The Perils of Traditional Interview Questions and Ways to Deal with them

The Perils of Traditional Interview Questions and Ways to Deal with themThe Perils of Traditional Interview Questions and Ways to Deal with themThe Perils of Traditional Interview Questions and Ways to Deal with themAs jobseekers, we have always been at the giving end. It is always us to be answering some of the terrible traditional HR questions. Yes, some verrotten hiring managers may ask the bewerberinterviewee, So, do you have any questions for me? And that sounds as if, it is better if you dont. Sometimes, an interviewee too is either not confident or is reluctant to ask anything. In such cases, these hiring managers are just lucky.Okay, before I proceed further, this article that I am writing is not meant for those who badly need just any job. This is for the ones with long term career building intention.An Interview to RememberToday, Ill share my experience of an interview with a Fortune 500 firm. Since it is the experience that matters, lets not name the organization. I hope y oull benefit from my experience in terms of not letting the interviewer be too intimidating.It is the eighth round of interview. I am already employed but the lure of working with a Fortune 500 overpowers anything. The scope of learning from industry leaders can never be compensated even with a permanent, high designation, well-paying job with a smaller company.Job HoppingThe interviewer is an interesting woman. On meeting her, I greet her with big smile and take the seat. She appears very happy and charming, as if ready for the kill. The interview begins and she asks, Tell me why have you been job hopping? This seems to be your sixth or seventh company. It only reflects how unsettled you are I answer, Well, they say never to miss an opportunity, so I kept the doors open and opportunities kept coming. In fact, they didnt just visit for a while, they stayed as long as I wanted them, till the next opportunity came my way.Being Closed to LearningMy answer causes her discomfort. She wea rs her coat of defense and asks her next question, I see you are very closed to learning. How do you intend to grow? Well, I guess the fact that I am able to talk to you and respond to your thoughtful questions is because of my readiness which is not possible if I am closed to learning.Being DefensiveYou are headstrong, arent you? What makes you so defensive? the senior vice president asks. In my heart, she is already a waste of the companys branding image. I answer, What happens if tomorrow our competitor (imagining I am already employed) questions our branding eminence? Would you attack them or build a strong internal and external defense to alleviate the impact of such assault? Or, for example, if you have a wound, wont you expect our body to build a defense against the antibodies or would you let it fester? I guess, Its great to have the knowledge of defense, itll be instrumental in companys reputation management.Greatest WeaknessNow, she seems to be pretty irritated and cannot stand my head long answers. Linda, two more questions for you, Whats your greatest weakness? and What do you know about our company? Weakness? Well, we, as in neither you nor I are free from weaknesses. I go weak in the knees at Eagle Boys chocolate pizza and Hyderabadi Dum Biriyani. She corrects me, No, I mean WEAKNESS Sorry, but I think this is asking too much. Why would you want to know about my weaknesses unless you have some dubious plans? I wonder, why is she putting up with so much of me? So you think not knowing about the company can be your weakness? No. I have done as much homework needed for me to understand where I am headed. Everythings there on the internet along with some videos that talk about the organizations culture and inclusivity. But if you expect me to talk about your everyday operations, I am sure you have induction programmes and new hire meetings likely to inform us about everything.Okay, Linda. Its just because of the management, I I smile and take a leav e.The OfferNext week, I am given the offer letter. My work station just opposite to her sad face. I look her up on LinkedIn, and find that she has spent maximum a year with each company. As a B-School fellow, she directly landed with a senior role and heavy compensation. But Interestingly, soon after a month of my joining, she leaves the company to join the competitor with a package thatll help her upgrade her Audi to the latest one in the market.Story ShortDont let your prospective employer or hiring manager dictate you.If there are plenty of people to hire, the job market today wouldnt be facing crises. So, you are importantNo need to talk about your weaknesses or anything thats very personal to you unless you know what you are doing.To What do you know about our company? question, take this, Yes, thats something I wanted to learn more about apart from whats on the internet and your competitors are talking about. Please tell me. Also if you may define my roles and responsibilities and how I can give better.Wear a confidence that doesnt show the number of washes you have put it through. It is certainly not the end of the tunnel.And never, never lose your cool. Be polite, be thoughtful, say what you have to and let it go. Itll come back if you if it is wise enough to not miss youBioLinda Ashok is a corporate professional with 10 years of work experience with Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies namely IBM, ADP, Bank of America and Deloitte US-India. Currently she heads communications at CEIPAL LLC. For more lindaashok.com

Recruitment Strategies to Attract the Always-On Candidate

Recruitment Strategies to Attract the Always-On CandidateRecruitment Strategies to Attract the Always-On CandidateRecruitment Strategies to Attract the Always-On Candidate RossheimJob postings are everywhere on job boards, on mobile apps, served up in ads, and more. So how can your company or staffing agency maximize the power of these technologies to get the candidates attention?We spoke with staffing executives to learn how their recruitment strategies are winning over todays always on candidates.First things first Its about the personal connection. Even as companies work hard to exploit every significant recruiting technology and medium, one-to-one contact remains a top differentiator.We use the gamut of sourcing technologies all the social media, traditional job boards, and so on, says Jody Rummel, vice president of human resources at staffing firm Yoh. But the true meat of what we do making personal contact is what has been important for decades, so we err on the side of rea ching out.To hook promising talent, get personal fast. One recruitment tactic for effective use of one-to-one candidate contact is timing.We have substantial besucherzahlen applying directly through our web site, says Jim Caporrimo, regional vice president for greater New York City at Adecco Staffing. Recruiterswill reach out immediately for a brief phone conversation to find out what the candidate is looking for, because in staffing you can lose a candidate in minutes. Then there will be a face-to-face.For candidates in any industry, the personal touch matters.Yes, technical talent expects recruiters to reach out to them where they live online.But even software engineers still want a real-time conversation about who they would be working for.Technology plays a huge part in our business, but the personal touch is critical regardless of industry and who were try to attract, says Caporrimo. We attract candidates via social media, then pick up the phone and create a more personal expe rience.Hot pursuit requires a personal touch. Technology is great for turning up potential matches. But a high-touch approach gives many staffing firms their competitive edge especially when hiring for high-volume roles.There are specific corporate roles that we will recruit for regularly, says Rummel. That requires a lot of first-hand contact. We go out and aggressively look for the people with the right skills. We know what were looking for so it works better for us to pursue who we want.Referrals are still a person-to-person phenomenon. Among other recruiting strategies, Yoh uses its network of candidates to find additional candidates among people they know, according to Rummel. Personal referrals confirmed by a real-time conversation help to cut through the electronic thicket of messaging and notifications.Create a niche to match the candidates personae. When a talent firm makes an offer that appeals to candidates looking for something different, its a chance to segment the uni verse of employment arrangements and the candidates who seek them.People choosing to work on our platform are people who have chosen not to go the full-time route, says Patrick Petitti, CEO of HourlyNerd, which matches highly-skilled business professionals with consulting projects. If you believe you can work this way, you have to be either exceptionally qualified or delusional.Build a reputation for effective candidate evaluation. If your firm develops a reputation for making good matches using the right mix of sourcing technology and high touch, your candidate pipeline will grow itself. To be good at consulting requires a different skill set from just being a smart person, says Petitti.To help evaluate soft skills like communications and management, HourlyNerd uses algorithmic hiring methods plus, on occasion, realtime conversation. We make sure theyre a fit, which sometimes means getting on the phone, says Petitti. And theres almost always a candidate interview.Different industri es, different candidate expectations. Staffing firms that serve clients in multiple industries will struggle if they dont differentiate their recruiting tactics per sector. Light industrial is more volume-based, so to recruit for these clients we may host job fairs and attract numerous people at once while still creating a face-to-face connection, says Caporrimo.In contrast, experienced IT professionals already know what they want, so it may be Just give me the facts. With IT professionals, time is of the essence.

9 healthy ways to cope if youre an anxious traveler

9 healthy ways to cope if youre an anxious traveler9 healthy ways to cope if youre an anxious travelerLove everything about travel except the actualtraveling? If youre like a lot of us, theres one major drawback to ur trips to see new places or visit our far-flung friends and family A lot of us really (like,really) dont like to fly. A significant number of Americans feel increased stress - or outright fear - about air travel. About18% of adults report being anxious about flying, and 12% say theyre actually fearful.Often, behauptung feelings have to do with placing our bodily safety in others hands Its a lack of control and having to trust someone else to get you where you need to go in a safe and secure manner, says therapistHeidi McBain, MA, LMFT, LPC. But its not just the time wheels are up that stresses us out. The headache of schedule changes, the yo-yo of hurry-up-and-wait, and the embarrassment of the dreaded security pat-down can all contribute to our heightened tension in a irports.Perhaps its not surprising, then, that a newsurveyfound that one in 10 airline passengers have snuck illegal substances (including marijuana, illicit prescription drugs, and even cocaine) aboard a flight - often to relieve anxiety. But you dont have to resort to trippy gummy bears just to keep your cool in the air. Instead, try some healthier coping methods. Here are nine techniques to consider before you hop on your next flight.1. Take your meds.First, if you have a diagnosed anxiety (or other mental health) condition, dont let the hustle and bustle of travel get in the way of remembering any prescribed medications you regularly take. Hurtling through the sky in a metal bird is the last place you want to be without this critical component of your mental health self-care. Add take meds to your pre-flight to-do list or packing list to be sure you dont accidentally forget.2. Allow plenty of time.The sneaking fear of missing the flight underlies many travelers stress. Not maki ng it to your destinationandlosing out on the money you paid for your ticket is seriously not cool. Giving yourself more wiggle room by arriving extra early at the airport early might allow you to breathe easier throughout your travel day.3. Walk before you fly.Exercise is a well-known stress reliever, but when youre waiting to board, you might feel a bit self-conscious jogging through the concourse or busting out a downward dog. A better option (if time allows - see the previous entry) is to go for a walk. Walking around before you get on the plane can be helpful to get rid of some of your pent-up energy, notes McBain.4. Try aromatherapy.Okay, so maybe you cant run your aromatherapy diffuser while squeezed in the middle seat in coach class, but thats not to say you cant carry on a discreetly sized vial of an essential oil you find soothing. Hold a calminglavenderscent to your nose when anxiety hits, or dab a few drops on your wrists or temples before heading to the airport. For ot her passengers comfort, just stay mindful of the strength of any scents you plan to pack.5. Bring a comfort object.A comfort object doesnt have to be a grubby old teddy bear from when you were five. (Thoughresearchindicates that hanging on to beloved childhood toys into adulthood can actually ease certain mental health difficulties.) Bringing along any object that makes you feel at home - your pillow, perhaps, or a favorite blanket - can help establish an environment that feels safe, even on a plane.6. Journal.Not all journaling is created equal. When turbulence starts up, its probably best not to put your freakout on paper. (So not just writing OMG Im gonna DIE over and over.) Instead, probe a little deeper.Whyis the bumpy ride scaring you? Compare any fears with the facts. Write about all the times youve traveled before and have been just fine, or that2.6 millionother Americans fly on any given day.7. Meditate.Nearly every kind of meditation has been shown to reduce anxiety, fro m mindful breathing to visualization. Fire up a meditation app or listen to aquick guided talkdownon YouTube while sitting in the terminal. One easy grounding technique is to focus on your five senses, says McBain. Take a few moments to tune in all youre seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and tasting, and see if it doesnt help anchor you peacefully in the moment.8. Get educated.For those whose flying fears have to do with all that could go wrong from takeoff to landing, getting educated about the safety of air travel can allay these concerns. According toFlyFright.com, a site devoted to helping people overcome fear of air travel, the chance of being involved in an airplane accident is one in 11 million. And though turbulence can certainly be uncomfortable, itsextremely rarefor it to cause any damage more devastating than coffee spilled in your lap. Stay buckled up to ensure safety and let your fears just fly away.9. Get help.Finally, dont be afraid to seek help from a mental health pro for your feelings around flying. Says McBain If severe travel anxiety is keeping you from going on the trips and vacations of your dreams, a therapist who specializes in anxiety might be able to help you work through your anxiety at a deeper level to make these dreams a reality in your life.This article was originally published on Brit + Co.

How Careers Have Changed (and How to Manage Yours Accordingly)

How Careers Have Changed (and How to Manage Yours Accordingly)How Careers Have Changed (and How to Manage Yours Accordingly)At the end of the long job search tunnel, you might want to sign the first job offer you get. Or, maybe not. Maybe after all that hard work, you want to really make sure you know what it means when you sign on the dotted line. Are you signing your life away? Committing yourself to one company for the next 10 years? No, not really.Today, one in four workers has been with their current employer for less than a year, and one in two for less than five years. And its not just in the U.S. In Germany, a full two-thirds of younger workers do not have permanent jobs. Instead, they have fixed-term contracts, and companies let them go whenever their contract ends.No longer are people cultivating a long-term relationship with their employer. This shift has created a new transactional model of interacting with companies. But before we dig into that, lets back up.Jobs and car eers have gone through a couple big shifts if you go back far enough. In the 19th century, most people in the U.S. worked in agriculture and rather than jobs, people performed chores. The focus wasnt on skills or qualifications, but character. (Ha Wouldnt that be nice?) Praise was bestowed on the honest, hard working, and altruistic. Later, in the industrial era, urbanization and rapid technological change created factory and assembly line work. People flocked to cities to get jobs. Personality tests were created to help workers find their permanent job match.Then, the post-WWII economic boom created the middle class, suburbs, and bureaucracy. Corporations were born, and the industrial assembly line inclined upward into the corporate ladder. The word career entered the common lexicon. Now weve moved on again. Corporations downsized, flattened, and restructured. Willingly or not, the era of the corporate job is ending.Career used to mean a life-long relationship with a company. You g ive 30 years, the company takes care of you and gives you a pension. The shift means companies are no longer made up of workers, but work to be doled out. And its not just companies workers seem less interested in staying put, too. Employees today are temporary, contract, freelance, part-time, external, or adjunct.The shift from corporate career ladders to project-based careers has been met with mixed reactions. While many mourn the loss of pensions and the safety net that represented, others celebrate the ownership theyve been able to create in their careers.And yes, the loss of a predictable career makes it hard to form plans for the future, but it also allows for opportunities to pivot and change direction. Rather than a rigid corporate ladder, we now have a career path, and that path is made by moving (probably, a lot). Today, people are not trying to follow the script, but figuring out their story. With this new need for people to take mora responsibility and become more flexib le in preparing for and adapting to career changes, career management has become even more important. Now, career success depends not on one big decision in your 20s, but on relentlessly learning and trying new things.It used to be that your job or career was fixed, virtually for life. But now your career will probably be full of ambiguity and tension because it will inevitably be uncertain, experimental, disjointed, and ever-changing. So, what now? Whether youre just starting out or youve been working for the same company for over 20 years, youre going to need to start thinking about your next move. The biggest career management mistake you can make in the world of work today would be to sit still. Be prepared- learn a new technology, take on side projects, grow your network. And, as Stanford Business School reports, be prepared to repot your career every 10 years or so to keep your work engaging, innovative, and meaningful. Because we can certainly expect things to change again.Wa nt to learn more? Watch Mark Savickas presentation at the 2013 National Career Development Associations in aller herren lnder Career Development Conference.Photo of man in hot air balloon courtesy of Shutterstock.

The Surprising Details About Pharmacist Resume Example That Some People Do Not Know About

The Surprising Details About Pharmacist Resume Example That Some People Do Not Know About If youre a seasoned pharmacist, youll want to highlight your abilities and vast industry knowledge. You have to have sound comprehension of various medical terminologies. For instance, you may have completed a distinctive program that provides you with specific expertise in the risks of opioid medications and best practices for dispensing them. Seeking the function of a Pharmacist where my detailed understanding of health methods and medications can support the aims of the organization. During times of unemployment, it is common to feel unmotivated and bored. As a fast recap, here are the 3 focus places. You dont need to go big with a budget that may break the bank to find the interest of your audience. Entering the work market without a plan is only going to make your job search more difficult, therefore it is critical you know what it is that you are up against. Lying on your resume is only going to decrease your odds of getting hired. Keep in mind that your resume is your very first line of defense in conditions of landing your final job. Still, to land an outstanding job, you should compose an impressive resume. Possessing a good resume is something that you must take seriously in case you dont wish to shed the work so easily. Consulting a career coach will be able to help you learn more about what tauglichkeit employers are interested in. With each work application, start with what the employer is actually searching for. Most employers are extraordinarily choosy in connection with the assortment of staff for a work opening. Keep in mind that just about all employers right now will choose candidates for a work vacancy based on what is on their resumes. The Death of Pharmacist Resume Example A pharmacist guarantees that theres a smooth workflow in a healthcare organization. When it is for hospital or retail pharmacy standorts, they need individuals who would give the very best service to their clients. Searching for a Pharmacist position where in-depth understanding of pharmacy procedures can be aptly utilised to improve the efficiency of the health care organization. Responsible for the everyday operations of pharmacist places. A Pharmacist has an important part in patient healthcare. Doctors rely on you to perform their prescriptions accurately to guarantee effective therapy and prevent adverse drug interactions. Pharmacist Advice It requires a quality resume to construct your career for a pharmacist. As any great pharmacist knows efficiency is crucial. A friendly and useful pharmacist will also guarantee that customers keep coming back. Some drugs need certain equipment or supplies for good administration. In some instances, you would need to coordinate with the Doctor to verify the assortment of drugs or recommend changes. Also worked to make certain that patients are correctly informed on the best way to use the m edication and potential warning symptoms of an adverse reaction and any potential side effects. Patient-focused pharmacist with superior sales experience and understanding of prescription drugs. Vital Pieces of Pharmacist Resume Example Clearly, the very first step regarding resume writing is doing a draft. The particular position needs to be referenced, in addition to why youre the suitable person for it. 1 way to obtain information is by taking a look at a retail pharmacist CV example. Your connection requests should always communicate a great reason for somebody to accept. There are quite a lot of locations the place you will acquire good resume examples. Create My Resume Resume Tips for Pharmacist Finding jobs as a pharmacist, or some other portion of the nation, can be simple if you choose to select the most appropriate action. Make certain you get the information youre looking for. Also think about looking up online small business reviews from sites like Yelp or Ang ies List to rate where a businesss customer service may require revision.

Purchasing Best Resume Tips

Purchasing Best Resume Tips How to Get Started with Best Resume Tips? Always utilize language based on the position you are searching for. Career objective section in resume will incorporate the facts of your future accomplishments that you would like to accomplish working on the specific position in the business. Write the Experience Summary part of your job resume for each particular position you are looking for. Best Resume Tips Secrets The keywords we wish to see are always in the work description. My favourite resumes are ones that have specifics. Show that you always attempt to weigh your alternatives and think about different choices youve got and the advantages and disadvantages of each. During the class of an interview, youll be asked a variety of questions regarding your background. Youve probably seen many resumes over the duration of your work, but its notlage unusual to find you have very little experience with one focused on being an HR manager. Your whole employment history doesnt have to be listed. Youre totally free to find resume writing template on the internet to observe the way it ought to be formatted. In order to produce the best resume, you should understand yourself properly. Rarely are you going to get another chance from an in-person reviewer. Most anyone may benefit from their experience and capability to craft a resume that will cause you to stand out and dramatically shorten your work search time. Your present job title Lets start at the start. On the contrary, it should just fit for the job that you are searching for. Best Resume Tips - the Conspiracy Among the tips on writing a resume is also to concentrate on the things which make you unique. Adhere to the above mentioned advice, and make a bid to enhance your resume and increase the chances to turn into outstanding and get shortlisted for the job which you are applying. You should stick to the exact same advice on your resume. A Numbers Game Human re sources will need to check at humans the very same way businesses look at other sorts of resources. Strategies for Writing a Resume Let us cut the chase and begin with the basic methods and secrets that will earn a standout resume which works for applications. Recruiters are only zoned in on searching for a couple of keywords in their search, so should you include them in your resume, you raise your odds of being selected. They want to see how you would be valuable to their business. Resume is the written copy of your whole journey of expert life. Youve just arrived at the appropriate post that will reveal to you just how to create a stellar resume that works and that gets read from the beginning to the finish. By taking the opportunity to examine your qualifications, you are going to be far better prepared for the interview. There are a few things about resumes which dont often get considered. The majority of the employers are looking for dedicated, reliable, and expert e mployees who know the actual significance of the term professionalism. Its crucial because the employer doesnt have any idea who you are. If youre thinking well, recruiters should just try more difficult to review every resume no matter the format, then you might be right, but thats just not the reality. Your resume should have the attractive method of contents and simple to comprehend by the employer. Drafting a resume that may demonstrate all your capabilities isnt a cakewalk and requires expertise wisdom and perfect presentation. Presently, resume layout has become the most significant part creating best resume. In case you have some work experience that doesnt support your present objectives, do not include them. If do not have any particular experience, emphasize on your previous positions that showcase your attention and dependability. Do what you could to minimize the effect of frequent job changing, or short-term jobs. Highlight your present abilities and emphasiz e which will make them valuable in a specific job search. You must state the form of job which you are seeking and learn what skills are essential to do it well. You will surely receive the best job with your professional resume.

The Key to Successful Sample Cover Letters for Resume

The Key to Successful Sample titel Letters for Resume An employer only wishes to find out whats pertinent to the position which youre seeking. Youre able to use a cold calling titelbild letter to get in touch with an employer even if they havent advertised a job. If its a too long story try not to mention jobs which arent fully applicable to the job which you are looking for. Mention which you will be the one to get in contact with them to answer any questions regarding your resume and learn if the employer has any further questions. For instance, a cover letter is an outstanding place to speak about a career shift or maybe to explain a protracted gap in employment. The thought of writing an accounting letter is extremely much in accord with the notion of tailor-making cover letters and resumes in light of the particular positions being sought, which is very much considered the very best practice in the modern world. Whether youre just starting your career for a librarian or are trying to find a senior position, weve got a sample that will allow you to tailor your own cover letter. Bear in mind that cover letters have a tendency to be somewhat particular to the individual writing them and the job they are applying for. Ask whether the position was filled. Sales representative job description resume how to begin an on-line school enterprise. Relating your strengths to the requirements of the organization and the work immediately indicates you have spent time contemplating the position. In that circumstance, its more important to adhere to the instructions on the work listing. You cant when a wonderful mglichkeit for a new job will come along, and that means you dont wish to locate your self in a panic attempting to find each one of the new info to be added to an old resume. Hence the challenge is to discover a means to differentiate yourself from other candidates. You have the opportunity to move up quick A chance you produce an extremely spec ific. Youre likely to be ready for whatever they will toss at youpersonally, and youll secure the job Should you have questions, were standing by in order to provide you with the help that you want. Summarize why youre the proper person for the job. There are more than a few reasons to show people your resume. The Ultimate Strategy to Sample Cover Letters for Resume The usage of a cover letter is to earn the resume presentable. A distinctive instrument is critical to disconnect the lines. It can be beneficial to print a duplicate of your cover letter and edit it using a pen in hand. The resume wont be presentable in the event the cover letter isnt made perfect. Change it to fulfill your requirements and to ensure you hit all six crucial points discussed above. An accounting letter has a lot of features. A strong cover letter is able to make your application stick out from the crowd. Its possible for you to use a cover letter for absolutely any federal or private industry ap plication that youre able to mail or fax. Want to Know More About Sample Cover Letters for Resume? Regardless of what engineering track youre on, your cover letter should highlight problem solving skills and the ability to fulfill quality standards. Overview You might have made a variety of resumes on your career lifetime but in the event you would love to submit a software for a completely new furnace technician endeavor, you cannot use the one which youve written before. Its possible for you to transfer present skills to an updated resume that relate to the new career. Whether you would like to receive a job in nursing, dentistry, or pharmaceuticals, weve got a sample that is applicable to your career path. Moreover, it gives other perks, such as information articles about how to get and sell cars. Whether youre seeking out the very best new car deals or would like to purchase used cars for excellent rates, you will discover that learning about online car auctions and other wonderful areas to acquire new and pre-owned cars is a wise strategy. In truth, its on the surface of the list for those keywords, online automobile auction USA. Should you need scrap parts, look at purchasing a salvage vehicle online. Based on what occupation youre typing, you will be supplied different collection of skills to be included in your resume. By eliminating the subsequent 10 phrases, you are able to within a stroke, make your businesss documents significantly better. A Resume Cover Letter Format has an extremely significant role in bringing you the very best employment prospect. So, it does provide plenty of alternatives and its quite famous. Working in construction usually entails having the ability to use a wide number of tools and equipment whilst also having knowledge numerous construction procedures. The top suggestions to begin a business what are the duties of sales representative sample advertising cover letters and the way to begin an on-line shoppin g website that post. If you have ran a research ahead of then its somewhat simple to concentrate on precisely just what you require as a means to buy. Its ALWAYS great to do a little research on the company that you are applying to.

Learn About Meeting Minutes and Why Theyre Important

Learn About Meeting Minutes and Why Theyre ImportantLearn About Meeting Minutes and Why Theyre ImportantMeeting minutes are the written or recorded documentation that is used to inform attendees and non attendees about what was discussed or what happened during a meeting. Meeting minutes or bedrngnises are generally taken by a designated meeting minutes recorder during the proceedings so that an accurate record exists of what transpired during the meeting. Minutes usually include Names of participantsAgenda items coveredDecisions made by participantsFollow-up actions committed to by participantsDue dates for the completion of commitmentsAny other events or discussions worth documenting for future review or history Meeting Minutes as a Historical Document As a historical document, minutes are useful for documenting the key ideas or discussion points that led to a decision. For example, effective meeting minutes may specify the five alternatives the team discussed and the key reaso n that one was selected over the others. Minutes for the typical business meeting dont need to record every discussion or state in detail who said what. Of course, this rule is different for other types of meetings such as court hearings and situations where legal action is being discussed. These types of meetings do require an exact record of the conversation and statements. But, unless human resources is discussing a lawsuit, the typical workplace meeting does not document every iota. When and How to Share Meeting Minutes Ideally, meeting minutes are recorded on an electronic device, such as a laptop or iPad, and following a quick review of spelling, grammar, and clarity, disseminated to meeting participants electronically at the end of the meeting. This way, the participants have immediate notice of their commitments and deadlines and can raise questions or seek clarification. If this is not possible because the recorder wants to transcribe the minutes or check them for error s, he should disseminate them within 24 hours following the meeting. Minutes also serve as a reminder of the commitments team members made during the meeting and help participants transfer these items to their calendars and daily task lists. The recorder should always review the prior meetings minutes at the start of the next meeting so that people can check them for accuracy and next steps. How Organizations Handle Taking Meeting Minutes Critical to a meetings success, minutes provide a recorded history of the meeting for participants and for employees who were not able to attend. Without full meeting minutes, the meetings prospects for success are diminished because people, on balance, cannot absorb and retain a wealth of information at one time. The employee who takes the meeting minutes is usually a member of the team and takes notes while participating in the meeting. In meetings that involve legal- or government-related proceedings or in corporate board meetings, a nonpart icipating individual takes the official minutes and often records the proceedings. To record key information accurately, the meeting minutes recorder must have an ear for detail and the ability to stay focused. This employee must also multitask effectively to be able to participate in the meeting while recording the minutes. In some organizations, the same employee takes the minutes at every meeting. Or the responsibility may pass from employee to employee. The role of minutes takerbuilds effective leadership and communication skills and can be a coveted job. Requirements for a Meeting Minutes Recorder The requirements for the recorder include the ability to Record accurately the decisions, commitments, and major discussion points made at a meetingRecord the action items and due dates that meeting members committed to (action items have names attached, but the minutes dont state who said what in informal workplace meetings)Review the major decisions and assignments or voluntary commitments and action items at the end of the meeting so participants can agree on them before leavingBe a team player and be flexible because attendees can add or correct anything they disagree with in the minutes Work expediently to distribute copies of the meeting minutes within 24 hours following the meeting

Who wants to join a union A growing number of Americans

Who wants to join a union A growing number of AmericansWho wants to join a union A growing number of AmericansOnly 10.7 percent of American workers belong to a union today, approximately half as many as in 1983. Thats a level not seen since the 1930s, just before passage of the labor law that was supposed to protect workers right to organize.Yet American workers have not given up on unions. When we conducted a nationally representative survey of the workforce with the National Opinion Research Corporation, we found interest in joining unions to be at a four-decade high.Four times higherThe results obtained from nearly 4,000 respondents show that 48 percent nearly half of nonunionized workers would join a union if given the opportunity to do so.That marks a sharp increase from about one-third of the workforce expressing this preference in 1977 and 1995, the brde two times this question was asked on national surveys. The scale of this change indicates that 58 million American workers would want to join a union if they could, quadruple the number of current union members.A question of influenceOne of the strongest predictors of who might join a union is the size of the gap between the amount of say or influence they expect to have at their workplaces and their real-life experience.More than 50 percent of the workers who took part in our survey reported they have less say than they feel that they ought to have, what we call the voice gap, on key issues such as benefits, compensation, promotions and job security. Between a third and half of the workers we surveyed reported a gap between expected and actual say or influence on decisions about how and when they work, safety and protections from discrimination.While workers are clear on what they want, the reality is few workers who dont belong to unions will get to join one, since fewer than 1 percent will experience an organizing drive at their workplaces. Also, fewer than 10 percent of all these efforts to unioniz e and get a collective bargaining agreement succeed when employers resist.New strategiesRecognizing these obstacles, unions are turning to new strategies for improving working conditions. Perhaps the best example is union support for a US$15 minimum wage that would primarily benefit workers who arent their members.Several new organizing efforts are taking shape, benefiting everyone from South Florida tomato pickers to baristas toiling in a Starbucks near you.But unions and these new forms of advocacy cant get workers the voice they expect on their jobs until U.S. labor laws become stronger.Thomas Kochan, George Maverick Bunker prof of Management Professor, Work and Organization Studies Co-Director, MIT Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research, MIT Sloan School of Management Duanyi Yang, Ph.D. Candidate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Erin L. Kelly, Sloan Distinguished Professor of Work and Organization Studies Professor, Work and Organization Studies, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Will Kimball, Ph.D. Student, MIT Sloan School of ManagementThis article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.