Why Human Insights Matter for Employer Brands

Why Human Insights Matter for Employer Brands How can we go about getting true human insights to uncover the authentic employer brand of a company? Jonas Fischer is the founder of PeerCulture, a new kind of employee content research company based in New York. I recently spoke to him about interviewing employees to gain vital information that will help with culture and talent attraction strategy. Have a listen to the episode below, keep reading for a transcript of our conversation and make sure you subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast. Tell us about PeerCulture and the story behind it. PeerCulture is a new employee content and research opportunity and is the best way I can describe it. The idea is new, but its very simple. We basically find or identify great employee talent in some of the most competitive industries like tech or finance and media, and we give them a platform to share their personal ideas, experiences, and opinions about working life. So thats it. We really think that employees that are in the trenches of everyday work have important stories to tell and we dont really see anyone telling those stories. So unfortunately, theres no sexy algorithms or artificial intelligence involved, at least not yet. But I like the idea because its simple. So by giving these high-performing employees an opportunity to share their stories, we achieve 3 things. The first is for the employee. They get to be featured in an interview from a third-party. Its a great personal branding opportunity for them, that they then share with their network. So for PeerCulture we produce the interview and the content, but its really up to the employee to market it for us, which I like because you tap into everyone elses network. The second benefit is really for the employer. They get a positive brand exposure opportunity from their employee thats outside of their own media assets, outside of their own channels. So if theyre savvy and if theyre in tune with their employees, its an opportunity for them to share an interview of one of their employees that got recognized for their work. And then the last thing, and the most important thing and really what we base our business on, is weve designed all these interview questions based on qualitative research principles. So really the result of conducting all of these one-on-one employee interviews is that were creating a continuous qualitative research project for employer brands to get to the attitudes and the values and the behaviors of what the young workforce is really thinking. So the great thing is, as an employer brand, you can go to PeerCulture.com and read the interviews for free and start to uncover insights of your own based on what your brand is about. How do the projects work? What we do is its continuous, so were always finding people and our model is interesting in that we ask the people that we interview to nominate their peers, which is the idea behind PeerCulture. So they nominate people from other companies, so were always interviewing people. How it works is the questions we post on our website are maybe 40% of the interview, and the other 60% of the interview are questions that some of our partners want to know, so we can get more specific and really custom or tailor a qualitative research project based on those objectives. We have this free version where we post more of the value-driven questions that are relevant to all brands, but then behind the scenes were also asking these employees more specific things to help our partners. When we interview people theyre not in a research mindset. Were actually interviewing them for a personal branding opportunity. Theyre being featured in an interview. So what we get from that is a more honest response and the stories get a little more personal because theyre not sitting in a focus group and theyre not under this shadow of, Im doing research and Im eating a bologna sandwich and getting paid 100 bucks kind of thing. Why do human insights matter? I think the goal for any employer brand, and consumer brand for that matter, is to connect with their audience in a way that goes beyond the rational offering of your product or service or employer brand, and to achieve this meaningful connection I think you need to understand your audience at a deeper level. You have to go from what motivates them to why it motivates them. And I see a lot of brands and a lot of companies, especially companies Ive worked for in the past, who just didnt have access to these qualitative in-depth audience insights. They rely on survey data or market research and they have to make the leap themselves. So what I wanted to do is, I wanted to be able to tap into the belief systems of employees, and their behaviors. So when we talk about human insights, were trying to go deeper than that quantitative data to understand the context and the experiences below the surface that most of us already know about. Which  employer is getting this right? Well, I think there are several companies that have amazing corporate cultures based on human insights, but there are the usual suspects like Google and Facebook and Netflix, etc. and I dont like using them in examples too much because I think those kinds of companies were founded during a time when the whole philosophy of corporate cultures was shifting, and they were able to build their cultures from the ground up with an employee-centric model. So I like talking about the older companies that now have to compete with them, because thats where its interesting. Thats where employer branding gets really interesting for me. Companies like Generic Electric and IBM and Cisco. In the UK I like what Virgin does. That might be cheating because they have such a big brand thats been so popular. But Ive observed what theyre doing and I like it and I actually went to their site to see how they talk about it. And their grand purpose is changing business for good, which essentially means they put people and the planet alongside profit, which is basically what weve been talking about. So I think they get it and I think as far as a company going all-in, I think that they walk the walk and talk the talk from the top down. So yeah, I think the Virgin Group does a really good job. You could have the best brand strategy and the best implementation plan, and Im sure youve experienced this many times, but if you dont get buy-in from the leadership and the core influencers at the company, then its almost impossible to really execute an employer brand. Follow Jonas on Twitter @Peer_Culture  and subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast.

How to Create a Double-Duty Office on a Budget

How to Create a Double-Duty Office on a Budget When you’re running low on space, having a designated office can seem like a dream. If you don’t have a house large enough to dedicate an entire room to your office, you may struggle to find the right place to set up shop. Pulling out your office materials at your kitchen table each morning can be annoying and impractical, but what else can you do if you’re lacking more square feet? There are a few different double-duty office strategies you may want to try. These multi-purpose areas can give you the workspace you need without compromising too much space in your home. Let’s check out some of the creative home office spaces ideas you may want to try. Redecorate the Guest Bedroom If you have a spare bedroom you use for guests, have you ever considered setting up your office space there? While you don’t need to squish a desk into a small bedroom, you could replace the bed with a futon or daybed. This will give you more space to create your workstation. This is a great option for someone who doesn’t have frequent guests. Setting up the spare bedroom as an office space that can be used for guests is a great way to get a private office with minimal interruptions. Create a Living Room/Office Combo Setting up your office in the living room is another way to create a two-in-one space. Because you likely have a lot of tech in your living room, you can cut down on the amount you have in the house by including it all in one room. Having your computer or laptop stationed in the living room can actually improve your TV watching experience. So you don’t have both a TV and a computer in one room, consider purchasing a projector to replace your TV. As something that mounts up out of the way, you don’t need to compromise space to have one in your home. You can then use your laptop to stream through the projector. Get Creative in the Closet Do you have a closet you rarely use or one you could easily clean out? Well, it may be your new office space. Because closets are typically wide and deep enough to fit a desk and some shelves, you can use an unused closet space to do your work. The best part about using a closet as your office space is that you can shut the door and your work will be left undisturbed. Transforming your closet into an office space can take some time. You’ll need proper measurements and potentially a custom-made desk. But with the right materials, a closet office could be just what you need to get your work done without taking up too much space in your home. Use a Portable Desk If you’re okay with moving your desk back and forth when you need to use it, a portable desk could be the solution you’re looking for. Through buying a desk that either folds up or has wheels, you can move your desk in and out of storage as you need it. Depending on your storage options, you could wheel your desk out from under the stairs or fold it up and store it under the couch or in a coat closet. While a portable desk probably isn’t the best option if you need a desktop computer, it can be a solid solution for flexible work. This desk option makes it easy for you to move from one room to another as you need. Take Advantage of Nooks and Crannies Do you have a corner of your house that you’re just not sure what to do with? Is it oddly-shaped or too small to really fit anything in? This may be a great area to create your home office. Because all you need is a desk large enough for your laptop or notebooks, find or create some furniture that takes advantage of the unused corner. Even a spare corner of your bedroom or dining room can be all you need to set up shop. Small corner desks or drop down desks can be pushed away when you’re not using them and still ensure you have the space you need to entertain. Get creative when it comes to designing a home office in your small space. Think of what areas you don’t use frequently or what rooms may benefit from your work technology. Are there any interesting ways you can blend your office space into a room you already have? When you consider how to work with the area you have, you may be surprised how many office space opportunities you actually have.

International students are you graduating soon and hoping to stay on to work or study in the UK Here are some of your options! University of Manchester Careers Blog

International students â€" are you graduating soon and hoping to stay on to work or study in the UK Here are some of your options! University of Manchester Careers Blog Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com By Nia Watkin-Jones Are you panicking about your next career move? Whatever situation you may be in â€" don’t panic, take a breath, we are here to help! Many international students aspire to gain work experience or get a job in the UK following graduation. Whilst this is legally possible, it’s not always easy to organise, especially when you only have a few months left on your Tier 4 visa. There are a number of ways you may stay on to work in the UK and the full list can be seen here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas However, two of the most common work visas our students apply for following graduation are the Tier 2 (General) Visa and the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker Government Authorised Exchange) Visa. Many of our international undergraduate students also decide to stay on to study at The University of Manchester at Postgraduate level. Please see the following pages if this is of interest to you: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/ Tier 2 (General) Visa Also known as the Employer Sponsored visa, this is for candidates from outside the EEA Switzerland who have been offered a skilled job within the UK. You can switch from your Tier 4 study visa to a Tier 2 General visa whilst in the UK. There are a number of criteria you will need to meet in order to apply for this visa and the full guidelines can be found on the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas First and foremost, you will need to secure a graduate-level role. The employer who is offering you the role must be on the ‘Sponsor Register’. Your role will also need to be of a particular skill level and wage. For full details on this, please see the Careers Service’s webpages At this time of the year, many of the well-known graduate scheme within the large organisations are now full as they normally recruit in October and November for a start date of the following year. These organisations in industries such as Banking Finance, Management Consultancy, Accountancy, IT and Engineering are generally positive about sponsoring international students on Tier 2 visas. If you are reading this blog and you have 1-2 years left of your degree, make a note of these early deadlines! Further information can be found here: If you are searching for a graduate-level role now, you may have to be more creative and flexible in your approach. Remember â€" Tier 2 visas require a minimum salary of £20,800 for the role or the new entrant salary given in the Codes of Practice for NVQ level 6, whichever salary is higher. Check the Codes of Practice guidelines for the minimum salary requirement for your chosen career. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-j-codes-of-practice-for-skilled-work There are also some websites where you can search for Tier 2 roles, these include: Grad Vault; Student Circus; CV Library; Glassdoor (search tier 2); LinkedIn and don’t forget the free vacancies database exclusively for University of Manchester students   ‘Careerslink’, which advertises 1000s of vacancies! For information on how to search for graduate roles or internships, see our webpages: Tier 5 (Temporary Worker Government Authorised Exchange) Visa This is a good option for students who may only want to work in the UK for 1 year. The advantages of gaining work experience in the UK using this Visa are that the salary does not have to be as high as the Tier 2 (General Visa), where the average starting salary is around £30,000. Also, the employer does not need to be on the sponsor register, as you will be sponsored by a government-authorized Tier 5 sponsor. There are other criteria for this visa, as set out here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-n-authorised-exchange-schemes There are 70 schemes/sponsors in total, including: (Access Tier 5 scheme), GTI (Tier 5 Intern Program) and BUNAC (Intern in Britain). For Access Tier 5 for example, it’s essential for students to find their own graduate internship/role first before applying to Access Tier 5. Please also check the following schemes for opportunities: Step (Provides placements and internships for students and recent graduates across the UK), Graduate Talent Pool (Internships offered are based primarily in England) Finally, international students may find it easier to find a graduate internship or work at this time of the year through a more speculative approach. See our jobsearch guide Finally We are always here to help and if you do need to make an appointment to meet with the international Careers Consultant please give us a ring to book. All Careers advice Graduate Graduate jobs International International-highlighted Postgraduate Undergraduate careers international UK visas working in the UK

Need Resilience Take a Lesson From Scarlett OHara

Need Resilience Take a Lesson From Scarlett O’Hara Resilience and You The   American Psychological Association defines resilience as ‘the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of  stress  â€" such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or  workplace  and financial stressors.’ Resilience is the ability to cope with, and recover from, whatever life throws at you. In your life and career, you will face unsupportive friends and colleagues, failed projects, and decisions you regret. Develop your resilience and you will recover from these challenges, learn from them, and move on. Scarlett O’Hara, Queen of Resilience For a resilience role model, look no further than Scarlett O’Hara, the main character of Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel Gone With the Wind, and the blockbuster movie of the same name. Raised on Tara, a wealthy plantation in antebellum Georgia, Scarlett is vain, haughty, and selfish. She is also tough, focused, and determined to be the mistress of her fate. Her society gives women no power beyond looks and charm, but that doesn’t stop her. Scarlett breaks all the rules and says ‘Fiddle-dee-dee!’ to those who try to stop her. A String of Disasters Scarlett survives war, 3 bad marriages (to husbands she married for the wrong reasons), poverty and near starvation, the loss of family members, the death of a child, and the destruction of her entire way of life. Yes, this way of life was racist and built on the despicable institution of slavery. I am not defending that in any way. For Scarlett the character, though, it was the only world she knew. Two Core Resilience Strategies Scarlett uses 2 basic resilience strategies: A mantra and a clear focus on her long-term goals. Scarlett’s mantra was ‘I’ll think about that tomorrow.’ When disaster struck, and her emotional reaction was at its strongest, Scarlett repeated this to herself. By the next day, she found a solution. Her mantra stopped a purely emotional reaction and gave her time to think; that’s one of the best strategies for dealing with life’s challenges. We often most regret decisions we make when upset or angry. Scarlett consistently makes emotional decisions about Ashley Wilkes, her unrequited love. They never work out as she plans, and she is forced to use her resilience to recover. Her decisions about money are always made ‘tomorrow’ and turn out much better. After surviving the fall of Atlanta, Scarlett’s goal is physical and financial security. Time and again, she makes decisions based on reaching that goal. Whether marrying for money, or going into business and facing social ostracism, Scarlett keeps her eye on the final prize. Seeing progress towards financial security bolsters her spirit when her old social circle publicly disapproves. While Scarlett’s means are often despicable, her single-minded pursuit of her own goal, despite public approbation, shows her resilience. The next time a colleague criticizes you unfairly, remember Scarlett’s resilience strategy and persist. Learn and Be Resilient Scarlett is not someone I want for a friend. She sees people solely in terms of what they can do for her. It’s hard to think of a more shallow or self-centered character. But like most people, we can learn from Scarlett. Find your mantra. Remember your goal. And keep going, one step at a time. That’s resilience.

The Proper Writing For a Professional Resume

The Proper Writing For a Professional ResumeWhen you are writing a professional resume for an applicant, it is very important to use the proper wording for a professional resume. A person who uses the wrong type of wording for a professional resume could land that applicant a job offer that they should not have received. When writing your resume it is important to make sure it is the right type of wording.First, if you are not an experienced writer, it is important to find someone who is to write your resume for you. This person can tell you what type of wording is best for the resume. They may tell you that you need to write your resume in bullet points. They can also tell you that the wording for a professional resume is to state the job position first, followed by the title and the job duties.Another type of wording for a professional resume is to use the word professional in every place you can. This will help you stand out from the rest of the crowd. It will also show that you a re willing to do whatever it takes to get the job.You may also want to avoid using an introduction because this type of wording for a professional resume is not professional at all. You should always begin with a letter of introduction to help the reader remember who you are. There are many professional writing services that can write introductions that show professionalism.After the introduction, the next type of wording for a professional resume is to begin with the title of the job. After this is a sentence that states the specific duties that the applicant has. Many times this sentence can be followed by a parenthetical statement that states that there is more information needed to apply for the job.The next thing that people read when they are reading a resume is the job description which will have the job title again. This is the second paragraph that most people read. After this is the cover letter that can vary in content and format.Another important part of the resume writi ng that a person needs to remember when writing a professional resume is that it should always include a complete list of all the skills and talents that the applicant has. This is how you will show potential employers that you are qualified to do the job. Remember, it is the employer that is looking for someone to do the job.Lastly, there are many things that a person can do to make a professional resume that is professional and be professional at the same time. Sometimes it is important to hire a professional writing service to help you out. They can write a very professional resume for you.

How To Pass The Cables And Dials Test - How 2 Become

How To Pass The Cables And Dials Test - How 2 Become How To Pass The Cables And Dials Test How To Pass The Cables And Dials TestI often get asked by train driver applicants about the types of test they will be required to undertake during the trainee train driver selection process. The tests themselves are very difficult to pass, simply because there is very little margin for error. Of those people who do pass the train driver tests, they focus n speed as well as accuracy. There is no room for ‘wild-guessing’ during the tests as the assessing body with deduct marks for any incorrect answers. During the train driver tests and selection process you will most likely have to sit:A group bourdon concentration testA fault finding testTrainability for rules and procedures part 1 testTrainability for rules and procedures part 2 test (cables and dials)Fast reaction and co-ordination testIn this article I will provide you with tips on how to pass the cables and dials test which forms part of the TRP part 2.Cables and Dials TestThe reason why this type of test is used during the selection process is because it is imperative that train drivers have the ability to find and identify faults in their cab whilst driving the train. They work on their own and it will be down to them to spot any problems. This test assesses your ability to carry out this part of the role.During the test you will be presented with cables and dials in a train that must be checked in the event of a fault or problem on the train. The dials in the drivers’ cab help with the fault diagnosis and provide information. This helps the driver to decide in which order the cables should be checked.When you have studied the instructions for the test you will be presented with 43 questions relating to the dials and the arrows. The questions are multiple-choice in nature. For each question you will have four possible answers and you must select the one which is correct. You will have 8 minutes to answer the 43 questions.InstructionsThe following sample practice test for Part 2 of the TRP test is b ased on the same idea as the test you will sit on the day of the assessment, but it is not identical. The practice test uses dials and indicators, rather than dials and cables. There are 3 dials on 3 panels. Each dial has an arrow indicator on it which is positioned on one of three different patterned backgrounds. You will have to decide the order in which the panels must be checked. If the arrow on a panel has this a certain colour background then this panel should be checked first. If the arrow on the panel has a different coloured background then it should be checked second. If the arrow on the panel has another colour background then it should be checked last. You must then choose which of the multiple- choice answers; either A, B, C or D matches the order that you think that the panels must be checked. Take a look at the following sample question.Sample Train Driver Cables and Dials TestThe correct answer is A. The order that the panels need to be checked in is right panel, mid dle panel, left panel, ie, RML. The arrow in the right panel (R) is over the white sector which must be checked first), followed by the middle panel (M) as the arrow in the middle panel is over the black sector which must be checked second, followed by the left panel (L) as the arrow in the left panel is over the grey sector and must be checked third.To get more sample cables and dials test questions and answers please click HERE.   This entry was posted in Testing. Bookmark the permalink. Richard How Do You Become A Postman?What’s It Like Working As A Coastguard

The New Social Job Seeker [Infographic] - CareerEnlightenment.com