5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Firing an Employee

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Firing an Employee There isn’t a single company on Earth that gets all of their hires right even recruiting thought-leaders like Google. This fact has one inevitable conclusion: at some point you will need to look a bad hire in the eye and tell them they’re fired. Yet why are we so bad at letting people go when it’s clearly necessary? When that moment comes, you can read 10 top listicles on how to fire someone. But even when they offer good advice, it’s generally focused on what to do in the firing meeting itself. If you’re only starting at such a late stage, you’ve already made some key mistakes. Because whether you’re a founder, manager, or HR officer, you shouldn’t be firing anyone unless you’re fully prepared. Not only to carefully plan your words during the firing meeting, but to be fully aware of the reasons behind and the future outcomes of the scenario about to unfold. Here are some key questions you must answer before telling someone you’re letting them go. 1. Why? This is the question that’s almost guaranteed to come up in any firing meeting. That said, it’s just as often dismissed. But why? In part because that meeting isn’t the right time to give constructive feedback. That discussion belongs to a time before, or even after. In fact, offering a follow-up meeting a few weeks later can be far more constructive than diving right into the “why” question: “Why are you firing me?” Remember, even if you know why, there’s a time and place for that discussion. The bigger problem comes when you’re unsure why, or even whether, you want to part ways with someone. The decision makers involved don’t all have to be 100% in agreement, but should be able to focus on having a solution, next steps, and a clear “why”. Remember, the only thing worse than having doubts about whether to fire a bad employee, is to postpone the decision, creating an environment of animosity,, and allowing things to get worse. 2. When? Conventional wisdom says you should fire someone on Friday afternoon or Monday morning. But conventional wisdom is wrong. You should fire someone as soon as you’ve taken the decision and understand every detail of how you’re going to execute it from the moment you’re telling the employee “you are fired” to the time they leave the office. But why not postpone for just the right moment? Anyone who’s done that in, say, a romantic relationship, knows how awkward and messy the time between deciding to end things and actually ending them can be. For example, you might fall in a situation where you have to decide whether to involve this person in a certain project and have to lie in front of the other team members. This can hurt team trust and worse, cause damage to vital projects. 3. What’s next? When you fire someone, you’ve got to move forward ruthlessly. But what if losing that team member causes chaos on a team? To address that, you should have a plan for who will take over their responsibilities: everything from day-to-day duties to staff meetings, planning and reporting. No doubt the transition period will be tricky, which is why it’s important to designate someone to step in to pick up the slack. If that person happens to be you, there is an added perk of you being able to better understand the position and ultimately hire a better fit next time. Additionally, after you let someone go, they often start thinking more about themselves than the company. Therefore, be prepared to answer the “what’s next for me?” question from the employee. Have a prepared plan with benefits, salary termination, and logistics ready. 4. How to communicate the decision? The worst thing you can do after an employee leaves is not to explain why to the whole company. After all, firing an employee should be mostly about helping their fellow employees. But if you keep the reasons to yourself, it’s easy for employees to assume the worst or create their own stories as to why the firing occurred. Down the road, this could lead to them questioning your motives and hurting morale. Ensure your decision is framed as one taken to benefit the company, admit any failures, and generally consider the viewpoint of your employees. The person leaving probably has friends in the company, so showing respect for that person is vital. 5. What if Im making the wrong decision? Firing is dreadful and there is no way around it. The only thing that you can do is to understand why it’s happening and how to prevent it next time. Once you’ve passed through the difficult moment, sit down, get a paper and write everything that you’ve learned through the journey. Still, remember before you do it, that this is something necessary for the company. Sometimes, keeping the wrong person for the job employed causes many more difficulties than letting them go. And if it happens to be your responsibility to let them go, keep in mind you’re doing a good job not only for the company, but also for the ex-employee. They won’t thrive in your company, neither would they feel happy if they stayed. So do not feel guilty and dont wrongly attribute any fault to yourself for making the firing decision. There would be moments in your career that you are going to promote or reward other employees, but sometimes there would be moments that you have to let some of them go. Being the person who has to say “You are fired” is extremely tough, but true leadership is built on tough conversations. Like so many other complicated things in life, the key to sustaining a tough conversation, is preparation. So don’t underestimate it it’s going to be a good test answering yourself this questions. About the author:  Volen Vulkov is a Co-founder Harmonizer-in-chief of Enhancv.com, a resume builder that triples your chance for interview. Recently he was featured in Forbes 30 under 30.  

The Top Reasons People Arent Applying for Jobs

The Top Reasons People Arent Applying for Jobs Enticing people to apply for your jobs seems like it should be a straightforward task. They want a new job, you’re offering them one that seems to be a good fit, but sometimes the applications just don’t roll in. That’s because anyone who has been through the process of applying for jobs has been burnt so many times by unscrupulous recruiters, companies that aren’t what they seem and jobs that definitely aren’t what was advertised. So, to make sure that the roles you’re advertising don’t fall into the recruitment black hole, it’s useful to look at the reasons that people avoid applying for jobs, and this flow-chart is the best example of the kind of thought processes applicants should go through. After all, changing jobs is a hugely significant gamble for anyone to consider, so they need confidence right at the outset that they won’t be making their situation worse. The first thing to think about for both recruiters and applicants is how current the job posting seems to be. We all know that businesses can take a long time to fill a vacancy, especially if it requires very specific skills and experience or the hiring managers keep changing their minds about what they’re looking for. This means that a job you posted four months ago can still be current, but anyone finding it for the first time will probably think that it’s old and you’ve forgotten to take it down. Another stumbling block can come with whether it’s clear who the job is with, and this is a common trend with roles posted by recruitment agencies keen to keep that information out of the public eye for fear of other agencies contacting them and adding in competition. However, it can be off-putting for job hunters, particularly with the suspicion that there might not even be a real job involved and that this could just be a way to get their CV on file. So, when you can, be as transparent as possible. Increasingly, people need to be aware of potential scams and there are a few red flags that you need to be aware of and avoid doing if you want applications. Overselling the ability for making a lot of money doing the job, asking applicants to call a premium rate number or using an instant messaging service to conduct interviews is all potentially suspicious behavior that will make people wary of getting in touch with you. There’s plenty of over-used cliches in the world of job descriptions and many of them can’t really be avoided, but some definitely should be. Saying that the role would be ideal for students or stay-at-home parents can give the impression that the pay will be rock bottom, while calls for people who are ‘flexible’ or have a ‘good sense of humor’ implies that there’ll be lots of high-pressured work to do, including out of hours. Of course, these may well be part of the jobs themselves, so potential candidates need to know so they can factor such things into their thinking, but you can still be careful how you describe them so you’re not putting people off unnecessarily. Something this flow-chart does make very clear is just how much thought needs to go into job applications, both from the side of the people thinking about applying, but also those creating them in the first place. So, the next time you’re putting up a listing for a new role, why not go through it and see whether you would apply for it if you were in their position? If you end up at ‘No’, then clearly there’s more work to be done. About the author:  James Ellaby  is a freelance writer, journalist, content marketer and researcher working on behalf of  NeoMam Studios.

Why You Should Use a Professional Resume Writing Service

Why You Should Use a Professional Resume Writing Service Why You Should Use a Professional Resume Writing Service? Wanting to update your resume after you have taken a career break is never easy, especially if you have been out of the workforce for a long while. This could have been because you took some time out to start a family and now feel it is time for you to go back to work. Or it could be that you made a return to education to study a new discipline or take a degree, and want to get back to work now that your studies have been completed. It may also be the case that you are looking for a completely new career change after spending a few years in one business sector and it has been several years since you needed to update your resume. Whatever the drive to update your resume is, it can be difficult knowing exactly how to structure, format and evaluate your resume if you have not done it in a while or may even struggle to know where to begin.There are a lot of people that are in the situation of needing to update or completely re-write their resumes, but are completely stuck because they dont know what to write, what to include and what to leave out. It can be a real head-scratcher to know how to best present your skills on your resume that not only catch the eye of a potential new employer, but also perfectly demonstrates you key skills and experience that are needed to get your foot in the door for an interview.This is where a professional resume writing service comes in really handy!Job Candidates more often use Resume Writing ServicesThe number of job-seekers that are using professional resume writing services has been steadily increasing over recent years. According to research conducted by ResumesPlanet , during 2016 the number of people hiring the services of professional resume writers rose by 37% compared to the previous year. This trend looks like it will continue to grow over the next few years too.But what does this demand in resume writing services mean to employers looking for their perfect interview candidates? Well for a start, having a well-balance d professionally presented resume makes their selection process a lot simpler. It makes it easier for recruiters to weed out poorly written resumes that contain spelling mistakes and grammatical errors that make a candidate look sloppy and unprepared. Taking every care to present a good resume, even when written by someone else, can demonstrate to potential employers that you take your job applications seriously.Our pick of the Best Resume Writing Services availableLets take a look at some of our top hand-picked resume writing services and what they can offer a job-seeker who is looking for help to formulate and create the best resume possible.1. Resumes Planet https://www.resumesplanet.com/Considered to be one of the leading, resume-writing services in the US according to The Washington Post, Winchester Star, and The LA Times, Resumes Planet are experts at knowing exactly what employers are looking for.Resumes Planet offer the following services:An Easy Ordering Process It takes less than 5 minutes to fill in the order form.A ResumeCV Written by a Pro Each writer is educated, talented, and has the necessary experience.On-time Delivery Our experts always deliver your order on-time, guaranteed.Interview invitation If you are not invited to an interview within 30 days, we guarantee a free-revision.100% Satisfaction Every customer is fully satisfied with both the final product and our services.You can even check out some of the samples created by their skilled writers before you decide to buy. 2. CV Knowhow https://www.cvknowhow.com/CV Knowhow is a well-know and widely trusted service that has a proven track record in securing their clients more interviews than they would have by going it alone. Your old CV will be comprehensively re-write, re-format and keyword optimised for better success.With a team of over thirty highly trained industry specific CV writers on board, your CV will be written to showcase your skills and achievements to maximise your job hunting opportunities.Their service includes:Unlimited one to one contact with your own personal CV consultantProfessional format and designOptimisation and inclusion of industry appropriate keywordsATS appropriate content to navigate the software gatekeepersCV Knowhow can also write you a professional LinkedIn Profile that will get you noticed.3. ResumeWriters http://resumewriters.com/This professional resume writing service invites you to submit your resume to their site for a major overhaul. You can also send over your career information if you dont have a resume to send.Once you have submitted your information you are assigned a personal writer to help assess your information and plan out a resume according to your needs. You can expect a first draft within just 72 hours of signing up, then your personal writer will tweak your resume until you are completely happy with the results.ResumeWriters offer their services to everyone from students who are just getting started, to prof essionals looking for career promotions or changes to their career path, and also for executives looking to land their next hi-profile position. LinkedIn profiles can also be professionally created for maximum impact.4. Careers Booster https://www.careersbooster.com/Careers Booster is a very experienced and trusted resume writing service with a history stretching back for longer than 17 years. No matter whether you are looking for an entry level position or an executive role, their personalized approach will deliver a perfectly crafted resume to suit your needs.What you get with their personalized services:24/7 online support just go to their website and receive answers to any questions you have in a quick and professional manner.Direct communication with the writer with this feature you can get the full control of the resume writing process and make sure that you will get a resume which fits your needs 100%.Guaranteed quality if you don’t get an interview invite within 30 days , you can get a free revision of your resume free of charge.Fast delivery you can get your complete resume as soon as 24 hours after you place your order.The Careers Booster website is nicely laid out and easy to navigate. You also get to see profiles of their professional writers so you can form an instant connection. previous article The Graduate Premium CV Pack next article Minimalistic Green â€" A Simplified Resume Template Giveaway you might also likeHow to Write About Your Accomplishments on Your Resume

10 Worst Job Search Mistakes to Avoid

10 Worst Job Search Mistakes to Avoid The job hunt can be stressful, particularly if you have been persisting for some time without any success. But try not to become disheartened by rejections or allow yourself to become too stressed. By allowing yourself a bit of down time in between your job search efforts and maintaining a positive outlook, your job hunt can be an all round better experience. This infographic by Armstrong Appointments identifies some of the most common job hunting mistakes that people make, but you should really avoid doing. Top Tips: Try not to pass the blame. You are responsible for you own job hunt, not other people. Be positive and take control of the situation. Dont let it take over your life.  As important as it is to take your time to tailor  well thought out cover letters and job applications, you dont want to spend 100% of your time doing it. Allow yourself some down time. Spend time with family, get some exercise and do things that you enjoy, or it is likely that it will leave you feeling stressed. Dont take rejection personally.  Just because one employer didnt hire you, doesnt mean that the right job for you isnt waiting just around the corner. Take rejection as part of the process and learn from any feedback you are given from interviewers. Explore alternative sources. Searching online job boards is a good place to start your job search, however there are lots of other places you can look that are less competitive. Make your message clear. Employers dont need to hear about every bit of experience you have, just that that you can apply to the job in hand and what you can bring to  their company. Dont apply for every single job.  You may come across as desperate and lose focus. Its better to spend your time on fewer but better  thought out applications that you are really interested in. Dont be afraid to assert yourself.    Sometimes you need to do something to stand out. Remember that times change. If youve not been in the job market for a while, seek advice from someone who has.  Familiarise yourself with the modern job market and how best to place yourself in it. Dont take your eye off of competition. You need to set yourself out from the crowd. The job market is competitive, so you need to convince employers that you are a cut above the rest. Dont do it alone. I wouldnt recommend you share your job search with colleagues, but there shouldnt be anything holding you back from discussing it with close friends and family. They may be able to help and can offer you the support you need. RELATED: 7 Job Search Mistakes Every Applicant Should Stop Making

A Career in Nursing The Different Types of Nursing Roles You Should Consider

A Career in Nursing The Different Types of Nursing Roles You Should Consider Photo Credit â€" Freestockphotos.bizNurses all have one thing in common, they work to care for patients. But actually, there is a vast range of nursing jobs which are all very different. If you’re considering a career in nursing, here are some of the different roles you could consider.1. Healthcare AssistantA healthcare assistant can work in a hospital or a community setting. This includes things like clinics or GP surgeries. They work under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.They generally have a range of administrative tasks in their job role, working to make sure the healthcare practitioner is organised and well managed.evalClinical duties include greeting patients, recording vital signs, collecting samples and performing basic lab tests on these samples. It can also include changing dressings and sterilising medical tools. You can gain a career as a medical assistant by training on the job. This is good as it means you get practical experience and can begin ear ning money right away.You may need GCSE’s in English and maths, and a while not always essential- a healthcare qualification will make you a more desirable candidate. While not officially a ‘nurse’ role, you’ll be doing similar duties and your training will include basic nursing skills.With further education, you could go on to become a qualified nurse. A healthcare assistant great way to enter into the care career path if you want to begin working right away.2. Mental Health NurseMental health nurses provide support to patients suffering from mental health issues. Their role involves helping patients to recover from their illness, or to come to terms with it in order to lead a more positive life.Some general nursing duties will be involved. These include some personal care tasks, taking vital signs and administering medication. They also liaise with doctors, workers and other professionals to determine the best care for the patient ;giving advice and support to relatives, m onitor progress and provide support to patients.As with other types of nurses, as a mental health nurse, you also need to make sure your nurse revalidation documents are sent off every three years. This allows you to continue practising.3. Community Care NurseCommunity nurses work with GPs, social services, hospitals and other healthcare staff. The service helps patients cope with ill health and disability. It allows them to have the best possible quality of life while maintaining dignity and respect.evalDistrict nursing is one branch of community care nursing, in this role they provide tailored care to patients in their own homes. District nurses generally work independently, although they do have the support of a team of healthcare professionals.If you want to work in a nursing or healthcare setting while still working independently, this could be an excellent choice. Community care nurses may also work in treatment rooms such as in GP’s offices or health care clinics.Photo Cred it- freestockphotos.biz4. Theatre/ Surgical NurseTheatre nurses work with surgeons on operations. They are involved in each step of a patient’s operation from pre-op through to surgery and then recovery.In this job role, you can specialise in a particular area or rotate through different areas. This role of a surgical nurse is mainly based in hospital operating theatres, anaesthetic or recovery areas or in specialist clinics.evalTo begin a career as a theatre nurse, you must first be registered as an adult, child, learning disability or mental health nurse. From there, specialist theatre coursesand training are given. You can take advanced courses such as an online msn if you want to further your career as a nurse. This is something to aim for when stepping onto the nursing career path if you have an interest in the surgical side of things.