How to Manage Millennials 8 Ways to Do it Right

How to Manage Millennials 8 Ways to Do it Right Each employee has different working styles. Because of the diverse makeup of offices today, employees are often grouped with the generations they fall under to study behavioral patterns easier. Millennials, the youngest of the batch, have been notorious for being the most different kind of workers compared to the previous generations. Often, they receive criticism regarding their practices in the workplace. Older generations claim that millennials have a misplaced sense of entitlement and are difficult to work with, while some form opinions before they even get to work with them. However, stereotypes may not always be true, and in some cases, are hurtful. When it comes to managing a team, it’s best to get to know your members well. This strategy allows you to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of your co-workers, and what you can do to harness their potential. Proper employee training, guidance, and routine evaluation will allow you to take hold of the situation better. Don’t just zero in on the rumors and the negative aspects. Instead, aim to see the bigger picture. Who are the Millennials? The millennial generation, also known as Generation Y, grew up during the evolution of technology. As such, they are the last batch to experience growing up with analog devices. They were quick to learn the ins and outs of digital technology and adapted the use of these gadgets in their everyday lives. Millennials are leaders in the tech know-how in the workplace. The innovative environment they grew up in influenced the way they work and think, which they proudly exhibit in the workplace. Their different perspective can be a breath of fresh air and should not be feared. What are Millennials like in the workplace? To understand the generation who is set to make up 75% of the workforce in 2025, you must first study and acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses. What motivates and demotivates them? Knowing their key traits is crucial to your quest for managing them properly in the workplace. Millennials highly prioritize career growth and advancement. If they feel that they are stagnant in their roles or they don’t believe they can learn from the people around them, they are more likely to leave. This generation is generally enthusiastic about work and views their experiences as something that can give them meaning and purpose. Gen Y folks are also very independent, and they do not appreciate micromanagement. Having access to the right tools necessary to finish the task is enough for them to figure out a solution and do the work. Their views on diversity are very open and accepting, making them one of the most tolerant and amicable group of people you can meet. Technology is essential to this generation. Millennials are spearheading a future where everything is entirely Millennials are also always connected due to the introduction of social media and smartphones. This is what fuels them to support remote work environments and flexibility. They also value work-life balance so that they can pursue their other goals. Is managing them difficult? The short answer here is no. It’s doable and just as rewarding as managing the older generations. However, it won’t come without challenges, which stems from unfamiliarity in managing a crowd such as the millennials. Generally, the Baby Boomers and Gen Xers have similar working styles, which was probably why the adjustment was as not drastic. You may choose to see the millennials’ radical way of thinking as progress and innovation in the way people work. If you know the people you are dealing with, managing them will become easier and even enjoyable. Below are fantastic tips on how you can empower millennials in your company and help them shine. For more information, check out the complete infographic by Guthrie-Jensen. About the author:  Jomel Alos is a Content Strategist at Guthrie-Jensen Consultants. He’s obsessed with TV shows about designing like Tiny House Nation, Forged in Fire, and Ellen’s Design Challenge and eating burnt bacon.

How to Manage Peers When You Get a Promotion - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Manage Peers When You Get a Promotion - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career First off, congrats on your promotion! You deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. After all, they wouldnt promote you if you werent good, right? Still, you cant help your nerves right now. What if your peers dont take you seriously? Or what if they take you too seriously? Are you really cut out for this whole leadership shebang? To that last one, the answer is a definitive Yes â€" if youre willing to do a few things first. Know Your Leadership Personality Contrary to popular belief, theres no right leadership personality. Some leaders are as bubbly and charming as a Zooey Deschanel character, while others â€" to quote Peter Drucker â€" have about as much personality as frozen mackerel. Despite this, they manage to do just fine (on the leadership front, at least). And how do they do that, you ask? Well, it helps to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. You can take a personality test, like the DiSC profile, to know what leadership skills you already possess, what skills you need to work on, and what this means for your potential success/failure in your new position.   Know Your Team One of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is to assume that all employees on their team are the same. Some are pliant, others are stubborn. Some are competent, others are not-so-competent. Some are jacks-of-all-trades, while others are masters-of-one. Thats what makes them human, after all. So pay close attention to your team. Take note of their individual strengths and weaknesses. Learn what makes them tick. Find out which tasks suit them best, and which tasks they tend to shy away from. This way, you wont have to deal with trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Let Them Know About the New Leadership Its always a good idea to personally inform your team about your new position, even if they get the memo from someone else. After all, youll be interacting with a larger group of people from now on, and some of them may not even know what you look like. Theyll want to associate a human face with the new leadership, at the very least. Others will be your friends and peers who will be leery of your new role â€" how will things be now that you’re not “one of them” anymore? So schedule a meeting with everyone. Preferably, the meeting will be at 3 P.M. on a Tuesday, since thats the time when people are least likely to be busy. Introduce yourself, give them a general overview of your mission and vision, and use it as an opportunity to get to know your team on a personal level. Start With Small Changes First When you got promoted, you probably had tons of ideas on where to take the company from this day forward. But dont pour them all out to yet. You dont want to overwhelm them before they even get to see who you are as a leader. Instead, implement your proposed changes on a piecemeal basis. Change the small processes first, before tackling the big ones. Dont forget to inform everyone about the changes before getting them off the ground, and dont be afraid to revise if a change doesnt seem to be working. Act Like a Leader Whether you like it or not, your new position will change your relationships with your former peers. Some of them will be happy for you, while others will resent you. Give yourself time to accept these new attitudes towards you, and roll with them. Also, youll have to draw new boundaries as a leader. You can still go out with them for Happy Hour, but dont want drink yourself silly. Its possible to be an approachable leader without losing the respectability due your position. Dont Be Afraid to Offer Criticism This is probably the toughest part of being a leader. How do you praise a superstar employee without letting the compliments get to their heads? How do you criticize an underachiever without hurting their feelings? Theres no right answer to these questions, to be honest. Some people are more receptive to criticism than others. Thats why its important to take step #2 on this list, so itll be easier to tailor feedback according to each employee. You can try the sandwich approach to feedback, where you sandwich a negative statement between two positive ones. If youre queasy about this method, however, or if you think it doesnt really work, try alternative ways of offering feedback other than the sandwich method. Prepare for Difficult Employees It may be cliché, but its true: You cant please everyone. There will be subordinates who wont like you no matter what you do. Its tempting to use your authority to put these troublemakers in their place in the harshest way possible, but dont. Youll only give them more ammo against you. Instead, take the high ground, and pick the best way to deal with your particular brand of difficult employee. Dont Be Afraid to Mess Up All of whats been discussed so far sounds simple on paper. But the truth is, leadership is one long process of trial-and-error. Even the best leaders make mistakes. (Just read Jack Welchs book Winning.) Dont beat yourself up if you havent gotten the hang of leading people yet. With time, patience and experience, you will.

Job Hunting In the Digital Age Reputation, Resumes Video Interviews (INFOGRAPHIC)

Job Hunting In the Digital Age Reputation, Resumes Video Interviews (INFOGRAPHIC) When it comes to finding a great job, your online reputation matters more than you might think. In this digital age that has seen the rise of social media, employers can snoop on what youve been up to online, and if they see questionable pictures or comments that dont fit in with their corporate culture, you may be out of the running for a job that you might otherwise have gotten. Consider these startling statistics: 75% of recruiters will conduct online research on applicants 70% have turned down applicants based on what online research turned up What follows are some tips that’ll help you to make the most of all of those opportunities out there. Infographic courtesy of Vera Reed.

5 Tips To Help You Stay Productive When Working From Home

5 Tips To Help You Stay Productive When Working From Home All around the world people are working from home at a higher and higher rate. The spread of technology has made remote employees a favorite for many companies. The fact that the exchange rate of the US dollar is favorable in most countries allows companies to increase their profit margins without sacrificing quality of work. But some people have trouble staying productive when they are working at home either because of lack of a boss being physically present or there are too many distractions. While some people aren’t cut out for working from home, others just need a few pointers. The following are some ways to help you stay productive when working from home. Set an Agenda Writing down an agenda for the next day during the waning hours of working is a must when working from home. This will allow you to set a schedule and prioritize everything that you have to do. Without writing down an agenda either in a notebook or online it becomes easy to forget certain tasks or deadlines that have to be met. This also helps hold yourself accountable on a daily basis and gives you a great idea of just how much work you can complete in a given day. This agenda can be set by your boss but if you are a freelancer you can set it yourself! Kid Free or Pet Free Zone The fact is that kids and pets can be devastating to productivity when working from home. Designating a room or area as a distraction free zone is important as an attention craving child or dog can halt work. Spouse free zones might be a tough sell but making sure that everyone in the home respects your time for work is important. Getting in 8 hours of work when being constantly bothered can lead to “working” for 12 hours just to get the appropriate amount of work done. Home offices are perfect as working in a common area or kitchen is just asking for distraction. Realistic Goals are Key Setting goals for each day is a great way to stay motivated while working. Making sure these goals are realistic is also important as nothing kills motivation quicker than realizing you aren’t going to achieve the goal regardless of how fast or efficient you work. This might take some time to figure out how much work you can get done in a day so writing down how long certain tasks take can help out with this. This will help you set the agenda that was mentioned above. Don’t try to fit 15 hours of work in to a regular day as this just sets you up for failure. Block Certain Websites Everyone has that one website that can derail productivity for hours or even for the day. Whether it is a coupon website that has incredible deals or a social media website you can’t get enough of it is important to block these during work hours. Some companies implement time tracking software that takes screenshots to see where the employee is spending their time. This can be a great way to chart how much time is wasted weekly even if you work for yourself. The numbers might shock you as you might spend a full day of working hours weekly on these websites. For freelancers this can impact their income immensely and for those working for someone else this can impact numbers which are scrutinized in nearly every industry. Try To Stick To The Same Routine Daily The same routine can help boost productivity almost instantly. This could be waking up early and starting to work immediately. This routine will help you dive right into work without wondering what you are going to do next. This routine should include times to check emails hourly as an email from a client or boss can halt productivity. Those people who wake up early can get a full day’s worth of work done at a reasonable hour then can have the rest of the day free. As you can see the most important thing to do when working from home is to mimic a regular work environment. Those who work from home can actually be more productive as the distractions of pointless meetings or a chatty coworker are completely eliminated. What are some things that you do to boost productivity when working from home? Image credits Main  Agenda  Kids

How to Write a Resume in Portland, Maine

How to Write a Resume in Portland, MaineWhen you are planning to enter the workforce, knowing how to write a resume is crucial. This is an important piece of paper that shows the prospective employer what you can do and who you are. If you do not use this document correctly, you could end up losing the position.You can have an excellent resume written by a professional but it would not be complete if you do not include other information that should go into your entire resume. Taking out a personal ad on Craigslist or posting it in a job search web site will make a good first impression. It will help create interest in your resume and if your resume is not useful to the employer, they may not give you a second chance.Start by listing your experience and education first. Try to include all of your relevant work experiences and education. Make sure that you include all of the major accomplishments you have achieved during each of these areas. Try to build on the accomplishments you have made within each category and to highlight each career area that you are seeking employment in.Next, list your common job duties and responsibilities. It is not necessary to do a detailed list but it does need to be complete. This will show the hiring manager what you are most suited for.Always remember that the employer wants to know more about you. This means that your resume should offer more than just what you have done. It is important to write an essay of two to three pages with both facts and pictures. Remember that in a highly competitive economy, employers are looking for the best person to fill their positions.If you are applying for a position with a firm where there are multiple companies involved in a particular employment type, you will need to present a more comprehensive list. This is especially true if you are applying for multiple positions at the same time. This is an opportunity for you to gain more experience and make more connections.Most of the time, your res ume will be sent out to companies that offer a position within a specific field. This is not always a requirement, but it will greatly increase your chances of getting the position. Employers will often prefer someone who has worked in the industry before.For a well-written resume, you must work hard to provide the most complete information possible. A good writer knows how to include all of the important details that an employer will want to see. You will find many online resources that will help you get started when you are ready to write your own resume.

Jobs that require a good credit profile - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Jobs that require a good credit profile Most people understand that having low credit scores can limit your borrowing options but you may not realize that they can also lock you out of some job opportunities. In some positions, you are required to demonstrate that you have great credit scores as proof that you are reliable and you will protect the company interests. Most importantly, almost half of all companies consider the applicants’ credit scores when trying to narrow down on a candidate. And while some employers don’t take it very seriously, certain positions require that you have a stellar credit score. While you may pass the interview, qualifying for the position may be out of your reach. If you intend to work in the following careers, a low credit score can limit your success rate. Mortgage loans originator Securing loans to people who want to purchase houses can be a lucrative job. However, every mortgage loan originator is required by the law to have a license and before you get it, your borrowing and repayment habits will be reviewed. In every state, there is a regulator who is charged with the responsibility of reviewing the credit details of mortgage originatorsand they can revoke your license if your profile is damaged. These officers must demonstrate their financial responsibility so that they can make sound decisions with regard to submitted applications. This requirement has been introduced as a safety feature considering how people were approved for debts they couldn’t afford during the recession. As such, banks and other lenders are very cautious when selecting employees in order to maintain good financial management. Military service and law enforcement Joining the military offers you a great opportunity to serve the country. However, this will only be possible if you havent filed for bankruptcies, you have collection accounts and outstanding $2000 loans. These things can limit your security clearance since the information is used to determine your character. Different branches in the military have varied credit score requirements. For example, you wont get admitted into the air force if your recurrent monthly credit utilization is more than 40% of the pay you are about to receive. Having previous repossessions, bad credits, canceled charge accounts, and debts that are more than 50% of your pay grade will get you rejected by the navy. When you are in the law enforcement, you are required to uphold the rule of law at all times. But if you are drowning in debts, it’s easy to be tempted to take a bribe and turn a blind eye to a criminal just because you need the money. As such, if your credit profile indicates that you’ve been struggling with your bills and your debt has piled, the department might reject your application. Your profile is also used to determine your patterns of responsibility since it is a necessity in the uniformed forces. Temporary positions Just because you have a great resume doesn’t mean that you’ll get hired for that temporary position you’ve been eying. As long as your credit scores are suffering, you might be shown the door. Nowadays, employers are keen to screen job candidates before hiring. And while the law doesn’t forbid this practice, reviewing an employee credit profile is a widespread precaution. The checks are crucial in determining whether an applicant has sufficient money management skills or if they have serious financial burdens that may jeopardize optimum performance. One of the reasons why agencies offering temporary positions require people with spectacular credit scores is that you may be getting in a position where security breach is a possibility. At the same time, it is highly likely that your temporary position will morph into a permanent one and making the checks reduces future problems. In addition, the hiring agencies want to remain flexible and be able to give you all sorts of assignments. Accounting and other positions dealing with money If you have a dream of getting into the accounting of auditing career, you must make sure that your credit scores are speckless. The fact that you will be granted unrestricted access to critical company and individual information requires a good demonstration of reliability and discretion. In this industry, having late payments on your accounts and bankruptcies will highly limit your success rate when hunting for a job. In fact, most employers will quickly turn you down without considering how you got the negative marks. Most finance companies will always review the credit profiles of prospective employees. This is quite important when the position you seek is high-ranking because you have to demonstrate that you understand how finances and credit scores work. As such, this can only be proven by practicing what you know. Tax professionals tend to fill a very important gap in the business world. Besides dealing with intricate financial matters, they are called upon to offer advice to businesses. While they are subjected to a series of strict tests and certifications, they are required to have outstanding credit scores in order to prove their competence. Political and religious leaders Over the years, politicians havent been reported to be the most honest people. However, you need to have a good credit report if you expect to have your campaign funded. If you are lucky to climb higher in the hierarchy of politics, you may be required to disclose your financial information and having a spotless credit profile makes the journey easier. When you are offered the opportunity to serve in a religious congregation, your credit report may not bear too much weight. However, a lot of church committees involved in the hiring process are likely

Quick Tip Fill The Gap With a Relevant Part-Time Job While Unemployed

Quick Tip Fill The Gap With a Relevant Part-Time Job While Unemployed 48 Flares 48 Flares A friend from college sent me an interesting Facebook message the other day.  She wanted to fill me in on a cool strategy she used while unemployed to help fill the gap, but also make herself more valuable to her next employer. Heres a direct quote from my friend, Jana: I had a temp position is advertising that ended in May. I wanted to switch fields but wasnt sure where to go and my hubby was looking for jobs out-of-state, so I did not want to over commit to a new profession and then move. What I chose to do was take a retail job in sales, which i had never done until this time. So at 28, I learned that my experience in advertising and marketing made me a great sales woman. Now that I have moved and am looking to get back into a professional field, there is no gap on my resume because I was doing something. I can now also add sales to my skill set. Just thought this idea could be a refreshing way of looking at the advantages of taking a part-time job while youre looking for a real job. Ive found a lot of people who are doing the same thing. What Jana did was find a part-time job that would be relevant to her career.  Filling the gap is easy, even though we sometimes make it harder.  There are a billion and one freelance, contract, and part-time gigs to fill up that empty space.  The difficult part is landing a position that is somewhat related and can be seen as valuable experience to the next employer. Have you ever tried something like this while in a period of unemployment?