Employee Appraisal – Yes OR No?

This term expresses the evaluation of employees by the manager. This process is concerned with the analysis of employees’ successes and failures. Those employees with good results can be promoted, get further training or get higher salary. Insufficient results may lead to termination of employment.

Depending on the type of organization, the performance appraisal takes place in a different time periods. In some firms it is once a year, sometimes it’s even twice a year. For the employees it is a bit stressful occassion as they need to be able to review the past years in their mind – the projects they did well and also those in which the expectations of the manager were not fulfilled.

This article deals with the pros and cons of employee appraisal.

- It is a time-consuming activity for busy managers as well as for the employees.

+ Proper appraisal that fairly evaluates the performance significantly helps the organization grow and move forward. At the meeting the issues are discussed and both strengths and weaknesses are mentioned.

+ The appraisal is especially important in case of newly hired employees as there is so much to learn about the organization. The meeting can help to clarify any confusing points in the project the employee works on. It is also beneficial for the other side as the manager can see whether the employee is able to keep track or whether the work pace is too fast.

- Employees in some organizations don’t look forward to performance reviews, feeling they are going to be poorly rated. They take the appraisal only as a mean of criticism and they don’t want to communicate and cooperate with the employer. This negative approach causes a demotivation at work.

+ The managers need to act professionaly and be able to criticize as well as compliment. Even though the employee is criticized the manager should be able to explain the employee why the mistake happened. Also the solution should be discussed and the meeting should end in a positive way.

To sum up, the process is beneficial to the employee and, even more importantly, the business. Even though it is a time-consuming task, it is worthwhile as an individual approach is very important for increasing the motivation. Motivated employees are a key to success. The management should therefore strive for happiness of the employees. The appraisal is a two-way discussion, therefore the employees should not hesitate to make any suggestions or recommendations that could help the business.

5 Best Companies To Work For

Are you bored with your current job? Maybe you have been dreaming about a promotion and your current job does not enable you to grow.
Or, like many in this economy, you may be unemployed or facing unemployment. Regardless of your reasons, the right career is out there for everyone. Discover how to find the best career for you. Your next job search can start immediately.

Before applying for a job, it is important to take some time to browse through information about companies you would like to work for. Remember that your search may be time-consuming but it’s always worthwile. This article will provide you with information about five best employers in the USA. Which one is the best for you? Would you appreciate all the advantages of these companies or are there other factors that are more valuable for you?

SAS

SAS US was named No. 1 on the 2010 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For list. It is highly profitable company that ranks as the world’s largest privately owned software company. Why is SAS so great? The reason is the company’s CEO Jim Goodman, its co-founder, and the only CEO that SAS has had in its 34 year history. He significantly contributed to company’s culture with implementation of special benefits like 90% coverage of the health insurance premium, unlimited sick days and a free 66,000 square-foot fitness.

Edward Jones

Edward Jones is a leader in the financial-services industry, especially in providing excellent investment consulting services. Its strength lies in a personal approach to business, an approach that starts with a face-to-face meeting between a financial advisor and the client. This company survived the recession with satisfactory results and managed not to close any of its 12,615 offices or laying off a single employee.

Wegmans

Wegmans food market is a major supermarket chain, and at the same time one of the largest private companies in the US. Its success can also be proved by the fact that Wegmans is a former leader of the FORTUNE chart (year 2005). What is the weapon that assures Wegmans such a profitable and stable position? For sure, it is the high quality of its products and a spectecular selection of goods. Moreover, Wegmans has never had a layoff in its 94 year history. More than 4,000 employees, 11% of the workforce, have been working for this company more than 15 years.

Google

Google is No. 1 search engine in most of the countries in the world. Creative environment, potential for progression and other benefits are a magnet for all job seekers. Although it has eliminated some benefits in recent years, the company still treats employees to an on-site gym and day care center, among other bonuses. Engineers at the search giant still can spend 20 percent of their time on projects of their own choice. Although job growth stats were unavailable, Fortune said Google plans to hire thousands of new employees this year.

Nugget Market

What is a strength of Nugget Market, family-owned supermarket chain? According to the company history, they were way ahead of their time for their progressive view of employee relations. Wisely seeing the benefit in having happy, prosperous employees, Nugget was well-known for paying top dollar and offering benefit packages. At one employee-appreciation event, the executive team surprised everyone by washing the cars of all associates.

New Year’s Resolutions for Job Seekers

It’s been almost a week since the New Year’s Eve ball dropped, and people everywhere may have already dropped the ball on fulfilling their important work-related resolutions. The majority of people who commit themselves to a New Year’s resolution end up dropping it after the second week. Do not commit yourself to wishes that you cannot fulfill. In case of job-related resolutions it is better to set only short-term goals that are realistic and achievable.

Here are 6 resolutions to get your job search started. 2011 could be the year to reach your full potential and take charge of your career.

1. Explore career opportunities

In case you are employed, ask yourself few basic questions that should help you decide whether it is wise to stick with the job you have or leave. “Am I doing something that I am passionate about?”; “Do I get on well with people in my team?”; “Is there a chance of a promotion?” If the answer is no, it is time for a change. If you are unemployed then try to make a plan about what your future job could be like and what steps need to be taken to achieve it. A clear vision of your dream job helps to deepen the desire to pursue this job. Desire is linked to motivation and drive that both keep you strong and courageous when facing the obstacles during the job search.

2. Get online

Internet has become inseparable part of human life. When searching for a job, newspapers and magazines are nowadays not enough. Most of the job adverts are placed on the internet, either on the company’s website or on job search websites. “Do you have Linked in?” “Are you on Facebook?” For job seekers it is crucial to be able to react to job adverts and also be easily reached. You never know when your potential employer is going to contact you.

3. Improve your skills and abilities

Even though you maybe have spent years at school already, there could be a necessity of coming back to school to finish your degree, enrolling in Master’s degree program or taking a few distance learning classes. The fact is that education leads to higher salaries, therefore it is for sure worth considering.

4. Write CV and motivation letter properly

Do not underestimate the importance of well written CVs and motivation letters. It is the first presentation of yours before the interview. Read through as many articles and books about this topic as possible. When writing a letter, consider giving specific examples from personal experiences. Afterwards let your friends and family members read the final version. Ask them to review it with razor precision. Your goal is a perfect letter and CV that truly stand out from the crowd.

5. Don’t lose positive energy

If you are not successful, don’t give up. Noone said job search would be easy. It requires extreme patience and persistence. Every time you are rejected it makes you stronger, without even realizing it. After a while you will become much more self-confident and you will be able to persuade the interviewer about your qualities.

6. Beat stress

It is a challenging task due to the number of people who struggle with their presentation skills. Nine out of ten Americans say they are afraid of public speaking and when it comes to speaking up at a job interview, there is nothing more intimidating than that. Sign up for courses that can help you improve your presentation skills. Moreover, many books have been written about this topic. Excellent communication and presentation abilities are one of the most common requirements asked by employers. Conquer your fear and make a great impression during the job interview!

Top 5 Most Popular Careers in the USA

There are so many career options available in the market and you wonder which one is the most suitable for you? Whether it be your very first career choice or possibly your second or third career change, it can be a difficult decision to choose the right one for you.

How to decide what career path is the best for you? Firstly put down your likes and dislikes. That will help you narrow down the list of all possibilities and find out what you enjoy the most. Secondly, search for diverse career options on the internet. There are many job sites where you can browse through adverts and find the requirements of the jobs you like. Another important factor is the salary. How much do you expect to earn?
Here is the list of the most popular jobs for 2010. Get inspired by following tips, maybe one of them could be your next job.

1. Software Engineer

Thanks to the rapidly growing influence of technology in all industrial sectors, this career has become the most dominating career in the USA. As a software engineer you must be able to listen to what the client wants, ask questions to clarify the issues, and then logically plan and write a computer program that will meet the client’s needs. Mathematical skills and creativity in solving problems are for this job a necessity. Mostly software engineers can earn $80,500 and above.

2. College Professors

A college professor career is one of the most popular and competitive professions. It is highly esteemed job with many advantages. Take for example bargain basement tuition rates for family members or loads of time off. Moreover, take into account the fact that the learning process continues and you are still learning new things. In this career you come across creativity, thinking about new ideas, encouragement given by the people. Gross salary is $81,500.

3. Financial Advisers

Nowadays, this career is one of the most profitable and beneficial careers in the USA. The basic requirement for this career is a general interest in finances. Later on, when you are sure about making a career in this field you are highly recommended to sign up for additional courses in finance, investments, statistics, business or law. As a financial adviser you are not required to have a college degree, however when you have one it will give you a distinct advantage in building credibility with your clients. Advisers who manage client portfolios earn $200,000-plus.

4. Human-Resources Manager

This career includes various responsibilities related to all the functions that deal with the needs and activities of the organization’s people, e.g. hiring new employees, appraisals, training. When you decide for a career of human-resources manager you should have a college degree. Many human-resources professionals argue that a degree is unnecessary. However a human-resources professional, who wants to participate in the strategic leadership of a business, needs a degree. Without a degree you would most probably end up as a human-resources assistant. Average salary is about $73,500 but Senior HR directors make around $285,000.

5. Physician Assistant

Physician assistants do 80 percent of what doctors do: conduct exams, diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, even assist in surgery. So don’t confuse physician assistants with medical assistants, who aren’t qualified. To become a physician assistant you must complete an accredited education program and pass a national exam in order to obtain a license. Average pay is $75,000 but specialists in cardiothoracic surgery earn over $100,000.

5 Tips for Outstanding Presentations

No matter what your job is, you need to be a great presenter. If you are looking for the job it is essential to make a good impression during a job interview. You need to be perceived as being self-confident, to perform that way and also to be prepared to answer all the possible questions. When showing some uncertainty, the chances of getting the job are decreasing.

Presentation skills are part of your everyday life. Do not get stressed every time when you hear the word “presentations“. It is nothing to be afraid of when you know what to expect and when you are well prepared. Following 5 tips will help you gain outstanding presentation skills, overcome public speaking anxiety, and become more confident making presentations that achieve results.

• 1. Prepare yourself well – in advance prepare all the materials you will need and put down the most important points you are going to talk about. Having these main points will not let you switch to other topic. It will be there in case you get lost.
• 2. Sufficient knowledge – read enough background materials about the topic you are going to talk about. When you are interested in the topic your presentation style becomes more catchy and interesting. You will not be surprised when unexpected questions occur after the presentation.
• 3. Practice, practice, practice – after gathering all the materials and preparing the actual presentation you are ready to start with practising the speech. Imagine the audience in front of you and try to speak loudly. Do not hesitate to use camera to make a video of yourself. Thanks to this video you will be able to detect the visible mistakes you are doing and you can get rid of them before you stand in front of a real audience.
• 4. Body language – when practising your speech do not forget to care about your body posture. Keep your head up and use your hands. Do not forget to keep an eye-contact with your audience. That will assure that the audience will pay attention to your presentation.
• 5. Appearance – do not underestimate this point, as your clothes and general appearance have a huge impact on the audience. During the first minutes of your presentation the audience focus only on your visual appearance.