[Published in Manila Bulletin last January 13, 2010 - adapted from a previous blog post]
When you enter an office, clinic, restaurant, store or business establishment, one of the first things that you will notice is its ambience. Is the place clean and well-maintained? Are the people friendly or formal? Is the pace fast or laidback?
All of these represent a company’s culture---the values, customs and way of life of a particular workplace---critical factors that lead to Job Satisfaction, as well as Customer Satisfaction.
JOB SATISFACTION
If you are a Job Seeker, you may want to look into a company’s culture before accepting a job offer from them. Are the company’s premises conducive for work? Will you be comfortable working with the current employees and even managers of the company? Do you believe in what the company stands for?
When I interview applicants, I often ask for the reason why they left their previous employment. Quite a number of them have mentioned that the main reason why they left their previous company is that they were not happy with their jobs due to bosses shouting at them, “tsismis” (gossip) or politics. In short, they didn’t like the culture.
On the other hand, employees who are happy with their co-workers and bosses tend to stay longer in the company. In cases where other companies try to pirate them with a slightly higher salary offer, they will think more than twice before jumping ship. Happy employees tend to stick with their company because they already have it good. Why leave a place and people that you have come to love?
So you see, Job satisfaction is really not just about compensation. It is also about belonging and enjoying your work and the people you work with. A strong company culture and good work environment gives you that.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
A company's culture is greatly influenced by its management. How the bosses conduct themselves will ultimately be mirrored by the team. For instance, if the management is customer-oriented and conducts business in a professional yet personal way, chances are, you will find their employees acting the same way.
This is evident whenever I visit a private doctor's clinic. I can tell immediately even without meeting the doctor if the s/he has good bedside manners and really cares for the patient. All I do is observe how their secretaries deal with customers and I'll know what the doctor will be like and whether I will continue to see this doctor.
Because customers relate and ultimately come to trust a company due to its culture, building a good Company Culture that leads to a great Corporate Image is a vital function of HR and should not be shoved over to the Marketing Department to invent on its own. Ultimately, a well-defined and practiced culture will greatly increase a company's success... and HR practitioners have a major role in this.
SO HOW DO YOU DEVELOP A STRONG COMPANY CULTURE?
First, Build the Foundation
As a Training and Consultancy firm, we help many of our clients design and inculcate their Vision, Mission and Values (VMV). We assist them in preparing their Company Policies, Employee Orientation and Training Programs. We insist in full management and team support. You don't just write this stuff and expect others to read and follow. Getting people's “Buy In” is key, and the best way to get this is to include them in the process.
Second, Recruit People with the Same Values
Unless your company's primary preference is diversity, it is best to find people whose values and competencies are in line with the company. Some companies employ a competency-based recruitment system with special emphasis on Behavioral Values. Since they started practicing this type of recruitment and selection process, they have noticed that their team is more in sync and work better together.
Third, Train Your People
There are many ways that you can train and orient your people about your company’s values. In our company, we have an automated process for orienting new employees. We conduct a 4-part interactive webinar with quizzes. Then we follow it up with some Coaching, Company sponsored seminars and On-the-Job Training. By constantly training and emphasizing our values, we continuously develop a culture of progress and understanding.
Fourth, Manage Performance
Once, you've selected and trained your employees, you need to constantly ensure that they are performing well and that they are upholding the values of the company. Here you want to build programs that will help you increase productivity and create a system that allows you to track, monitor and evaluate employee's performance. Giving Feedback regularly is a powerful way to manage and increase your team's performance.
Lastly, Reward Your Employees
This is the fun part of the job, developing innovative and cost-effective programs that will make employees happy. There are so many exciting ways you can motivate your employees and keep your culture alive. Aside from an attractive compensation and benefits structure, create fun HR programs that reward good deeds and give incentives to star performers. People who have fun are generally more satisfied with their jobs.
A strong and healthy company culture leads to job satisfaction among employees and customer satisfaction and loyalty. Whether you are an employer, employee or HR practitioner, be sure to contribute and build a happy workplace.
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. Her company conducts seminars on HR Management, Business Solutions and Corporate Skills Development. They have also recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
7 Ways to Spice Up the Workplace
[Published in Manila Bulletin last Dec. 23, 2009]
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES A DULL WORKPLACE… So in our company, we have been engaging in a few affordable programs for instant fun and camaraderie that develops the team in mind, body and spirit.
As an HR practitioner, this is my favorite part of the job---organizing employee engagement activities. It’s one area of HR Management that you can really get creative and generate a lot of excitement for your company. These HR events and projects promote work-life balance as they are welcomed breaks from the daily grind of work. It does wonders in energizing the team and letting everyone have fun.
Let me share with you seven quick and easy HR projects that you can start in your company to spice up your workplace.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
Movie Nights are great for department get-togethers or companies with a lean team. It can be a free benefit for all or it can even be used as a reward for team performance. Some big companies have it on a larger scale. One of the biggest companies in the IT-BPO industry in the Philippines treats their employees to regular movie nights. They actually rent movie theaters for their employees for a few nights, like a premiere. Yes, they are lucky enough to have the budget for it. And best of all, they have their management's support.
Although there's additional cost involved in holding movie nights, our own quarterly company movie nights are well worth it. It gives everyone a chance to spend a little leisure time with co-workers and it gives our team something to look forward to.
DVD CLUB
If there's no budget for Movie Nights, a great alternative is to start a Video or DVD Club. In our office, we have a simple, self-regulating club wherein any employee can donate and borrow DVDs from the list for free. They can borrow 3 titles in any given time by filling up a borrower's log and they must return them for inventory checking by the end of the month. It’s a way to help people relax and unwind in the comfort of their own home with their families.
ACTIVE SPORTS
Most people with desk-bound jobs more often than not have sedentary lifestyles. And as we know, this lack of physical activity causes stiff muscles, slower metabolism and the big O---obesity. Having elevators in the office does not help us to become healthier either.
So from time to time, you can organize sports days or even sports festivals. If your company has the facilities, you can even get volunteers to lead the Sports Club. All you need are a few balls, rackets, water and willing souls.
BOOKWORMS’ CORNER
Meanwhile, for employees who aren't really into sports but are more into books, you can create own your Company Library wherein employees can donate and borrow books. For our company, we've manage to collect many personal and professional development books, crafts books, cookbooks and marketing books that any of our employee can read. And very much like the DVD Club, we've set it up so that it is self-regulating. For companies with a small group of employees, self-regulation works. For big companies, you may have to assign someone to regulate your library.
PRAYER MOMENTS
There are some companies who offer bible studies, prayer groups or masses/worship
…okay, this may be a bit controversial as these activities may cause some conflict if there are differing and passionate views about religion. It is not for everyone and it should be treated with caution. You can do this only if your employees are willing and have the same general beliefs. You have to take into account your company's culture, as well as the sensitivities of people. So do this only if everyone is okay with it.
In our company, simply praying together and respecting each others' religion (without necessarily arguing about religious beliefs) are encouraged for spiritual growth.
FUN MINI-SEMINARS
Aside from the Professional Training that your company invests in, you can also conduct stress relief workshops and seminars. As a training company, we have conducted several non-work related mini-seminars for top companies in the Philippines. From craft workshops like bead crafting, balloon making and gift baskets, to special interest seminars such as Parenting, Hobbies and Sideline Businesses and Money Management, some of our clients have invested in the personal development of their employees. As a result, they are able to keep their employees happy and retain them longer.
SINGING IDOLS
Filipinos are one of the most talented people in the world. Singing tops the talent list and what better way to have fun than to sing your heart out as a group. Why not organize Your Own “Company Idol” or Karaoke Night. This need not be expensive. You can do this as an event in a karaoke place or you can even have it in your own premises by bringing in some magic mics or karaoke dvds. Just make sure that your karaoke nights will not be a problem with your neighbors… You still need to retain your dignity for the next day.
Employee Engagement activities are helpful projects that keep things fun in the office. If you are a business owner or an HR practitioner, do look into encouraging work-life balance in your company by organizing activities that’s not just about work. If you are an employee, you may suggest these to your employers or even initiate some of these affordable projects yourself. After the fun and excitement of it all, you will get the best reward through the happy faces of your team and their sincere thanks. It makes all the hard work of HR worth it.
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. They conduct seminars on Corporate Skills Development, HR Management, Hobbies & Sideline Mini-Seminars, and Employee Retirement Programs. They have also recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES A DULL WORKPLACE… So in our company, we have been engaging in a few affordable programs for instant fun and camaraderie that develops the team in mind, body and spirit.
As an HR practitioner, this is my favorite part of the job---organizing employee engagement activities. It’s one area of HR Management that you can really get creative and generate a lot of excitement for your company. These HR events and projects promote work-life balance as they are welcomed breaks from the daily grind of work. It does wonders in energizing the team and letting everyone have fun.
Let me share with you seven quick and easy HR projects that you can start in your company to spice up your workplace.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
Movie Nights are great for department get-togethers or companies with a lean team. It can be a free benefit for all or it can even be used as a reward for team performance. Some big companies have it on a larger scale. One of the biggest companies in the IT-BPO industry in the Philippines treats their employees to regular movie nights. They actually rent movie theaters for their employees for a few nights, like a premiere. Yes, they are lucky enough to have the budget for it. And best of all, they have their management's support.
Although there's additional cost involved in holding movie nights, our own quarterly company movie nights are well worth it. It gives everyone a chance to spend a little leisure time with co-workers and it gives our team something to look forward to.
DVD CLUB
If there's no budget for Movie Nights, a great alternative is to start a Video or DVD Club. In our office, we have a simple, self-regulating club wherein any employee can donate and borrow DVDs from the list for free. They can borrow 3 titles in any given time by filling up a borrower's log and they must return them for inventory checking by the end of the month. It’s a way to help people relax and unwind in the comfort of their own home with their families.
ACTIVE SPORTS
Most people with desk-bound jobs more often than not have sedentary lifestyles. And as we know, this lack of physical activity causes stiff muscles, slower metabolism and the big O---obesity. Having elevators in the office does not help us to become healthier either.
So from time to time, you can organize sports days or even sports festivals. If your company has the facilities, you can even get volunteers to lead the Sports Club. All you need are a few balls, rackets, water and willing souls.
BOOKWORMS’ CORNER
Meanwhile, for employees who aren't really into sports but are more into books, you can create own your Company Library wherein employees can donate and borrow books. For our company, we've manage to collect many personal and professional development books, crafts books, cookbooks and marketing books that any of our employee can read. And very much like the DVD Club, we've set it up so that it is self-regulating. For companies with a small group of employees, self-regulation works. For big companies, you may have to assign someone to regulate your library.
PRAYER MOMENTS
There are some companies who offer bible studies, prayer groups or masses/worship
…okay, this may be a bit controversial as these activities may cause some conflict if there are differing and passionate views about religion. It is not for everyone and it should be treated with caution. You can do this only if your employees are willing and have the same general beliefs. You have to take into account your company's culture, as well as the sensitivities of people. So do this only if everyone is okay with it.
In our company, simply praying together and respecting each others' religion (without necessarily arguing about religious beliefs) are encouraged for spiritual growth.
FUN MINI-SEMINARS
Aside from the Professional Training that your company invests in, you can also conduct stress relief workshops and seminars. As a training company, we have conducted several non-work related mini-seminars for top companies in the Philippines. From craft workshops like bead crafting, balloon making and gift baskets, to special interest seminars such as Parenting, Hobbies and Sideline Businesses and Money Management, some of our clients have invested in the personal development of their employees. As a result, they are able to keep their employees happy and retain them longer.
SINGING IDOLS
Filipinos are one of the most talented people in the world. Singing tops the talent list and what better way to have fun than to sing your heart out as a group. Why not organize Your Own “Company Idol” or Karaoke Night. This need not be expensive. You can do this as an event in a karaoke place or you can even have it in your own premises by bringing in some magic mics or karaoke dvds. Just make sure that your karaoke nights will not be a problem with your neighbors… You still need to retain your dignity for the next day.
Employee Engagement activities are helpful projects that keep things fun in the office. If you are a business owner or an HR practitioner, do look into encouraging work-life balance in your company by organizing activities that’s not just about work. If you are an employee, you may suggest these to your employers or even initiate some of these affordable projects yourself. After the fun and excitement of it all, you will get the best reward through the happy faces of your team and their sincere thanks. It makes all the hard work of HR worth it.
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. They conduct seminars on Corporate Skills Development, HR Management, Hobbies & Sideline Mini-Seminars, and Employee Retirement Programs. They have also recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Gift-giving in the Workplace
[Published in Manila Bulletin last Dec. 16, 2009]
Having learned how to gift wrap at the age of three, I eventually became my mother’s little helper during Christmas. Every year for more than twenty years, I grew up wrapping hundreds of gifts for my mother because she is a “Ninang ng Bayan” (town’s godmother).
In the beginning, it was all quite fun as I perfected my craft---in gift wrapping. But as the years went by, I started seeing this task as a repetitive chore. Every year, there were more gifts to wrap and more people to give them to, so much so that I lost the thrill and started wondering why my mother would put so much effort and care in finding and wrapping perfect gifts for people. At that point, I became jaded enough to start thinking, “Why should we even bother putting in too much time, money and effort in giving gifts to so many people?”
The answer came a few years back when I accompanied my mother to visit some cousins in the United States. My mother packed two luggage-full of presents aside from another luggage to carry her clothes. Since we went on a tour prior to visiting my cousins, we were lugging around all of these as we hopped from one city to the another. After five cities and extremely sore muscles, we finally arrived at my cousins’ place in New York and I was relieved to see my mom off-loading and giving all the presents to my cousins. Deep down though, I was asking “Why go through all the trouble?”
Then with tears in their eyes, my cousins hugged my mom and thanked her. Later on while one of my cousins and I were alone, she told me that out of the 12 uncles and aunties that we have (my mother belongs to a very big household), my mother was the one person who always checked up on them and gave them nice things when they were young and struggling financially as a family to survive. My mother helped them succeed in life and more importantly, she made them feel that someone cared. I remember my cousin telling me with awe and sincere admiration, “Your mother is the most gracious person I know.”
GRACIOUSNESS…wow, what a glorious word.
There are moments in one’s life that etches a profound meaning in ones heart. For me, this was one of them. Hearing my cousin say those words about my mother made me see her in a magnificent light and it made me realize how lucky I am to be her daughter.
That event also enlightened me to the real meaning of gift-giving. Now I understand that gift-giving is really about showing a person that you care and that they matter to you. And once a year, we get the perfect opportunity to show people around us that we do care and appreciate them. Christmas is a time of giving and thanking people who have touched our lives.
In the workplace, there are many people who we work with closely or who work quietly to make our lives better. This holiday season, you can show them that you care by giving a sincere greeting or a thoughtful gift. Here are a few suggestions…
FOR YOUR BOSS
This is a tough one. I suggest finding out your boss’ interest or hobby, then go from there. Bosses don’t really expect you to give them expensive gifts, but a thoughtful one will tickle them. The best gift I’ve ever received as a boss is actually a simple picture frame with a magazine photo of myself with personalized headlines that my staff designed using photoshop.
FOR YOUR SUBORDINATES
Go for things that they can use in the office such as desk organizers, toiletry bags, lunch boxes, personalized pens or daily planners. You can also give motivational books or cds that can inspire them. These things are much appreciated and will help your staff perform better at work.
FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES
Colleagues may experience the same issues or stresses that you may encounter. So cheer them up with gifts of humour like novelty clips for the office, quotable quote magnets, book of jokes and funny calendars. A little humour in gifts will help your colleagues relax and remember you for giving them these little welcomed breaks.
FOR YOUR CLIENTS
Since customers are critical for every business, your company will definitely allot the budget and gift inventory for clients. Popular gifts for top clients include gift baskets, wines, cakes and goodies. Corporate giveaways such as bags, pens, calculators, caps, and mugs are also quite popular. Personalized greeting cards also help.
FOR OFFICE HELPERS
Janitors, guards, pantry keepers and messengers make our work lives a lot easier. Show them that you appreciate their help with simple things like cookies, umbrellas, t-shirts, or slippers. These things do not cost much but it goes a long way in making them feel extra special this Christmas.
A thoughtful gift need not be expensive. The point of gift-giving is showing people that you care enough to spend time and effort in making them feel special. It is really about being gracious. Let’s all celebrate the yuletide season with a gift of grace.
Aside from her day job as president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines, Jhoanna O. Gan-So is also a master wrapper of gifts during the holiday season. She has appeared on several TV shows and has conducted workshops on creative arts and crafts for fun to hundreds of people. Meanwhile, her company regularly conducts seminars on Business, Finance, HR and Corporate Skills Training. To know more about the seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Having learned how to gift wrap at the age of three, I eventually became my mother’s little helper during Christmas. Every year for more than twenty years, I grew up wrapping hundreds of gifts for my mother because she is a “Ninang ng Bayan” (town’s godmother).
In the beginning, it was all quite fun as I perfected my craft---in gift wrapping. But as the years went by, I started seeing this task as a repetitive chore. Every year, there were more gifts to wrap and more people to give them to, so much so that I lost the thrill and started wondering why my mother would put so much effort and care in finding and wrapping perfect gifts for people. At that point, I became jaded enough to start thinking, “Why should we even bother putting in too much time, money and effort in giving gifts to so many people?”
The answer came a few years back when I accompanied my mother to visit some cousins in the United States. My mother packed two luggage-full of presents aside from another luggage to carry her clothes. Since we went on a tour prior to visiting my cousins, we were lugging around all of these as we hopped from one city to the another. After five cities and extremely sore muscles, we finally arrived at my cousins’ place in New York and I was relieved to see my mom off-loading and giving all the presents to my cousins. Deep down though, I was asking “Why go through all the trouble?”
Then with tears in their eyes, my cousins hugged my mom and thanked her. Later on while one of my cousins and I were alone, she told me that out of the 12 uncles and aunties that we have (my mother belongs to a very big household), my mother was the one person who always checked up on them and gave them nice things when they were young and struggling financially as a family to survive. My mother helped them succeed in life and more importantly, she made them feel that someone cared. I remember my cousin telling me with awe and sincere admiration, “Your mother is the most gracious person I know.”
GRACIOUSNESS…wow, what a glorious word.
There are moments in one’s life that etches a profound meaning in ones heart. For me, this was one of them. Hearing my cousin say those words about my mother made me see her in a magnificent light and it made me realize how lucky I am to be her daughter.
That event also enlightened me to the real meaning of gift-giving. Now I understand that gift-giving is really about showing a person that you care and that they matter to you. And once a year, we get the perfect opportunity to show people around us that we do care and appreciate them. Christmas is a time of giving and thanking people who have touched our lives.
In the workplace, there are many people who we work with closely or who work quietly to make our lives better. This holiday season, you can show them that you care by giving a sincere greeting or a thoughtful gift. Here are a few suggestions…
FOR YOUR BOSS
This is a tough one. I suggest finding out your boss’ interest or hobby, then go from there. Bosses don’t really expect you to give them expensive gifts, but a thoughtful one will tickle them. The best gift I’ve ever received as a boss is actually a simple picture frame with a magazine photo of myself with personalized headlines that my staff designed using photoshop.
FOR YOUR SUBORDINATES
Go for things that they can use in the office such as desk organizers, toiletry bags, lunch boxes, personalized pens or daily planners. You can also give motivational books or cds that can inspire them. These things are much appreciated and will help your staff perform better at work.
FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES
Colleagues may experience the same issues or stresses that you may encounter. So cheer them up with gifts of humour like novelty clips for the office, quotable quote magnets, book of jokes and funny calendars. A little humour in gifts will help your colleagues relax and remember you for giving them these little welcomed breaks.
FOR YOUR CLIENTS
Since customers are critical for every business, your company will definitely allot the budget and gift inventory for clients. Popular gifts for top clients include gift baskets, wines, cakes and goodies. Corporate giveaways such as bags, pens, calculators, caps, and mugs are also quite popular. Personalized greeting cards also help.
FOR OFFICE HELPERS
Janitors, guards, pantry keepers and messengers make our work lives a lot easier. Show them that you appreciate their help with simple things like cookies, umbrellas, t-shirts, or slippers. These things do not cost much but it goes a long way in making them feel extra special this Christmas.
A thoughtful gift need not be expensive. The point of gift-giving is showing people that you care enough to spend time and effort in making them feel special. It is really about being gracious. Let’s all celebrate the yuletide season with a gift of grace.
Aside from her day job as president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines, Jhoanna O. Gan-So is also a master wrapper of gifts during the holiday season. She has appeared on several TV shows and has conducted workshops on creative arts and crafts for fun to hundreds of people. Meanwhile, her company regularly conducts seminars on Business, Finance, HR and Corporate Skills Training. To know more about the seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Seven Ways to Increase Your Employablity
[Published in Manila Bulletin last Dec. 9, 2009]
Having interviewed many job applicants for more than a decade, I have seen my share of the best and the worst.
The best ones are gems that come by once in awhile and HR practitioners like me rejoice when we sense a perfect fit. The worst ones (people with questionable characters) are more difficult to detect because it takes time and a lot of background checking to know the true nature of a person.
Interestingly, majority of job applicants fall in between the best and the worst. These people are essentially good, but they have not yet developed into their full potential nor have they mastered the art of job hunting. Like rough diamonds, all they need is some polishing to shine in the job hunting game.
If you want to increase your employability, here are seven practical tips that you can do to become more marketable and to find a job that is right for you.
1) Upgrade Your Skills
Whether you are a new graduate or a transitioning worker, you need to stay on top of your game by continuously learning and upgrading your skills. To do this, you can make it a point to learn something new every year by reading books, attending seminars or studying online. Develop your communication and people skills, as well as technical or computer know-how. Nowadays, information is very accessible, so there shouldn’t be any excuse for not learning.
2) Get Experience
If you are a new graduate, do not let lack of experience stop you from getting a good job. There are many ways to get experience such as volunteer work, internship or being active in community group activities. If you have work samples or project portfolios, show them. These can get you in the door and could even lead you to a good job.
3) Develop a Pleasant Attitude
Most recruitment officers look for skills and experience when they read through resumes. But when you come face to face with them during an interview, it is your personality that they will respond to. If you are pleasant, positive and generally likeable, you are more likely to impress them. HR practitioners look for people that are easy to work with and manage.
4) Enhance Your Image
From your resume photo to your actual interview, take the time to groom yourself and dress properly. Not only will you impress your recruitment officer but you will also earn his or her respect. Like a precious gem, you need to cut and polish it to be able to present it as a valuable commodity and command a good price. When you look presentable, you will become more marketable.
5) Improve Your Online Presence
Social Networking Sites are becoming very popular and quite a few HR practitioners are beginning to use these resources as a way to do background checks on potential candidates. They may look into your facebook, friendster or multiply accounts, so be sure to keep a decent profile of yourself. Avoid bikini shots and inappropriate words that may destroy your reputation. Meanwhile, if you have a blog, an online resume or website that you are proud of, you can include them as part of your portfolio.
6) Build Your Network of Contacts
In business, the more connections you have, the better your chances of success. The same is true when you are looking for employment, especially in the field of sales and marketing. When you are well-connected and willing to tap your network to succeed in your job, your value as a job candidate instantly increases. So be sure to mention people or groups that you are connected with either socially or professionally, it will definitely increase your employability.
7) Do Your Homework
Employers and HR practitioners love it when you show sincere interest in their company. So before an interview, research about the company and visit their website. Let the interviewer know that you have done so by asking questions or referring to their website. You can even go as far as sharing ideas or projects that you can contribute to help the company succeed. Taking the time to show that you are really interested in working for their company will make them more interested in you.
Many people get frustrated and discouraged in job hunting because they think lack of education or work experience is hindering their chances of getting a job. Although these are important, there are several ways to get educated and gain experience. More importantly, there are other factors that can make you very marketable. So believe that you can be a gem of an employee and start increasing your employability today!
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. They conduct seminars on Corporate Skills Development, HR Management, Job Evaluation, Labor Law and Trainers Training. Together with her team, she has recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Having interviewed many job applicants for more than a decade, I have seen my share of the best and the worst.
The best ones are gems that come by once in awhile and HR practitioners like me rejoice when we sense a perfect fit. The worst ones (people with questionable characters) are more difficult to detect because it takes time and a lot of background checking to know the true nature of a person.
Interestingly, majority of job applicants fall in between the best and the worst. These people are essentially good, but they have not yet developed into their full potential nor have they mastered the art of job hunting. Like rough diamonds, all they need is some polishing to shine in the job hunting game.
If you want to increase your employability, here are seven practical tips that you can do to become more marketable and to find a job that is right for you.
1) Upgrade Your Skills
Whether you are a new graduate or a transitioning worker, you need to stay on top of your game by continuously learning and upgrading your skills. To do this, you can make it a point to learn something new every year by reading books, attending seminars or studying online. Develop your communication and people skills, as well as technical or computer know-how. Nowadays, information is very accessible, so there shouldn’t be any excuse for not learning.
2) Get Experience
If you are a new graduate, do not let lack of experience stop you from getting a good job. There are many ways to get experience such as volunteer work, internship or being active in community group activities. If you have work samples or project portfolios, show them. These can get you in the door and could even lead you to a good job.
3) Develop a Pleasant Attitude
Most recruitment officers look for skills and experience when they read through resumes. But when you come face to face with them during an interview, it is your personality that they will respond to. If you are pleasant, positive and generally likeable, you are more likely to impress them. HR practitioners look for people that are easy to work with and manage.
4) Enhance Your Image
From your resume photo to your actual interview, take the time to groom yourself and dress properly. Not only will you impress your recruitment officer but you will also earn his or her respect. Like a precious gem, you need to cut and polish it to be able to present it as a valuable commodity and command a good price. When you look presentable, you will become more marketable.
5) Improve Your Online Presence
Social Networking Sites are becoming very popular and quite a few HR practitioners are beginning to use these resources as a way to do background checks on potential candidates. They may look into your facebook, friendster or multiply accounts, so be sure to keep a decent profile of yourself. Avoid bikini shots and inappropriate words that may destroy your reputation. Meanwhile, if you have a blog, an online resume or website that you are proud of, you can include them as part of your portfolio.
6) Build Your Network of Contacts
In business, the more connections you have, the better your chances of success. The same is true when you are looking for employment, especially in the field of sales and marketing. When you are well-connected and willing to tap your network to succeed in your job, your value as a job candidate instantly increases. So be sure to mention people or groups that you are connected with either socially or professionally, it will definitely increase your employability.
7) Do Your Homework
Employers and HR practitioners love it when you show sincere interest in their company. So before an interview, research about the company and visit their website. Let the interviewer know that you have done so by asking questions or referring to their website. You can even go as far as sharing ideas or projects that you can contribute to help the company succeed. Taking the time to show that you are really interested in working for their company will make them more interested in you.
Many people get frustrated and discouraged in job hunting because they think lack of education or work experience is hindering their chances of getting a job. Although these are important, there are several ways to get educated and gain experience. More importantly, there are other factors that can make you very marketable. So believe that you can be a gem of an employee and start increasing your employability today!
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. They conduct seminars on Corporate Skills Development, HR Management, Job Evaluation, Labor Law and Trainers Training. Together with her team, she has recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
How Much Is Your Job Worth?
[Published in Manila Bulletin last November 18, 2009]
The good thing about being employed by a stable company is the assurance that every month, no matter what, there’s money coming in as long as you work for the company. However, if you ask most employees, they will probably tell you that they wish there were more.
Wishing for a higher salary is not necessarily a bad thing. Most of us need more of it so that we can afford everyday things like rent, food and the can’t-do-without cellphone load. More importantly, we want to be able to take care of our loved ones and move up in life. These are noble reasons and we all deserve to live a good, comfortable life. BUT, is asking for a pay raise justifiable?
Before barging in your boss’ door and demanding for a salary increase, it is important to ask critical questions that can give you a better chance of getting what you want. These are:
• Am I doing excellent work?
• Can the company afford an increase in my salary?
• How much is my job worth for my company?
JOB WORTH
Job worth is the value that your company places on each job position and function of each employee. To put it simply, it is the “price tag” of your job. The higher your contribution to the company, the higher pay you deserve. There are various factors that determine your job worth, but these are highly dependent on what the company values most. For instance, some companies put more credit on attitude over skill. Others look for performance and contribution over tenure. Hence, different job positions and functions will have a different job worth for each company. Different employees have and deserve different salaries.
How Salaries Are Determined
The truth is, salaries come in all shapes and sizes. The person sitting beside you in the office may be getting a bigger pay slip than you are (or he may be getting a smaller one) regardless of how long you have been working for the company or how many mouths you have to feed.
Not a lot of people know this, but structured companies go through a process called Job Evaluation to design a pay structure that is fair and reasonable for their employees. A pay structure is basically a charted guide that shows the ranges of salaries for each position level in a company. This helps companies determine the pay range for new hires. It guides them on pay increases and promotions.
In our highly attended Job Evaluation class, we thoroughly explain and apply several methodologies for job evaluation. Since one article is not enough to explain the process, let me just give you a birds-eye-view of the Job Evaluation Process. If you are an employee seeking to know more about salary negotiations, this will give you a good background for stating your case. If you are an HR practitioner or business owner, Job Evaluation is a worthy endeavor that you should learn and apply to provide a pay scale that is appropriate for your employees.
Why Salaries Sometimes Differ Among Same Level Employees
Although all employees are an important part of a company, not all job positions and functions are created equal. See, some jobs are critical to the existence of the company in the sense that the company cannot survive or will be in turmoil without it (ex. Sales, Accounting, etc.). Meanwhile, others are really not as vital because the company will still run without it or the function can be outsourced. Some jobs contribute directly to the company’s profits while others do not. Hence, it is important to adjust the payroll based on the importance of one’s job function.
Who Decides On How Much I Should Get Paid
For smaller companies, the owner usually decides. However, for growing companies and big establishments who conduct Job Evaluations, a panel is elected. The panel comprises of representatives from each sector or department. They go through several meetings where they evaluate, rate and deliberate various job positions and functions based on pre-determined factors important to the company. These meetings sometimes get heated as each representative defends the worth of their jobs and their colleague’s job. After going through the process, the panel with the help of HR, designs the Pay Structure of the company.
How Does the Pay Structure Affect Your Salary
Once HR comes up with the Pay Structure, they will seek the approval of top management. If approved, they will use it as a guide for determining your salary. So, let’s say you are a new employee and you applied for a certain position in their company, your salary will more or less conform to the salary range specified for your rank or level. If you are asking for a raise, the amount of your raise will fall within the range, otherwise you may get promoted.
JOB EVALUATION is a process and method that companies use to determine your pay. Your job worth is dependent on your functions and performance. So be sure to prove your worth by adding major contributions to your company. In other words, increase your job worth by being worth it.
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. They conduct seminars on HR Management, Job Evaluation, Labor Law and Trainers Training. Together with her team, she has recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
The good thing about being employed by a stable company is the assurance that every month, no matter what, there’s money coming in as long as you work for the company. However, if you ask most employees, they will probably tell you that they wish there were more.
Wishing for a higher salary is not necessarily a bad thing. Most of us need more of it so that we can afford everyday things like rent, food and the can’t-do-without cellphone load. More importantly, we want to be able to take care of our loved ones and move up in life. These are noble reasons and we all deserve to live a good, comfortable life. BUT, is asking for a pay raise justifiable?
Before barging in your boss’ door and demanding for a salary increase, it is important to ask critical questions that can give you a better chance of getting what you want. These are:
• Am I doing excellent work?
• Can the company afford an increase in my salary?
• How much is my job worth for my company?
JOB WORTH
Job worth is the value that your company places on each job position and function of each employee. To put it simply, it is the “price tag” of your job. The higher your contribution to the company, the higher pay you deserve. There are various factors that determine your job worth, but these are highly dependent on what the company values most. For instance, some companies put more credit on attitude over skill. Others look for performance and contribution over tenure. Hence, different job positions and functions will have a different job worth for each company. Different employees have and deserve different salaries.
How Salaries Are Determined
The truth is, salaries come in all shapes and sizes. The person sitting beside you in the office may be getting a bigger pay slip than you are (or he may be getting a smaller one) regardless of how long you have been working for the company or how many mouths you have to feed.
Not a lot of people know this, but structured companies go through a process called Job Evaluation to design a pay structure that is fair and reasonable for their employees. A pay structure is basically a charted guide that shows the ranges of salaries for each position level in a company. This helps companies determine the pay range for new hires. It guides them on pay increases and promotions.
In our highly attended Job Evaluation class, we thoroughly explain and apply several methodologies for job evaluation. Since one article is not enough to explain the process, let me just give you a birds-eye-view of the Job Evaluation Process. If you are an employee seeking to know more about salary negotiations, this will give you a good background for stating your case. If you are an HR practitioner or business owner, Job Evaluation is a worthy endeavor that you should learn and apply to provide a pay scale that is appropriate for your employees.
Why Salaries Sometimes Differ Among Same Level Employees
Although all employees are an important part of a company, not all job positions and functions are created equal. See, some jobs are critical to the existence of the company in the sense that the company cannot survive or will be in turmoil without it (ex. Sales, Accounting, etc.). Meanwhile, others are really not as vital because the company will still run without it or the function can be outsourced. Some jobs contribute directly to the company’s profits while others do not. Hence, it is important to adjust the payroll based on the importance of one’s job function.
Who Decides On How Much I Should Get Paid
For smaller companies, the owner usually decides. However, for growing companies and big establishments who conduct Job Evaluations, a panel is elected. The panel comprises of representatives from each sector or department. They go through several meetings where they evaluate, rate and deliberate various job positions and functions based on pre-determined factors important to the company. These meetings sometimes get heated as each representative defends the worth of their jobs and their colleague’s job. After going through the process, the panel with the help of HR, designs the Pay Structure of the company.
How Does the Pay Structure Affect Your Salary
Once HR comes up with the Pay Structure, they will seek the approval of top management. If approved, they will use it as a guide for determining your salary. So, let’s say you are a new employee and you applied for a certain position in their company, your salary will more or less conform to the salary range specified for your rank or level. If you are asking for a raise, the amount of your raise will fall within the range, otherwise you may get promoted.
JOB EVALUATION is a process and method that companies use to determine your pay. Your job worth is dependent on your functions and performance. So be sure to prove your worth by adding major contributions to your company. In other words, increase your job worth by being worth it.
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. They conduct seminars on HR Management, Job Evaluation, Labor Law and Trainers Training. Together with her team, she has recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Simplify Your Worklife
[Published in Manila Bulletin last November 11, 2009]
Back in school, we were told by many well-meaning teachers to study hard, do things thoroughly, and follow all rules to the letter. Although there is wisdom in those words, I find that many people who seriously did exactly what the teachers told them to do also end up as people who did everything “by the book”.
“By the book” people carry that habit into their adult life. Having worked with a handful of them, I have observed that they usually do a very good job, but it takes them a very long time to finish their tasks. Some of them have become perfectionists to a fault, spending all their time, effort and energy to do the task perfectly, regardless of whether it is important or not. They are often too busy, too overwhelmed with work and lead very complicated work-lives.
Interestingly, I have found that certain habits that were frowned upon when we were children in school serves to help us in our adult work life. Controversial as it may sound, wisdom can also be found from people who slacked off a bit or got the teacher’s ire.
Here’s a fresh look at some of the bad habits that can be transformed into something good and even used to simplify our work life.
Tickle Your Lazy Bones. Sometimes, laziness is good---particularly if you use it as a catalyst for creativity and resourcefulness. Let’s face it, there are really times when you don’t feel like working so hard on a particular project. You still have to accomplish what you are supposed to do no matter what, but you don’t want to put in too much physical effort. So what can you do? Take the lazy but creative route to accomplishing the project. For instance, I once had to do a photographic essay on music (a photographic essay is a series of pictures that tell a story about your subject with short quips). Most of my peers went all around the Metro to find different musical instruments to shoot with their models. Since, I didn’t have the time and resources to look for instruments, I simply asked my model to pose “artistically” using imaginary instruments. This Lazy-Creative approach garnered for me the top award among my peers with little effort on my part.
Don’t be a Busy Bee. As little children, our mothers would scold us for staying in front of the television all day long and doing nothing. So to escape the sermon, we would get up and act busy. Unfortunately, this habit has been carried over to our adult work life. There are many of us who sincerely want to prove to our bosses that we are doing a good job by being busy. But the question is, are we being busy for the sake of being busy? When my husband was starting out in the corporate world, he would work until the wee hours of the morning. His boss saw him doing this and asked, “Is that a sign of dedication or incompetence?” This question made my husband realize at a young age that success is not about how much harder you work, it’s the results that count.
Learn as You Go. There are some people who would not get into something because they have not mapped out an extensive detailed plan or they have not mastered a particular field. So they read tons of books about the subject, gather as much information as they can find and even hire a bunch of consultants for advice. They get so overwhelmed with the information and task at hand that they end up getting stuck in the process. This is called Analysis Paralysis and people who experience this usually end up doing nothing. On the other hand, I believe experience is the best teacher of all and sometimes, you just have to take the plunge and learn as you go. See, your mind and creativity heightens when there’s something at stake and your learning curve speeds up when you are actually in the game. Sometimes, you need to tell yourself, “Just do it!”
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel if you do not need to. Have you ever noticed that when a new management or department head replaces the old, currently running projects would get discontinued in place of new programs? When this happens, the time and resources spent on the previous projects get wasted and more time, resources and energy is used up to start new projects. I believe in the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. So when I was hired as a new Marketing Head for a Healthcare company, the first thing I did was reviewed the existing programs, marketing materials and projects of the previous administration. I continued and used all the marketing materials that the one before me created and just improved it and applied it to my own projects. That way, company funds are not wasted and at the same time, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Speed it Up with Short Cuts. Our company once hired an IT specialist to teach non-IT people how to create websites. Because of his background, he proposed a curriculum that included extensive lessons on HTML coding and logical flowchart exercises. Since there were already free software programs available in the market that simplified the task with thousands of existing templates to choose from, we rejected the curriculum he proposed. See, in this day and age, you don’t have to do your task from scratch or be what I call a “Purist”. You don’t have to go the long way to get things done. Most of the time, shortcuts are better as long as you do not sacrifice the quality of your product or service. So, it’s okay to take shortcuts.
Simplifying Your Work Life is about doing what works. Instead of working hard, what we should be striving to do is to WORK SMART.
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. Together with her team, she has recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com or call (632)6874645. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Back in school, we were told by many well-meaning teachers to study hard, do things thoroughly, and follow all rules to the letter. Although there is wisdom in those words, I find that many people who seriously did exactly what the teachers told them to do also end up as people who did everything “by the book”.
“By the book” people carry that habit into their adult life. Having worked with a handful of them, I have observed that they usually do a very good job, but it takes them a very long time to finish their tasks. Some of them have become perfectionists to a fault, spending all their time, effort and energy to do the task perfectly, regardless of whether it is important or not. They are often too busy, too overwhelmed with work and lead very complicated work-lives.
Interestingly, I have found that certain habits that were frowned upon when we were children in school serves to help us in our adult work life. Controversial as it may sound, wisdom can also be found from people who slacked off a bit or got the teacher’s ire.
Here’s a fresh look at some of the bad habits that can be transformed into something good and even used to simplify our work life.
Tickle Your Lazy Bones. Sometimes, laziness is good---particularly if you use it as a catalyst for creativity and resourcefulness. Let’s face it, there are really times when you don’t feel like working so hard on a particular project. You still have to accomplish what you are supposed to do no matter what, but you don’t want to put in too much physical effort. So what can you do? Take the lazy but creative route to accomplishing the project. For instance, I once had to do a photographic essay on music (a photographic essay is a series of pictures that tell a story about your subject with short quips). Most of my peers went all around the Metro to find different musical instruments to shoot with their models. Since, I didn’t have the time and resources to look for instruments, I simply asked my model to pose “artistically” using imaginary instruments. This Lazy-Creative approach garnered for me the top award among my peers with little effort on my part.
Don’t be a Busy Bee. As little children, our mothers would scold us for staying in front of the television all day long and doing nothing. So to escape the sermon, we would get up and act busy. Unfortunately, this habit has been carried over to our adult work life. There are many of us who sincerely want to prove to our bosses that we are doing a good job by being busy. But the question is, are we being busy for the sake of being busy? When my husband was starting out in the corporate world, he would work until the wee hours of the morning. His boss saw him doing this and asked, “Is that a sign of dedication or incompetence?” This question made my husband realize at a young age that success is not about how much harder you work, it’s the results that count.
Learn as You Go. There are some people who would not get into something because they have not mapped out an extensive detailed plan or they have not mastered a particular field. So they read tons of books about the subject, gather as much information as they can find and even hire a bunch of consultants for advice. They get so overwhelmed with the information and task at hand that they end up getting stuck in the process. This is called Analysis Paralysis and people who experience this usually end up doing nothing. On the other hand, I believe experience is the best teacher of all and sometimes, you just have to take the plunge and learn as you go. See, your mind and creativity heightens when there’s something at stake and your learning curve speeds up when you are actually in the game. Sometimes, you need to tell yourself, “Just do it!”
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel if you do not need to. Have you ever noticed that when a new management or department head replaces the old, currently running projects would get discontinued in place of new programs? When this happens, the time and resources spent on the previous projects get wasted and more time, resources and energy is used up to start new projects. I believe in the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. So when I was hired as a new Marketing Head for a Healthcare company, the first thing I did was reviewed the existing programs, marketing materials and projects of the previous administration. I continued and used all the marketing materials that the one before me created and just improved it and applied it to my own projects. That way, company funds are not wasted and at the same time, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Speed it Up with Short Cuts. Our company once hired an IT specialist to teach non-IT people how to create websites. Because of his background, he proposed a curriculum that included extensive lessons on HTML coding and logical flowchart exercises. Since there were already free software programs available in the market that simplified the task with thousands of existing templates to choose from, we rejected the curriculum he proposed. See, in this day and age, you don’t have to do your task from scratch or be what I call a “Purist”. You don’t have to go the long way to get things done. Most of the time, shortcuts are better as long as you do not sacrifice the quality of your product or service. So, it’s okay to take shortcuts.
Simplifying Your Work Life is about doing what works. Instead of working hard, what we should be striving to do is to WORK SMART.
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. Together with her team, she has recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com or call (632)6874645. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
