Posts Tagged ‘free employee evaluation’

New Job Loss Numbers - It Ain’t Pretty…

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

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So just as things were looking up with gains on the markets and overall positive momentum, the economy put a big kaibosh on it all. Job numbers just came out and it ain’t pretty. It seems like we’re breaking all the wrong kinds of records these days, with the Canadian jobless rate at an 11-year high. With major automotive and manufacturing sector companies closing their doors at record rates, the news couldn’t have been positive despite positive sentiments on “main street.”

In the States, the jobless rate reached a 25-year high at 9.7 in May - a stark reminder of how difficult it is to find employment these days. According to the US Federal Reserve, unemployment rates are said to remain “elevated” until 2011.

A more staggering statistic is that job openings fell from 2.6 million to 2.5 million last month, which means that with close to 14 million unemployed in the US, (theoretically) every applicant is competing with at least five others for that same position. According to Heidi Shierholz with Economic Policy Institute in Washington, ”Unemployed workers are facing an increasingly uphill battle in the search for work.”

So despite market gains on the major indexes in North America and Europe, job losses continue to tell the true story of how the economies are going. Analysts and pundits alike agree that even if we continue to see positive short term gain, we are not out of the woods yet. Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist with BMO Capital Markets, told the Toronto Star that the Canadian labour market came “back to reality” in May.

“It’s hardly shocking that Canadian employment has retreated again–the job shakeout likely still has a way to go, even if the broader economy bottoms out in the coming months,” Porter says.

So where do you fit in all of this? Start by taking a free personal career assessment from the experts at ClearFit to find out what career you are a “clear fit” for. Once you’ve taken the assessment you’ll be able to view the results and use them to further your applications by providing proof of your strengths.

In addition, continue to see what’s out there and explore new opportunities by keep updated on industry trends, talking to friends and family and maintaining a positive attitude.

For more information stay tuned to this blog and feel free to email us directly at info[at]clearfit.com with any question or to set up your personal profile.

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The Value of a Multicultural Workplace

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Employment-test.org - Multicultural Workplace Environment

Are you at work right now? Have a look around you… in 2009 chances are that you are one of many colorful and diverse individuals that are working alongside with you.

Whether its race, religion, ethnicity, culture, sex or another unique characteristic, workplace diversity has become a reality in many work environments.

Diversity in a company is potentially beneficial to both employers and employees. It can result in better decision making, greater innovation and creativity which can lead to improved business development and product development, all resulting in potentially increased sales to a broader range of consumers.

In addition, a diverse and multicultural workplace can also have more intangible benefits. For example, by building a diverse environment you are supporting open dialogue and discussion amongst employees, resulting in a more relaxed and productive environment.

Another benefit of a diverse work environment is that employee retention can be much higher for companies that have greater diversity. People like to feel comfortable in their work environment that includes a diverse range of employees. Nobody likes to be “the only one” at work. Therefore, a diversified workforce allows people to socialize and relax with co-workers which leads to higher job satisfaction and less employee turnover.

Have a look at this interesting video discussing workplace diversity, not whether but how!

While there are a number of benefits, there can certainly also be challenges that arise as a result of having a diverse work environment.

A key challenge can be communication - overcoming cultural, language and perceptual barriers. These can all contribute to lack of teamwork, moral and productivity which can be very problematic. Ensure that you continue to communicate sensibly to employees in order to avoid this pitfall.

Other challenges include a reluctance to accept change, and perhaps even diversity itself. There will always be individuals who prefer to do things the way they’ve always been done. This attitude inhibits innovation and can present a challenge to managers.

One major step you can take to avoid any challenges and take full advantage of the diversity that surrounds you, is to create and implement a diversity plan for your own company. Outline the steps you’ll take to include diversity into your work environment, covering all aspects from decision making to hiring selection.

For more information on how to take advantage of a diverse work environment, visit the experts at ClearFit.

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To educate or not to educate…

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Courtesy of CNN.com

Ask any of your friends right now about post-graduate degrees, and chances are, most of them have one or more. To achieve any type of “success” in your career these days it is almost a pre-requisite to have a post-graduate degree. But where do you start and what do you study ?

There are hundreds of degrees available, at thousands of schools both on the ground and in cyberspace. You can study anything from business to social media, website design to getting a masters in sports nutrition. And despite all the gloomy news, there is a glimmer of hope, I just came upon this story today.

Whether you are pursuing an MBA, DDS, BSc or any other TWA (Three word acronym) it is really important to know why you’re getting that degree. Unlike doing an employment personality test where your “soft” skills are measured, a degree will certainly boost your “hard” skills along with your debt-load depending on which school and program you attend.

Here are some things to consider as you’re  deciding on whether to return to school or not:

1. Location

Where the school is located can really make a difference. An urban more populated location can be both good or bad. You may find more employment/internship/co-op opportunities in a large city, while a quieter more secluded location may be more suitable for studying and concentrating on academics as there may be less distractions.

2. Reputation and Ranking

Depending on which program it is that you are attending,  the ranking and reputation of a school may be very important. For MBA programs for example, there a number of ranking publications that do make a difference to recruiters and employers. Make sure that you know what you’re getting into and that you’re getting the best program at the best school. Obviously.

3. Faculty and Peers

When considering school and educational institutions do your research on prof’s and student body. Considering you’re going to spend a considerable amount of time with these people - you’ll want to make sure that they are quality… at least for the most part.

4. Alumni and Career Opportunities

One of the most important things you can do is to look to the future. By doing that, you’ll need to find out what the school’s/program’s alumni network is like. In addition, also look into career counseling and job placement rates. You’ll want to think ahead and make sure that what you’re getting into will be worth it at the end. So make sure to do a through analysis of the school and what it has to offer.

Before you make any decisions and get into any applications, just make sure that you’ve done your research and know what you’re getting into. Going back to school can be a very exciting and worthwhile activity, but only if you’ve done your homework.

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Top 10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Employees

Tuesday, 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!

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