3 Ways To Boost Your Chances Of Getting A Promotion

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. If your career choice has landed you in a government agency, private company or a non-profit, a key to your advancement is getting promoted. Some individuals get promoted while others don’t. What are some ways to get promoted? The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Ways To Boost Your Chances Of Getting A Promotion.

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It can be so frustrating when you keep getting passed over for promotions. If it happens once or twice, that might just be a bit of bad luck. But if you lose out to somebody else over and over again, you need to make some changes. It might just be that your boss isn’t treating you fairly and you should think about moving to another company where there are more opportunities. But sometimes, you might be missing out on promotions because you aren’t presenting yourself in the right way or you don’t have the right skills. The good news is, there are some simple things that you can do to improve your chances. These are the best ways to boost your chances of getting a promotion.

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Invest In Education

A lack of skills and experience may be the reason that you are not getting promotions. If there are other candidates that have a higher level of education than you, that might be the deciding factor when it comes to choosing, so you will miss out. But if you invest in your own education and personal development, you can pick up new skills and show your employer that you are willing to go the extra mile. There are some great online education and career training courses available in all sorts of different areas. You can take these online courses in your own time, and fit them around work, so when it comes time to promote somebody, you will be a more attractive prospect.

Be Confident

People are often overlooked because they are not confident and they don’t put themselves out there enough. Your employer won’t promote you if you don’t make it clear that you are looking for opportunities to progress. So many people are held back by their fears and it limits their career progression. If you are going to get anywhere, you need to let go of any self-doubt and be more confident in the workplace. You also need to make it clear to your boss that you want a promotion, otherwise, they might assume that you are happy where you are.

Take Initiative

Somebody that does the bare minimum is never going to get promoted because that is not what your boss is looking for. If you come in, do your job, and collect a paycheck without going above and beyond, you won’t even be considered for promotion. You need to demonstrate that you are capable of doing more than your current job requires of you, which is why you need to take the initiative sometimes. Look out for opportunities to improve processes and do things more efficiently at work, and try to take a leadership role and help out your colleagues with their work. If you can demonstrate that you have good ideas and you can be a good leader, you’re far more likely to be considered for senior roles.

If you want to climb the career ladder, you will have to put a lot of hard work in and be patient. But if you follow these tips, you can improve your chances.

Life After The Army: Now What?

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two key focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Health/Wellness. Our Military Servicemen and Servicewomen have made the ultimate sacrifice for your country. While some decide to make a lifetime career our of military service, some come out early, and some even come out earlier than expected. For many the transition to civilian life is difficult. The following contributed post is entitled, Life After The Army: Now What?

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When people leave the army, they do so for various reasons. It might be down to a wish to return to civilian life. Or, it could be because of unforeseen circumstances, such as health problems. Whatever the reason in your case, you will no doubt be wondering what to do next.

For many veterans, it can feel alien going back to a civilian lifestyle; this rings true if they have devoted many years of their lives to the army. Still, one thing is for sure: there is a life after military service. If you’ve recently left the army, you may be wondering what’s in store for you as a civilian.

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Today’s handy article is by no means a “do this all right now” list. It’s a guide to give you some ideas of where you can go from here.

Register with Veterans Affairs (VA)

You might not realize it, but you could get practical support and financial help from the VA. There is help available with things like education, health care, and disability benefits.

All you need to do is contact your local VA office and ask for their requirements. You can check out their website at va.gov for more details.

Spend quality time with your family and friends

One of the downsides to being in the army is that you spent a long time away from your old civilian life. Now that you have come back to it, you should start reconnecting with everyone.

Make a conscious effort to spend time with those closest to you. Remember: you’ve got a lot of catching up to do!

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Look for employment

There is a vast choice of career options for you out there. You may not realize it, but you will have a lot of skills transferable into the civilian world!

Take a look at the Military Skills Translator over at military.com. You can use that as a guide to see what kinds of civilian jobs you could do.

Find somewhere to live

For the first time in a long while, you can now decide where you are going to live! As you can imagine, you have an almost limitless choice. You might even choose to move to another state or even another country!

If you’re thinking of buying a home, it’s worth speaking to a VA loan lender first. That way, you will know for sure what you can afford.

Update your wardrobe

There is no denying that you may be lacking somewhat in the clothing department. After all; you’ve only had to wear a uniform while you served in the army!

Now is the time to update your wardrobe. Remember: when you’re out looking for a new job, you need to dress for success. Invest in some suits and smart shoes. It will result in you looking AND feeling good too.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Last, but not least, if you need help adjusting to civilian life, or for anything else, don’t be shy. You are not an island – ask for help if you need it.

Good luck!

Don’t Put Your Job Before Your Health

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and two key focuses are Career Discussions and Health/Wellness. A significant portion of the lives of employees is spent at their jobs, such that their jobs can almost become the basis for their lives. As such they can have adverse effects on the employee’s personal health. There must thus be a balance. The following contributed post is entitled, Don’t Put Your Job Before Your Health.

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Many of us work hard so that we may be able to enjoy a better quality of life. However, hard work can have the opposite effect and it can make our quality of life worse by damaging our health. Here are several ways in which you should you be putting your health first.

Don’t put off seeing a doctor

Many of us don’t take time off work to see a doctor. This can cause health concerns to get gradually worse. Whether you’ve got an employer or you happen to be your own boss, there’s no excuse not to see a doctor. You can schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor in advance allowing you to time to make arrangements or you can look into out-of-hours services. There are even doctors that you can call out to your workplace.

Pay attention to health and safety

Health and safety in the workplace is important. Make sure that you’re wearing the right equipment to protect yourself against injuries and follow safety protocols to minimize further injuries. If you’re self-employed, it’s your job to implement these health and safety measures. Consider talking to a health and safety adviser who can help you to introduce health and safety measures into your business.

Protect against RSIs

RSIs (repetitive strain injuries) often get overlooked because they’re long-term. However, these injuries are just as important to avoid, so that your quality of life isn’t negatively affected later on. If your job involves a repeated action such as typing, make sure that your posture and hand position is right as you type to avoid strain (ideally, your wrist should be the same level as your keyboard). Using specific equipment may also help to prevent RSIs in certain cases. For instance, power tools that don’t vibrate as much are less likely to lead to RSIs.

Know when to take a break

Everybody needs a break now and again. If you’ve recently sustained an injury, taking a break from work could be essential for helping it to heal, especially if certain job tasks are likely to aggravate the injury. Taking a break could also be important if you’re experiencing a lot of stress at work. As well as causing mental health problems, stress can take its toll on your physical health leading to high blood pressure and fatigue. In fact, stress is thought to be a leading cause of heart attacks. A break could not just allow you a chance to destress, but it could help you gain perspective as to whether your job is worth the stress.

Careers For Those In Search Of A Vocation

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and a key focus of my blog is Career Discussions. Choosing the right career could be the difference between a prosperous and fulfilled life and one that is unfulfilled. Likewise there will always be a need for certain vocations. The following contributed post is entitled, Careers For Those In Search Of A Vocation.

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There are different kinds of jobs in the world. Some people are just looking for a part-time position to help them pay the bills, but others are looking for a full-time role. Some people are looking for a temporary job whilst they figure out what they want to do with their lives, and other people are looking for something with more permanence. Careers are often viewed as permanent job paths, but that doesn’t mean everybody has a career they want to maintain forever. Perhaps you’re working in a job you dislike and you want to find a better path. Here are some careers for those in search of a vocation.

Teaching.
You might want to consider a career in teaching if you feel unfulfilled in your current career. This is a very rewarding career path for people who aspire to do a job that allows them to help others. You’ll be helping to shape the future by preparing young minds for the world that awaits them as adults. Obviously, it’s not always an easy job, but it’s a career that’s well-suited to those who can face a challenge. And, academically, it suits professionals of multiple backgrounds (of course). You just need to choose a subject that works well for you in terms of your qualifications and interests. You should do some research on teacher training courses. It can take a few years to become a qualified teacher, but it’s worth it for the opportunity to change lives.

Trucking.
Trucking is another career opportunity that could take your life in a different direction. Obviously, a trucker’s lifestyle is quite independent, and you’d have to be content with the idea of being on the road for days, weeks, or sometimes months at a time. It can be quite difficult for people with families or other loved ones who they might not get to see for extended periods of time. Of course, if you love the idea of getting out there and seeing the world, then it could be the perfect career for you. You should look at some truck driving companies that are hiring. You’d have to do some training before you could be qualified to become a trucker, but it’s a possible career route for anyone with the right mentality.

Marketing.
If you’re a creative person, then a career in marketing might be perfect for you. Many artistic people tell themselves that they have to compromise when it comes to their jobs. Kids are often told by their parents and teachers that creative careers aren’t always financially stable, but it depends on how you define a creative career. Yes, if you try to become a famous painter, then you might struggle to earn a stable income until you’re well-known, but there are plenty of job opportunities in the business world for artistic people. If you’re gifted with words, then you could channel that into enticing slogans and adverts. Perhaps you’re good at creating videos or short films and you could turn that into a marketing career; companies always need adverts for TV and YouTube.

4 Tips For Hiring The Right People For Your Company

The first principal of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and two key focuses are Business/Entrepreneurship and Career Discussions. One of the keys to success for your company is hiring the right people to perform your critical functions. Hiring the right people can only maximize profits, but it can also solidify the long-term health of your company. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Tips For Hiring The Right People For Your Company.

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As an entrepreneur, you’ll know that your employees are the hub of your operation. Hiring the right people for your company is both important and challenging. Interviews are a mere snapshot into the candidate you’re taking on; so every moment counts. It’s vital to find a person who can contribute to your company culture and who possesses the right skills and attributes. Let’s consider a few tips that can help you throughout the process.

Create a thorough job description

One of the first things that you’ll need to do is to create a thorough job description. You need to break down all of the duties that the role entails and include them in great detail. You’ll need to define the personality traits and attributes that your candidate is going to need. Consider if you need someone with certain experience or qualifications. Perhaps you are happy for someone to learn certain things on the job? The more thorough that your job description is, the easier it will be to find the perfect person. As well as this, a detailed job description can ensure that you don’t have unsuitable candidates applying for the role.

Plan your interview process

You should create an interview process plan that sets out how many stages your interview will have. It’s key to decide exactly what will be included in each stage. You might have an application form, followed by a first stage interview in-person. Perhaps you’ll then create a short-list of the best candidates to take through to a second-stage interview. It may be that you prefer a group interview with group tasks. Such interviews can be useful if you wish to learn about how a candidate works in a team. When you are conducting your interviews, you’ll want to test the candidates skills and knowledge as much as you can. Some businesses like to create interview tasks to do so; whether a presentation about leadership or designing a marketing strategy. Give your interviewees every chance to show their talents and make a good impression.

Background checks

It’s essential to perform background checks on any candidate before you hire them. Employee Background Checks are a surefire way to ensure that you are definitely getting the right person for the job. Any bad reference or criminal activity could mean that you have to rule out the candidate. Background checks are useful to protect yourself and your company. In many industries, it is a common legality that the employee must pass a police check before they are hired.

Probation periods

It’s a good idea to have a probation period included in any employee contract. In the case of hiring the wrong person, it may be that they do not pass the probation period requirements. If this is the case, you’ll be allowing yourself to then find a more suitable candidate. Make sure that the employee understands the probation period and precisely what is expected of them. When you are looking to hire the perfect employee it’s key to focus on attention to detail from the start.

5 Ways to Make a Good First Impression

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and a key focus is Career Discussions. In the professional world, making good impressions early is critical. They can make the difference between you getting the job or closing the deal. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Ways to Make a Good First Impression.

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Do you have an important event, meeting or interview coming up and want to make a good impression? Maybe it’s in your daily life, meeting your partner’s parents or attending a big family wedding for example? Either way, if you’re going to be meeting and speaking to other people and want to make sure you’re coming across in the best way possible, here are a few ways to go about it.

Turn up on time

When it comes to making a good impression, punctuality is everything. In the cases of things like interviews, even being a few minutes late can be make or break, but timekeeping is always something to be aware of when you’re trying to present yourself in the best way. Being late tends to give the impression ‘I value my own time more than yours’ and can either look arrogant or sloppy. If you have a big interview, meeting or event coming up, set your alarm early, plan your route and be aware of anything that might crop up that could delay you and then work around this.

Dress well

Dressing well and looking the part isn’t about being shallow. Subconsciously, we tend to judge others on the way they look outwardly even if we don’t mean to. It’s not to say you need to be the most attractive person in the world but definitely work with what you have. Ensure you’re well groomed and tidy, your clothes should be clean and fit well. Look at mens custom suits, or spend some time trying on different fits and styles off the rack to find what suits your body best. These sorts of things send a message that you care about and respect yourself and can make it easier for others to respect you too.

Stand tall

We tend to naturally gravitate towards people that feel confident, when people look as though they’re feeling shy and awkward it can make others feel the same way. So stand tall, you’ll look confident even if you don’t feel it and it’s another thing you can do to help people build a positive impression of you. Maintain an open stance, this means avoid crossing your arms or if you’re socialising, avoid holding a drink across your chest as this can give quite a closed impression. Keep your shoulders relaxed, head straight (without putting your chin in the air as this can give a cocky/ arrogant appearance). It can actually be worth doing some research into body language and bringing some of these tips into your daily actions so you can be sure you’re presenting yourself in the best way possible. Even things like eye contact and a firm handshake especially when you’re first meeting someone can be extremely important, go into the encounter with a positive mindset and it should reflect in the way you come across.

Smile and be friendly

Coming across and friendly and personable can most definitely help people to warm to you. You don’t want to be fake, bearing teeth and over the top laughing at the jokes that are made, but do smile as it shows people that you’re friendly and worth getting to know.

Listen and be responsive

It’s not all about promoting yourself, you need to be a keen listener in the conversation with whoever you’re talking to. Show that you’re listening and engaging to the other person by using body language, respond in the right way to what they’ve said and pause- many people don’t let others get a word in edgeways! If you show the other person that you’re listening and valuing what they’re saying then chances are they’re going to want to engage with you back. You’ll be more likeable and generally give off a more positive impression.

Are These Fears Limiting Your Career Progression

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. Sometimes the obstacles holding us back from advancing in our careers is ourselves. Often it’s fear. The following contributed post is entitled, Are These Fears Limiting Your Career Progression.

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Are you bored with your current career position?

Do you regularly complain about your place on the career ladder?

Are you struggling to live on a low wage?

If so, then you need to take steps to progress in your career, whether that’s moving from an entry-level position in your own company, or be it moving into higher positions elsewhere if you have outgrown the company you are already working in.

But if you haven’t taken the necessary next steps yet, it could be down to the fears we suggest in this article. To move forward, you need to find ways to overcome them.

Fear #1: The fear that you aren’t good enough

What if you don’t have what it takes to manage new responsibilities? What if other people pick up on your weaknesses? What if you get fired for being bad in your new position?

These ‘what if’s’ are common to those who fear they aren’t good enough. However, if you already feel ready for career progression, then you might have what it takes after all. But even if you don’t, you can overcome this fear by taking the necessary steps to better yourself. So, you might take training courses to brush up on your skills, or you might consider a graduate degree that pertains to higher positions on your career path. You might also have the opportunity to learn key skills where you are now, so ask your boss for help, or speak to your colleagues for assistance.

By taking these steps, you will increase in confidence, and so the fear of not being good enough might disappear.

Fear #2: The fear of change

By moving into new positions within or outside of your company, you might be afraid of leaving the people you already have a working relationship with. Should you be ready to apply for executive jobs, you might be afraid of the responsibilities involved in a leadership position. If a move in your career necessitates a relocation, then you might be afraid of living and starting out somewhere new.

It’s the fear of change, of life being different, and while progression is a good thing, you might worry about the repercussions.

But here’s the thing. More often than not, change is a good thing.

In the examples we listed above, you might discover that you still have time to meet up with your existing colleagues while making new friendships along the way. You might enjoy a leadership role, not only because of the financial benefits but because you will have a hand in shaping a company too. And you might discover a wealth of new opportunities if you have to relocate, including the chance to meet new people and see other parts of the world.

Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and especially if you are worried that you are currently stagnating in your current position, you should consider the risk of change a viable one.

Finally

Listen, you don’t have to progress in your career. If you are happy where you, then fine. However, if you know you have more to offer your industry, and if you want to gain greater financial and personal rewards at work, then no matter what your fears are, you should face them head-on and take steps to conquer them. Your life might change for the better if you do.

3 Medical Careers For People That Don’t Want To Be Doctors

“Some people also feel that they cannot handle the stress and long hours of being a doctor or a nurse. But those aren’t the only jobs in the medical industry, it takes a lot of different skills to keep a hospital running.”

Three of the focuses of my blog are Career Discussion, General Education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Many individuals don’t understand the multiple career paths they can go into beside becoming a medical doctor. There are actually quite a few options for medical careers. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Medical Careers For People That Don’t Want To Be Doctors.

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Working in the medical industry is an incredibly rewarding career choice because you get the chance to care for people and improve their lives on a daily basis. But a lot of people are put off pursuing a career in health because they think that it means having to do the training necessary to become a doctor.

Some people also feel that they cannot handle the stress and long hours of being a doctor or a nurse. But those aren’t the only jobs in the medical industry, it takes a lot of different skills to keep a hospital running. There are so many great medical careers that most that you might not even know about and some of them might be perfect for you. What you need right now is research. You need research, and you need to determine where you’d want to work even if you did find a career in the healthcare industry that suited you. If you’ve worked in a caring capacity before, there’s every chance you’ve used Care.com reviews to help you to figure out your next move. Well, research is what you need to do to pivot into the next caring job you have in the health industry. The right job is out there for you! These are the best medical careers outside of being a doctor or a nurse.

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Pharmacologist

Developing new drugs to treat patients is an incredibly important part of the medical industry. Innovations in medicine can save countless lives and the people that are pushing the research forward have a very rewarding role to play. If you have a keen interest in science and you think that you would be well suited to a research and development role, you could consider becoming a pharmacologist. You will need to get an undergraduate degree in pharmacology and possibly a graduate degree as well, so it can be difficult to move into this field in later life. But if you are willing to invest in education, this could be a great career choice for you.

Phlebotomist

Most people have never heard of a phlebotomist but it’s likely that you’ve been seen by one at some point in your life. They are the people that deal with drawing blood, usually for tests or donations. There are some people that are specifically phlebotomists while others incorporate it into a wider role, like nursing. It’s quite common for people to go through phlebotomy training and then use it as a stepping stone to other medical careers. If you think that you might like to work in the medical field but you aren’t quite sure what you want to do, this is a good place to start.

Medical Science Liaison

Medical science liaisons are a middle man between the companies that develop new technology and treatment methods, and the medical facilities that use them. The majority of medical science liaisons are people that have worked in the medical field in a different role already, so this isn’t a great choice if you’re just trying to enter the industry. They require a different set of skills to what you would find in other jobs in the medical profession. A lot of the time, being a medical science liaison is more similar to a sales job, so if you have good people skills and you like a job that gives you the chance to travel around a lot, this could be ideal for you.

You don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to work in the medical industry, these are just some of the other amazing career choices you could consider.

You Need To Take The Best Possible Care Of Your Employees

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what kind of business you’re running, keeping your employees happy will be key. Taking care of your employees will likely ensure their loyalty and maximize their productivity. The following contributed post is entitled, You Need To Take The Best Possible Care Of Your Employees.

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There are a lot of things that a business needs to be successful. It needs a product. It needs capital and investment. It needs relevant technology. These are all incredibly important. But there’s one thing that a business needs more than just about anything else. A business needs people. Without people at the heart of it, working hard to make it as great as possible, a business is doomed to fail. It’s absolutely crucial that you take care of your employees and make sure that they feel valued and important to the business. Here are just a few ways that you can care for your employees, for the good of them, you and your entire business.

Be honest with them

One of the most frustrating things in the world for an employee is when their boss isn’t being straight with them. If there are changes coming up in the business or adjustments to the way people work, don’t keep them to yourself. Be as open and upfront with your employees as much as you possibly can. This might mean that you’ll sometimes have to be the bearer of bad news. But you employees will appreciate your honesty far more than if you kept them in the dark for extended periods of time. This is a great way to maintain an atmosphere of trust. If employees don’t feel like you’re being honest with them, any trust and goodwill that you had will go out of the window pretty quickly. By being honest and upfront with your employees, you remind them that you’re on their side and that you’re there for them. Even if it’s difficult, make sure that you don’t keep things from your employees that you should be talking to them about. A difficult discussion early on is better than having to explain why you kept them in the dark further down the line.

Show your appreciation

Consider just how obvious and easy this is, it’s shocking how many employers forget about it altogether. Don’t just leave your employees to get on with it and never let them know how much you appreciate them. Eventually they’re going to start to resent their work and by extension, you. It’s just human nature to want to be rewarded for a job well done. This doesn’t mean you need to offer a raise or a promotion every time someone completes a task. But if you do little things every now and then to let your employees know that their hard work is being acknowledged, it can make a big difference. Offer a small bonus near to the end of the year. Maybe set up small outings to do things like beach cleaning for your employees as a team building exercise. Not only with this offer them something fun and different to do, but will bring them closer as a team as well.

Unhappy, frustrated employees produce work that is shoddily done and half finished. I you want your employees to help your business run as successfully as possible then you need to make sure they’re well taken care of. Even just small things like this advice will make a massive difference to the attitude of your employees.

How To Know If You’re Hiring The Right Person

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and A key focus of my blog is Career Discussions. I key to the success in any organization is hiring the right people. Doing so will give your organization the best chance to succeed. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Know If You’re Hiring The Right Person.

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If part of your job is hiring new people, you may be wondering where exactly you start. Almost anyone can present themselves well in an interview, so how do you figure out who the best candidates are? Here are some tips to help you work out who’s worth hiring…

Consider Their Potential
When you’re interviewing someone, it’s important to focus on the potential that they have, rather than what they’ve done in the past. Relevant experience is always nice, but it’s important to make sure that you hire someone who is driven to learn and wants to do better instead of someone who could do the job in their sleep. A common interview technique is walking candidates through their resumes, but is that really such a good idea? If you called them in for an interview, chances are their resume is absolutely fine. Consider the future instead and the potential that the candidate has to learn.

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Check Their References
It’s important to make sure that the candidate is who they say they are. Even though you should focus on the future, you need to ensure that the information you have about their past is completely accurate. Make sure that you call up their references before you offer them the job to confirm that the information you have is accurate. If you’re uncertain, you could even conduct a background check that will tell you everything that you need to know.

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Think About Your Current Team
It’s important to think about the team that you already have when you are hiring somebody new. Even if they remind you of someone you love who already works with you, that might not be a good thing. You want to make sure that you don’t hire clones of people who are already at the company. You need someone who has a different skillset and who brings something entirely new to the office.

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What About Your Office Dynamic?
A hugely underrated thing to ask oneself during an interview is: Could I handle sitting across from this person for forty hours every week? It’s important to consider whether the candidate will fit in with your office dynamic. If you can tell they’re a quiet and shy person when your office is extremely sociable and loud, there’s a chance that they might not fit in – and that they might not be happy there. Your resume has given them all the information you need on their employment history so don’t forget that part of the interview process is to work out who’s a good fit for you and your team.

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Ask About Hobbies And Interests
Most jobs can be learned eventually, and people can be trained to hold certain workplace skills. But there are qualities like hard work, teamwork, and a positive attitude that can’t be taught. So it’s a good idea to ask the candidate about what they like to do in their spare time. If they play on a basketball team, they know how to work well with others. If they love to draw, they’re creative. If they like to hike, they’re persevering and adventurous. You can measure people’s qualities by the way that they spend their free time.

Trust your instincts when you’re hiring new staff and you’ll get it right.