Archives for May 2021

Career Beginnings: 5 Methods for Looking Good in a Job Interview

May 31, 2021 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

The past year has been difficult for everyone. Aside from the risk of contracting the virus that has gripped the world for over a year, many people have also had to contend with the loss of their livelihoods. If you’re re-entering the job market in search of a new source of income, you may have to go to a job interview.

According to human resources experts, a good job opening will attract as many as 250 applicants. Among these hundreds of applicants, only 4 to 6 will be invited to an interview. While getting a job interview is a certainly a good sign, it’s by no means a certainty that you will get the job. You need to stand out not just from among the other applicants but from the other interviewees as well.

Here are 5 methods you can employ to ensure you rise above the rest and get the job.

Highlight Your Education

Whether you graduated high school, got an undergraduate degree or earned an online master’s degree, you should talk about your educational attainment. Your advanced degrees and college accomplishments can prove to be a great advantage over your competitors. If you have the credentials that are appropriate for the mission, you should never miss on the opportunity to bring them up and highlight how your coursework has prepared you for the job. Talk about how your professors gave you the know-how to deal with different situations. If you had to get an internship, talk about how it gave you an insight to corporate life.

2. Research the Company

Too many interviewees focus on talking about themselves and their accomplishment without bothering to look into the company they’re applying for. Companies in the same field of business may be looking for different qualities in their employees, and this can affect what you should say during your interview. If you’re applying for jobs in multiple businesses, you should always research each company you plan on working for. One business may have a more laidback, causal approach while another has strong, conservative values. Research will help you fine tune what to say, how to dress and what questions to expect during your interview.

3. Expand on Your Resume

Interviewers will definitely ask you to expand on your resume, and you have to be prepared to answer their questions. What’s more, you’ll be expected to share more details on things you put there. For example, if you talk about your conceptual skills, you should share when you put these skills to use on a project. If you have any certifications or awards from your previous job or in college, talk about how these can help you excel in the position you’re applying for. Always read your resume before your interview and get ready to explain how each entry can put you head and shoulders above the other interviewees.

4. Study Your Body Language

Aside from watching what you say, you also need to study the way you move and how you act. Body language is an essential component of a successful job interview. If the company is laidback and casual, you may not need to worry about sitting straight all the time or watching how you sit. But if the company is very corporate, you should definitely carry yourself more sternly. Keep in mind that there are new realities to human interactions brought on by the pandemic. For example, while shaking hands used to be the norm before and after a job interview, it may no longer be welcome by today’s standards. Be very careful with how you handle yourself and you will ace your job interview.

5. Ask Your Own Questions

Interviews aren’t just one-way streets, with the interviewer bombarding you with questions. If the company is doing job interviews correctly, you’re expected to have some questions of your own. Aside from asking questions regarding benefits, compensations and the responsibilities associated with the position, you should also ask questions about how you can improve your work. For example, you may want to ask what skills you should focus on to excel at the position. Or you can ask if they can recommend any supplementary courses or educational material for you to study. Asking the right questions will show your interviewer you are serious about the position and help you secure the job.

Acing a job interview is essential if you want secure a new job and earn a living. These tips will help you showcase your preparedness and how serious you are in getting the position you applied for.

How Can You Reduce Accidents At Work?

May 31, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

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Accidents can happen at work all the time, and they’re never a good thing. You could look at an accident and think, oh well, that was a freak incident. Or, you could look at it and wonder how it can be prevented in the future. Taking care of health & safety is crucial in a business environment. If accidents keep happening, they cease being accidents – they clearly show problems in your business somewhere.

Taking this into account, how can you reduce accidents at work? Are there ways you can make it less likely for someone to get hurt? Absolutely, and they’re very easy to implement!

Non-slip flooring

A large percentage of accidents stem from people slipping and falling. Usually, this is down to slippery surfaces that cause people to fall over. An easy way to prevent this is by laying down some non-slip flooring. Carpet is a lot harder to slip on than laminate flooring in an office. Plenty of industrial flooring companies will make floors with coating on the top that prevents people from slipping. You’ve also got tape you can place in certain areas that create a non-slip effect. If your flooring is harder to slip on, accidents will be reduced.

Regular cleaning

Cleaning your premises is essential if you want to cut down on accidents at work. Cleaning will do a couple of things – firstly, it helps you move things out of the way. If your workplace isn’t cleaned every day, objects can clutter up working spaces, creating trip hazards. Also, cleaning helps you mop up spills or anything that could cause accidents. For instance, you can clean up a banana skin from the floor that might make people trip over.

Cable management

Believe it or not, but good cable management can lower the chances of accidents happening. Modern workplaces – particularly offices – have so much equipment all of which is connected by a cable or two. Therefore, it’s easy to have cables sticking out of desks that could trip someone up. Good cable management keeps everything neat and can stop this from happening.

Health & safety training

Finally, the best way to stop people from getting hurt at work is by training them. Train your employees in the basics of health & safety – such as manual handling, how to handle certain materials, how to operate any machinery, and so on. Depending on your line of work, you will have different training to undergo. Still, the outcome is the same; you have employees that know how to be safe and are less likely to do anything that might cause them harm by accident.

Accidents do happen, but that doesn’t mean you should let them. If you take steps, as a business owner, to reduce the chances of accidents happening, your business will benefit. Accidents at work can set you back lots of money in lawsuits and compensation claims. Not to mention the damage it can do to your reputation via any press stories that leak out. Prevent this from happening by preventing accidents.

Why Students Must Participate in A Foreign Exchange Program?

May 28, 2021 by Ashly Williams Leave a Comment

Student exchange programs are one of the finest opportunities that enable each student to study in a foreign country. For students, it’s considered a golden opportunity to dive into an ocean of learning and develop a unique personality to move ahead in their careers. Students can easily make great progress in their careers after coming back from an exchange student program. However, when it finally comes to studying abroad, it seems both terrifying and exciting. Each student gets to enjoy a unique experience but they all have a common experience that is memorable. Still, students often have a feeling of confusion when it comes to enrolling themselves in a foreign exchange program as they stress over the financial aspect. There are scholarships available but only for a limited number of students. Rests have to manage their financial expenses to visit a foreign country and study abroad. However, it can be beneficial in the long run if students remain attentive throughout the foreign exchange program. Still, let’s take a look at the following reasons behind participating in a foreign exchange program,

Experience Your Life Uniquely

Well, a student’s life has always been constrained in their classrooms. Previously, there were no way a student could find a chance to explore themselves. So, life seemed boring for most students. After all, students have a zeal to explore, know, and travel the world. They want to learn without any limitations, travel without any boundaries, and explore as much as they can. These young souls should always keep up this zeal to achieve the bigger goals in life. However, the earlier format of education didn’t allow students to explore themselves. So, they had to enroll in any reputed colleges without even knowing which subject they should study. But, the best high school foreign exchange programs offer the ideal chances for these students to experience a new way of life. They can embrace a new culture, step out of their comfort zone, and experience a unique situation in life.

Students can experience the local activities, make friends with new people, try the local food, and understand the country and its history more deeply. So, studying seems fun in a new country. Sometimes, it can be a bit challenging, especially at the beginning. During these times, students must adapt themselves to the changing atmosphere and know the survival tips to easily overcome those difficult days. But, overall, it can be a memorable and productive journey for a student.

Expand The Employment Opportunities

One of the best ways to expand one’s employment opportunities is by studying abroad. It not only expands one’s perspective but also boosts one’s employability ratio. After all, recruiters always look for dynamic abilities in an aspirant. By studying abroad, a student develops a wide range of skills and techniques that set them apart from the rest, for instance, language proficiency. While studying abroad, students learn to be proficient in a language to communicate properly. This language proficiency is considered an effective skill in the long run. Also, international exchange program proves that the student is a problem solver and he can quickly adapt to changes. It provides a better understanding of international cultures which are valued in any international company. So, pretty clearly, students can boost their employability by studying abroad.

Expose Yourself To The Unique Education Method

Generally, in a foreign country, students get to experience a unique education method. The style of teaching is completely different from one’s native country. Students can use this as a golden opportunity to experience a range of teaching methods and figure out which works best for them. So, it’s a great way to immerse oneself in a unique academic setting and learn new things. Some students yield this opportunity to learn new things in life.

Expand Your Network

There’s no denial in saying that students can expand their network by studying abroad. By taking part in these student exchange programs, students can meet new friends all around the globe. They can build a strong bond with these people from different backgrounds sometimes, they become lifelong friends. It’s also beneficial to have a global network. It helps in the long run. Not only, it will allow one to visit new counties but also this global network can be beneficial in case one starts a business.

These are the reasons why students must participate in a student’s exchange program. However, the journey can be challenging at times as students step out of their comfort zone for the first time. So, it’s important to be aware of the tips and tricks to survive a foreign exchange program. After all, it’s a great opportunity for every student to boost their career.

Upholding H&S Requirements With Compliance Assessments

May 27, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

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As an employer, a safe working environment is something you are responsible for. There is a vast array of different assessments and safety precautions that need to be taken.

One important area of health and safety which you need to carry out is a Legionella risk assessment. Legionella is a type of bacteria that relates to Legionellosis disease, this is a form of pneumonia. This is something that has the capacity to be extremely harmful and damaging to an individual, and thus it is of the utmost importance that you make sure your workspace is Legionella free. You can track Legionella assessments and other types of health and safety compliance efforts with Proxyclick or similar software.

So how does an individual catch Legionellosis disease? This infection is something that is contracted via breathing in minute droplets of water that have been contaminated by the bacteria. Therefore, when carrying out your Legionella risk assessment you will be primarily concerned with water systems, meaning that some businesses are more susceptible to this risk than others, e.g. spas. Nevertheless, almost every company utilises water, and therefore this is a pivotal health and safety area which needs to be paid attention to by every owner. In fact, the law states that any company whereby individuals can be exposed to water must carry out this assessment.

It is recommended that you seek a professional company to carry out your Legionella risk assessment. After all, this is not something whereby corners can be cut, and if the assessment is not carried out properly then you can find yourself at serious risk. A top quality company will ensure that they identify any problem areas and that controls are put into place in order to guarantee that the potential problem never actually comes to light.

There are a whole host of products and facilities which can be the source of Legionella. To give you further insight, the following systems are just a mere handful of some; spa pools, indoor fountains, cooling towers and humidifiers. The company in question will evaluate every single aspect of your business that spreads breathable water droplets, utilises warm water, stores water, circulates water and much, much more.

Once the company has identified any risks you may have they will then take effective measures in order to ensure that everything is kept under control. They will continue to monitor this and will set review dates with you for the future to ensure that nothing is left untended to. After all, if regular checks aren’t taken then Legionella could easily form and that would obviously be a big problem.

All in all, as an employer it is your duty to ensure that your staff and the public are kept safe at all times. By exposing them to Legionella you are doing the opposite and thus you need to carry out a Legionella risk assessment to make sure that this never happens. Moreover, make sure you find a professional company for the job to guarantee a thorough assessment and solution process.

How To Promote Your Brand To New Customers

May 25, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

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With thousands of new businesses launching each day, you must find a way to stand out from the crowd, especially if you are attempting to upscale your small business. While there are many different things you can do to differentiate yourself from your competitors, such as by coming up with new and unique products or services, the majority of your success is actually focused on your ability to promote your brand. After all, you can have the best product in the world – but if nobody ever hears about it, you won’t make any sales.

With that in mind, here are just some of the ways in which you can go about promoting your brand to new customers.

Grow your business through social media. Whether you are guilty of spending hours scrolling through Twitter this evening or have never posted on Instagram in your life – there are plenty of ways that you can use social media to your advantage as a business owner. By curating the right kind of content (i.e., posts that reflect your brand and company ethos), you can quickly begin to build up an international customer base, which in turn, will allow your sales to grow and flourish.

Focus on being great at what you do. Perhaps the easiest way in which you can continue to promote your brand to new customers is by simply providing your current clients with quality services that they couldn’t get anywhere else. When your customers are happy, they are more likely to leave positive reviews or recommend your business to their friends and family. This means that you could gain new customers organically or through word of mouth – which requires little effort on your behalf.

Don’t underestimate the importance of good signage and posters. Signage, graphics, and posters are a great way to enhance your promotional efforts – whether you hang them outside your store or display them elsewhere in your local area. They can provide your customers with an insight into your brand that they would not be able to get anywhere else. For more information about what new signage could do for your brand, check out Duncan Parnell.

Stage a rebrand. Even the biggest and most celebrated companies rebrand their business from time to time, meaning that it makes sense for small businesses to do the same. They can be particularly useful if you are launching new products or services or have found that your business goals have shifted slightly since your original launch (meaning your target audience has also changed).

Host focus groups. When you own a business, you must know exactly who your target audience are – right down to even the most minor details regarding their likes and dislikes. This means that you will find it easier to tailor your services to them, making them more likely to make a purchase. However, if you feel disconnected from your customers, you can reconnect with them by holding focus groups – either online and or in person. This means you can get specific feedback from your audience, be that on new products or your company in general.

Start Using SaaS. These days you will be hard-pressed to find a new brand that isn’t using software as a service. This innovative cloud-based technology enhances your business by streamlining it and reducing your operating pressures. This frees up more time to interact with customers and build your brand’s reputation. Consider saas management tools to get started.