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Investing in Your Employees: 4 Ways To Attract and Keep Hold of Top Talent

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Attracting Talent|Investing in Your Employees: 4 Ways To Attract and Keep Hold of Top TalentSecuring top talent is undeniably essential to the long-term success of any business.

But certain high-level professional skills are in incredibly high demand. There are so many roles to fill, that those who have proven their ability can afford to be picky, and to move on if they aren’t satisfied with the position.

So now the job market swings so heavily in favour of these candidates, how can you attract them to join your enterprise, and convince them to stay for the long haul? If you’re looking for some pointers, check out the list below.

Know Your Value

Highly-trained candidates with specialist skills will have many employment options. So your recruitment process needs to be as much about communicating the value and potential of your business, as it is about assessing their suitability for the role.

What are the wider repercussions of the work you do? What are you proud of having achieved? And what are you striving for in the future?

Your employees want to feel that they will contribute significantly to something progressive and exciting. Make it clear how they will fit in, how their skills will move the business forward, and how they can become part of something impactful.

Invest in your promotional material – your website, careers pages, videos, and personal communication from your team – to spread this message loud and clear.

More Than Just A Job

A long-term career is more than just a job. It’s a personal investment that touches every aspect of your life. And potential candidates will want to know that your business puts time and effort into developing a healthy work-life balance.

Can you offer more flexible working hours? Can you give the option to work at home when needed? How does your business support parents, or those will disabilities? Do you provide meals, activities, or mental health initiatives for employees?

Think about what is going to be important to the contentment of your employees outside of the role and the salary. Because family, health and happiness will play a bigger role in their decision than just about anything else.

StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Attracting Talent|Investing in Your Employees: 4 Ways To Attract and Keep Hold of Top TalentInvest in Their Professional Development

Smart, ambitious people will get restless in a job that doesn’t challenge them or lead somewhere exciting. And when they feel like they’re stagnating or heading towards a dead-end, your employees will simply look for employment opportunities elsewhere.

So it’s important to discuss the professional development goals of your employees and plan regularly how to facilitate them. This might include gaining experiences in other roles, learning new skills through outside IT Training, or training for management or leadership positions.

Wherever they want to go, you should do your best to help them progress. Because a sense of purpose comes hand in hand with loyalty and motivation.

The Social Side

One of the biggest factors in job satisfaction is having good friendships with your colleagues. So working hard to foster the social side of your business is absolutely essential.

Take the time to introduce new employees to the team and try using a buddy system to make sure they feel supported from day one.

Invest in social events and team building exercises and give people the chance to get to know each other outside of work.

And if you have a great social environment already, let potential candidates know this! Show them around the office and give them a sense of how much fun it would be to work here. Because if they feel like they’ll fit right in, they’ll pick you over your competitors.

6 Tips For Securing A Job In The Construction Industry

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | 6 Tips For Securing A Job In The Construction IndustryIf you’d rather be outside working with your hands than sitting in an office typing all day long, construction is the industry for you. Not only can you get some fresh air while at work, but you’ll also be paid handsomely for your services and have plenty of room for career advancement.

The construction industry has a lot to offer. If you’re looking to secure a job in construction here are some tips to help you get started:

Get Educated

Ok, so you may have entered the construction industry to avoid this one, but it can pay to go back to school if you want to secure a quality, high paying job in construction.

Don’t worry though, you won’t have to master calculus or take those frustrating Spanish courses, instead, you will be looking into trade schools, technical colleges, and business management courses.

Whether you want to become a general contractor, plumber, electrician, or welder almost every well-paid construction jobs requires some form of in-class training.

Don’t be afraid to go back to school to secure a high paying, fun career in construction.

On the Job Training

The most valued and respected training in construction is on the job training. If you don’t have experience actually building, demolishing, and removing, no one will take you seriously. This is something to keep in mind if you plan on being a general contractor, or owning your own construction business somewhere down the line.

Many people in construction begin their careers as a laborer on a construction yard. Laborers help construction workers with odd, unskilled tasks and gain experience on the job.

If you want to make a career in construction, it pays to begin from the bottom up and gain on the job training, hopefully, while you go to trade school, technical school or learn a new skill (i.e driving a forklift).

Just like in other industries, your resume, and work experience matter.

Be Quiet, Pay Attention, Ask Smart Questions

Unlike most people who write for a living, I have actually had a couple of construction jobs, although I was just a laborer. If there is anyone piece of advice I could give to people looking to get into construction it would be: be quiet, pay attention, and ask SMART questions.

They say there are no stupid questions, in construction that just isn’t the case. Construction managers, foreman, and tradespeople simply don’t have time to be answering a million obvious questions. Learn from your peers, remember safety always comes first, and that common sense is king and you can make a solid career in construction.

Add New Skills

No matter what your job is, if you want to make more money and secure your position for the long-term it pays to learn new skills.

In construction, many times, that means learning to operate new equipment. The average construction laborer makes around $16/hour compared to the average crane operator salary of just over $20/hour, just for reference.

Look For ‘Out of The Box’ Opportunities

If you don’t want to go the usual route, there are also many ‘out of the box’ options within the construction industry that can lead to a rewarding career.

For example, you can work for a construction equipment supplier, like Drake Equipment. There are dozens of equipment suppliers out there who do everything from servicing truck bodies for industry-specific trucks to selling construction parts and equipment. These are some of the largest employers in the industry.

Another potential ‘out of the box’ opportunity could be the oil industry. Many oil companies are often searching for workers with construction experience.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are over 7.2 million construction jobs in the U.S so you have plenty of options outside the usual homebuilding and road work duties.

Don’t be afraid to look for ‘out of the box’ opportunities.

Contact A Recruiter

If all else fails, it may be time to contact an executive staffing agency, like TruPath. In the construction industry, people often overlook recruiters, but especially if you are trying to find an executive job it pays to use all your resources.

Even if recruiters aren’t contacting you, finding places to submit your resume on their websites can be a great way to network. Not only will you move to the top of the list on the recruiter’s desk, but your move will also show initiative and can make you more likely to land a job.

The construction industry is not often thought of when it comes to securing a job in 2019. Many people think of construction as a dying business. That simply isn’t the case. In fact, the construction industry offers a number of high paying jobs with minimal competition for the positions.

Securing a job in construction for the long-run takes continued education, an ‘out of the box’ approach, and constant hard work, but the rewards are well worth the costs.

Building Your Professional Reputation

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Building Your Professional ReputationGiven the choice between two workers, one cheerful and one grumpy (both of equal intelligence), who is likely to get picked? You are probably saying the more jovial one, right? After all, in business, you need more than a sharp mind to get ahead. Sometimes, in fact, it’s more about your personality and work ethic; for, when people respect you and like you, they may toss more work your way. Therefore, you should strive to develop a reputation for being someone who is knowledgeable, pleasant and committed.

Never Stop Learning

This is a fast-paced world, and you’ll want to stay on top of any changes. That can be difficult on your own, so strive to connect with associations and online platforms, furthering your understanding of the newest strategies and rules. That doesn’t mean traveling every weekend or reading for hours on end. Establish small goals, devoting 15 minutes to an article each day. In addition, continue taking classes, boosting your skill base. Knowledge doesn’t stop because you started working. Real estate agents, for example, should continue to take classes for their community association management license. Doctors may continue to study the latest medical research and drugs. Teachers gather information about newer techniques.

Accept Challenges

While you may look for the easy route, consider accepting a few rocky roads. Are some clients proving trying for the company? Do you see potential to make it work? Ask to pair with them. Find out what they like and don’t like. Then game plan, coming up with a platform the company can accept. Yes, it may be stressful, but working on rough, troublesome projects takes dedication, intelligence and grit. Your boss and colleagues may see that you can make a difference, finding solutions when others can’t.

Demonstrate Leadership

The shirking wallflowers do not gain attention. In fact, they hide in the background receiving little recognition for hard work. To move forward, you’ll have to stand out. If the boss is seeking someone to tackle a new project, ask for it. Does the office need someone to speak at an engagement? Do so. By choosing these paths, you show confidence, and you give your peers the opportunity to know you.

Work Well With Others

Moving ahead does not mean leaving coworkers behind. Remember, the word team is still important. As you bounce around ideas, prepare a presentation or meet with clientele, remain humble and friendly.

As children, we were taught not to judge others, but that isn’t how the world works. How others perceive you is significant, and it could make the difference in whether you get a promotion or a task. Remember, be friendly and work hard.

Finding Strategy Jobs in London

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Finding Strategy Jobs in LondonAs you may know, a career in strategy or strategic planning implies you helping a corporation design their road to profitability and growth while overcoming competition and constant change.

Moreover, as a corporate strategist, you have the opportunity to analyze everything that makes a company run properly. Naturally, most of your responsibilities will deal with making the company run!

If you know what a business needs to operate properly and think that you have the analytical skills, instinct, and natural feel for a strategy job, then you should consider applying for one with recruitment agencies like The Barton Partnership who specialise in offering London based strategy jobs here https://www.thebartonpartnership.com/strategy-jobs-in-london.

It is worth noting that corporate strategists have a long-term career ahead of them, as they can easily become Senior Directors, independent consultants, or even CEOs of London-based companies. You can start your career in strategy at!

The Most Popular Roles

Browsing job openings on various platforms or locally, in your own city, will show you the most popular non-technical jobs/roles area in strategy.

Most of these roles do require a notable level of analytics, but it goes without saying that each job opening is different. For example, a certain job vacancy may require you to know some programming languages, while another one may require experience in operations and financial planning.

The point here is that, even if the role of strategy jobs is widely popular, you must find the one that suits your expertise, experience, and knowledge. You may want to be a strategist, but you can’t be one in an IT company if you’ve studied only marketing.

The Most Important Skill

Corporate strategists will state that you require a plethora of skills in order to be fit for such a job. However, a few of them will tell you what the most important one is – namely, focus!

This very field comes with a lot of challenges, as well as with a lot of opportunities that you must focus on properly. You will have to deal with potential partners, competitors, product development, and so on. In this respect, the focus will soon be your best friend!

Finding Strategy Jobs

If you want to become a corporate strategist in London, then you have to know and research the top sectors for this particular field.

Even if a certain course or training session won’t make you perfect for a job, you can use that as a boost to your strategy career. In short, even if you don’t have the required knowledge for the job, you can get your hands on it, if you are motivated enough.

At the moment, some of the top sectors that are actively looking for strategists are:

  • Finance
  • Financial Services
  • Public Sector
  • Private Equity
  • Business Development
  • Digital
  • Operations
  • Marketing
  • Advertising
  • Brand

With so many sectors, finding the corporate strategy role fit for you won’t be that hard to do.

The Bottom Line

The last thing you should know about finding strategy jobs (in London) is how to get the job – obviously. Basically, you have to know what is expected from the role that you are applying for.

Keep in mind that every role can be very different, as well as the salary and job description. This is why it is highly recommended that, before you apply for a job, you should thoroughly research the role and the company!

26 Things You Can Do To Become The Ideal Job Candidate

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Job Interview|26 Things You Can Do To Become The Ideal Job CandidateIf there’s a job you really want, then you need to take your time preparing and becoming the ideal job candidate. This means that when your interview rolls around, you’ll feel ready to handle whatever the process throws at you, and feel confident that you did your very best once you’ve left. Below, you’ll find 26 job interview tips you can do to become the ideal job candidate:

Be Candid

Candid individuals often make great communicators, and these people are essential for the office. You need a direct, clear way of speaking, and this will help to eliminate crossed wires and anything else that could cause problems. You’ll also engage more people in conversation and encourage faster action this way.

Be Friendly

You should be friendly. You might be a straight-talking fierce and competitive person who wants to land the job, but you should still be friendly to everyone you meet.

Be Ambitious

Ambitious employees tend to always want to come up with an improved way of doing things. They tend to overcome hurdles, and are never satisfied, always working for better solutions. This is what most organizations will want to see.

Be Adaptable

You must be able to change with the business environment, and this goes for any job you get. Having a comfort zone can be nice sometimes, but those who love familiarity and hate change won’t get very far in the workplace.

Show Your Creativity

Many companies want creative employees who can increase innovation. You should be able to both work autonomously and come up with new ways of completing old tasks.

Be Decisive

Making tough decisions is, well, tough. But companies love to be able to see that candidates feel confident doing that. People who can quickly and efficiently analyze the options and potential outcomes of a situation will always be more likely to get hired. Nobody wants a wishy washy employee who struggles to make even basic decisions. Remember, decisiveness is a skill you can practice.

Be Team Oriented

When recruiting, many people will look for those who buy into the system and can work in a team. You should be able to work by cooperating with others, fitting into the company’s culture.

Be Goal Oriented

Escalating your goals is a great trait to have – and you should enjoy the journey along the way, too. If you can show this to an employer, they will be more likely to hire you. They want to see people who can set their own goals and have a passion for the job and industry that they are in.

Be Intelligent

Intelligence is an important part of success. Of course there are variables, but you should be willing to show both your intelligence as well as your willingness to learn new things when going for a job. You may show that you’re intelligent by talking about your PMP Exam Prep or a recent course/study you took part in. Self directed learning and study is a great trait to have.

Make Sure You’re A Cultural Fit

If you’re not a cultural fit, then you should probably give up on the job now. Pretending to be a cultural fit may work, but the truth will come out in the end and you will hate working in this environment. Will you truly enjoy working here on a daily basis?

Be Upbeat

Showing that you can be energetic and upbeat each day is important. This can help others to build momentum, too, and employers love optimistic employees.

Be Confident

Having confidence is not egotistical or wrong. The best companies want to hire people who have confidence in themselves. This spawns a culture of improvement.

Show That You Are Internationally Aware

A global mindset is essential for growing businesses. You should be aware and sensitive to other cultures, customs, events, and perspectives if you’re going to succeed.

Groom Yourself

You may have all of the skills, but if you don’t take care of your hygiene and appearance then employers will think twice about hiring you. Make sure you dress appropriately and that you’re always clean and smelling fresh. Just because you can’t smell your coffee breath doesn’t mean it’s not there!

Prepare For The Questions

Make sure you carefully prepare for questions before you attend the interview. Have answers for questions such as ‘why do you want this job?’ and ‘tell us about yourself’. Make sure you relate everything back to the job and the company!

Research the Company

Having a decent knowledge of the company before you attend your interview is essential, so do your research. If you don’t bother to do this, hiring managers may well eliminate you from the hiring pool. Do your homework on the company’s website, blog, social channels, Glassdoor, and Wikipedia. Make sure you know who their competitors are and why they are different, too.

Find Out Who You’re Interviewing With and Research Them

As well as finding out what you can about the company, make sure you do your research on the person you’ll be having your interview with.

Ask Your Own Questions

Always make your interest clear by asking your own genuine questions. Let them ask you questions first, and have yours prepared at the end of the interview. Write the answers down!

Dress For The Job

How you dress will depend on the job you’re going for. Dress for the job you want, as if you have it already. Show them how you will be arriving into work. Don’t try to be too trendy or fashionable here.

Bring Two Extra Copies of Your Résumé

If you show up to your interview with no copies of your resume, you’re making a huge mistake. Don’t assume that the person you’ll be speaking with has one already. They may know nothing about you. If you have spare copies on you, you’ll never be caught off guard.

Turn Your Phone Off and Arrive Five to 10 Minutes Early

You shouldn’t be tempted to check your phone, and you definitely don’t want it buzzing away while you’re trying to answer a pressing question. Get there 10 minutes early (not too early), and turn your phone off. If you arrive too early then you might mess up the interviewer’s schedule if they feel they must accommodate you. Turning up too early can be just as rude as turning up late. 5-10 minutes before your interview time is a good time to aim for. Find somewhere else to wait if you arrive at the location even earlier.

Stay Engaged During Conversation

Make sure you don’t get eliminated from the process by not showing you are actively listening. Smile, nod, and make eye contact. You will make an impression by showing you are a good listener.

Get the Email Address of Everyone You Speak With

This will be helpful when the interview is over and you’ll be able to easily follow up.

Ask When to Expect a Decision and With Whom to Follow-Up

You shouldn’t leave the interview feeling confused about when you’re going to hear back. Don’t be too pushy, but make sure you have an idea of when you should know by and who you should speak to about it. Pay close attention to how they respond at the end of the interview and you should get a good idea of how it went, too.

Tell Them You Want The Job

If you’re feeling excited at the prospect of having this job by the end of the interview, make sure you tell them so. Let it be known how excited this opportunity makes you and allow your passion for the role to shine through.

Send a Follow-Up Thank You Email

Sending a quick, personalized email saying thank you to everybody you met with earlier on in the day will stand you in good stead. Mention a small detail or topic you discussed to personalize it, and make an even better impression on them even once the interview process is over. A handwritten thank you card could go down really well, too.

If you don’t hear back within 5 business days, it’s ok to follow up again. Make sure you know the point of contact and send a message that is short – you don’t want to come across as pushy or as if you’re nudging them into making a decision. You should seek to provide some value, however.

Becoming the ideal job candidate may take a little time and practice, depending on the role. The more you practice for this, the better the interview process will likely go. Ask somebody you trust to run through questions with you as if you were in a real interview. Don’t leave anything to chance and make sure you feel well prepared. You may never feel 100% ready, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t or that you’re not right for the role. Be positive – you might be just the kind of person that they are looking for!