7 Things We Have Learned So Far from Gender Pay Gap Reports

7 Things We Have Learned So Far from Gender Pay Gap Reports As many of you will know, the deadline for this is fast approaching. In an event I attended, I learned that to date only 12% of the c.9,000 employers covered by the regulations have so far published their figures. That means there’s a great many either still working on their numbers or holding off making them public which is understandable. New reporting requirements mean pulling together data for the first time (frequently from different sources). And given for most organizations there will be a gap, perhaps more importantly there’s a decision to be made on how to present the data, and when.  So as this all hots up I thought it might be interesting to share what I’ve noticed so far… 1. There seems to be a lot of confusion about equal pay vs gender pay There has been a lot of focus on equal pay recently. As I heard a speaker say recently “it’s shining a light on it”. Which personally I don’t think is a bad thing per se, except if it confuses people, which it seems to be doing right now. A company reporting a gender pay gap does not tell us they are paying women less for the same role. It tells us there’s an under-representation of women either at certain levels (i.e. senior management) or in certain specialisms (like STEM) which is a really important issue in its own right. 2. There’s concern over when to report the figures As alluded to above there’s definitely a sense of who’s going to jump first within industries and also a bit of a “safety in numbers” approach going on. But this carries a risk of backfiring.  A mass of companies rushing to publish right before the deadline is likely to increase press coverage and with it the risk of being named and shamed without the all-important context (see next point). 3. The importance of the narrative The average gender pay gap is just over 18%, but whether your organization is above or below that, in practice I think the most important thing is not the numbers you can’t change them (well not overnight anyway) but the narrative. Interestingly this is optional, but it gives you the opportunity to explain your numbers along with the nuances of the regulations. For example, if you currently have a larger number of women working part-time who receive bonuses than men, this will skew your bonus gap data as bonuses are not prorated. More than that though it gives you a chance to explain what you’ve done to date and what you plan to do going forward to address the gap. And this is probably the most important thing particularly to some of your key stakeholders; your employees and shareholders. 4. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution   Every organization has unique goals and unique challenges so will need a unique approach to this. Yes, there are themes emerging but there are always going to be unique factors at play. And as with any new business challenge I’m also seeing it drive a lot of innovation too.  And here’s one of the silver linings there’s a real opportunity to stand out as a leader, no matter how “bad” your initial numbers may seem.   5. The value of authenticity   Yes ok, it’s a bit of a buzzword right now but I think it’s totally justified here. A good example is the good press received by Aviva, who may have reported a gender pay gap quite a bit above the 18% average, but they did so along with an outline of a whole raft of initiatives to drive change and have a Leadership Team who are clearly both passionate and committed. 6. It’s easy to focus externally and forget the impact internally Leaders in the field are managing this not just externally but internally as well. Making sure their Line Managers and Senior Leadership Teams are briefed and ready to answer questions, both on this and the wider inclusion strategy of the business. And also making sure they explain it to employees in a way that makes sense to them, using real-life examples (particularly to cover off any confusion with equal pay). 7. The importance of thinking ahead to next year The bigger the business, the more often it changes. Anyone who’s worked in a large corporate will be all too familiar with it. You get used to it. But restructures whilst usually good for business can make tracking data year-on-year challenging.  So, make sure you set up how you track the data and in particular how you explain any impacts these changes have is important. There is also a growing view out there, which I share, that expectations are only likely to grow next year. Which means you can’t tick box this one following through on your plans and delivering change is crucial, which I think is the most exciting thing in all of this. In a year’s time, we could be well on our way to being in a really different place. About the author:  Catherine Oliver  is the founder of Parents@Sky and co-founder of Sky’s Women in Leadership initiative. She has recently founded the Bluebell Partnership, a consultancy to help guide businesses through the challenges of setting up their own working parent and women in leadership programmes.

How to Create the Best Resume Structure

How to Create the Best Resume StructureIf you have been out of work for a while, you are bound to be wondering what the best approach to resume structure is. Once you understand what your resume should consist of, it can help you get back on track.Before you start researching the best way to structure your resume, you need to ask yourself one question. That question is: 'How much do I know about my field?' Most job seekers have no idea about the basics of their occupation, which is why they put so much time and effort into covering them.For example, if you were doing data entry, you would likely want to include some kind of about us section, so that people could better relate to your resume structure. You might also want to include a cover letter or a LinkedIn profile. In addition, you might consider including a portfolio or other industry information.The main thing to remember is that you must learn more about your field before you start creating your resume. Your first step is to f ind as much information as you can about the industry that you are looking to enter. Once you have this knowledge, you can begin to create your resume structure.There are three major steps to creating your resume structure. In order, these steps are: resume format, the objective statement, and the career objective.As far as format is concerned, you should choose between a formal resume and a spreadsheet format. The formal resume will include sections such as employment history, education, and a summary of qualifications. Your resume will also include sections such as skills and experiences, that will highlight specific skills that you have.On the other hand, the spreadsheet format is one that will allow you to create your resume online at any time, which can be handy when your resume needs to be resubmitted. Finally, your resume should contain the career objective, which is your opening statement to let others know that you would like a new position. You might also want to add in a section that talks about a project you may have worked on in the past.When you follow these steps, you will be able to create the best resume structure possible. Even though it is not easy, it is better to spend some time creating a resume structure than to waste time sending out the same resume several times.

Three Vital Things to Know When Working Abroad

Three Vital Things to Know When Working Abroad Most of the time, people decide to move countries for their work purposes. Although working abroad is often considered a good and fortunate thing to happen in one’s life, the migration won’t be that easy. We hope most of you would agree with this fact. It’s a huge step for each and every one of us and involves some practical difficulties that need to be taken care. If you’re victorious in this, then we are sure that you can embrace for yourself the new residential status you get in your destined country. Now, learn about the three vital things to know when working abroad here… Visa Needs: As a leading visa consultant, Visa Express Singapore has kept visa needs at the first place in this list of things to know while working abroad. We believe it is correct to keep it as the first thing here. It’s because only after knowing about your visa requirements can you determine whether you can actually move to the destined nation. So, we ask you to approach the immigration office and get to know whether you need to apply for a visa and if yes, what type. The visa needs can vary from one person to another, depending on the nation you’re destined to move to, and the purpose of moving.    Pay attention to the various legal documents youll need in your chosen country, as these vary between places. For example, apply for a  PAN card seva  if you are working in India; this will ensure you are registered for tax. In general, a work visa would authorize you to live in a nation for an extended period and include certain facilities like access to doctors and accommodation. Contrarily, you may not require a visa in some cases. Therefore, make sure you know about your visa needs before making further preparations. Health Care System: More than anything, health is important for a person. Keeping this mind, we’d tell you to familiarize yourself with the health system of the destination country. As soon as you have the legal stature to live/work in the new place, you must find a doctor for yourself. This is something you need to do irrespective of the duration of your stay. Remember, moving away from your native land will may cause some health issues due to the changes in climate, diet, and so on. This makes it important for you to sign up with a doctor there. Also, remember that based on that country’s health care system, you may have the advantage of signing up with a doctor. In case you don’t have access, then be sure to check for an alternative option. Domestic Language: Although English is spoken everywhere around the planet, some nations require you to know their domestic language. If you’re accustomed to that, we would recommend you enroll in a language class to learn the respective language. Although it would be a little tough in the first instance, you will get used to the new language when you start mingling with the local people there. Enrolling in the class would help you prepare to interact with people in the new country even before leaving your native country. To enhance your language skills further, constantly read news and magazines in the new language.

Use Email Marketing to Build Your Online Brand Influence - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Use Email Marketing to Build Your Online Brand Influence - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Having an effective email marketing strategy is an important tool for your personal brand in which your business can connect with your audience. Building authentic relationships is important for increased sales and return customers. There are several ways a personalized message can work for your brand, which begins by knowing the needs of your subscribers and sparking their interest what you have to offer. Building the right email marketing approach takes appealing to their emotions as well as making it easy for them to read your messages. Here are several ways to build more leads and customers: Create a great headline This is the very first thing a reader will see and can cause them to want to know more or keep looking at other websites. Take the time to write out your headlines according to your audience and topic. Keep your words short, to the point, and personalized for the best results. Stop the direct sales approach Write your messages with the reader in mind instead of focusing on what your brands products or services are. Show the value that you have to offer them, and make the content about their pressing needs. By offering them a great solution they will be compelled to want to find out more. Keep track of statistics Most email service providers offer built-in analytics for your email campaigns. Some even offer suggestions on how to make improvements, especially when it comes to spammy headlines. Take a look at which emails are getting the most clicks and views to determine what your audience is looking for the most. Use more text and less graphics Since more and more people use their mobile devices to gather information its important that your messages are loading quickly. Try not to include too many large images in your content, and instead use bold headlines and short, simple yet concise text that they can digest quickly and take action on. When your personal brand puts the reader first you can greatly improve upon your lead generation and sales from email. As you offer your subscribers something of value they will be more likely to make a purchase and recommend your company to their friends and family. Each month check and measure your results and try new and fresh campaigns to keep their interest flowing.

Tips For Writing a Resume

Tips For Writing a ResumeThis article provides tips for writing a resume. Writing a resume can be the hardest part of applying for a job. Many people find that writing a resume for themselves is easy compared to writing a resume for someone else.Once you learn how to write a resume, the hard part is done. It's not about writing a resume for yourself but writing one for the person that you are applying to. You want to make sure that your resume is as unique as possible so that it stands out from the other resumes in the same position.Remember that writing a resume isn't about you. Your resume is only there to tell a hiring manager who you are and what you can do for the company. No matter how you feel about the company or how qualified you think you are, the most important thing to remember is that you have to go through the proper channels in order to get hired.A great idea is to take a look at the company's website. If they haven't listed their contact information anywhere on their website, this is a sign that they are still in the process of hiring. Don't forget to check the employee handbook for any information on how to get a hold of them if you ever need to. It's always best to be proactive rather than reactive in this situation.The key to writing a resume is to always be professional. Don't just throw together a resume without thinking it through. This is important because the more confident you are in your abilities, the more likely you are to get hired. Another great tip is to know the company's requirements for applicants so that you can write your resume around these requirements.Another good tip for writing a resume is to do some research about the company you are applying to. There's no sense in wasting time and energy trying to figure out how to write a resume when you don't even know what the requirements are for the position. Check out the company's website, check out their handbook, and then ask around. This will save you both time and hassle la ter on.One of the most common mistakes is to include too much information on your resume. If your resume includes everything about you, including things like your skills, education, and work experience, this may disqualify you. The important thing to remember is that the information you put on your resume should fit the position you are applying for. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you are a political appointee or senior level executive, including this information will definitely help you get the job.These tips for writing a resume were meant to be helpful to those who are applying for a job. Don't get discouraged if your resume doesn't look exactly like others. Just keep going and make sure that you include all of the necessary information in order to get a job. Good luck!

A Simple Hack to CRUSH Procrastination Each and Every Time - CareerMetis.com

A Simple Hack to CRUSH Procrastination Each and Every Time Source â€" Pixabay.comBeing a writer often means staring blankly at a white screen. We all know that feeling, of wanting to finish something, but then we look down and see an alert on our phone.Or we look out the window just for a moment and start thinking about how nice a walk would be.There are more discretions vying for our attention now than ever before. Not only has technology brought countless useful and genuinely enthralling things to do. Games like Candy Crush have been specifically engineered to keep our attention.evalFacebook works increasingly harder to incorporate any content that would otherwise take you away from your feed.Simon Sinek The best part? It’s a simple strategy that couldn’t be easier to use.Here’s what you need to know…Before we talk about how to get started, though, I wanted to let you know I researched and compiled science-backed ways to stick to good habits and stop procrastinating. Want to check out my insights?I call this little strategy the “ 2â€"Minute Rule” and the goal is to make it easier for you to get started on the things you should be doing.evalHere’s the deal…Most of the tasks that you procrastinate on aren’t actually difficult to do â€" you have the talent and skills to accomplish them â€" you just avoid starting them for one reason or another.The 2â€"Minute Rule overcomes procrastination and laziness by making it so easy to start taking action that you can’t say no.There are two parts to the 2â€"Minute Rule…Part 1 â€" If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.Part I comes from David Allen’s bestselling book, Getting Things Done.It’s surprising how many things we put off that we could get done in two minutes or less. For example, washing your dishes immediately after your meal, tossing the laundry in the washing machine, taking out the garbage, cleaning up clutter, sending that email, and so on.If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, then follow the rule and do it right now.Pa rt 2 â€" When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.Can all of your goals be accomplished in less than two minutes? Obviously not.But, every goal can be started in 2 minutes or less, and that’s the purpose behind this little rule.evalIt might sound like this strategy is too basic for your grand life goals, but I beg to differ. It works for any goal because of one simple reason: the physics of real life.The Physics of Real Life â€" As Sir Isaac Newton taught us a long time ago, objects at rest tend to stay at rest and objects in motion tend to stay in motion. This is just as true for humans as it is for falling apples.The 2â€"Minute Rule works for big goals as well as small goals because of the inertia of life. Once you start doing something, it’s easier to continue doing it. I love the 2â€"Minute Rule because it embraces the idea that all sorts of good things happen once you get started.Want to become a better writer? Just write one sentence Want to m ake reading a habit? Just read the first page of a new book (2â€"Minute Rule), and before you know it, the first three chapters have flown by.Want to run three times a week? Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, just get your running shoes on and get out the door (2â€"Minute Rule), and you’ll end up putting mileage on your legs instead of popcorn in your stomach.The most important part of any new habit is getting started â€" not just the first time, but each time. It’s not about performance, it’s about consistently taking action. In many ways, getting started is more important than succeeding. This is especially true in the beginning because there will be plenty of time to improve your performance later on.The 2â€"Minute Rule isn’t about the results you achieve, but rather about the process of actually doing the work. It works really well for people who believe that the system is more important than the goal. The focus is on taking action and letting things flow from there.Tr y It Now I can’t guarantee whether or not the 2â€"Minute Rule will work for you.… but I can guarantee that it will never work if you never try it.The problem with most articles you read, podcasts you listen to, or videos you watch is that you consume the information but never put it into practice.I want this article to be different. I want you to actually use this information, right now.What’s something you can do that will take you less than two minutes? Do it right now.Anyone can spare the next 120 seconds. Use this time to get one thing done. Go.Stop wasting hours on your phone playing candy crush â€" crush your procrastination with the 2-minute rule.

Laser Focus or Spraying and Praying

Laser Focus or Spraying and Praying There are two ways to job search. Either having laser focus or using the spraying and praying method. Which do you think is more effective? Too many job seekers look for work the wrong way (there is certainly more than one right way to do it). But most job seekers randomly search the job boards or are unfocused (ie. I can do anything). I understand that being without a job can be frightening. But are you letting your emotions drive your ability to clearly think about what you are saying and doing? The good news is that there are ways of fixing this and options! What Are You Good At Doing What Do You Enjoy Doing? Explore, reminisce, assesswhatever it takes to figure out what you are best at doing.   Deep down, you know the answer.   It may take talking with co-workers, friends and family.   By no means is this easy, but it is THE most important part of job search and managing your career. Here are self-assessment resources to help you Get A Clue! Know What You Can Do Be Crystal Clear and Laser Focused Now, if your Aha moment is that you are good at working with people, I challenge you to dig a bit deeper.   Who do you enjoy working with most?   I am pretty sure there are some people you would prefer not to work with.   Think about it.   Is it students, parents, accountants, IT groups, board members, shareholders, cross-functional teams? Specifically, who do you enjoy working with? You arent done yet, when you say working with people, what kind of work do you mean?   Physically helping, providing advice, organizing, supporting, leading, teaching? Drill down and get specific about the type of help (or whatever) you enjoy delivering. I used to be called X, what else do they call it? The job title you used to hold may have been unique to your organization or it may not be used any longer. Titles come and go and are not universal across companies or industries. This means it is up to you to learn what job titles are similar to your last job or the new role you are interested in. Step 1: Ask people you know what do they call someone using these skills at your company? Step 2: Conduct research on ONet. Here is the link to this free resource. Type in your old job title or the occupation/job title you would like to pursue in the Keyword box. Once you do this, select the occupation that most closely matches what you are looking for. In the results, you will see many other job titles that fall into that occupation. These are gold. These are the job titles you should be looking for on job boards and talking to people about it. This becomes your focus. When and How To Broaden Your Search Lets say youve been doing this already and there are NO JOBS to be found. Instead of broadening the jobs you are looking for try doing one of these instead: Expand the geographic region you are looking targeting (a longer commute) Could you relocate to another area of the country? Explore the possibility of working remotely If these answers are no, then maybe you should look at tangent or related jobs. One way to uncover similar job titles is to access mySkillsmyFuture If you are interested in knowing the similarities and differences between these other jobs, click on the compare skills link and it will show salary, skill and education requirements. Informational Meeting and Networking Now that youve narrowed down what you want to do, begin validating your qualifications by talking to people who actually do that line of work.   Read  How to Ask for an Informational Meeting and  Informational Interviews are a Form of Networking Once you have confirmed your career direction, with laser focus, begin to tell everyone what you are specifically looking for. Also begin to immerse yourself in the industry or occupation by attending professional association meetings, conferences, and reading newsletters and publications. This will allow you to stay up-to-date.

What I Tell Myself When I Dont Think I Can Do It - When I Grow Up

What I Tell Myself When I Don’t Think I Can Do It - When I Grow Up I, Michelle Ward, The When I Grow Up Coach and supporter of all creative women pursuing their business dreams everywhere, solemnly swear to never sugar coat anything.   In this spirit, I will tell you: Becoming a business owner is not easy. In fact, it can sometimes feel very, very hard. You will be met with a ton of resistance, both internally and externally. But, I’m sure a wise woman once said: “The only thing you can control is yourself” â€" so let’s tackle the internal resistance, a.k.a. The Vampire Voices.   The Vampire Voices are what I call the thoughts that live in your head and suck all the good stuff out of your brain. You know them. You hate them. They feed on motivation, inspiration, creativity, optimism, and faith. They’re here to hold you down, push you back, and they are not â€" I repeat, are not your friend. Most importantly, they’re not right, either. In the beginning of my business coach career in 2008ish, my Vampires usually said a lot of things like:   “You’ll never pull this off.” “You’re setting yourself up for disappointment.” “You’re not (smart/pretty/good/knowledgeable/talented/special) enough.” Like I promised, business babe, I won’t sugar coat it. Sometimes, I can still hear them. Sometimes when I’m gearing up for a new launch or struggling for a perfect solution to a new client challenge, I hear the Vampires slithering in.   But today, I know what to do. I know what to say. I know how to shut them out.   Here is what works for me, and I think it could work for you, too I ask myself if *not* doing whatever the Vampires are trying to talk me out of would turn into a regret in a few years time. I do what I can to envision if I’d feel sad or angry or wistful when I think about The Thing I Think I Can’t Do in two-ish years, and then I respond accordingly. I try to come up with the Worst Case Scenario and see if it would really be anything I couldn’t handle. I talk it out with my husband and my colleagues and my friends and my coach who are the exact opposite of the Vampire voices. They are supportive, thoughtful, kind, empathetic, analytical/critically thinking and, oh yeah real.   I look at the financial growth I’ve seen in the 10+ years that I’ve helped women find their heart song businesses. I review my Year By The Numbers posts. It is tactile, visual proof that my Vampires were and still are wrong. I can and AM doing this!   I check in with my gut and my heart. I see how equal the fear and excitement measure out. (I firmly believe that when they’re about equal, you’re in a win-win situation and you gotta follow through!) I look at my calendar and project management system and see when there’d be time to do The Thing I Think I Can’t Do. And ya know what? Sometimes, I decide not to do it, or have it wait. And that’s OK. I let it go, and I know it’s not because I can’t or I shouldn’t, but because it’s not that important based on the other things I’m working on. But often? The Thing I Think I Can’t Do is exactly what I need to do for myself â€" to learn, to grow, to keep stretching and taking risks and get closer to the life I envision for myself and Luke and our sweet girl, Ramona.   And dear business dreamer, here is the last detail about the Vampire Voices I need to tell you: They are sneaky and they can evolve. Just when you crush the Discovery piece of your dream business, the Launch Vampire shows up. Just when you stifle your Launch Vampire, the Build Vampire tags in. The voices never go away (again with the non-sugar coating), but with experience + time they get quieter and you get stronger.   So, you must remember as you go along your business-building journey: You and they have been here before. And they were wrong. And you were right.   The amazing news is Vampire Voices are almost powerless when you match them up against a business support system, such as myself and the other incredible network of women I’m fortunate to have around me. Discover Your Dream Business is waiting to invite you in with all the loving supportive arms a Vampire Voice wishes it had and a big summer sale discount doesn’t hurt, either. Let’s take these voices on together â€" come and get us, Vampires! We’re so not scared of you.