An Expert Guide To Uncovering People's True Work Potential (2)

Job Numbers Are In For April 2009

May 8th, 2009

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Good and bad news depending on which side of the 49th parallel you’re on.

Canada - well done! The news was good as the Canadian economy added just under 36,000 jobs, the first time this has happened in six months. Just don’t tell anyone that those jobs came in the “self-employed” category - but nevertheless, poutine for everyone!

Canadian Job Numbers

US - sorry cuz. Even though your unemployment rate hit a 25-year high, there are glimmers of hope. Over 100,000 fewer jobs were lost in April then in March, although the number is still pretty high. But again - we’ll focus on the positive and ignore the negative. Here’s what the overall pic for 2009 looks like:

US Job Loses in 2009

Overall recently there have been sign of improvement. The stock market is on a temporary upswing, although nobody knows if that’s a true sign of economic recovery or just human psychology… to bad we can’t run a personality test on all those investors to really see what this is all about!

As more job numbers continue to trickle in over the next months, we’ll keep you posted and if you’d like to share you stories please feel free to contact us or comment on this post.

For more information on how to find people’s true work potential, please visit us at ClearFit.

Tags: hiring assessment, Hiring test
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Why Should I Use A Career Assessment?

May 8th, 2009

So far, in prior posts we’ve discussed the how to get the most out of your employees from an employers perspective. Now, we’re going to change gears and focus on the benefits of how and why a candidate analysis can benefit a job seeker.

Imagine for a second if you will (just go along with it)…

2009… ”The Big Three” are more like “The Smaller 1.2″… the most commonly used words in the English language starting with the letter “B” are now “Bailout” and “Billion” - often used in the same sentence… and you’re in the middle in all of this trying to figure out how to make things happen career-wise.

Let me be the fourth to tell you - this is a time of opportunity and exploration. As my stock broker likes to keep saying as I cry on the phone, what goes down must come back up! So how can a career assessments help me? Finding a job and/or career you enjoy, by utilizing psychometric analysis can open the doors to many streams of success (both psychological and physical) based on your answers and assessment.

1. People who work in jobs that they are good fit for are far happier at work, resulting in higher productivity and less illness - both positives!

2. People see their productivity increase. For example, people who fit the following jobs are far more productive in those jobs than others who don’t fit:

55-60% more productive as a sales person*
40-45% more productive as an administrator*
45-50% more productive as a manager*

3. Validated personality survey tools usually costs $100 to $250 per use and can take hours – HOWEVER there are free ones that take only 15 minutes.

4. It’s quick, easy and painless. You’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose so why not give it a try.

Don’t believe me, try it!

Tags: assessment employee, employee performance software, preemployment screening
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The Best Job In The World

May 7th, 2009

Really? Have you heard about this? I’m talking about what’s been dubbed the “Best Job in the World” — a six-month contract to serve as caretaker of a tropical Australian island. Really!

In times like ours, where jobs are hard to come by in the first place, this dude lucked out! No really, lucked out! Basically he gets paid to babysit some islands in the Great Barrier Reef, blog about it, take some pics and the kicker - he’s getting paid $150,000 AUD. All this and he didn’t even have to do a hiring assessment. In fact, the hiring selection process was conducted partly in Australia - for which he obviously didn’t have to pay either! This was a win-win situation for all the 16 finalists!

Though its touted as the world’s best job, it really brings up a great question, what is the best job in the world?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably get many different responses. Some may say that a job like our friends’ is the one - others may disagree and say that a more “fulfilling” and worthy job is much better and therefore qualifies. What it really comes down to is personal, so here are some tips on finding your perfect job:

1. Be creative - don’t just take any job for the sake of taking it. Look outside the traditional career sphere (…that rhymes), and beyond what you think you’re parents or friends would admire you for. Do what’s best for you and imagine several different careers that satisfy you.

2. Be aware - ask yourself why certain situations or types of work make you happier then others. Be sure to also be aware of the types of work that you don’t like, its just as important to be aware of those and know what you don’t enjoy doing.

3. Be patient - don’t rush into conclusions about what you’d like to do before you haven’t done it. We’ve all heard that statistic that you’ll change careers and industries at least 3-5 times during your lifetime. As long as you learn from each you’re well on your way to a satisfying career.

4. Be realistic - don’t say that you’re going to be a brain surgeon because you enjoy scrubs! Put yourself into careers and jobs that make sense and are attainable. It never hurts to dream but have your head grounded.

5. Be open - there are literally thousands of possibilities out there, so take it all in and you’ll eventually figure it out.

Tags: candidate analysis, hiring assessment
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Employee Tests - Where do I start?

May 7th, 2009

ClearFit's Candidate Hiring and Development Guides

Many people have expressed an interest in applicant testing when hiring a candidate for their business. Makes sense, why wouldn’t you? The problem is, where do you start, who do you test and what do you do with the information you get?

If you’re reading this and feel the same, don’t worry… we’re here to help.

Where do I get employee tests?
Start with the easiest and most obvious - online. In fact, when you type “employee test” in Google, you’ll get 18 million page results, in 0.26 seconds! Wow. Don’t get overwhelmed. Before you start sifting through the thousands of companies offering all kinds of tests, be sure that you’re looking at a reputable company with a proven track record and evidence of results. In fact, the most accurate and best tests out there are ones based on psychometric analysis such as ClearFit provides. In a day and age where you can get a PhD by answering your spam email (along with various other anatomy enhancement… sorry, can’t help you with that) - make sure you get a good and accurate idea of whether that great-sounding applicant is actually a fit for your company and the position you’re hiring for.

Who do you assess?
Everyone, silly! The assessment is designed to save you time, because an accurate and scientific assessment should give you a quick snapshot of who is interview worthy and more importantly whose not! Therefore, using a good employee assessment test will save you lot’s of time and effort at the front end. Since most tests, and those that you should use, are online - they provide a user-friendly experience which can only be a good thing when you’re looking to get an accurate idea of who fits and who doesn’t. It’s 2009 - paper assessments are a thing of the past!

I’ve got the info, now what?
Well hopefully, before you started this whole process, you had an idea of what you’re looking for. Now, that you have all the information at your disposal, its time to act. Using a service such as the one that ClearFit provides, you are able to see right away which of your candidates match, do not match and who lied! In fact, you’ll be able to do much more!

Fore more information on employee and candidate testing, visit ClearFit or call 1(877) 789-8767.

Tags: employee personality test, employee testing
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Top 10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Employees

May 5th, 2009

In our continuing series of tips on How To Get The Most Out Of Your Employees, here are tips 6-10.

6. Lead By Example

One of the greatest motivators for an employee is seeing a manager or supervisor work harder than anyone else in the company. Leading by example is an underestimated motivator that can foster a productive work ethic in a company, and produce some great results.

7. Engage Your Workers

Ensure that your work force is engaged. This means that employees have a say in decisions (where appropriate of course) and can communicate ideas and feedback to supervisors and management. An engaging employer will surely be rewarded by an engaged and entitled employee who wants to succeed in the workplace.

8. Reward Your Employees (… and not just with money!)

Even though this may seem at first like a risky proposition, rewarding employees can be a great motivator in general. Rewards do not necessarily come in the form of money or run-of-the-mill employee benefits. Rewards can include verbal recognition, employee perks such as lunches, or even other ongoing incentives such as paying for daily commutes to and from work. Get creative!

9. Foster Strengths, Work on Weaknesses

While you shouldn’t ignore an employee’s weakness, it’s important to foster their strength, while being aware of their weaknesses. Realizing an individual’s strengths will enable you to leverage those into productive and rewarding work. At the same time, working on the person’s weaknesses can also be beneficial to both employer and employee and works to strengthen the professional bond between the two.

10. Don’t Be Afraid To Cut

While it is never the intention of an employer to hire someone who doesn’t work out – sometimes cutting an employee loose in order to maintain workplace harmony, avoiding conflict or for a simple lack of ability is a necessary part of running a business. As an employer you can’t and shouldn’t avoid taking the lead on issues that jeopardize any aspect of your business. The longer you wait, the more damage that will be done. As the saying goes: hire slow and fire fast!

Tags: free employee evaluation, preemployment screening
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Top 10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Employees

May 4th, 2009

1. Understand that Each Employee is Different

Although it may be easy to paint all employees with the same brush, it is very important to realize that every individual is unique. Rather than thinking of your employees as a single, homogeneous work force, ensure that you realize the diversity of your employees and the potential inherent in that diversity. Realizing that your employees have different needs, requirements and expectations is the first step to realizing their full potential.

2. Manage Your Expectations

Perhaps your employee isn’t the problem – maybe it’s you! It is important for any employer to lay out specific expectations and benchmarks ahead of the game. Sitting down and drawing up a plan of action and expectations is a very useful exercise that will make sure that not only your employee stays on track, but that you do as well.

3. Manage Your Employee’s Expectations

Along with managing your own expectations as an employer, you must also manage your employee’s expectations. Transparency and open honest communications between employer and employee will ensure that you are both on the same wavelength and avoid any confusion about expectations and responsibilities.

4. Utilize Development Resources

Don’t be afraid to reach out and utilize some of the many development resources that exist out there. You have a range of options available to you to aid you in the process of getting the most out of your employees. While some of those options can be pricey, there are good tools you can use that are easily accessible and won’t break the bank. Other ideas include pairing up employees with mentors, creating coaching plans, joining professional networks and inviting industry experts to coach and work with your employees.

5. Provide a Challenging Environment

Put yourself in the shoes of your employees - if you were placed in an unchallenging and monotonous environment, chances are you wouldn’t like it either. Instead, ensure that you provide a challenging and dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and excitement.

Check back tomorrow for number 6 through 10!

Tags: Applicant testing, employee personality test
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Hello world, Employment-Test.org is alive!

April 30th, 2009

Welcome to the home of your #1 source of hiring and development news, tips and tricks - powered by ClearFit.

If you’re looking to improve your workforce, then you’ve come to the right spot. Ever hired someone who didn’t work out? Trust us… it can really screw things up. Stay tuned for more information and regular posts about how to make your hiring and employee development as easy as 1-2-3.

To learn more about ClearFit and the tools at your disposal, visit www.clearfit.com to get started today!

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