Succession planning What you need to know

Succession planning What you need to know by Michael Cheary Change isn’t always easy. But it could be good for you…There are a number of reasons why someone might choose to leave their job but finding a replacement fast is vital in minimising risk to the business, especially in a more senior position. And, with a bit of forward planning, you could be in a position to take advantage of the opportunity that is created and further your own career.We spoke to the experts at AVADO, one of the UK’s largest providers of professional qualifications, to find out some of their top tips on how to make succession planning work for you:What is succession planning?Succession planning is when a business prepares for the possibility of employees leaving in the future, primarily by identifying and developing talent already within their organisation.Why is succession planning important?As its most commonly carried out for business-critical positions, succession planning ensures that there’s always a contingency plan if a key s taff member is lost â€" meaning risk can be minimised.Additionally, by having a clear career plan in place and knowing that internal promotions could be a possibility, employee morale is another key benefit.And with a recent study suggesting that 62% of workers would be more engaged if their company had an effective succession plan, it could have huge potential when it comes to productivity.Do all businesses do it?No.In fact, many businesses feel as if they don’t have any viable internal candidates for their top positions â€" part of the reason why 79% of companies feel succession planning will be a problem in their organisation in the next five to ten years.This is where being proactive could give you the advantage. To help you make the most of your opportunity, here are our top tips on how to position yourself to be the next in line for a more senior role.Five tips for making the most of succession planning To help you maximise your chances of progression, here are some top tips on how to benefit from succession planning:Read the job descriptions Identify roles you could progress into and make a note of the key responsibilities, then use them as potential boxes to tick off when planning your own development. It’ll also ensure you have a better idea of the main duties you’ll need to be able to perform. If you find there are skills or qualifications you need for a more senior role, taking on a relevant course will help you get ahead.  Regularly check-in with relevant stake holders Ensure you have scheduled performance/objective meetings to discuss your goals, career ambitions and current progress with your manager. You should also use this time to identify any weaknesses you may have, or barriers which would prevent you from making a step up.Actively seek opportunities for developmentAs well as any work-based training on offer, actively add to your skillset outside of work. Taking an industry-recognised course in your field, such as CIPD for HR positions or AAT for Accountancy, will not only help make you a more viable candidate â€" but also add to your CV should you yourself decide to move on.Set targetsOnce you’ve highlighted some areas for improvement or potential skills gaps, agree a series of attainable (and measurable) goals to help you move forward. Additionally, use this opportunity to mention the possibility of promotion, should you hit your targets.Continue to evaluate your progressRegularly review your career plans with senior management, whether it’s quarterly, six monthly, or annually. That way everyone will be aware of where your career is heading â€" and the potential for moving forward will be made clear. Then you will be a strong position in the event that someone above you leaves.Why study with AVADO?AVADO  is the largest online provider of professional qualifications in the UK.Not only do they offer over 26 years’ worth of experience in online learning, they also have high industry pass rates on their AAT o r CIPD courses.Other benefits of studying with AVADO include:Interactive classes, where you can learn online with other studentsAn online learning platform built around you (and accessible by every device)Affordable, all-inclusive prices â€" with payment plans to suit your budgetDedicated tutors available directly via phone, email and onlineAn easy to understand, step-by-step syllabusFind out moreWant to learn more about how a qualification could help your career? Enquire now.AVADO is the largest online provider of professional qualifications in the UK, with courses available in HR, Accountancy, Bookkeeping, Business and more. Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the Features Life At Work

Web App Gives You the Coffee Shop Feeling Wherever You Choose to Work

Web App Gives You the Coffee Shop Feeling Wherever You Choose to Work Offices are always looking for ways to boost productivity with their fancy layouts, open offices, and voodo magic.   But this might be one of the more creative approaches Ive heard of in a long timeand it actually works. It seems that the reason coffee shops are so popular for the modern worker is that coffee shops have that happy medium between being too noisy and distracting like an open office or two quite and intimidating like a closed office. Even research suggests coffee shops have a magical impact on getting work done. So how do you get the coffee shop vibe when you are stuck in a cubicle, your home office, or an open floor of chaos? Its just a click away. Coffitivity.com plays back the gentle buzz of work and conversation youd hear in a typical Starbucks.   You can even choose from a variety of tracks including Morning Murmur, Lunchtime Lounge, or University Undertones. Give it a shot and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Is the Resume Still Relevant - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Is the Resume Still Relevant - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In this day of passive recruiting, is the resume still relevant? What is passive recruiting? A passive candidate is employed, but not currently looking for a new opportunity. Recruiters are out looking for talent and they do not care whether you are looking. In the world of passive candidates, the resume is relatively meaningless to being found. What is important? Your LinkedIn profile is key! It should be sprinkled with the appropriate keywords! Notice I said sprinkled and not loaded with keywords. A portfolio of your work is also important. How do recruiters and hiring managers know that you know your stuff! This could be: Presentations and documents attached and available to download from your LinkedIn profile Links to industry resources that you wrote in your LinkedIn profile A blog â€" I wrote previously in Establishing Your Personal Brand and Credibility Through Blogging about my good friend Jim Adcock’s blog. Software that you have written on GitHub Anything that shows that you know your stuff! You want all of this information to be publicly available and searchable. It is all about being found! How else will I be found? Your network! 80 â€" 85% of positions are filled through referrals. Keeping the key members of your tribe informed of your skills is key! I wrote about your tribe last week in   Strategic Networking â€" Building Your Tribe. Is the resume dead? NO! Once the hiring manager, recruiter or others in the hiring process find you, they will want to see your resume. It is the ticket to the dance! Note â€" In the deep and dark past we used to have school dances and you needed a ticket to get in! I have worked for two different high tech startups and was found in a passive manner through my network. I do not think my resume got more than a cursory look for both. If the hiring manager is a baby boomer then they will want to see a resume! You will want to bring a copy of your resume on heavy stock paper for everyone that you will interview with. (Yes, I know this is old school but if you will interview with anyone over 50 years of age, you will impress him or her.) Your resume is required to be entered into the ATS, Application Tracking System, which most company uses. As with your LinkedIn profile, it should be sprinkled with appropriate keywords. You should still write a killer resume and cover letter. By the way, 90% of the time the cover letter will never be read. You cannot afford to miss the 10% that will require it and read it. Is the resume dead? No but it is on life support. It is rarely needed on the front end but still is needed on the back-end of the recruiting and hiring process. I believe in 5 or 10 years we will see resume a replacement like Talentral. In the mean time the resume is still relevant. Marc Miller â€" Career Pivot Check out my book Repurpose Your Career â€" A Practical Guide for Baby Boomers Do not forget to follow me on Twitter or FaceBook

You Are What You Drive

You Are What You Drive Not the car, per se. I am not particularly interested in what make or model you drive. Although lots of people think that their choice of car reflects their sense of style, their status, or their virility, many of us simply want a safe and reliable means of transportation. Many more of us have to, and embrace the idea of, settling for what we can afford, so we own used cars or smaller, more economic models. That’s not my point. I have this theory that your car reflects your approach to taking care of business: your job, your attention to detail, how well organized you are in general. I knew a recruiter once who used to send someone out to observe applicants’ cars. If they were well cared for and well organized, she would tend to believe them when they talked about being organized on the job. But if the cars were a mess: dirty, filled with trash, in general disrepair, it threw up a red flag for her. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'r-p5dlOTStZt9xlXlV5KuA',sig:'UP8xbpIQI2np7HdJVzU_7dVDK0051ZivTyp5F-oYL04=',w:'368px',h:'465px',items:'200156335-001',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); #200156335-001 / gettyimages.com A car, for most of us, is a big investment. My car costs as much as my parents’ starter house did in the early 1970s. It’s often one of the largest debts in many households, after the mortgage or college educations. Many of us finance our car over three to five years. So it matter how we treat this investment after we make it. Depreciation is an accounting term, of course; it means “a reduction in the value of an asset with the passage of time, due in particular to wear and tear.” In my mind, it’s also the opposite of appreciation (in both the accounting and holistic sense of the word.) When we first get a new car, we treasure it. We clean it often, we make sure it gets washed and polished, we treat it as if it’s important. But after time, we stop investing in it and it depreciates because we appreciate it less. What does your car look like? Is it neat and clean, or is there trash on or under the seats? When was the last time it was washed and detailed? How current is the routine maintenance on your car? We spend a lot of hours in our car, and your tolerance for dirt, disorganization and disrepair will come into play during your daily commute. Your tolerance for disrepair also comes into play in your job. There are plenty of people who say that they know where everything is and never lose a minute of productivity, no matter what a disaster their desk or files look like. I can’t buy it. Even if you are convinced that you can function in a mess, your colleagues aren’t. According to a 2012 survey by Adecco, the staffing company, 57 percent of workers surveyed said that they judged fellow employees by how messy or clean their desks were â€" and that they attributed messiness to laziness. So when you finish this post and go out to evaluate your car, check in on your boss’s car. If it’s pristine, he or she may be judging you by more than the quality of your last report. Full disclosure: as I researched messy desk / clean desk articles for this post, I found just about an equal number of articles that claimed only a messy desk or a clean desk was the key to productivity, creativity or good behavior. I suspect it would be easy to identify who wrote which article if we checked out their cars. Do you drive a messy car or a clean one? And does it matter? Leave me a comment.

Why Resume Writing Service Middlesboro KY?

Why Resume Writing Service Middlesboro KY?From California to Kentucky, and from Houston to Middletown, there are dozens of resumes being written every day, but only a handful of these are showing results. How do you manage to create the winning CV, or even the winning job profile? If you hire a resume writing service middlesboro ky, you will be able to focus on other areas of your life that need attention!Ressurection Service: Once you have been awarded your job, you will want to have everything on paper, and all of your documents will need to be organized, accessible, and ready to provide the right answers to the potential employer. Your Resume Writing Service can help you realize this, as they will be able to handle the bulk of the work for you.Specialist, Professional Assistance: Although most of us know the importance of preparing and presenting a CV, we still do not think about how much it can actually cost us. A CV is not just a small box, and you can't just toss it in and get it out. By hiring a resume writing service middlesboro ky, you can rest assured that you are looking at the best advice, and the best support, for your work.Resume Editing: Although you may already have a brilliant CV, the truth is that it will never be perfect. Resume writing service Kentucky provides one-on-one CV editing services that can correct any mistakes, spelling errors, or poor grammar. These edits will ensure that your CV gets the best possible results and can get you noticed in your chosen career.Uploading: Before sending your CV to any employer, it is vital that it is uploaded correctly, so that the employer knows exactly what you need to show them. Having your CV uploaded right and in the right format, means that the employer is able to use this document in any way that they see fit. Again, by having a resume writing service middlesboro ky available, you can be sure that the CV is uploaded as expected.Technical Support: If you hire a resume writing service middlesboro ky, you can be assured that your CV will be supported in a wide range of ways. These will include everything from uploading your CV onto a computer system to getting it reviewed by your resume editor. This will ensure that your CV is supported in a number of different ways and can help you go even further than you would have imagined.Internet Presence: If you are searching for a good website to promote your CV, then you may want to hire a resume writing service middlesboro ky. This will ensure that you have the latest and greatest information to show prospective employers and give you a great chance to impress. Not only can it enhance your online presence, but it will give you a great platform to write a compelling CV that is loaded with details.Make sure that you consider all of the options that you have before selecting a resume writing service. You should definitely check out resume writing service UK, and if you feel like you need something more personalised, you may wish to con sider hiring a resume writing service middlesboro ky. However, with the numerous and different CV writing services available, you will find it very difficult to decide which one you want to work with.

Dont Be A Job Search Turkey! - Pathfinder Careers

Dont Be A Job Search Turkey! - Pathfinder Careers Dont Be A Job Search Turkey! Thanksgiving is upon us, and while most people’s thoughts turn to the annual feast and associated family gatherings, it’s important to remember that for job seekers, their search continues on. For them and anyone else contemplating changing job, it is important to know that there are certain things that shouldn’t be done to avoid being labeled a “turkey.” Here are some tips to think about to keep your reputation intact as you look for work: 1) Always thank those that help you. Whether you get a job or the lead that was provided to you turns out to be a dud, never EVER forget who went out of their way to provide assistance to you. It may not work out the way you hoped now, but don’t punish the person who gave that helping hand. If you don’t thank them, you’ll be a TURKEY. 2) Include a reason why you want to connect. The biggest complaint regarding networking websites like “LinkedIn” from users is that they are frequently bombarded by people that they don’t know who request to connect. These users aren’t opposed to connecting; the real problem is that the person making the request doesn’t take the time to include a reason why they want the connection in the first place. If you don’t make an effort to actually CONNECT intellectually with the person on LinkedIn in order to build a meaningful relationship, you’ll be a TURKEY. 3) Ask permission to list someone as a reference. Has this ever happened to you: You get a phone call from an employer who is checking references for a contact or a friend. But you weren’t expecting that call, and end up backpedaling a few times during the conversation, searching for something to say since this call just took you by surprise. But imagine a different scenario: the person being screened actually called you ahead of time, requested your permission to list you as a reference, and gave you the “scoop” on the job for which you are applying. Much better presentation, don’t you think? Failing to get permission to list someone as a reference means that you’ll be a TURKEY. 4) Focus on the positive things you accomplished at previous companies. Badmouthing any employer can be cathartic in the immediate present, but in the end, the only person your words hurt will be yourself. How you discuss former workplace can be very telling to potential employers about how you’ll be talking about them someday. Saying bad things about previous employers means that you’ll be a TURKEY. 5) Be open and positive to opportunity. It’s easy to be discouraged during a job search because you’ll get a TON of rejection. It’s not personal; it’s simply how the universe works. Keep an open mind and no matter what, don’t let this rejection get you down in the dumps. Sure, it’s okay to have a pity party from time to time, but you need to bounce back and keep hope alive no matter what. Shutting down and turning off means that you’ll be a TURKEY. Thanksgiving is a time for us to think about what we have thankful for, and by remembering what being a turkey means in a job search, you can be thankful that you have a positive outlook towards your future! Heres some other great Thanksgiving-related job search advice: A Thanksgiving Day Treat: The Turkey, and Sweet Gratitude  http://bit.ly/U6ucHw  from  Amy Adler Five Strengths Career Experts The Perfect Holiday Job Search Recipe  http://bit.ly/XtxGrr  from Rosa Vargas Executive Resume Service

Seven Things You Dont Want to Have on Your Resume

Seven Things You Dont Want to Have on Your Resume While every job seeker is unique, here are some general items I recommend leaving off of your resume to achieve optimal results.1. Objectives Most hiring managers I talk to are not interested in reading resume objectives. Frequently objectives sound very cliched and they rarely communicate what a candidate can do for an employer. Instead, use a professional summary that outlines your competencies and proves how you can help solve business problems.2. Months of employment Generally, employers are only interested in knowing the year you started and ended employment with a company. Reporting the exact month along with the year is unnecessary.  The exception to this rule is if you have been with a company for less than two years. In that case include the month and year so they can accurately gauge how many months you were employed in a short-tenure position.3. References The term references available upon request is dated and unnecessary on the resume. Employers know that you will supply references if asked.4. Hobbies Unless you have a hobby that is in some way related to your job target, its usually best not to mention these. The fact that you enjoy reading and traveling is rarely of interest to the hiring manager.5. Your picture In a U.S. job market, pictures should not be included on a resume. Hiring managers legally cannot consider your picture in determining if you are to be interviewed or hired, and many companies wont even consider resumes that are submitted with a picture to ensure they are in compliance with Equal Opportunity Employer legislation.6. Salary Including salary information on your resume generally works against you. When included, a hiring manager may use this information to benchmark whether or not the candidate falls within the salary range of their open position. Since a past salary is only an indication of your earnings in a particular job at a particular point in time, it really isnt an accurate reflection of what you should be paid in ano ther job. If you apply to an open job and they request a salary history, list a salary range in your cover letter instead to give you a bit more wiggle room if you are called in for an interview.7. Your GPA Generally, as you gain work experience, your GPA becomes irrelevant to hiring managers. No one will care if you had a 3.8 GPA in 1992 if you cant prove recent success in the positions you have held. Unless you are a recent college graduate, keep your GPA off of your resume. And if you are a recent college graduate, only include your GPA if it is a 3.0 or better.