by Aaliyah Fortuin | Feb 14, 2020 | General
No matter how many interviews you’ve been to, one thing that is certain is that job
interviews can be quite nerve-wracking. As a job seeker, your focus would naturally be on
defining the skills and qualities that you would like in a job and employer.
Taking the time to prepare in advance will help you secure a job offer. When preparing for an
interview, it is important to firstly, take the time to analyse and research the position you are
interested in. Make sure you know what the job entails and what the employer is seeking in a
candidate. Highlight the skills and the professional and personal qualities that you think the
employer is looking for.
Once you cover this base, dive into what the companies you apply to are about. Crucially
research the brand and company to get a sense of what their company is about and how they
are different from their competitors. By doing this, it will help in an interview as your
understanding will be reflected in the conversation. By understanding the content in which
the employer works, it will assist you to tailor your answers in a way that is relevant to the
employer.
Most interviews start with a simple “Tell us about yourself” and how you answer it will affect
the result thereof. Make sure you answer it with confidence and find a good balance between
being confident and not coming across as pretentious.
Try coming up with questions of your own to ask. Usually, towards the end of an interview,
the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions that you would like to ask. Use this as
an opportunity to gain more information that you may need, to figure out if the job would be
a suitable fit for you and something you would be good at.
Another crucial part of preparing for an interview is to dress for the part. This is quite
important because before you even start with an interview, the first impression is given by
your dress code. The way you dress or choose to dress for an interview showcases to an
interviewer how you represent yourself, it showcases whether you find the interview
professional or unprofessional.
Lastly, don’t worry about your nerves. It is quite normal to feel nervous before an interview,
no interview is perfect. Your goal should be to give a good impression, highlighting that you
are suitable for the job while showcasing how you would excel at it.
by Aaliyah Fortuin | Feb 7, 2020 | General
When it comes to advertising and marketing your brand or business online, a crucial step in
gaining attraction or recognition for your brand is having and implementing a strong
marketing strategy that will help boost your business and most likely gain exposure.
Online marketing consists of various digital and online strategies, that have been proven to
help companies and brands improve their performance. These marketing strategies consist of
business marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing and direct
marketing to name a few.
With the power of the internet and its ability to transform how we build and promote
businesses, we now have much more access to resources than before. Whether you’re a
startup company or an already established brand, here are 5 marketing strategies that you can
implement into your brand.
Search Engine Marketing
By implementing a search engine marketing and optimization strategy, you increase the
chances of your business to appear higher on the list of search engine results. Having a strong
SEO strategy, allows your brand to become associated with keywords used to find your
services. Thus assisting and increasing the brand or company’s chances of being searched
online by an individual.
Build Your Brand Identity
Having your own brand all starts with an idea, and social capital is important. However,
before you start investing in your brand, firstly define your brand’s identity. Giving your
brand its own identity allows your audience to define what your brand is about and what it
offers. It also opens up a door of trust because your audience will be given the impression
that you know what you’re doing. Make sure that you have the ability to connect with your
audience as this allows them to gain trust with your brand as well, it allows them to feel
included and part of your brand.
Content Marketing
When it comes to content marketing, it takes various forms and depending on how you shape
your strategy, different goals can be accomplished. By having a strategic approach to your
content, it would entail that your content would be valuable and relevant to its intended
audiences. By remaining consistent with the particular content strategy set, you would be able
to retain a clearly defined audience and in the end drive profitable customer action.
Good Web Design
Not many people may know this but web design can be used as a marketing tactic as well.
Implementing good web design influences the audience’s amount of time and attention spent
on a page. With a website being the center of all digital marketing efforts, if the page is not
clean, easy to read or the loading time is too long, it won’t matter how much time and effort
you put into strategy development, you will still lose potential customers. By investing in
web design, it will create a website that is not only modern, but also one that is easy to read,
navigate and that’s mobile friendly.
Social Media Marketing
Marketing your brand on social media has significant potential in building and nurturing a
social media audience. Once again, your content will most likely be the key factor that
attracts the audience to begin with. By marketing your brand on social media, you stand a
greater chance in gaining brand visibility, a greater reputation, as well as more inbound traffic
with the use of syndicated links.
By implementing these few marketing strategies, it will make a massive difference in
promoting and gaining exposure for your brand. It will not only raise brand awareness but it
will also increase your brand’s sales, grow the business as well as keep audiences engaged.
These 5 simple tips will help ensure the growth of your business while expanding your base
to new potential customers.
by Aaliyah Fortuin | Jan 28, 2020 | General
When it comes to job searching, almost everyone who works will have to face a choice between a contract or a permanent job at some point. Companies use different types of employees to meet various labour requirements. When it comes to permanent and contract positions, there are major differences in employees.
Both types of employment consist of pros and cons. Contract employment can include a variety of different positions ranging from temporary positions to freelance positions. Contract jobs are usually jobs that are available for a set period. They can last anywhere from a few weeks to months and even years. Another major difference between contract and permanent employment is the salary.
Most contracts pay hourly with no benefits. Depending on your position, the hours you work may differ as well. You may have to work 9 to 5 everyday, work remotely or simply come in a few days a week. However, all terms will be set for you at the time you sign your contract.
In terms of benefits and time frames between the two, a contract worker will work for a business on a finite basis, which generally means that their employment has a time frame. A permanent employee, however, has no set date. An advantage of having a permanent job is that it offers the employee job security, whilst making them eligible for benefits that may be offered by the employer.
When it comes to the hiring process between permanent and contract positions, it lies in the necessity of each kind of worker. When hiring a contract employee, the major focus is based on the workers’ specific skills and the ability to perform a task, whereas, a permanent worker’s growth potential and the ability to integrate into a team would be the main focus.
When it comes to making the decision between the two choices it’s not as straight forward. However, making the choice can be made easier by weighing and comparing the packages, benefits and consciously assessing which one would suit your lifestyle.
by Aaliyah Fortuin | Jan 28, 2020 | General
Office etiquette differs from place to place, office to office. Whether you have your own office or not, following basic office etiquette rules helps things run a bit smoother. “As a general rule of thumb, I always advise people to be extra conscious in any workplace that requires you to share it,” says etiquette expert, Myka Meier. Simply put, having good office etiquette refers to being respectful and considerate of everyone around.
Office etiquette is the basic mannerism in the world of business. By implementing basic office etiquette, it helps to cut down stress, tension, and conflict between co-workers. Despite office etiquette being basic manners and courtesy, some people need to be informed on what can and cannot be done in the workplace.
Here are 5 simple tips for good office etiquette:
Keep your desk and space tidy.
No one likes a messy desk as it could become a distraction to others. It also detracts from the professional image your company may be trying to establish. Try to keep your belongings confined to your personal space and try to keep it tidy and free from dirt throughout the day as well as before leaving work.
Be Tolerant
Working in an open office environment brings a diverse group of people with different personalities. With so many diverse personalities, it is important to find ways to adapt. There will be times when people may not agree with you, but always make sure to keep an open mind.
Be a Team Player
Being a part of a team or working with others may occur in many workplaces and career fields. Yes, it may be tough at times to get along with various people who have different personalities and this is why communication is key. Working in a team means different views, opinions and ideas, so take the time to listen to your colleagues’ views and opinions. You may not always agree with them, but it’s always best to keep an open mind and be respectful.
Meeting etiquette
Meetings occur in almost every workplace. When attending a meeting, make sure you are on time and that your phone has been switched to silent mode. Be sure to pay attention to whoever is leading or speaking in the meeting. This means no speaking or texting while the person is talking, it’s only polite to give your undivided attention to whomever is leading the discussion.
Noise and distractions to a minimum
It’s probably not possible to have a dead silent workspace, but try and keep your noise level to a minimum. Speaking or shouting and playing music loudly can often create an annoying distraction to others in the workspace.
By including these basic office etiquette tips you could improve co-workers’ relationships. With fewer complications and tension between staff, it may result with an increase in productivity. Thus, by having a proper sense of office etiquette, it can inspire open minds that are inclusive to diversity.
