Tag Archives: work

Life, Tips

Dress for Success: What to Wear to Your First Job Interview

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There is one opportunity to make a great first impression at a job interview. Having the right clothes and attitude are crucial to landing your dream position. Discover what to wear for your first job interview and how to dress for future success.

Dress Like the Employer

The first step is determining what the employer wears to work to ensure your job interview outfit is appropriate. For example, the best mens navy dress shirt with a suit jacket is ideal for a corporate job interview, but it might not be suitable if interviewing for a camp counselor position. From casual startup businesses to Fortune 500 corporations, each place has a different dress code to follow for job interviews and workdays.

Business Attire Required

Most job interviews require business attire, such as a button-up shirt, suit jacket, dress pants, or a statement dress. The key is to look professional and polished to make a stellar impression on the job interviewer. Always ensure your outfit is clean, pressed, and smells fresh without any telltale stains or tears.

Consider the Climate and Season

Another important consideration is dressing professionally for the climate and season to ensure you are comfortable during the interview. Also, those who travel for job interviews should research the current temperature and conditions to dress appropriately for the area. After all, you don’t want to wear a heavy coat to a job interview in a warm, sunny location!

Inspect the Clothes

Often we wear clothing with flaws and never notice it because we are accustomed to our environment. For example, people with pets often have hair on their clothing or small stains from interacting with their furry friends. Inspect your outfit to remove pet hair and other imperfections for a smooth and clean appearance.

Accessories Matter

Choosing the right accessories is also important to pull together an impressive job interview outfit. Avoid heavy pieces or colorful ones that make a major impact. Instead, opt for classic accessories that complement your overall look without distracting from it.

Remember the Hair

Besides choosing an impressive job interview outfit, always remember to style your hair. A professional outfit with messy hair instantly makes the interviewer wonder if you pay attention to the details. Show your ability to focus on details by wearing a classic hairstyle to complement your job interview ensemble.

Minimal Makeup

Sometimes women put on makeup to feel confident and may overdo it for job interviews. Minimal makeup without sparkles or obviously long lashes makes the best first impression on job interviews. Save the dramatic makeup strategies for a night on the town to celebrate your new job.

Remember the Shoes

No outfit is complete without the proper shoes, including your job interview selection. The shoes you choose depend on the outfit, but they should always be clean and polished. Also, if the shoes have laces, they should be securely tied without fraying ends. It would be a good idea to check out some boots for the office as well as flats, and a slight heel, so you have a range to choose from if you do get the job.

Prepare the Night Before

Finally, lay out your job interview outfit the night before the big day. Don’t over-think your outfit at this point; put everything together to be ready in the morning. When you are well-prepared, you instantly feel more confident.

The right outfit makes you feel ready for success at your job interview. Always research the company dress code and choose an outfit accordingly for the best possible experience.

Lifestyle, Tips

Keeping Connected As A Team Beyond Zoom

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zoom, video conferencing, meetings, business, covid, covid 19

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Zoom has reported a not-insignificant 170% increase in revenue and 250% rise in the value of their stocks since the start of the pandemic – and it’s easy to see why. The advantages of being the first video calling software out of the gate back in March 2020 are clear to see – but is it all set to change?

Consumers are fickle – back in the Tiger King and banana bread stage of COVID-19, we flirted endlessly with Houseparty… until the security breaches persuaded us elsewhere.

Right now, other platforms are emerging with different features all vying for the top spot in virtual networking. With 80% of organizations expected to use cloud services by 2025, let’s explore some of the best platforms to keep remote workers connected.

Asana

Touted as a platform to empower remote workers to plan and coordinate work, Asana is a great alternative for project planning with a visual edge.

On one dashboard, you can structure work to suit your team’s needs, setting priorities and deadlines and assigning tasks from one location. Asana eradicates the need for those ‘just checking the progress on xyz project’ emails as you can transparently see where a job is at, and who it currently lies with. From medical malpractice attorneys to marketing experts, this is great when collaboration is key. 

Used by the likes of Google, Nasa, and Sky, Asana is a tried and tested project management system, capable of handling the smallest tasks to the biggest, global launches all on the same browser.

Microsoft Teams x SelfDrvn

Integrating gamification with a traditional collaborative, virtual workspace, SelfDrvn has recently joined forces with Microsoft Teams to boost employee productivity… with games.

SelfDrvn is an employee engagement platform, optimized to empower and drive remote teams. Encouraging collaboration and togetherness, the software promises to motivate teams towards company-wide goals, urging them to ‘give their best every day.’

Now the service as a solution (SaaS) platform has integrated with Microsoft Teams, a raft of new workplace initiatives will be seen, from talent recognition, appreciation badges, reward points, and levels.

With employers struggling to see how their employees are performing at work without them being in their eye line, this SaaS provider gives key insights to behavior and habits to better commend workers for doing a good job.

Final words on connecting beyond Zoom

Buffer’s 2020 State of Remote Work report shows that 98% of those interviewed would like to continue remote working in some capacity for the rest of their working lives. The biggest struggle they list as their blocker? Collaboration and communication, followed by loneliness.

We are only fresh into the remote working world, but we need to continue to prioritize employee collaboration and communication if the initiative is to succeed. By using some of the tools we have listed above, you can improve the dynamics between your teams and enhance their working experience for good – and who knows what the next big thing in remote software will be.

Lifestyle, Tips

Signs You Need To Take A Break From Work

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We all deserve a break from work now and again. Such a break can be important for letting our mind and body rest, as well as helping us to gain perspective and focus on what really matters. 

Many of us don’t use up all of our vacation time – sometimes going months and even years without a break. Sometimes we push it too far, damaging our health and our relationships beyond repair. It’s important to know exactly when it’s time to take a break. Below are a few signs that you need to take some time off. 

You’re in physical pain as a result of work

If your job is causing your physical pain, it’s a clear sign that you need some rest. This could include back pain from manual labor or carpal tunnel syndrome from typing at a computer. Taking time off could allow you to get the treatment you need and could help your body to heal. Keep working through the pain and you could cause irreversible damage.

Consider seeing a chiropractor or a physical therapist if you have aches and pains. Avoid activities that make the pain worse and take your time to rest. Some employers may be able to offer absence pay or even an insurance payout if the pain is a result of poor health and safety measures.

You feel mentally drained

Stress at work can physically and mentally wear us down. If you feel yourself getting depression or anxiety, it’s a good sign that you should take a break.

If your depression or anxiety is serious, you may want to consider seeing a therapist. In many cases, simply taking a break from work could be all you need for your mental wellbeing. You should also take the time to consider ways of reducing stress at work. Depression or anxiety may even be a sign that it’s time to quit. 

You’re losing focus and motivation at work

Do you feel as if you can’t concentrate at work? Have you lost your passion for the job? A lack of focus and motivation could be another reason to take some time off.

Sometimes a break is needed to reassess our values and determine what is important. A break could help you to decide if a job is no longer for you or it could help you to come back refreshed with new ideas and a new sense of purpose. 

You’re not getting enough sleep

Regular sleep deprivation can have serious negative health effects in the long run such as increasing the risk of heart disease.It’s possible you could be working long hours and sacrificing sleep as a result, or you could find that the stress of work is keeping you awake at night. In either case, it could be worth taking some time off.

This time off could help you to catch up on sleep. You’ll be able to return to work refreshed – you may also want to take the time off to consider how you can improve your sleep quality whether it’s reducing hours or taking sleep medication to combat insomnia. 

You’re not spending enough time with your family

Do your kids or partner complain that they’re not able to spend enough time with you? Do you regularly go to work before the kids are up and come home after they’ve gone to bed? Not spending enough time with your family could be something you regret in the long run. It could even lead to a strained and damaged relationship.

By taking time off, you can rekindle your relationship with your family and build lasting memories. It may even be a chance to consider ways of improving your work/life balance so that you see your family more often.