How to Improve Employee Satisfaction

Every business owner knows that the key to successful business is happy, loyal employees.  When your employees are satisfied, they are more productive and cause less workplace turmoil, but how can you improve employee satisfaction?

Sure satisfaction can come from a raise, but it is usually short lived.  Employee contentment comes from the smaller, inexpensive things you do for your employees.  Here are some ways in which you can improve your employee satisfaction ratings:

• Control – as humans we feel we need to have control over every aspect of our lives.  This is true within the workplace as well.  When you learn to give more control to your employees, you will find they are more content and more satisfied with their job.  Encourage your employees to take some control – customize their workstation to fit their lifestyle, allow them to set their schedules, and even allow them to create employee-driven competitions within the department.
• Telecommute Options – many employees dread going to their jobs because of the stress created from the commute.  You may offer staggered starting and ending times to avoid rush hour, or even offer some telecommuting options.  This will help relieve some stress and make happier employees.
• Deadlines – deadlines are another source of stress in the workplace.  Most employees will be more productive and work harder when deadlines are not so strict.  While everyone understands there needs to be deadlines, allow your employees to participate in setting the deadlines.
• Social Connections – when employees are allowed to socialize, it creates a happier atmosphere, which in turn is more productive.  Interacting with others typically will boost their mood.  Make sure that you provide amble opportunity for social connections within the workplace, such as a gathering room where employees can have their break and interact by playing a game, or go ahead and make a big deal out of that birthday.  You might even consider starting volunteer programs that your employees can become a part of to help the community.
• Health – everyone is looking to become healthy today.  Give your employees the tools they need to achieve a healthy lifestyle at work as well, such as a kitchen where they can prepare a healthy meal, vending machines that offer healthy snacks, breaks throughout the day, discounted gym memberships, and more.

It is possible for you to encourage an atmosphere of growth and well-being in your company.  One that your employees will appreciate and will contribute to their overall satisfaction with their job and your company.  

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Your Cyber Security Hiring Program

Hiring for cyber security positions is tough!  The fact is, as more and more businesses look to hire qualified individuals, the harder it will get to find good talent.  Why?  Cyber security is a competitive market and it will take a sound hiring strategy and program in order to attract talent to your company. 

Information technology positions, and cyber security positions in particular, are becoming more sought after than any other technology position today.  However, because the pool of qualified talent is limited, there is virtually no unemployment in this industry.  This means that candidates are typically not searching for opportunities and may miss what you have to offer.

This will require you to have a strategy for hiring talent not looking, and possibly recruiting entry level professionals to groom.  Here are a few tips to help you design and implement a successful cyber security hiring program:

• Many companies are closed about sharing their projects, or company secrets, however, it can be to your benefits to share some of this information when interviewing your cyber security candidates.  Many of these candidates like a challenge and providing these details just may get them interested enough to accept your offer.  If you are able to get them to the interview, you need to provide them with enough details to entice them and keep them interested.
• If you are looking to groom your cyber security team, you might wish to look internally at your existing employees.  Not only will they already understand the culture of your company, but they typically will be more invested.  Consider providing the necessary education for these staff members and slowly work them into the positions you desire.
• Veterans are an excellent source of candidates for cyber security positions.  They typically will have no problems with security clearance, and many of them have knowledge of this industry from their military work.  They typically have a skill set that most civilians to not have.  Talk with your recruiting firm about targeting veterans for your open security positions.
• Networking is another great way to find exceptional talent.  While you may not know of any cyber security guru's, other's in your network might.  A referral may be the only way that you can get a qualified candidate in your door, so do not discount asking others you know.
• No matter how you find your candidates, you must be prepared to move quickly once they are willing to listen to your proposal.  Because these candidates are highly sought after, taking a week to think about it, means you will most likely lose that candidate.

As cyber security positions become more popular, the available pool of candidates will get smaller and smaller.  It is estimated that the number of students currently studying in this field, will not be enough to satisfy the overwhelming demand over the next ten years.  Follow the tips above to secure your candidate!

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Engineering and Developer Positions – For Women

The engineering and developer career environment has been controlled predominantly by males for years, until today.  It is true, when you look around a workspace filled with these types of employees, you still see a sea of men, however, women are still very much involved in these positions and are becoming the sought after candidates.

For years, encouragement has been made to girls from a young age to become involved in the sciences.  Pushed to become engineers or master the computer science field.  It paid off – today, more and more women are graduating with these types of degrees and are finding that the workforce holds plenty of opportunities.

Both sectors are searching for women with degrees in both the engineering field and the computer sciences field.  The computer sciences field is in high demand currently, and because this was a field typically employed by men, women are in high demand.  Why?  Recent studies showed that more than 85% of the consumer population is women, so wouldn’t you want your products marketed towards women?  Who better to understand what women respond to than a women!

Same is true in the game programming field of computer science.  Almost 50% of the gaming population is women, however, in the past, it was a job held by men.  If you are a women with game programming capabilities, you will have your choice of where to work.

Businesses have discovered over the years that having women employed at their company creates diversity in the company culture.  These businesses have found success and have set the tone for future business generations.  What once was a hire to quiet the media, has turned into their smartest hire.  Instead of hire on the basis of equality, it is not about hiring the best talent, and today, that often means hiring a women.

Yes, getting hired in the engineering or computer sciences fields has become easier for women, but as a women you must still be aware of some challenges.  Because these fields have been saturated by males, the male culture is typically harder for a women to get used to.  Many women in these fields have found that they must be more aggressive in order to fit in.  In addition, it has been difficult to earn the respect of team members, which has caused high turnover.

The bottom line – if you are a women with a degree in engineering or computer science, the job market is yours.  Take your time and find the right fit for you.  You will find a company that will have the right culture, right wage, and right challenges, where you will thrive in your field.  Your dream job is out there and available at your fingertips.

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Mastering the Phone Interview

Most people that have been in the job market lately, understand that the phone interview is becoming very popular.  Because there are so many job applicants for a single job, many recruiters and employers have determined that it is very cost effective, and a huge time saver to conduct initial interviews via the phone.

The problem with the phone interview is not many job seekers have practiced interviewing over the phone and really do not know what to expect.  Do not be fooled, thinking that this is just a preliminary interview and you do not need to be prepared.  Quite the contrary – you need to be just as prepared for a phone interview as you would for a face-to-face interview.  Here are some tips you can use to master the phone interview:

• Do you prepare for a face-to-face interview?  Of course you do.  You dress in your best outfit, you do your research on the company so you can ask intelligent questions, and you make bullet notes to remind yourself of key points you want to emphasize.  You should do the same thing for your phone interview.  You must treat your phone interview the same way you would any other interview – be prepared!
• Many recruiters and potential employers will call and ask to conduct a phone interview at that instance.  Politely ask them if you can schedule a time for the phone interview, as you are not available at that time.  You may even wish to allow all your calls to go to your voicemail and then call back once you are prepared.  It is never a good idea to interview “on the fly” as you will not have time to prepare.
• Be sure that you are organized during your allotted interview time.  Be sure to answer the call immediately and have all of your resources available in front of you.  You should have a copy of the resume and cover letter you sent them, as well as the job ad (description), and have information about the company printed or on your computer screen for quick reference.
• Make sure that the time you set for your phone interview is free from all outside distractions.  No kids running around, no music or tv running, no other phones that will ring, etc.  Remove all distractions so you can concentrate on the interview.
• Often times we forget to smile and communicate properly when we are on the phone.  Body language can still be seen via phone.  When you smile, the enthusiasm will show in the pitch and tone of your voice.  Listening is especially important during a phone interview, as cutting the interviewer off in mid-sentence will not go over well.  Be sure that you listen and communicate clearly when it is your turn.

Most often a phone interview will determine whether you will be asked to come in for an additional interview, therefore, it is important that you make a good impression.  Practice these tips above to perfect your phone interview skills.

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Live like a Rock Star (Great Leader)

Not so long ago, the phrase on everyone’s lips was, “I want to live like a rock star.”  Today, that phrase has been replaced with, “I want to be like the great leaders.”  Why?  Because a great leader is typically very successful.  They have mastered the technique of teaching and inspiring others to be great, which equals success for them.

The best performing professionals have learned this and know how to provide guidance, confidence, and accountability to make everyone around them succeed.  So what do these great leaders do differently?  Here is a look at some of the basic characteristics of great leaders – perhaps you will want to incorporate some of these ideas into your life:

• Great leaders always face the facts and accept them for what they are – pieces of information that will help them make adjustments to succeed.  Even if the information is bad news, a great leader looks at it as an opportunity to find a solution and make it better.  Do not take the facts personally, instead embrace the opportunity to turn the situation around.
• The most common personality trait among successful leaders, is accountability.  They all take accountability for their actions.  This allows goals to be set and met consistently.  Make sure you take accountability seriously.
• Always, always, always look for the positive in a situation.  A leader will always look for the positive and find a way to turn a negative around.  This may take some ingenuity or implementing new strategies, but success depends on the positivity of everyone.
• Accepting defeat is very different than accepting failure.  A great leader will accept when a process fails, but will never accept defeat.  Accept that something failed, but then find a new solution and continue on.
• Great leaders know how to motivate and inspire their teams.  They do this in a multitude of ways, including setting goals that are obtainable and rewardable, as well as, allowing everyone to participate in the idea phase of a project.
• Predictability is an attribute most great leaders stay clear of, since it can stunt growth.  Consistency, however, is seen by a leader as an opportunity to focus on reaching the next level.  This allows a successful leader to think outside the box and implement new strategies.
• A great leader will always know where a project stands.  In fact, they often will adjust timelines, or implement different solutions, to ensure a successful outcome.

Businesses that perform well and are consistently at the top of their industry, usually have a great leader within their organization.  If they are lucky, they have more than one!  If you want to live like a great leader, follow some of the tips above, and watch how the growth of success will expand for you and all around you. 

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Is the Web Design Industry Dying?

Are you a web designer and worried about your career future?  No need to worry, your industry will be around for a while.  In fact, it is projected that the web design industry will flourish over the next 10-20 years.  

As businesses today look to have an online presence, many are attempting the do-it-yourself versions available to them.  However, many are finding that these types of websites are not as effective as a website that is created by a professional.  Professional web designers have a unique set of skills that allow them to create a quality website that has been shown to capture the core of the business culture and help drive sales.

As a professional web designer, you should always be looking to enhance your current skill set.  Since web technology is always changing, you must keep current with the new trends and new tools available.  This will give you the edge to continually find work as a web designer.  Here are a few areas which will set you apart from the rest of the field:

• Design – it is important that you stay current with design technology.  What works and what doesn’t work, will help you in recommending and designing sites.  Your employer or customer will look to you for guidance in visualization, as well as how to blend the site together to strategically attract traffic and business.
• Ease – understanding the different options available for an online presence is key to continually having web design projects.  Explaining the features of a responsive site or how the layout can affect search engine optimization will show expertise they will value in achieving the results they seek.
• Versatility – by learning new skills, such as backend development, you will show that you have the versatility to handle the entire project.  While frontend development may slow down, backend development is more complex and will be in demand for a long time to come.

Yes, businesses will continually use the pre-boxed web templates, but those businesses that want to excel and really make a mark on the web will need your skill set.  As you can see, there is still a need for web designers, and there are many businesses looking for master designers.  

If you are a web designer, don’t give up on your passion.  Instead, become the best designer you can be.  Expand your skills, stay current with trends and technology, and always provide the best quality work!

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Mistakes Managers Make – You Need to Avoid

Managers are often the most passed over positions in any company.  Why?  Because managers are often misunderstood.  Employees look at managers as the people that are there to make their life difficult.  It is not easy being a manager, and in fact takes someone with a special skill set to be a great manager.

Whether you are currently a manager or thinking about becoming a manager, you must know that managers make mistakes.  You are not only in your job to manage the workflow, but you are there to manage the people around you.  This can be messy if not handled properly.  Here are some of the most common mistakes made by managers that drive their employee’s crazy – try to avoid these at all costs:

• Know everyone on your team!  Yes, that means their name, their title, and maybe even something personal about their life outside of work.  When you get to know your employees, they will feel like you are invested in them, since you took the time to get to know them.
• Pay close attention to who you assign work to.  Nothing upsets an employee more than realizing that they were given an assignment that was also given to a co-worker.  They will feel like they have wasted time on the assignment and will be very upset with the manager for not realizing this.
• Show appreciation when it is warranted.  Bringing you a bagel and coffee for a meeting does deserve a thank you, but more appreciation must be shown to the worker who stayed late to meet a deadline.  The employee will under-perform with no appreciation shown for being a team player and getting the project done.
• Do not claim to have an open door policy and then not allow your employees to come to you.  This will upset your employees and make them feel like you really do not care.  They need to feel like they can come to you for anything and that you will listen and hear them.
• Always follow through on everything you tell your employees.  If you promise to discuss vending machines for the break room with the owner, make sure you do.  Do it timely and always inform your employees of the decision.  This will make them feel that you are willing to go to bat for them and in turn, they will do the same for you.
• Be consistent.  The number one complaint among employees about their managers, is that their manager is not consistent.  They treat one employee differently than the rest, for whatever reason.  You must be consistent with every employee on your team.

As a manager, you are under scrutiny for all of your actions.  Make sure that you behave and carry yourself in the same manner you expect from your employees.  Be a good mentor to your staff, avoid the mistakes mentioned, and you will find that your staff will give you 150%, just as you would for them.

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