Are Cover Letters Worth the Paper They Are Written On

Are Cover Letters Worth the Paper They Are Written On Are Cover Letters Worth the Paper They Are Written On While there is no doubt that cover letters have suffered a decline in importance as a selection tool, they can, if used correctly, still add value to the short-listing process. And below I have set out five value-adding aspects of using a cover letter as screening tool.1. They indicate how much (or little) time an applicant has invested in applying for your roleA resume does not really reflect the amount of time they have spent making this specific application. It could have been little more than attaching a file and pressing send. By looking at a cover letter, you can usually tell if its a stock letter or whether they have taken time to construct a tailored document. Thus a cover letter can help you discriminate between spammers and more committed applicants.2. It shows the applicants ability to construct a persuasive geschftsleben case and influence othersCover letters are more free flowing than resumes and there is a greater emphasis on grammar and syntax, which means you can get a much better handle on someones ability to write effective business communications, than you can from a resume. Also, cover letter writing is not just a technical exercise its also about building a persuasive argument and business case, selling themselves and showing they are right for the job. Therefore, done well, a cover letter can showcase a candidates ability to write a sales introduction letter or to influence others with the written word.3. It shows how much (or little) research they have done into your role and businessWell-constructed cover letters will not be generic rather the applicant will have identified the mission critical skills for the role and highlighted their skills in this area. They will also make references to pertinent aspects of your company or personalities or contacts. Heavily contextualized cover letters can show that the candidate has researche d and analyzed your business and role and is a highly engaged applicant.4. It shows that they have awareness (or lack of awareness) of your business priorities and key concernsWell-written cover letters will address any specific red flags in their resume and will highlight any value-adding qualities in their CV, which makes them an especially strong applicant. Cover letters that do this reveal applicants who have a strong awareness of your business priorities and key concerns. Its hard to ascertain this from a resume.5. It shows whether or not they can they follow instructions.Candidates who fail to include a cover letter, when it is requested, show an immediate lack of attention to detail and inability to follow instructions. Another way to see if they can follow instructions is to make a specific request in the job advert as to how the cover letter should be presented, e.g. must address three skill areas. Candidates who fail to deliver a correctly formatted letter have shown a lac k of attention to detail and/or failure to follow instructions.Id love to hear about any other ways that you think cover letters add value to the application process.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

The Best Career Management Advice You#8217;ll Ever Receive

The Best Career Management Advice You8217ll Ever Receive The Best Career Management Advice You8217ll Ever Receive Its an activity fruchtwein adults are familiar with when its time for a job search and, therefore, time to get a resume together.For many, just the thought of it alone produces anUgh Its like having to construct your life history all at once, all from scratch. It feels like tortureOn top of that, memories are dicey. They are unreliable, which makes them less then ideal companions in the endeavor to present the best of yourself on paper to a prospective employer.Therefore, this is one of the most important articles youll ever read addressing effective career management.Dont Rely on Your Memory Keep Track as You GoPlease do not be the person who tries to sell all of their talent through the lens of a single-sheet resume constructed with shoddy memories. Dont let your memory be your only resource It will not help you represent the best of yourself.To stop underrepresenting yourself, putthese career management tips into practice immediately1. Keep Track of Your Job Experience ina Job JournalNot only will this be extremely beneficial when its time to write a new resume, but itwill also begreat for your performance reviews. This is your memory bank on paper2. Try to Quantify What Youre DoingThat way, you can express your accomplishments and value at work in the form of hard data, which can be highlighted on your resume.Examples- XYZ project was completed three days ahead of time.- The successful event was put together for $2,000 under budget.- I saved a customer from going to a competitor, which saved us $X dollars.3. Pay Attention to What You Really Enjoy DoingWhen I ask my career coaching clients, What work activity gives you high levels of satisfaction?, many cannot answer.Its easiest to identify what satisfies you when youre in the act of doing it. Levels of satisfaction are not necessarily dictated by job title or description, but by job functions .Ask yourself, What in my job, do I like doing? Notice the level of enjoyment or satisfaction you feel when doing some task. Rate it on a scale of 1-5 for future decision-making. Remember Its not the job description or the job itself that youre rating its the individual tasks and activities you engage in at work.This final tip is one of the most important I can give you. It is the most essential in crafting a meaningful career experience. When Im career coaching, I ask, What did you most enjoy doing in previous roles? Many cant remember or dont recall accurately, particularly when they are trying to recollect from several years prior.The inability to zero in on what you enjoy will contribute to a pattern of perpetually choosing jobs that you willfind unfulfilling. This will keep you locked in an ongoing quest for an ideal job and it will adversely impact your engagement levels at work.Though we in HR talk a lot about an employers responsibility to help employeesstayengaged, this is a two-way street. We each play a part, yet I do believe it ultimately rests with the employee. Your engagement is substantially influenced by your level of work satisfaction. That choice is yours.As you can gather, these critical tips are not one-time activities. They are ongoing practices. In fact, theyre so important they should be considered career management habits, not tipsSo, are you in the habit oftracking your experiencepaying attention to what truly brings you enjoymentand quantifying your contributions and value?These habits are essential elements of career success. They are the best career management tips youll ever get so be koranvers to follow themJoAnn Corley is CEO of The Human Sphere.

Stress Infographic and Workplace Stats - The Muse

Stress Infographic and Workplace Stats - The MuseStress Infographic and Workplace Stats We all know that stress isnt good for us thats not a new piece of information. But just how much is stress affecting your health as well as your job performance? The stats might shock you.Check out the infographic below to learn more about work-related stress (and what you can do to alleviate it).Infographic courtesy of Officevibe. Photo of woman with stress ball courtesy of Shutterstock.

The History and Function of Chapbooks in Creative Writing

The History and Function of Chapbooks in Creative WritingThe History and Function of Chapbooks in Creative WritingA chapbook has traditionally been defined as literature consisting chiefly of small pamphlets of popular tales, ballads, childrens stories, religious tracts, political tracts, nursery rhymes, folk tales, almanacs, and poetry. To modern writers, a chapbook is simply a booklet of creative work about 30 to 40 pages long. Many publishers host chapbook contests, awarding the winners a cash prize and a chapbook publication. The History of Chapbooks Chapbooks first came about in 16th century Europe with popular fairy tales like Jack and Giant Killer. They were cheaply constructed and not always pleasing to the eye, but during the 1500s they were purchased by people who otherwise werent able to buy books and were often thrown out after reading or repurposed. Chapbooks were an important means for disseminating popular culture to common people, parteicularly those who lived in rural areas. They entertained, provided informationand offered history.Chapbooks even contributed to increasing the rate of literacy. Illiteracy in England during the 1640s was around 70% for men, and the rate dropped to 40% during the mid-18th century. The number of chapbooks printed in England is mind-boggling. During the 1660s, as many as 400,000 almanacs were printed every year, enough to distribute to one of every three families in Britain. Chapbooks were priced to be affordable to workers, although their sales were not limited to the working classes. Ballads sold for a halfpennyor just a few pence. Chapbooks seemed to disappear until the 19th century, but in the last 100 years, theyve resurfaced, mainly among poetry and short prose writers. What They Look Like Today Chapbooks are usually artful, well-made pamphletsbound by saddle-staples. One feature that hasnt changed over time is that they generally boast a greater aesthetic or artistic quality that traditional books be cause publishers are more willing to experiment given that the print run is shorter. While chapbooksdont count as a real book publication, they do carry a degree of prestige. For writers usually poets its a chance to showcase part of a manuscript or to see a shorter work published. Contests Poetry chapbooks are the most common, and while the chapbook doesnt qualify as a full-length publication, it is a beneficial opportunity for the writer to experiment and to use it as a springboard for professional development.New Yorks Center for Book Arts poetry chapbook contest offers opportunities for artists and writers to work together in creating what is essentially a work of art. Only 100 copies of the book are printed, and 10 of them go to the artist. Other chapbook contests may not focus as much on the history and aesthetics of the book, but they do generally produce a more artful product than standard book publishers. The smaller size and print run allowfor greater emphasis on des ign and aesthetics. While they may not reach a huge audience, chapbooks can be appreciated as a physical object in a way that many contemporary books cannot.

The Unadvertised Details Into Graphic Design Resume Examples Most People Do Not Know About

The Unadvertised Details Into Graphic Design Resume Examples Most People Do Not Know About Download our creative resume schablones and you are going to have professionally designed CV in no moment The template is made by A distinctive and herunterkommen resume template with experience timeline along with education timeline. Our creative templates let you stick out from the crowd. Any template with advanced choices for formatting is ideal because it is going to provide you with the required flexibility to format a successful resume. The Graphic Design Resume Examples Chronicles Creating an effective resume is the secret to success whether youre fresher searching job, experience candidate looking to have a better job opportunity, freelancer or a seasoned candidate from a different field searching for a work change. Resume is a great method to create the ideal impression. The majority of the moment, when you submit an application for a job, your resume will want to be accompanie d by a covering letter. People today use an assortment of resume templates using different type of design approaches, but ultimately its always likely to come to the simple fact that your resume should convey a very clear message above your skills, your experience, and also why youd be the ideal candidate for the position. Beautiful graphics are used here in order to get upon the data in a pleasant way whilst showing off the authors skills. A good deal of graphic designer job positions can be found in various industries and fields of expertise. The excellent thing for graphic designers without an experience is, its simple to find some. Think of graphic design samples as a weapon, which you might strategically produces to be in a position to target a specific work and to receive ones heart of the business. Art directors dont have enough time or the inclination to read your whole life story. You have to edit the resume by focusing on the subsequent points. Share your work when y oure completely content with your design and work, you can share it to the world via your social networking accounts, personal site, or quite a few different channels you might utilize. As an excess bonus, you also receive a work interview tracker that will help you keeping track of passed and upcoming job interviews. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Graphic Design Resume Examples You dont need to be worried about your graphic designer resume. For your design resume to actually shine, you will need to believe carefully about the way that its designed as well as whats written. Otherwise, you could also employ a graphic designer that will help you out. Graphic designers have a vast selection of duties and obligations. The overall rule for graphic design resumes is to put in a hyperlink to your site or internet portfolio. There are many creative resume templates. A specialist sometimes takes a great template and make tweaks here and there to match her or his requirements. Each one of our creative style templates offer you a perfectly balanced mixture of personality, professionalism and a little style. When there are a large array of free resume templates readily available online, and you can produce a portfolio working with a LinkedIn resume or the Google resume builder, making your professional profile seem attractive enough to be noticed is very important. To begin with, think about what visual look you need and the way that it will best represent you in the market. Once you have decided on your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our completely free expert guidance about ways to craft the great modern resume. There are lots of free resume templates readily available online but sometimes it can be quite tricky to decide on the best one that is most suited to you. Its also crucial for graphic designers to have a superior attitude and see that the client is always perfect. Youre able to easily include your social networking profile url s too. It will be simpler that you format and make the content of your graphic designer resume if youre guided by templates and sample documents. You want to create your resume unforgettable, so opt for a template that you may inject your personality into.

The Little-Known Secrets to Online Professional Resume Writing Services Brisbane

The Little-Known Secrets to Online Professional Resume Writing Services Brisbane The Little-Known Secrets to Online Professional Resume Writing Services Brisbane The introduction part ought to be attractive enough to convince services reader for additional exploration. If you decide to click the links on our website, we might get compensation. Writing and including a reference sheet with your resume is one method to show which you are fully prepared and prepared to put in the work force. To select the best, you must look at the reputation and ranking of the service. Now that there are hundreds and hundreds of complaints and negative reviews, a growing number of people become disappointed with the businesss quality of resumes. The site mainly, focuses on truly being a platform where you are able to hunt for jobs and the recruiters can post jobs. Now you can purchase genuine college essay online, one that is going to fit your financial plan and get your work done too. Writi ng is a present that comes naturally. So far as the students are involved, writing a research paper is among the toughest and frustrating endeavor in their opinion. The Pain of Online Professional Resume Writing Services Brisbane Utilise the aid of our service and dont be concerned about how you complete the school. Finally, the most important advantage is that you get a quality resume written by somebody with far more experience than yourself. Ultimately the decision is yours. The service makes sure your paper will shine over the rest. What Does Online Professional Resume Writing Services Brisbane Mean? For their priority support, the price is $150. All fees quoted include as much as two revisions of your very first draft (based on your initial request only). The service is likely to make sure to format your resume the direction you want it. The Meaning of Online Professional Resume Writing Services Brisbane Who knew essay writing might be so tough. As soon as you rece ive a task done from us you will return again if you need assistance with another one of your essays. So in case you have an essay assigned that you require help with, you can purchase essay online cheap from us. The sort of essay youre looking for will be provided to you within the deadline provided to you. The Basics of Online Professional Resume Writing Services Brisbane The best method to learn about the caliber of the services supplied by a website is to test it by placing a little order on it. All the essential information about the corporations features and service key characteristics is listed on the website too. Plus detail any important abilities, including technical software and tools youll be able to use. In addition, the website is simple to navigate.

The Smart Crowd Work-at-Home Opportunities

The Smart Crowd Work-at-Home OpportunitiesThe Smart Crowd Work-at-Home OpportunitiesThe Smart Crowdis acrowdsourcing company formerly known as VirtualBee. The company uses a workforce of home-based independent contractors to securely enter client data. The flexible work schedule is designed for people who prefer to work on their own terms. Whether you choose night or day, two hours or six, youcontrol your schedule. Types of Work-at-Home Opportunities at The Smart Crowd Data services involve typing, data cleansing, digitizing data, updating data, and data tagging. Home-based data entry operators log on to The Smart Crowd system and choose data entry tasks offered to them in their areas of expertise. Workerssee an image of the data and then must enter itaccurately. Qualifications and Requirements Youmust be at least 18 years old to work for The Smart Crowd. A score of 97 to 100 percent on the evaluation test is the main qualification for the job. The company hires worldwide.How ever, the company divides its workers into two groups- one for those who reside in the United States and the second for individuals who live in all other countries. Workers must maintain an uninterrupted presence in their country of residence throughout the duration of their work for The Smart Crowd. Working for The Smart Crowd requires a home computer with a high-speedinternet connection and a web browser with JavaScript enabled. Basic skills include Ability to type quickly and accuratelyGood spelling, grammar, and punctuation skillsAbility to work quicklyGood comprehension of text you read Applying to The Smart Crowd Click Join The Smart Crowd at the bottom of The Smart Crowd website and fill in the short form with basic information about yourself. Next, answerquestions about your demographics, education, areas of expertise, and language skills. The company uses this information to match you with tasks that are appropriate for your background. Based on the information you ente r, you areofferedone or more placement evaluations. You must complete at least one placement evaluation before you can be considered for any work. Depending on how well you do on your evaluations, various small jobs may be offered. The higher you score, the better chance you will be offered work. You are only allowed to work on tasks related to your areas of expertise. Pay and Benefits All data-entry keyers are hired as independent contractors. There are no benefits and, because it is piecework, no guarantee of a minimum wage. While the pay may seem low,if you understandhow and what data entry companies pay, youll see it is in line with other companies.Payment is on a per-piece basis, and different types of data entry pay at different rates. Expect the per-piece rate to work out to about $5 to $6 per hour. The Smart Crowd does not list pay rates on its website, stating only that it is competitive. According to Real Ways to Earn Money Online, pay for some tasks in 2016 ranged fr om 20 cents per 1,000 keystrokes to 60 cents per 1,000 keystrokes. That many keystrokes amount to a little more than 200 words on average, so someone who types 50 words per minute would earn between 20 cents and 60 cents for every four minutes of work, or between $3 and $9 per hour. The Smart Crowd pays weekly, but the minimum payout amount is $30, so until you accrue that much, the earnings are held in your account. Hours are always flexible, but you may find that work is not available during certain days of the week or periods of the year. Similar Work, Similar Pay The Smart Crowd is one of many crowdsourcing opportunities available online, and most of them have pay rates that add up to just a few dollars per hour. The Atlantic in 2018 cited several examples of the kind of work and the typical pay to be found through crowdsourcing services. Amazons Mechanical Turk offered 80 cents for a task that could take up to 45 minutes and $1 for another that could take anywhere from 15 m inutes to three hours, according to the report. Other services, like CrowdFlower, ClickWorker, and Toluna offer similar tasks for similar amounts of money. Gathering accurate statistics on how many people earn an income from crowdsourcing is difficult because it stretches across so many industries, and so many people who find work through crowdsourcing are doing so only to supplement their income. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has put together data on what it terms contingent jobs, which includes people earning money through crowdsourcing. As of May 2017, 3.8 percent of workers (5.9 million people) in the U.S. held such jobs. Independent contractors accounted for 6.9 percent (10.6 million people) of workers. The difference between contingent workers and independent contractors is that contingent workers have no contract and do not expect their jobs to last.

22 Team-Building Activities Your Co-workers Wont Hate - The Muse

22 Team-Building Activities Your Co-workers Wont Hate - The Muse22 Team-Building Activities Your Co-workers Wont HateTeam building is a term you probably first encountered years ago. Maybe when you were in elementary school and your class had to work togetherbei to solve a puzzle. Or at camp when your bunk was tasked with completing a group scavenger hunt or catching each other in trust falls.And yes, youve probably done kollektiv-building activities in the workplace, too. While they tend to get a bad rap- picture some mandatory HR event where everyone looks miserable and no one wants to go along for the ride- the right kinds of kollektiv-building exercises can bring people closer together, help teams work mora effectively, and identify gaps and strengths in individual members.Want to skip right to the good stuff? Here are our suggestions forTeam-Building Activities to Do During a MeetingTeam-Building Activities to Do During the WorkdayTeam-Building Activities to Do Outside the Offic eWhy Team-Building Activities Are ImportantBesides offering up a fun and creative alternative to bonding over happy hour (which can make people who dont drink feel left out), team-building activities provide companies and employees with plenty of added benefits.At the base level, team building allows people to get to know each other- their interests, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they communicate, among other things. Just like any professional sports team works and practices with one another to be at their best, teams at work can and should do the same thing, says Muse career coach Al Dea. And just like you cant jump onto the field with a team that has zero clue whos playing what position, whos passing the ball to whom, and whos the best at handling XYZ situation, you cant achieve anything if your team members dont understand one another. Team-building activities also build camaraderie and trust- one of the fruchtwein important aspects of a successful team. Building a sens e of trust amongst teammates allows people to bring the full power of their skills, personalities, and who they are to work, says Dea. When people dont have trust to do that, they hold back, thus sometimes limiting their abilities to be at their best.Finally, team-building activities can help remind people that work is never just about them- its about the entire group. When youre encouraged to do something together, rather than solo, it brings to life the idea that the groups success (and ultimately the companys) should be a priority. This can be a particularly useful learning experience for teams that struggle with teamwork, are overly competitive, or lack unity and confidence as a result of a bad manager or hard times.So what do these exercises look like? Check out some of our favorites.Team-Building Activities to Do During a MeetingTeam building doesnt have to be an all-day affair. In fact, taking 20 minutes out of the first half of your next group meeting can be enough to spark innovation and teamwork.1. Solve a PuzzleThis can be a literal puzzle, like a 500 piece set (if youre down to spend a few dollars on Amazon), or a brain teaser that requires thinking and brainstorming out loud. Toss one out to your team and, if youre feeling overly ambitious, give them a time limit to complete the task. The key is that everyone has to contribute to the success of the project.Once theyre done or time zustroms out, take a moment to reflect on the experience. Ask your team What was your strategy to solve it? Who did what? Why did you make the decisions you did? Allowing everyone to think through their process might highlight unique perspectives or strengths in each individual- or at least lead to an eye-opening conversation.2. Count to 20This ones super simple and great if you want to take a couple of minutes to bond. Have everyone sit in a circle. Anyone can start the count off or say a number at any time, the goal being to count from one to 20. However, if two people jump in at the same time to say a number, the count starts over. This game requires team members not only to be cognizant of the group dynamic, but to work together- with limited communication- to get to the end.3. Try a Compliment CircleThere are different variations you can take on this to encourage your team to express appreciation for one another. One option is you can simply spend five minutes having individuals compliment one another, whatever pops into their mind (if youre the manager, you should start to get the ball rolling). This can be as easy as saying, I wanted to tell Gina I loved her proposal this week or Big shoutout to Danny for bringing in donuts last week when we were all heads-down to meet a big deadline. Or you can go around and have each person address the co-worker to their right, so that everyone gets a chance to shine.4. Host a Brainstorming SessionTeam building can absolutely be work focused, and oftentimes thats the best kind. The key is to make these bra instorming sessions less about day-to-day accomplishments and more about bigger team goals. Maybe you want to outline your KPIs for the rest of the quarter. Maybe you want to hash out some new ideas for an upcoming campaign. Maybe your teams strategy feels stale and youre looking for ways to refresh it.Whatever your goal, try organizing your conversation using one of these suggestionsAn idea hauptplatine The simplest form of brainstorming. Give everyone an agenda ahead of time, and have them come to the meeting with three to five ideas. Talk through them, and have people contribute additional thoughts, questions, or concerns.Fist to five Have everyone brainstorm solutions to a problem, then go through them one by one by holding up a fist or a number of fingers up to five. A fist means youre not on board and five fingers up means you think its a great idea. Then, have everyone state their case as to why they chose the fingers they did.Went well, went OK, could have done better At The Muse, we use this process for quarterly retrospectives and project post-mortems. Have everyone jot down on Post-it notes things they thought went well, things they thought went OK, and things that didnt go well or could have been done better, and sort the Post-its into their respective categories. Once all the ideas are on the table talk through them and come up with potential solutions to the problem areas.5. Have a Show and TellThis can be a great way to get your team to brag a bit about their accomplishments, and to encourage them to stay updated on what everyone else is working on.One great example of this at The Muse is something we call Sip it and Ship it. One Friday of the month, our engineering team hosts an open meeting where anyone at the company has the option to take a look at and test out our latest shipped or completed products- while sipping on alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages.You can do this on a small scale, too. If youre a team of two or three, spend a few minu tes a week or once a month getting together and highlighting something each member is working on, and allow people to ask questions, give suggestions, and offer up positive feedback.Team-Building Activities to Do During the WorkdayThese activities are great for longer meetings, or if you want to spend an afternoon or a few hours away from your desk.6. Share Your PersonalityHave everyone on your team fill out a personality test (here are some of our favorites), then get together and discuss. What you decide to do with this is really up to you- the key is to have each employee understand their colleagues strengths, weaknesses, and ticks. Maybe you group similar personalities together and have them chat about how their traits come out in the workplace, or have them complete an assignment like designing their ideal office based on their personality type and sharing it with the group.Another option? Have everyone fill out this user manual and share their findings with the team.7. Play Te am or Board GamesYou dont need me to tell you that board games bring people together (just read this article on the benefits of networking over games). And there are some many great, office-friendly options out thereTheres Apples to Apples (a SFW version of Cards Against philanthropischity), Code Names, Pandemic, and Jenga- all games that require teamwork. There are also non-tabletop games like Celebrity or Heads Up (available on iOS and Android) that require nothing but a phone or a pen and paper.It may feel silly to pull out some games in the middle of the office, but you may be surprised to find that doing so loosens your team up and forces them to work together in different and creative ways.8. Create a Scavenger HuntScavenger hunts can be great for new hires to get to know the landscape and their team- requiring them to identify things around the office and ask seasoned employees questions during their first week such as When was Company started? or Who was our first client? or How many people work on the marketing team?But theyre just as effective with veteran teams. Maybe you set one up for employees to uncover X number of facts or artifacts by the end of the day together. Or divide the group into multiple teams and see who finishes first. However you choose to do it and whatever you choose for them to find, this will definitely encourage team members to work together on something far removed from their usual work and team of people.9. Untangle a Human KnotThis is a camp favorite, but also a fun way to have team members come together to solve a problem. Have everyone squish together in a circle and grab hands with people not directly next to them. The goal, once everyones hands are interlocked, is to untangle yourselves without breaking the chain. You can make it even more challenging by not allowing people to talk or putting a time limit on it. It requires a bit of leg room to crawl over each other (not to mention an office culture where people feel co mfortable holding hands- tread carefully with this one), but if you feel up to it it can make for a fun puzzle.10. Give Out Blind DirectionsPair team members up and have one put on a blindfold- its then the other persons job to direct them in making moves as best they can, whether thats getting them to the other side of the office or having them complete a task like moving an object or drawing a picture. Have individuals who normally dont work as closely together do this exercise, and itll help them practice communication and build trust.11. Do a Silent Line-UpSet a timer, and have people line up in various orders say, by height, birthday, or company tenure- without saying a word. Your team will learn a bit about each other while overcoming an unusual challenge.12. Host a Lunch and LearnYour team is probably full of unspoken talent- use those strengths as a way to bring everyone together. Maybe someones a great knitter, or speaks another language, or is a pro at using Excel. Have th em host a lunch and learn where they teach the rest of the crew a new skill over your midday break. Your employee will practice mentoring and giving presentations, and your team will learn something new and exciting about their peers.13. Have a Hack DayHack days are big in the tech and engineering sphere, but they can be beneficial for just about any team. The idea is simple Have everyone drop what theyre working on and spend the day completing a special project that benefits the team or company. If you can, have multiple departments (if not the whole company) participate and require employees to work with people on different teams. The point is to have people think outside the packung by creating something that requires a new set of skills or way of thinking. Maybe you spend the day rethinking your onboarding document for new hires, or brainstorming a new sales pitch, or building a new feature into a product- whatever it is, it should cost $0 to create and be something you can make (or conceptualize) in a workday.14. Put on a ContestFor example, you could host a department desk decorating face-off (this is a big hit in The Muse office on Halloween), or plan a cookie or guacamole-making contest, where employees bring in their best recipes and the team judges their favorites (plus, who doesnt like food during the workday?). It creates a bit of healthy competition, while encouraging employees to spend time together and bond over a common hobby.Team-Building Activities to Do Outside the OfficeIts certainly trickier to have people hang out outside of work, but if you can get everyone together (or can take the afternoon to go on an adventure), these can be great activities for team building.15. Complete an Escape-the-Room ChallengeEveryones doing them these days, and its no wonder why Trying to escape when youre trapped in a room with people (in a set time period) is a team effort. If you live in a city that offers them (some options here and here), you can find an assortment of escape-the-room challenges, including a submarine, jail cell, or even an office (how ironic). Per person it may cost you around $30, the same price of say, taking your team bowling or paying for a few drinks at happy hour.16. Take a Cooking ClassCooking classes are a great way to help teams bond because theyre not just an individual activity- often what youre making requires multiple sets of hands. CourseHorse and Groupon are great places to find these kinds of opportunities, for cheap.17. Take an Improv ClassA lot more interactive than cooking classes, improv classes can teach you a lot of valuable skills for the workplace- including how to communicate with others and overcome various challenges as a team. Plus, they force you to get out of your comfort zone and have a laugh with your colleagues. You can check out sites like CourseHorse for options, or do a quick Google search to find the best comedy cellars near your office.18. Sign Up for TriviaWho doesnt love triv ia? Besides the fact that it allows employees to flex their history and pop culture muscles, its also incredibly team-oriented. Go together to a local spots trivia night, or bring in a host to your office and split the department into teams to battle for the winning title.19. VolunteerIf your team is passionate about a certain cause or initiative, consider taking the day to do some community service. Not only will you bond, but youll come out feeling great and making a positive impact on your community. Heres how to bring volunteer opportunities to your office, and some tips on various volunteering activities you can do, depending on your level of commitment.20. Start a Book ClubGrab a book related to your field and have everyone read it over a few weeks. Then, set aside some time to sit and chat about it (over snacks). Youll spark interesting conversation, encourage colleagues to share ideas, stories, and input, and help everyone learn a bit more about their role within the team.Ch eck out our best reads if you need inspiration.21. Tackle a Ropes CourseThis is a bit more ambitious, but its a great day trip or retreat activity to get your team outdoors and still working together. Ropes courses require teamwork in so many ways, whether youre encouraging a teammate to overcome an especially challenging part or trying to get through a maze as a group. Just make sure everyone on your team is on board with this before moving forward (for example, ensuring no ones afraid of heights or has mobility issues)- if theyre hesitant you may have more success trying something else out.22. Form an Intramural LeagueIf your team is full of athletes, this could be the perfect option for bonding outside the office.It doesnt have to be a tiring sport, either Plenty of cities offer opportunities to play things like skeeball, bocce, or cornhole. If you want your efforts to go toward a cause, consider signing up to run (or walk) a 5K for charity together.

RBS Bonuses Cut By 90 Percent

RBS Bonuses Cut By 90 PercentRBS Bonuses Cut By 90 PercentIn other not-so-cheery RBS news, over the weekend reports surfaced about the bank considering cutting 20,000 jobs before the end of the month, whenits expectedto unveil its next round of billions of dollars in losses.