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meanwhile back in the office


> meanwhilebackintheoffice Career management: The next move


There’s never a bad time to “put your house in order,”, whether it’s getting properly organised at work and at home, updating your contacts listing with that mountain of business cards on your desk that’s been piling up ever skywards, getting to the bottom of your to-do lists, deciding one way or the other about those brochures and magazine clippings saved “to peruse later,” losing a few kilos, or getting back into the gym routine. But don’t forget about your career, nobody but you is going to keep that in order. How long have you had your current title, how much are you really worth, does your CV reflect a bygone era? It might be the time for a job rethink, whether a change of where you work or a change of how you work. It depends, it’s an uncertain world out there and natural instincts might say Stay Put. But, is there any harm in looking? So, revisit your CV, check that it is up to date, what has changed since the last time it had an airing? Have you learned any new skills? Have you had any new jobs? Was there a project you carried out exceptionally well, even if you say so yourself? Have you moved house? Make sure all these things are updated.


There is a theory that a CV gets read up to three times by an employer. The first time it is given a quick scan, looking for Why this candidate is suitable, looking for key criteria, like a minimum number of years experience, or a degree, etc, plus anything that’s a thumbnail sketch of what sort of person you are (or want to be perceived as). Ignore the fact that the thumbnail doesn’t do all the nuances of your personality full justice at this stage, all you are looking for is a handy pigeon hole, like “an energetic person with some useful experience of a new sector,” or “Solid performer who looks ready for more


HR: New staff induction


Hiring and training new employees is not only time- consuming, it’s also costly. That’s why more people are saying that when you bring someone aboard, you should be doing all you can to make it a great start for them. First impressions go a long way, and if you can get that new hire off to a great start, you will have a much greater chance of having them get stuck in, and then stick around.


Here are four ways that have been suggested by various experts that can help you get your new employee off to a good start: 1) Celebrate their arrival. Most employers have a going-away party, so perhaps you should have a welcome party so that people can meet the new hire. This will help set the tone, and make your new employee feel special.


2) Advance notice. Let your new employee know ahead of time if there’s anything they should be aware of: where to park,


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your smoking policy, how to dress, and other business background. This can help prevent uncomfortable situations from arising. Also, let your existing people know that someone new will be joining.


3) Be prepared. Before they start work, have all the paperwork done. The first day should be about meeting people and getting integrated, not doing paperwork. You should also have the materials in place that they will need to do their job, like business cards.


4) Be there. Greet them as soon as they come in. Then start taking them around for a tour and to meet people. And in addition to being there, make sure you greet the person by name, and act as if you were eagerly awaiting their arrival. It’s more than embarrassing if they walk in and have to explain who they are and why they are there.


www.leasingworld.co.uk ■ March 2011


responsibility.” So, scan your CV quickly and dispassionately, what key positives about you jump off the page, are they the right ones, or does nothing really catch the eye? If they don’t, you’re not going to make it to the next round. The second time your CV gets looked at is when someone is looking more closely at it before an interview and looking for weaknesses, and areas they can question you on. So sit down with your CV in a sceptical frame of mind, and look for reasons why you wouldn’t go further with this candidate. If you find things that don’t add up, those are the areas you will need to shore up or rewrite.


The third time someone goes through your CV is after the interviews, when, all other things being equal, they can’t decide between you and X. At that point you need the magic ingredient, that extra something the selectors can seize on to justify their final decision, like, “ they won an award for best . .” or “They organised a customer forum for a hundred and twenty . .” It can be anything, and it depends on the employers, who have been known to say mad things like, “They got a first at university,” or “They played for their county.”


If you subject your CV to these questions, it may not pass the test, in which case you have some work to do. What do you want your CV to say in a year’s time? Work out the training you could do to build on your strengths and minimise your weakness; the projects you could initiate or get involved in to raise your profile.


But then, you may start to realise that deep down you want more than a change of job, you want a change of career, and that can sound scary. But people have done it, quite a few people in fact, and lived to tell the tale.


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