Keeping productive whilst 'on the road'!

Making yourself truly mobile has never been more feasible than it is today. A good number of location-independent individuals are now freelancing their way into their own fields of expertise. From consultants to writers, traveling while working is considered a blessing by the majority. The challenges of working on the road often include unstable Internet, lack of office equipment, too many distractions, and serving clients with different time zones as yours. Below are handy tips proven to make you stay at the top of your freelancing form and improve our level of productivity while you find yourself at bus terminals, train stations or at the airport.

Make sure you have fuel in the tank - Charge up!

Delayed flights or getting stranded in some exotic land is not uncommon for the wandering freelancer. Anticipate these not-so-desirable occurrences by making sure your mobile communication devices (e.g. iPad or tablet, phone, laptop) are all charged up. Furthermore, do yourself a favor by tagging extra batteries for those gadgets that your freelancing life cannot live without. A solar-powered charger may just save you from losing your high-paying clients. You do not want to be stuck in an airport for five hours with a client deadline to boot.

Only the essentials, travel light & smart!

This tip may be quite hackneyed but it still holds true for those who would want to enjoy the road rather than make a big fuss over their luggage. The same applies to location-independent employees.

Avoid last minute packing by compartmentalizing your luggage such as having a kit for toiletries and another for gadget accessories such as extra card readers and a spare cord for your laptop. By packing light and smart, you save yourself the hassle of tracking down bags and luggage that house unnecessary pieces of clothing or accessories. It is also best to make use of clothes that are fast-drying as well as items that are multi-purpose.

Print it Out!

If possible, carry a print out of hotel reservations, flight tickets and driving directions. You can never tell when your GPS will fail you nor you’ll find yourself stuck in a rural area with poor mobile phone reception. You do not want to lose a client just because you wandered around a city for hours without knowing where exactly you’re heading.

Getting hired. Is Social Media a help or a hindrance?

Have you just started searching for that dream job? Have you been looking for some time now, and struggling to find exactly what you’re after? Regardless of your job searching status, it’s important to understand the role that social media now plays in the job search!

In years gone by, there were three key elements to finding a job:
1) The Resume
2) The Interview
3) The References

These three principles still remain, however social media has suddenly jumped into the equation now, and is seen by many as an insight into the ‘real’ story!

It’s almost scary how effective search engines are these days at digging up almost ANYTHING that an individual has ever posted online. Regardless of what it is, from your social media accounts to websites and newsletters you have subscribed to, a quick Google search can unveil the lot!
Gone are the days when a resume was the only thing an interviewer could read about you, they now have a complement of other readily available information. So it’s vital that you monitor what comes up when your name is typed into all of the usual search engines. Google, Yahoo, Bing, Wikipedia all store information that you may, or may not want your next employer to know!

This is not to say that being active on social media is a hindrance to your chances, far from it! In fact, some employers can be put off if they find that you do not participate in any of the usual outlets. These outlets are modern and innovative ways of communicating and are used by many a CEO, politician and media representatives, so why should you refrain from using them!

So, when it comes to your social media accounts, what do you need to do?
First and foremost double check your privacy settings and the content on your profile/profile picture. Keep the information as professional as possible, and avoid the drunken profile pictures!

Ideally you want outsiders to be able to see a picture or two of you, and some basic information, if any! Sometimes leaving things to the imagination can paint a better picture than giving the game away!!

So the name of the game is, keep it clean, or hide it!

For some free job seeking advice and information, contact Ross via email ross@rensol.org or visit www.rensol.org for your nearest branch!

Email etiquette: the 10 golden rules of email!

When was the last time you sent a traditional business letter? A week ago, last month, last year? Have you ever even sent one?
Since the introduction of the ‘world wide web’ the traditional letter has coped a hiding and for the bulk of professionals it’s very seldom that one is sent!
In fact for a number of up and coming business professionals, its entirely possible that they have never sent a letter!

Below are the ten golden rules to follow the next time you send an email:

1. First and foremost, treat your emails in the same manner you would a letter. Professionally! Begin with a greeting, and end with your ‘sign off’!
2. Before clicking “Send/Receive”, read over your email to check if it makes sense! An email that makes no sense shows that you don’t take any pride in your work, and the work of the organisation you are involved in.
3. When forwarding on an email from a colleague that has spelling and punctuation errors, do the right thing and correct them!
4. Try not to send important emails when you’re angry or upset! As simple as it sounds, you may pass on the wrong message if your mind is elsewhere.
5. When contemplating what to write in the email, always keep in mind a scenario whereby the email goes public! If you wouldn’t want the public to see it, then don’t write it!
6. Respond to emails as quickly as possible. What may not seem urgent to you may be for the other party! Their day could be structured around that response, so make a note to respond, or respond when you receive an email.
7. Keep it simple! Don’t waffle on and beat around the bush in your emails! Get straight to the point, and if it simplifies the email, don’t be afraid to use bullet points.
8. If you can’t keep it short, try to start the email with a brief request and summary of the email. This will ensure people address the actual purpose of the email!
9. Write an appropriate subject line. You want the recipient to know what the email is about when they see the subject line! So keep it relevant.
10. Formatting. You want your email to look good! Keep it formatted in a manner that is not only easy to read, but attractive to the eye!

With such a strong reliance on emails, it’s imperative that we have our email etiquette ironed out and that the proper protocol is a habit rather than a chore! Following the ten golden rules will go a long way to keeping your emails in line!
Visit our website www.rensol.org or email ross@rensol.org for more information.

Its all in the ATTITUDE!!

Does character mean more than credentials??

This is a question that all managers should consider before hiring their next employee. In fact, this is something that all managers should consider well before they hire someone, as early as before they begin advertising or engaging an agency to do so.

Every role is unique, and for that reason, the person who will fill that role will be unique in one way or another.  But what requirement is it that stands out? Does the role require a super specific skill set and level of experience, or is it a role that requires a certain personality, or attribute?

More often than not I am finding that it is a mixture of the two, however the importance has shifted towards the person and their character rather than what they have written on their resume.
In short, I’m finding that the best long term results are realised when hiring for attitude, and training for skill.

It is easy for an inexperienced or even just a busy interviewer to spend an entire interview harping on details and clarifying statements to make certain that the details on ones resume match exactly with what they recall in the interview. Matching the length of ones employment as listed on their resume to what they say in the interview. Carefully examining how accurately they can recall their subjects studied for their degree...
Of course, these details are important, and need to be uncovered, however i believe that more time should be spent delving into the PERSON, and what drives them. Does the person you are speaking to want to be in the field that your role exists and would your role provide them with what they need to be satisfied in their next place of employment?

Any manager who thoroughly understands the role that they have vacant will also understand the type of person who they believe will best fill it, so for that reason they should modify their approach.
Recruiters often need to take a step back from the formalities and ask a few more generic and personal type questions. They need to find out what drives the person and what they enjoy, and conversely what they despise!

A chat, rather than a grilling will not only be more comfortable for the applicant, but it may also be a much more effective tool. Give it a go! 

www.rensol.org  

Do you work harder than your boss?

As hard as this may be to believe for some of us, our bosses actually work harder than we do in nine out of ten cases!
Yes, its true according to data recently gathered as part of a Galaxy poll of 800 working Australians. The poll revealed that 90% of higher income bracket employees work harder, and will often perform overtime hours with no extra reimbursement compared to the lower income brackets.
80% of workers that were earning less than $50,000 per annum said that they had worked overtime hours, however of the 80% surveyed only one third of them went unpaid for these extra hours.

Nearly all of the respondents surveyed who earn in excess of $70,000 per annum reported that they regularly go 'above and beyond' what is stated in their job description, and what is typically expected of them for no extra monetary compensation for their extra time and effort. With the national Australian wage sitting at $67,891, the figures suggest that to be ahead of the rest, one must be prepared to go that extra mile!
This notion was reinforced with 50% of respondents also reporting that work prevented them from spending enough time with their friends and family during the week, and also prevented them from completing the level of exercise that they would hope to complete over the course of a week.


A far cry from the stereotypical boss who sits at his desk with his feet up all day, and a reminder to us all that nothing pays better than good old fashioned hard work!

How to negotiate a higher salary. 5 key tips for more money!

When your average punter is asked "what's your salary?” you can bet your bottom dollar that the majority of responses will include the words "not enough"! So why is it that when faced with the opportunity to negotiate a new salary, most people don't do themselves justice and quite often cut themselves short?

The simple answer is because many are scared of the negotiating, and end up avoiding it entirely! Whilst i strongly recommend that the 'salary conversation' is not the centre point of your discussions with your next employer, i must emphasise that it something that does need to take place! The equation is simple; you want to land yourself the most money possible, the employer wants to find the best possible employee, for the smallest amount possible!

Below are the five golden rules to remember when having your discussion:

1. Set the tone: Once the discussion has begun, and the hiring manager starts to talk figures, ensure that you are confident. Avoid fidgeting and avoid losing eye contact because they are a sure fire way to lose your credibility! However;
2. Don’t be over confident. Being cocky and talking down to someone is also guaranteed to lessen your chance of securing more money. No one wants to hire someone who obviously has the wrong attitude, so be sure to get the mix of confidence and friendliness right.
3. Give reasons why you should be paid more than the offer, don’t give excuses: Be sure to talk about the skills that you will bring to the business, and the extra degree or qualifications that you have, the managerial skills you possess, or whatever it is that separates you from the pack and makes you an asset to this business. Whatever you do, don’t tell the hiring manager that because you have been out of work, you need more money. Or that because you are caring for sick family members, you're going to require more money. Realistically, these are your concerns, and not theirs! They simply DO NOT care! 
4. Give a range you'd actually be happy with, or higher: When giving the manager a salary range, make certain that you are happy with even the lowest figure in that range. Because 9 out of 10 times, that figure is exactly what you will get! Suggesting a range of $50,000 - $65,000 and then being miserable once offered $50,000 is plain silly! Its human nature, they will want to bargain you down. So always give an inflated figure so that when it gets knocked down, it’s something your happy with.
5. Don’t settle: If you have just been offered a position with a salary that is not what you were hoping for, it may be wise to walk away from the deal. If you have exhausted all options with management and still, they are completely reluctant to increase the figure, you can be sure that in these tough economic conditions the salary will be staying at that rate for quite some time! If the role is your 'dream job' then you may be willing to take the hit, but if the role and the salary are going to leave you miserable, steer clear!

For more interview advice, book yourself in for a free interview training session. Visit www.rensol.org or email ross@rensol.org

Think outside the square! Interview strategies to seperate you from the rest!

So you're looking for a job! You've managed to create yourself a fantastic resume that will separate you from the crowd. You have just submitted it to a few companies you have always wanted to work with, as well as online through your favourite employment website. The phone calls start coming through, and you've just landed yourself two interviews for Monday morning!

So what do you do now?

You do what 95% of others in your situation would do and type in "interview questions" and "how to answer interview questions" into Google don't you! This is all good and well, but the result is that in the eyes of the interviewer, everyone begins to sound the same, like robots!

So how do you give yourself that advantage?

The majority of websites will tell you to prepare with some answers that cover your strengths, your weaknesses, how you would cope under pressure, what you would do in an awkward or confronting situation etc etc etc. These are all great things to have gone over, however don’t take them as the 'be all and end all' of your interview.  There is much more to an interview than a few ‘one liners’!

Below are a few ideas that are slightly "left of centre" and will put a different spin on your interview!

A simple and quick advantage can be gained by visiting a few websites. Ideally you will know the name of the company, so jump on their website and do your research! Next, do a Google search of the industry and see if you can find who their nearest competitors are.

Knowing who their competitors are, and what they are doing will give you a better understanding of how the company can benefit from having you as their next employee! For example, the companies’ competitor may be venturing into an industry that you have had experience in, and you could potentially help the company move into that industry as well. Don’t be afraid to throw the idea around if the opportunity arises!

First impressions last! We all know this, but how can we prepare ourselves to make that vital first impression a genuinely good one? Should we have a joke prepared? Do we want to shake hands in a particular way? Is it all about our body language and how we present ourselves?

Trying to predict the first 10 seconds of your interview is a sure fire way to get yourself so worked up that your nerves get the better of you and destroy your chances!

The key is to relax, focus, and be yourself!

Keep your thoughts focused on what people are saying and listen! Don’t let your mind wonder and think “should I be doing this…” or “should I have said that…”.

Stay calm, be yourself, and take questions as they come!

Once you’re in your interview and have settled into the nitty gritty of things, do your best to take the attention away from you and your WANTS and DESIRES, and towards the needs of the company and how you will be able to meet and exceed them. Details about your salary, your exact hours, the perks that you will receive and the span of control you will have are important, but can be addressed before you sign on the dotted line!

Too many people get hyped up in thinking that they must lay their ‘demands’ on the table in their first interview, or they will go unnoticed! Truth is, if you genuinely bring to the company what you say you do, they will want to secure you as their next star, and will offer you what they are able to!

Before you head off for your big interview, drop me an email at ross@rensol.org or pop in and see me for a quick chat, and together we’ll see how we can improve your chances even further!