7 Tactics You Can Use to Manage Freelancers

7 Tactics You Can Use to Manage Freelancers Freelancing is one of the biggest and most lucrative options for professionals in the world. Today, one can choose to freelance in any profession in any industry. Whether you are a digital marketer or an engineer, self-employment has become one of the best choices for experienced professionals. So much that as per a Forbes forecast report, one in two people in US and UK will be a freelancer by 2020. Freelancers are definitely taking over the world, and that means there are more people to manage. Managing people has been one of the top professions in the world since time immemorial, and with freelancers, it is not any different. Companies around the world hire freelancers to get work done. But, before that they hire freelance managers, whose job is to manage these freelancers who are spread across the globe in the virtual workplace. While it is up to the freelancers to get the tasks at hand done in the stipulated time, it is the job of the managers to ensure that the tasks actually get done. Sometimes the managers also don the cap of talent hunters and themselves hire the freelancers through online agencies such as Upwork and Fiverr. So, what are the tactics used by these managers to secure the virtual taskforce? How do they make certain that the tasks at hand are carried out in time, especially when freelancers are spread over different time zones and without meeting them in person? Put your doubts to rest and read these top 7 tactics used by managers. The following list was prepared by interviewing tens of freelance managers around the world. 1. Setting clear objectives While most managers prefer to make the objectives and scope clear in the initial stage (i.e. hiring) itself, it is important to go over them periodically until the project ends or moves to another level. For example, if you have hired a freelance writer, it is best to mention the expected word count, style of writing, target audience, platform, and keywords along with the purpose of the content and its deadline. According to an online report, about 98% freelancers work best when they have clear guidelines about a job. 2. Track larger teams with a freelance agency While managing bigger teams with freelancers who have different responsibilities, it becomes important for managers to keep a track of all the developments. WritersDepartment is a popular freelance writing agency that managers can use to track their freelancers’ performance. 3. Weekly meetings We all know that nothing substantial happens in real-life business meetings. But the opposite is true in the virtual workplace. Managers can align the works of freelancers and get an update through a fixed meeting at the start of the week, where assignments for that week can also be discussed. 4. An open chat room In today’s world of instant messaging, there’s nothing like having an open chat available 24 hours a day for freelancers to communicate with each other and with their manager. 5. Meet in person For freelancers who have been working for you long-term, it becomes imperative that you meet them at least once in person. National boundaries should not come in between this activity, as the pay-off is usually very high. Freelancers feel connected when managers take the effort for a team meet-up, and therefore, stay with them for years. 6. Transparency In virtual teams, the biggest thing that affects productivity is a lack of transparency between the freelancers. It is up to the manager to let one freelancer know what the others are doing, at least superficially, especially when his/her job is related to theirs. 7. Use different strategies with different freelancers/teams Not every person is made equal, and it is up to the manager to gauge these differences in his/her team members while assigning and measuring tasks. Conclusively, these are the top tactics that managers use to organize and oversee their virtual teams in the current freelance ecosystem. We hope you will implement these tactics to embrace professional success, as we inch closer to a world where every other professional will soon be a freelancer. About the author:  Bria Pierce is contributor for 123writings with a keen passion in traveling and personal development

Snoop on other peoples careers to gain self-knowledge

Snoop on other peoples careers to gain self-knowledge We are bad at predicting what will make us happy, so the best way to pick a career is to study people to see if you like what their life is like. If you do, then try their career. This is not very efficient, though. I mean, you cant study that many people. So New York Magazines Watching the Clock is a gift for all you career searchers. You can read a minute-by-minute account of each persons day. Of course, its an account of their best day. No one reports anything like 1:36 pm put head on desk and worried about failure. But still, you can learn a lot from reading about how someone really spends their day. Also, you can learn about yourself by watching how you read the pages you will read carefully what seems like the most fun to you. When I read, for example, I went first to the publicist, and relished every minute of his day. I even took pleasure the relentless pitching he did, within this piece, for his client, Bombay Sapphire. I skimmed the location scouts day, and the contractors day. I read five scattered words about the chefs day and they were all about food (who eats porchetta anyway?) and I couldnt bring myself to read anymore. So no cooking school for me. Ever. What if you like reading all of the profiles equally? Maybe you should be a librarian.

Employability Skills List and Definition - Algrim.co

Employability Skills List and Definition - Algrim.co Do you think you should be including employability skills on your resume? Or in your cover letter? Or want to make sure that you bring up these skills in your interview? It’s important to understand what employability skills are and what other skills are categorized as “employability” factors. We’re going to cover everything you need to know about employability skills and how to integrate it as part of your job application. In this guide we’re going to cover: What employability skills are Why employability skills are important What soft skills are considered “employability skills” Where you might want to bring up your employability skills Employability skills list Ready to jump into it? Let’s go! What Are Employability Skills? Employability skills are the top soft skills that all employers find valuable. This makes you employable. Though, employability skills don’t mean that simply listing “employability skills” as part of your skills section on your resume does the job. These skills are classified as employability skills. This is different than something like communication skills, as that is a distinctive skill of itself. Why Are Employability Skills Important? Employability skills are important because they show that you have a basic understanding of how to conduct business and how to have business etiquette. Most employees who have been part of the workforce for more than a few years will develop these skills. If you’re curious what these soft skills are that are categorized under this “employability” group, continue reading. By listing these skills as part of your cover letter, resume, or bringing them up in your interview, it shows your employer that you aren’t simply an entry-level candidate. Where Are These Skills Going to Brought Up? There are three areas where these skills might need to be brought up. You have the choice of listing them in all three of the methods below or choosing one of the methods. Your cover letter: To bring up these skills in your cover letter, you should include short stories that speak to unique qualities or achievements that you were able to obtain from prior employment. Position your previous work experience story to align with the soft skill you want to highlight. Your resume: To list skills on your resume, all you need to do is put together a “skills” section as part of your resume. Though, be sure that you don’t distract from your previous work experience, achievements, awards, or education. And it’s important to note that simply listing skills on your resume won’t convince your employer. Though, it may make your future interviewer ask you about the skills, in which it gives you a platform to explain prior work experiences. Your interview: Most interviews will consist of STAR interview questions, these are situational or behavioral examples where you bring up prior work experiences. Similar to how you listed these soft skills on your cover letter, simply state them in the interview. All sorts of previous job experiences show soft skills. For example, adaptability skills. If the management team reorganized your team and you withstood the changes, that shows adaptability. And telling that story can be beneficial to you showing off that skill. Best Employability Skills to Use Before we jump into the employability skills list, it’s important to note which skills are the most effective and impactful to use. And there are a few of them. Here is a list of the best employability skills that you should reference: Adaptability Skills Research Skills Quantitative Skills Time-management Skills Verbal Communication Skills Collaboration Skills These skills are generally considered the strongest. And they make you highly employable. But remember, you’ll need to show your future employer that you have them. In order to do that effectively, you’ll need to reference in-office experiences that show you have them. Simply listing them on the resume isn’t going to be effective enough. Employability Skills List If you’re looking for some ideas for what to speak to, whether it’s in your cover letter, resume, or interview. Then here is a list of the most employable skills you can have: Strategic Planning Skills Executive Support Skills Coordination Skills Directional Skills Negotiation Skills Nonverbal Communication Skills Detail-oriented Skills Safety Skills Procedure Following Skills Adaptability Skills Research Skills Quantitative Skills Flexibility Skills Written Communication Skills Presentation Skills Instruction Following Skills Persuasion Skills These are some of the most valuable employability skills. For the most part, all of these soft skills share something in common. And that is the ability to be a great performer and to take initiative as well as instruction. That’s what makes a great employee. Someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done as well as ensures that the business needs come first in terms of your focus. These skills lean into that idea. And employers love seeing these skills as part of your application assets. How Do You Develop These Skills If you are reading the skills above and feeling slightly lost, maybe you feel as though you don’t have any of them. Then it might be time to rethink how you approach your work. The best way to develop these skills is to find someone within the workplace who you feel exhibits one of them and try to have them mentor you. All you have to do is walk up to that person, compliment them on their skills, and ask them for help. The more you see that professional or person exhibit the skills that you want to develop, the more you’ll be able to develop them yourself. You’ll be able to ask them why they made certain choices or why they made certain communication tactics. And from there, you’ll be able to obtain through osmosis, the skill yourself. The other way to develop these skills is to try and work with a friend or family member through a few example work scenarios. Try to have them improv the situation and then act through what you might do in the work scenario. From there, have the friend or family member provide you feedback. Did you get the feedback you wanted to receive? If you did, you’re on your way to developing the skill you want. Being Prepared to Speak to Your Skills It’s really imperative that you understand your interviewer is going to question you regarding your skills. The best thing you can do is to spend time meditating on all previous employment experiences. If you can, recall experiences that were significant. Like your environment changing. Or accomplishing a big project. Or even seeing other employees having a conflict. Write down all of the points that you can remember from the last year of your prior employment. Try to write them down in simple bullet points. From there, you can try to go through sample interview questions and answers which utilize these bullet points. For example, the interview question, “What makes you unique?” is going to be a great opportunity to bring up some of these bullet points. Be sure you develop a healthy list. If you only have one or two prior work experiences to be able to use to show your employability skills, you might not have enough prior experiences to answer the interviewer's question in a targeted way. Ideally, you develop a catalog that you can memorize and reference during the interview.

Its Book Launch Day! Get Free Stuff!

Its Book Launch Day! Get Free Stuff! Hi, its Anna, with a special note to my valued blog readers I wanted to let you know personally that  today is the day! My new book,  The Professional Womans Guide to Managing Men,  is LIVE on Amazon.  Go here now to review the over 25 Amazon reviews and purchase  the book. And I cant wait to give you over $250 extra bonus resources that go along with the book when you buy it during launch week.  Some of the bonus materials that you will love are the book club kit so that you can go through the book with your co-workers and friends, a productivity and time management guide for female leaders, 3 recorded interviews with leadership experts, a live Classy Career Girl Book Club Virtual Party with me AND the 6th chapter of my book that includes everything that didn’t fit in the final, published version.  Go here now to get more details on the free bonuses available only during book launch week. And thats just to get started. Tonight, I am hosting a free webinar to kick off my book launch with Amanda Abella on a VERY HOT TOPIC  How to Manage Men and Money. This webinar will show you mindsets and strategies you need for success managing your money and the men you work with.  This is something that every woman must know to get ahead.  Go here now to sign up for the free webinar.  Make sure you sign up even if you cant make it live because I will send out the recording afterwards. Order before February 18th and receive these FREE bonuses (worth over $250)! 1)  A  live Classy Career Girl Book Club Virtual Party with Author,  Anna Runyan 2) Three recorded interviews and the Cliff Notes with Anna Runyan and career and leadership experts including 3) Time Management and Productivity Guide for Female Leaders 4) Book Club Kit and Workbook: To use by yourself or with other female leaders, friends or co-workers within your company. 5) Female Leader Influence Ebook: The Next Chapter of the Professional Woman’s Guide to Managing Men with everything that didnt fit in the final, published version. ** After you purchase, fill out this short form (click here) and we will send you the resources ASAP. P.S. I have had a lot of questions from you all about how you can help spread the word about the book launch which I really appreciate! For more details, you can check out my online book media kit  here. Thanks again for all of your support over the past year while I spent many months writing this book.  I am so glad it is finally here and can finally be in your hands! Looking forward to hearing how my book improves your confidence as a female leader like it has for so many other professional women already! Go here now to purchase  the book and get over $250 of extra bonuses during launch week!

Is Placement Review Compiling Placement Levels?

Is Placement Review Compiling Placement Levels?Coaching with a Placement Review can help you understand how proficiency levels are calculated. However, it is important to note that proficiency levels are a tool for job assessment. Coaches must be careful to avoid stereotypes that may cause a person to be placed in a certain category of employees.A quantifiable method for job assessment is a useful assessment tool. The purpose of assessing individuals with these types of tools is to help managers assess who will be successful in their particular department. You can use it to measure proficiency levels and determine which applicants have the potential to achieve the level of proficiency you desire. However, these tools can only be used for the purpose intended by the HR director.The types of programs offered by many schools, colleges, and universities include aptitude assessment systems, aptitude tests, and other software designed to be used at a job interview. For example, the type of test you could take could include the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), the Armed Forces Qualification Test (ASVAB), or the Armed Forces Qualification Test (ASVAB) machine test. You could also take this type of test on your own, through a course. The best way to get started on the appropriate test is to get assistance from an advisor. While you are preparing to take the test, you should also familiarize yourself with the test's rules and format.You could use proficiency levels as a means to help you in your resume but do not misrepresent these numbers. Make sure that you do not write it down but instead write the number that you found by using the AFQT or ASVAB machines or the letter 'L' for the lowest level of qualification. If you plan to use the equipment in an interview, you will need to use a different number.Instead of writing out the level of proficiency, you should write out the level of ability for each category. Try to be as accurate as possible when giving this inf ormation. Once you know what the numbers are, you will have a better idea of what skills you need to focus on when preparing a resume.Many employers are now looking for more than just a high school diploma, because they have seen that training has become an integral part of their business model. Some employers now ask for an on-the-job training program. This allows for those who have gained certification to enhance their abilities through a solid training program.While some states will still ask for a high school diploma to be used as a base to determine which candidates they are interested in, other states will now require a training certificate or experience in the required grade level to determine their position. Even though there are no requirements anymore, training in the required grades can still be helpful. To use proficiency as a part of your resume, you should also explain in the Resume. If you can, try to give references to those employers who will be relying on your trai ning experience to help them determine the right candidate for the job.In conclusion, although using proficiency levels in your resume will help you get a higher position, it does not have to be a part of your profile that will go unnoticed. Being able to share the information with your references, especially if they are in the career field you are trying to enter, can give you a great advantage over other applicants.

Whats your world view - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Whats your world view - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Everybody has a world view. Its the glasses through which you look at the world. Your world view will help you see some things clearly, but may also distort other things. One thing that is important though, is to know the assumptions inherent in your world view. When you think what you think, what assumptions is this based on? I do not claim to have the Answers (notice the capital A), but heres some of the questions. These questions are totally basic, and can be found at the foundation of most world views. Most of these questions can probably not be answered conclusively, but which ever answer you choose to believe, will hold some implications for your world view. Obviously I did not come up with these questions. Many of them have been hotly debated for thousands of years; this is just a list of the ones I could think of. Let me know what you think, did I leave some questions out, and where do you stand on the answers? Question: Do we have free will? Are we free to decide our actions, or are our actions pre-determined. If you believe in strict scientific determinism, it may follow that no human is free to choose, since any situation arises as a result of scientific processes whose outcome is determined in advance. Note that free will is not synonymous with the ultimate freedom to choose, regardless of external influences. Obviously we are influenced by our family, peers, society, upbringing, religion and much more. The question is: Within those confines, are we free to choose our actions, or are they determined externally, be it by the laws of nature or the laws of god? Question: Is the universe connected? Are things to be fundamentally interconnected or fundamentally isolated? Here things can be anything from inanimate objects to humans beings. Eastern religion believes things to be very much interconnected, whereas recent western thought sees things as more isolated. All the boundaries we see in the world that separate things from each other, can be seen as a result of the first barrier, the one between you and the rest of the world. Therefore, the question can actually be reduced to this: Is there a separation between you and the rest of the universe? Question: Can one world view be better than another? When comparing world views, is it possible to make value judgements? Can one world view be said to be better than another? Post modern thinking would say no. All world views are subjective, no world view can be judged from the perspective of any other world view. Is there a world out there? This is one of the most fundamental philosophical questions: How can we know that there is a world out there? Our senses tell us that there is, but what if our senses deceive us? Question: Does the universe tend towards complexity? Our current cosmological understanding says that the universe originated in a big bang, that created a mostly uniform universe. Since then weve seen galaxies, solar systems, planets and even life appear. All of these represent an increase in complexity compared to the conditions in the young universe. The question is: Are the laws of nature in our universe so constructed, that they favour the progression towards increased complexity? It would be beautiful if it were so. It would mean that the universe favours complexity, life and maybe even beauty. Question: Is there an external purpose? Many religions posit the existence of a creator who has a plan for the universe. This means that everything in the universe has a purpose, and that this purpose is somehow external to the universe. Is that the case? Or is it true that there is no purpose to the universe and to our lives other than what we choose? Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

5 Careers That Require A Specific Qualification - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

5 Careers That Require A Specific Qualification These days we are often told that success does not necessarily depend on our qualifications and as good advice as this is there are always some professions where certain qualifications are mandatory and for good reason. So for this reason it is important to decide early in life if one of these are your preferred career choices and if so how do you get into these lines of work. We have selected 5 of these to look at as quick case studies. Medicine To become a doctor is a long process and requires dedication going right back to your high school days, top grades are required to meet the entry requirements for these courses. You will need to first complete an undergraduate bachelors degree which will last four years and then you will need to be accepted to an accredited medical school for a further four years. Following your education you will require to be licensed to practice medicine in the state you are intending to practice in. Accountancy To become an accountant you will need to complete an undergraduate accounting degree as a basic, this will give you the necessary skills to be able to work as an accountant. If you are looking to work in some higher levels of law such as public or government work you may be required to complete an extra degree qualification. Law Law is an area where specific rules and qualifications are absolutely essential. Even at the stage of applying to the first part of your studies, the undergraduate degree in law, you need to sit an entrance exam known as the LNAT. Once you have been accepted in the course you will complete this three year university degree you will then need to complete a legal practice course for one year and finally get a position as a trainee lawyer at a legal practice. Mental Health Professionals There is so much more awareness of mental health these days and so much help and resources available online than there was in the past. There are various jobs available in the field of mental health and although there are ways to work in this area without specific qualifications to be a proper professional it is essential. To become a Psychologist or Psychiatrist you will need to complete a Psychology degree and postgraduate diploma as well. It is possible for people to offer counselling and other supportive services privately without qualifications but it would be an offence to claim to be a psychologist if no formal qualifications are held. Architecture Civil Engineering To work as an Architect or Civil Engineer both require to have degrees in the subject and then following that a postgraduate degree for an Architect. To progress in these fields there are also continuing professional exams to gain extra seniority and gain higher positions and promotions and this will allow an individual to have the opportunity to reach higher heights in their chosen career.