Four of the most important things you should look for in your new boss Viewpoint careers advice blog

Four of the most important things you should look for in your new boss When looking for a new job, it’s always helpful to have a set of certain criteria in your mind in terms of what you’re looking for in your next opportunity; this helps to narrow your search and helps ensure your transition is ultimately is met with success. For instance, maybe you’d like to reach a certain level of seniority, and for this to be reflected in your wage? Perhaps you’re hoping for a position that provides ample opportunities for progression? You may be looking for flexible working, more opportunities to upskill or a shorter commute maybe even all of the above. But how far up your new job wishlist does a good boss feature? Why a good boss should form part of your new job wishlist Whether you realise it or not, your boss has a huge impact on your career success, engagement and fulfilment. After all, they are the person you answer to, and even depend upon, from time to time. It’s therefore hugely important that they are a good fit for you and the way you work. The impact of having a bad boss are well documented; lower morale, less engagement, decreased wellbeing, heightened stress and even poorer health. Oh, and having a bad boss could even make you more likely to be a bad boss yourself. So, it’s important that you add a good boss to your criteria when looking for your next role. Four ways to spot a good boss in an interview 1. A boss who acts as your mentor and coach Lifelong learning and continuous upskilling are becoming more and more important in the evolving world of work, so having a manager that you can learn from is essential to your continued personal development. A manager who is committed to their own personal learning will also encourage you to place more importance on your own. If you work for someone who fulfils their role as not just a boss, but a role model too, their motivational and inspirational qualities will work wonders for your career   and levels of engagement as you progress. Furthermore, in a coaching capacity, a good boss will use any problems you do encounter in your work as opportunities for teaching. Instead of resolving the problem themselves, they will use this experience and guide you through the resolution in a way that benefits you and the business as a whole. Another major benefit of a good boss is that they can act as a ‘sponsor’ for you, speaking on your behalf in closed-door company meetings to which you may not yet be invited â€" a particularly important consideration for anyone who wishes to be well-rewarded and to get ahead in the workplace. So, how can you spot a boss who has these qualities when you are in an interview situation? Do they ask any questions relating to your career plan and future ambitions? If so, this shows that they prioritise professional development and will be invested in helping you to achieve your career goals. When describing the role you’ve applied for and the company as a whole, do they make a concerted effort to paint a picture of where the job and organisation fit in the bigger picture and the role you will play in this journey? If they do, this indicates that they will help you to build on your strategic, future thinking skills. When you enquire about training and career opportunities, how responsive or dismissive are they to this line of questioning? This will tell you whether the potential for upskilling exists and how invested they are in the development of their people. Don’t be afraid to ask them about their own career path, either. What does their career journey to date look like? What can you learn from them? Are they passionate about what they’re doing right now? 2. A boss who is a team player, not a lone wolf Another essential quality in your new boss is that they work well, and in collaboration with not just you, but others. Do they delegate effectively, or simply leave you an task and deadline with little discussion or context? Will they take responsibility if something doesn’t go according to plan? A good manager will do this and much more. They will create an inclusive team environment, valuing diversity and building a shared sense of purpose within the workforce. They will also be open to hearing your opinions, and welcome feedback and even critique. Their managerial style will be to innovate, driving performance while valuing diversity. This will mean there is less risk of micro managing, and greater opportunities to progress your career. When your boss advocates for their entire team and isn’t simply in it for their own gain, you stand a better chance of building your career and professional reputation. Here’s how you can begin to identify these key qualities, as early as the interview: Look out for the language they use. The simple use of ‘I’ vs. ‘we’ is a clear indicator of whom or what is their main focus at work. Are their questions motivated by collaboration? Do they seem interested in how you would fit in with the rest of the team? If there are already others present â€" an interview panel, for instance â€" what is the dynamic between individuals? Does a clear team ethic already exist in this workplace? Ask about the wider team what is the team or workplace culture, and how do the individual roles â€" your own included â€" fit into this dynamic? Do they make time to show you around the office and introduce you to potential colleagues after the interview? Ultimately, the interview should feel more like a conversation than an interrogation. This will prove that they are interested in who you are, and how you will work with them and others. 3. A boss who both communicates and listens well Whilst the world of work is increasingly powered by technology,, verbal communication skills are still imperative. Without these, a manager won’t be able to perform the basic functions their team depends on, including planning, leading by example and performance management. When managers apply this simple but essential skill, their team members stand a better chance of clearly understanding their roles and responsibilities and will work much more productively. Good communicators naturally have excellent, open-minded listening skills too, so managers with this trait will also be better at giving and receiving feedback. Able to articulate your part in the bigger picture, they will help you to find more purpose, resolve conflict strategically, and explain decisions and ideas more effectively. Bosses who communicates well are also more likely to be influential themselves within the business, thus providing more potential for your future career progression â€" and here’s how you can find this out at interview: They will ask clear and concise questions, and, answer any questions you have for them in the same manner. Good communication skills could mean they also probe you for more information as they will be more likely to actively listen to your answers â€" so you should be prepared to communicate effectively yourself. Non-verbal communication will also be important. Look out for good eye contact, nonverbal cues, and the sort of encouragement you’d hope for in a leader. They are also less likely to interrupt you, and, instead will   guide (or to put it another way, manage) the conversation as it progresses. 4. A  boss who treats you like a human being Ultimately, your boss should regard you as a human being first, rather than just another entry on the payroll. This means that alongside the management skills that help your boss to achieve their goals, they must display strong emotional intelligence and empathy. True leadership demands authenticity and the ability to empathise with each and every member of staff. Moreover, authenticity is much more than being yourself. As a quality, it is defined just as much by what others see in you, so you should look out for openness and open-mindedness. Honesty and integrity are both fundamental to building team morale and promoting inclusivity. Both praise and critique should be delivered genuinely, creating a more comfortable and communicative environment with a friendly and approachable leader at the helm. So, when you go to the interview, you should look out for the following indicators of a boss who will see you as a human being, not a robot: You will feel comfortable in their presence, and able to build a rapport with them without feeling like you’re only there to appease them. They should be there for you, too. Body language and other nonverbal communication are important here, too. You should feel like you’re being attentively listened to. Questions about your interests outside of work are important. This is a clear indication that you are being assessed as a person, and not just a potential employee. If you have any questions for your interviewer, there is no reason why they shouldn’t answer yours just as comprehensively as you have answered theirs. Other key points you need to know It’s entirely possible that you could find out a great deal about your new boss before they officially become your new boss. With a little online research or even asking a couple of questions prior to interview, you could learn a lot more about them before you even meet. If you have the opportunity to experience the office prior to interview, for instance on a pre-interview tour, see what you make of the general environment. Is everyone happy? Are they talking to each other? Do you feel welcome? Finally, no matter how enticed you may be by salary, benefits and any promises of future development and promotion opportunities, you should remember that a good boss is at the very least, just as important. After all, if everything goes to plan, you may be enjoying a fruitful and rewarding career alongside this person for not just weeks or months, but years or even decades to come. Did you enjoy this blog? Here is some related content that you  may be interested in: 6 bosses who drive their staff crazy Am I in the wrong company culture? Be SMART when starting a new job How can you suss out your potential boss during an interview? Why your boss matters more than your job title

5 Pieces of Bad Job Search Advice Parents Give to Their Kids

5 Pieces of Bad Job Search Advice Parents Give to Their Kids 5 Pieces of Bad Job Search Advice Parents Give to Their Kids Guardians normally need the best for their children. They truly do. Be that as it may, in some cases, even the best of guardians offer their children the most noticeably awful of guidance, particularly with regards to work chasing. In case you're a parent of a vocation searcher, attempt to abstain from relegating these five bits of awful quest for new employment counsel to your children. (Furthermore, if youre an occupation searcher, be careful if your folks offer these tips to you!) Here are five bits of terrible quest for new employment guidance guardians provide for their children: Terrible guidance #1: Printing out your resume and mailing it in will get you took note. Once upon a time, buying quality resume paper (like one with a material completion) demonstrated artfulness. Today, it'll simply get your application hurled in the garbage. Most by far of bosses favor work searchers to present their applications on the web. All things considered, when was the last time that a business really mentioned sent requests for employment? So spare yourself an excursion to your nearby office flexibly store, skip printing your resume, and send in your application electronically-simply like the bearings hands on depiction expect you to do. Terrible guidance #2: If you truly need the activity, you ought to convey your application actually! This good natured pursuit of employment counsel might get you into a mess of difficulty! At the point when businesses' locations were recorded in sets of responsibilities, it was felt that on the off chance that you appeared, application close by, it passed on to a potential boss that you truly needed the activity. Also, before the Internet, hand conveying your application materials was the best way to apply. Today, not really. With a storm of requests for employment to experience for only one occupation, having somebody appear (out of the blue, no less) to a business' work environment furnished with their resume and introductory letter could almost certainly get you accompanied off the premises. Regardless of whether you urgently need the activity, it's extremely simply better to remain at home. Flawed guidance #3: You haven't heard back from that business yet? Continue calling! This recommendation isn't in reality such awful or mistaken. It's a smart thought for work searchers to catch up with an expected manager subsequent to having presented their employment form. You can't be sure whether the framework glitched and your application didn't totally come through, or if a business inadvertently erased your resume. Following up to 14 days after your accommodation is a savvy move for work searchers, however it's the means by which you follow up that can transform a smart thought into an awful move. A quick and painless email emphasizing your craving for the activity and telling a business that you're accessible to address any inquiries is alright requesting to know the status of the employing procedure and what's taking them such a long time to decide isn't. So be proficient in your development, and limit it to 1-2 messages scattered through the span of a month-time frame. Terrible guidance #4: For what reason would you say you are going after such a low-paying position?! Since you're extremely valuable in their eyes, guardians need you to procure boatloads of cash directly out of the entryway. Actually you'll in all probability need to stir your way up the stepping stool, beginning with a section level employment, particularly after graduation. Attempt to clarify that the experience you'll increase working in your position will help make you progressively attractive (i.e., you'll get more cash-flow) with each resulting activity you get recruited for later on. And keeping in mind that guardians may have a point that you may have some genuine understudy advances to pay off, you'll have the option to pay them down with your activity and in the long run be sans obligation sooner or later. Awful guidance #5: I'm not catching your meaning, you need to telecommute? It's smarter to have an office work. Not so much. Working from home has risen 115% in the course of the most recent decade, and is giving no indications of halting. Remote or working from home occupations are being offered by top organizations over the U.S. also, the world, permitting individuals the opportunity to have work-life balance. Adaptable employments are offered in for all intents and purposes each industry, and even occupations that must be acted in a progressively conventional work environment can in any case have adaptability incorporated with them. Also, remote occupations are similarly as sheltered as any conventional in-office position. Occupation searchers who need to keep their serious edge are putting resources into their delicate abilities, the qualities that businesses search for in telecommuters, so as to contend in a progressively worldwide activity showcase.

How to Write a Resume - Basic Tips

How to Write a Resume - Basic TipsThose that are serious about landing a job may need to learn how to write a resume, but a professional writing service may be able to help with this too. A resume will make the difference between landing an interview and not getting one.How to write a resume is an important skill to master. It's more than a simple job application, or sales letter. A resume is a tool for establishing credibility. The hiring manager has many other ways to evaluate applicants besides looking at the resume alone.The first impression is the most important part of a resume. The hiring manager sees everything, including the fact that you didn't put the name of the company on your resume. A good resume needs to have the company name, contact information, education, and any other employment experience that the hiring manager may want to know.For those that are new to how to write a resume, there are a few common mistakes to avoid. When filling out the paper, always check it c arefully for spelling and grammar. There is nothing worse than having a prospective employer stop by your desk only to see a terrible job application.Another mistake that is often made when learning how to write a resume is being vague. You will need to explain every aspect of your qualifications and experience in your resume. That means giving specifics about each job you've ever held, from entry level to supervisory, including dates of employment.Don't get caught up on other types of writing, but always remember how to write a resume for employers. Including your job duties, previous positions, and training information will help the hiring manager understand how well prepared you are for the position. A qualified applicant will be able to list his or her educational background, work experience, references, hobbies, and other general information that should be included in your resume.In order to make your resume stand out, remember that it is not a rule to over-explain your experie nce. Be descriptive, but do not make it difficult for the hiring manager to read your entire resume. In addition, avoid spelling mistakes, which can make your resume look amateurish. Avoid slang, and stick to written English.To better learn how to write a resume, take the time to review the information available online. Here are some tips that are likely to prove useful: use the entire page for your cover letter, avoid all misspellings, and spell all work and professional correctly. With these tips, you can make a quality resume that will get you the interview you want.

QA with Alan Price, CEO of Croner

QA with Alan Price, CEO of Croner QA with Alan Price, CEO of Croner THE name Alan  Price will be most familiar to people in the UK and Ireland for his expert commentary on human resource management  and  employment issues for a huge span of leading media outlets, including the Daily Telegraph, Sky News, the Sunday Times, the Financial Times, and The Guardian.“To be honest, if you love what you do, there is no work or personal lifeâ€"its all just fun.”One of the most notable Thought Leaders in employment and HR in the British Isles, Alan Price is the current CEO of Croner, a leading HR, Employment Law and Health Safety organisation, providing advice and services to thousands of organisations.Croner is part of  the award-winning Peninsula Group, the largest worldwide provider of employment law, HR and wellbeing consultancy services and related insurance cover for  businesses.Alan Price has been managing director of Peninsula Business Services (Ireland) since May 2007, and the group operations director of Peninsula UK since December 2014. He is an elected director and trustee for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with more than 15 years’ experience in employee relations. He sat for four years as a board director on The Chambers of Commerce Ireland, and is a Lay Member of Employment Tribunals for the UK Ministry of Justice, as well as a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and a Fellow of the Australian Human Resources Institute.It is little wonder that, as he reveals  below, his schedule makes it difficult to find some time for himself. But inspired by Peninsula Business Services founder and MD, Alan Price  constantly strives to make “our business your business” and  ensure that Croner, as a business advisory service, exists as an extension of its clients’ workplaces. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 11 Questions for Alan PriceWhile his early career aspirations were to become an aviator in the Royal Air Force, in stead, his early experience on paper rounds, and running small businesses with his twin brother David from the age of 10, led Alan Price  to the business world. Thankfully Alan found time in his busy schedule to talk to us about his life in business, his motivations, inspirations and challenges, his favourite social media platforms,  and reveals the single lesson he would offer to his younger self  starting out in business for the first time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 1. Briefly tell us how you first got into business, and describe your business goals.From a young age I had a keen interest in aircraft, so Id actually envisaged joining the RAF. Instead, I worked from the age of 12 on various paper and milk rounds. Having worked from such an early age, I took up retail roles, entering management at only 17. I went on to work in the insurance industry and became involved in the trade union movement, advising members on HR and industrial relations matters.When I was 24, I became one of the youngest judicial appointments at the time, and one of the youngest ever employment tribunal lay members in the UK, having held trade union roles in the finance industry in Liverpool.I actually started out at a competitor of Croner, providing business and employment law advice 13 years ago, and from that point I worked extremely hard to get to where I am today.My business goal is for our business to be your business, which means that we basically exist as expert business advisors and an extension of the workplace.The Croner brand was  established in  1941, and I’m keen for Croner to again become the number one  provider of compliance support and advice, and I’d like  to ensure that it  remains at the forefront of Employment Law, HR and Health Safety service provision.2. What age were you when you realised you wanted to be in  business?I had part-time roles throughout my school and university days and with my twin brother I’ve  always been ambitio us and determined to succeed. The realisation has been ongoing from more or less my first few weeks in employment that I wanted to be in control of my destiny. I’d actually set up small businesses with my twin brother at the age of 10, from a barber shop, to a mobile car valeting firm, to selling berries! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 3. Who are your business icons and inspirations?My biggest inspiration is Peter Done, who, with his brother, Fred Done, established Peninsula Business Service and Betfred. They started with fewer  than 10 employees, and now employ more than  10,000 people.Peter has a humble background, and has shown that through hard work, determination and an unwavering passion, you can achieve anything.He still has a hands-on approach with his business interests, and is constantly looking at ways to improve the client experience. Also, the fact that hes worked in business with his brother resonates with me, as my twin brother David runs anothe r associated company, Health Assured.4. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you surmount it?The skills gap and growing jobs market have always been challenging. We’re hoping for  a positive shift in the economy and jobs market in 2020, and retaining people  will be one of the biggest challenges for every size of organisation, as employees may start to seek fresh job opportunities.It’s  crucial for businesses to recognise the talent they have and invest in training and development opportunities. I believe our employees are our biggest asset, which is why I invest in them and work closely with all levels of staff. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 5. Work-Life balance: is it possible? How do you achieve it?With my schedule it’s  sometimes difficult to find time for a break. However, when I do have  time to myself, I thoroughly enjoy reading, especially anything  by Malcolm Gladwell.I find his books inspirational in their focus on the i mportance of making the most out of human potential. To be honest, if you love what you do, there is no work or personal lifeâ€"its all just fun.6. What is the first thing you do every day?I like to start off my mornings with a green or mint tea while reading the daily business activity reports from the previous day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 7. What screen saver picture is currently on your phone?A family picture having a twin brother who lives opposite me, and who works in an associated field, is a permanent reminder of family.8. What is the most important app on your mobile phone, and why?Probably the social media apps: Twitter (@alan__price) and LinkedIn primarily. As a society, we are more connected now than ever before, so it’s  imperative for anyone in business to utilise social media.LinkedIn is an ideal tool to connect with like-minded individuals, partners and potential prospects, and a platform that  allows me to share thoughts and insights vi a my blog posts. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 9. What is the last thing you Googled?‘Gender pay gap reporting’ this is going to be such a hot topic for businesses in 2020.10.   What item do you never leave the house without, and why?My mobile phone, notepad, business cards and a pen. I need my phone so that Im always  contactable for our employees. And when visiting  clients or travelling to another office,  I keep a notepad and pen handy to write down ideas, as I find that I’m most inspired during travel.  I carry the business cards as you never know who youll meet or what opportunities are around the corner! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 11. What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in business?I would say that it is better to be the master of one passion rather than a jack of all trades.Image source: croner