You have selected the best of employees as your company grows. But you have won the half battle. The other most important part is to on-board those qualified employees properly. According to a survey, the new hires have admitted that their decision on whether they will stay with an organization is made within their first six months of employment. That is why the first six months is called as the honeymoon period. All employers should take advantage of this period in turning new hires into long-term valuable employees. Follow these great test practices to make sure your new employees get started on the right foot-

Plan it up

Whether you have a plan or not, your employees will be getting some kind of on-boarding in their initial days. Make your they will experience how you want them to. It is crucial to make sure that same message is delivered to all the new employees.

A welcoming gesture

All the employees should feel welcomed from the very start. Tell them you are excited to meet all of them and expecting a great future of the company by employing all of them. This message can be delivered via emails or personalized welcome message on digital signage. The idea is to make the new employees happy and excited about work, company and its surroundings.

Arm them with right tools

Figure out what new employees may require and make sure the necessary things are available on time. It leaves a bad impression when employees find they don’t have phone numbers, computer is not working or desk has no paper to take notes. Setting up all the important things such as computers, phones, all software logins, email accounts etc.

Orientation

Inform employees about company’s mission, vision, goals, values, culture and other important process. It is just like introducing the company and its work processes. Mentoring and training the employees time to time also hold importance. Keeping a track of the new employees’ performances, collecting feedback’s and employing post-boarding activities are also some important factors need to be taken care of.

Importance of on-boarding

An effective on-boarding process reduces time to productivity and reduces stress. Time to productivity means how long a new hire takes to become a full-fledged contributing employee. A structured on-boarding process can reduce this time from months to weeks. Employees have four core needs -physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The employer should take care of all these needs in the best way possible. It is bound for the new employee to be stressed as they do not have to learn about the new job but they have to adapt to the new culture. It is not at all surprising why on-boarding is important. It saves company’s money, increases employee satisfaction, reduces stress and increases productivity.

Different companies have different on-boarding processes and requirements. But the aim is same. Making the new hires comfortable and accustomed to the new environment so that they can work freely and effectively.

What is your take on it? Do you have any other reason why on-boarding is important? Share with us in the comments below.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post Importance effective on-boarding appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

Be it any position, crafting a compelling job description is vital to invite the most qualified candidates for the job. This critical document performs functions such as describing required skills and competencies, defining the job position, serving the basis for the employment contract and acts as a valuable performance management tool. For writing a clear, concise and effective job description, you just need to follow these amazing tips-

Specific job titles

Make sure you use targeted job titles instead of generic ones. A perfect job title should possess following qualities-

• It should perfectly define the nature and duties
• It should include a key phrase that accurately describe the role
• Avoid internal lingo that may confuse the candidate
• It should reflect the ranking order
• It should be free from age and gender implications

Example- Parking inspector- a good job title while Council Enforcement officer- a bad job title.

An apt Job summary

A strong and attention-grabbing summary has every potential to captivate the job seeker. It is must to provide an overview of the company and expectations for the position. Inform readers why your company is unique – a insight about company culture will sum up why a candidate would love to work for you. Include an exact job location so that the job seeker will have a much-needed clarity on this. Mention the salary range that is competitive with similar positions in other organizations rather than assigning a particular salary to the position. Make sure the salary section is updated from time to time to match the changing pay scale.

A good job description should also include reporting lines and working relationships. Reporting lines gives a clear view by showing who the candidate reports to. It is not only important to know the compliance issues but also to have a better understanding of the hierarchical structure of the organization.

Working relationship implies the people and departments, the candidate will work closely with. There is no better way than an organizational chart to throw light on this aspect.

Responsibilities and duties

A list of duties and responsibilities associated with the role is highly recommended in order to get the right candidate. Though this list will vary in length but it should be concise and short. If you will bombard the Job description with numerous duties, the document will become operational manual rather than a job description. Roles in smaller companies generally have all-rounder nature but you need to make it as short as possible. Highlight the day-to-day activities of the position which will help candidate understand the daily tasks. It is also required to specify previous job experience, educational qualifications, certifications and other skills. If the job demands, you should also include required personal traits such as soft skills, problem solving and great communication skills. You might be tempted to list out all the skills required but follow the rule- short and concise.

A well-written job description gives the reader a sense of priorities involved. Accuracy of job description will provide more success in future.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post Quick Guide For Job Description Preparation appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

While leading a team, you need to wear different hats. Sometimes you have to change many hats in a single day. Here hats imply roles you are accountable for in order to successfully run a team. While there are likely more, but we will talk about ten hats in leadership.

Wear Facilitator hat

As a leader you need to make sure that team members have good working conditions and you have a role to facilitate for others. It is not just about meeting or group situation, there are times when you might wear a hat of facilitator for smooth flow of business and greater productivity.

Wear Coach hat

The role of a coach is not just coaching but developing full potential of team members. Analyzing performances, instructing in relevant skills and providing time-to-time encouragement – all are important aspects of a coach hat. As a leader, it is your prime responsibility to help others to succeed in roles and prepare for future roles.

Wear Visionary hat

Keeping in mind the strategy, leaders should have a clear picture of where we are and where we want to go. He should know how to bridge the gap by heading the team in the right direction. He should know and capable of articulating the objectives and why these goals matter to the organization, their team and themselves.

Wear Decision maker hat

A great team is made when inputs of all team members pour in. As a leader, you should be decisive in nature. Procrastinating things will lead to lack of energy, motivation and participation in a team. Whether it a petty decision or a policy changing decision, a leader has to come forward and take necessary action.

Wear Strategist hat

While it is believed that this hat is worn by leaders at higher levels in the organization but the truth is that all leaders must think strategically. Think about the big picture. And a leader must know what directions and approaches must be used to achieve the desired result.

Wear Change agent hat

With strategy and vision- need for change is inevitable. If the leader is open to changes, his team will follow.

Wear Influencer hat

“Be the change you want to see in others” – this hat perfectly matches the quote. A leader should continuously influence his team members to keep things going.

Wear Team member hat

As a leader, you are not always leading. You are also one of the members in the team. A successful leader knows how to put this hat on and when to take it off.

Delegator

A leader should know how to get the things done from others. You cannot do it all.  You should know how to efficiently delegate work.

Listener

This hat needs to be tightly fit. Even if you are not leading a team, great listening skill take you a long way. As a leader, this hat needs to be underneath all the other hats all the time. The best leaders talk less and listen, ask and observe more.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post Different Hats In A Team appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

Is Position described looking fantastic but the experience required is a little out of reach? There are times when you spot a perfect job but you feel a little light on experience. But don’t give up on it just yet! We understand that job market is flooded with candidates, you just need to give your little experience resume a little boost. Here are some impressive tips to nail it-

Get started with your skills

Thoroughly read the job description. For any qualification you think you do not meet, try to think of a time where you did something relevant or similar. Be prepared with your response in advance with some additional strengths as why you would be a perfect candidate for that particular task. No company want random experience so if you will present something related to the requirements, you tend to have better chances to get selected.

Learn the new skill- fast

There is no worry if you are not pro at every skill company is asking for, you can learn about it before time. Go for the tutorial online to gain some knowledge and understand the basics about that particular skill. This step will boost your confidence and you can easily impress the interviewer. In some cases, just telling them that you are learning that skill is enough to be in the good books of the interviewer.

Show them obstacles are the stepping stones

Another way to overcome a skill gap during an interview is to show them you know how to rise to a challenge. Talk about a time that you have achieved a milestone or your efforts were appreciated in a role where previously had zero experience. Make them realize that you are willing to do whatever is needed in order to learn new skills.

Let your resume speak for you

If you really wish to position yourself for the job you are not experienced for, tailor your resume accordingly. Make sure your resume highlights the strengths and transferable skills to the job you are interested in. There are many free services that can evaluate your resume on the basis of its appearance and content. Make a smart move ad get hired for your dream job!

Be confident and give your best shot

It’s normal when you have little experience, you tend to feel under confident. Without confidence, it is difficult to make good impression in the professional world. For some, it’s a piece of a cake but for most, it is harder to achieve. The goal is to look confident, even if you really aren’t.  There are several tricks to accomplish this. Standing tall, making eye contact, speaking slowly and clearly, keeping your hands visible, sitting with right posture and taking big steps are some of the amazing ways to determine confidence level of a person.

The idea is to make a strong and smart impression to get the message across that you are worth taking a chance on.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post How to look qualified when little light on experience ? appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

Whether headhunters or recruiters or hiring managers, all roles have same mission- finding a right person to fill a position but their responsibilities vary. As a jobseeker, you need to know how they are different from each other. Our easy-to-understand guide will help you out –

Headhunters

Headhunters are bounty hunters to some extent and play a major role in recruiting process. While the term headhunter and recruiters seem same but their roles are slightly different from each other’s. Headhunter is a person who does not work for a company but he works as a third-party agent on behalf of their client who is hiring employer.

The main source of income is successful placement of candidates into open roles. Their objective is to focus on a specialty area. Be it urgent role in a certain industry or mainly filling up executive-level positions.  Most of the time an employer will hire a headhunter to fill an important vacancy and be sure that the candidate complies to all job requirements. Headhunters are generally get paid based on the percentage of the salary of the selected candidate. And they will get paid only when the candidate is perfectly fit for the job and selected for the job.

Recruiters

A recruiter is generally hired by the company to fill in the positions. First of all, the recruiter tries to understand the job requirements and understand their ideal candidate by discussing everything with the hiring manager. Recruiters can also be full-time employees. In this case, the recruiter already knows the company in and out, job requirements and even hiring manager personally.

Whether a recruiter has been hired internally or externally, their job is to present all the viable candidates for the hiring manager which means first interaction with the candidate is the responsibility of recruiter. If the recruiter does not find candidate suitable in the first interaction then he can reject him. In short, they will determine which candidate will get opportunity to meet the hiring manager. Always remember recruiter’s work is to match candidate’s capabilities with the job requirement. Whether selected or not, the candidate should build a long-term relationship with the recruiter. Hardworking and experienced recruiters can bring lots of future opportunities for the candidates.

Work-well with the recruiter keeping in mind certain tips such as don’t waste the recruiter’s time, be honest, prepare a good resume, treat a call with recruiter like a job interview, be prepared and be realistic. In short, you need to present yourself as a most ideal candidate. So, find an honest and good recruiter and invite great job opportunities at your door.

Hiring Managers

Hiring manager is the closest link to the job seeker but you may only deal with them towards the end of the recruitment process. Besides recruitment, hiring manager has various other duties and responsibilities. It is the hiring manager who has the last say. He has all the authority to make the final decision about who gets the job. So, the hiring manager job is to select the candidate that best fit the role and the company.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post Headhunters vs Recruiters vs Hiring Managers appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

So, your exciting time has finally arrived? Are you all charged up to approach the first day in the new company? Are you nervous that how will you fit into the company culture? Fret not, its normal to feel this way! The process of blending into your new company culture is as important as acing the interview. We will tell you how?

Be updated and do your homework

The work will not resume the morning of the first day but that does not mean that you should walk through the doors with zero expectations. Do your research about company’s culture, read on to the history, vision and mission of the organization, talk to the contacts you already have there, take help of social media (LinkedIn, Facebook) to give you a sense of coworkers. On-boarding process really works, be sure to put into your personal efforts.

Keep the doors open

Before focusing on the actual work, it is vital to concentrate as much as on people and culture in the first days. Organizations also provide buffer period to every employee so that they get accustomed to the new job and environment. Make use of this time by absorbing everything you can about those around you. Be open minded and sociable. Integrating into a company’s culture may be difficult for those who are shy in nature but not asking questions early will only make them awkward to ask down the line.

Take help of those who have been associated with the company for years, as they will be able to provide you with the most in-depth info. Establish relationships with your colleagues, internal clients, managers and HR people. Make sure you join them during their lunch break or free time. Know how the people being addressed. Use words with caution especially swear words or while sharing jokes. What may be accepted in a media firm may be considered rude in management company.

Get connected over the time

The culture of companies change as time goes on, try to be a part of regular conferences, meetings and special holiday parties, functions and events. Be slow and steady in learning about a company and its people. While awkward moments, strenuous conditions and difficult employees are bound to pop up, it’s your knowledge and attitude that will help you fit into any new job for the long haul. Culture helps to keep the workplace exciting when the things get monotonous.

Changes can be hard but they bring liveliness to anything. Transition becomes easier when you making real efforts to adapt to the company culture. Patience and kindness are of prime importance when learning the ways of the new place and building relationship.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post How To Rightly Adapt To Companies Culture? appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

Internships are wonderful ways to prepare people for their future career. It does not only provide deeper understanding of the path they want to choose but also help them experience real-work situation in their chosen profession. The aim of every internship should be to bring you closer to your future goals. So before choosing the internship, make sure you have the answers of the following questions-

Is the nature of work compatible to your major and career objectives?

If you are majoring in Accounts and plan to work in accounts department, you probably do not want to intern in a hospital. So be sure that the tasks and responsibilities are matching to the type of career path you want to pave. Go for the internship which is adding new tools to your toolbox.

Is the internship environment fits with your personality?

when you go for the interview, try to take the feel of the environment. There is no point of settling for an internship where you don’t feel comfortable. Always remember environment in internship and your experience are interrelated. You should have a proper work space with required equipment.

Will you have enough opportunities to grow?

The whole idea of an internship is to get opportunities in future. Networking is one of the important considerations while choosing an internship. Look for an internship which will introduce you to new people, new tasks and new responsibilities. This has a potential of giving you a ticket to a job later.

Is the location comfortable for you?

This becomes an important consideration keeping your financial situation in mind. During internship, you do not earn a handsome salary so you want to be in an internship in which the location won’t be much of a burden to you.

Will the internship be providing scheduling flexibility?

Most college students have already studies and work to cop with. So, choose an internship which understands your schedule as well. In short, an internship should be a stepping stone to a great future rather than being a roadblock.

What about the supervisors?

The success of an internship depends on the excellent supervision. Is there a proper guidance to help you complete a task or clarify questions? You will never know if you are doing things properly in the absence of a great supervision. It takes time to get accustomed to a new environment and new tasks. You want someone who can provide you invaluable experience and guide you throughout.

Will you be receiving feedbacks?

Feedback’s are perfect way to know there is still a scope of learning. If you want to succeed in your professional life, look for an internship that offer structured evaluations. Criticism should be taken in a positive sense and thrive to seek the best results.

Will you be getting perks or incentives?

Incentives promote loyalty and retention. An intern is bound to be a penny-pinker  because of his constrained budget. When a company provides perks and incentives, it gives a person reason to stay one more month. It also boosts their morale, foster communication and help add value to the company.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post Choosing The Right Internship appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

Trying to search for the right career coach but feel overwhelmed with the proliferation of coaches in the market? How to identify a good coach who has a real-world experience? Worry not, check out these amazing tips to follow when choosing the right coach for you-

1. Credentials

If the career coach holds a certification with leading global organisation that provides formal training and adhere to general standards of professionalism, be sure you have got the right catch.

2. Work experience

In order to help someone in achieving work-related goals, A great coach must himself have a real-world work experience. It has been observed that are plenty of career coaches who excel in life coaching but have few practical suggestions. If a person has not been through different working conditions, how can he help you?

3. Authenticity of references

If the coach is willing to provide references from his past clients, nothing can beat the authenticity. Go by the references offered to you by your friend, relative or any acquaintance. One of the best ways is to look at the ratings and reviews on social media.

4. Credibility

Choose a coach who is renowned and recognized for his success stories and achievements. Is he visible in the industry? Any published articles or books? Has he ever been a part of professional conferences? Your chosen coach must be 100 % dedicated and committed to the profession.

5. Goals

A great coach should know the art of determining your overall goals. He should understand the specific milestones and able to tell you what might results look like beforehand. Always try for one-to-one sessions.

6. Great match

Coaching is not less than a partnership between two persons who are thriving to achieve the same goals. Comfortability, trust, openness are some of the apt parameters that should be followed by both parties. In short, there is a good fit before moving ahead.

7. Fee

It is perfectly fine to think about the cost involved. Some coaches provide sessions that may last an hour or a whole day, some provide reading material and crucial books, some wants to meet you just once or twice- so you must know how much you are expected to pay and for what? But avoid being penny wise and pound foolish. Do not just select the coach because he is charging the least.

8. Consultation

Make the most of your first meeting. Try out your best to figure out whether the coach is capable enough to help you realise your goals. The first meeting should be free. Anyone who charges consultation for it, he is nothing but a money maker.

9. Guarantee

Despite of all your hard work and dedication, you reach nowhere so what to do in certain situation. Be aware whether the coach will give refund or extra time to fulfill your purpose. It is better to research about how often the person has had to give someone refund and under what circumstances.

Discovery session is an ultimate way to evaluate a career coach!

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post How To Choose The Right Career Coach? appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

A new employee is expected to perform new duties, learn a large amount of information and master a variety of skills within short period of time. The initial training period is a probation period to test their abilities and competency. It a two-way street wherein both employer and employee have to give in their best. Employees need to be engaged and employers need to give a platform where employers can engage effectively. Here are some wonderful ways to optimize your training experience-

Plan your day

When you have to juggle between training and performing the job, it becomes utmost important to incorporate time management skill. Time management will allow you to be more productive and relieved from the stresses of the training period. Plan your day in advance and map out the plan for tomorrow. In short, make the most out of the training period.

Write it down

When you join a new job, it is inevitable to get overwhelmed with the information. You cannot remember everything so making notes will let you manage your knowledge and data. Though it consumes time but can help you in reducing future errors and redundant questions.

Take help of mnemonic devices

Not all the information can be written down. Some has to be memorized. Try using popular mnemonic devices like expression, music and names to improve your ability to remember things.

Go for customized training

Look for the opportunity of customised training. Oftentimes, you need to undertake a training where the training materials are outdated and the manager is super busy. One-to-one job training is an excellent way to get acquainted with new work.

Be a team player

You can achieve success in your training phase only when you focus on being a proactive problem solver and maintain camaraderie with your colleagues. Honesty, openness and cooperation are some important qualities to be a successful employee.

Set your priorities

When you are undertaking on the job training, there is no time to waste as you need to achieve organisational goals as well. The best way is to set priorities so that you can finish up the job right on time.

Be ready

New employees are bombarded with information so they need to prepare at home. Read the available material, highlight key areas and prepare questions.

Be confident

High energies and fresh ideas are welcomed everywhere. Most of the times, new employee orientation is considered as a formality but it is also a wonderful chance to learn, discuss and challenge existing ideas. Do not be timid in asking questions. It is your right to clarify doubts.

Help help help

New employees feel intimated while asking for help. But it is better to clear out things instead of messing up due to lack of information.

Get involved

Acclimating to a new environment takes time. Engage with co-workers, establish good relationships, actively participate in activities, volunteer for assignments and help others during training period. Training period is an excellent opportunity to accustom yourself in the new organisation.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post On The Job Learning. How To Optimize? appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..

Are you about to throw your hat in the ring to get your perfect job? If yes, watch out for the right referees. They are of vital importance and can land you in the right job. Even if you have all the right skills that your prospective company needs, all the endeavour will be in vain if your chosen referee is not confident about you. In short, you need to mentor your own referee to make sure that they shine the spotlight on the fact that you are an ideal candidate. Choosing the right referees can make or break your chances of success. Things to consider while choosing the right referees for your resume-

1. Should know your work

Find someone who can attest to the way you work and what you are capable of. If a referee knows ins and outs of your work, he would be able to present in the most impressive manner possible. It is recommended to choose a senior rather than a peer. The crux is – choose someone who has worked closely with you. Try to be up-to date while making your choice.

2. Should think highly of you

There is no doubt about it. If you will choose someone who thinks good of you or appreciate your capabilities, you surely get success. Choose someone who can give first-hand accounts of the success you had in the past projects and knows your potential.

3. Work out the best options

It is wonderful to have lots of options but pick contacts from different spheres of life such as academic, personal and professional. It is advised to stick to professional and academic contacts unless an employer asks for a personal one.

4. Tailor your references

Different companies have different requirements for the same designation. The way you tailor your resume to target different companies, give the same level of consideration to your choice of referees. For example – if a job demands to have supervisory skills, select references who can advocate about your management and leadership skills.

5. Should be confident

Confidence breeds strength. If your referee is armed with confident tones with impressive vocabulary, they can sell you well. You know you can really spoil things. So choose someone who has good phone manners with good communication skills.

6. Brief your referees

Mentoring your referee is an important task you need to take care of. Provide a background on the job you are applying to, which post you are applying for and expected attributes in advance. Also remind them of the great endeavors, accomplishments and projects you have handled so far.

7. Provide contact details on request

Potential employers will always want to know who they are contacting. Make sure you provide information about their full names, phone numbers, email addresses, how you know them and how long you have known them. Do not mention all the details on the resume itself. Rather write referees are available upon request.

8. Always in gratitude

Gratitude without expressing is similar to wrapping a gift and not giving it away. The same way, write a thank you note and tell them the outcome of the job search.

Reshali Balasubramaniam

Head of HR, HR Counselor and adviser at https://jobpal.lk and EFutureTech Systems. Submit your resume online and be contacted by prospective employers.

The post How To Choose The Right Referees For Your Resume? appeared first on Jobpal.lk - Find Jobs in Sri Lanka. Post Jobs for Free..