What is the Real Cost of Hiring

What is the Real Cost of Hiring Congratulations; youre hiring! Now its time to write the perfect job post, wade through scores of unqualified applicants and spend valuable time on in-person interviews with the wrong people. There are many different tools you can use to simplify the hiring process but they can be time-consuming and costly. How do you minimize the hassle, tim and cost of hiring, and still ensure youre choosing the right candidate in the end? This infographic from our friends at GetHired.com looks at the total cost of hiring a new member of staff, see what you think (click for the full-size version). Related: INFOGRAPHIC: What Is the Cost of Hiring a Bad Employee?

Tips to Write a Good Professional Resume

Tips to Write a Good Professional ResumeThe purpose of writing a good professional resume is to be able to provide the potential employer with a candidate who has the necessary skills and qualifications to work in their business. A resume is a valuable tool that will allow a person to showcase the skills and experiences that they possess. In order to be able to provide the most effective, it is vital that a person understands how to write a good resume. Here are a few tips that can help you write a great resume.When writing a resume, you should include information that is relevant to the position that you are applying for. In addition to that, you should also give some specific information about your skills and experiences that are relevant to the job that you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a business analyst position then you should highlight any work experience that you have that relate to technology or industry. If you are applying for a business position s uch as software engineer then you should highlight your experience in the areas of software engineering.Be sure to follow the proper flow when writing a resume. You should start by listing the education that you have completed that relate to your career goals. However, before you can list the details you must first break down the education into major and minor courses. After that you should list the coursework that you have completed and any experience that you have had related to your career goals. This is a critical part of being able to use your resume to attract the attention of the hiring manager.There are many sites online that are dedicated to helping a potential employee or an employer locate a job. It is important that you take advantage of these sites by using the correct keywords on your resume. This will help you generate more traffic to your resume. In addition to that, it is also important that you be aware of the different resume formats that are available online so t hat you can use this format to make your resume even more professional.You should never underestimate the importance of having a strong verbal skills on your resume. This is a critical part of being able to attract the attention of potential employers. They will be looking for someone who knows how to communicate effectively.It is also essential that you follow up with your employer after receiving a job offer. This is important in order to give the employee a sense of direction as to where he or she should be heading in their career. When you follow up with the potential employer then you are building a better relationship with him or her.It is a good idea to keep all of your contact information updated with the potential employer at all times. In addition to that, you should always provide updated information that can help them to continue to find out more about you and your skills. This will increase your chances of being hired by the company that you are applying for.These are j ust a few tips that can help you write a good professional resume. By following these tips you will be able to write a quality, professional resume that will be beneficial to your career. To be able to use these tips you should visit the site that outlines the top professional resume writing techniques today.

When Silence is Golden in Building Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

When Silence is Golden in Building Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”??  Mark Twain Many times its difficult not to respond to someone, especially when we feel we’ve been attacked or provoked. Our natural impulse is to react defensively and all too often our impulsive response makes things much worse. It can make you look defensive, close-minded, hostile, and insecure and allow the other person to think less of you. Restraint requires emotional maturity and its especially challenging when someone consistently pushes your buttons. Sometimes the best response to a difficult person is not to respond at all, or at least not to respond immediately. Remaining silent in certain situations prevents us from saying something we’ll regret and allows time to sort out the appropriate response. We might even conclude that its not worth our energy to offer any response or we could decide to schedule a time to air our views when were in a less emotional state. Not talking is not necessarily a passive approach in relationships. In fact, it can be the precursor to developing strong relationships with healthy communication. When youre quiet you could be more introspective, tune into the other person’s needs and become more sensitive to what matters to the other person. Whether you’re seeking to build a business or personal relationship, active listening while being silent can allow you the space to tailor a more thoughtful response. You can garner more respect and come off as wiser when you’re silent. So how can you know when to share your thoughts and when it’s better to remain silent?   When Should You Refrain from Speaking Up? Whether youre trying to win an argument, make a great impression in an interview, endear a friend or build respect with a prospective prospect, knowing both when to speak and when to listen can help you avoid coming off as a self-absorbed know it all. People tend to listen more to someone who has a reputation for speaking up when he really has something valuable to contribute versus the person who is always talking. Think to yourself; is this a good time to refrain from any speech, to ask for advice, to inquire about the other person, to offer my perspective or to just listen? Taking a pause to reflect on your response could help you discern whether you should refrain from speaking or speak up. When You’re Angry A wise woman (my maternal grandmother used to say), “Your words are yours until you speak them.  Once theyre out you allow others to own them. She also said, Imagine those were the last words you ever said in your life.   If those words aren’t ones you’d be absolutely proud of, think twice and perhaps this will help you refrain from erring in judgment of what to say when you’ve been provoked. Handling Complaints When someone is sharing a complaint about you or your business its usually best to remain quiet and listen to them: You can learn more about yourself from customers, prospects, co-workers and a boss that gives you feedback than from someone who is aloof towards you. Try to see the kernel of truth in what they’re saying even if it seems irrational or overly harsh. Withhold judgment till the next day;  Try to “sleep on it” to gain perspective.   You can even say, I’d like some time to think about this before I respond.   Having self-control in tense situations is difficult.   It’s like lifting weights. The more you exercise the muscle, the easier it gets. It’s always best to make decisions about what we say when we’re in a non-emotional state. When it comes to fielding customer complaints, being silent and listening to their issues is critical for developing trust. Being a good listener shows empathy and it could be the beginning of a positive relationship with a customer. For every customer who bothers to complain, it is said that twenty-six other customers remain silent. Listening to customers makes it easy for customers to give feedback about problems they’re having. Customer feedback is like gold in a business relationship; it allows you to identify and fix problems before they escalate and can strengthen the bond between you and your customers. The same holds true with a boss or co-worker. If they have a criticism of you, the natural impulse is to be defensive. Knowing what the other expects of you could help you attune your behavior and skills to meet their needs. In many cases this can lead to better collaboration and a more satisfying relationship. When Customers Offer Feedback When customers share their story, they’re not just sharing pain points.   They could actually teach you how to improve your product, service and business. Listening and remaining silent allows space for them to share their insights that could help you innovate more effectively to meet consumers’ needs. In a New Relationship Its also smart to refrain from being too chatty when entering in a new relationship.  Ask open-ended questions and then wait to hear the other persons response.  You could learn important things about the other persons background and interests that could help you determine in which areas youre similar and where your differences lie. Withhold sharing information about yourself until you know more about the other person her biases and her perspective.   This way you’ll be more likely to find common ground and will be less likely to say something thats inadvertently offensive or antagonizing. Once Someone Has Already Agreed Ironically, some people feel awkward when they actually get what they ask for and then they persist to explain, defend or sell an idea to the other person.   If a person has agreed with you, it’s best to stop talking about that subject and move on.   There’s no need to rehash your point.   Silence is better. It allows the other person to digest what’s been agreed upon. When Someone Disagrees Sometimes saying less or nothing at all is better than defending your position. There are times where it’s more productive to “agree to disagree” than to try to persuade someone to buy into your reasoning. Being selective regarding what you fight for shows discretion and emotional maturity.   Needing to win every fight or prove your right on every issue gives the impression of a know it all and pushes people away.   Better to be known as reserved than to develop a reputation as being dogmatic. When You’re Being Attacked Our emotions can get the better of us and this typically only leads to one thing more dissent. The wise person doesn’t offer a knee jerk response to every criticism. She remains quiet when attacked to gain perspective and responds once she has clarity on that issue. When Others’ are Gossiping It’s always better to avoid gossipers and to refrain from participating in office gossip.   Idle chatter only leads to discord and pulls down the moral in a group.   The gossiper may think he’s interesting but in truth he’s sending a loud signal to other people that hes less trustworthy. People figure that if he’s talking about this person today he could be talking about me  tomorrow. Having a strong network comes from building allies. Gossiping can diminish your reputation for creating good will and diminishes leadership potential; a true leader identifies strengths in others and empowers them to be powerful. Gossipers do the opposite. They weaken the person whom they gossip about as well as weaken themselves. When Someone Else is Talking Of course, silence isnt always the right approach in business. There are times when speaking up can make a business deal or could prevent a catastrophe from happening.   If you know something is wrong and you are the one who can improve a situation, then it may be worth risking speaking up.  The challenge for when to speak up and when to hold back is a matter of discretion. A wise person is able to discern when to alert others of an impending problem and knows how to deliver that message so it enhances his reputation and his personal brand. If you are one who is typically silent and restrained, then this advice might not be necessary for you. You could be the introvert in the room with great insights who is more comfortable refraining from sharing. If this is true for you, you may need to push yourself to speak out more frequently.  But if you’re typically the first person to speak up and often regret that you spoke out too soon, you might want to consider trying to be less reactive and reflect on the situation by consciously pausing before you speak.  Think to yourself, “will my talking bring me closer to this person or to this group”? If your answer isnt a definitive yes then it may be better not to talk. If nothing else, you may learn something about the other person that could be useful in a later context. Perhaps then youll have something meaningful to say that will bode well for your reputation and for building that relationship.

The Top 5 Reasons for Leasing a car

The Top 5 Reasons for Leasing a car Many people save up for years to buy their own car. With it helping to build up equity, no need to worry about mileage limits and the freedom to modify and make changes to your vehicle as you wish, there are plenty of pros. But leasing a car has way more benefits and is the best way to get the car you want without having to spend years saving. Here’s the top 5 reasons for leasing a car: Low Monthly Payments Leasing a car means paying for it over an agreed period in monthly instalments. This makes it much easier to afford as there’s no pricey lump sum and the down payment is low and sometimes non-existent depending on the make or model that you opt for. As such leasing makes it much more affordable to drive the car you want without having to worry about it depreciating in value. Warranties With a lease car, you’ll have a warranty which lasts for the period of the agreed lease. This means that if you suffer a breakdown, engine failure, need new parts or labour costs, your policy should mean that you’re covered. There are a number of different types of warranties you can benefit from depending on where you lease a car from. At John Clark, all the business lease cars Variety Leasing a car means that you have the option to get a brand new car every few years. Something that’s much harder to finance if you buy your car outright. As you can just hand your car back at the end of the agreement, you’re not tied to it at all giving you the flexibility to swap and change makes and models as your please. No Hidden Costs There are a number of tax benefits that can make leasing a car much more cost effective than buying, especially if it’s for business purposes. From VAT reclamation to an increased return on investment and cash flow management, the lack of hidden costs that come with bought cars can be hugely beneficial when measured over a long period. Less Worries A brand new car every few years means there’s much less chance of things breaking down, parts breaking or costly repairs. This means you’ll be able to rely on your car much more and not have to worry about having to fork out money for expensive repair jobs.  Image Source; Image Source

Resume Writing Help - Tips For Using Free Resume Writing Help

Resume Writing Help - Tips For Using Free Resume Writing HelpThere are many websites that offer free resume writing help but most of them are just not worth the time or money to use. If you want to use these services, it's important to make sure you find a professional service that is reputable and provides quality services. The following tips will help you get the best resume writing help for free.First, never pay for free services. You should always think twice before you choose to use any free service. If they promise to do a resume template for free, do not trust that. They are just trying to attract new customers.Free services that provide services that are free but still very costly, can be deceptive. Most free services are websites that are run by companies that are trying to sell services and products. It's important to be careful when choosing to use these services.Second, it's important to understand that you don't get what you pay for. If you're looking for resume help tha t you can use for free, it's possible that you will get the same quality and help you would get from paying a fee. If you're looking for excellent resume writing help, it's important to do your research before using any website or service.Make sure the website or service is legitimate and trustworthy. If a service is offering free resume writing help, don't pay a dime without doing some research. Avoid using services that are not reputable or legitimate.Most free services are scams. If a service says it will do all the work for free, it's likely that it is a scam. Some services only provide basic resume help and will take payment for services that are offered.Good quality servicesdo charge for their services. If you have to pay for resume writing help, do it through the payment method the company or service recommends. Most reputable sites provide a contact form on their website that you can use to send your payment.Make sure you are getting help with resume writing, not paid help. Don't use free services that offer the same services as paid services and avoid services that are scams.

11 great productivity apps to get you to your 2017 goals - Debut

11 great productivity apps to get you to your 2017 goals - Debut Right. Thats it. No more messing around. 2017 is the year you finally get organised. Or get in shape. Or quit *insert unhealthy vice here*. Honest, youre serious. You really mean it this time. We hear you. And instead of offering you empty Disney movie platitudes about believing in yourself, were recommending you a few pieces of stone-cold software to kickstart the assault on your 2017 goals. That said, here are some of the best productivity apps out there right now. Trello Working on something big in 2017? Plan that project in a way thats both flashy and organised. Trello is a workboard that lets you break it down into smaller tasks and group them together making whatever youre working on way more manageable. We use it here at Debut and we cant get enough. Introduce it in your office and see if you dont get any brownie points. Li.st Li.st is a super cool app that collates lists about all your favourite things for a quick and easy daily download. Stay on top of everything with news summaries, reading recommendations, food recipes and more at your fingertips. You can even make your own lists! If that New Years Resolution is to stay informed, look no further. Happiness Planner The Happiness Planner is a calendar and to-do list with a twist. As you out your life all neat and in order, itll give you tips on mindfulness, self-development and positive thinking. Perfect for nailing that work-life balance. It only exists in physical form and iOS right now, but look out for the Android app dropping later this year. Lifesum There are about as many ways to lose weight as there are ways to die in the west (a million, Im told). But if youre really about this life, Lifesum is definitely your aesthetic. With tailored diet plans,  a meal tracker and Fitbit compatibility, youll be shot of your love handles by Valentines Day. Alarmy On the off chance you read our piece with tips for people who struggle to get out of bed, youll know there are a whole bunch of apps out there to help. This is one of them a mean alarm clock that demands you complete tasks before it turns off. Imagine being screeched awake in the morning by this monster and the only way to stop it is to take a picture of your bathroom sink. Its tough love, but youll be up-and-running in no time. Smokefree If youre trying to cut out the cigarettes, Smokefree is the app for you. If youre giving up anything, its easy to lose sight of why youre doing after you miss it for a while. Smokefree helps you see the bigger picture. As you go through, itll show you how much money youve saved, how your health is improving, even how many hours of your life youve regained by staying smoke free. If thats not a motivator, I dont know what is. IFTTT IFTTT helps you get more out of the apps you already use by mixing them together in what they like to call recipes. Want to automatically tweet every new Instagram you post? Want someone to get an email every time you do a blog post on Tumblr? All it takes is the click of a button with IFTTT and itll save you a ton of time. Momentum Momentum is the Google Chrome add-on I sorely wish I had when I was doing my dissertation. It comes up every time you open a new tab. All you have to do is tell it what your focus for the day is and it will keep you off distracting sites until you do it. No more falling down the YouTube black hole for you. Todoist Todoist is the grand-daddy of all the to-do lists apps out there. Theres not a lot that you cant use it to organise. You can prioritize, break stuff down into sub-tasks and sub projects, set notifications, even use it in groups. Definitely one for the sophisticates among you. AirDroid If youve got an Android device, this is an absolute must. AirDroid lets you access all your texts,  Whatsapps and files from your phone up on your computer screen. Never again will you have to make the difficult decision between the two. Google Keep Did you ever want to make a note of all the brilliant ideas you come up with but never have a pen and paper handy? Google Keep not only lets you make voice memos, but it automatically backs them up in the cloud. So  that lecture recording, million-pound idea or potential hit single is safe whatever happens. Download the Debut app and  get Talent-Spotted by amazing graduate employers! Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

Convincing Customers to Buy

Convincing Customers to Buy It is easier than ever to set up an online business and it can be done in a very short time. The problem is making sales, and once you have those customers, convincing them to buy again. There will always be a lot of one-off customers who never return, that is just the nature of business. You want to make sure as many as possible do come back though, so how can you convince customers to buy? Make It an Easy Experience Your website needs to be as user-friendly as possible. If potential customers have difficulty navigating the pages, they will soon move on to one of your competitors. Your site also needs to be appealing and attractive to the eye. It is estimated that you have just 4 seconds to grab someone’s attention so that they look closer. Search almost anything these days and you get many thousands of results. Because of this, if they do not like the look of your site it is very easy for them to find another. Look at your site from their point of view. Is it easy to move around, find the information you need, or to order the goods?  You may think it is a wonderful site nut if the user experience is not good, customers will not return. Get Your Prices Right Pitching your price at the right level is vital It needs to be high enough for you to cover all your costs and expenses, but low enough to attract the customers. This can be a difficult thing to get just right, as there could be many similar products already on the market. www.frigginyeah.com can help you to price your products competitively, and save you the hassle of spending hours searching through data about other concerns. The Encourage Interaction Encourage interaction with your customers, either by having them set up profiles or through social media. When people interact with you they feel as though you are one of their friends. They would always rather buy from someone they know than from a stranger. This is a good way to build trust in your products and to get them recommended to others. Provide Excellent Customer Support An online business provides 24-hour customer service. People do not expect responses in the middle of the night, but their queries are not restricted by opening times. If you cannot respond to any query straight away, deal with as soon as possible. People will often pay a little more for a product if the customer service excels, and they are more likely to be a repeat customer. Accept Multiple Payment Methods Multiple payment methods are a must if you want to convince customers to buy. Internet security is a serious matter and many consumers are not happy leaving details on a site. Online businesses that accept multiple payment methods constantly rank among the highest in search engine results. Avoid linking payments information directly to user accounts, as this will make users very wary. There are so many accounts of Internet fraud in the media that everyone needs to feel their bank details are safe.

Why You Should Be Job Hunting - Even If You Already Have a Job

Why You Should Be Job Hunting - Even If You Already Have a Job Many people feel that consulting job hunting resources and looking for a new job  are things that only  people  who are unemployed should be doing. It is often assumed that the only time you need to be aware of what jobs are on the market and the opportunities that are available for you when you don’t already have a job. Quite the contrary. Experts agree that it is  a good practice  to always keep an eye  out for  job opportunities, as well as the average rate of pay for jobs you may be interested in. Of course this isn’t something that youll want to do every day, but staying in the loop with jobs and salary changes in your industry could  eventually help you  move up the corporate ladder. By keeping apprised of trends in job openings and salaries in your industry, you can ensure that youre getting the  best salary for your value, and  that you  are aware of changes in skills and experience needed for certain jobs. In addition, this knowledge could also give you great bargaining power when the time comes  to negotiate your next salary increase! While you may be happily employed today, we all know that  with our countrys current economic situation, people are still continuing to lose their jobs everyday and are finding themselves actively searching for a new job. Job hunting doesnt have to consume a lot of time, you just need to keep your resume current with your most recent employment history and achievements, know the best job search resources for your industry, and be willing to network with colleagues and friends in other companies who may know of opportunities for someone with your skills and expertise. Being prepared for your job search will result in a a more effective, targeted search, and ultimately success!