Skills Shortages Today

Skills Shortages Today Businesses of all sizes are facing recruitment difficulties with a perceived skills shortage cited as an issue. It’s a global issue and, if not addressed, skills shortages will hamper the long-term performance of organizations and economies alike. Skill shortages are costly and can hamper growth, with the Open University estimating that they cost the UK £2 billion a year in higher salaries, recruitment costs, and temporary staffing bills. We need to understand changing trends and to equip the workforce with the skills needed for the future. We have to be alive to a possible post-Brexit skills shortage, which may impact the UK’s future pool of EU labor as well as any labor currently in employment here. We also need to consider long-term factors such as AI, automation and as disruptive technologies change the skills we need, it seems obvious that better planning of recruitment, training, and education will help organizations, workers, and students to make more informed workplace plans and career choices. Upskill and retain Addressing the issue means bringing in newly trained workers or upskilling the existing workforce, however, there is a massive shortfall in the number of apprentices in training and some enterprises are turning away work due to a shortage of skilled labor. It’s important that organizations look at their training and retention practices as retaining talent in the company will ensure continued productivity and competitiveness. Talent management, a culture of continuous learning and clear career paths for employees are critical. Not only will such measures enable them and the organization with the skills needed, but it will help to satisfy and engage employees, which in turn enhances retention. Retaining skilled workers will be vital for the future. Organizations which invest in employees and develop skills and talent in-house will be at an advantage in recruitment and retention. Offering effective training, good benefits and an open and collaborative working relationship with workers will aid retention of skilled workers. Plan ahead Plan for the future by anticipating workforce needs and priorities. It helps if an organization can attract a diverse workforce from the widest talent pool available. For many, this will mean new ways of thinking and working in the organization. Offering secondments, stretch assignments and development opportunities where possible will both encourage ambitious individuals and may help meet specific skills gaps. Research suggests that 70% of employers will offer flexible working by 2020 and some 21% of employees asked would accept lower pay if they were able to work fewer hours. Organizations can use flexible working arrangements to attract skilled employees who may otherwise be reluctant to enter the traditional working world. Building links with local schools and colleges can help attract young workers into business, affording a new pool of labor. This could mean lower recruitment costs, better retention rates and bring in new ideas and connections to younger consumers. We need a network of education providers who can work closely with employers to understand needs and train a workforce that will enable organizations and industry to compete for the future. Planned career pathways At 10Eighty, we are convinced that a provision of good career planning and counseling employees around potential career pathways are beneficial. In too many organizations the career choices of employees are ill-informed or based on partial knowledge of development and training offers and available employment opportunities. Organizations need to get better productivity from existing resources through education, training, making efficiencies and by exploiting new technologies and specialist consultancy services. To be successful we will need to embrace digital transformation with new skillsets and capabilities and an upskilled workforce. The key to long-term success will lie in providing our people with opportunities to transition into roles that are more skilled and rewarding.

7 Ways a DISC Assessment Can Help Transform Your Career

7 Ways a DISC Assessment Can Help Transform Your Career So youre not thrilled with work lately, but youre not sure what to do about it. Job hunt? Go back to school? Pursue a promotion? Well, before you invest the significant time, money energy involved in those options, you might consider doing a little self-reflection via a DISC Assessment. Why, you ask? What could it possibly  have to offer? Well, here are a few benefits. Increase Your Confidence In a challenging, fast-paced work environment, its pretty easy to lose sight of the good stuff and just focus on what goes wrong each day. The mistakes you made, the lost sale, the frustrating clients. Your DISC assessment spells out your strengths and  details  what you do well. The  resulting report reminds you about the value you bring to the table, and also provides enlightening insights on areas where you dont always shine. Increased confidence positively impacts your work product, your teammates, and your overall satisfaction. Enhance  Your Relationship with Your Boss A big part of what DISC delivers is heightened  awareness about your own natural behaviors, and those of the people around you. Especially your boss. It helps you see any potential disconnects like why she drives you nuts sometimes. Keep in mind, youre likely doing the same to her. This new awareness helps you plan your communications better, whether by email, phone or in person. Plus, your DISC assessment provides  checklists on how to make this easier. Fewer conflicts  and a better connection with your boss. Things just got better. Snag  Better Assignments When you know exactly how you provide value to your organization beyond your hard skills, its easier to go after  assignments that capitalize on  your strengths and enable  you to give your best. The content in your DISC report spells this out for you, and you can use it to self-promote effectively, attracting better projects. Improve For the Future You know those strengths mentioned earlier? Well in some situations theyre not always perceived by others as strengths. For example, being analytical can be valuable. But when under stress, the normally analytical person can be perceived as hesitant, or inflexible. Under extreme stress or fatigue, others may see that person as stubborn or even detached. Its the same trait, but changing circumstances can take it from positive to negative. Your DISC assessment highlights this issue specifically, creating awareness where you were previously oblivious. Merely  knowing that  this propensity exists helps you manage it better and prevent  problems in the future. Be the  Good Guy The understanding that DISC brings about your own behaviors creates similar awareness regarding  the people around you. After reading through your DISC assessment, youll find yourself noticing others behavior relative to yours. When their behavior is similar to yours, communication is usually easier. When different, youll find  a better way to connect with them, based on the content in your DISC report. With fewer conflicts and more connections with the people around you, you become the good guy. Bring Calm to Chaos Again, the increased awareness youll experience is enlightening. Realizing that someones behavior is simply their perspective diminishes  your emotional reactions to them and lets you focus on getting the job done. Instead of getting distracted, thinking, This guy shouldnt be like this! youre able to focus on the crisis at hand instead. Turn Exhaustion into Enthusiasm When youre in a bad job fit, you spend all your energy just surviving. Confidence drops. You have little to no energy to find a solution. Its a spiral path that ends in a pit of despair. Your DISC assessment will graphically reflect your mismatch and help you see what kind of environment, interactions, and responsibilities will energize instead of drain you. And its this new knowledge  that drives the change youre seeking. Kickstart Your Job Hunt Updating your resume isnt exactly fun, but a few sections  in your DISC assessment make it much easier. Between  a thorough overview of your strengths general characteristics to a detailed chart of descriptors, the time involved in revising your resume and preparing for interviews is significantly decreased. And dont forget the confidence boost mentioned earlier in this post its quite valuable when you hit the job boards. So if youre ready to do a little self-reflection before making any life-altering decisions, congrats!  For pricing on a DISC assessment package,  click here.

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Accepting The Job

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Accepting The Job The appeal of a job offer after a long period of searching quickly tempts you to say “Yes!”   You read the job description, rocked the interview and thats that â€" but it shouldnt be. When you commit to this role, you agree to all of the terms and conditions, including the unspoken ones. Here are seven questions you must ask yourself before accepting the job. Does This Opportunity Excite Me? Does this opportunity genuinely excite you, or are you considering the role because they offered and its a paying job? If its the latter, is the company aware that this will likely be a transitional, temporary role for you? If excitement pulses through your veins, what do you look forward to most about this position? Regardless of why you feel tempted to accept, find something about the role that makes you feel excited and challenged â€" so you wont feel unhappy and stressed should you accept the commitment. Do I See a Clear Career Growth Path at this Company? Too many professionals accept a job they hope will go somewhere but doesnt. Instead, after a period of commitment and no promotions, employees feel stuck and undervalued. They also dont want to move on in case they dont find anything else â€" its the curse of sticking with the devil you know. Do you see a clear career growth path at this company? Could you transfer between departments and rise in the ranks? Does management seem eager to see what you can do with new projects? Have you talked to other employees? Can you find evidence of these professionals rising in the ranks? If not, how does the company culture feel? Is stagnancy something that will leave you feeling satisfied? It comes down to this: Is this company as committed to you as you are to them? Does the Company Offer Stability and Integrity? What do stability and integrity look like to you? What do these terms mean to you? While you desire projects that challenge and exhibit your unique skills, you want to accept a role with a company that provides you with stability. Does that term mean adequate benefits, salary and paid leave? Dont be afraid to negotiate for what you need and deserve because projected income and raises may not cover living expenses, leaving you stuck no matter how sweet the offer looks at first. Always get offers and final determinations in writing. Does stability mean the company wont experience a slew of new owners in the next two years and leave you looking for another job? Does it provide mental and emotional stability with a healthy work culture? What about the companys integrity? Read customer and employee reviews thoroughly once you receive an offer because if a company regularly cheats its customers, it most likely will devalue its employees. Does the Company Offer the Benefits I/My Family Need? Before accepting the position, you may be on your previous employers plan, using short-term health insurance or one of the millions without health insurance. The size of the business hiring you impacts whether your benefits package may include health insurance at all: 60 percent of individuals without health insurance are employed by small businesses made up of under 25 people. Larger businesses face fines for not providing health insurance, but federal law doesnt require health insurance for small business employees. No penalty paid. If thats the case, will you provide your own health insurance, and how much will it cost you? For larger companies, inquire about the ins and outs of all coverage aspects, such as pregnancy and care for family members. Who does your policy cover and for what? So many go without the health insurance they need. Make sure you are covered and knowledgeable about your coverage. Know when your eligibility begins. Who Do I Report to? Who oversees your work and position? Is person prone to favoritism? How do they communicate, and will your communication styles clash to the detriment of your advancement? A supervisor focused on facts with an analytical communication style may view a personal communicator as weak or missing the point due to their emotional style. Will you work well with your supervisor? If employees are quick to leave roles, dont be afraid to ask about the average longevity of employees within the type of role offered to you. Beyond word of mouth, have you actually met and interacted with this person? Did you get an opportunity to talk to the team they manage? Trust your gut feelings and read up on your prospective supervisor because they can and will directly impact your career. What Will My Real Schedule and Responsibilities Look Like? When you pose this question to HR, only state the “real” part of the inquiry in your mind, but take it seriously. What is unspoken here? Hours within particular industries may not be predictable, and your supervisor may expect you to stay after hours or on the job until an emergency is resolved. Is the hourly pay or salary worth your contribution in such cases? Similarly, what responsibilities may fall under your job description that arent represented on paper? Its one thing to pitch in if a position is terminated in the department or if someones sick. Its another to be expected to work the role of two or three people on top of your advertised responsibilities in the long-term without sufficient compensation. Is This What I Really Want? Is accepting this role â€" and all that it entails â€" what you really want? Yes, you are allowed to have your cake and eat it, too. Its time for some positive reinforcement: Dont sell yourself short. Your skills, talents and needs are valid. Secure the pay and benefits you deserve. Trust your gut. Its telling you something important. Dont settle for a position that does not meet your needs, including financial, mental and emotional. Participate in a positive work culture, and flee from toxic work environments. Observe red flags. Dont be afraid to shine. There are many factors beyond whats in the benefits package as you conduct the cost-benefit analysis of what accepting this job means for you. Analyze the role on multiple levels from how well the benefits package meets your needs to trusting your gut feelings about not getting along with your prospective supervisor. Most of all, dont make this role fit you. Make sure it is a true fit and that this company is as committed to you as you are to them.

A fresh view of feminism for 2015

A fresh view of feminism for 2015 I am a child of the feminist revolution. My mom tells me this story. She hated being home with kids. She always dreamed shed be a journalist. She she  got a full scholarship to go to college. But when she was graduating, she realized that if she didnt get married shed have to go home to her impoverished family. So she looked around for men to marry, and while my mom dated a lot of really hot men (I am paraphrasing now) my dad was the one who she thought she could for sure get to marry her. The letters they wrote each other between junior and senior years are great primary sources for understanding the foundation for their relationship. My dad was in Europe touring art museums even though he appreciated art less than a blind man in a snowstorm. His mother told him to go to Europe and he did, because he would go to the moon to get a woman to love him. My fathers letters to my mom were  about how much he loves her. And my mom was in New York City writing him letters about how much she hates him. My mom bequeathed to me a box of letters so large that it is clear both people enjoyed their respective roles as sniveling  courtier and cold-hearted strategist. It will not spoil the story to tell you their divorce papers could also fill a large box because  the divorce lasted thirteen years (three judges threw the case out of court citing de minimis no curat lex which is Latin for both of you shut the fuck up). I see now that my parents got warm feelings of fulfillment  from the mutual assurance that their needs could never be met. My mom had a baby  because my dad would have had to go to Vietnam if he did not have a baby. My dad studied at Harvard Law School while my mom took care of me. Then they moved to Chicago, where my dad got a job, and my mom had another baby because that was what was expected. This is, I think, the core of the feminst revolution: that women had to do what was expected. My mom is a leader in the revolution because not only did she despise staying home with kids, but she despised it enough to stop doing what was expected. She saw an ad in the paper for a job programming in COBOL. They would teach people with a college degree. She gave me and my brother to the girls across the street who were off school for the summer, and she took the train into the city to learn COBOL. Interview questions my mom answered in  1970: 1. Do you have children? 2.  Who will take care of your children while youre working? 3.  Does your husband know you are going to take a job? 4.  Will your husband sign a note that says you can work? My mom loved working  so much that  when the neighborhood kids went back to school my mom hired someone to come to the house. List of babysitters: 1. Vicky. She beat me and my brother with a hairbrush and a belt. My mom  found welts on my back. 2. Berneatha. She was too fat to get off the sofa so I  did everything  for her. My mom found out when dishes were all put away in the bottom cabinets. 3. Ceily. She used the iron to teach me a lesson. On the top inside of my right thigh.  I had a third-degree burn. The era of local daycare centers was 20 years away. The closest one was  90 minutes from our house. So my mom found a job by that daycare center and  my mom, my brother and I listened to the radio and sang out loud to songs like Maggie May, Knock Three Times and, Brandy: Brandy, youre a fine girl! What a good wife you would be! But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea! The other kids at the day care center were orphans. Their moms died and  the dads had not yet had time to replace them. So the kids stayed there all day. The teachers guided us with whistles. My mom took us out for lunch sometimes. We cried about having to go back after lunch, and then she cried, so she stopped coming for lunch. When I was in first grade my brother was in kindergarten and my mom worked part-time. She hated coming home early for us, which is probably why I have no memory of her having come home early, but she swears she did. By third grade we went home to an empty house. My dad came home on the 8:35 train. My mom came home shortly after. She probably didnt intend to go out drinking with the guys after work every night, but if she came home before my dad, shed have to do all the child care and all the housework. Before the term second shift emerged, my mom could see it coming. And she dodged it. In our house, the split was 50/50. My mom kept track. She drove to Hebrew school so my dad drove to Saturday school. When we refused to keep going to Saturday school because the kids were so mean, my mom opened a charge account at the taxi company and told us call a cab. By then, my mom was high up. In the insurance industry. On school forms the line for occupation was never long enough for me to write two, but I always did: dad lawyer, mom- executive. My dad kept his money. My mom kept her money. He spent his on racing boats. My mom spent hers on clothes. Her clothes were beautiful. I still remember the burgundy boots. The white leather coat. The Coach purse. Frye boots. Dungarees. My mom was cooler than Id ever be. I had a clothing  allowance. I bought a lot of costume jewelry because the jewelry store never sneered when I said charge it, and the owner sometimes asked how my school was going. In December I had forty rings and no winter coat and my parents nodded knowingly that their budget idea was working. I was learning to manage money. They did not nod together. They were never in the same room. The only memories I have of them in the same room are when they are fighting. My mom makes dinner because my dad says hell get the 6:05. He gets the 8:35. My mom  makes us wait until he gets home to serve dinner. Then she throws it at him. Peas are very bad to clean up. They roll everywhere. With just the right amount of  force behind the throw they will even ricochet off walls. My parents went to couples counseling but they couldnt find anyone who had experience with working women, so Im not sure they ever made it past the first session. For my birthday my dad was supposed to get me a present, and he forgot, so he took me shopping.  We bought a dress that would have been good if I had a job at his law firm as  a secretary. It hung in my closet for years,  next to my dress that my grandma bought me for my first day of school.  It would have been good for going to school at Buckingham Palace.  As she gave it to me she said, Your mother never does anything for you! I told her, My mom works as hard as my dad does. Why doesnt he buy me clothes for school? My grandma said, Men cannot buy a dress for the first day of school. Youll see this is true when youre older. Youll remember I said this and youll think your parents were crazy. And shes right. But she wasnt right when I was in my 20s and thought Id never have kids. She wasnt right in my 30s when I thought Id never stay home with kids. She wasnt right until I realized theres positively no way to keep things equal, and everyone suffers from trying to establish equality. People can only give what they are good at giving. And people cant stop needing what they need. Its what they need. Kids need taking care of. Money needs earning. Those are two very unequal jobs. You cant split them equally because they are not half-time jobs. So you might think Im a throw-back to the 50s when I say, stay-at-home dads is a bad idea.  You might think I am self-hating when I say that women dont crave power as much as men do.  But dont say I dont understand how hard women fought for equality. Because I was part of that fight. I gave up my childhood for the fight for womens equality. And as a fighter, I want to believe  I fought for choice. I fought for women to be anything, but also for women to choose to be a stay-at-home mom. I fought for women to have a choice to cook meals for their husbands and sew buttons for their kids. I fought for women to be bold  enough to have a big career and then give it up for kids and  be brave enough to suffer the shame of not earning their own money in a world that values money above everything else. In the history of revolutions, the revolutions turn against the people who fought them. Just look at the US: we have little celebration  for the institutions of the Founding Fathers: slavery, elite rule, and libertarianism. But we have the opportunities the Founding Fathers opened up for us, and its okay to celebrate that liberty and still have disdain for the principles of the electoral college. By the same token, women acting like men, and marriages being 50/50 is the road to self-destruction. But I relish the opportunities Feminism  gave me, like saying  no to full-time work, and Im proud that I was a child soldier in that war.

Font Size Resumes Elements

Font Size Resumes ElementsThe font size is an important element of your resume. This is one that many people have a hard time with. They either choose the wrong font size or they try to fit the text into the page in which it is printed.There are a lot of different font sizes out there, so you are bound to get this wrong more than once. You want the reader to be able to see the information that you are trying to present to them. So, you don't want them to be drowned out by the fonts that you choose. Try and stick with a consistent font size.However, you do want to use different fonts on your resume for specific things. For example, if you have taken different courses, you want your font size to be a little bigger for course information. However, when you are talking about your personal life, you don't want to have the same font size for everything.It is important to have different font sizes so that you can put something important at the top and then come in at the bottom with the oth er information. So, even though you may use the same font size on your cover letter and your resume, you should still use the different fonts for different sections. This will help you maintain the hierarchy in your resume.If you are worried about the font size, don't be. These days, there are so many different types of fonts to choose from. You can even go online and type out what you want. All you need to do is remember where you saw it before.It is important to remember that you can use a lot of different fonts on your resume so that you don't end up with too much in one section. For example, a favorite font can only be used once on a resume. But if you have multiple people working on your resume, you can make a compromise and use one or two of them. This way, you can still put everything together in one place and they will all stand out better.You can also use the different font sizes to highlight certain things. For example, if you are going for a career change, you want to mak e sure that there is no information that will take up the most space. You can do this by choosing the small font that will grab attention and not take up too much space.Remember that font size is one of the most important elements of your resume. You need to use them in a certain way so that they are noticed. By using different fonts, you can also maintain the hierarchy in your resume. This is one that should not be overlooked.

A Beautiful Season - Kathy Caprino

A Beautiful Season As Im sure you have, Ive been receiving skillions of Happy Holidays and New Year! newsletters and emails, many of which are beautiful and touching.   Im grateful for these lovely reminders and chances to reflect on this past year, and what my hopes and dreams are for 2010.   Ive decided not to send a Happy Holidays email, but instead,  to write to you here, and thank you for being a part of my cherished community.   Its quite a blessing to blog regularly and to receive fascinating, diverse, often passionate  comments from steadfast readers who follow your words and thoughts, and care enough to share their insights.   Its a privilege, and Im most grateful for it.   This season carries with it beautiful childhood memories for me of fuzzy, fat Christmas tree lights, of smooth skating on frozen ponds (I grew up in upstate NY after all!), of the splendor of snow falling lightly on trees, of out-of-tune caroling with young friends around the neighborhood, and of family basking by a fire dancing with multicolored flecks (created by a  magic powder my dad would throw in!).   When we have these warm and comforting childhood memories, they color our experiences well into the future, giving us rose-tinted recollections to savor for many years.   For me, this is a beautiful season.   No matter what challenges have come before, this season softens the rough edges and rounds out the year with celebration,  family, reflection, and gratitude.   I hope this season that brings to a close such a deeply challenging and humbling year has been beautiful for you too.     May your 2010 be what you dream it to be as expansive and glorious a vision as you can hold.   Happy holidays to you.

Creating the Perfect Resume to Land a Job - CareerAlley

Creating the Perfect Resume to Land a Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. Antoine de Saint-Exupry Looking for a job requires more than submitting an application. In todays economy, you not only have to learn how to market yourself, but how to stand out from the other applicants. Standing Out Through Experience Anyone can create a resume. However, when you create your resume, it is vital to remember that this is your chance to show potential employers why you would be the perfect fit for a particular job. Marketing yourself on paper is often the only chance you get to make the positive impression you need to get an interview. When you create your resume, you need to detail your employment history. Note any promotions or recognition you received while working for previous employers. If you were recognized as employee of the month, put that on your resume. Potential employers want applicants that have had success at other jobs. This shows future employers that you have what it takes to do a good job, while following directions. Detailing your educational background on your resume is also important. Certain jobs require that you include your GPA on your resume, in addition to when you graduated. Under your educational information, you should also include any accomplishments and awards achieved during your school career. Resume Appearance Keep your resume at a reasonable length. Resumes that are too long or too short risk getting picked over. A resume should ideally be one to two pages in length. A resume that is too short indicates that you do not have experience, while a resume that is too long may look as though it contains information that is not relevant to the job. Resumes need to include information that can be picked up upon first glance. Typically, resumes are looked at for 10 to 20 seconds. You need to write out your resume to showcase your experience, so it reads easily and quickly, in a short amount of time. Avoid information that will bore your potential employer. Information that is not relevant to the job only hurts you. Your resume should also be easy-to-read and flow well Getting a job is not as easy as it once was. Finding employment can often feel like a job itself. However, when you take the time to work on your resume, it can make a difference. A clean, professional looking resume that really speaks to your abilities can set you apart from other applicants. This article was brought to you by resumesimo.com. The best online free resume builder. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.