How the Swedish Way of Working Can Help Britains Productivity Crisis

How the Swedish Way of Working Can Help Britains Productivity Crisis The UK is working hard, but not smart. Despite working longer hours than ever before, Britain is in the midst of a productivity crisis. And, with the growth of the 24-hour economy and ever-increased demand from consumers, it is a crisis that shows little sign of ending any time soon. With Brexit on the horizon, it’s vital that the UK continues to find ways to compete on the global stage. And a huge part of this will be cultivating a more dynamic labor force. Of course, there’s no silver bullet for solving the productivity crisis, and I can’t pretend that we have all the answers. But I can share some answers from Quinyx’s home country of Sweden, where as a nation we are known for achieving high productivity levels. A happy workforce fit for the UK’s future At Quinyx we know that happiness is the key to unlocking productivity. Employees who enjoy their jobs are more motivated to perform to the best of their abilities, enabling them to deliver better results at a quicker rate. And in Sweden,we believe everyone has the right to enjoy their job, regardless of age, industry or location. So, if workplace happiness is the missing piece in fixing the productivity puzzle, how can UK business leaders go about boosting morale? Optimization, not maximization Swedish business leaders know that optimizing their workforce has more value than maximizing it. There’s a common expression in Sweden â€" lagom â€" which means ‘just the right amount’, and it’s often used in the context of productivity and business culture. Swedish workers are encouraged to focus on exactly what is needed and doing it well, rather than taking on extra unnecessary work. Leaving the office on time is ingrained into business culture, and working overtime is often seen as an indication of poor planning and time management. By getting the best, rather than the most, out of your workforce, it’s likely you’ll have more engaged employees who are more invested in their work, ultimately delivering better results at a quicker rate. A short break goes a long way Swedes have learned over the years that employees are much happier and more productive in the long run if they’re given some time during the day to switch off and reset. That’s why the ‘fika’ break is institutional within Swedish business practices. Fika takes place once or twice a day in Sweden â€" it’s a time where employees can drink coffee, have a snack and chat with colleagues, away from their desk. They then return to work revitalized for the rest of the day. It might seem small, but introducing short breaks throughout the day allows workers to dedicate their attention more effectively. After all, working at 90% capacity for 75% of the day is much more impactful than working at 60% all day. Flexibility is the answer In Sweden, it’s believed that work should never come before home-life priorities, which is why the country ranks best in the world forwork-life balance. Flexibility is the norm within Swedish businesses, not the exception. Although flexibility in the UK has increased in recent years â€" research conducted by Quinyx last year found an increase of 1.3 million flexible workers since 2011 â€" there’s more to be done. The same research found 73% of British workers still face issues when it comes to flexibility in their current work schedules, despite one fifth believing they would be more productive if given more flexible working opportunities. Offering flexibility to employees at work doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right tools and technologies in place, flexible working can be easy. By cutting down admin and allowing business leaders and employees to collaborate on a schedule that works for everyone, solutions like smart workforce technology can save time, reduce costs and increase happiness â€" and, ultimately, unlock productivity. About the author:Quinyxwas founded in 2005 byCEO Erik Fjellborgafter a summer spent working at McDonald’s. After witnessing how difficult it can be for managers to sort shifts manually, Erik built one of the world’s firstfully web-based Workforce Management solutions to do the heavy lifting.McDonald’s loved Erik’s solution and became Quinyx’s first customer.

Work at Home and Have Success!

Work at Home and Have Success!There are some essential steps for writing a DC job resume and the next step is to get it in the hands of the appropriate personnel. It's never easy to write a DC job resume but what can be done about it is not so hard. After all, there are some really good techniques for writing a DC job resume.The next step in DC job resume writing is to get it into the hands of the appropriate personnel. This should be the keystone of the process. If you don't do this then you won't know what the outcome will be. While it would be easy enough to contact the company in question, you must remember that not all such companies will have a DC career team which will be able to work with you to get the job.One way of doing this is to use the search engine, as described above. However, if you want to make sure you'll get your results right, you must know how to check the type of job you're looking for and the target job in the first place. When the search engine yields result s and they are of a very general nature, it is safe to assume that the job description isn't appropriate for the type of DC career you are after. That doesn't mean that you'll not get a job, you will, but there will be better chances of success with the specific DC position.When you start a DC career, you will be taking on a lot of responsibility. Therefore, when you find a job, you will want to give as much thought to the responsibilities involved as the salary and benefits offered by the company. This is the key to a successful resume.Another key to writing a DC job resume is to understand the DC job itself and the fact that it will be filled by many different people. With this in mind, it's important to keep a balance in your CV.Your CV will contain all the necessary information on what you will be offering the employer when they hire you, but the only things you need to include are facts that will establish your worthiness for the job. At the same time, your CV must be professio nal and you must not embellish or try to create magic.Good DC job CV writing is critical in getting the attention of the relevant personnel. It is here that your resume will draw the attention of these employees. Your resume is essentially like the first impression of you on a prospective employer.There are several benefits to having a good DC job resume. With an appropriate CV, you can sit back and relax knowing that if you apply for the position you're after, you have the best chance of getting the job that you're after.

Rebranding Yourself When Your Job or Life Changes - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Rebranding Yourself When Your Job or Life Changes - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Ive faced a couple of career changes in my years, after fully vesting myself in my previous job, company, and position. The changeover has been difficult at times, as I had gotten to know a lot of people in that previous industry, and set myself up as an authority on my particular companys product or service. It was especially difficult as I had to start over with a new company and a new industry, and finding that no one knew who I was. If you ever find yourself in that situation, Ill admit youre facing a tough uphill battle. But its not impossible. Here are three things you can do to change your personal brand when the direction of what you do shifts. (Special thanks to @danalbyers for this question.) 1. Connect with industry people online. Its important that people know who you are right away, so it helps if you can start communicating with them in the places where they are already found. Add your new colleagues to your Twitter network. Join and participate in any LinkedIn groups. And if there is an industry trade association or social network, join it. Ask questions, introduce yourself to people, and make yourself known. Be sure to change your different social bios to reflect your new direction or position, so your new industry colleagues know why youre connecting with them. 2. Start a blog about your industry or position. Im still a firm believer in the see one, do one, teach one method of learning. As you learn how to do something in your new position, try it out yourself, and then teach other people to do it. A great way to teach people is through a blog. Start one that discusses the trials and tribulations of your new position, and what youre trying to accomplish. Dont try to be an expert right off the bat though, because people will see right through you. Accept the badge of newbie and wear it proudly. Let readers go on your journey of learning with you. 3. Meet with other people in your industry. Im a big proponent of face-to-face networking. Its one thing to meet these people online, but its another to sit down with them and actually speak to them. As you move in your new direction or start your new position, youre going to need mentors and teachers. And the people who are in your same area are going to be your best choices. Arrange to have some one-on-one time with a couple people every week, and ask them about their experiences and what they recommend you do as you start your new direction. Building your personal brand is always going to take a while, whether youre just starting out on your career ladder, or if youve switched ladders in mid-climb. However, the nice thing about changing direction when youve already been traveling is that, chances are, youre not doing something completely different in a completely different world. Old contacts and old networks will still be valuable, although maybe not to the degree they were before the change. Look at this new direction as a new opportunity to enhance what youve already got, rather than replacing what youve lost. By connecting with people online, face-to-face, and then sharing your knowledge with your industry, you can begin to rebuild your personal brand to the levels it was before you changed directions. Author: Erik Deckers is the owner of Professional Blog Service, and the co-author of Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself. His new book, No Bullshit Social Media: The All-Business, No-Hype Guide to Social Media Marketing, which he wrote with Jason Falls, is in bookstores and on Amazon now.

Four Ways To Preserve Your Wedding Memories

Four Ways To Preserve Your Wedding Memories The wedding day is full of the most beautiful moments in your life and the memory of that incredible celebration is well worth preserving. You wouldnt want all the images, sounds and feelings you experienced on that important event to fade. To ensure that even after many years, youll remember everything in vivid detail, here are four ways to preserve your wedding memories: Freeze the cake The tradition of keeping a piece of the wedding cake goes back to 19th century England, where the top layer of the wedding cake was kept to be served at the first babys christening. Nowadays a piece of the cake is saved and eaten at the couples first anniversary. The piece of cake can retain its deliciousness when wrapped properly. Make sure you remove all decorations or flowers and place the cake in a fridge to cool down. After a few hours, you can wrap up the cake in plastic and put it in a freezer box. Not everyone is excited to eat a year-old piece of cake, so you can also choose to get a replica one, that tastes exactly like the original. The Dress Can Be Preserved! The bridal gown is the central element of any weddings look. Its important to not just toss it in the closet after the ceremony but to get it cleaned immediately. That way whatever youve spilled on the gown wont set. After that, you should take the dress to a professional preserver, who knows how to keep the gown from decaying or turning yellow. The dress will be properly cleaned, and then, finally, it will be gently placed inside an acid-free box. Make a Time Capsule Get a container and have your guests write up letters and mementos to put inside it. They can also add photos or make a list of predictions about your future. Seal the container and make a sacred promise to not open it before the first wedding anniversary. Or maybe the fifth. Or the tenth. It will be a true test of character to not open the capsule before the promised time! A Great Looking Photo Album Its a good idea to get a professional photographer to take great photos of your special day. But even the most beautiful of pictures can easily overwhelm when theres so many of them. A very convenient way to sort all your photos is to create a photo book. Mixbook is one of the easiest ways to get started, as it allows you to compile everything for the album online, at your own pace. You can choose the preferred format, size and cover style, and much more. Only after youre happy with the results, it gets printed. If you want to explore more on how to create an ultimate customized album for your wedding memories, make sure to contact their service people. They are super helpful. In Conclusion These were just some of the many ways to keep the memories of the precious wedding day fresh. They may take some time and effort, but its well worth it.

How to Write a Resume For Position Through a Staffing Agency

How to Write a Resume For Position Through a Staffing AgencyThere are many steps that you will need to take when writing a resume for a position through a staffing agency. These steps should include the following things. The key things you want to include in a resume for a position through a staffing agency is employment history, education, work experience, skills, and references.When writing a resume for a position through a staffing agency you will want to look at the employment history. This will be a long list of employment information that includes all the jobs that you have held in your career and the amount of time that you worked in each job. You will also need to see if you have any education levels that have been received in school. You will also need to see if you have worked in different positions.When writing a resume for a position through a staffing agency you will want to have a clear cut way to understand what your skills are. If you do not know your skills and abili ties then you may have trouble when filling out your resume. This is another important part of making sure that your resume for a position through a staffing agency looks professional.You will want to make sure that you are able to look back on your career path. You will want to know what you have accomplished along the way. It is very important to look back on your career so that you can make sure that you are presenting yourself in the best possible way.Along with looking back at your career you will also want to consider your work experience. Many people use this as a distraction from their education when filling out a resume for a position through a staffing agency. You will want to include your work experience. This will include any jobs that you have held in your career as well as all the different positions that you have worked.The next thing that you will want to look at is your skills. Skills are different from education in many ways. You will want to see if you have knowle dge about the particular field in which you are applying for.When you fill out a resume for a position through a staffing agency, it is important to remember that you need to be able to point out what you have done that makes you unique from other applicants. If you have a specific skill or knowledge that is not included in the other applicants then you need to put this on your resume. This is one way to differentiate yourself from other applicants.One of the key things that you will want to look at when writing a resume for a position through a staffing agency is your references. If you do not have any references that are from people that you have hired in the past then you will want to go out and get some. This is very important because many people will hire their family and friends when filling out a resume for a position through a staffing agency.

8 careers lessons we learnt from the Kardashians

8 careers lessons we learnt from the Kardashians Its hard to believe  Keeping Up With the Kardashians  has been going for nearly ten years. For real. The reality show  premiered in 2007, and has been running for a seriously impressive twelve seasons (wow). Weve all been through the  gamut of emotions reacting to the Kardashian clans success. Jealousy, incredulity, boredom the list goes ever on. But love them or hate them, you cant deny it.  Theyre the most business-savvy family in the game. Heres what weve learnt from watching the  Klan on our screens. World domination, here we come. 1. Your personal brand is everything A photo posted by Kylie Cosmetics (@kyliecosmetics) on Sep 30, 2016 at 3:54pm PDT We cant stress enough how important your personal brand is when it comes to careers success. The Kardashians have theirs down to a T. You always know exactly what to expect from their social media feeds, their products, their mobile games, even their selfie angles are uniquely Kardashian. What this teaches us:  Building a personal brand is about ensuring everything connected to your name is in your control. It has to look clean and  professional, visually stunning, and has to  make a lasting impression. Personal branding affects things like the tone of voice for our Twitter feeds, our Instagram aesthetic anything that changes the way the outside world sees you. Make that first impression count, and make all other impressions consistent. 2. You may be the face of your business, but without your team youre nothing Kim Kardashian shares raw Polaroid snaps taken behind the scenes of shoot http://t.co/xlf0z7H1Zl pic.twitter.com/LKBZ0COy6J â€" Irish Daily Mirror (@IrishMirror) September 15, 2015 You may have heard of Kim Kardashian. But have you heard of Stephanie Sheppard? Shes Kim Ks personal assistant and BFF, and is usually the photographer of any ~exclusive~ behind the scenes shots. In the aftermath of Kim Kardashians attack in Paris, it was Sheppard who took it upon herself to be her best friends spokesperson in her time of need. No one is an island after all. What this teaches us:  Your work mates need to be your best mates. You often cant choose who you work with, but make the effort to turn your colleagues into allies, and theyll become your biggest cheerleaders. 3. Transparency is the latest careers buzzword Weird Kim fact- I blow dry all my jewelry before I put it on! I cant stand putting on cold jewelry, it gives me the chills! â€" Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) February 2, 2011 There are many things the Kardashian family are, but shy isnt one of them. It is to be expected, after all, especially when theyre filmed nearly 24/7. But this level of transparency clearly works. We can deny it all we want, but our societys obsession with the Kardashian family is at its peak. Whatever your opinion of them, the point is, you have one. What this teaches us:  Transparency and sharing can be two terrifying things. But try starting a blog share your successes and failures with the world and reflect on your career experiences. A carefully written and curated account will reflect on how you are learning and developing as an employee, and is extremely attractive to potential employers. 4. You shouldnt be ashamed of your humble beginnings Remember that time on the Simple Life when Paris Hilton essentially made Kim Kardashian her personal assistant? Now thats a throwback Kim desperately wants us all to forget. What this teaches us:  I mean, look at Kim Kardashian now!  The founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, once said If youre not embarrassed by the first version of your product, youve launched too late. Kim Kardashian had bit parts on the Simple Life, the Hills, and more before her big break on  Keeping Up With the Kardashians. It doesnt matter how you start, as long as you  do.   5. Businesses make mistakes, especially in a period of change When Kylie Cosmetics first launched it was beleaguered by a string of commercial disasters. The lip kits were slammed for poor quality control, dissed by influencers on social media, and was given a harsh F rating from the Better Business Bureau. Those teething problems seem to have been just that, though. Since then, youngest of the family Kylie Jenner has amassed a legitimate cosmetics empire, with her latest stocks selling out in a matter of seconds. What this teaches us:  Mistakes are only bad if you dont learn from them. Its important to be adaptable, and apologetic when things go wrong. Kylie Cosmetics stepped up to the business challenge and turned a side project into the biggest cosmetics phenomenon of 2016. Kudos, Kylie. 6. Strategic partnerships are the key to growth A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on May 27, 2014 at 7:58am PDT We laughed at Kanye West and Kim Kardashian once. But theyre now up there with the likes of legendary celebrity couples like Brangelina (RIP) and of course, Beyonce and Jay Z. Everything they now touch turns to gold. Kanyes Pablo fashion line is amplified by the social media feeds of his new extended family.  Keeping Up With the Kardashians Kanye/Kim wedding spectacular drew in a whopping 2.7 million in television ratings. Theyre the real thing. What this teaches us:  Sometimes its important to consider who best to team up with. Synergy is when two entities combine and produce something even greater than the sum of their separate parts. Kimye is the best example of what a great partnership is: alone theyre OK. Together, theyre unstoppable. 7. You can monetize basically anything A photo posted by GOOD AMERICAN (@goodamerican) on Oct 17, 2016 at 2:31pm PDT Khloe Kardashian has recently launched her own line of body-inclusive jeans. Now, its not as if those dont already exist, but what shes doing is capitalising on her personal brand by selling a product she can authentically promote. What this teaches us:  This point is semi-tied to the personal brand point a while back. If your personal brand is strong, you can tie that to a product. Marrying the two could yield amazing results see also Kylie Jenner and her lip kits. Being entrepreneurial means seeing a need and filling a need. If you utilize your personal brand to do it, you could have a success on your hands. 8. Dont let the haters get you down The Kardashians are not without their share of controversy. Everyone from Piers Morgan to Mariah Carey have thrown shade at the family. Whether righteously or not, the Kardashian family have had to take the insults in their stride. What this teaches us:  Michelle Obama once said When they go low, you go high. Haters in your career could be that colleague who doesnt want you to get that promotion, or a difficult boss, or business competitors determined to steal the limelight. Focus on yourself. Ignore the rest. The only competition you should be having is with yourself after all, its the only thing you can control. Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Brenda on Twitter @brendaisarebel Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

How to Use Zen in Your Job Search - Hire Imaging

How to Use Zen in Your Job Search - Hire Imaging We live in a to-do focused society dominated by technology and science. It’s easy to let our job search transplant to the Western mentality of check lists. We weigh the pros and cons; the statistics. We predict measured outcomes. In a nutshell, we do everything we can to infuse logic and rationalizations on a series of decisions and processes that may be random and erratic. We want a system and process, steps one, two and three to take us from point A to point whatever. Quite frankly, I think there is sometimes a tendency to overthink the job search process. I am not saying to wing it. Those who know me know that I am an advocate and champion for multifaceted strategies and a plan of action  in the search. I also think we get in our own ways  sometimes by letting the intellect alone rule. If you think about many of our major choices in lifeâ€"marriage, having a child and other passagesâ€"we often make these choices via our gut, our heart. Often highly irrational. “I love him.” “It spoke to me!” “It just feels right.” So, I would argue that while intellect definitely has a role in the job search, the career campaign  is best when the job seeker tunes into the Zen by not trying too hard to make things perfect. Sometimes when we overthink, we lose sight. Perhaps this is why so many beloved artistic gifts through the agesâ€"art, writing, music or creating a tasty new recipeâ€"were often born of a place outside the logic and rational. I’d like to share a few Zen principles to consider using in your search. Concentrate on the now When you are making decisions around your vision for the future, it can help to pay close attention to how you feel today, in the present. Sometimes we let what hasn’t happened yet create an anxiety around fear of unknowns. Sometimes we get stuck on what’s happened in the past. This back-and-forth thinking can help us duck some hazards or consequences to be sure; but it can also impede our willingness to take risks, to look at opportunities  staring us in the face right now. Ask yourself how you feel about things now? That’s your reality. Use it as your base. I don’t want now what I wanted in my twenties. I don’t know anyone whose realties and dreams don’t change. Using the now as a marker for the next can be very powerful. Don’t conclude too quickly Experts on creative thinking agree that the best ideas occur when someone is not inhibited by preconceived notions or judgments. In Zen, you would let your mind roam; you would not give in to concerns about what’s popular or correct. Creative ideas about career possibilities occur more fluidly in a place of acceptance. Explore possibilities ; not just what you think you should do based on history or advice. Think in visuals Take that potential job and peel away the layers of words (e.g., title, description) and numbers (e.g., people supervised, salary). Use your imagination to envision scenes and situations where you would like to work. What do you see? Are you standing in front of a crowd imparting knowledge? Engaged in lively discussion or trust-based relationships? Behind the scenes in solitude conceiving of wise solutions to nagging problems? Playing detective? Calming folks? Pictures can be more powerful than words. One of my favorite pamperings is yoga; and I try to get to class twice a week. An additional bonus to how relaxed I feel in mind and body afterwards is that the class is taught by my friend, Aleen. She is fond of saying that life is on the mat. When I’m on that mat and find that I’m not as strong standing on my left leg as I was the time before, it could well be even stronger the next time. Or I may discover Ive mastered a different technique. Ironed out a kink. I am reminded that while the destination may be in our scope, isn’t it the journey that becomes our life? Applying Zen to the job search can only enhance its essence as part of that journey. Photo:  Johan Larsson

Automate Part of Your Job Search Strategies

Automate Part of Your Job Search Strategies Do you use Google Alerts? Its a great way to keep on top of the things you are interested in, and it can be very helpful when you are juggling all the details of a job search. Its simple to set up notifications for your email or feed for whenever you want to be alerted to mentions of a subject. Set Google Alerts For Career Leads More If you are interested in a particular company, you can ask to be alerted to any mention of that company online and get notified as it happens once a day or once a week. Other possible subjects include: industries in the location where you are moving to breaking news about leaders and industry developments monitor your online profile so you see what they see when you are researched research your field for possible authoritative posts about current issues prepare for interviews by having intelligent things to say Depending on how you set it up, your job search strategies  can get a daily dose of helpful information to act upon without having to remember to do repeated research. It all gets sent to your feed or inbox and a quick skim down the list lets you know if anything is worth reading further. As you do this every day, a gradual building of perspective occurs because you are seeing the big, online picture of the subjects you are interested in. The longer you do it, the more ideas youll have for adjusting your particular settings to fit what you are interested in. Automating part of your job search strategies gives you the freedom to focus on what you will do with the things you find.