by : Valerie Employment

BPO Industry doing their bit to help the economy stay afloat

Our economies are very fragile right now, especially the South African economy. The falling commodity prices in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of borders restricting the tourism industry has indeed disrupted the South African economy. The South African currency is pegged to the US dollar and has unfortunately been downgraded to a ‘junk status’.

Having said this the lock-down was very much needed as people and their health do take precedence. The challenging times however do bring out the best in people especially when stretched outside our comfort zones.

The BPO industry for one have come together in a most remarkable way to adapt to the current situation and thrive while acknowledging the impact of COVID-19. Over the last month there’s been an increase in the number of subscribers taking out data packages, purchasing routers, laptops, etc so that they can either work from home or from hotels. Even the hotel industry is benefitting from call centre staff booked in for work purposes. More call centres are investing huge sums of money in innovative technologies such as AI, ML, etc so that essential services can continue efficiently while adhering to lockdown. Uber is also doing well out of this as well as food delivery services.

A big shout out to the BPO industry that continues to service the elderly and vulnerable by thinking outside the box.

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by : Valerie Employment

Your first ninety days on the job

You’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree and within a short space of time you have been hired to work at a major corporate giant. Two months down the line you’re already feeling out of your depth; missing university life and most importantly you’re just not adapting to the corporate culture. Traditional career advice helps you land that job but is limited in guiding you maintain that job. Here are a few guidelines to follow during your first ninety days on the job:

Dress for success – The importance of a dress code for professionalism varies somewhat by industry and the relationship between the two aspects is strong. An individual makes a visual impression in under 30 seconds hence attire is a strong extension of one’s brand so I would suggest dressing for the job you want and not for the job you already have. Regardless of your mood or circumstances but dressing well elevates your confidence. You can also utilize your style to express your individualism in the most uplifting way provided it’s within the corporate culture.

360-degree mindset change – it’s not just about landing that job you’ve also got to maintain that job and adjust to the corporate culture. Transitioning from college life to the corporate world requires a 360-degree turn. Showing up to lectures after 3 days of hardcore partying, non-adherence to time keeping, breaking rules and dressing down should not be carried over into the corporate life if you want to be taken seriously. An adjustment to the mindset determines your success and career progression.

Adjusting to corporate culture – The corporate culture is fast paced and intense and it’s almost like stepping into the unknown. Take the time to understand the organizational structure, the vision, and values of the organization. People engagement is another key aspect and is just as important as acquiring the knowledge and skill in doing the job. Finally, adherence to schedule and time management is second to none and reflects your commitment to your career, environment and the people around you.

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by : Valerie Career, Employment

Steps to planning a career path for graduates

So, you just graduated from university or completed your schooling career and unsure about the career track to follow. Do you take the first job that comes along, wait for an opportunity relating to your qualification or do look for ways to do what really matters? Here are a few tips and guidelines that can help you:

Ø Evaluation process – An evaluation process must be carried out but at the age of 17 or 18 you might not know where to start. It involves putting down strengths and weaknesses, personality type, passion, interests, values and things that you can do effortlessly. Sokanu is a free tool that can be helpful in the self-evaluation process however there is no substitute for a career consultant. A career coach will not only help you with a self-evaluation process but will also challenge you to become a better person.

Ø Personal Development and Growth – A job should not be viewed as just a job but a place for personal development and growth. So, for example, if you enjoy working with people and passionate about social impact and eradicating poverty, I would suggest that you volunteer your time at an NGO. Get the feel for the job, see what it involves and at the same time you will be exposed to real life situations.

Ø Career research – once you’ve worked out the above the next step would be to research the industry and such companies. Let’s work on the assumption that you would like to join an NGO; locate the NGOs in your surrounding areas and the ones that would be of interest to you. You could do online searches, word of mouth, informational interviews and attend networking events.

Ø Brand – Use a career coach to help craft your brand and elevator pitch, draw up a resume and letter of motivation – and you’re ready to showcase what you can do. Promote your brand by making some noise on the right platforms such as creating a LinkedIn profile, joining NGO forums, etc. Contribute to these groups by writing short and informative articles on how you would like to help people or just voice your opinions.

Ø Application – Online applications work but I find that networking brings a greater yield. Include job hunting apps on your mobile device so that you will never miss out on job searches and opportunities. “Switch” is a job app that allows you to let a recruiter know that you would be interested in a job without going through the hassle of drafting a letter of motivation. Making personal visits to NGOs and volunteering your time will help achieve desired results.

Ø And finally, don’t allow doubt and fear to hold you back. Never miss an opportunity to show up and share and do what matters the most to you.

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by : Valerie Career, Employment

Why is your resume not generating any call-backs?

Many candidates fill out thousands of job applications but almost never hear back from anyone because their applications disappear into the black hole of recruitment. It is rather disappointing when this happens. Let’s explore a few key reasons as to why this can happen:

1.  Your CV is too broad and generalized – Your application and resume must be job specific – one fit for all no longer applies. So, before filling out an application take the time to study the job specs and analyse it against your skills, qualifications and experience. These days many firms use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to handle recruitment needs. The ATS collects and sorts out your resume and is optimized for ATS algorithms – as a result your resume might never find its way to a recruiter. There might be a skills gap or something related to the role you’re applying for that you’ve completely overlooked in your resume. Research the industry and the company thoroughly so that you’re not missing out on anything that might elevate your success rate in getting hired.

2.  Not knowing enough about the role – Do your homework and fact finding; applying blindly without much information on the job role being advertised can lead to immense disappointment. Call up the recruiter and enquire more about the role being advertised and gather as much information as you can about the product/service that the company offers. Use this information to customize your resume and letter of motivation according to the company and job requirements.

3.  Tracking your progress – Don’t just apply for job after job; use your time productively. Track your applications as well as your progress. Create a spreadsheet with the date, name of organisation and position you applied for and whether you did a follow up with the recruiter. Should you not hear back from the hiring manager within 48 hours of your application – please follow up with a call or email.

4.   Incorrect contact details – Recruiters/hiring managers are responding your job applications; however, you’re not picking up messages /emails due to incorrect contact numbers / wrong email addresses. Some head- hunters also try contacting you via social media such as LinkedIn (professional networking site) or even Facebook- so be sure to check your inbox regularly.

Your job search should be a job on its own; hence diligence and strategy must be applied. Most importantly don’t be discouraged because anything that you continue to focus energy on is bound to generate a result!!!

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by : Valerie Career, Employment

Ways to rewire your Career GPS

Is your current job throwing out the balance and limiting your personal growth? Do you sometimes find yourself operating on auto-pilot? Well you’re not alone in this and the only person that can help you out of this space is yourself. Here are a few suggested ways that have worked for many of my clients:

• Re-connect with the child within you. As a child you knew personal greatness, you also acted without fear and knew no limitations, as an adult you became blinded by social conditioning, negativity and layers of conformity.

• Take a day or two to create two lists. The first list should hold the things and aspects that jump right out at you. For example; I have a friend whose eyes light up every time she talks about fashion and she literally comes to life when she pages through a fashion magazine. Use details to include your interests, passions, strengths and talents. Your second list should include what you will require to be able to reach your dream job. For example; you might secretly be a social media guru and you know a lot about the different functionalities of social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Google + and LinkedIn etc. Marketing & Public Relations come naturally to you, and social media consultancy is calling out your name, however you lack a qualification in social media. So you would try to bridge this gap by obtaining a qualification in social media.

• Be realistic. You still need to foot the bills such as, rent, transport, food, etc. I recommend creating a budget, eliminate items of luxury, sell unwanted items and find ways of saving money (such as cycling to work instead of using your car or public transport). Hold onto your current job while completing your qualification and executing the rest of your plan.

• Your current job might not hold the best of working conditions or maybe you hate your boss but try engaging in your work. By focusing on doing a good job and on the possibilities of success, you will spend less energy and time on reasons for not liking your job. Adjust your attitude and you will create the space to improve your current work situation (your boss might end up being good to you and treating you with the respect you deserve).

• Once you are certified/ accredited in your field, it is time to showcase your talents. Start creating noise in the right circles, attend networking events, build professional relationships online and offline. Engage in part time projects that is going to boost your credibility. When you start living from within your energy changes and so does circumstances.

• Most importantly surround yourself with a positive circle of influence that will fuel your dreams and inspire you to take action on a daily basis. Your greatest sources will be your siblings, family, career coach and watching motivational videos.

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by : Valerie Employment

3 Main reasons college students find it hard to get ahead in the workplace

The job market has become increasingly competitive with 5 generations competing in the workplace. A university degree is no longer only held by a selected few; more and more individuals have acquired PHDs, degrees and diplomas over the last decade. So, holding a college degree no longer fosters exclusivity. Let’s explore 3 main reasons university graduates are having trouble getting ahead in the workplace:

1.    The current curriculum does not prepare students adequately for the work environment – For example, about 6 months ago I asked an MBA graduate to launch an online tool for a foreign ambassador program for a charity organisation and the young man was clueless. It doesn’t mean that a university degree will prepare you adequately for the work environment or secure you a position at major firms because these days hiring managers are looking for more than a qualification. I would suggest volunteering in your field whilst pursuing your degree and by the time you graduate not only will you have a qualification, but you will also have acquired some sort of work-related experience and confidence in your related field.

2.    Not Dressing the part – I have interviewed many graduates over the last six months, and many find it difficult to dress the part. First impressions are lasting impressions, so you will want to create nothing less than a show stopper. Showing up to an interview or the first day at work in a mini dress or ripped denims is a definite NO. Depending on your role you would need to dress the part. If your job is a recruiter – no need to dress in your most revealing dress or expensive branded jeans – dress slightly conservatively in line with the corporate dress code. Additionally, pay attention to hygiene including breath and body odor – it’s important to look and smell good.

3.    Not prepared to adjust to the corporate culture – Life at university or college allowed you to party and socialize at all hours off the day and night but the corporate world requires you to be a bit more disciplined. I’ve seen many graduates and school leavers struggle to adjust to adherence to schedule, attendance and just remaining disciplined at work. They experience issues regarding transportation to work, staying away regularly and poor time keeping. I agree that it’s a massive adjustment from having little care in the world to suddenly attending meetings and following schedules and plans. I would like to suggest that you recruit a career coach to help you adjust to the corporate culture. A career coach will not only provide guidance but will also help with future decisions concerning your career.

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by : Valerie Employment

7 Habits to eliminate during a job search

The job market has evolved rapidly over the last 2 decades, and most of us are failing to adapt and refine our approach to advancing our careers. This causes many to fail to stay relevant to the demands of hiring managers. People tend to be very passive in their careers, hence missing out on golden opportunities.

Here are 7 Habits to eliminate during a job search:

1.    Don’t follow the pack – During a job search most candidates usually use similar strategies; they update their resumes and then go online to apply for work and register with various recruitment agencies. Then they wonder why they’re not getting a response. Most recruiters spend less than 30 seconds scanning a resume which then disappears into the black hole of recruitment. Companies/recruiters use an ATS (applicant tracking system) which screens applicants out based on the key words they use in their resumes. Don’t follow the pack because you’re probably going to get the same results as everyone else instead do something to stand apart.

2.    Don’t keep your job search a top secret – many recruiters and hiring managers prefer to hire based on a recommendation or trusted source. Inform your network, friends and family that you’re job hunting. Let them know what you’re looking for.

3.    Not having or keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date – Most recruiters actually prefer hiring from LinkedIn (professional networking site) because such candidates already have high value. An updated profile speaks volumes and is bound to attract positive attention and more engagement between candidate and recruiters.

4.    No target based approach – Most candidates invest many hours applying for job after job with very little or no results at all and this can become quite frustrating. This is due to having no target as they appear to be firing blanks with no thought given to approach and strategy. Be very clear about the industry and career you’re aspiring towards and pay careful attention to the needs of the hiring company.

5.    Don’t operate with an old mind-set – Hoping to get different results with the same mind-set will most definitely not bear any fruit. Years of programming result in negative thinking and poor behaviors – hence self sabotaging beliefs limit progression. Even going to top business schools and holding degrees often enough does not remove mental barriers. Only rewiring of mind-sets can alter behavior and bring in different results

6.    No networking strategy – Most people believe that they’re not well connected without even tapping into their connections. Networking often helps build relationships with experts and groups within your industry. Adopting a few networking strategies is key to building new and maintain exiting professional relationships.

7.    Don’t quit – After a while of not landing that job it is easy to become despondent and to lose hope. Networking and positioning yourself within the job market and relevant industry takes time. Remaining focused, taking action and being positive is bound to deliver results – so do not give up and given in.

So there you have it. Keep in mind positive and result based practices during your job search.

#Postive job search practices #Detrimental habits

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