by Allen And Associates ~ August 26, 2008
Employment complaints Articles
By George Hayes
1. So tell me about yourself?
Remember, the interview is about you and you are the expert. Set the stage for success by focusing on your most marketable skills and strengths. Deliver your commercial with natural sincerity and enthusiasm. Keep responses relatively brief (about two minutes or less) and job-related.
2. What are your strengths?
Support your strengths with specific examples, and focus on how you saved time and money or improved sales and service, i.e., Last November I was voted Employee of the Month for outstanding customer service at XYZ Company.
3. What are your weaknesses?
Avoid appearing defensive. Identify a common weakness and turn it into a strength, i.e., Sometimes I become impatient when there are delays out of my control … but I think wanting to complete the job on time is also a strength.
4. What has prepared you for this job?
Focus on your education, training and work experience. Provide examples of how you have successfully managed similar tasks in the past. Note: Research the company in advance to find out as much as you can about the position. Request a job description and if possible, visit the company before interviewing.
5. How well do you work under pressure?
Assure the interviewer you can handle multiple assignments, and keep your cool. Share an example of how you have managed a stressful situation in the past by being well-organized and having a positive attitude.
6. Do you like being a team player?
Absolutely, teamwork is essential for success. Market your people-skills in terms of how you communicate effectively with an increasingly diverse population. Give a specific example of how your writing, speaking or listening skills contributed to the success of a program or project in the last year.
7. How would others describe you?
This question can be tricky, so prepare by focusing on your key employment traits. Honesty, dependability, and a positive attitude are highly valued today. Remember to put your best foot forward and project a credible image.
8. What do you want to do in five years?
Respond with a plan that outlines steady progress and increasing responsibility, i.e. Everything is changing so rapidly in this field … but my plan is to continue learning and gaining experience so that one day I can move on to the next level.
9. Why do you want this job?
Position yourself as team-player who can be counted on to do a professional job. Match your education, training and experience to the position. Offer compelling reasons as to why they can’t afford not to hire you!
10. Do you have any questions?
YES! Show your interest, enthusiasm and confidence by asking - among other things - about a typical workday, priority projects and on-the-job training. And always let the interviewer raise the issue of salary and benefits first.
by Allen And Associates ~ July 22, 2008
Posted by: Scams, Complaints
By Tony Jacowski
Make Yourself Presentable
Ask your prospective employers’ office whether the company has a dress code. If so, then dress accordingly. If there is no dress code, then dress in a well-ironed shirt and matching trousers if you are a man. If you are a woman, be sure to wear business-looking attire. Polish your shoes the night before the interview. If you are wearing a tie, use a subtle color that is not flashy or in too much contrast with your clothes. A woman applicant should avoid flashy colors or a style that calls too much attention to itself.
Your certificates should be arranged neatly in a folder, which should not look worn or torn. Make certain you have showered before you go out the door. Male applicants’ beards should look well-tended.
Avoid perfume and cologne at all costs. Many people are offended by obvious scents; some are allergic to them.
Exude Confidence
Keep your shoulders back and shake hands firmly with your interviewer. Maintain eye contact while talking to him or her. Address the interviewer by title and respect his views. Keep calm and be honest while answering questions. Try to turn any negative aspects into positive ones.
For example, if you do not have an answer to a particular technical question, you might answer that you will have no problem picking up that skill once the company hires you.
Study the Company Beforehand
Do thorough research on the company that is interviewing you. Study its history, product range, and the kinds of people it is interested in hiring. If you feel that you are a good fit, then go for it; otherwise apply somewhere else.
There is no point in getting the job and then being unhappy in your work.
Let You’re Interviewer Need You
If you have advanced skills for the job, highlight them in your resume and also in your interview. This should make your interviewer think that if he or she hires you, the company will benefit.
The way you answer questions should also give the impression that the company needs you and your services. Tone it down, however, lest you come across as arrogant.
Be Courteous
Keep a smile on your face. Be courteous and answer all the questions politely. Do not get flustered or angry even though some questions may be designed to trick you. It could be a ruse by your interviewer to check your responses when you are under pressure.
Do not get into an argument with your interviewer even if you feel he or she is wrong. Do not forget your manners and thank your interviewer as you leave.
Write Well
If you are given a written test, then write in the correct format as required by your interviewer. Avoid errors in spelling and grammar. Keep an extra pen in your folder as a backup and also carry blank sheets of paper. Write neatly and do not make too many cross-outs.
by Allen And Associates ~ July 16, 2008
Posted by: Complaints
Author: John Pawlett
One of the greatest challenges you may encounter in this world is finding the right career. This is can be a task to be reckoned with. Sure, it doesn’t really sound like much. Nor does it sound that frustrating when you’re a kid. However, things can seriously change once you hit adulthood and the “real world.”
It really smacked me in the face toward the close of my college career. Suddenly I had to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. That is how it goes, right? We all typically try to decide on a career that we’ll keep until the option of retirement arises. Hey, one thing is for sure; you’d better make sure you choose one that you actually enjoy day-in and day-out. After all, it’s going to be a major part of your life.
So, do you require assistance finding the right career for you?
I knew this guy once. Oh come on, every great story starts with that phrase. It’s either that or, “It was a dark and rainy night.” I can’t exactly use that one because it doesn’t apply here. Anyway, this guy I used to work with had just acquired his bachelor’s degree. He was stoked and ready to begin his career in electrical engineering.
This sounds great, right? Sure it does! We all want to attain that perfect career in life that pays the bills on time. So he began in his new desired field of employment. I didn’t see him again for a few months. Then one day he came back to our cheesy job at the video store. I had no idea what he was doing there, because I thought he had moved 30 miles away for his new electrical engineering position. Surely there was a closer video store for him to rent his movies. Well, as it turned out, he was back to manage the store.
What happened? As it turned out, he basically couldn’t stand his new career, and decided to come back to the video store. Apparently finding the right career was something he failed at. Now he had a good degree, but didn’t want the job that goes along with it. This is an utter nightmare. That’s four years of hard work he put in.
One place you should begin regarding finding the right career is the web. Take one of those free tests that tell you what you enjoy and where your interests may lie. Also, give job shadowing a shot. Test the waters before diving in. You may not like a certain field after seeing it up-close. Hey, no one ever said finding the right career was simple. It takes some initiative and exploration.
by Allen And Associates ~ July 13, 2008
Submitted by: Complaints
Author: Kadence Buchanan
In the tough economy that we’re currently facing, it can be quite difficult to find a job that suits your skills and pays well. It’s important to take advantage of every opportunity that you can to boost your employability, and in this article, we’ll mention some tips at how to get yourself the job that you deserve.
- One thing that people can do to boost their employability is to participate in some volunteer work. A rewarding experience in and of itself, volunteering can help you to learn skills that you would not otherwise be able to obtain. In addition to showing that you have a strong work ethic and a certain level of empathy when it comes to helping others, volunteering in places that relate to the job skills you wish to acquire can really put your career hunt into high-gear.
- When you’re looking to get a career that is outside of your normal experiences, it can be helpful to get a little insight into the industry from a friend. Search out people that you know that are in the field that you wish to be employed in and ask if you can pick their brains over a cup of coffee. The more you know about the job that you are looking for, the better chance you have of impressing the interviewer with your knowledge of the subject.
- If you’re looking for a career that requires a certain degree of specialization, you may wish to consider taking an internship. When your work experience is over at the internship, the company may wish to hire you on. If not, they may know of another company that does the same types of business that may require your services. Discipline and determination are very important when it comes to landing a solid career.
- When you’ve set up an interview with a company, do your homework. Learn all that you can about the company and the services that it performs, and you’ll be able to impress the interviewer with your fortitude and your studying ethic when it comes to getting what you want.
by Allen And Associates ~ July 8, 2008
Posted by: Complaints
Author: Paul Megan
Dump your resume! And everything else your traditional job search stands for.
Sounds sacrilegious, doesn’t it?
Yet, the starting point of your successful job search is NOT your resume. Nor any other part of a traditional approach.
You see, a traditional job search is passive at the very time when employers are looking for someone who can demonstrate they are proactive. It’s one of the many changes that’s occurred in the 21st Century. Employers today want to meet a candidate who
* Understand the organization.
* Can show how to make a difference.
* Can demonstrate quantifiable contributions.
* Isn’t afraid to ask for a job.
* Knows how to cut a deal.
From this you can see that the focal point of a job search must respond to the needs and expectations of the employer. The job seeker needs and their work history are of secondary importance.
The resume has become such an accepted icon that typically it’s the very first thing we think of when we’re considering a job search. We attach such meaning to resume that we engage in an all-consuming pursuit to get it right.
If we don’t know any better, we operate on the belief that resumes get jobs. What’s more, we think if we can get out resume in front of enough employers, something has to click. The facts of life are
1. Traditional resumes can work against you because they put you right in the middle of your competition. You become just another number.
2. Resumes are screened, rarely by the person who will be hiring you.
3. An employer initially scans a resume in less that 50 seconds. So 2 or 3 pages crammed with work history and accomplishments probably won’t make any difference.
4. A generic resume (one size fit all) can’t address the specific needs of the employer.
5. You’re turning over your job search to someone else . . . you’re letting a screener decide whether a job is right for you.
6. You lose your negotiating leverage because you’re letting someone else hold all the cards.
by Allen And Associates ~ July 1, 2008
By: Shaun Z. Stevens
Job seekers not only need a resume, they need a number of different specifically tailored resumes - be it for different jobs, careers, companies and industries.
Putting your resume together is not just an off the shelf , fill in the blanks , paint by numbers approach with a piece of computer software that you purchased at a big box store or download on the internet.. Remember you are in competition with other people for that good job. Sure you might get away with such an approach on the easy to get, low paying jobs - but not on the better paying jobs, that are more exciting, pay more and offer better working conditions, pay and benefits.
The off the shelf resume packages may be a good starting points but there will be specific issues that you will have to address in the resume - if you are to make a good enough first impression - to both get the interview , have created a good first impression , before you walk in the door, and of course get that job.
All job applicants preparing a resume have special situations that require careful handling on the part of the resume
First of all it is best to leave out personal information unless you think that it will increase your chances of landing that job. Such information, amazingly enough, even will include your height, your weight and medical, marital and family status, including how many children that you have. Why limit yourself in your employment job search, For example if a recruiter is looking for someone who needs to travel extensively - or even on an irregular basis - say to company meetings, then a single parent situation where you are taking care of a child might present an impediment in appearances to yourself as a suitable job candidate. However on the other hand if the job requires you to relocate to a smaller or more remote community, then having a family - with its intact support group and emotional support, might be seen as a major advantage for a job candidate.
The expression is that it all depends how you tell the story”. One very successful businessman’s mother imparted this important knowledge to him. Don’t lie. And if you do not know then do not say anything”" This stuck with this very successful businessman his whole life. If you sincerely want the job and are reasonably qualified to perform that job and employment in the organization, then that is not lying and deceit you are simply presenting yourself, your qualifications, skills and attributes in the best light. It is not as if you are selling a faulty or misrepresented product. You are what you are. It is not as if you are selling a horse that will pass away the next day or a car that will drive today when purchased but that the wheels will spin off tomorrow.
Employment Complaints, Scam, Rip-off, Double-cross, Injustice help provided by Allen And Associates.
by Allen And Associates ~ May 28, 2008
Author: Colin R Cherry
Did you know that thanks to California employment law and the backing of the current Governor, California will have the highest hourly rate of pay in the USA starting January 1, 2008? California employment law will then dictate that a worker’s minimum wage will be $8.00 an hour, up from $7.50 an hour.
Not only that, but under those same California employment law provisions, workers received an increase in lodging and meal credits amounting to the same percentage as the minimum wage increases. However, this is a double-edged sword as that same increase in credits can be offset against the minimum wage paid by employers where those employers also provide their employees with meals and/or lodging
These California employment law provisions do not apply to federal employees that work outside California. For those unfortunates the wage stays at $5.15 per hour.
The issue that is receiving most attention at the current time is the payment of overtime. Under California employment law there are two classes of worker - non-exempt and exempt and the inability to know the difference can prove to be expensive
If an employee entitled to overtime is treated as exempt, they could be eligible to a nice chunk of change for overtime pay once the dust settles.
Is there a difference when paying an exempt versus non-exempt worker? Under California employment law, a non-exempt worker is subject to all pay rules set up by the Industrial Welfare Commission - that includes overtime. In other words, a non-exempt employee must be paid all overtime hours worked.
If you are an employer and are not sure into which category your workers fall, then check out the California employment law codes and regulations. Alternatively you can call the Department of Labor for advice.
As a rule of thumb, your status as an exempt of non exempt employee if governed by the responsibilities you have or your professional status. Job title or description has nothing to do with it.
Licensed professionals such as architects, doctors, lawyers, certified public accountants and engineers tend to be classed as exempt as are those in middle management who have the appropriate responsibilities. The responsibilities would include the ability to hire and fire, train employees and who spend less than 50 percent of their time performing the same duties as their employees.
by Allen And Associates ~ May 18, 2008
Author: Joseph Maus
Most employees who work more than forty hours per week are entitled to be paid one and one half times their regular rate of pay for their overtime hours worked. This is commonly referred to as overtime pay. The law that governs whether an employee is entitled to be paid overtime pay is a Federal Statute called the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Fair Labor Standards Act is a very complex Statute which is filled with exceptions and exclusions covering certain types of employees and determining whether those employees are entitled to their overtime pay.
Most employees who are being paid on an hourly basis are entitled to overtime pay. In order to be properly paid for overtime hours, an employee should receive one and one half times their hourly rate of pay for their overtime hours. For instance, if a person was being paid $10.00 an hour, and during a weekly period worked more than forty hours in that week, the employee should be paid $15.00 an hour (one and one half times the hourly rate) for all hours worked over forty hours a week. This employee would earn $400.00 for the first 40 hours he or she worked, then be paid $15.00 per hour for any time above 40 hours.
Salaried employees are also covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Very often we will speak with an employee who is paid by salary who is told by their employer that because they are being paid on a salary basis, they do get overtime pay. This is definitely wrong. The only difference between a hourly paid employee and a salary paid employee is the way that their overtime pay is calculated is different.
To calculate overtime pay for a salaried employee, you divide the number of hours an employee works during a particular period, usually weekly or bi-weekly, into the salary amount for that same period. By doing so, you will be given an hourly rate by which the employee was paid during that work period. That hourly rate determines the amount that an employee is paid their overtime pay. For instance, if an employee is being paid $35,000.00 per year salary, their weekly salary would be $673.08 ($35,000.00 divided by 52 weeks). If an employee worked 45 hours during any particular week, their hourly rate would equal $14.96 ($673.08 divided by 45 hours). To determine that employees overtime pay, you would then divide that hourly rate of $14.96 in half, which equals $7.48. That employee would then be entitled to an additional $7.48 for each of those 5 additional hours of overtime that he or she worked during that weekly period.
Many employers approach employees and advise them that they are going to become a salaried employee, and attempt to describe that as being a benefit to the employee. Actually, being paid a salary usually works against employees who are working significant hours because the employee’s effective hourly rate will decrease with the more hours that employee is working. For instance, if you take that same employee that was earning $35,000.00 and working 45 hours a week, their effective hourly rate is $14.96. However, if you take that same employee who is earning $35,000.00 and have that employee work 50 hours a week, their effective hourly rate would actually drop to $13.46. If that employee continues to work more and more hours, their effective hourly rate, and their overtime premium will continue to fall.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, there are dozens of different classifications of employees, exemptions of employees, and requirements for certain employees, which determine whether an employee is entitled to be paid overtime pay.
by Allen And Associates ~ May 18, 2008
Author: Melani Ward
Interviewing well is an art and yet I find so many people pay very little attention to this aspect of the job search process. It is in fact likely the single most important step.
If you are called for an interview, the assumption must be that it is your job to lose. If you have been called, you have many of the skills needed for the job and your qualifications are enough of a match that if the fit is right, they could hire you. People are busy and companies value their time. They are not going to spend the time and resources to have you come in for an interview if they don’t think you can do the job. So, your job at this point is create rapport, show how you can contribute to their bottom line, determine if the job and company are a fit for both of you and then express your enthusiasm. The question is, how?
Building Rapport
This happens from the moment you receive a call to set up an interview. Be aware that every contact you have is evaluating you. They are paying attention to how you talk on the phone, your tone of voice, your energy, etc. When you first meet in person they are looking for eye contact, your presence, and how you speak. Interviewers, whether HR personnel or decision makers, are looking for a connection and your personality and personal presentation will make a huge impression. Look at it from their perspective. You are much more than your skills and abilities and they want someone on board with whom they will enjoy working and who they think will fit with their staff. Respect their status but let them see who you are and be sure you are projecting the image you intend.
Your Contributions
This is one of the most difficult parts of the interview but it will make a big impact on the outcome. Interviewers are trying to figure out how you plan to contribute to their bottom line and your ability to apply your unique gifts, talents, and skills to their particular situation. So, one way to do this is to remain relevant at all times and be as specific as possible. When someone says “tell me about yourself” what they are really saying is “tell me about the parts of you that matter to me and my company”. So, make your answer relevant. I recommend that everyone create a 60 second commercial of themselves that they can easily adapt to any job. Assume that they want a summary of your work-related qualifications; so, focus on your academic degrees that relate to the position (if you are freshly out of college) and highlight a few of your specific skills that relate to the job requirements. For example, “I just finished a course in such and such which will allow me to apply these new skills to your work in such and such.” Remember that every question should be answered with an eye on their bottom line.
Is it a Fit?
This question means is it a fit for you and for them. Pay a lot of attention to the culture of the office or company when you are there. Ask questions of the receptionist or even ask the interviewers what attracts them to working there. If you are given a tour, ask to see the cafeteria (if they have one) or the break room. Pay attention to the mood and imagine yourself walking in those doors every day and see how that feels. Ask if you can meet the people you may be working with. Remember, no matter who writes the paycheck, you are the CEO of your own personal services corporation and how you feel about them is just as important as how they feel about you. One of the most common complaints I hear from clients is that “it is not what I thought it would be”. Make sure that you get your questions answered, do the research, and know what you are getting into. You are deciding on a job and an organization that will play a significant role in your life. Take is seriously.
Enthusiasm
This is key and one of the aspect of the interview that stumps interviewees all of the time. Many people are afraid to show their enthusiasm about a job. It makes them feel vulnerable and in a way it does, but imagine that you were looking for someone to join your company. Wouldn’t you want that person to be fired up? Wouldn’t you want that person to show an interest in what you are doing and how much they would like to be a part of it? I have talked to countless people that leave interviews and then don’t follow up and just wait for the company to contact them. Huge mistake. If you want the job, tell them. And, don’t be generic. Tell them that you really want the job so that you can use (insert specific skill) in order to (insert what they need). Tell them what you like about the culture of the company, how you felt during the interview, and that you hope you will be considered seriously as they move forward. You do not have to over indulge. Just a simple 60 second statement that leaves them no doubt as to your interest will be enough. Then, when you leave, immediately craft your follow-up letter and in addition to the brief overview and recap of the interview, end with a final plug about your continued interest. A genuine interest will go a long way when it comes down to decision making.