Why Social Anxiety May be Stopping Gen-Z Employees Making Friends

Why Social Anxiety May be Stopping Gen-Z Employees Making Friends As an employer, it’s vital that you do everything within your power to maximize both employee productivity and job satisfaction. According to new research, encouraging friendships within your workforce could hold the key to unlocking these two factors and creating a positive working environment. It turns out that workplace friendships are far more important to staff than simply having a colleague to eat lunch or gather round the watercooler for a chat with. Many of us forge lifelong friendships or meet partners through work, and a recent study by Furniture At Work cements this view. Despite this, Generation Z is struggling to make friends at work, with many citing social anxiety as a roadblock that prevents them from developing stronger relationships with colleagues. The Importance of Workplace Friendships Furniture At Work surveyed 2,000 office workers, with two-thirds of them saying that having friends in the workplace increased their overall happiness. Other positive well-being factors that friendships contributed to included good mental health and job satisfaction. As well as the boost to their own contentment, even more respondents (71%) said that friendships in the office contributed to a positive working environment. This is where it gets interesting; the majority of people also said that having friends at work boosted their motivation and productivity. This is absolutely critical to employers and something they cannot ignore. While workplace friendships may have historically been perceived as distractions with the potential to encourage a cliquey culture, they are now contributing to a better performing, more profitable workforce. The Struggles of Generation Z With this more modern approach to workplace friendships taking hold, the assumption may be that younger employees are driving this revolution. However, Generation Z is a mixed bag when compared to the rest of the nation. While the survey results showed that Gen-Z members of staff are more likely to consider their office buddies as close friends and socialize with colleagues at least once a month, they also struggle the most to make friends (with 36% admitting to this, compared to the national average of 26%). Over a third of Generation Z admitted to not socializing with colleagues due to their social anxiety. This disorder is caused by a need to constantly come across as ‘perfect’ in social situations and a fear of being judged by others. So, what can employers do to help the future of their workforce combat this? Encouraging Workplace Friendships In the modern, competitive job market, companies that don’t offer benefits beyond just salary and holiday find themselves inevitably left behind. Providing extra perks that encourage employees to spend more time together outside of the office is a great way to help foster workplace friendships and a culture that employees feel supported by. Many businesses run monthly social events that allow colleagues to interact away from the confines of the office. Employers should try and vary these as much as possible to appeal to a wide range of their workforce and allow everyone to get involved in something they’re comfortable with. Employers can also provide mental health awareness training to facilitate a workforce more open to discussing the issue of social anxiety and providing solutions. The overwhelming benefits of office friendships, both to employee wellbeing and company productivity, illustrate the importance of employers creating a culture that facilitates them. However, with those who make up the future of the workforce suffering more than anyone else with the anxiety that accompanies this culture shift, there is still plenty of work to be done to sustain this increase in employee welfare and output. About the author: Dan Yeo manages a team of content writers at Search Laboratory in Leeds, England. He  holds an ILM Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and regularly writes about workplace and employee motivation.  

What are the Top New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers

What are the Top New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers What better time than now to start making your resolutions? Most people resolve to lose weight, reconnect with old friends, or even rediscover an old passion when the clock strikes midnight and ushers in the fresh start. But you’re different, because you’re a job seeker! Your resolution for this year  is to go out there and find your dream job. Finding a dream job doesn’t just happen by magic (wouldn’t that be awesome?). Here are some specific resolutions you should be making in order to meet your goal and show up for work at your ideal office in the new year: 1) Know Your Goals: Before setting out on a protracted job search, ask yourself what you really want out of your career. It might seem silly, but perhaps you don’t know your own goals and aspirations as well as you think. By spending some time focused on exactly what you want to get out of your job search, you’ll avoid taking the wrong job and getting stuck on a career path which doesn’t fulfill you. This is also a great chance to think about whether you should stay on your current path or switch industries. Whatever you decide, make sure you’re truly dedicated and passionate about your goal and you’ll be one step closer to achieving it. 2) Never Stop Networking: Networking is a great way to discover hidden job opportunities and to set yourself apart from the pack. It’s important to resolve to make 2014 the year you really focus on building up your circle. Network in person and through social media and make sure to remember to follow-up with your contacts in order to keep them fresh. This way, when a great opportunity opens up, you’re smiling face is the first they imagine. 3) Elevator Pitch: If you’re going to be networking up a storm in 2014, it’s important you have your elevator pitch down cold. Your elevator pitch is the concise way you introduce yourself to new contacts. Make sure you have all the vital information about yourself, but don’t ramble on! You want to make an impression quickly so the conversation can move on from the introductions. This will also be helpful in the interview process, whether it’s in person or through online video, when the interviewer asks you to tell them a little bit about yourself. 4) Get Visual: Visual media is everywhere you look now, from your college friends posting Facebook pictures to your grandma merrily pinning away on Pinterest. Everyone is obsessed with visual media, and the job search isn’t much different. If you can find a way to make an impression visually, you’ll be more likely to grab the attention of hiring managers. Look into infographic resumes, make sure your social media profiles sport professional pictures, and record a video resume to show off your communication skills. Remember a picture (or video!) can tell a thousand words, so make sure your images are saying the right things. 5) Social Media Plan: Social media is an ever-increasing part of daily life. From keeping in contact with friends to networking with potential contacts, social media is an important tool to stay in touch. Make sure you’re not just using social media on a whim when it comes to your job hunt. Take some time to make a workable social media job search plan. This could include groups you should join, discussions you should add to, or Twitter chats you should monitor. Don’t think social media is a magic bullet that will land you a job with no effort! 6) Brand Yourself: It’s important to establish a personal brand for yourself as a candidate in order to quickly and efficiently tell employers what you’re all about. Consider it your elevator pitch for when you don’t have the opportunity to speak to a potential contact in person. You might want to consider a personal website, video resume, or an online work portfolio where you show off your skills. At the least you should make sure your personal brand is consistent across all your social media profiles and anywhere else you can be found on the Internet. 7) Focus on Time Management: You don’t have time to apply to every job opening, which is good because not every job is right for you. Instead, focus on managing your time by only applying for the jobs you’d really and truly love to have. Make sure both the position itself and the company culture are a good fit. 8) Volunteer Your Time: Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community. It’s also a great way to show employers how dedicated and hardworking you are. If you have a gap on your resume, volunteering is a great way to fill it. And if you find a volunteer opportunity in which you can use your industry-related skills, this shows employers you’re passionate even during your off hours. 9) Keep Learning: Never stop learning and adding to your knowledge base. Know what skills and qualifications are necessary in your field and got out there and brush up those skills. Take a certification course or even spend some time with someone in a different department to find out how other aspects of the company work. Make sure you never stay stagnant in your career and who knows what doors you might be opening for yourself in the future. 10) Give Yourself a Break: Job hunting is tough, make no mistake. If you spend 100 percent of your time hunting for a job, you will burn out. Don’t forget to relax and take a break occasionally. Make time for the things which are important to you, so you can return to the search refreshed and ready to snag your dream job! What are your job search resolutions? Let us know in comments below! Author: Josh Tolan  is the CEO of  Spark Hire, a video powered hiring network that connects job seekers and employers through video resumes and online interviews. Connect with him and Spark Hire on  Twitter.

How to Dress for the Job You Want

How to Dress for the Job You Want Youve probably heard the phrase dress for the job you want, not for the job you have but in practice, what does it mean? Youve probably heard the phrase dress for the job you want, not for the job you have but in practice, what does it mean? Dressing for the job you want is about more than the clothes you wear. Its also about how you conduct yourself and your state of mind. You could be the best dressed person in the world, but if you shrink from responsibility at work, or use the wrong language in an interview, how you dress will fail to impress. Here is how to dress and act in a way that will help you get the job you want. What to Wear How you dress can speak volumes about your suitability for a role. Even if you have the required qualifications and experience, if you dress in a manner that is sloppy or inappropriate for the job in question, it could be costly. Dressing well tells the employer that you make an effort, are reliable and can adequately represent the company. Dressing appropriately doesn’t have to be expensive â€" invest in a seasonal capsule wardrobe for winter and summer and make sure they are of the best quality you can afford so you never have days when you have nothing to wear to work. Dressing for the job you want is a fine art. The basic premise here is to make small subtle adjustments to your usual attire. If youre hoping for a promotion, take note of how your boss acts and dresses. You dont want to copy their style, but think about the colours they wear, the fit of their clothes and how they accessorise. Do not turn up to work sporting an expensive skirt suit when you would normally wear a blouse and trousers, because you may look like youre trying too hard. Rather than a blouse, wear a shirt or a smart and well-made jumper. Choose skirts and dresses that are of an appropriate length â€" a knee length hem is generally acceptable. An executive suit jacket may be inappropriate for your role, so opt for a fashion blazer. Tone down your accessories and wear a simple necklace or a classic watch. How to Act How you represent yourself is vital if you wish to be considered for a promotion or higher role. A substantial part of this is depends on your mannerisms and the way you conduct yourself. To impress, your work persona needs to match your sharp dress sense. At work your demeanour should follow these standards: be professional and leave your personal life at home; gain recognition from those higher up by contributing intelligent ideas and opinions during meetings; be the first to volunteer for overtime; and dont aim to be the first person out of the office at 5pm. Basic interview principles include: be polite; know your subject matter; research the company prior to interview so you can ask intellectual questions; and ooze confidence by sitting up straight and speaking slowly. Heres a good read if you want to learn more : [amazon template=productasin=B00MIUBQJ4] Follow these steps to make 2015 your career year. Good luck!

How Many Pages are Needed for a Brand Building Book - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How Many Pages are Needed for a Brand Building Book - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Are you overestimating the number of pages needed to write a book that successfully builds your personal brand? Many business owners and career-oriented employees who want to write a brand-building book think too big, too comprehensive, and too many pages. Too many brand-oriented individuals think in terms of their college textbooks, comprehensive compilations of every detail associated with a topic, rather focusing on pragmatic, easily-written, easily-implemented, advice-oriented guidebooks or handbooks. And, as a result of thinking too big, they do nothingand, as a consequence, their personal brand suffers. This is a tragedy, especially in light of recent publishing trends. The trend today, is towards smaller, easier-to-read, more focused, action-oriented books! Trend towards shorter, focused books The trend towards smaller, more practical books   is fueled by todays pervasive lack of time. Nonfiction business readersthose who are the most likely prospects for the products and services you offerare more time-conscious than leisure, or fiction, readers. Business readers like books that can be read on airplanes and in airport waiting rooms. Look at the books on display in the typical airport bookstorewhich are responsible for significant amounts of book sales. For every copy of War and Peace-length books on display in the front of the store, there are likely to be dozens of focused business tool books like: Leadership titles like John C. Maxwells Make Every Day Count Marketing titles like Seth Godins Tribes Business fables like Burg and Manns The Go-Giver and Jeffrey J. Foxes Rain Customer behavior titles like Harry Beckwiths What Clients Want Management titles like Bob Prosens Kiss Theory Good Bye The above titles share many characteristics. All are smaller than most books. The chapters are shorter, the advice is more concise, and the tone is empathetic and conversational. They are books with chapters that can be enjoyed and digested during short reading sessions. The market has spoken: style, brevity, focus, and easily-applied lessons are more important than length and in-depth coverage of every detail. Advantages of short books Books similar to the above offer win-win situations to everyone concernedauthors, publishers, and readers: Authors. Shorter, focused, books can be written, edited, and published in less time than longer, omnibus, volumes. Two, possibly, three books can be written and published as individual titles in a series, multiplying the authors presence and search engine optimization visibility. Publishers. Shorter, more affordable, books not only appeal to a larger market than long, expensive books, they also represent less risk for the publishers. With less money at risk, they are more likely to accept book proposals and topic ideas. Readers. Readers, too, benefit. They can squeeze their reading in whenever they have a few moments, rather than scheduling research time. Brevity also makes important ideas and lessons easier to locate and easily implement. The actionable ideas clearly emerge, rather than being buried in unnecessary detail. Consider all of your format alternatives Avoid thinking bigger than you have to. Consider the advantages of writing a short, focused, book rather than an encyclopedia. You dont have time to waste, your readers dont have time to waste, and your publishers want to spend the minimum amount of money necessary to get a new title on the market. Take off the textbook blinders and write the type of practical brand-building book thats in tune with what publishers and readers want! Author: Roger C. Parker is a “32 Million Dollar Author,” book coach, and online writing resource. His 38 books have sold 1.9 million copies in 35 languages around the world. The NY Times called his Looking Good in Print “…the one to buy when you’re buying only one!” Roger has interviewed hundreds of successfully branded authors and shares what he’s learned at Published Profitable and his daily writing tips blog.

The Arts and Your Career - Why It Usually Doesnt Work - Career Pivot

The Arts and Your Career - Why It Usually Doesn't Work - Career Pivot The Arts and Your Career Creating a career in the arts or music is incredibly difficult. I work with so many clients who are highly creative. They tend to have big interests in the arts and music. Many have stuffed those interests because they cannot make a living at what they love. Let me tell you two stories about clients who have started to feed those interests. Susan and Photography I have written about Susan twice before: Case Study â€" Targeted Job Search The Illusion of Job Security Susan started her career as a photographer. She quickly found that she was unable to make photography into a viable money-making career. So, she just stopped. Her top three Birkman interests were Literary, Social Service, and Artistic. She was highly creative and loved helping people. Her job in market research allowed her to fill the first two, but she had stuffed her interest in the arts. When I learned this, I told her to get out her phone and just start taking pictures. She needed to fill her interest in the arts! She responded, “Take pictures of what?” My response was, “Anything you want!” Susan has gone through ups and downs (as you will discover in the previous posts). She is currently working for herself taking project jobs. Over the last few years, I periodically get texts from Susan with absolutely beautiful images. Each time, you could tell she was beaming. Listen to the most recent episode The photograph above was taken a few months ago and was just accepted into a major black and white photography competition. Susan texted me when she learned her photograph had been accepted. Susan was ecstatic. She does not get to fill this interest in her career…but it can beâ€"and needs to beâ€"filled in her personal life! (More: Talents versus Skills â€" Do you know the difference?) Steve and Music Steve graduated from high school and pursued a music degree. After a couple of years in college, he realized that he would never be able to make a living as a musician. Sound familiar? Steve pursued multiple business degrees and was pretty successful. When the great recession caused his business to fail, he was at a crossroads. He was now almost 40 years disconnected from his musical past. He found work and was doing okay financially, but he was not happy. Almost by accident, he reconnected with some band buddies from his past. He found that his passion had not gone away. The arts and, more importantly, music fed his soul. The business world of music has changed dramatically in the last ten years. Now, we are working together to see if he can marry his acumen in business with his love for music. Common Themes When I work with clients who have high interests in the arts and music, there are some common personality characteristics: They tend to be more shy and introverted than normal. Some have learned to behave like extroverts, but they really are closet introverts. They are far more likely to be emotional and kind, empathetic souls. They do not like conforming to strict rules. They tend not to function well in rigid environments. They like to add flair to their work products. This often comes out in beautiful Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. They take pride that their work products look good! The Arts and Your Career Rarely Intersect I remember being in Washington D.C. last year to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We were in the National Portrait Gallery and met a young employee who was a recent college graduate with an art history degree. I told her congratulations on finding a good job where she actually got to use her degree. More importantly, I said I was sure her parents were even more ecstatic that she found a position using her art history degree! Those of you who have high interests in the arts and music are probably not getting those needs filled within your career. If you have stuffed those interests in order to pursue a career that pays the bills, puts food on the table, pays the mortgage, and puts your kids through college, you may want to resurrect those interests. Have you taken your interest in the arts or music and stuffed it? Maybe it is time to repack your bags! Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Updating Happy Hour is 9 to 5 - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Updating Happy Hour is 9 to 5 - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog UPDATE: The book has already gone out and Ive received the edits, updated the manuscript and sent it in to the publisher. Thank you to everyone who helped out!! I am currently updating my first book Happy Hour is 9 to 5 for its upcoming re-release with Pine Publishing. I wrote the book way back in 2007 and I want to make sure that the book is properly updated and still relevant. Would you like to help me? Im looking for some people to read through the book (or just parts of it) and give me their honest feedback on what I should update. Would you like to help me out? If so, heres what you must do: Write a comment below dont forget to include your name and email address I will email you the book as a pdf e-book You read it through and send me your comments back I update the book and will be eternally grateful :o) Thanks in advance. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Tips For Writing a Resume - How to List Bachelors Degrees on a Resume

Tips For Writing a Resume - How to List Bachelor's Degrees on a ResumeWriting a resume can be a daunting task for even the most experienced job searcher. Fortunately, there are many professionals who have already made this very important step of the job search process easy by providing some useful tips on how to list Bachelor's degrees on a resume.Writing a resume is something that every job seeker should do before starting their search for a new job. This not only enables them to know exactly what job duties they should be expecting when interviewing, but it also helps them to know their professional qualifications in a very concise manner. Doing this correctly is important, since a resume is the first impression a potential employer will have on you, and if you don't give them a good impression, they'll avoid hiring you entirely.The first tip for writing a resume is to make sure it's unique. Make sure that you're able to mention your work experience, rather than your 'degree' from any university. An effective way to do this is to list all the jobs you've held, rather than simply listing your bachelors.Next, remember that writing a resume doesn't have to be difficult or confusing. If you've got friends who are job hunters, ask them for some input on the proper format of your resume. You can also seek professional advice from those professionals, if need be.Lastly, keep your personal anecdotes and accomplishments to a minimum. You may want to include personal awards and trophies that you've received, but the key here is to not overdo it. While having an impressive list of awards and accolades can be a good thing, most employers would rather hire someone who's less obvious about it.Once you've gotten the basics of how to list Bachelor's degrees on a resume, you'll then need to create your resume format. You'll find that the majority of resumes are designed for a more conversational tone; one that uses proper grammar and spelling as well as good composition.Resum e formats vary depending on the job and the organization that will be using the resume. For example, you'll find that most job seekers don't like to write a resume for a technical position. Rather, they tend to write a resume for a position with a more general term like project manager or marketing coordinator.As a result, while some resume writers will use the language of their bachelor's to impress the employer, most of them will try to emphasize their previous experiences in another field. Therefore, it's important to make sure that you're presenting yourself in the best light possible when creating your resume. By following these tips, you'll be able to quickly and easily write a resume that will help you land the job of your dreams.