Employee benefits packages used to be standard and simple. Something like a coffee bar in the break room or a fridge filled with snacks were supposed to keep an employee happy at work. Unfortunately, that’s the problem.

 

While there isn’t anything wrong with these office parks, they often serve an alternate purpose: Keeping employees in the office longer so they can get more work done. Schedule inflexibility is a big problem. It can create unmotivated, unhappy employees who might start looking elsewhere for a job that better understands their needs.

 

So, what can you do to attract new talent while keeping the star employees you already have on board?

What Are the Benefits of Happy Employees?

First, it’s important to understand why keeping your employees happy and satisfied is necessary for the success of your business. The more your employees feel valued, the more likely they are to be engaged in the work they’re doing. Encouraging them to sit in the office all day can leave them feeling uninspired, unmotivated, and ultimately “stuck” in a routine they’re unhappy with.

 

When you present a benefits package that gives your employees the things they really value, they’ll be more engaged, more likely to be productive, and more likely to want the same things you want: growth and success for your business.

 

Happy employees not only tend to put in more effort with their work, but they also motivate others to do the same. As a result, you have greater employee retention.

The Risks of Work-Related Stress

Just as there are many positives to having a great benefits plan, there are also many risks when it comes to a stressful work environment. Essentially, if your employees don’t feel valued as a whole, the stress from the office environment can lead to health problems. These problems can include everything from minor headaches and muscle tension to more serious mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

 

The causes of stress at work include things like a lack of job security, a heavy workload, etc. But, one major stress factor is having to balance work life with a personal life. This is often a result of companies who don’t fully understand or aren’t fully appreciating that their employees have a life outside the office.

 

Employers spend about $300 billion each year on employee healthcare costs and missed work days as a result of stress in the office. That’s a lot of missed opportunities for work to get done. Obviously, productivity stands still when your employees are sick or need a mental health day. So, not only will a stressful environment affect the work being produced, but it will also end up costing your business a lot of money over time.

What Perks Do Employees Really Want?

The best thing you can do for your company is to start looking at your employees as whole people — not just “workers.” This includes creating a competitive employee benefits package that combines traditional benefits with extra perks that make your employees excited to work for you.

 

Some of the more traditional benefits include things like a health insurance plan, paid time off, and a 401(k) savings plan. But, the new standards of employee perks go far beyond these typical benefits. Some things to consider to attract new employees and retain your current ones include:

 

• Remote work options
• Gym memberships/onsite fitness facility
• Shorter work weeks
• Mental health services
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Tuition reimbursement

 

You can always survey your employees to find out what their needs really are. Understanding that your employees have a life outside of the office will make it easier to develop a benefits package that fits everyone’s needs.

Building a Better Work Environment

While snacks, drinks, and foosball tables in the office are nice, they aren’t going to cut it when it comes to attracting new employees. These perks have become far too common. The reason they’re being included in offices have shifted from appreciating employees to keeping them in the office longer.

 

If you want to build a better work environment, reduce stress, and attract new talent (while keeping your current employees motivated), think about what people like to do outside of work.

 

From there, you can create a perks package that fits your employees as a whole. As a result, you might be surprised to see how much productivity increases. Again, happy employees are often far more willing to push for your company’s success. Give them the best benefits package possible. They’ll be motivated to return the favor with their work

Technology is transforming the way we communicate within the workplace by creating clear and honest lines of communication at work. The effects of such technologies have led to increased productivity of employees and, as a result, is beneficial to companies and employers alike.

 

Employees who are nearing retirement age have been forced to adopt new technologies as companies move away from an emphasis on face-to-face communication. Face-to-face interaction has become increasingly rare in the workplace and in conducting business in our global economy. Conference calls, email, social media, and other online communication tools have made remote work more feasible than ever.

 

As millennials make up the largest population of workers, these technologies are making more of a presence in the workplace-communication styles than previously experienced. Their generation is more comfortable and familiar with them than previous generations, sometimes creating a gap between older generations and younger ones.

Major Trends in Workplace Communication

Communication in the workplace was considerably streamlined with the introduction of email. It aided in simply saving the time of scheduling meetings, physically seeking out colleagues who are not at their desks at opportune times, or being required to be present at a meeting that doesn’t call for your input.

 

The benefits of email are numerous and obvious to those who were of working age when it was introduced to the workplace. The millennial generation will never know the frustrations of long, drawn out, company-wide meetings. Instead of waiting for a chance to speak at a table of numerous other people, you can “reply all” to sender and add your input to be read at all participants leisure.

 

Not only did email create new communication highways between colleagues and business partners, but with their customer base as well. It’s become a powerful marketing tool, and many businesses now use email to target specific audiences and grow their customer base.

 

The perks of email and other forms of electronic messaging is that they are instantaneous. Documents can be submitted and signed for approval at any time of day and are no longer tied to business hours. Additionally, business is more easily conducted globally without time zones becoming an issue. It’s allowed for a whole new level of flexibility in business that wasn’t previously available.

The Evolution of Communication

Following the implementation of email, tech-savvy innovators recognized the ready market of instant messaging. Nearly all email accounts now offer a direct messaging app within their software.

 

For example, Google offers Google Hangouts, which provides real-time messaging between you and your co-workers. Within Google Hangouts, you can share your screen for information exchanges and presentations, and you can also video chat if you are in need of face-to-face time with a client or employee.

 

Messaging applications, such as Slack, are being implemented into the common workplace. The software can be accessed on your desktop, as well as your smartphone. The app provides a platform for messaging the company as a whole in group chats or private messages between select people and groups. You can tag one another to make sure that your messages are received by individuals and creates a space for engagement for remote employees. You can also attach files and photos for quick referencing during conversation.

 

An added benefit to using communication technology is enabling you to communicate with customers without having to host a call center. By implementing a LiveChat option on your website, you can answer their questions without delay and foster a beneficial relationship from the first point of contact.

Communication Challenges

One of the downfalls of being so easily connected and contacted is being tied to your mobile phone. Luckily, most apps and software offer a silencing tool to mute notifications on your weekends or while on vacation. The hazard of the free flow of information is feeling the need to respond as messages filter in. Setting business hours for yourself will enable you to enjoy your time outside of your preset office hours to foster a healthy work-life balance.

 

The use of social media is also currently prevalent in business. It is wise to keep in mind that you are easily found on social media and you should adjust your privacy settings so that your employer is not able to access your private pages. You can be responsible for the things that you post but not for others’ actions on your social media profiles. To protect yourself, it is best to keep your personal social media private and separate from people you work with.

 

Another challenge of electronic communication is the loss of the human element that allows us to interpret nonverbal messages written words often fail to relay. Messages that are ambiguous or vague can be left open for interpretation, causing communication breakdowns and the potential for mistakes. Contradictorily, messages that are too direct or blunt can feel harsh or intimidating.

 

Due to our current messaging systems’ instant nature, there is not always an effective delay in responses when feeling emotional or upset. This can have negative impacts on our communication in the workplace. Be aware of your emotional state when responding in a messaging app or via email to ensure that your message is not construed.

 

Communication technology has revolutionized the workplace and made it easier than ever to relay information and improve productivity. Just make sure everyone in the company is taking the time to make sure that they are using these communication tools to best convey messages and information effectively. With so many options available to us to improve communication in the workplace, it is to our advantage to utilize it enable us to succeed.

By Steven Starks, Senior Career Counselor at University of Phoenix

 

Throughout the course of a career, working professionals may experience brief or extended gaps of unemployment between positions. While hiring managers understand that these gaps can be caused by a variety of reasons – such as illness, family situations, travel or the inability to find a new job – they can be viewed as red flags. It may be inferred that applicants do not possess the proper work experience or that they were unable to maintain consistency in their careers.

 

As a senior career counselor at University of Phoenix, students and alumni often ask me how to deal with employment gaps on their résumés when going through the application process. There are ways to work around unemployment periods that still prove to hiring managers that you were focused on your career growth, even when unemployed. I often share two key components of overcoming employment gaps that may help effectively explain these situations: filling the gap and explaining it during an interview.

 

If you have unemployment gaps on your résumé or are anticipating a future gap, the first plan of action is to fill them with experience-generating activities that will further your career. One thing to consider when looking for an activity to fill a gap on your résumé is to pick something that will align with your past education and professional experience and also speak to the future trajectory of your career. At the same time, you do not want to get involved in something that will take up so much time that will leave you unable to effectively search for a long-term position.

 

There are a number of activities to consider. The most important of which, I believe, is education. You should never stop learning and gaps provide an opportunity to return to school or learn something new. Volunteering can also serve as a viable filler. There are countless worthwhile organizations that are in need of volunteers for professional functions.

 

Freelance consulting is another option if you have a skill set that can be applied on a freelance basis. Even if you only have one client and work part-time, it should be enough to fill a gap. As an added benefit, freelance consulting usually offers the flexibility you need to go on interviews and attend networking meetings.

 

Consider also reaching out to temporary agencies for work. It is often best if you can secure this type of position with an employer that you would consider as a long-term career option. If you are successful, it will give you the inside track on what departments to pursue, how to apply and which individuals you need to speak with to make long-term employment a possibility.

 

If you happen to be out of a job for just a few months, you might eliminate months from the résumé altogether and instead include just your years of employment in various positions. Obviously, this will work more effectively if you were employed for a full year or more. This strategy will detract attention from any time gap because it will not be as evident on your résumé. However, if you are required to fill out an online application with a chronological history of your previous employers, you would want to include the months on the application, as in many cases those are mandatory fields.

 

While filling unemployment gaps displays your dedication to sharpening your skills and gaining necessary experience, hiring managers will still often ask you to explain why gaps occurred in the first place. During the interview process, job seekers must come prepared to explain the employment history on their résumés. If you left the workforce to raise children, care for a family member, engage in self-care activities or pursue additional education, you should not be afraid to share this. However, it is essential to inform the employer that the situation was resolved and to emphasize (with enthusiasm) that you are ready to get back to work.

 

Explaining unemployment gaps can be more difficult when it was the result of a layoff or termination. If you were laid off or fired, honesty is essential, despite the temptation to stretch the truth. If a layoff occurred because a company closed or a position was eliminated, most interviewing managers will understand that reality. However, if you were terminated, honesty is still the best policy, but you want to avoid speaking poorly of your previous organization or volunteering too much information. You can keep it simple by stating, “It was not a good fit” and sharing what you personally learned and could have done better. This will allow you to demonstrate your commitment to being the best employee you can be.

 

After you have dealt with the reasons for leaving your last job, bring the conversation around to what you have been doing in the interim. Whether it is continuing your education, volunteer work, unpaid work, freelance work, or internships, each opportunity can be spun into a great story about the forward progression of your career. Furthermore, these types of career experiences can be included in the “Professional Experience” section of your résumé. Remember that these experiences “count”, even if they were unpaid.

 

Above all else, remember that unemployment gaps can be essential to a happy, healthy career and can, at times, lead to better opportunities. Often times, these are necessities – like raising a child or taking a mental health break – or are aspects of your career journey, like returning to school to learn a new skill. Regardless of why an unemployment gap occurred, the important part is to be prepared to make the most of it by using the time to improve your life and career.

 

About Steven Starks:

Steven Starks is a Senior Career Counselor at University of Phoenix. He has been with the University for 11 years, also serving as a career coach for five years and a senior academic counselor. Starks is a National Certified Counselor and a featured career coach with TheMuse.com. Previously, he worked in the mental health industry providing individual and group therapy for clients struggling with severe mental illness, abuse, and trauma. Starks holds a Master’s in Psychology from University of Phoenix and a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University.

 

 

By Steven Starks, Senior Career Counselor at University of Phoenix

 

 

Between online job boards and mobile apps, applying for jobs can be done with the click of a button. But a simplified and streamlined application process could mean a higher likelihood that quality resumes are missed if they do not include the correct search terms.

 

Today’s employers can receive up to 250 resumes for a single job opening.[1] To help handle the influx of applications and automate the review process, many companies have turned to applicant tracking systems (ATS) – human resources software designed to filter resumes. In fact, nearly all (98 percent) Fortune 500 companies, along with a number of small and mid-sized companies, utilize ATS software, according to Jobscan.[2]

 

While ATS software can help employers automate the recruiting process, it has a number of drawbacks for applicants. Often times, a dedicated ATS is programmed to search for certain keywords or skills and may weed out resumes without them. For larger companies, more applicants could mean that resumes are never seen by a hiring manager or recruiter until the top few are selected by the ATS.

 

As a senior career counselor at University of Phoenix, part of my job is to help provide resources to educate people on the various ways to position themselves for success on the job hunt. Job seekers who want their resume to get through an ATS should consider following these five tips.

 

1. Meet qualification requirements

 

Whether computer software or a human being handles resume reviews, there are no tricks that can overcome a lack of experience. No matter how well a resume is written or what keywords it contains, applicants will not be a competitive candidate for a position if they ultimately do not possess the skills and experience required for the position. Even if the resume passes through the initial ATS vetting process, it will likely be discarded when read by a hiring manager.

 

As a rule of thumb, candidates should only apply for a job if their knowledge, skills, and abilities match at least 75 percent of the qualifications required for the position. If a position offers on-the-job training, this may not apply. However, ultimately, qualified individuals have the highest likelihood of landing the job and will be better suited to discuss the position in the interview and handle the responsibilities on day one.

 

2. Incorporate keywords

 

Keywords are hard skills and industry-specific jargon that directly relate to the desired position. For example, job descriptions for accountant positions may include keywords and phrases such as “Sarbanes-Oxley” (SOX), “financial statements” and “general ledger.” Often times, ATS software may be programmed to look for these keywords in resumes or hiring managers may filter applications for them.

 

Without these keywords, a resume could be lost among the masses. To ensure that proper keywords are incorporated, review the job description, job posting and the roles and responsibilities of professionals in similar roles. A successful candidate’s resume will not only contain this language, but also demonstrates specific evidence of the context in which such knowledge and skills have been applied in previous positions or through curriculum.

 

3. Eliminate or minimize irrelevant information

 

Much like the importance of using keywords in a resume and ensuring qualifications meet those expected of the candidate, removing irrelevant information is just as important. The rule of thumb is to keep resumes to one page in length if you have 10 years of work history or less, but two pages is fine as long as the information is relevant and supportive of your career goal. Including all work experience (especially any that is not relevant to the position) can bog it down and add unnecessary length. This information does not directly reflect your qualifications for the position and thus should be removed.

 

Elaborate on directly relevant experiences that support your current career objective and emphasize transferable skills when lacking direct experience. For example, three years as a barista in college may not seem to apply to a role in marketing, but the communications, customer service and time management skills learned demonstrate applicable professional skills.

 

4. Keep the format simple

 

Simple resumes are king when applying for companies using ATS software. People have long been told to create unique resumes that stand out in the stack of identical templated sheets of paper. But unlike humans, computers do not look for resumes with a glossy sheen or colored text. Even heavily formatted resumes that contain such things as images, charts and text boxes are likely to be discarded.

 

To keep resume formats as simple as possible, there are a few guidelines to follow. When creating your resume, always use a Microsoft Word File (.doc, .docx). PDF documents might be misread by an ATS. Avoid using multiple columns or headers and footers. These can cause scanning issues. Lastly, include headings for every section and use common titles (e.g., Summary, Experience, Education) to help the ATS recognize to which section information belongs.

 

5. Place dates last

 

Resume format is more important than just creating a simple, clean document. The traditional format may be simple and boring, but it works – stick to it. Employers look for and expect a certain layout and flow of a resume, similar to how a script is expected to be written in a proper format. ATS is programmed to review resumes in a similar fashion, so it is best to keep a traditional layout.

 

The experience section of the resume is one of the most important when it comes to formatting, particularly when writing dates. Dates should always come after company information. Below is the preferred format for the experience section:

 

Company Name – City, State        Date Range

Position Title

 

Following these guidelines are a good first step in preparing for potential interviews and may increase the likelihood of landing a job. While not every company will use an ATS software, it is smart to format a version of a resume in this manner, especially when applying online. The key to acing an interview is being prepared and meeting the expected qualifications.

 

About Steven Starks:

Steven Starks is a Senior Career Counselor at University of Phoenix. He has been with the University for 11 years, also serving as a career coach for five years and a senior academic counselor. Starks is a National Certified Counselor and a featured career coach with TheMuse.com. Previously, he worked in the mental health industry providing individual and group therapy for clients struggling with severe mental illness, abuse, and trauma. Starks holds a Master’s in Psychology from University of Phoenix and a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University.

[1] https://www.ere.net/why-you-cant-get-a-job-recruiting-explained-by-the-numbers/

[2] https://www.jobscan.co/blog/fortune-500-use-applicant-tracking-systems/