Jobs at The Human Resource Practice

10/07/2019

The intention to give good feedback is fraught with a lack of skills. This is really useful from Brené Brown.

There is no mastery without feedback. But it’s hard.

Not everyone that gives us feedback is skilled at delivering it in a meaningful way.

And, we’re not always open to hearing it.

This checklist has really helped me over the years.

My mantra for receiving feedback: Be brave. Listen. You can take what’s helpful and leave the rest.

My mantra for giving feedback: Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.

Stay brave, awkward, and kind, friends.


There's a free download of the checklist on brenebrown.com

18/03/2019

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/business-and-economy/2019-03-11-investec-dispels-five-myths-about-the-future-of-work/

There are many pearls of wisdom in this article and podcast. We are entering into a gig economy where you need to strengthen your core skills and broaden your range of skills.

Well worth your time to expand your mind as well.

SPONSORED | In a new world of gigs, unicorns and automation, change in the workplace is inevitable but it doesn't necessarily mean you will be out of a job

23/06/2017

An interesting read about career planning.

Only you can manage your career, no one is going to do it for you.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? If you have never plotted your career path these tips will help you plan for the future. How often do you think about where you want to be and what you want to achieve in your career? Many professionals only look ahead when preparing for a job interview. Others…

17/06/2017

The first step in your career planning involves gathering information about yourself to assist in making a decision about a career. Each and every one of us has our own individual, unique set of skills, talents and ambitions. Identifying one's skills and talents is essential to your success. Self-assessment should be seen as a lifelong process as your goals may change as you learn more about yourself and your values, needs, objectives, and other areas of interest. This initial focus will help you narrow your options to clarify which future possibilities which suit you best e.g. self-employment or to target appropriate employers.

You would firstly need to determine whether you would want to be self-employed or employed. Some questions you could ask yourself to gain clarity in this regard include:

Do I want to work for myself – now, or later on in my career life?

Do I like to set my own goals and priorities or do I prefer other people to do this for me?

Would I be able to work in one office or building for an indefinite period of time?

What type of income do I want?

Try and get any work experience in the field that you want, even if you volunteer without any pay, for a short period of time.

11/05/2017

Cover Letter

A cover letter is a letter that no smart job-seeker should send his or her CV without. A CV is useless to an employer if he or she doesn't know what kind of work you want to do. A cover letter tells the employer the type of position you're seeking and exactly how you are qualified for that position.

A cover letter highlights the aspects of your experience that are most useful to the potential employer, and you can earn points for knowing what those aspects are. Your cover letter can call attention to the skills, talents, and experience the employer is looking for.

In a good cover letter you should answer at least 2 questions: Why am I applying for that position? What are my strengths regarding the position I am applying for?
It is Important to keep your letter brief. It shouldn’t be more than one page, and it’s best to keep it well under a full page.
Do tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribute to the company.

Do try to answer the question that the employer will be asking while reading your letter: “Why should I hire this person?”
In cover letter you shouldn’t rehash your CV. You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are relevant to the position, but you’re wasting space and the potential employer’s time if you simply repeat your CV.

11/05/2017

"When you base your confidence on who you are instead of what you can accomplish, you have created something that no one or no circumstance can ever take away from you."
Barbara De Angelis

16/08/2016

Determination and a no excuse attitude helps achieve success!

28/07/2016

How impressionable are you in telling your story in interviews?
http://www.skillsportal.co.za/content/interviewing-%E2%80%93-art-employing-story-teller

Not too long ago ‘competency based interviewing’ became the rage and now it based at the core of HR and interviewing practices. Most employers who consider themselves to be up to date with industry practice have been using this method for so long that it is deeply ingrained as the way things are don...

07/06/2016

People form an impression of another person within a few milliseconds of seeing another person. Like it or not, you do have an image: if you do not develop it by intent, then it will develop by default. Personal branding therefore focuses on developing an image of yourself that you want to project in everything you do. It's not about being fake or superficial. It is your reputation, character and personality and how you strategically manage that combination to help you succeed. It needs to project your true values, beliefs, and the service you provide to others.

When developing your personal brand or image you would have to focus on the following issues:

- Know what image you want to project
What kind of personal image do you want to project?
Do you want to impress as a creative, energetic, innovative, and enthusiastic leader? Or a laid-back, let-it-all-happen, efficient manager? Or a sensitive, caring, people person? Other people read the signals you project, so analyse the image you would like to create and set about communicating the right signals to project that image.
- Attend to your personal appearance
Dress appropriately and well, as if you have already arrived at the top of your success pyramid. Wear what you consider will meet other people’s expectations of you being successful. Compile and analyse your own personal dress and grooming checklist – ties, shoes, hair, accessories, pen, briefcase, glasses, clean and tidy fingernails, cosmetics, jewellery. How do you and others rate your appearance?

17/05/2016

Your job is finding a job

Once you have decided to take action and start with the job hunting process, you should adopt a positive and realistic approach towards your job search. There are various means of searching for vacant positions.

If you are looking for a job in the same industry, you can approach recruitment agencies, search various local newspapers, surf Internet job sites, attend job fairs, contact the SETA (Sectorial Education and Training Authorities) and ask your friends and relatives to keep a look out for job openings.

If you decide to try a different type of job, gather useful information from people who work in that line. This will help you decide if the job nature and working environment are suitable for you. If you are unemployed, consider looking for a job as your job! Get up, be disciplined and spend 8 hours a day working on it. Remember one job (even if it is not what you want in the short term), leads to another.

It is however, important not to only rely on one employment agency as they do not market job hunters to companies, they are however focusing on filling vacant positions for specific companies. So, rather than marketing job hunters to companies, agencies try to fit individuals into well defined vacant positions.

26/02/2016

INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Take care of your personal grooming - your hair should be neat and clean.

Be conservative and err on the side of caution. If the company does not have a dress code, remember that it is better to overdress than underdress.

Find out what you can about the company. You can go on the company’s website for information. Prepare questions about the company.

Prepare papers for your interview, including extra copies of your CV, job reference lists, reference letters, a note pad and pen for taking notes, and any other information that you may wish to have with you.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your interview. The extra minutes will also give time to fill out any forms or applications that might be required.

Turn off your cell phone.

Don't assume that whoever greets you is the receptionist.

19/01/2016

Tips For A Winning Interview

Prepare by practicing to answer commonly asked questions

Arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview to allow yourself to settle in comfortably

Understand the employer's perspective

Focus on what you can do for the company

Prove that your skills, talents and abilities match the employer's needs

Show that you can quickly contribute value and profit to the organization

Have a list of questions to ask that were not found when researching the company

Never bring up salary, perks or benefits unless a job is offered