How Much Would a Competitor Need to Offer to Entice Your Employees Away

How Much Would a Competitor Need to Offer to Entice Your Employees Away Nearly 10,000 respondents were asked to name their ‘price’ to move to a new organization. Almost half said that an increase of up to £5k would be needed to tempt them. In fact, £5k exactly was the most popular option, with 15% choosing this. However, it is just as interesting to note that 6% of respondents said that they would leave for less money, implying there were many other happiness factors they felt were lacking in their current organisation. It was also positive to see that 16% of those asked said that there wasn’t a salary figure which could lure them away, they were happy where they were. Which shows there are many organisations in the East of England which are successfully creating inspiring, innovative and engaging places to work, something we at Pure are passionate about helping them to achieve. To try and prevent high-caliber employees from deciding to leave, organizations should ensure that their salaries remain attractive, especially if inflation continues to create a squeeze on pay. Employers can also use our Compare my Salary tool to see how competitive their salaries are and it doesn’t necessarily mean your salary has to be the highest offered in the industry, there are many other factors, such as geographical location, which need to be considered. In today’s market, employees may also feel more confident to negotiate their pay, yet overall people are still reluctant to move on a salary alone. A happy and fulfilling place to work relies on much more than just how much people are paid. People-focused employers are striving to create the highest standards in excellent employee conditions and getting creative in terms of motivating and inspiring their teams to retain the talent they need to grow their business. There are many other factors which can be considered, including: Flexibility and work-life balance Research by Investors in People (IIP) revealed that just under one-third (31%) of employees would rather have a more flexible working environment, such as the opportunity to work remotely, than a 3% pay rise. A lack of work-life balance is one of the biggest factors for people choosing to leave a job. Reviewing your practices around flexible working and looking for opportunities to support employees in striking the delicate balance between work and home life can have a big impact on staff retention. Career progression Don’t risk losing your best employees by neglecting their professional development needs. Let employees have a say in what they would like to achieve by encouraging a two-way dialogue to openly discuss aspirations and further training required. Development plans don’t have to involve additional costs, training could be provided by more experienced colleagues. Where promotions are not possible straight away, look for sideways moves which provide more variety and new experiences. Benefits We are continuing to see an upward trend in organizations choosing to review the benefits they offer to improve talent recruitment and retention. This is echoed by a recent Employee Benefits poll which revealed that over a third (38%) of respondents are planning on introducing new benefits for all employees in 2018. One way in which employers can monitor whether their benefits package still stands out from the crowd is by asking employees for regular feedback within a staff survey. Reward and recognition A 2017 survey by Reward Gateway found that 59% of employees surveyed would rather work for a business where they received recognition, over a higher salary job. Try to find ways to regularly remind employees that they are valued and play a key role in the business. Instead of focussing on rewarding staff on an annual basis during performance reviews, look for innovative ways to recognize and reward employees throughout the year. An inspiring workspace Arriving at a welcoming and inspiring environment every day will have a positive impact on employee engagement levels. Our physical working environment also affects our ability to work, so spending time and effort on creating a great office space, where people want to be, is a worthwhile investment for productivity. Look for opportunities to create areas where people can break away from their desks to think, problem solve and come up with new ideas, as well as spaces for relaxation and fun. Overall company culture The overall culture of the place in which employees spend their time will naturally influence how they feel about coming to work every day. While there are many different elements to developing a successful workplace culture, organizations which have achieved this are all ones where employees feel a real sense of belonging. They understand what the organization is trying to achieve, are inspired by its mission and values and recognize how their role plays a part in achieving overall success. Leadership teams keep employees informed about what is happening and adopt a collaborative approach to fuel discussion and engage teams in a collective vision.

Beware of Leo Babautas minimalist lifestyle

Beware of Leo Babautas minimalist lifestyle I was talking with Leo Babauta a few weeks ago. The topic of the conversation was his new book, focus. But of course I am not good at focus. So here is a picture of a book I just bought that is not Leos book, but I really like it: The Selby is in Your Place. Its full of photos of people who turned their apartments into art. Totally eccentric, often over-furnished, but always totally interesting. I would not have bought the book if it didnt match my house so well. More on that later. I told Leo I thought it was BS that he is Mr. Minimalism and he moved to San Francisco. I told him that the biggest cultural shift for me from New York City to the farm is the surprise shift to extreme minimalism. So I am sure that his move to San Francisco means he is tossing in the minimalism towel. Leo has great resources on his blog about leading a minimalist lifestyle. But I think minimalism is lifestyle porn. Its something that people think would be nice to dream about for their lives, but in fact, there is the dirty flip side to minimalism: Its scary boring, which, I think, is why Leo moved his family to San Franciscoto expand whats available to his kids. I have thought often about the slippery slope from minimalism to boring even though I dont write about my own minimalism issues that much. First of all, my own minimalism is totally accidental, so I didnt even know I was a minimalist until recently. Second, I think a minimalist life is a product of many small decisions rather than a single big one. (For example, losing all my possessions to bed bugs.) Plus, I discredit all straight men who do not have a wife or kids and claim to be minimalists. They are not minimalists, they are just bachelors, programmed over thousands of years to use sex to accumulate possessions rather than shopping. And anyone who is doing minimalist experimentslike not buying anything for a year, stuff like thatisnt really a minimalist. Its like doing a dog trick. People clap, and then you go back to stealing from plates on the dinner table. Sustainable minimalism requires a few things: 1. A job that does not require a lot of face-to-face contact. (For face-to-face contact you need transportation, clothes, and stuff that makes you fit easily in the flow of a business work day.) 2. Kids who are not exposed to a lot of advertising. My kids almost never ask to buy anything because they never see anything to buy. These same kids, living in NYC, asked for something in every window we walked by. 3. A social circle of people who are minimalists. There is no point in getting rid of everything if you must also get rid of your friends. So if not having stuff interferes with relationships, I dont see the point. Finally, before I tell you about my own minimalism, let me say that its not that fun to talk about because people get defensive. Like, if I tell people I have never had a TV, they need to tell me about their own TV habits or lack thereof. But I dont care. I dont have a TV because I never had one as a kid. I just dont understand the TV thing. Its not a high-and-mighty cultural decision. You have never met a minimalist like the farmer, before he met me. He didnt have a phone, or Internet, or a car. He seldom left the farm, and he hadnt bought clothes for himself in maybe a decade. The result was extreme loneliness, and over-dependence on his parents, which were the only people who could make their way into such a closed-off life. A lot of what we buy is stuff to facilitate connections. Like gifts, wine glasses, replacing a doorbell. So, heres what I do not have: Anything that is not functionalno tsotchkes in the house, besides books. Loose toys. Any toy on the floor I throw out. The kids are constantly asking me if I threw out something they are looking for. This will scar them for life. I sometimes even throw out their books. Or mine, if they are a too ugly. I am starting to think of books as objects to look at. I mean, Ive already read them, and its easy to read them on a Kindle or, if you want to hold them, use the library. So the books have to be nice to look at in my house. I think we can no longer say books are functional, so I want them to be beautiful or fun and now I see them as an extravagance. But its not coincidence that the extravagance I allow myself is connected with exposure to new ideas. On the farm its easy to own very little. I dont miss it because we are on our ownno keeping up with the Jones. We have no blender, no microwave, no toaster oven. Our fridge is very small, and we have no kitchen cabinets because I didnt want to fill them. We each wear the same four or five outfits over and over again. If we havent worn something in a year, I throw it out. If we bring something besides food into the house, we have to throw something out. Youd be surprised how little you miss. When I lived in NYC I felt a constant pressure to buy stuff. Keeping kids clothed like other kids, having birthday parties like other kids (great birthday party link here â€"thanks, Natt), having adult clothing like other adults. The reason you can spot a tourist in ten seconds in NYC is because people who dont live in NYC dont spend nearly the time and money that New Yorkers do on their appearance. Life on the farm is slow. Very slow. No one here has an iPad. People dont know who Jon Stewart is, they dont know the difference between The New Yorker and New York magazine. The opportunities are very limited. I have to be very careful to make sure my kids understand the world beyond the farm. So Im not saying Leos move from Guam to San Francisco is bad. I get the reasoning. I just think its the antithesis of minimalism. I think that Leos latest book, in the wake of his move to San Francisco, is sort of an ode to what one gives up when one seeks out diversity, interestingness, and intellectual stimulation. And I wonder, do we need a guide to minimalism, or do we need a guide to understanding where our own sweet spot is on the continuum between minimalism and interestingness?

How to Make Networking Work For You with Marcy Twete

How to Make Networking Work For You with Marcy Twete Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to interview  Marcy Twete, author of  You Know Everybody!: A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.  In it, Marcy guides readers step by step through the process needed to hear someone say the words “you know everybody” and marvel at the size and depth of your network. An experienced writer, Marcy’s background stretches from direct marketing content to web content, from magazines to newspapers, and to her own online media platform, Career Girl Network.  Networking has become a four letter word, especially for women. Here are highlights from the Marcy Twete  interview: What is your step-by-step process to strategically build your network? Before launching a bunch of emails or going to a bunch of events, take the  time to really craft your pitch. That elevator pitch is really important. Develop your pitch and figure out what your brand messaging really is. Reach out to people you know and tell them what you’re looking for. Give them your pitch and ask them to introduce you to one person who could help you. Use all ways of networking: one-on-one networking, going to networking events and be active on social media. Bring it all together and make sure your brand is specific and consistent everywhere you are networking. Secrets for Crafting Elevator Pitch Ask yourself these questions: Who are you? What do you want? What are the skills that you have that will get you want you want? What makes you different from everyone else in your field? What are some of your recommended methods of following up? Keep reaching out to the people who are already in your network. Practice random acts of networking kindness. STEP method of following up: Situation â€" In what situation did you meet the person? Think â€" You should always think of something from the time that you met. Extraordinary â€" What makes you extraordinary to them? Why should they remember you? Why should they help you? Why should they get to know you? Plan: Always make a plan for when you will see them again next. How do you recommend creating your personal marketing plan? Your personal marketing plan is something that is equally as important as your resume. Personal marketing is really your plan to get to where you want to go next. What do you wish you would have known as a professional woman just starting out in her career? A lot of people want to help you. As women, we sometimes are afraid of being a burden. We don’t want to ask for too much help but the fact really is that everyone wants to help each other. Thanks for the insights, Marcy!  

35 Good Reasons for Leaving a Job (+15 Bad Ones) - Algrim.co

35 Good Reasons for Leaving a Job (+15 Bad Ones) - Algrim.co

NRRWA and Resume Writer Associations - Job and Career Resources

NRRWA and Resume Writer Associations - Job and Career ResourcesMost people are aware that there is a National Resume Writing Assocation and Association for the Professional Resume Writer, but do you know that they are affiliated with virtually every major writing association in America? There are literally thousands of professional resume writing associations that are associated with the NRRWA. They are also on the official website of the International Society of Professional and Continuing Professional Education (ISPCE). The NRRWA is listed as an organization that works to support the needs of professional and continuing education in the field of professional resume writing.In fact, you might be surprised to learn that even when you go to the website of the National Resume Writing Assocation (NRRWA) you will see links to many of the various online programs and courses that the association is associated with. Many of these are related to resume writing in some form or another.Indeed, it is true that the association does more than just association with all of the major writing organizations. They actually use the inclusion of links to professional resume writing articles from the associations, which helps to increase the credibility of the organization.Another excellent resource that the association has been their online magazine, Resume Now, which is written by professional resume writers who have been selected by the association and trained by them. In fact, the magazine is written for resume writers, so it can be considered a 'must read' for those in the industry.The magazine also includes articles from some of the most respected professional resume writers in the business. This is a great addition to the resume writing community as these articles help to offer more information on the various methods of resume writing and other writing articles related to the field.A recently released website called ResumeSlate is an excellent source for career and job inform ation. The site offers resume writing advice and tips from real live professional resume writers who give real-life examples of how to write a great resume.It also provides training programs and publications geared towards helping a person become a more effective resume writer. As a website dedicated to professional resume writing, this is a great resource for those who are looking to add professional resume writing skills to their resume writing repertoire.Yes, there are numerous professional resume writers and resume writing associations throughout the country, but the Internet provides a great way to find great resources at a fraction of the cost. Just be sure to use your head when searching the Internet and remember to take the time to really look at the choices that are out there.

What Makes a Person Interesting

What Makes a Person Interesting Think back to a time when you met someone who was so interesting that you hung onto every word they said, and you wanted to spend more time with them to know more. Maybe it was at work, a networking event, a party, or a wedding. That’s what happened when I met Mark last week. It was just another introductory meeting, and that’s why I was so surprised. It got me thinking about others I’ve found interesting. What was it about those people that made me want to learn more, and to spend more time with them? And why does being interesting make such a difference? Why being interesting matters Being interesting is a huge advantage at work and in life. People want to spend time with you when you’re interesting, and they’re more likely to enjoy the time you spend together. That means you’re more likely to do well in an interview. Heck, you’re more likely to get an interview in the first place. And you’re likely to have a bigger, stronger network. You’ll probably have more friends too. Personally, I love interesting people because I know I’ll learn something new, gain insight into something I hadn’t thought of before and, frankly, have more fun. Most of all, being with someone interesting automatically makes you more interesting â€" not just by association, but because you collect more interesting material to pass on. What was interesting about Mark When Mark walked in, he looked like any Midwestern guy in a suit. But then he told me his story. Growing up in a tough inner city neighborhood. The culture shock of attending an Ivy League college where he rowed crew with prep school graduates. Volunteering on the Obama campaign. Becoming the youngest department head in the history of the organization. And turning down a job at Harvard to pursue his mission of helping inner city youth. But what really stood out were three things. First was the fact that Mark and his brother borrowed 25 books from the library every weekend when they were kids. I suspect that this reading habit helped Mark develop the mindset that led him to a lifetime of interesting experiences and gave him broad perspective. Second, his mission to help those like himself from less privileged circumstances, and give them better life opportunities. This carried him through the entire arc of his education and career. And he expressed it with such authenticity â€" it was obvious that this is who he is. Third, he was a great communicator â€" telling his story succinctly and powerfully, actively listening to mine, and creating a personal connection. 3 traits of interesting people When it comes to being interesting, in my experience, it boils down to the following three traits: perspective, authenticity, and connection. 1. Having a perspective beyond the usual To be interesting means having a perspective that’s different from the usual. Having something to say and contribute that adds to the conversation, whether that’s broadening or deepening it. In contrast, someone who agrees blindly or simply regurgitates what’s said is not so interesting, although you might find them reassuring. The key to having an interesting perspective is what you feed your mind. This could be the books you read, the shows you watch or the podcasts you listen to. It could also be the experiences you have, whether through travel, adversity or peak experiences. The key to having an interesting perspective is what you feed your mind. While you don’t need to experience the range of exploits of The Most Interesting Man in the World, it ‘s important to have variety and breadth. Both in terms of the areas you know about and the sources of your knowledge. In an age of technical specialization, this is more important than ever. At work, success often requires knowing a lot about a narrow slice of the world. For example, coding, electronic trading, or tax regulations. But if your specialization is all you know about, it’s hard to develop the kind of broader perspective on the world that makes you interesting. Even to the people in your own field. Having a broader perspective is at the heart of creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity â€" all 21st century skills that are essential to success in life and at work. When you travel in multiple circles, you have the chance to pass on new ideas and cross-pollinate and enhance the way others think. How are you feeding your mind so you can develop your own unique perspective? 2. Authenticity â€" showing up in a way that makes you uniquely you Another element of being interesting is showing up in a way that shows people what makes you uniquely you. Here, I’m reminded of best-selling author J.K. Rowling who leaned into what she uniquely does â€" storytelling â€" and has fascinated us all. It’s what she was meant to do. As her quote suggests, no one could make her do it, and no one could have stopped her from doing it. Writing for me is a kind of compulsion, so I don’t think anyone could have made me do it, or prevented me from doing it. â€" J.K. Rowling While fame and money are outside our control, it’s the act of showing up as your authentic self that becomes interesting and attractive to others. When you do what you uniquely do, you become unstoppable. Most of us struggle to show our whole selves, so we respect those who are brave enough to actually do it. It takes courage to let go of societal norms and lean into who we really are. But unshackled is the only state when we do our best work and fulfill our true potential. The key is not trying to replicate what others do. Like trying to be another Steve Jobs â€" there’s only one. Instead, it’s finding your own unique voice and way of being. That’s what makes you interesting… and positions you for success. How much of your true authentic self are you bringing to your work and your life? 3. Connection â€" how you engage people The third aspect is how you engage people. Are you making a personal connection? Are you genuinely interested in the other person? And how do you go about sharing what you know? At a recent dinner, two people who are equally interesting on paper showed up entirely differently. They had similar backgrounds â€" scientists from disadvantaged neighborhoods who overcame hardship to rise to the top of their fields. But one person listened to and built on others’ comments. He shared anecdotes from his son’s experiences in sports as well as from his research. He brought up new ideas. The other person said very little. The rest of us left the dinner feeling like we got to know the first scientist well, and couldn’t stop talking about how interesting he was. But the other one is still a mystery. When it comes to connecting with others, it starts with sharing what you know. Think of that as contributing. Then it’s about doing that sharing in a natural way as part of the conversation without dominating it. That’s what I call conversing. And finally, it’s about cross-pollinating. Bringing in ideas from another field that helps people do what they do better and get a new way of looking at things. How are you connecting with others by contributing, conversing and cross-pollinating? How you can be more interesting If you want to be more interesting than you already are, then here are three things you can do. And by the way, they will probably make you a better person in the process. Read (and watch and listen): Feed your mind with things that are off-piste from what you usually read, watch or listen to. Explore different areas. If you only get your news from one channel, you can’t possibly be seeing the full picture. Seeing the world from only one point of view might feel more comfortable. But it can limit your possibilities and reduce your ability to think critically. And make you less interesting. If you need ideas for what to read, check out this list of almost 250 books that thought leader, bestselling author, and blogger Seth Godin has recommended over a decade of reading. Share: Go ahead and tell someone else about something you’ve just learned. You’ll not only enlighten them, you’ll also cement what you’ve learned and become a source of interesting knowledge. As they say, you really learn something when you have to teach it. If you read a great book, extract quotes from it and work it into conversations. Write about it in a blog or article. Or leave the book on your desk for your visitors to notice and enjoy. When you can offer an observation from a similar situation, don’t be afraid to say, “Hey, guess what? I just learned this really cool thing that can help us do…” It’s not about spouting off or sounding arrogant. Simply share so others can benefit from a glimpse into a different part of the world. Pursue: Whatever you’re passionate about, go and pursue it. And if it takes you outside of your comfort zone, even better. When you do what you uniquely do, you free up the real you. And that feels great! And at least once a year, do something more significant that’s different from what you usually do. Whether that’s where you vacation (or, for some of us, just taking a vacation!), ticking off an item on your bucket list, or taking up a new hobby, it will help shift your thinking in some way. Changing things up will give you new insights and something different and interesting to talk about. What’s not interesting The opposite of interesting is boring. And the surest way to be boring is having the same conversation or interaction over and over again. So don’t be that colleague who only talks about himself. The friend who keeps banging on about the same topic. The family member who’s always whining and complaining. Also, don’t be that person who has nothing to say. Unless you’re a reclusive billionaire, in which case there’s probably plenty of interesting things about you, it’s hard to be interesting when you give out no information. If you’re an introvert, the good news is that information can be given out by other people and come from other sources â€" it doesn’t have to come from you alone. You could be a recluse like Howard Hughes, but still be fascinating to others based on what you’ve done and the ideas you have. What will you do? What I’ve learned is that any of us can be interesting. For some, it’s a matter of feeding our minds with a greater variety of knowledge and experiences. For others, it’s how we connect with others to share what we know. And for many of us, we’re still working on bringing our full selves to work and life. What about you? Leave a comment below to let me know what you will do to be even more interesting than you already are. (Photo credit: Bobby Quillard)

Fix It Friday Networking Efforts Not Working

Fix It Friday Networking Efforts Not Working On Fridays I share my answers to job seeker questions! This one is about what to do when networking isnt working (the way you want it to)! Job Seeker Question I just wanted to get an opinion, because so far my efforts at networking are not working well. I started with a list of a few people I was already connected to and several former co-workers I could reach out to. The latter group I sent out several connect invitations, and only one accepted. With that person and those I was already connected with, I checked their LinkedIn connections for people I believed could aid me, and asked them if they would facilitate a connection between us. Out of those, I got two Just contact them directly replies, and dead silence from the rest. The two people locally who I feel would be of the greatest help to me have their own secretaries, who both essentially told me, we have no open jobsbug off. This is really what I was afraid of when it comes to networking. My response: First, congratulations on making a list of people you know and past co-workers! Second, dont jump to assumptions here. It may be that the people you asked to connect with on LinkedIn dont use it very well or often. You may want to try emailing them or pick up the phone instead. The fact that some people have told you to contact people in their network directly is good! Remember, the people you know are busy and an introduction requires they do work. The other thing to note is that they may have not spoken to the person you want to connect with in awhile so it may be equally awkward for them to reach out to intro you. If the secretaries are telling you there arent any jobs, approach them differently and change what you are sayingPlease tell me you dont open the conversation with I want to speak to so and so about job openings Here are a couple of articles I wrote that might help: Networking Equals Relationships Networking Without A Resume Your emphasis while networking should be on finding people inside target companies.  The more people you talk to, inside companies that could potentially hire you, the better! And when you use company names, it makes it easier for people help you. (Especially those who wouldnt know what companies would hire someone with your unique background.) The fact that your field is very specialized makes it a bit more difficult, I understand that. Have you checked out professional associations and conferences related to your field? Have you joined groups on LinkedIn that focus on your expertise? Look for opportunities to hang around people who understand what you do. Its not that your networking isnt working. Its that you feel it should be moving faster. Finally, if you dont believe networking will work, then it wont! Your attitude determines your success. Want to submit a question for Fix It Friday? Fill out the form below.   Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Enter your questionEmailSubmit