CareerSeek 3rd Edition 2014

Your guide to a great career

TATTOO ACCEPTANCE IN THE WORKPLACE A DEBATABLE ISSUE JOB INTERVIEW

TIPS I WANTED A CAREER

I WAS INLOVE WITH

June 2014 3rd Edition

RESUME EDITING:

Penelope Trunk

TELLS YOU HOW!

UP SKILL WITH DAMELIN

HOW TO EARN MORE MONEY

2014 3rd Edition

Welcome Don’t be left out in the cold this winter!

Whether you are actively seeking career advice or simply a keen reader, this edition of CareerSeek promises to be a fun and enlightening read. So grab a cuppa and feast your eyes on the latest job market trends, advice and inspirational stories.

Happy Reading!

The CareerJunction Team

email us with your suggestions or your story.

Copyright Š1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

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CONTENTS featured articles

what’s inside...

10 Errors workers make when pursuing a promotion

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A call of the wild

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IT, HR & Motor industries booming for job seekers

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Job hunting 101: How to nab that dream job

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You are not your career. Now what?

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How to get the job you want

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Beat the nerves: Tips on doing a professional presentation

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What ‘workplace wellness’ means for your career

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Returning to South Africa from the UK

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Career Conversations by Kerry Dawkins

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How to earn more money

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what you should ideally avoid doing

How to look after your money when changing jobs

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34 Penelope Trunk

how to edit your resume like a professional resume writer

Fame & Fortune

I wanted a career I was in love with

Tattoo acceptance in the workplace

a debatable issue

Job interview tips

because a strong handshake is just the beginning

Copyright Š1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

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Copyright Š1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

Featured Career

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR MONEY WHEN CHANGING JOBS Source: Times Live

Link: www.junction.co.za

The days of working for one employer for 35-odd years before receiving your golden watch are long gone. Today more and more people change jobs numerous times during their careers.

This may be a good way to keep your skills relevant and marketable, but if you don’t pay attention to your finances, you could end up making some dangerous mistakes.

Once you are ready to look elsewhere, find out exactly what is offered by the other company. During the interview ask questions about group life benefits like income protection or pension scheme contributions;

Bev van Nijkerk, a segment specialist for the young professional market at Sanlam, says: “When you leave your current employment, money which you and your company contributed to your pension fund becomes available to you. You then have the choice to continue to grow your financial portfolio and the savings you’ve built up to that point.”

Once you’ve resigned, tie up all financial loose ends.

Van Nijkerk has this advice for those planning to change jobs: Get up to speed with your financial portfolio before you start looking for another job. Consult your financial adviser and your human resources manager to determine your current cover and savings, and the exact value of your pension fund, group life benefits and/or retirement annuities;

Van Nijkerk suggests you discuss your needs with a financial adviser.

You can transfer funds from company A to company B. If you’ve contributed to a pension fund at your previous job, you can transfer the funds tax-free to your new employer; You can invest in a retirement annuity (RA), a secure and transparent long-term savings solution that offers a range of investment choices; You can invest in a preservation fund, which is similar to an RA, except that it is more flexible and allows you to withdraw money once before you retire for an emergency; and You can take the cash. However, Van Nijkerk advises against this, unless you’re starting a business and invest in it to generate income.

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Featured Career Author: Nelson Sebati

Source: Murason Business Services

Link: www.junction.co.za

10 ERRORS WORKERS MAKE WHEN PURSUING A PROMOTION By guest writer Nelson Sebati, Entrepreneur and NonExecutive Chairman at Murason Business Services. He has 10 years’ experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, career transitioning & on-boarding, with a specific focus on IT and Executive skills. He is a certified Career Strategist and Job Search Coach. He studied Entrepreneurship at Wits Business School, Law at UNISA, BBBEE at the Graduate School of Business Leadership among other numerous qualifications & is currently a member of the YBSA, BMF, REC-UK, APSO, CSSA, ASA, and IoDSA. Pursuing a promotion can be one of the most hectic experiences in your career, especially in today’s uncertain economy. “Why”? Because you know you are placing yourself at some level of risk. The often genuine fears of appearing too ambitious or not being focused enough on doing your best work can trigger unnecessary blunders. However, if you are strategic about your pursuit you can change the frustrating dynamic of feeling undervalued.

In many companies getting promoted is not a meek task. In comparison to only a few decades ago, today’s average employee has a greater workload and more (and better) competition to contend with. Add to this the highly evolved social and political networks one needs to master and you have one tough road to travel. Given this challenging environment, to progress from employment offer to promotion without a single misstep is improbable.

A promotion, by definition, is a form of advancement or movement into new territory. This means learning new information and trying new things, which, by their very nature promote errors in some way, shape or form. The key lies not so much in evading errors, but more so in keeping the errors as small as possible and effectively cleaning up after them.

Here are 10 common errors workers make when pursuing a promotion: 1. Asking for too much at once: Many workers ask for a promotion, raise, new privileges and more all at once. This will likely frustrate your superior. To avoid this you must know your priorities and work down the list as concisely as possible.

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2. Believing that promotions are based on merit alone: “That’s not the case in many companies where politics and other factors come into play,” says Thabile Wonci, Managing Director, Kogae Rainbow Investments (Pty) Ltd. “If you’re career-minded and want to climb the ladder it’s important that you analyse your corporate culture to determine what you need to focus on besides a job well done,” he adds.

3. Trying too hard: If you are an office ‘brown-noser’ whose sole purpose appears to be sucking up to the boss; know that most managers do not like this behaviour and it can have a negative effect on upward mobility. If you focus on doing your job well and being aligned with the company culture, you will go much further than simply trying to cater to your boss’ every whim.

Embarking on a “flattery gets you everywhere” campaign will get you nowhere. It is one thing to dole out occasional compliments to your boss, but if you transparently brown-nose and then ask for that promotion, you will shoot yourself in the foot.

4. Overextending your reach: Any mature workplace has an established hierarchy and everyone should know their place within it. Trying to impress your manager by handling their responsibilities, rather than just doing yours, can be interpreted

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Featured Career 6. Asking for a promotion simply based on length of time employed: Alan Gibson, a Management Consultant, says this is a common mistake made by employees today and I agree. “A common misperception in corporate South Africa is that longevity equals a promotion. That’s simply not the case in our modern work nation,” Gibson says. Just because you have had XX months or years in your role, doesn’t mean you’re automatically qualified for or entitled to a promotion. Your contributions need to create value and you should be perceived as the most logical choice for the new role. You can sometimes accomplish this by consulting with a mentor in the company or even the Human Resources department so you can make sure you are focusing on the right goals, projects and activities.

7. Not having a recent noteworthy accomplishment that supports your application: Give your boss a reason to promote you for excellent results versus asking for a promotion out of the blue.

8. Acting improperly: Complaining, for instance, that outsiders are being interviewed for the position is a big no-no. Whining about others detracts from your own professionalism and credibility. Similarly, comparing your worth to others in the firm who already have achieved the level you seek is counter-productive. Keep it positive, focused and do not put anything negative in writing. Avoid subtle threats about you and the marketplace. Threatening that your responsibilities match up with higher level positions elsewhere, either internally or outside the company, is unlikely to help you land that dream title. Take the logical, relatable approach or risk alienating your boss. Further to, refrain from using examples of anecdotes from people who have said “you deserve it” as this has also proven to be career-limiting in most cases.

9. Lack of perseverance: Workers sometimes back off too quickly. Your boss should witness your complete presentation and rationale. If you quickly shy away at the first furrowed eyebrows, you could lose a golden opportunity. Measured tenacity gauged by the flow of the conversation can be your best guide on next steps and it should not stop there. You will also want to follow up (Many workers do not). Avoid fading out of the picture or giving up. Your boss may take the path of least resistance and do nothing, meaning you have lost ground.

Make sure that before you leave the conversation, you mention next steps and have the same expectations.

as offensive or even threatening to the hierarchical status quo. From a sheer “duties stand point,” your focus should be on completing your assignments, superbly and ahead of schedule and then do just a little bit more to keep you ahead of your competition. This may come in the form of starting your next project early, helping one of your peerlevel colleagues or even just asking your manager if there is any other way to contribute.

5. Not making it a win-win: There has got to be something in it for your boss. Your new position and responsibilities should be proposed in such a way that allows your boss to see the personal benefits for him or her, such as advancement of a particular initiative that requires more of your untapped skills.

10. Jumping ship prematurely: A big mistake workers make is that they start a new job search due to fear of asking for an internal promotion. You could go from the proverbial frying pan into the fire if you just avoid approaching your boss and search elsewhere as a safer option.

Or you might just be wasting your time if you leave the company (due to this unnecessary fear) and you could lose invaluable history with a solid employer. You might end up being at a new company, where your lack of tenure puts you more easily on the chopping block, all for the sake of a more impressive title.

Like ringing a bell, some mistakes cannot be undone, but, as long as they are (at least) somewhat inconsequential, they will usually drift into the background noise, if handled correctly.

So if you fall prey to mistakes or miscalculated responses, do not lose heart because in most instances, if you remain professional in your approach, your boss will admire your confidence in at least trying. Just remember to stay focused on your job and avoid badgering your boss.

If you are not getting an answer after legitimate follow up and an extended period of time, you already have your answer.

If you have been passed over for a promotion that you think you deserved, try to get to the bottom of it. If you approach your manager in a non-confrontational manner and ask candidly why a co-worker was tapped over you, you should learn what to focus on moving forward so you are at the top of the list for the next opening. The key to this conversation is to remain neutral and not let your emotions get the best of you.

Copyright ©1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

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Featured Career

Author: Margaret Harris

Source: BD Live

Link: www.junction.co.za

Many people would say that they deserve to be paid more, but most workers do not know how to get the promotion or increase they wish for.

“People are financially aspirational, but despite having financial goals, many don’t know how to achieve them. To increase your income or get promoted and increase your earning power, you have to improve your skills and your work ethic,” said Academy of York principal Richard Leeming.

You need to know what you want and how you plan to go about getting it before you can get there.

Mr Leeming has advice on how to do that: Work out what your hourly rate is. All you need to do is take your net income (income after tax) and divide it by the number of hours you work each month. The average South African employee works 40 hours a week, which means 160 hours a month. Once you know your hourly rate, you can decide whether you believe you deserve more than that;

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To earn more, you will need to set some goals. They may be related to studying further or changing jobs. Whatever they are, you need to know where you are now so that you can get where you want to go by a particular time. The more specific you are with your goals, the better. Make them Smart goals (an acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based goals); You may think that things happen as if by magic for everyone else, but chances are that the people you see achieving their goals have put in plenty of hard work. If you want to earn more, you will need to improve your knowledge, work harder and smarter, and be willing to put in the hours to make it happen; and Moving ahead requires you to take charge of your life. It is unlikely that anyone will suddenly hand you a higherpaying job. If you look for opportunities and make conscious decisions, however, you increase your chances of success.

Copyright ©1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

Copyright Š1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

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Featured Career

THE CALL OF THE WILD Author: Samuel Mungadze

Source: BD Live

Link: www.junction.co.za

For many youngsters finishing matric or university, options are limited. It is not cheap to get overseas for a gap year; the prospects for employment – in any country – are slim; and today’s youths are disillusioned with the kind of desk jobs their parents had to take.

Having a young adult kicking around the house all day can also make family tempers flare.

So what do you do with your frustrated offspring? The answer may be to throw them to the lions.

Given the chance, many youngsters would happily get their hands dirty to conserve SA’s natural assets, but a career in this field requires some kind of formal qualification. Enter Bushwise, a bush-skills academy and the brainchild of director and owner Sophie Niemann.

It is not a holiday camp: Bushwise provides accredited fieldguide training from seasoned industry professionals. Students learn how to drive 4x4 vehicles, handle rifles and track game, and are taught about the local flora and fauna.

The year-long course places students with partner lodges or research venues for a six-month spell that will bolster their CVs. There is also a six-month course available.

Niemann studied for a BSc in zoology and then “trained and

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worked as a safari guide at the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve in Limpopo, where our students now conduct all their practical activities”.

“I was subsequently offered a position as assistant researcher at the Okavango Lion Research station where, for just under a year, I followed a number of lion prides in remote areas in order to monitor their behaviour and carry out a parasitology study.”

Niemann went on to develop and run volunteer-funded wildlife management and predator research programmes in Limpopo, becoming regional director for an international organisation and developing SANParks’s volunteer programme.

She also set up a dolphin conservation and community development programme in Kenya, among various other projects across the continent.

While running volunteer programmes she saw that there

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Featured Career

was no shortage of enthusiasm - but the recruits lacked the qualifications and experience required to guide international guests in dangerous game areas.

staff and I were able to concentrate on developing what we hoped would be one of the best field-guide-training providers in the country.”

“I wanted to see more young people get into the field of research and guiding, and after a year of planning and logistics, Bushwise was launched in January 2006,” Niemann said.

The initial six months of the course include practical training in bird identification, animal behaviour, mammalian biology, tracking, a reptile orientation course, practical game-drive experience, first aid and bush walks.

“The training facility does more than provide a quick way to gain the minimum guiding qualifications. Rather, by the end of the course the students emerge with a wealth of knowledge, bush and life skills, and experience to be professional and ethical guides.

“The high standards required of the students attending the Bushwise course were quickly recognised by employers, and graduates of the course remain highly sought-after as guides and wildlife researchers,” Niemann said.

Bringing together the necessary resources was not easy. “I knew what processes, red tape and equipment needed to be organised in setting up the company, but to develop an excellent field guide programme I knew the most important areas were to secure exceptional and experienced staff, to locate prime game-viewing areas for the training course to run and, importantly, to become accredited with the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA).”

Through her contacts, Niemann was able to secure use of the 25000ha wilderness area of the Greater Makalali Private Nature Reserve.

“I was also able to recruit staff who were not only well known and experienced in the guiding industry and training, but who were equally passionate about improving the quality of guide training in the country. So now, with the resources in place, the

There is a minimum acceptance age of 21 in the field-guide industry, and Niemann said the practical experience gave Bushwise students an edge. “Many of the 250 professional field guides we have trained to date have been offered permanent positions at their placements across Southern Africa.

“The training campus is tucked away on a general game property, in the heart of the bush, surrounded by other game reserves, and all our practicals [game drives, walks and sleep-outs] are carried out on the nearby big-five reserve.

“This provides the best of both worlds: safety and living space/ freedom for our students, but big-five experience almost every day.” The campus also has modern amenities, such as a lecture room, bathrooms and a large swimming pool.

In addition to late-night lion encounters and facing down bull elephants, students have discovered exactly what bokdrolspoeg entails.

“I was surprised by the extent of the feeling of pride I have when thinking about every student’s personal achievements,” Niemann said. “For many, this is the fulfilment of their dreams, and it is particularly inspiring for those who have encountered tough challenges in life. I also feel pride that the Bushwise team have been able to awake a passion for conservation in so many of our students.”

Featured Career

JOB INTERVIEW TIPS:

BECAUSE A STRONG HANDSHAKE IS JUST THE BEGINNING Author: Jenny Treanor

Source: Brazen Life

Link: blog.brazencareerist.com

Your interview is a few hours away, and you’re as nervous and jumpy as a human espresso bean (which makes sense, considering how much coffee you’ve gulped down this morning). Most of your thoughts are fears: What if you’re late? What if you say the wrong thing? What if your handshake isn’t strong enough?

But fear rarely makes a strong impression. Instead of quaking and counting the seconds until your interview is over, take control of the process from the start by keeping these considerations in mind.

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Copyright ©1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

Featured Career 1. Grow up Job interviews have a tendency to transport us back to childhood, a time when we strove to please our elders and stay out of trouble. But resist this tendency. You and your interviewer are two adults who’ve earned a place in the world and a seat at the table.

You’re going to have a simple conversation. You’re not here to be judged, scolded, punished, tested or cross examined. And if you’re treated this way, you don’t want that job.

2. Clarify, don’t guess If you don’t understand your interviewer’s question, that’s his fault, not yours. Don’t fumble or mumble your way toward whatever you think he meant. Simply say, “I don’t understand the question. Can you rephrase?”

3. Honesty wins — always If you have to choose between telling your story in your own words or telling your interviewer what you think she wants to hear, choose the first. At some point, you may be asked to describe your feelings, your plans or the lessons you learned from the past. Think about the question for a few seconds before you speak. Then speak from the heart.

4. You’re a specialist, not a jack-of-all trades Young candidates often assume that the more they can do, the more they’ll impress their interviewers. They claim to be allaround superstars (hard workers, tech pros, brilliant writers, mathematicians and natural leaders) who turn everything they touch into gold.

Instead, focus on what you really do — the skills you have to offer that others don’t. Let the other things go.

5. You’re not a “social media expert” (unless you are) You may have a Facebook account, and you may be a Millennial, but these alone don’t make you a social media expert or a social

Copyright ©1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

media marketing pro. These are real terms, and if you use them to describe yourself, you’ll need to back up that claim.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do this.

Especially if this isn’t a social media marketing job. Focus on your degree in chemistry, your background in art history or your child development experience, and don’t let your interviewer put you on the defensive because you haven’t updated your Twitter feed in a while.

6. Manage your appearance and nonverbal cues Whatever you decide to wear to your interview, look clean, neat, pressed and sharp. Your clothes should look new, especially your shoes. Your posture should be confident and relaxed. Keep the conversation flowing in two directions. Judge as much as you’re judged, and ask some questions instead of answering each one and passively waiting for the next.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

Brazen powers real-time, online events for leading organizations around the world. Our lifestyle and career blog, Brazen Life, offers fun and edgy ideas for ambitious professionals navigating the changing world of work.

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Featured Career Source: www.brettshuttleworth.com

10 000 LOVE STROKES in honour of Nelson Mandela

Author: Odile Badenhorst

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SA motivational entertainer, Brett Shuttleworth, steps out of his comfort zone to face the biggest challenge of his life...

Source: CareerJunction Index

IT, HR AND MOTOR INDUSTRIES BOOMING FOR JOB SEEKERS

Copyright Š1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

Featured Career

If you’re a geek or in the business of recruiting or getting your hands dirty, it’s time to get back in the job market. According to our latest data trends here at CareerJunction, there’s no better time to land a new job for professionals in the IT, HR and Motor industries than right now.

Here’s why!

Comparing current job availability in the IT sector to the same period last year, companies have boosted their hiring efforts by a whopping 60%. Yes, 60%. The HR and Motor industries aren’t too far behind, each revealing a spike in job availability of over 40% in most recent months. If that’s not enough to get you off your wobbly office chair, job seekers seem to have slowed their search efforts, which means competition for these hot jobs has become less fierce.

But be mindful, these breezy conditions do not necessarily apply to everyone. For instance, while systems and data analysts / administrators and particularly BA’s and developers own majority share for IT related job vacancies, other IT related occupations were minimally affected by the spike in demand.

The same goes for professionals in the HR and Motor industries. In the HR industry, HR officers, recruitment consultants and HR managers can look forward to wide selection of opportunities while those in administrative, research, payroll or employee relations roles have to work a little bit harder for these jobs.

And finally mechanics & auto technicians as well as sales managers and consultants seem to be in hot demand within the zooming Motor industry.

So unless you are allowed to put your feet on your desk and have your own office espresso machine, you might want to consider touching up your online CV and setting up a few email job alerts.

*Data was collected from CareerJunction and analysis done by The CareerJunction Index (CJI).

Copyright ©1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

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JOB HUNTING 101: HOW TO NAB THAT DREAM JOB Source: All4Women

Link: www.all4women.co.za

First published on All4Women

During economically difficult times finding a job can be tough, whether you have just graduated, were recently retrenched, or just want to change jobs.

The challenges associated with finding employment are probably more daunting to first time job seekers, who do not know the job search landscape and don’t know what to expect, but the search should be treated as a journey, not a series of attempts.

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STRATEGY IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN IT COMES TO JOB HUNTING. HERE’S HOW TO HAVE A PLAN TO GRAB THAT DREAM JOB! “Finding a job is a process, and it is important that this process is backed by a strategy. It is also worth remembering that, while you are searching for a job, the search is and should be treated as your job,” says Erna Kruger, Head of Programme at The Independent Institute of Education (IIE), SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education provider.

Kruger says that, during the process of looking for and securing a position, one could find wonderful opportunities you never imagined, and therefore it was necessary to keep an open mind.

IMPORTANT TO SET GOALS FOR YOURSELF “It is important that you set goals for yourself when searching for that perfect position,” says Kruger.

“These goals may include, for instance, searching and applying for ten to fifteen jobs per week until you find full time employment. It is also very beneficial to register your CV with employment agencies or use online employment services to search and apply for jobs about which you are genuinely enthusiastic.

However, make sure that you are qualified for the job, otherwise your CV will easily end up in the bin and not be considered again.”

Opportunity to improve your knowledge and skills While conducting your jobsearch, it is also an opportunity to improve your knowledge and skills, says Kruger.

“Start to get used to an eight-hour working day, by devoting a large chunk of the day to your search, and by optimally using the the other hours available to you,” she says.

“You could consider getting additional qualifications in the career field in which you are interested, or do short learning programmes that would further enhance your standing in a particular field.

Higher Education institutions such as The IIE, for instance, offer a wide range of career-focused qualifications which can be attended as a full-time, part-time or distance student. They also offer short learning programmes that may add considerable weight to your CV.”

Copyright ©1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

Use available free resources Kruger says that there are also many resources available to assist job hunters, such as www.theworldofwork. co.za - a free web-based resource that helps graduates prepare themselves to make the best of the application and interview process, as well as help them put their best foot forward in their first job.

“These kinds of resources could make all the difference in ensuring that you set yourself apart from other candidates,” she says.

Options also include taking up other opportunities, such as doing an internship, part-time work, freelance work and volunteer work in the field in which you want to work.

“Taking such opportunities could help you get your foot in the door and sell yourself. They may open doors for full time work, but even if they don’t, they will add to your experience which you can add to your CV.

Importantly, Kruger says that time should be spent on making sure your CV is professional, as it is the first impression a prospective employer will get of you.

Don’t give in to despondency “Finally, always remember not to give in to despondency, but to rather consider other alternatives. There is no reason for you not to be working and earning a living.

Part-time jobs that might not necessarily be in the career field in which you are interested are always available and could include waiting tables. Even thought the earning potential in these part time jobs is not that high, it could tide you over while you continue looking for work.

Don’t forget the self employment option “And don’t forget to seriously consider self employment – being entrepreneurial about the skills and knowledge you have gained during your previous work or studies could ultimately prove more rewarding than finding permanent employment. Research your possibilities and use the skills you have. There are always opportunities – even if they do not come in the form you previously considered the ideal.”

“REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THOMAS A. EDISON: ‘OPPORTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK’.”

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Featured Career

TATTOO ACCEPTANCE Author: Lyndy Van Den Barselaar

Source: BIZCOMMUNITY

Link: www.bizcommunity.co.za

although the popularity of tattoos is on the rise and have gained some social acceptance in recent years, the issue of tattoo acceptance in the workplace is still debatable.

“Tattoo acceptance differs from industry to industry and organisation to organisation. While the more creative industries, such as advertising and design, may be more open to visible tattoos in the workplace, corporate organisations are more likely to have strict policies in place in this regard,”

explains Lyndy van den Barselaar, managing director of human capital management solutions provider Manpower South Africa.

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Featured Career

IN THE WORKPLACE A DEBATABLE ISSUE Van den Barselaar notes that in today’s global marketplace, employers are taking more seriously the need to provide a work environment that welcomes employees from many different backgrounds. The competition to attract and retain skilled workers has resulted in corporate cultures that strive to demonstrate the value placed on individual and group contributions.

This has resulted in some corporate and social industries such as the medical and educational industries becoming more open to tattoos in the workplace.

employer dress code “Despite the drive to promote individuality and personal values in the workplace, tattoo acceptance can still depend on where and what the tattoo is.

Unfortunately, certain people associate tattoos with negative connotations and this can affect the organisation’s reputation,” she explains.

The law tends to support employer dress code and appearance policies, which allows employers to retain some flexibility in creating rules around how employees are expected to present themselves, in a way that is consistent with the organisations values and image.

“This makes it extremely important for employers to have written policies in place in this regard, and to ensure these are applied fairly to all employees,” says van den Barselaar. She emphasises that employers should make these policies clear to any employees coming in for interviews, to avoid any misunderstandings going forward.

“Employees should also take this into consideration when looking for a job, and if they have prominent, visible tattoos, should make their possible employer aware of this fact before making any commitments to the organisation,” she concludes.

Copyright ©1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

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Featured Career

This year, I plan to be 30-SOMETHING. This means figuring out the kind of person I am and the kind of person I want to be.

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Source: be30something.wordpress.com

Link: www.all4women.co.za

NOW WHAT?

Copyright Š1997-2014 CareerJunction, all rights reserved.

Featured Career

When I was younger, it was an easy question to answer

But keep trying: try new things, try things that scare you, try things that challenge you, try things that you know you love, try things that benefit others.

“I want to be a marine biologist”, I confidently declared at age 12. Later it was, “I want to be a vet”. That was quickly replaced by “I want to write for National Geographic”.

(If you’re struggling to figure out what matters most in your life, take this free values test to help put some things into perspective).

Then I realised I would have to spend some time trekking through tropical jungles and sharing my sleeping bag with eight-legged creatures. Waking up to a tarantula tickling my toes would undoubtedly send me screaming over the edge of sanity. So it was back to the drawing board.

The very, very earliest memory I have is that I wanted to be an umbrella That way, my mom would let me go outside and play in the rain. (I’ve always loved the rain.)

Somewhere along the line, I realised that being an umbrella is biologically impossible. I also found out that the latest statistics show that people in the 21st century have up to seven careers in their lifetime. Basing my identity on a career would mean a diagnosis of multiple-personality disorder by the time I’m 50.

So now what?

I’m back on the journey of self-discovery This means facing many fears and uncertainties and “what ifs” and regrets. But, while I’m trying to “think less and do more”, it also opens up many opportunities. I love this Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The secondbest time is now.”

We can’t live our lives based on what we wish we should have/could have/would have done if we’d been stronger/ richer/braver/wiser. We also can’t base our entire identity on our careers.

We are more than a 9-5 job We have gifts, talents and dreams that are going to waste because we’re too focused on “making it” to the end of the day alive, instead of living.

Every day gives us 24 hours to be who we are called to be. If we don’t figure it out today, we can try again tomorrow.

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So how do we figure out who we are meant to be?

By asking the One who made us.

This is my absolute favourite bible passage:sparrow Matthew 6: 25-30 – “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So when we stop worrying about the “little things” we have more time to ask God who he created us to be, and how we can best become that person: Psalm 16:11 – You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 139:13 – For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.”

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HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT Author: Penny Haw

Source: BD Live

Link: www.junction.co.za

You may think that one of the first things you should say when looking for work is “show me the money”, but as counter-intuitive as it may sound, a big salary does not equate to a happy worker.

Many studies have found that people will stay in a job that offers less money because it fulfils other important needs — such as job satisfaction, flexibility or a short commute to and from work.

One study even showed that high earners often had lower job satisfaction than medium earners.

So when you are looking for a new job, what are some of the things you should be taking note of?

Kirsten Morgendaal, area director for Regus, says responsibility, mental challenges and a positive work environment are among the factors that can make a big difference to your happiness at work.

Morgendaal has the following advice: Some of the non-financial perks of a job that often play an important role in encouraging retention include flexible working hours, study leave, half-day Fridays, an on-site gym, medical practitioner and other facilities, the ability to dress casually and daily catered lunches; In some cases, you may need to be proactive and ask for particular benefits, but do your homework first. If you know how other companies in your industry work, it will be easier to plead your case; and Ultimately, it is easier to turn down a job offer than to leave a job if it is not right for you. If you find that trying to negotiate is too difficult, you may need to walk away and look for something else.

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Do you freak out every time you have to do a presentation for work?

Do your palms get sweaty, and your coffee consumption shoots through the roof?

First published on All4Women

Beat the nerves: Tips on doing a professional presentation Source: All4Women Link: www.avocadovision.co.za

Here are some great tips from Avocado Vision on how to put together a professional presentation even if you’re not a naturally talented communicator.

The basics There are some basic skills and guidelines to making a good presentation – even for those who tremble at the idea of putting together a simple Power Point! The rest just takes a lot of practice. Those incredible communicators that we all admire who come across as completely confident and at-ease in front of a crowd have had years of practice to hone their skills.

Here are some great tips to get started.

From here, you can build on your skills over time.

1. Good structure helps build confidence. Structure your presentation around headings, subheadings and bullets.

Don’t ever write out your presentation in full - you never speak like you write. Don’t memorise your presentation, speak from the heart. When you practise, the words can come out differently, but the message should be the same each time.

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2. You have to be yourself. If you are a quiet, reserved person then grow this into a strength. If you are outgoing and exuberant then be that, and do it well.

3. Paint pictures with words. Tell stories, use analogies, provide personal experiences, describe examples. Learn from the motivational speaker – they will tell you a compelling story and then use it to highlight the message they want you to understand.

4. Rehearse. Most of the adrenaline rush of fear takes place in the first few minutes. Make sure that you have a powerful introduction to guide you through those initial moments. Present to a few people who you feel may be your greatest critics. Invite their contribution. You may also want to go to the venue in order to get comfortable with the space.

Once you have the basics in place, it’s time to play around with your presentation – tailoring it to your audience, your own personality and the information you’re trying to get across.

The importance of the audience The whole presentation is for the audience. It’s all about

>>

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Featured Career >> them! Going into a presentation knowing exactly what you want them to think, feel and do will guide your message powerfully and ensure that you get the results you want. It has to be relevant to the audience.

Storytelling Stories are part of our DNA! Stories can allow an audience to see things from a different perspective. A good story allows the teller to move away from notes and to really engage with the audience. It’s a way of building good relationships.

Many of the fears are about being unable to see that your contribution has value.

Validate your contribution and you’ll start to see the process differently. Presenting well is the best way to communicate your message and open up discussion, which places you firmly in the mind of the audience as the initiator of this thinking.

Often, those who prefer to avoid the limelight are not promoted in their organisations because others take the credit for their thinking.

Meaningful content Make sure your content is meaningful, but objective and factual, bearing in mind that often what is meaningful to you isn’t necessarily meaningful to them.

Think about what the audience will engage with and what will most captivate them. Have a clear objective in mind – are you trying to sell an idea, inspire others or create a platform for innovation? Approach things differently by asking a series of questions.

Overcoming the fear of speaking publically Identify the cause of this fear.

You might be asking yourself the following questions: What if the audience knows more than me? What will those who are senior to me think of my views? What if I am viewed as being boring? What if people ask questions I can’t answer?

Bottom line? Get over the fear and get presenting. You can’t afford not to.

Believe in your success At Avo, we believe that there is nothing more powerful than using video feedback to enable presenters to see themselves in action.

Many presenters are surprised that, although they may feel anxious, this is not communicated to the audience.

We believe that by building on the unique presentation strengths of each individual, confidence grows more quickly.

Visualise your success Visualising yourself speaking with confidence goes a long way. Breathe deeply before you start.

There is less stress speaking one-on-one and building rapport than speaking to a large group. Start by finding the friendly faces in the room, ask your colleagues to really listen and give you their full attention. This can ground you and give you tremendous confidence.

Don’t forget to manage your time. Less is more.

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FAME & FORTUNE

i wanted a career i was in love with Author: Malcolm Rees

Mike Luptak, a slightly ‘loopy’ chartered accountant who quit his lucrative job at a big consulting firm to run Dlala Nje — a vibrant and progressive children-focused community centre in the heart of Hillbrow — says he missed getting a monthly salary but would give up money in return for happiness any time.

You quit your job to run Dlala Nje, a barely profitable, little-known community centre in Hillbrow that you co-founded in October 2012. Why? I wanted my career to be something that I was in love with. I wanted to have a bigger impact than I would have sitting behind a desk, pushing numbers for a consulting behemoth. Now I am able to let my personality, as well as my skills, drive my work.

Source: BD Live

Link: www.junction.co.za

And have you found that you are in love with what you do?

Yes, I feel a much greater sense of purpose with what I do now than with what I did in the corporate world.

What kind of impact does your work have - beyond your personal bank balance?

We provide an exposure platform for an under-resourced community to engage, collaborate and learn. Dlala Nje provides an alternative for kids, compared with being on the street, and an escape from the harsh realities that are evident in the surrounding areas. We also work to provide people from wealthier neighbourhoods and abroad exposure to Hillbrow and the surrounding areas through our immersion walks to erode the stark psychological barriers that exist between South Africa’s communities.

In terms of personal financial wealth and security, how are you doing now compared with when you had a guaranteed monthly income?

I miss the salary, but I am one of those people who would sacrifice money for happiness and a really fun lifestyle. But I don’t think that this is permanent: at some stage I hope to be earning more than I did at the consulting firm.

Entrepreneurship is a process that takes time - it’s a journey and a lifestyle. >>

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Featured Career >> Since going from a position in a corporation to essentially winging it in pursuit of

your passion, what have you learnt about managing money?

I have learnt that people in very lucrative positions in big firms have this unnecessary need for consumerism and it’s growing and it’s scary.

When you realise how little you actually need to be happy, it creates a great freedom.

Joburg is a place where financial wealth and the pursuit of material gain have been elevated to become perhaps the most important individual ambition. What is fortune to you?

Fortune to me is having a rich soul - one that is rich in experience rather than things.

What is the best financial advice you could give?

Don’t let financial freedom dictate the lifestyle you want to live - let the lifestyle you want to live be the incubator for your financial freedom.

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Up your game by furthering your skills or equipping yourself with a completely new skill set. Sign up for a short course; part-time course or full-time diploma/degree with one of SA’s most reputable training providers.

It’s the easiest way to climb the corporate ladder at a place, pace and price that suits your needs.

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Improvement) Author: ELI (Employee Lifestyle

Source: All4Women

Link: www.All4Women.co.za

’ S S E N L L E W E C A L P K R O ‘W WHAT MEANS FOR YOUR CAREER First published on All4Women

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‘Corporate wellness’ is a concept that has been around since the 1980s and was first implemented in the United States.

Denmark, Canada, Japan and Australia followed very shortly after. In South Africa, the industry is slowly on the rise and more companies are starting to understand how happy, healthy employees are equivalent to productivity and an increase in profit margins.

According to Marilu Meiring, Corporate Healer and the Founder of ELI the Ant, “Wellness in the workplace incorporates the overall environment in which employees find themselves daily. It includes every aspect of human behaviour that determines and guides happiness and productivity implemented in the office.”

Google is a benchmark in workplace wellness Google has been the iconic leader in proving how a complete wellness office, can bring forth business success.

The California head office hosts 4 000+ employees and due to a highly valued employee benefit reputation, they receive approximately 3 000 applications for work daily. This is the position that every company dreams of, as they get to pick the ‘cream of the talent crop’ for their businesses.

True wellbeing is a daily application Where South Africa still falls short of the leading countries in corporate wellness, is the on site structures to support happy

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and healthy employees. Medical aid companies have begun implementing the idea with annual Wellness Days, but those make very little difference to the general status of workplace wellbeing.

“True wellbeing is a daily task and therefore the responsibility of the employee as well as the employer,” says Meiring.

Employees are the most important assets Employees are the business’s most important assets and as with all other business assets, need to have a maintenance and optimisation plan in place to ensure the best quality output.

The aspects that influence an employee’s quality of output are very undervalued. They are the soft topics, yet make the most difference to productivity.

Things that make a difference to productivity include: -

Healthy eating Exercising and stretching Breathing correctly Resting and recovery Drinking enough fresh water

“The businesses that understand human development and implement structures to optimise their employees will have the upper hand in their industry,” says Meiring.

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Penelope Trunk HOW TO EDIT YOUR RESUME LIKE A PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITER It’s very hard to write your own resume because a resume is a macro view of your life, but you live your life at the micro level, obsessing about daily details that have no bearing on your resume. So I recommend to a lot of people that they hire someone to help them. After all, spending money on a resume writer is one of the few expenditures that will have good return right away.

Source: penelopetrunk.com

Link: blog.penelopetrunk.com

But some of you will be able to do a decent job rewriting your resume on your own. The first thing you’ll have to do is make some mental shifts. You need to rethink the goals of a resume, and rethink the rules of a resume in order to approach the project like the best of the resume professionals.

your resume that is not an achievement is wasting space. Because you don’t know what a hiring manager will look at first—and if you have ten good achievements and three mediocre lines about your life story, the hiring manager may only read those three lines—so remove them.

Here are three ideas that guide professional resume writers and should guide you as well:

2. Don’t make your resume a moral statement; it’s a marketing document.

1. Don’t focus on your responsibilities, focus on what you achieved.

A resume is not your life story. No one cares. If your life story were so interesting, you’d have a book deal. The only things that should be on your resume are achievements. Anyone can do their job, but only a small percentage of the population can do their job well, wherever they go.

The best way to show that you did your job well is from achievements. The best achievement is a promotion.It is an objective way to show that you impressed the people you work for. The next best way to show objective measures is to present quantified achievements.

Most people do not think in terms of quantified achievements when they are in the job, but on the resume, that’s the only part of the job that matters. No one can see that you were a “good team player” on your resume unless you can say “established a team to solve problem x and increased sales x%” or “joined underperforming team and helped that team beat production delivery dates by three weeks.”

If you are only putting achievements on your resume, you are going to be hard-pressed to fill a whole page. That’s okay. Anything on

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Think about when a company announced the launch of their product. First of all, the product is not done. Second of all, it has bugs. And third, the company is probably showing photos of prototypes and the real thing will look different.

All this stuff is fine. It’s accepted practice for marketing. The company will tell you that they are doing their best to get you the information you want in the way they think is best for letting you know what your consumer options are.

You need to take the same approach with your resume, because a resume is a marketing document. The best marketing documents show the product in the very best light, which means using whatever most outrageous tactics possible to make you look good. As long as you are not lying, you will be fine.

Here’s an example: You join a software company that just launched a product and the product had so many problems that they had to hire someone to handle the calls. You start doing the tech support, and you work tons of overtime because the calls are so backed up. You clean up the phone queue and then you start taking long lunches because there’s not a lot to do, and then you start job hunting because the job is boring.

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Here’s how you summarize this job on your resume: Assumed management responsibility for tech support and decreased call volume 20%.

3. Don’t give everything away in the resume.

How do you know 20%? Who knows? It was probably more. But you can’t quantify exactly, so err on the safe side. But if you just say “Did tech support for a software company” no one knows you did a good job.

The idea of a resume is to get someone to call you. Talk with you on the phone. Offer you an interview. So a resume is like a first date. You only show your best stuff and you don’t show it all.

Some people dump everything they can think of onto their resume, but a resume is not the only chance you’ll have to sell yourself. In fact the interview is where the hard-core selling takes place. So you only put your very best achievements on the resume. Sure, there will be other questions people will want answers to, but that will make them call you. And that’s good, right?

There is a fine art of almost-lying-but-not-lying on a resume.

You need to talk about it a lot in order to know where you fall on the spectrum. Here is a sample of my own family discussions about what is lying and what isn’t.

For those of you who can’t bear to take off the twenty extra lines on your resume because you think the interviewer has to see every single thing about you right away, consider that we have statistics to show that people don’t want to know everything up front. It does not make for a good match. Of people who got married, only 3% had sex on the first date.

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Featured Career

RETURNING TO SOUTH AFRICA FROM THE UK For the latest Banking and Financial Services jobs visit www.robertwalters.co.za

Robert Walters has also seen an increase in the number of South African banking and financial services professionals looking to return home from the UK. So what’s the benefit of coming home and is it worth it?

Michael Fraser, Associate Director of the Banking & Financial Services Recruitment Division at Robert Walters says, “There’s been a migration of professionals leaving the UK over the last two years to come back to South Africa. The recession has triggered this off, and many people who have returned home have good things to say and are enjoying themselves back here. Good career progression is widely available in emerging markets and that’s creating increased interest.”

If you are thinking about returning home, here’s some advice from our banking & financial services division to help you secure a job:

employers often want to meet the candidate more than once in person to gauge their technical skills and cultural fit. If you are already in the country it also shows your commitment to stay and start your new career locally • If you do not have a job before you have arrived, make sure your CV is upto-date and that you have copies of all relevant documentation. This includes up-to-date references.

• Prepare yourself to start living in South Africa and earning Rand and be realistic about the value of the Rand vs other global currencies. For more detailed information on local banking & financial services salaries, access Robert Walters Global Salary Survey.

• Be mindful that whilst there are opportunities in all the cities around the country, Johannesburg has the highest • You are more likely to succeed in securing volume of banking and financial services opportunities. a role if you are in South Africa when applying for opportunities. Getting a job does not happen overnight and prospective

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Historically, many South African banking and financial services professionals dreamed of living overseas, particularly London, attracted by the prospect of earning English pounds and saving more money. However, immigration companies say the appeal of countries such as the UK has dropped significantly because of the economic crisis in Europe, and the fact that the emerging markets across South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are enticing thousands of expatriates back home.

• Be realistic about your job expectations.

Overall, the banking market is smaller than what you have experienced in London so you’ll need to work out how you / your career is going to fit into the local market that exists. Some roles will give you autonomy while others will give you the opportunity to restructure your own career path.

Contact Us: Michael Fraser, Associate Director of Banking and Financial Services Recruitment e: michael.fraser@robertwalters. comTel: +27 11 881 2408 Robert Walters, World Trade Center Johannesburg, Cnr West Road South and Lower Road, Morningside, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196 Tel: +27 (0) 11 881 2400 , Fax: +27 11 881 2499 Established in 1985, Robert Walters is one of the world’s leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies with 53 offices spanning 24 countries. As part of this extensive office network worldwide, Robert Walters South Africa are well placed to respond to the local and international career and resourcing needs of candidates and clients. Since 1998, we’ve been establishing ourselves as one of the premier global recruitment consultancies operating in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.Based in Sandton, Johannesburg, we place professionals at all levels of seniority in permanent and fixed-term contract positions across accountancy & finance, banking & financial services, engineering & natural resources, legal and human resources.

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CAREER CONVERSATIONS by Kerry Dawkins Career Conversations provide managers, human resources and learning professionals with an excellent opportunity to grow and inspire their teams. However in the majority of cases the conversations remain unstructured and largely ineffective. These conversations can unlock the valuable resources of ENERGY AND COMMITMENT in people.

Managers need more skill to use these opportunities wisely.

The world of work provides us with many choices. We can choose our employer and the duration that we want to work for that employer. We can choose to join the entrepreneurial trend and be our own boss. As flexible work arrangements become more common, we can choose where to do our work and possibly even when to work. We can choose what learning and development would be most useful. Increasingly as swarming becomes a reality, we can choose what projects to get involved in and what communities to join to develop our brand.

Career choice may start with “what to study after school?” and continues with questions like “should I do honours or get practical experience”, “which employer will provide the greatest learning opportunities?”, “which division should I move into after my graduate programme?”, “what further skill should I obtain?”, “what project team should I join?”, “what development should I do in the next year?” and “what opportunity will allow me to follow my passion or find my purpose? on and on the choices go.

Who we are and who we become in our careers is a sum of our choices. More broadly this implies that an organization is a sum of who their people have chosen to be and who they are striving to become. Sadly many of our career choices are made based on short term gain or short term comfort. There is a tendency to choose the job that will pay more now or will allow us to go home earlier or take on easier tasks. Many of your team may be making career choices for short term gain rather than their longer term growth and success. This impacts the team, the company and the community negatively. We all need to be stretching ourselves to increase our skills and knowledge to remain relevant. This will lead to growth in our teams and in our communities.

How can we make better career choices that are more likely to ensure that we achieve the career success that we desire?

How can we ensure that our people and our teams are making career choices that allow them to grow, achieve success for themselves and the organisation?

Career Conversations present a good opportunity for managers, human resources and learning professionals to guide and inspire a person to make career choices that allow them to use their potential to the full. A person’s potential is unknowable and an effective career conversation can open up new possibilities including opportunities for growth, new ideas and alternative paths for achieving desired success.

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However managers are poorly prepared and under-skilled for these conversations. They often miss the opportunity to stretch and grow their people and as a result their teams.

They miss the opportunity to work with the employee to create meaning in their work. They miss the opportunity to tap into a huge internal energy source that becomes available to an employee when they find meaning in their work. They miss the opportunity to align the employee’s objectives with the corporate objectives. You miss the chance to engage the employee further and capture their head, heart and hands.

Managers, besides being very busy, are often conflicted between, in the short term meeting business deliverables AND supporting the person in their growth and developing capacity for the business in the longer term. Because of this conflict of interest and the increasing mobility of workers inside your business, we see the need for upskilling not only the managers but also human resources and learning professionals.

Career Conversations are too valuable to be left unstructured and relying on the natural abilities of the manager. These critical conversations need to be based on a tried-and-tested methodology that works and that enables growth in the person and enables the employee to create meaning in their work.

We have found effective Career Conversations methodology supports the person to gain a good understanding of self. It encourages a person to look outward and understand the trends in the world of work, their industry and company. It supports in the creation of possibilities and broader thinking that leads to hope-filled action. It seeks to create a direct link between employee’s purpose (or what for the employee is presently is meaningful) and their daily tasks ensuring the employee is energized and present.

As you and your people have better career conversations, you will notice an increase in ENERGY AND COMMITMENT that comes as people take control of their careers and make choices that lead them closer to the success they desire. JK Rowling said “It is our choices….. that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities”. Effective Career Conversations can improve the choices we make and therefore the person we become.a Our contribution to this challenge; Potential At Work has created L&D interventions to educating managers, human resources, learning professionals on a methodology for Career Conversations.

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Kerry is the founder of Potential At Work, a consultancy specialising in engagement and development solutions.

As part of her role in the business, she has created and implemented a mentoring system that, on an ongoing basis, provides support and guidance to young South Africans. Current mentees include graduates as they enter the workforce in large South African corporates, key talent as they move upwards in a corporate, employment equity candidates and the benefactors of Foundations including the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Shanduka Foundation.

You can follow her on Facebook – Kerry Dawkins- Patwork and on Twitter @KerryDawkins.

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Wannabe A model/actor/character 40 CareerSeek

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CareerJunction is delighted to present the latest Salary Review Report, compiled exclusively for South African job seekers and professionals as well as recruiters and employers alike. Findings are based on the latest salary offerings (final quarter of 2013 and first quarter of 2014) collected from CareerJunction‘s website, serving over 2 000 recruiters who advertise an average of 25 000 jobs monthly.

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