The New Roles of the Human Resources Professional

The New Roles of the Human Resources ProfessionalThe New Roles of the Human Resources ProfessionalSome industry commentators call the function of Human Resources the last bastion of bureaucracy. Traditionally, the role of the Human Resource professional in many organizations has been to serve as the systematizing, policing arm of executive management. Their role welches mora closely aligned with rollenel and administration functions that were viewed by the organization as paperwork. This is because the initial HR functions needed, in many companies, came out of the administration or finance department areas. Because hiring employees, paying employees, and dealing with benefits were the organizations first HR needs, bringing in finance or administration staff as HR staff is not surprising. Administrative Functions and Executive Agendas In this role, the HR professional served executive agendas well but was frequently viewed as a roadblock by much of the rest of the organization. S ome need for this role remains- you wouldnt want every manager putting his own spin on a sexual harassment policy, for example. Nor can every manager interpret and implement the employee handbook as she chooses. Payroll and benefits need administration, even if they are now electronically handled. The administrative functions of the HR department continue to need management and implementation. These tasks are not going away anytime soon. In this role, employees regarded HR as the enemy and going to HR was the kiss of death for your ongoing relationship with your own manager. Employees believed and were often correct, that the HR function was in distribution policy solely to servethe needs of management. Thus, employee complaints often fell on deaf ears in an HR department that existed to serve managers needs. They criticize everything from their education to their professionalism to their support for employees. More importantly, they accuse HR professionals of misleading employees, failing to keep employee information confidential, and exhibiting poor practices in areas such as investigations, benefits options, and hiring employees. In some cases, HR is held in such disrespect that you may want to understand why your employees hate HR. Part of it is, of course, that employees dont always understand what the HR department does. Transformation If the HR function in your organization is not transforming itself to align with forward-thinking practices, executive leadership must ask HR leaders some tough questions. Todays organizations cannot afford to have an HR department that fails to contribute to lead modern thinking and contribute to enhancing company profitability. In this environment, much of the HR role is transforming. The role of the HR manager, director, or executive must parallel the needs of his or her changing organization. Successful organizations are becoming more adaptive, resilient, quick to change direction and customer-centered. Three Ne w Roles Within this environment, the HR professional, who is considered necessary by managers and executives, is a strategic partner, an employee sponsor or advocate and a change mentor. These roles were recommended and discussed in Human Resource Champions, by Dr. Dave Ulrich, one of the best thinkers and writers in the HR field today, and a professor at the University of Michigan. The HR professionals who understand these roles are leading their organizations in areas such as organization development, strategic utilization of employees to serve business goals, and talent management and development. Lets take a look at each of these roles and their impact on HR functions and practices. Strategic Partner In todays organizations, to guarantee their viability and ability to contribute, HR managers need to think of themselves as strategic partners. In this role, the HR person contributes to the development of and the accomplishment of the organization-wide business plan and object ives. The HR business objectives are established to support the attainment of the overall strategic business plan and objectives. The tactical HR representative is deeply knowledgeable about the design of work systems in which people succeed and contribute. This strategic partnership impacts HR services such as the design of work positions hiring reward, recognition and strategic pay performance development and appraisal systems career and succession planning and employee development. When HR professionals are aligned with the business, the personnel management component of the organization is thought about as a strategic contributor to business success. To become successful business partners, the HR staff members have to think like business people, know finance and accountingand be accountable and responsible for cost reductions and the measurement of all HR programs and processes. Its not enough to ask for a seat at the executive table HR people will have to prove that they have t he business savvy necessary to sit there. Employee Advocate As an employee sponsor or advocate, the HR manager plays an integral role in organizational success via his knowledge about and advocacy of people. This advocacy includes expertise in how to create a work environment in which people will choose to be motivated, contributing, and happy. Fostering effective methods of goal setting, communication and empowerment through responsibility builds employee ownership of the organization. The HR professional helps establish the organizational culture and climate in which people have the competency, concern, and commitment to serve customers well. In this role, the HR manager provides overall talent management strategies, employee development opportunities, employee assistance programs, gain sharing and profit-sharing strategies, organization development interventions, due process approaches employee complaints and problem-solving, and regularly scheduled communication opportunitie s. Change Champion The constant evaluation of the effectiveness of the organization results in the need for the HR professional to frequently champion change. Both knowledge about and the ability to execute successful change strategies make the HR professional exceptionally valued. Knowing how to link change to the strategic needs of the organization will minimize employee dissatisfaction and resistance to change. Organization development, the overarching discipline for change management strategies, gives the HR professional additional challenges. Consciously helping to create the right organizational culture, monitoring employee satisfaction, and measuring the results of organization initiatives fall here as well as in the role of employee advocacy. The HR professional contributes to the organization by constantly assessing the effectiveness of the HR function. She also sponsors change in other departments and in work practices. To promote the overall success of her organizatio n, she champions the identification of the organizational mission, vision, values, goals and action plans. Finally, she helps determine the measures that will tell her organization how well it is succeeding in all of this.

How to Make the Move From the Big Four

How to Make the Move From the Big Four How to Make the Move From the Big Four You landed a prestigious job with a Big Four or another accounting firm right out of college. Its not only been exciting to work with other top accounting professionals, but youve also learned a lot about your field - and youve seen a lot of the country while working with various clients.You knew you might leave public accounting eventually, and now youre thinking a move to corporate accounting is right for you.Finding the courage to leave is a challenge for people who have worked for the one of the largest accounting firms in the world, said Ky Kingsley, Robert Half Finance Accounting vice president.They are leaving a prestigious, professional work environment that offers challenging work and a structured career path that includes growth, along with a great network of mentors and peers, she said. It almost seems crazy to leave However, grueling hours and a desire for work-life balance often leads them to look for other opportunities.Striving for work-life balanceIts no secret that corporate accounting jobs typically offer better work-life balance - and that more professionals are expressing a commitment to their personal lives. In fact, more than half of the professionals in a Robert Half study say they have increased their commitment to their personal life in the last year.In industry, compared with Big Four accounting firms, theres less overtime and not as much travel. Some corporations have even started to introduce flexible schedules and work-from-home arrangements for their finance and accounting employees.Other motivations for a changeMany finance and accounting professionals say they are eager for the career opportunity to build their skills outside of public accounting, Kingsley said.Taking the leap from public to corporate accounting can give your career a boost down the line, too When companies are searching for a new controller or chief financial officer, they often loo k for someone with both public accounting and industry experience.If youre ready to make the transition in your career, Kingsley offers the following four tips to ease the career switch1. Time it right and take the right steps Most accounting and finance professionals recommend making the move after two to four years with an accounting firm. Thats when its easiest to jump from staff to senior accountant, or senior accountant to accounting manager.As a first step, many candidates reach out to their own personal network of colleagues and previous supervisors who have already secured positions in private industry, Kingsley said. Sometimes they connect with a trusted recruiter who was probably referred by one of their peers. When working with a finance staffing agency, establish a relationship before you launch your search. The recruiter can provide insights on potential opportunities, be on the lookout for jobs that are a fit and help with timing.Of course, once you identify a great op portunity, you may encounter some challenges.Although most public accounting professionals have excellent presentation and communication skills, Kingsley said, many havent interviewed since college, and they have to balance their extreme workload to find time to interview.2. Call on your experienceWhile working at a Big Four firm, youve had exposure to many different companies and industries. Theres a strong chance youve assisted clients in real estate, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, technology and more. Good news Firms in all of those sectors, among others, are actively seeking accountants.So when looking for a corporate position, first think about your past clients. Take note of the companies where you thrived, enjoyed the work and fit in well with the corporate environment. Then target your job search in those industries.3. Be ready to stretchUnlike public accountants, who work on projects for several different clients, corporate accountants have just one client the org anization they work for. That means they need a much more in-depth look at a companys infrastructure and inner workings.When you work for a company, you dont just focus on tax and audit. You also work on a variety of business strategy issues outside of typical accounting, like budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, and collaborate with the operations and business management teams. While this can be a mountain to climb when you first make the switch, it can be extremely rewarding in the long run You can make a real difference in the companys direction and bottom line.Companies like to hire accountants from public accounting firms, because they have a strong work ethic, expert technical abilities, good presentation and communication skills, and a good deal of flexibility and adaptability. All of these characteristics make for top performers in the corporate world.4. Prepare for salary discussionsResearch prevailing salary ranges for the position you want to move into, taking into account local pay variances and added value your public accounting experience may provide. Look at resources such as Robert Halfs Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance and other industry reports for the latest benchmarks.Also consider the perks offered by the company. Find out if the organization will provide the support, financially or otherwise, you need to earn the CPA (and other relevant certifications) and keep up with continuing professional education (CPE) demands.When you let your firm know youre leaving, do so gracefully and be prepared for the counteroffer discussion. Its generally best to decline the counteroffer. Money likely isnt the primary driver behind your career move, and it wont make up for the reasons youre looking to transition into industry the manager also may simply be biding his or her time until hiring your replacement.Your experience at a Big Four or other public accounting firm can be invaluable, so keep honing the skills you learned there. Theyll give you a leg up as you navigate your new workplace.SEARCH FOR PRIVATE ACCOUNTING JOBS Ky Kingsley Ky Kingsley is vice president of Robert Half Finance Accounting, North America. She joined Robert Half in 2007 and is an expert on career growth and development, hiring trends, and the use of social media in recruitment. She is based in the Los Angeles area.

How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it Burn

How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it Burn How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it Burn How to Decide to Fight a Forest Fire or Let it BurnHow do forest managers and firefighters decide to fight a wildfire or let it burn?At a time when wildfires have run wild across western North America, the question seems almost irrelevant. In 2018, the Carr fire in northern California engulfed more than 1000 homes and killed three firefighters, while a complex of three fires around Mendocino burned even larger. Together, those two fires consumed almost as much land as the entire state of Rhode Islandand there were many more fires in Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington.The devastation and destruction may bedrngnis end soon. Fire season is getting longer and neighborhoods increasingly stretch into wild land. Yet fire is not inherently bad. Fires are natures way of disposing of dead and rotting trees and clearing brush so that new trees can take root. Paradoxically, suppressing fir es makes the next fire even worse, since it leaves all that fuel on the ground where it can feed a more powerful conflagration.Since 1960, researchers and engineers at the U.S. Forest Service Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, Mont., have used experiments and computer models to learn how fuel, weather, and terrain influence the spread of wildfire. Now that same fundamental science can guide controlled burns of dense forests, leaving flame-resilient ecosystems behind.Listen to ASME TechCast How Engineers Close Communication Gaps with Non-engineers Bret Butler, a research mechanical engineer at fire lab, remembers the summer of 2017, when smoke clogged the skies around Missoula for several months. It was so smoky for so long, it was clear the fires exceeded our technical capabilities to fight them, he says. Were not going to fight our way out of the fire conundrum. We have to reduce the fuel load.Wildfires, started naturally or intentionally, are tricky to predict and control. Each plant provides a unique type of fuel, local variations in wind speed and humidity influence fire spread, and terrain provides few natural boundaries to limit flames.Wind tunnel demonstration at The Missoula Fire Sciences Lab. Image Fire LabThe Missoula fire lab is uniquely equipped to study how those factors combine to change the way flames spread. The most unique part of the lab is a long wind tunnel and a system that alters the temperature and relative humidity of the air in the tunnel. Fans on the labs roof draw outside air through heating and cooling coils to adjust its temperature. The air also passes through misters to adjust the humidity. Interior fans recirculate the air until it reaches the desired conditions, and then direct it into the wind tunnel. A bed of fuel, typically shredded aspen, rests on a table tilted to recreate sloped terrain. Temperature, humidity, and wind speed sensors record the conditions of the fuel as it burns in real time.The lab also has an 80-foot tall burn chamber where engineers explore unusual fire phenomena. A fire whirl spins inside a tall metal cylinder, demonstrating the same physics as a fire tornado during Californias Carr Fire that killed one firefighter. Air entering the cylinder creates a source of vorticity that combines with heat rising from the flames to create a whirling tower of fire. A table covered with sand recreates how fire spreads along the ground. And a tilted table lined with laser-cut cardboard pillars is a test bed for engineers working to develop a uniform fuel for their experiments.Phenomena observed in the combustion labs also happens when engineers study experimental burns in forests. When wildfire burned a portion of Banff National Park in Canada, the fire management team allowed Butler and his colleagues to do some experimental burning on an isolated portion of the fire. The team mounted a video camera on a slope to capture footage of the advancing flames. As the flames moved uphill, the terra in blocked air flow to the leading edge of the fire, creating an area of low pressure ahead of the flames. Meanwhile, convective heat from the flames pyrolyzed hydrocarbons in unburnt logs. The pressure difference sucked the cloud of gaseous hydrocarbons into the flames, and the flammable gas ignited. As the flames engulfed the logs, the cloud of smoke switched direction to move with the flames.Flames naturally travel quickly up sloped terrain, and a change in wind direction can also speed their advance. In the 1994 South Canyon fire in Colorado, a change in wind direction trapped firefighters ahead of oncoming flames, killing 14. The analysis of that event was the impetus for developing a computer model for high entschlieung wind information, Butler says.The model, called Wind Ninja, takes regional wind speed data from the National Weather Service and predicts wind speed and direction over 100-m areas. This localized wind information overlaid on a topographical map provides importa nt clues about how wind and terrain could influence fire spread.Butler has updated this model to incorporate more physics than the original version first developed in the 1960s. But he has found that the older model works better in the field. It runs on a laptop and delivers results quickly, enabling managers to make rapid decisions on where to send their crews each day.Butler has also used the labs models to anticipate fire spread when a fire broke out in West Glacier National Park, near a stand of old-growth red cedar. He ran simulations with various wind conditions. Fire managers trusted that they did not need to devote resources to protecting it. By the time the flames were extinguished, the cedar stand had not burned, Butler says. The same strategy of simulating wind conditions can be used to find optimal conditions for a controlled burn, he adds.Melissae Fellet is an independent writer.Read More Introducing the Worlds Most Powerful Tidal Turbine Racism Runs Deep, Even Against Robots AI Camera Improves Sight in Autonomous Vehicles

Finance Internship Cover Letter Example

Finance Internship titelbild Letter ExampleFinance Internship Cover Letter ExampleIf you are an undergraduate applying for an internship in the finance industry, youll likely need to write a titelseite letter. Find out what information to include in your letter and review a sample. What to Include in a Finance Internship Cover Letter The first paragraph of your letter should mention the specific internship you hope to get. Many financial companies have large-scale internship programs, with opportunities ranging across departments and divisions. Specifics help as well, so mention the name of your school if you are an undergrad or in graduate school. If you have a personal connection- for instance, if you know someone at the company or met the recruiter at a job fair- be sure to mention it in the first paragraph. In the body of your email, include details on relevant coursework or projects, as well as previous finance-related work experience, volunteer positions, or prior internshi ps. Your letter should demonstrate your familiarity with the company and its goals, and make it clear why you would be a good candidate for the internship. Read through the internship description carefully and make sure to connect your experience with the responsibilities and qualifications laid out. If this is your first internship, you may feel like you dont have any relevant experience to highlight. If thats the case, look for the qualities and responsibilities mentioned in the internship description, and come up with examples of how youve demonstrated those abilities in the past. Be sure to format your cover letter properly and, before sending your cover letter, proofread it carefully. Paying attention to these details can make a big difference in how your message is received. Finance Internship Cover Letter Example The following is an example of a cover letter written for a finance internship program. Use this for inspiration when writing your own cover letter. Finance Inte rnship Cover Letter Example (Text Version) Your NameAddressCity, State Zip CodePhone NumberCell Phone NumberemailleDateNameTitleCompanyAddressCity, State Zip CodeDear Mr./Ms. LastNameThrough ABC Financial Groups website, I learned about your banks present career opportunities.I am extremely interested in securing a position in the ABC Financial Groups Global Equity Summer Internship Program.I am currently in my second year at the Smith Business School of the State University and am concentrating in finance, accounting, and real estate. Over the summer I completed an internship with First National Bank, and am currently interning with the Universitys Student Federal Credit Union.My experiences have provided me with a detailed knowledge of financial institutions and have enhanced my interest in pursuing a financial career. I feel that an internship with ABC Financial Group would be a logical next step in my development as an investment banker.My main interest in joining ABC Financial Group stems from its impressive reputation. The prestige of the firm is best captured through its recent decoration as Americas Most Trusted Corporation for the second consecutive year. I feel the firms diverse clientele, large market capitalization, and well-established summer internship program would provide me with an invaluable experience to complement my studies at Business School.I believe that I would succeed in the firms exciting and motivated environment and that my strong work ethic, ability, and passion would make me a valuable asset to your firm.I would prefer to work in global equity. However, I am willing to consider any position that you offer me. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you in the near future.Sincerely,Your Signature(Hard Copy Letter)Your Typed Name Expand Sending an Email Cover Letter If you are sending your cover letter via email, list your name and the job title in the subject line of the email message SubjectFinanc e Internship- Your Name Include your contact information in your email signature, and do not list the employer contact information or the date. Instead, begin your email message with the salutation. Aside from these relatively minor differences, an email cover letter is very similar to a printed-out version. The body of your email, from salutation to sign-off, will remain the same.

These 5 Résumé Mistakes Are Hurting Your Job Search

These 5 Rsum Mistakes Are Hurting Your Job SearchThese 5 Rsum Mistakes Are Hurting Your Job SearchAs a former hiring manager who now helps clients with their own hiring, I look at a lot ofrsums. Day after day, I see job candidates severely harming their own chances by submittingrsumsthat do a terrible job ofhighlightingtheir qualifications and making it easy for employers to spot why they might be the right person for the job. Frustratingly, fruchtwein people are making the same small number of easily fixable mistakes. I cant write back to these candidates to tell them to clean up theirrsumsif they want a better shot at a jobbut I can tell you These arethe five fruchtwein frequent mistakes I see and what you should be doing instead1. Writing arsumthat reads like a series of job descriptions.This is by far the most common mistake job applicants make. In the bullet points candidates use to describe what they did at each job, they only list activities, such as edit documents, collect d ata or manage website.As a result, these bullets read like a job descriptions.While this method describes your jobs, it doesnt convey what kind of employee you were, which is what employers care most about. After all, someone could engage in those activities and do a mediocre job, so yourrsumshould convey that you excelled. That means you should be talking about yourachievements what you accomplished, what the outcomes of your work were and what made you shine in the role. Its the difference between managed billing and completely revamped client billing system to ensure bills are now sent out on schedule or resolved an inherited four-month backlog of invoices in three weeks.2. Leading with your education, even though its been years since you graduated from college. Once you have some work experience, employers care most about what your work history has been and what youve accomplished. Your education is a distant second, so lead with your work history and save your education for the end. In fact, even if youre a new grad, if you have relevant work experience, you should lead with that. (Some fields are an exception to this, but if youre in one of them, you probably know it.) 3. Giving a long list of core competencies. Its fine to have a section that lists your skills, but too often people throw everything they can think of into this section, resulting in laughably long lists of skills that most hiring managers end up ignoring. If you choose to list skills on yourrsum, they should be hard skills that are truly distinguishing, like software programsnot subjective self-assessments, such as strong communication skillsor works well in groups and independently.Instead of listing your skills, demonstrate how youve used them, via the bullet points describing what youve done at each job. That way, you can frame it in terms of what you accomplished with the skill, instead of just noting the skill itself. Also, if you do decide to retain this section, please call it some thing other than core competencies, which is jargon that tends to makes hiring managers eyes glaze over. Calling the section skills is fine.4. Including so much info before your work experience that it doesnt start until the bottom of the page. Sometimes job seekers load theirrsums with so much extra information that their work history doesntstart until the bottom of the page or, worse, a second page. The thing that employers care most about when reviewing yourrsumis your work experience. You want it to be the first thing they see, so dont bury it deep intothe document.5. Mentioning every job youve ever had, no matter how long ago or irrelevant to what you do now. Arsumisnt supposed to be a comprehensive accounting of every job youve ever had. Rather, its a marketingdocument that you should edit to present yourself in the strongest possible light. That means that you may not need to include every job youve ever had or jobs from two decades ago. Focus on more recent work (the last 10 to 15 years) and the work that most closely relates to the job youre applying for.Alison Greenwrites the popularAsk a Manager blog, where she dispenses advice on career, job search and management issues. Shes the author of How to Get a Job Secrets of a Hiring Manager, co-author of Managing to Change the World The Nonprofit Managers Guide to Getting Results and the former chief of staff of a successful nonprofit organization, where she oversaw day-to-day staff management.

The War Against Soft Skills to Put on Resume

The War Against Soft Skills to Put on Resume Mainly because soft skills cant be easily taught. While hard skills necessary to successfully perform technical tasks in a job, they are necessary to create a positive and functional work environment. In the majority of instances, your soft skills can boost your hard skills. As stated earlier, assessing soft skills is quite a bit more difficult. Soft abilities, on the flip side, arent simple to quantify. They are not that measurable. They are the skills that apply to every job. If you are in possession of a wide selection of technical abilities, however, your abilities might wind up being precisely what gets you hired. Assess how good youre at every one of your abilities and talents. Interpersonal communication abilities. Soft skills are vital to your career and because you search for jobs. On the flip side, soft abilities, also called interpersonal or social abilities, are those that you have as personal qualities or you get thr ough professional experiences. Hard skills are quantifiable and frequently learned from school or at work. 3 First, you must plektrum the best skills for your resume. Get the Scoop on Soft Skills to Put on Resume Before Youre Too Late Sales and Marketing Youll require a number of skills to be prosperous in a sales role, and youll have to be in a fleck to demonstrative those skills to prospective employers. Listing your skills provides a chance to showcase your abilities and experiences to prime employers for the remainder of your resume. If your aim is to be the top applicant for any specific position, you should touch upon both of these regions in your resume. In reality, there are dozens and dozens of skills you may have. If you wish to showcase your organization skills, acquiring a tightly structured resume certainly helps. You should notice recurring themes and perhaps even direct mention of several skills that must be prosperous. The placement of your skills section is also a rather important matter to take into account. If youre asking for a position that demands an extremely particular set of skills like a technical or engineering job, then the employer will probably want to realize that youve got the correct hard skills first. The skill section may be the most important section on your resume if you place it together correctly. The skills section of your resume must encompass all your finest qualities and attributes in a brief summary. Resume writing can be a challenging job, and it can be hard to understand what things to include and what to leave out. In the summary, you wish to include as several of the skills from the work ad as possible and those you will reference throughout the remaining part of the document. Hard skills to put on a resume are things you could do that are especially associated with the job in question or the industry youre going to be working in. Soft skills are a little more vague and open to interpretation. Y our skills are an overview of what you could do for the possible employer if you were offered the work at the moment. They should be complete now, and youll need to determine the format you want to use to include them on your resume. Review their About Us page and see whether your soft abilities or attributes are aligned with the businesss core values.

3 Ways to Rediscover Your Passion for Sales

3 Ways to Rediscover Your Passion for Sales A schlussverkaufperson who has lost their passion is like a writer who has lost their pen. In both cases, someone lacks the tool they need most, making ithad to stay motivated and accomplish goals.Passion matters in sales. Passionate sales people believe in their products and strive to help customers reach their goals. Unfortunately, many aspects of a sales career can quickly turn passion into turmoil. Your workplace environment, management team, changing personal priorities, and even a new job search can easily drain you dry.The loss of passion doesnt just impact you inwardly. It creeps into your ability to move product and effectivelyadvance in your career.When a once-motivated sales pro feels stagnant, the workday and the job search can become painstakingly difficult.Dont worry. Your passion for sales isnt necessarily gone for good. When your passion tank starts to dip toward empty, use these tips to fi ll it back up 1. Ignite Your Entrepreneurial SpiritEntrepreneurs are arguably mora connected to their work than anyone else. Theyre self-motivated, enthusiastic, and directly connected to their customers.As a sales pro, youre already a bit of an entrepreneur. Youdirect your own schedule, work withyour customers, and are motivated by tangible, immediate outcomes.During a stressful period, such as a job search, its easy to lose that entrepreneurial spark. Give yourself the power of an entrepreneur by adopting a new perspective on each challenge you face. Find creative ways to solve issues, and get your employer on board with practical solutions.If being in the office is dragging you down, ask for a few days to work from home or go on the road. Alternatively, you can re-inspire yourself by taking some long-overdue personal time and jetting off on an exciting vacation.No matter what you choose to do to reenergize, find something that maximizes your productivity and, above all, reminds y ou why you started a career in sales in the first place. 2.Find the Right AppThe sales industry can feel lonely, especially when youre on the hund for a new job. The competitive nature of the field, combined with the complexities of noncompete clauses, can make it a challenge to rely on friends for support or references. You may even need to keep your most trusted mentors in the dark as you try to find a new job without rocking the boat.Take advantage of the technological world were living in and turn to an app instead. No matter what youre up against,theres an app for that. Some of our favorites includeForestAvailable on iOS and Android, the Forest app usesinspiring visuals to keep you focused. You can plant a virtual seed and watch your tree grow.If you get sidetracked and exit the app, your tree will whither away.If you want to keep your tree growing, youll need to put your phone down and work on something else instead like that job search.Wonderful DayAlso available on both iOS and Android, Wonderful Day is all about helping you create the best habits for your life. Simply make a list of all the habits you want to keep and dont allow yourself to break the virtual chain.Gratitude Negativity is infectious, and stress only makes it worse. Luckily, positivity and gratitude are just as spreadable. Gratitude, available foriOS,helps you rewire your brainin only five minutes each day by listing everything for which youre grateful. 3. Prioritize Your ValuesIf youre like our MedReps members, work/life balance and a strong product line are non-negotiable when it comes tofinding the right employer, as our 2018 Best Places to Work reportfound.If these things arent as important to you,thatsokay. The key is to get your own priorities straight, whatever they may be. Itll be impossible to rediscover your sales passion unless you know what youre looking for in your career.Develop a chart to list your product passions, non-negotiables for employers, needs in your current jo b, and personal needs. By adjusting your daily to-do listso that it better aligns with your chart, youll become more motivated to reach out to current customers and find direction in your job search.Karyn Mullins is presidentofMedReps.com.Connect with Karyn onFacebook,Twitter, andLinkedIn.

How to Write a Letter Asking For a Raise

How to Write a Letter Asking For a RaiseHow to Write a Letter Asking For a RaiseAsking your employer for more money isnt easy, even when you know you deserve it. If you knocked it out of the park over the past year, took on more responsibilities or received a stellar wertmiger zuwachs review, its smart to talk to your manager about a pay increase. After all, there are relatively few employers who will throw money at you without being asked.As a specialized staffing agency, we can help you find a new job. But if what you want is more money at the job you have - and youre leid sure how to start the conversation - your best bet may be to articulate your request in a letter asking for a raise.We will show you some samples of what you could write in an email or handwritten letter and offer several tips to help you develop confidence about the message you want to send.Do your salary researchFirst of all, you need to know what your skills and experience are worth. The Salary Guides break down starting pay ranges for more than 450 positions across numerous professional fields. Completing your own comprehensive research will help you understand what a competitive wage is for someone in your position and geographic location.You need to know what your market worth is in order to have the greatest negotiating power. Researching the numbers will also demonstrate to your anfhrer that your salary request is backed by real data versus your own subjective opinion.USE OUR SALARY CALCULATORPick the right timeDoes your company have a policy of granting pay raises only during performance review periods? Check your employee handbook for guidelines. One of the first steps in knowing how to ask for a raise is identifying the best time in your companys cycle to have the discussion. In some cases, it wont matter. But in others, it can be crucial.As part of your research, see if your company has had recent layoffs or a hiring freeze. If you bring up your pay when your company has just posted a loss for the fiscal year, your appeal is likely to go nowhere fast, regardless of how amazing you are.Make the requestWhen youve researched your salary range and landed on the perfect time, make the ask. Write to your manager and explain that youd like to connect to review your compensation. Outline your impact clearly and concisely. Prepare compelling bullet points that convey exactly how youve excelled in your current role.Do not mention what your coworkers make or any personal reasons you might have for needing more money.Next you can take one of two approaches. You can either ask to meet with your manager in person to discuss the salary you are seeking, or you can provide some initial insight in your letter. You should use your judgment regarding which route is best to take, based on previous interactions with your manager.If this is the first time your boss hears you want more money, it may be best to set the stage for an in-person meeting or phone call. You might cons ider a sentence or two in an email, such as this Could we have a short discussion to review my salary or devote a few minutes to that topic during our next one-on-one meeting?If you have a performance review coming up, its a good idea to ask ahead of time Would it be OK if we discussed my compensation during my performance review?And if you have already expressed the desire for an increase, you should go ahead and share it either as a percentage or as a dollar amount. Your email might include a line like this Weve discussed my wish for additional pay, and after some research, Id like to request a salary increase of X percent.Back it upIn a longer letter asking for a raise, provide context to explain how you landed on the salary figure you are providing. Numbers are convincing, so use them in the descriptions of your accomplishments money saved, revenue earned, deadlines met, services improved, responsibilities taken on.Just as you did in your salary negotiations when you interviewed for the job, your request should reflect the value you bring to the role, goals youve met or exceeded, results you have delivered, and industry averages based on your job skills and years of experience. Its easier to put nerves aside when you feel ready to answer hard questions about why you deserve an increase.Finish with a call to actionClose with a polite but action-oriented next step. This could be writing that you look forward to feedback or an in-person meeting. Remember to thank your manager for supporting you in your role and for considering your request.After you hit send, be patient. Your manager may need to talk to a higher-up or HR before getting back to you. Those conversations and the resulting negotiations can take time.Remember to make sure to thank your boss for allowing you to express yourself - even if you dont get the response you were looking for. Get clarity on what would be required for a future discussion, and set a time to check in again. Negotiating is a process. Putting your request in writing is likely just the first step, but if you make the ask, it can pay dividends.Sample template of a letter asking for a raiseDear (Name),As my X-year anniversary gets close, I would like to formally request a review of my salary for my work as a (job title). During my time at (name of company), I have taken on additional responsibilities and have achieved success in several areas. Ive made a list of some of my accomplishments and responsibilities, which include the following Taking the lead on Meeting goals in Improving efficiencies that led to a savings of $X for the company ... Achieving success in Adding to my (skill level or education as it relates to the job) Aside from my X skills in this role, I have also demonstrated excellent X abilities and proficiency with X. The staff can count on me for X.I enjoy my work here and appreciate the support you and the team have shown me. Given the added value I have brought the company, I think it i s fair to request a bump in pay. Based on the research in the Salary Guide, Ive found that the midpoint salary for this position is $X for my experience level. Considering rtlich variances, an X percent raise would put my compensation closer to those salary benchmarks.Thank you for your consideration. I am willing to work with you to accommodate my request, taking into account what is best for the company. Please let me know if you are available for a short meeting.Sincerely,Name

Exempt Employee - A Look at the FLSA

Exempt Employee - A Look at the FLSAExempt Employee - A Look at the FLSAAn exempt employee is not subject to the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the U.S. Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as opposed to a non-exempt employee, who is protected by the provisions of that federal law. The FLSA mandates that employers must pay most workers the Federal or state minimum wage (whichever is higher). They must also compensate them at a rate of at least one and a half times their regular hourly wages for any time worked above 40 hours per week. How to Tell If You Are an Exempt Employee Do you find yourself working more than 40 hours a week without seeing extra money in your paycheck? Are you earning less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or your states minimum wage if it is higher? Your employer may have classified you as an exempt employee. According to the Wage and Hours teilen of theU.S. Department of Labor, only bona fide genuine executive, administrative, profe ssional, computer, and outside sales employees who meet certain requirements are exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA. Its that bona fide that stumps some people, including maybe your employer. They incorrectly believe that job title alone determines whether a worker is exempt or non-exempt, but earnings and job duties must also come into play. Executive, administrative, professional, computer, or outside sales workers are usually exempt from the FLSA, but only if their salaries and job duties meet particular specifications. If your job title is one of the ones listed above, look at your most recent paycheck. Is your weekly salary at least $455? If it is, do you meet the other criteria for each title Executive Employee Your job title may be manager, but if your duties dont meet all the FLSAs requirements for an executive employee, you may be entitled to overtime pay and the minimum wage. Ask yourself the following questions Does your job mostly consis t of managing the company or a department?Do you supervise at least two full-time employees?Can you hire or fire workers, or, at least, contribute to the decision to do so? If you have answered no to just one of these questions, your employer must pay you the minimum wage and overtime. Administrative Employee Respond to these two questions to find out if the FLSA would classify you as an administrative employee Do you primarily perform office work that directly relates to the business operations of your employer or its customers?Do you use judgment when making decisions about important matters? If you dont do either of these things, it is time to talk to your boss about your rights as a non-exempt employee. Professional Employee There are two types of professional employees learned and creative. Your job must punkt into one of these three categories if your boss considers you a learned professional who is exempt from the FLSA Your work must be intellectual in nature.It must be in a field of science or learning.Your training must have taken place through specialized study in law, accounting, engineering, or another field typically considered to be a profession. As a creative professional who is ineligible for overtime pay and the minimum wage, your work must involve invention, originality, or talent in a recognized creative or artistic field such as writing, music, performing arts, or graphic arts. Computer Employees Are you acomputer systems analyst, computer programmer,orcomputer software engineer,or do you work in another computer science occupation that requires similarskills? Those who do arent usually subject to minimum wage or overtime pay laws, but to be sure, answer the following questions Do you apply systems analysis techniques and procedures?Do you consult with computer users to determine specifications?Do you design, develop, analyze, create, test, and modify computer systems and programs? If your answers to at least two questions are yes, you are probably an exempt employee. Outside Sales Employee Somesales representativesare entitled to earn at least the minimum wage and overtime pay, but others are not. If the following statements are both true, you wont be seeing anything additional in your paycheck whether you work 40 hours a week or 80. You sell goods or services for which clients or customers pay.You mostly work outside your employers primary place of business. Are There Exceptions to the Rules? Even if you meet some of the criteria that make you a non-exempt employee, dont march into your bosss office to demand extra money yet. Theres one more thing that may identify you as an exempt employee and cut short your dreams of a bigger paycheck. Highly compensated employees arent covered by the overtime provisions of the FLSA. If your salary is at least $100,000 annually and your job involves performing office duties and non-manual work the FLSA considers you an exempt employee. The only way to earn a higher salary is t o ask for a raise. Some Workers Are Never Exempt Blue collar workers and first responders are never exempt from the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the FLSA. Blue collar workers use their hands, physical skills, and energy to do their jobs. They include construction workers, electricians, carpenters, and reinforcing iron and rebar workers. First responders are police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. Source Fact Sheet 17A Exemption for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Computer Outside Sales Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Disclaimer Please note that the information contained on this page as well as elsewhere on this website is for guidance, ideas, and assistance only. Dawn Rosenberg McKay makes every effort to offer accurate advice and information on this site, but she is not an attorney. Therefore, the content published here is not to be construed as legal advice. Employment laws and regulations vary by location so check government res ources or legal counsel when in doubt about your particular situation.

Customize this Impressive Branch Manager Resume Sample

Customize this Impressive Branch Manager Resume SampleCustomize this Impressive Branch Manager Resume SampleHelp your own job search by having a first-class resume. If you are unkoranvers exactly what this document needs to look like, you should first examine the branch manager resume sample. It can be extremely helpful to look at other resumes before starting on your own. Doing so can also give you ideas for what skills are good to mention and how to format everything. One good tip is to create a personal resume first. Once the first draft is complete, you can compare it to the sample. You may discover certain things need to change, and you want to make these corrections before you start submitting to hiring managers. For extra help, consider using our resume builder.Create Resume Riley King100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234emailexample.comProfessional SummaryDedicated Bank Branch Manager with the organizational and leadership skills to efficiently and suc cessfully oversee bank operations. Proficient at managing and monitoring workflow processes, coordinating interdepartmentally to facilitate cohesive action, setting targets and making forecasts. Specializes at managing and organizing staff.Core Qualifications Operational procedure supervision Workflow enhancement Task delegation Logistics and coordination Staff management Budgeting and scheduling Revenue and expenditure reports Goal oriented CreativeExperienceBank Branch Manager, April 2009 to PresentAeros Banking New Cityland, CA Organized bank staff and delegated tasks, monitored workflow and operational efficiency Coordinated interdepartmentally to develop and implement financial plans Produced annual reports for bank administrators concerning long term goals and financial positionBank Branch Manager, November 2004 to March 2009Cityland Financial New Cityland, CA Coordinated tasks interdepartmentally to ensure cohesive communication and teamwork Produced budget forecasts, expen diture and revenue reports, and developed goals and long term financial plans Analyzed operational workflow and enhanced efficiency when necessaryBank Branch Manager, February 2000 to October 2004Harthouse Financial New Cityland, CA Monitored and managed the status and efficiency of operational procedures, identified areas for improvement and developed plans to enhance efficiency Developed and monitored the status of internal controls and risk management Produced annual budget and revenue reports for administrationEducation2000 Bachelor of Science, AccountingUniversity of Michigan Ann Arbor, MichiganCustomize ResumeWhy Is This a Good Branch Manager Resume Sample?Most hiring managers who read the branch manager resume sample here would be very likely to call in the candidate for an interview. There are a few reasons for this, and it all begins with the professional summary. All resumes need to have a brief paragraph about what makes the applicant unique. With phrases like leadershi p skills and specializes at managing and organizing staff, the resume writer is making it clear he has experience with leading teams and would make a valuable asset as a branch manager. The Skills section is easy to skim through. Each individual skill has its own line, and each is only a few words long, which is all you need. There is no need to get into specific information about times you applied the skills. That material can come later in the Work Experience section. The longest part of a resume is going to be the Work History section. In this area, you want to begin every point by mentioning the position you held, the name of the company you worked for, the dates you worked, and the location of the company. Once you state all that, write bullet points about all your most impressive accomplishments and duties at each place of work. It is beneficial to stick with two or three of your most recent jobs so you do not get into positions that are no longer relevant to where you are cur rently in your career. Lastly, there is the Education section. The branch manager resume sample shows all the information you truly need for this part. At the bare minimum, you only need to have the title of your degree, the major, the name of the school, and the year you graduated. However, in some cases, it is acceptable to leave off the date.Why You Need a Strong Branch Manager ResumeMany college students pursue degrees in finance. With growth projected to be at seven percent until 2024, chances for many great careers in the future are high. Although the number of branch manager jobs will grow, expect plenty of applicants for each job. You can expect dozens of applicants, if not more, applying to open branch manager jobs when one opens up. This is a lot for hiring managers to read through, which is why many only spend a few seconds perusing a resume before deciding to read it in more detail. The branch manager resume sample here would most likely warrant an interview, so use it a s a guide to have an edge over the competition.Costly Branch Manager Resume Mistakes to AvoidThere is plenty of information to include on a resume. One section you do not want to forget is your contact information. Directly above the Professional Summary should be your name, phone number, and email address so a hiring manager can get in touch with you. Do not make the mistake of forgetting it like so many other applicants do. Another mistake to avoid is having skills not relevant to the industry you want to be in. For example, if you are a great guitar player, that is nice, but it is not going to help you as a branch manager. Read the list for the branch manager resume sample, and you will find that all the skills point toward a career in finance. Skills such as staff management and task delegation are useful for financial managers, and you could elaborate on them further in an interview.ConclusionIt takes some time to write a resume you are confident in. You should start working on it now before you begin your job search in earnest. By following some of the pointers provided in the branch manager resume sample here, your document has a better shot of catching a hiring managers eyes.Branch Manager Resume Questions1. Whats the best resume schablone to use for a branch manager resume?Since a branch manager is a more senior position, individuals applying for the position should utilize a professional resume format. This is a template showcased perfectly in the branch manager resume sample where experiences receive emphasis above all else. The benefit of this is it demonstrates your commitment to the industry, and it serves as a testament to the knowledge you have accrued with real-world experiences. Education would go at the bottom of this resume because it will not be as important.2. How do you list references on a branch manager resume?As a general rule, you should never put a list of references directly on your resume. You will notice that no such references e xist on the branch manager resume sample. A hiring manager may ask for them, especially since a branch manager needs to showcase a higher degree of professionalism and expertise. Additionally, you should wait to provide references until asked. The employer may not ask for them until after the face-to-face interview.3. How do you list education on a branch manager resume?For the education section, list your more advanced degree first. You will notice on the branch manager resume sample that there is only a bachelors degree, and the applicant leaves the high school diploma off entirely. Unless you graduated within the last year, leave off the date of your graduation. In the event you are still in school, then mention your expected graduation date. Instead of listing a GPA, such as 3.5, you would want to include academic honors, such as summa cum laude.4. What should you do to make sure your branch manager resume makes it past an ATS?Applicant Tracking Systems have become more common d uring the application process. Instead of reading every single resume that comes in, a hiring manager may instead send the documents through an ATS that will scan through each paper to look for keywords and phrases. A simple thing you can do to optimize your resume in these cases is to spell everything correctly. You will notice no typos on the branch manager resume sample. Another easy thing to do is to keep your document easy on the eyes. You do not want to use weird fonts or borders that could throw off the system.5. How can you separate your branch manager resume from other candidates resumes?You can utilize our resume builder to create your application effortlessly. It will immediately give it an air of professionalism to separate your document from the crowd. Take a cue from our branch manager resume sample by avoiding common mistakes that many other applicants tend to make. For starters, you should make the details accomplishments-driven rather than duties-driven. You also wa nt to use keywords. Small and big businesses alike scan for keywords, so look at the job description to obtain these words.