may be appropriate. If you’re in a creative industry, you may be able to wear something more casual. But make it nice - maybe something from engineered garments. If in doubt, simply ask for a dress code recommendation when you are asked to attend the interview. The person at the other end of the line or email will be able to let you know what’s expected.

Make Sure You’re Groomed

Clothing isn’t the only part of your personal appearance that you should focus on. You also need to make sure that the rest of your appearance is taken care of too. Make sure you’re well groomed. Make sure your hair is clean and neat. Make sure your nails are clean using a nail brush and nail file. If you have facial hair, make sure it’s trimmed and in shape. If you wear makeup, make sure it’s subtle and done well.

We can’t emphasize how stiff competition is when it comes to job hunting right now. So, make sure you don’t neglect your personal appearance when interviewing. This is the first impression the company is likely to have of you. So, make it a good one! Hopefully, some of the above advice will come in useful and get your interview started on the right foot!

Signs It's Time To Move Your Business Elsewhere

Are you thinking of moving your business to a new location? It’s a good idea to ensure this is the right move for you before going ahead, otherwise, it can be costly. You’ll spend a lot of time and money moving business locations, so you need to look out for the signs that this is the right time to do so. Here are a few things you should look out for to figure out if moving is the right thing for you to do:

1. Your Business Is Growing

If your business is growing, it’s a pretty big sign that you need somewhere more suitable to work. With growing business, comes more equipment, more staff, and other things. Of course, this also means that you need more space. You may be able to hold off on moving right away, but if you leave it too long you’ll be doing nothing but stunting the growth of your business. 

2. You Need More Space 

Maybe you simply need more space. If you’re accumulating equipment and other business related items faster than you can find a place for it, then it could be time to call a place like Allied Van Lines and ask for their help getting your stuff to a more suitable location. 

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3. You Can’t Afford Your Current Location

Maybe you already have a place, but you can’t afford it any longer. 2020 has been a tough year for everyone, so this is nothing to be ashamed of. Perhaps you could find some kind of office share so that you’re not the only business shouldering the overheads and other costs, or maybe you could even hire a virtual office. Virtual offices allow you to enjoy most of the benefits of a physical office while working remotely. You’ll get a professional address and a number, and will be able to use the facilities for important meetings. 

4. You’re Finding It Tough To Hire

You need to know where the talent is if you’re going to hire people that will enhance your team and share your values. If you just aren't finding the talent you would like, it could be time to move elsewhere. 

5. There’s an Unhealthy Work Environment

Maybe the environment you’re currently working in is unhealthy. As a building becomes older, it could become unhealthy. It might even just be a dull place that doesn’t promote productivity. See if you can find a better place, and don't forget to hire a cleaner to ensure a hygienic environment. A place with natural light that has been well maintained is always a good place to work. 

6. There Are Changes Within Your Industry

If there are changes within your industry, this could impact your business in a big way. In some cases, downsizing your premises and focusing more online could benefit you. It all depends on what is going on in your industry right now - make sure you stay flexible and don’t get too attached to doing things a certain way!

Is it time for you to move your business elsewhere? 

The Ways In Which Even An Office Job Can Endanger You

You might think that getting to spend all day behind a desk is pretty compared to some of the jobs out there. There’s no denying it doesn’t quite carry the risks of working on a construction site, in a mine, or an oil platform, but if you neglect to recognize the health risks inherent in many offices, you can leave yourself open to some pretty serious injuries. Here, we’re going to look at some of the most common office health risks and what you can do to deal with them.

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Eyestrain

While it might not seem like the most serious of risks, eye strain can cause a lot of problems. For one, it’s painful, leaving your eyes feeling stinging and watery. However, it can also lead to increased stress, as well as headaches, including migraines, that can ruin your day even when work is done. Most modern eyestrain is caused by being too close to your screen, which emits blue light that can cause real harm. However, there are blue light covers you put over a monitor to control those emissions.

Musculoskeletal injuries

There are a lot of posture problems in the average office. Sedentary lifestyles can increase your risk of chronic hip pain, back pain, and knee pain. You can lose your range of mobility to the point that it’s easy to pull something simply by twisting the wrong way, or the pressure of bad posture can slowly cause inflammation and pain. Ergonomic furniture in the office can help you ensure you’re sitting in a safe and healthy way, but it’s crucial to take breaks, stand up, and stretch your legs.

Slips, trips, and falls

There are a lot of offices out there that could stand to be a lot tidier. The biggest risk of all is having any tripping hazards out in the walkway between desks. Looking where you are going as best as possible can help you avoid them but any tripping hazards are largely the responsibility of employers. If you don’t feel they have taken care of the work environment or left warnings where necessary, it may be worth talking to the best injury law firm if you injure yourself. Otherwise, try to warn them of work environment conditions ahead of time so they can fix it.

Lifting accidents

Similarly, if you feel like you aren’t able to safely lift some essentials in the office, such as boxes of documents or digital equipment from the storeroom, you should let your employer know. Trying to lift heavy objects without the right aid can cause sudden and serious back injuries. You can be taught proper lifting form to make sure that you’re doing it as safely as possible, but you should also know when you’re doing to need certain pieces of equipment, such as trolleys, to help move especially heavy objects. This isn’t as common in the office but does still happen regularly enough to keep it in mind.

Ensure you protect your rights to a safe working environment and speak up if you feel unsafe or have been injured by the office. You have to be your own advocate.

What You Need in Your Home Office

If you’re looking to set up a home office, you may wonder what you will need to do in order to create the best home working environment. Follow this round-up to find the best solution for you. 

Desk

This is a given – you need some kind of workstation so you can have access to all the things that help you do your job. Whether you get a standard desk with drawers or use an open table or countertop depends on what your job is.

Computer Setup

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You will need a power strip for all of your electronics as well as a desktop or laptop computer. You may need more than one monitor and may want some cable clips or ties to help keep your cords organized. Don’t forget to invest in a good headset so you can have quality calls with your boss or your clients.

Chair

Get a chair that is designed to help your back and be sure to sit in it so you know it is comfortable. Make sure the armrests hit you at the right level and the seat is adjustable. You may want one with dual wheel shock absorbing casters.

Organizers

Whether you need a full-sized file cabinet or a small desk organizer, you need to keep your desk uncluttered and have a space for the things you need. Don’t leave a handful of paperclips scattered near your mouse. Instead, put them in a small container in a drawer so you’ll always know where to find them.

Lights

If you work mostly during the daytime, try to set up your space near a window so you can use the natural light. You should also invest in some additional lighting. Using white light while working and warmer light while relaxing can help separate your office time and your relaxation time.

Getting the right equipment for your office can help you work more efficiently. Once you have it all put together, you’ll be happy you spent the time to get it organized.

4 Misconceptions About Business Wear And Style

Are you preparing for an important job interview? Perhaps you are working to be considered for that crucial job promotion at work? If this is the case, then there are a few steps that you can explore and misconceptions about business style that you definitely need to avoid. Let’s take a look at a few of the false assumptions. 

Women Don’t Need To Think About Their Business Style 

One of the biggest misconceptions that you definitely need to avoid is that women don’t need to think about their style at all. That’s just not the case and the reality is that women could be judged by what they wear to work, even more so than their fellow men in the office. If you are worried about this, you should explore popular trends in women’s office wear. In doing so, you can ensure that you don’t look out of place in your business. However, ultimately, expectations here could differ from business to business. 

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You Can’t Be Yourself 

A lot of people assume that dressing the right way for the office means that you won’t be able to show who you are and maintain your personal style. We don’t think that’s the case at all though and you can certainly still represent your own idea of yourself. An example of this would be piercings. You can still have piercings even if you are trying to look your best in the office. If you’re looking for rock piercing jewelry shop here and consider styles that aren’t too bold. 

The Little Details Don’t Matter

You might think that customers and employers are going to ignore the little details when it comes to your personal style. However, you’d probably be surprised or even amazed by the little things about you that a customer or client will notice. That’s why it is worth ensuring that your shoes are polished and that your work outfit is well presented. You need to iron your shirt and ensure that you’re not wearing clothes that look like they need a wash. Other aspects of your style like your hair are important too. You might even want to think about getting your hair cut and styled the day before you have a job interview. That way it still looks and feels fresh. 

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You Need To Spend A Fortune

Lastly, you might assume that you need to spend a fortune to look perfect for the business office. We’re glad to tell you that you can ensure that you look ready for the office, even if you’re working on quite a tight budget. You just need to search around for different stores and look for great deals on clothing. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the things that people do tend to get wrong about business style and a few of the steps you can take to guarantee that you look great when you enter the office in the morning. Indeed, perfecting your business style could help you improve your business reputation or even help you win big at your next job interview. 

4 Tips To Make A Beautiful and Functional Office Space In Your Home

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Since the CoVid-19 crisis started, many businesses have offered a work from home arrangement for their employees. This is a good idea, keeping the workforce safe at home and ensuring business continuity at the same time.

For most of those who are new to the work from home set up, the issue of having a dedicated space in the house to work is a primary concern. You don't want to use the dining table or the kitchen island for a work station, right? Don't fret. Here are some tips to get you started in creating a space so  you can work in peace.

If you don't have a spare room in your house to convert into an office space, you can use a portion of your room instead. No renovations needed, just move some furniture around to allow ample space to set up your work station.

Choose the right furniture

To start off, the basic office furniture you would need is a desk and chair. 

Get a desk that would suit your needs. Will you be using a laptop or a desktop computer? How many monitors will you need? The desk you will choose must be the right height too. Your line of sight should be at the same level with the computer monitor to avoid eye and neck strain.

Buy a comfy chair. You can use whatever spare chair you have at home, but it would be best if you could get a high back, swivel chair to provide the proper lumbar and neck support. If you would need some suggestions for office chairs and desks, you can check out Rakuten's website. You can definitely find something there that would suit your needs and style preference.

Choose a place with natural light

It would always be nice to have your desk near a window so you can look outside when your eyes need to take a break. Natural light sources are more conducive to staying focused and calm while working. If you are working a late night shift, it would be best to get a desk lamp or an LED lamp that you can attach to the edge of your desk.

Keep essential office supplies within reach

A desk caddy will keep pens, pencils, markers, paper clips organized. Keep a journal, or planner or a pad of paper on your desk, so that you can easily jot down ideas and reminders. A small desktop calendar would be handy to have, and if you opt to add a small desk clock, that would be fine too.

Decorate!

Now you've got a desk, a chair, a light source and desk essentials, it is time to personalize your space. Place some small potted plants on your desk. Succulents are a popular choice. A pop of color will provide your eyes a refreshing break. A framed photo of your loved ones and a few precious figurines would be nice to add to your desk decor. Feel free to add anything or any item that would inspire and motivate you to do your work.

Try these tips to create your own work station at home. You don't need to get fancy or anything. Comfort and functionality are the key to building a great work station which would bring in of course, increased productivity!

If you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment below.