CareerSeek 1st Edition 2015 by CareerJunction

THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE ACCEPTING A JOB OFFER / OFFICE COOL

CAREER NEWS AND ADVICE MARCH 2015

FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRIES FOR 2015 SA AUTHOR

WOWS AMAZON

YOU HAVE 8.8 SECONDS TO IMPRESS 1

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CONTENTS 04 06

Things you must do before accepting a job offer

How long it really takes employers to fill open positions

Three magic phrases every interviewer wants to hear

Book Review: Inspiration to Make Your Quest a Labour of Love

Higher certificates: providing a foot in the higher education door

13 14 16 17 18 19

SA author wows Amazon Office Cool SA’s Job Market at a Glance Staying “switched on” for work is stressing you out

20 Travelling the world to stop internet criminals 22 You have 8.8 seconds to impress 24 What it takes to be a ‘guest experience manager’ 26 Fastest growing industries for 2015 28 Tips for dealing with difficult conversations at work 30 How to kick-start your new year job hunt 32 Building on passion

All information provided in our CareerSeek Magazine is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between CareerJunction and any person or entity unless otherwise specified. Information, pricing and conditions in our CareerSeek Magazine are subject to change without prior notice. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained within our CareerSeek Magazine is accurate and up to date, CareerJunction is not to be held liable for inaccuracies in information, prices and conditions products and services being advertised in our CareerSeek Magazine. The information in our CareerSeek Magazine is subject to human error in the input of data concerning our products and services and as such cannot be used as a valid source of information. If there is any doubt concerning the accuracy of the information contained within our CareerSeek Magazine, please let us know and contact marketing@careerjunction.co.za so a representative can help you.

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CAREER ADVICE 12 THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE ACCEPTING A JOB OFFER TEXT Aja Frost SOURCE The Muse LINK www.themuse.com

After countless cover letters, lunches with contacts, and interviews, you got a job offer. Woo hoo! However, before you accept, there are several things about your potential workplace you should look into. Yeah, you’ve read every inch of print on the company’s site and spoken to existing employees, but have you asked about the company’s earnings trends and cash position? Do you know how many people have held your position in the last five years? Have you met your boss’ direct reports? Check out the infographic for the rest of the essential steps you should take before saying, “I’ll take the job.”

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ADVICE JOB HUNT

TEXT Margaret Harris SOURCE Brazen Life PHOTOGRAPH istockphoto.com LINK www.brazencareerist.com

HOW LONG IT REALLY TAKES EMPLOYERS TO FILL OPEN POSITIONS

Whatever industry you’re in, the experience of applying for a job makes us all bite our nails. You fill out endless online fields, hope you don’t lose the formatting when you upload your resume, and then wait. And wait. And try not to hyperventilate when you haven’t received a response from your dream employer.

It’s difficult to know, when you’re in the job-search seat, how long to wait. Should you send one more follow-up email? Look for ways to network your way into the job? (That’s a YES!) Or give up and assume they’ve passed you up for someone else? Now we have some cold, hard data that shows how long it really takes most employers to fill positions. About 43 percent of job openings are filled within the first 30 days, according to a new report from Indeed and the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR). And the 57 percent of job openings that aren’t filled during that first month will likely remain unfilled for three months or more. “Employers must keep a close eye on the time that it’s taking to fill

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positions,” Paul D’Arcy, senior vice president of Indeed said, noting that the company’s research identified a tipping point of 30 days. “If a position remains unfilled after the first month, it is highly likely that the employer will struggle to fill this role within three months.” So which jobs are filled quickly? What does this mean for job seekers? It means you should do all you can in those first few weeks after the job opening goes live to snag the position. But it also sheds light on the types of jobs employers are struggling to fill: positions that present huge opportunities for job seekers who are willing to go the extra step to gain the skills required.

The hospitality sector has the hardest time finding the right people, Indeed’s research revealed, with 43 percent of job openings unfilled after three months. Manufacturing positions were open for at least three months 38 percent of the time. Also worth noting: both sectors saw moderate rises in employment rates. Sectors that saw stronger employment increases lately, such as professional services and arts/entertainment, have been able to fill job openings more quickly, according to the study. Even the information technology sector, where growth has been steady, but not remarkable, tends to fill jobs quickly. Beyond industry, management and supervisory positions seem to take the longest to fill. >

ADVICE JOB HUNT

It makes sense: those just entering the workforce usually have lessspecialized skills than experienced applicants. As your resume grows, it can take longer to find an ideal match. If you’re experienced in the hospitality or manufacturing sectors that have some of the longest hiring timelines, it’s time to brush up your resume and cover letter. Try to highlight skills that can cross over between industries. For instance: you may be a whiz when it comes to managing a hectic shift at a restaurant, but can you also be trusted to compose concise and appealing social media posts on the fly? Play up those strengths. Once you’ve submitted a job application, take other secondary measures where applicable to put yourself in front of the hiring manager. “Today, interviews really only exist to confirm that someone I already believe

to be awesome (based on my own research) really is that awesome,” Ambra Benjamin, engineering recruiter at Facebook, explained in a Mashable post last week. A strong resume is essential, but reaching out over social media can help; make sure that you’re easy to find through LinkedIn or a personal website or portfolio. Hiring managers only spend a few seconds on each application, so you’ll want to make it easy for your profile to rise to the top.

process to a crawl.

Where the jobs are

How many working hours are U.S. businesses and wannabe employees missing out on every month because it takes so long to hire? About 330 million hours, the report says. When positions go unfilled, those hours are either covered by employees who are already stretched thin, or lost completely with work going unfinished. Now isn’t that good motivation for businesses to figure out how to hire more efficiently?

Beyond your application, there may be other factors — like geography — at play. Indeed noted that businesses in Western states tended to to fill open positions more quickly, while states in the East and Midwest seemed to have greater difficulty. The skillsets of the available workforce sometimes don’t match perfectly with the needs of employers, which can slow the hiring

And if you think you’re stressed out about finding a job, take solace: businesses are just as anxious about finding the perfect employee. “Followers of the old-school hiring process tend to ‘post and pray’ and believe that success is dependent upon a job posting being broadcast to as large an audience as possible, ”Benjamin explained. “You post a job and pray the right person applies.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Rowan is a writer and editor in Washington, D.C. A frequent visitor to Boston, her favorite way to network is over cannolis in the North End.

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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STUDYING MADE EASY FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS Did you know that most companies pay a monthly Skills Development Levy (SDL) to help fund the development of South Africa’s workforce? It’s a great incentive for you to step up your game in today’s competitive job market and a win-win situation for South African companies that can claim back on these funds while keeping their staff upskilled. So, kick-start your career in 2015. Enroll in a course today using one of these reputable training providers below - there is a ton of courses to choose from!

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ADVICE JOB INTERVIEW

3 MAGIC PHRASES EVERY INTERVIEWER WANTS TO HEAR

TEXT Lily Zhang SOURCE The Muse PHOTOGRAPH istockphoto.com LINK www.themuse.com

We can all agree that interviewing is a pretty imperfect way to evaluate a job candidate. For the interviewee, so much of the experience can feel like a game of guess-the-answer-in-theinterviewer’s-head. It’s hard to know if what you’re sharing is even remotely close to what the hiring manager is seeking. Luckily, there are a few phrases that are almost always on the mark. Given the opportunity, it’s a good idea to try and squeeze these three phrases somewhere into your interview. 1. “I’ve had a lot of success with that in the past.”

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This is one phrase that’s sure to put a smile on your interviewer’s face. Beyond relevant experience, hiring managers love to hear that you not only have the skills they’re looking for, you excel at them. Of course, this single statement will only get you so far. Back it up with an example of a time where you did indeed excel at whatever skill is being evaluated. (Hint: Try this formula.) And when I say skill, I mean more than hard skills. Think: resolving a team conflict, finding a solution with limited data, leading a remote team, working independently, or meeting tight deadlines.

2. “I’m really excited about that.” If you were interviewing two candidates who were pretty much identical in terms of the skills and relevant experiences they bring to the table, what would be the deciding factor? For many interviewers, it comes down to how excited the candidate was about the position and company. After all, someone who is enthusiastic inherently seems more motivated. Given the choice, I would definitely want the candidate who seemed really pumped to hit the ground running— wouldn’t you? While it definitely makes sense to state upfront that you’re excited,

you’ll also need to back up that claim by doing some company research. No one is going to believe you if you say you’re incredibly excited about the product, but then can’t explain why it’s better than the competition. Do your homework. Review the website, talk to people you know who work there, and read anything you can get your hands on that might be relevant. 3. “I actually just spoke with Sarah to learn more about that.” Unfortunately, you’re probably not going to have everything the interviewer is looking for. That’s okay. Show how you’re willing to learn. More importantly, show that you are able to—and that you are, in fact,

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already learning. To do this, first identify your areas of weakness—maybe you’re lacking one skill that’s listed in the job description, or you haven’t had much management experience. Then, find someone or something that can help you start learning and improving upon this area. It can be conducting an informational interview, starting an online course, or reading a book. Now, if this weakness comes up during an interview, you can say you’ve spoken with so-and-so or that you just started taking a class about it. This not only shows self-awareness, but also that you’ve already taken the initiative to improve upon this area. What more could a hiring manager ask for?

You’ll probably never know what’s going on inside your interviewer’s head, but at the very least you can know that these few phrases will go over well. Beyond that, keep practicing and with a little bit of luck, you’ll be through this stage in no time.

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BOOK REVIEW TEXT Eugene Yiga SOURCE BD Live LINK www.careerjunction.co.za

INSPIRATION TO MAKE YOUR QUEST A LABOUR OF LOVE

ave you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them? This was the question asked of graduates of Harvard Business School in 1979. The results were as follows: 84% had no goals, 13% had goals but didn’t write them down, and only 3% had specific goals they had written down together with plans to achieve them. Researchers interviewed the same people 10 years later. The 13% who had unwritten goals were earning about twice as much as the 84% who had no goals whatsoever. But the 3% who had written down their goals and had plans were earning 10 times more than the other 97% combined! A firm believer in the power of goals is entrepreneur and author Chris Guillebeau. He decided to travel to all 193 countries in the world before his 35th birthday. Thanks to his focus (and skills at travel hacking with airline miles) he achieved the 10-year quest in April 2013. This journey across the globe inspired him to write The Happiness of Pursuit, a book that’s joined his previous title, The $100 Start-up, on the New York Times bestseller list. The book starts with Guillebeau recounting his experience of sleeping on the floor in the Senegal airport. But other than a few “dispatches”, which offer amusing anecdotes that would make for an entertaining book on their own, he doesn’t focus on his journey. Instead, he shines the light on ordinary people doing extraordinary things, from a woman who went on 50 dates in all 50 US states to a man who maintained a vow of silence for 17 years. “As my journey neared its end, I

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wondered what I could learn by talking to others,” Guillebeau writes. “My curiosity about questing became a quest in itself — one that, it turns out, allows me to offer guidance for those who are themselves engaged in a search for meaning.” All quests have key features in common: a clear goal, a specific end point and a series of small steps along the way. But why do people sacrifice time or money (or both) to pursue them? Guillebeau acknowledges that quests are often driven by a calling or

sense of mission. He also explains that quests could stem from a feeling of dissatisfaction (“unhappiness can lead to new beginnings”), as was the case when Australian activist Miranda Gibson protested against logging and deforestation by living in a tree for more than 450 days. The danger is that people might find themselves embarking on a quest for all the wrong reasons (especially fortune and fame) only to feel empty at the end. And even if the quest is

meaningful, the fulfilment could fade. What then? Should we keep finding a new quest, caught in a never-ending cycle of raising the bar or chasing something that might not exist? “It’s not all about happiness; it’s about challenge and fulfilment,” Guillebeau writes. “(Finding) the perfect combination of striving and achieving that comes from reaching a big goal.” In other words, we’ll always need to push ourselves to learn and grow. But we need to do so for the right reasons. As Leo Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina, the first book in my 100-month quest to read the 100 greatest books of all time: “If you work and study in order to get a reward, the work will seem hard to you; but when you work, if you love the work, you will find your reward in that.” The Happiness of Pursuit isn’t just to profile what other people have done. It’s meant to inspire readers around the world to identify and pursue their own quests, which Guillebeau continues to feature on his Art of Non-Conformity blog. So instead of getting swept up with wishy-washy New Year’s resolutions that will fail by Valentine’s Day, #FindTheQuest (it’s a hashtag) that will have a real impact on your life. As Guillebeau writes: “If you’re going to worry about something, worry about the cost of not pursuing your dreams.” Title: The Happiness of Pursuit Author: Chris Guillebeau Publisher: Harmony Books

TEXT Contributor SOURCE All4Women PHOTOGRAPHS istockphoto.com LINK www.all4women.co.za FIRST PUBLISHED ON ALL4WOMEN

HIGHER CERTIFICATES: PROVIDING A FOOT IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION DOOR

A Higher Certificate is a great option for matriculants whose plans to study were thwarted by marks which didn’t allow them to make the cut.

any of last year’s matriculants now find themselves in a situation where their plans to study towards a degree this year were thwarted by marks which didn’t allow them to make the cut. But an education expert says that there is still a way for those who remain determined to study towards a bachelor’s degree: that of pursuing a Higher Certificate, which will allow them to take the next step without having to repeat their matric.

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Dr Anne-Ka van den Hoek, Academic Manager at the Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education institution, says a Higher Certificate is a great option for these prospective students. “A Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice, a Higher Certificate in IT in Support Services or a Higher Certificate in Events Management, for instance, will give

students access to a BCom, a Bachelor of IT in Business Systems, or BA the year after completion. And the good news is that the Higher Certificate is available to anyone who only achieved a HC pass in their National Senior Certificate. “So you do not have to give up your degree dreams. But the key is to fully engage with your Higher Certificate, so that you can develop some of the key skills you may have been lacking that resulted in you not achieving a Bachelor’s pass to start with.” Designed to bridge the gap between school and higher education Van den Hoek says it is important that matriculants check that the institution with which they register for a Higher Certificate, supports all students with focused academic literacy modules and a full year programme designed to bridge the gap between school and higher education. She says that Higher Certificates have replaced many foundation programmes, as they provide students with an opportunity to gain a full qualification while at the same time mastering those essential skills needed for higher education success – broadly known as academic literacies.

“These range from how to engage successfully with academic material, to how to review information and present it appropriately with the level of synthesis required for successful academic study,” she says.

“Corporate communication, on the other hand, is an entire professional field that encompasses the traditional disciplines of communication and public relations, but takes them to the level required in the modern corporate world that includes stakeholder management.”

It might take longer to get there, but the experience will be worth it.

But she also warns that, while all degrees at public and private higher education institutions are subject to the same quality assurance requirements, they are not all alike. “Students should not only look at entrance requirements, but also at the curriculum and the alignment of that curriculum with their future career aspirations. This is particularly important for those degrees that can be quite generic, such as a BCom or a BA. It might take longer to get there, but the experience will be worth it

Van den Hoek says that those students who were not accepted at the institution of their choice, didn’t gain a Bachelor’s pass, or who need to strengthen their academic abilities before studying for a degree, will all do well to consider the Higher Certificate route. “It may take you a little bit longer to get there, but the experience and ultimate achievement will be well worth it, and will set you on the road to the career you’ve dreamed of but deemed out of reach.”

“A focus on strategic management, for instance, raises the bar on one’s study of business management and differentiates graduates. And becoming a lawyer is not the only career path to follow a degree with a legal focus. The integration of legal subjects with business management in a BCom degree forms a solid basis for a career in corporate governance or leadership.

Designed to bridge the gap between school and higher education.

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SA AUTHOR WOWS AMAZON HE LOST HIS SENSE OF SMELL AT THE AGE OF FOUR WHEN HE FELL OUT OF A TREE, HE SPEAKS ZULU AND FRENCH, HE HAS “BASKETBALL-LENGTH ARMS”, HAS RELEASED A HIP-HOP ALBUM AND HAS JUST FINISHED HIS FIRST NOVEL. journalist and I’m used to getting told ‘no’, so I kept going.” Boffard credits his agent in England for signing him up with publisher Orbit, which has agreed to publish two sequels to Tracer. Boffard calls South African science fiction author Lauren Beukes, whose books include The Shining Girls and Broken Monsters, a “freak genius” and “one of the best science fiction writers on the planet right now”. TEXT Katharine Child SOURCE TimesLive SOURCE www.careerjunction.co.za

his is Rob Boffard, 30, a former Johannesburg man who has just been listed as a “rising star” by online book retailer Amazon. The global retailing giant has highlighted 61 first-time authors who are releasing their books this year and has recommended their books to its customers. Boffard’s science fiction novel, Tracer, will be released in July.

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He joins TV star David Duchovny and US film director Miranda July on the Amazon list. Both Duchovny and July are releasing debut novels. It took Boffard six months to finish his first draft. But editing it took much longer. Boffard said: “There were plenty of rejections along the way. They were quite warranted because the book simply wasn’t good enough at that point. “But I’m a freelance

Asked what his story was about he would only give a few clues: “It’s set on a massive space station, Outer Earth, which holds the last humans in the universe. “The station is a century old and everything is broken and falling apart. “There are couriers, called tracers, who carry messages and packages across the station. One of them, Riley, discovers that she’s transporting body parts …” Both Boffard’s parents are specialist doctors, working in Johannesburg, but they did not pressure him into following in their footsteps.

“They’ve always let me do what I loved, which I’m immensely grateful for. “I doubt I could match their careers anyway, ” he said.that there is not so much stress on research, there is a lot of stress on how to train as many health professionals as possible … because there is a shortage and that hampers healthcare, but the other thing is the lack of research.” Dr Nouwen said if research were integrated into doctors’ training programmes, medical professionals could ultimately improve the healthcare system they were part of. He said discussion with partner universities in South Africa was important to create collaborative research programmes and conduct them within South Africa so that students remained in the country, conducting most of their research here. This was because South Africa had enough problems and issues on which to conduct studies. He said the country had the facilities to perform these forms of investigations. I think what is lacking in a lot of countries is that there is not so much stress on research, there is a lot of stress on training more health professionals.

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SOUTH AFRICA’S JOB MARKET AT A GLANCE SOURCE www.careerjunction.co.za

Ever wondered why others may find it easier than you to land a new job?

The answer relies mostly on the ratio of supply (job seekers) versus demand (job vacancies). While some industries boast thousands of new job vacancies, one has to consider that there may well be many more thousands of job seekers qualified for the position. Those industries with fewer vacant positions may only have a small pool of qualified candidates to match jobs. The CareerJunction Index (CJI) examines each industry by comparing supply and demand in the South African job market – giving you a clear and detailed picture of current labour market trends.

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It’s a great way to see what you’re up against in your industry so you can stay ahead of your career at all times! Download your free copy here. Subscribe to receive your copy each month.

STAYING “SWITCHED ON” FOR WORK IS STRESSING YOU OUT AUTHOR Contributor SOURCE British Psychological Society via Sciencedaily LINK www.first4women.co.za FIRST PUBLISHED ON ALL4WOMEN

Staying switched on for work outside office hours could be to the detriment of your wellbeing, according to a new study.

many used various technological devices for work outside office hours because they believed there was a strong expectation to be available 24/7. Switched on and stressed out “Using varied technologies for work outside If you’re feeling stressed out, trying logging out of office hours is a complex issue which is your work email account at the end of a work day. here to stay and needs to be addressed. Research has found that staying “switched on” for Staying “switched on” might increase work outside office hours (which includes answering flexibility and efficiency at first glance, but work emails after hours) could be to the detriment in the long run, it can result in longer work of your wellbeing. hours and can be detrimental to wellbeing This is one of the findings of a paper by PhD due to stress and work-life balance student Svenja Schlachter and colleagues from issues,” said Schlachter. the University of Surrey. Schlachter scrutinised 65 previous studies in depth to determine the effects of being constantly “switched on” for work outside office hours using modern technologies. The reviewed studies were conducted mainly in North America and involved a total of 50 000 employees.

When did working 24/7 become an expectation?

Analysis showed that employees hoped that staying “switched on” increased flexibility and efficiency at work. However,

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“We need to re-think unlimited 24/7 access to work, and manage technology use more wisely and in particular, more actively. Researchers, employers and employees need to work jointly on how to make the use of technologies as beneficial as possible, reducing the negative effects. Otherwise, there is a danger of unintended knock-on effects.”

ADVICE CAREER TALK

TRAVELLING THE WORLD / TO STOP INTERNET CRIMINALS TEXT Margaret Harris SOURCE BD Live SOURCE www.careerjunction.co.za

BRENDON WILLIAMSON IS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT PAYGATE, A PAYMENT SERVICE PROVIDER. HE TELLS US THAT, TO UNDERSTAND THE METHODS USED BY ONLINE FRAUDSTERS, YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO THINK LIKE THEY DO. TELL US WHAT YOU DO.

track online payments to pick up suspicious behaviour that may indicate that someone or an organisation is doing something illegal. For example, ordering 10 luxury handbags from Estonia when the customer could easily find the bags in the local market and avoid the shipping costs and a threeweek delay. With the use of investigative techniques from the FBI and Scotland Yard to solve crimes, we monitor online buying trends, match patterns and put suspicious customers through a process of elimination to detect fraud. To understand the fraudster’s methods, you have to be trained to think like a fraudster in certain aspects. The psychology tells us that the individual will always slip up and go back to their standard modus operandi at some point — you just have to be able to identify the normal from the abnormal.

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What are some of the most interesting cases you have worked on? My career in e-commerce risk management has taken me around the globe. Much of my work has entailed consulting directly to some of the biggest online casinos in the world on risk management and anti-money-laundering practices. I have also worked with Skype at its headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia. It faced similar online fraud threats as a start-up merchant. Working with Skype was a career highlight for me due to the size of the user base and the company’s specialised systems in combating fraud. I worked with highly skilled analysts who spend their day tracking and monitoring customers’ purchasing habits, then building specialised tools to identify negative customers.

I AM CERTIFIED IN ONLINE FORENSICS AND FRAUD MANAGEMENT AND I HAVE DIPLOMAS IN CONTACTCENTRE AND MARKETING MANAGEMENT.

I was involved in closing down a fraud syndicate that used stolen credit cards (about 150 of them) to run up a total bill of more than $2-million. Syndicates have various ways of moving money between stolen cards that quickly add up to millions if left unchecked. When you work in e-commerce, you need to extend your thinking beyond the walls of a standard brick and mortar business. The cases I worked on forced me to push the boundaries and to be agile when implementing solutions to prevent fraud. What qualifications do you have and how do they help you do your work? I am certified in online forensics and fraud management and I have diplomas in contact-centre and marketing management. What was your first job? My first job was at the age of 13 when I worked as a shop assistant in a fruit and veg store. How did you get from there to where you are now? From a young age I was taught that if you want it, you need to go get it. My grandfather taught me one profound lesson: “Don’t dress for where you are, but for where you want to be.” In other words, if you want to be the CEO of a global corporation, dress like one. Being observed gets you introductions. It has been hard work. At times I have had to sacrifice a title to ensure I was in the right place where I could be noticed and prove my worth. It can’t all be good — sometimes you need to take a little bad [but] this equips you for future possibilities.

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I have done everything from packing trucks and constructing houses to managing call centres and consulting to billion-dollar companies. What I have learnt is: never compromise on service — and if you say you are going to do something, do it. When I was packing trucks, I knew I wanted to wear a suit one day, so I just kept going — in the end I got to shop in the London High Street. As someone who fights online fraud, what advice do you have on how to keep yourself safe when shopping online? Always look for reviews on the website you are purchasing from -this will give you a good indication regarding authenticity as well as how they manage their customers. Don’t enter your credit card details into an unsecure website — always make sure the payment page identifier starts with “https”. If you have many credit cards, select one card that will be the card you use for online shopping. Reduce the limits accordingly, so if it does get picked up, your exposure is limited. Avoid shopping from internet cafés or public computers. Read the online store’s terms and conditions regarding the storing of your credit card details carefully. In almost all cases, never give your credit card information over the telephone. The most important of all: if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. What did you want to be when you were a child? An architect or actor. The architectural side came from my enjoyment of technical drawing and design, and the interest in becoming an actor was because I always thought it was interesting to be able to play different personalities.

ADVICE CAREER TALK

YOU HAVE 8.8 SECONDS TO IMPRESS 22

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TEXT The Daily Telegraph SOURCE Times Live LINK www.careerjunction.co.za

Prospective employers spend just 8.8 seconds “reading” your CV before deciding whether to interview you, says a new study.

Here is how to sell yourself in nine seconds: Here is how to sell yourself in nine seconds: First second: Keep it concise. Reams of paper and endless prose are off-putting. Try to keep your printed CV to a single page. Second second: Keep it traditional. Don’t to try stand out. One current CV “trend” is an infographic of your life, starting with a cartoon sperm. No. Third second: Make it clear why they should keep reading. Fourth second: Avoid jargon like “motivated” and “passionate”. Prove it.

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Fifth second: Make it clear why you must be interviewed. Sixth second: Highlight your social media credentials. Seventh second: Mention your life outside work, but avoid generic hobbies like “socialising”. Go with a specific charity marathon run. Eighth second: Highlight skills that set you apart – like public speaking. Ninth second: Get your contact details straight. ©The Daily Telegraph

JAN KLEYNHANS IS THE GUEST EXPERIENCE MANAGER AT DE HOEK COUNTRY HOTEL IN MAGALIESBURG. HE TELLS US THAT HE NEEDS PERSEVERANCE AND THE ABILITY TO SMILE TO DO HIS JOB.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A ‘GUEST EXPERIENCE MANAGER’

TEXT Margaret Harris SOURCE Times Live LINK www.careerjunction.co.za

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tail? uests enjoy a most memorable ng at De Hoek Country Hotel. Whether ll as a single flower on your bed on ose experiences such as a hot-air e to make sure guests remember their ons. There is a small management e tend to do a little bit of everything, us carrying food and drinks, taking ther things.

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ery irate guest who got lost in the ed up on a dirt road in the middle of ew that one of our reservationists lived her to give him directions. On the otel, we had staff members line up with

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a hastily made banner saying “Welcome home!” The guest ended up giving us a 10 out of 10 in our visitors’ book. What qualities do you need to do your job? Patience and a lot of smiling. Smiling at people always puts them at ease and makes them feel more comfortable in their surroundings. What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be an astronaut. Watching many sciencefiction films will lead to that. I remember my father teaching me the names of all the stars he knew and looking together for satellites whenever the night sky allowed. I wanted to visit all of those stars, but that “want” became more faint as I became older. What other job would you like to do? I would love to be an architect. In my travels, I’ve been privileged to see many amazing places, buildings and towns throughout the world. Each time I see a new place I take pictures of funny and wondrous buildings. The Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà in Barcelona are some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. I always look for ways of changing buildings, where I would change something to improve the flow and ease of movement, highlighting a certain characteristic or just generally redesigning a whole building in my head. Which work do you prefer – hotels or cruise liners? I prefer hotels. It is amazing to be paid to travel the world while working, but it isn’t home. There is nothing like standing on home ground and smelling Africa. What makes the perfect guest? Does such a person exist? The perfect guest is someone who knows exactly how you think, how hospitality works, how hard you work and the hours you work. They would have to understand that you have listened to 20 other people complaining about something before you’ve even had your first cup of coffee. But such people do not exist. Even we as hoteliers and service staff aren’t perfect guests. I find myself looking for mistakes and problems whenever I travel to other hotels because it is my job to do so. But at least I don’t go out of my way to point out mistakes, because I understand the stress of working in the industry. What advice would you give to last year’s matriculants in terms of working in the hospitality industry? Perseverance. The first year is the hardest, after that it’s amazing. It is extremely hard work, long hours and teethgrindingly stressful, but as someone once told me: “It’s a lifestyle, not a job.” Once you have that mindset, you will have the time of your life.

Jobs: Fastest growing industries for 2015

AUTHOR Odile Badenhorst SOURCE CareerJunction LINK www.bizcommunity.com

Have a look at industry forecasts for 2015. While it’s hard to say with certainty exactly what 2015 has in store, a review of the past year paints a pretty good picture of what’s to come for jobseekers. If you work in the Admin, Education, IT or Motor industries, hold on to your seats as these industries are booming, according to CareerJunction’s 2014 annual job review. The last year alone (compared to 2013) saw a growth in job openings of: • • • •

Over 50% in the Motor industry; 45% in the Education industry; 37% in the IT industry; and 28% in the Admin industry.

The IT industry saw a big upswing all round with salaries rising by a whopping 45%. Software Developers seem to be most sought after, followed by Systems & Network Administrators, Business & System Analysts and Database Administrators.

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Mobile job search also seems to be picking up momentum as more and more jobseekers are using this platform to apply for jobs “on the go”. CareerJunction’s mobile site saw an increase in applications of over 400% in the last year alone. But while many industries saw a rise in demand for workers from 2013 to 2014, some experienced a drop. Job advertising seemed to have slowed down considerably within the following sectors: • Petrochemical (decrease in jobs of 22%). • Marketing (decrease in jobs of 6%). Keep reading the latest industry news at www.careerjunction.co.za/cji/. Search the latest jobs at www.careerjunction.co.za. *Findings should only serve as a guideline for labour market trends and are based on data collected from the CareerJunction website.

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SOURCE BD Live PHOTOGRAPHS istockphoto.com LINK www.careerjunction.co.za

Difficult conversations are inevitable at work. Here’s how to get what you need while also keeping your relationships intact. Change your mindset. If you’re gearing up for a conversation that you’ve labelled ‘difficult,’ you’re more likely to feel nervous and upset about it beforehand. Instead, try framing it in a positive way. For instance, you’re not giving negative performance feedback; you’re having a constructive conversation about development. You’re not telling your boss no; you’re offering up an alternate solution. Breathe. If, for example, a colleague comes to you with an issue that might lead to a hard conversation, excuse yourself – get a cup of coffee or take a brief stroll around the office – and collect your thoughts. Plan, but don’t script. It can help to plan what you want to say by jotting down

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notes and key points before your conversation. Drafting a script, however, is a waste of time. Your strategy for the conversation should be flexible. Acknowledge your counterpart’s perspective. Don’t go into a difficult conversation with a my-wayor-the-highway attitude. Be compassionate. It’s wise to come at sensitive topics from a place of empathy. Be considerate. Slow down and listen. Give something back. If, for instance, you’re laying off someone you’ve worked with for a long time, you could say, “I have written what I think is a strong recommendation for you; would you like to see it?” suggests Holly Weeks, the author of Failure to Communicate. If you need to tell your boss that you can’t take on a particular assignment, suggest a viable alternative.

Reflect and learn. After a difficult conversation, it’s worthwhile to consider what went well and what didn’t. Weeks also recommends observing how others successfully cope with these situations and emulating their tactics. © 2015 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AT WORK

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HOW TO KICK-START YOUR NEW YEAR JOB HUNT If you’re planning to kick off 2015 by changing jobs, be sure to make the most of the powerful tools that online skills and job portals offer. Here are five tips to get you started: SOURCE All4Women PHOTOGRAPHS istockphoto.com LINK www.all4women.co.za

1. Refine your CV The first step in a successful job hunt starts by sharpening up your CV to put the spotlight on your experience, achievements and skills. Update it with the latest information about your career, making sure that a recruiter can see with a quick glance which qualities, skills and accomplishments make you stand out. While you’re about it, speak to people who you worked with in the past who will be happy to give you reference letters. 2. Register with an online career service A good way to stay in touch with premium job opportunities is to register with a career portal. Many corporate recruiters and recruitment agencies rely on these portals to scout the market for fresh talent for top jobs. You can generally keep your CV anonymous, if you’re worried about someone finding out that you’re hunting for a new job. Or you can simply register to receive alerts when relevant job opportunities for you are posted, so that you can apply for those that catch your eye. 3. Map out your career path Whether you’re looking for a new job or not, it’s a good idea to take stock of your career goals and aspirations at least once a year. Many skills and career portals such as Sage

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SkillsMap offer free self-assessment tools that can help you map your interests, ambitions and skills to potential career options. This can be very helpful if you’re feeling bored or unsatisfied in your current position and want to find out more about alternatives to the job you’re doing or about your next step to success. 4. Ask for guidance Of course, you might want advice that goes beyond what a self-assessment questionnaire can tell you. One way we differentiate among ourselves in the market is by offering career coaching to selected candidates. Your other options include speaking to a mentor at work or an independent executive career coach. 5. Stay in touch with job opportunities on the run A good skills portal should have a mobile app available for the most popular smartphones and tablets so that you can keep in touch with job applications and opportunities wherever you are. This can help you to easily manage your career opportunities in your own time and on your own device, even if you’re away from your desk for a while. The SkillsMap Android and iOS app, for example, keeps you up to date with the latest positions right from your pocket.

SOURCE Financial Mail PHOTOGRAPHS istockphoto.com LINK www.careerjunction.co.za

BUILDING ON PASSION 32

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The transition from radio journalism to the development of a luxury lodge takes a leap of faith. Carol Sanderson made the leap three years ago, and has already achieved success that has earned her Tsogo Sun’s 2014 Guesthouse of the Year award. For Sanderson to make the move required a nudge. “My husband planted the idea of going into business in me,” she says. “The opportunity knocked when we bought our old family home near Nelspruit in 2010.” The home came with 6ha of land and a dilapidated house. Four even more dilapidated chalets were on 4ha of an adjacent property that they purchased in 2011. “I knew I could turn the chalets into a business,” says Sanderson. She did, and in 2012 the superluxury Casambo Exclusive Guest Lodge opened its doors to guests.

The award also brought much-needed publicity. “It would have cost millions to get the media and public exposure I have had,” says Sanderson. Exposure, and what Sanderson says is now a far more “polished product”, is drawing the crowds. “We were fully booked in November “It is a 24/7 job. and are again in December,” There are no days she says. off, no holidays, Hosting large and time with events is also family is limited.” all in a day’s work. But it is not for the faint-hearted. “It is a 24/7 job. There are no days off, no holidays, and time with family is limited.” But it is work Sanderson does not regret having taken on. “I am living out my passion,” she says.

“I was able to indulge in two of my Her entrepreneurial drive does not big passions, art and fashion,” says end with the lodge. “Next year I will be Sanderson of a opening an African fashion boutique daunting task “I was able to in- at the lodge,” she says. Also on that required a her to-do list are a health spa and dulge in two of complete remake a craft brewery. Another passion my big passions, is passing on her expertise. “The of the chalets and family house. She art and fashion,” Tsogo award has allowed me to has since added six share what I have learnt with other more chalets, a restaurant and an events business owners,” she says. centre that can host 500 people. For would-be guesthouse owners and, But while Sanderson was adept at art and indeed, any entrepreneur, she has sound fashion, her guesthouse management advice: never go into business with family skills were, she says, more than a little or friends. She did, much to her regret. lacking. That began to change when she was accepted into Tsogo Sun’s Book a “I brought in a lot of family members Guesthouse entrepreneurial development when I started,” says Sanderson. “Most programme. “Tsogo mentored me,” says felt entitled to everything except hard Sanderson. “They focused on areas where work.” I had shortcomings such as branding, marketing, financial management and Needless to say, most of her family “coAUTHOR Claire Cobbledick handling guests.” workers” are no longer at Casambo. SOURCE Science Daily PHOTOGRAPHS istockphoto.com She was a star learner, snatching the LINK www.all4women.co.za

Tsogo Sun 2014 award in the face of competition from 85 other guesthouse owners on the programme. “For me the award was my crowning achievement,” says Sanderson.

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Job-hunting season is open! Why not use our Job-O-Meter and measure how happy you are in your current job? 5 Questions. 1 minute. A ton of fun. Give it a go!

START THE QUIZ Or visit www.careerjunction.co.za/job-o-meter/

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