Why Employers Need to Better Support Graduates Mental Health

Why Employers Need to Better Support Graduates’ Mental Health The mental health crisis amongst university students is extremely worrying, but it is often forgotten that graduates can struggle post-university once they’ve entered the workforce, too. Whilst there is clearly still work to be done to ensure students are receiving adequate support at university, there is, even more, to be done to ensure graduates are equally supported when making the transition from education into the workplace. Employers have a big part to play in helping graduates overcome these barriers in a professional environment. For Mental Health Awareness Week, we surveyed 1,000 working graduates in the UK, and 70 percent claimed they would avoid informing prospective or new employers about their mental health issues, in fear that it would have a negative impact on their career progression and position. Given that one in four people in the UK workforce will experience at least one diagnosable mental health issue during their working life, the fact that almost nine out of ten respondents (88%) said they believe there is still a negative stigma attached to admitting to suffering from a mental health issue is of grave concern. Employer support for struggling employees From our survey we discovered that of the 70 percent who said they would avoid telling an employer about their mental health issues, 83 percent said they would be more inclined to seek mental health support if their employer offered an ‘off the record’ or entirely anonymous service or services that would be kept separate from their employment record. Despite this overwhelming response, nearly 7 in 10 (67%) graduates said their company doesn’t offer ‘off the record’ support to employees. When asked what form of ‘off the record’ support they would prefer to use, respondents said: Face-to-face meeting (61%) WhatsApp, or other instant online chat (19%) Email (10%) Via video call (7%) SMS / text messaging (3%) It’s disappointing to see that some employers are failing entry-level talent when it comes to their wellbeing. Our survey also found that only 15 percent of graduates described the support provided by their employer as ‘good’, with only half (51%) saying it was ‘adequate’ and 34 percent labeling it as ‘poor’. These statistics show that graduates don’t feel their workplaces are adequately equipped to support workers with mental health issues. Whilst mental health concerns are being discussed more openly in wider society; it seems there is still a lot to be done in regards to the stigma associated with admitting to suffering from mental health issues, and the support offered to those transitioning from education to employment. According to the Health Safety Executive (HSE), an employer must protect the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business. A practical, collaborative approach between teams and individuals within a company is essential to ensure all staff are being looked after and to reassure them that any additional support they require will not be held against their future employment record. Employers should pay extra care and attention to entry-level talent new to the world of work, as they may struggle to adapt to a new role within a company. In an age when employers are increasing their demands for better-prepared graduates who can settle into any industry using cross-sector skills, it’s vital for businesses to prioritize the welfare of their employees no matter what age or stage in their career. Not only do graduates face the pressure of performing well at work, but workplace culture and other social aspects can add to their anxieties. Supporting new graduates as they transition from university to work should be a significant consideration of progressive employers. If graduate recruitment specialists want to attract and more importantly, keep the best talent as they emerge from education, they need to know what issues students and graduates are facing, and how best to support them. Employers need to take note of the information revealed by our latest survey and ensure they are providing anonymous, ‘off the record’ support for this future workforce. About the author:  Charlie Taylor, is the Founder CEO of Debut, UK’s award-winning student and graduate careers app.

Research Millennials Feel They Lack Control at Work

Research Millennials Feel They Lack Control at Work Heres a surprise. According to a new study, millennials cite “lack of control” over their working lives. Sigh. I suppose its easy to dismiss reports like these, I mean who ever felt like they had control when they started out in their careers? Why are millennials so bleeding special? What about everyone else who feels like theyre just a cog  in a giant hamster wheel of business? Trouble is, millennials are critical to large companies (and small), and a whole cottage industry has been built around understanding how they think and behave. What can we do to attract, engage and retain millennial talent? Andy Partridge, Millennial Engagement Consultant, Enviable Workplace: Millennials are hungry for development and want to better understand how to utilise their strengths, rather than focus on their weaknesses. They want to understand what they do well, and what comes naturally to them, and to work out how to best achieve their goals using their strengths. They want to understand themselves so they can do great work. Flexibility entrepreneurship Nearly half (48%) of millennials feel they ‘lack control’ at work, with 18-34 year olds keen to get more flexibility in their working lives, according to new research from St. James’s Place Academy. The prolonged squeeze on younger people’s earnings is also reflected within the research, with 17% of young people feeling that an increase in earnings would be one of the greatest benefits if they could run their own business. The research reveals that millennials are the most entrepreneurial generation in the country, with 82% of 18-34 years olds hopeful of running their own business one day. The drive to start their own business is almost 10% higher amongst millennials than in the older generations surveyed. Brenda Wong, Community Manager, Debut: It is heartening to see the millennial generation take back the control they sorely crave. Young people are continually battered by their circumstances, with increasing student loans, soaring rents and an economy ruled by austerity. It is therefore unsurprising that millennials would be attracted to venturing out on their own as they may feel there is no employer that could fulfill their work needs. If businesses are truly interested in retaining their millennial workforce, they would do well to listen to them. Feed their entrepreneurial spirit by allowing them time for side projects. Introduce a flexible working scheme. Encourage wage transparency, and implement a clear salary structure. In reality, millennials arent so different from other generations. After all, who wouldnt want financial control, autonomy, and purposeful work? Research findings The research also reveals some interesting insights into the thinking of young people towards entrepreneurship: 16% of millennials want to set their own hours by running their own business, while 14% want the chance to work from wherever they like; 49% of millennials are attracted  to the idea of running a business where they advise people on their savings and investments â€" significantly more than the 33% of 35-54 years olds or the 16% of 55+ year olds who were asked the same question; 32% of millennials say attracting customers would be the hardest thing about running their own business, followed by managing the business finances (28%); 1 in 10 (7%) millennials would be more likely to change their mind about running a business if they had an inspirational role model, whilst nearly 5 in 10 (47%) said financial certainty was the most crucial factor; A quarter (25%) of millennials felt a loss of income would deter them, followed closely (21%) by fear of failure. Adrian Batchelor, Academy Director at St. James’s Place Academy: “Our research reveals a clear appetite amongst millennials to start their own business, partly due to the frustrations felt within the workplace. As young workers have been hardest hit by the wage squeeze since the financial crisis, it’s no surprise they yearn for greater autonomy and reward for their hard work. “It’s never been easier to strike out on your own, and we think starting a business should be high on young people’s lists for 2017.”

Five Points for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs to Consider -

Five Points for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs to Consider - So, you’re thinking about switching careers. You want to leave the 9-5 life behind and venture into the challenging yet rewarding labyrinth that is entrepreneurship. You’ve got dreams, ideas, and plans, but you’ve also got to get started. Starting your own business is equal parts exciting and equal parts scary, with a fair share of hurdles that might leave you disheartened â€" and understandably so, as there’s a lot you’ll want to consider before taking the leap. But like most things, with the right amount of effort and preparation, you’ll be thankful that you embarked on the entrepreneurship journey. Before you dive in headfirst, here are a few things you will want to make sure you’ve got covered to steady your ship: Business Structure Before you begin, you need to first decide what kind of business entity you’re opting for. To make your decision, you have to consider three factors: record-keeping, taxation, and, of course, liability. There are several kinds of business structures out there â€" from sole proprietorship and corporations to partnerships and limited liability companies (LLC). Each structure has its own pros and cons, so be sure to do your research and get expert advice before choosing one. Several new businesses are pushing traditional structures aside and opting for an LLC option. LLC’s present entrepreneurs with the dual benefit of acting like a partnership and a corporation at the same time. In this structure personal liability remains limited from the owners, but profits or losses go directly to them, instead of the overarching business entity. A Privacy Policy Ten years ago, this may have been at the middle or bottom of your priority list; but today, a privacy policy is crucial. We live in the digital era and that means two things: access and security. Everyone around the world has access to information, and your customers will want to know what exactly you’re doing with their information and data. They expect transparency and uncompromised security, and a foolproof privacy policy will help you gain their trust. It will also keep your business safe from legal issues in the future. Advertising No business can be successful without advertising. You need to get the word out about your business as much as possible, and advertising is the way to do so. However, not everyone has huge ad budgets when they start out. Thankfully, there are many ways to get around the lack of capital when it comes to advertising. One of the benefits of digitization is the ability to easily use social media to reach millions of consumers across the globe, for a minimal amount of money. Consider educating yourself about social media marketing and search engine optimization.   You can do so through numerous online courses, a lot of which are free. Other strategies include “group advertising”, an arrangement that allows “local businesses to collectively leverage the advertising efforts in markets where media like TV and radio are typically very expensive. By pooling resources, group advertising solutions allow individual businesses to access the budget necessary to make the necessary impact to attract new customers.”   Alternative advertising strategies are becoming more common today, and will help you maximize the value you get from a limited ad budget. International Business A lot of entrepreneurs dream of taking their business overseas and penetrating global markets. Doing so is no easy feat, and requires a lot of preparation. When it comes to big moves like this one, it helps to do your homework way in advance. Things you need to consider include researching what jurisdiction your business fall sunder in an international market, legal regulations you will have to comply with, and even seemingly simpler things like work permits, visas, and visa waivers. A Contingency Plan As an entrepreneur, you need to think about every possibility if you want your business to succeed. You should be prepared â€" even over-prepared â€" for anything. This includes the possibility of something happening to you. While “what if’s” and “what then’s” can be daunting, a contingency plan will help your business weather any unforeseeable storms the future could bring, including what happens to your business should something happen to you. Be sure to consider safe estate-planning guidelines like meeting lawyers regularly, avoiding making amendments at home, and never using the internet for actual legal advice. This is only the beginning of a very long list of things you need to consider as an aspiring entrepreneur. But it’s also the beginning of one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. Being thoroughly prepared is the best thing you can do to protect your business from any liability, security or monetary issues. As a female entrepreneur (read: girl boss!), you will face many unexpected obstacles on your path. However, with adequate planning and hard work, there’s no doubt you will overcome them. This guest post was authored by Brooke Faulkner Brooke Faulkner is a writer, mom and adventurer in the Pacific Northwest. She spends her days pondering what makes a good leader. And then dreaming up ways to teach these virtues to her sons, without getting groans and eye rolls in response.

Dont Wait 5 Reasons to Create a Formal Financial Plan in Your 20s -

Don’t Wait 5 Reasons to Create a Formal Financial Plan in Your 20s - It’s never too early to create a formal financial plan. Not yet out of your 20s? Not a problem. Indeed, the earlier you set out on your financial planning journey, the stronger it’s likely to end up.   As San Francisco-based wealth manager Daniella Rand notes in a blog post on the importance of planning early, “fortune favors the prepared.” Planners, of course, like to be prepared. Need more convincing that it’s in your best interest to work with a financial planning professional on a comprehensive financial plan before your 30th birthday? Consider these five arguments for doing just that. Compound Interest Is Your Friend To be fair, “planning” and “investing” are not synonymous. You can do the latter without the former. But planning is nevertheless an important prerequisite to a sound long-term investing strategy. And the longer your money stays in the market, the greater its likely growth, thanks to the miracle of compound interest. You May Not Know Enough to Know What You Don’t Know You know you need a financial plan, because you’re smart enough to know that you’re not an expert in taxes, insurance, and other aspects of personal finance. But are you smart enough to know exactly why you need a plan â€" to know what you don’t know, in other words? This, from the CFP Board, offers a bare taste of what you could be missing. Life Happens Fast “The longer you put off planning for college, the bigger a challenge it becomes. The smarter move is to start thinking about it all as soon as possible.” That advice, from this Kiplinger’s article, is not earth-shattering. Unfortunately, many parents fail to heed it. Even fewer parents-to-be take it to heart. Putting together a full-spectrum financial plan before you experience major life events like the birth of your first child is the best way to ensure you’re not blindsided by their financial implications. Retirement Is More Expensive Than You Realize Once you quit working for good, you can get by with 30% of your pre-retirement income. The kids will be out of the house, supporting themselves, and you’ll turn over a frugal leaf. Right?   Try again. To maintain the lifestyle you’ve grown accustomed to, you’ll need to replace at least 70% of your income in retirement. Probably more like 80% or 90%. That requires a longer time horizon than you’d imagine. You Have More Room for Error When You’re Younger A long time horizon isn’t just beneficial for compounding purposes. It’s also important for your plan’s overall resiliency. An early start means more room for error, more time to correct said errors, and more runway to make lasting adjustments to your financial plan. What’s Your Plan? The writing is on the wall: You need a financial plan, and soon.   The only question left to answer is: What are you going to do about it? Your financial planning professional will help you construct the framework of your plan. If you enjoy working with them, perhaps they’ll help you implement your plan over the years, too.   But only you can get the process started. Your future financial planning partner isn’t sitting there, waiting for you to call. They don’t yet know you exist. It’s up to you to inform them otherwise.

14 Ideas You Need to Succeed in Your Career in 2018 - CareerMetis.com

14 Ideas You Need to Succeed in Your Career in 2018 How will you like to know the #1 thing you need to do in 2018 to improve your chance of succeeding?Then as we bring 2017 to an end, you will need this article to get you started on the right path.evalA career is an important aspect of one’s life, many who have not found fulfillment in their career have found it hard to live a happy life.There is something on the inside of every one of us that wants to do something worthy and be appreciated for it. For many people, they find that in their career. But really, the world is highly populated as of the present and not enough space for everyone to soar.Finding a suitable space for one to explore in one’s career is, therefore, a rat race. Many people are struggling just like you to move forward, many people are struggling to survive and it becomes the survival of the fittest.In a situation that requires the survival of the fittest, one has to have more than the usual at one’s disposal in order to survive. You cannot act like everybody else and expect a different result, you would have to go the extra mile in other to survive and survive is a necessity or the consequence is being outrightly replaced.You might be wondering what you need to do in order to survive in your career, there are some pieces of advice that when applied will go a long way in helping one survive and even soar in one’s career.1) Be PatientevalIf you are just starting and you are at the beginner’s level, understand that it will take time to get to the top. This might not sound like the best piece of advice on how to survive one’s career but a disposition to life is very important in the way one goes about one’s work.If you are quickly frustrated because you feel you have not moved to the position that you are worthy of, there is a high chance it will affect your work and productivity.evalYou might be better qualified or more skillful than the person on the level after you or levels after you, but understand your position as a starter in that organization and rest in that fact.2) Accept the work given to you Do this without bitterness, put yourself to the work and one day, you will be noticed. It can be difficult, especially when you think you deserve better but being rebellious and not doing the job is not what is going to get you better, what that is going to get you is replaced.If you want to survive in your career and not forgotten soon enough, then be patient and enjoy the ride on the way up.3) Learn how to Stand OutSometimes, standing out means doing what is right. More often than not, we become so obsessed about standing out and being noticed, that we forget we have a job to do.evalWhether you are self-employed or employed to do a job, remember that while standing out is important, doing the job right is even more important.You cannot expect your organization or your customers to take you seriously when you are tardy, not hard-working, not trustworthy or dedicated.If you want to be noticed for good, then you have to imbibe the right qualities and be consistent with it. Sometimes, it might look like nobody is noticing but you would be surprised that people can actually see.4) Be Supportive of othersDon’t be the one who puts others down because of envy or you see them as competition and if you own your business, your competition is simply competitors and not enemies, it would not do you good to personally try to make enemies of them. The relationship is very important in every facet of life, even a career. In summary, do the right thing.eval5) Be ambitious And don’t shy away from opportunities. A lot of people are at the position they are because they are afraid to take advantage of the opportunities that dropped on their laps.This does not mean that you should manipulate opportunities to your favor but that you should boldly and confidently accept responsibility when they come. Out of fear, many have turned the opportunity to show their bosses that they are qualified for promotion.S ource â€" Unsplash.com6) Accept more responsibilities at workWhen your bosses give you the responsibility you think is too much for you, say yes and learn how to do it. It is tasks like that they can make you stand out, they launch you and make you known to the superiors that you are someone worth considering.Confidence is always attractive, many have gotten jobs that they were not qualified for simply because they were confident, so you need to imbibe it.7) Be PreparedPrepare for opportunities. For some people, it was not that they did not want to grab and opportunity that came when it did, it is that they were not prepared for the opportunity. If you are hoping to be promoted to a certain position in your organization, then you need to prepare for it before it even comes, so you can waste no time going for it when it does.evalSome people have waited to speak to a resource person that could help them in their career, they found themselves in an elevator with such a person and had n othing to say because they were not prepared. When is it likely that such could happen again?That is why it is important to prepare ahead, whatever you need to do to be ready; do it. When opportunity meets preparation, there is usually an explosion.8) Continuous ImprovementYou need to keep improving yourself. In some fields, there is an improvement as often as every month and in some other field, it’s not that frequent. Whatever the case, know the dynamics of your field and grow with the trends. Read, read and read.Never be tired of learning because there is always something new to learn. If you stay without learning, you will be surprised that you will soon be left behind. Also, you need to keep an open mind and stay humble because you can learn from anybody, even though security at your gate.It might not be pertaining to your field but a lesson about life that if you apply to your career, would help move you forward. See interaction with others as an opportunity to learn somethi ng new and you might be surprised by the things you will learn.eval9) Surround yourself with the right peopleYou are who you move around with. This might be hard to accept but it is true. The people you move around with influence you more than you know. Unconsciously, we begin to reason like the people we move around with and do things we do not usually do.Ideas have a way of seeping into our subconsciousness if we listen to it long enough. If you want to be hard-working, dedicated, ambitious, confident, a go-getter, then you need to move with people like that. Also, surrounding yourself with people that are right for you can help your career because the right network can push you forward.They will be able to intimate you with a lot of information that you might not have access to. Additionally, it can be a kick for some to be the smartest one in the room but it is not always the best because you will have limited opportunity to learn and to be challenged.10) Don’t settle for a jo b you are not passionate aboutThis might sound like a cliché but you only live once, so you should have a career that you enjoy. Paying the bills is important and a factor to consider but it will not be enough to keep you pushing in this rat race.Passion is what will keep you going when the going gets tough and you are discouraged.11) Take risksWhether as an entrepreneur or an employee, taking risks is necessary. When you take risks, it could go one way or the other but the alternative is that you remain stagnant, in one position.But when you take the risk, win or lose, you have an opportunity to learn. And learning is neither outdated nor does it go to waste.12) Do Some TravelingA lot of people don’t know traveling is an opportunity to learn new things. Try to live your cocoon and this setting you are so used to, to learn a new culture. It could even be traveling to take a vacation but if you keep an open mind, you will be able to learn lessons from other cultures, you will be a ble to see things from a different perspective, do things in a different way and have a different result.Source â€" Pexels.com13) Take time for yourself and be with family and friendsNo matter how much success we have, there is nothing emptier than having no one to share it with. You might have heard it said that it is lonely at the top. One of the reasons why that happens is because most people sacrifice important relationships at the altar of their jobs.While it is necessary to be ambitious and be driven, everybody needs a caring smile and a loving hug every once in a while. Make time for it and you will be even more productive at your job.14) Take time for introspection Celebrate your progress and think about what you should have done better, what you have learned so far and the next step.Everyone needs time to recharge, don’t burn out because of a job, nobody really is indispensable. Take time for yourself and you will be better for it.There are many more pieces of advice that would help you survive your career such as don’t be afraid of no, don’t give up, belief in yourself, go outside of your comfort zone, start somewhere and so much more. But the little information you know now, apply.

Lessons Learned from Family

Lessons Learned from Family Family is so important! Think about what you have learned from the elders in your family. Who would you be today without their influence? I know it is the luck of the draw, some of us got a better set of cards than others, however, if you take time to look at what your family has to offer, each on is has a lesson. Take my 97 year old grandfather in law! Up until last year he was living alone and driving around town in his minivan. Oh, and playing golf every week in the summer. Spunk! Active in the community! We asked him about growing up on a chicken farm in upstate. His father raised over 5000 chicks each year which he sold off. They kept 500 for their farm. He admitted times were tough at some points in his life, yet he never used the term The Great Depression. He lived through it. He doesnt talk much about it though, it was just tough. What we are going through now it tough. It most likely will get tougher, yet, when we are 97 years old, I dont think well be obsessing over how bad it was. Will we remember the fun parts of our lives? Will we become more active in our community? Will we become more frugal? Will we put more value on family than on material goods? Will we stay independent and self reliant? Continue the journey and learn from family!

How Do I Write My Resume?

How Do I Write My Resume?One of the most common questions asked by employers is 'how do I write my Resume?' One of the first things that you should learn is that while you can easily browse through resume samples, you need to understand that the resume that you write will be different from the resume that other applicants have written. The reason for this is that you are the one who has had the most relevant experience in your particular field and if someone else writes a resume that is not comparable to yours, then you could stand to lose out on your job prospects.When writing your Resume, keep in mind that you should always aim for simplicity and concise writing. Your Resume should make it easy for employers to see exactly what they are getting when they are interviewing you. You should not use lengthy descriptions and lists of your accomplishments or achievements in your Resume. The shorter and simpler your Resume is, the more appealing it will be to potential employers.There are many types of Resumes that you can choose from and depending on the type of work that you are employed in, there may be a specific set of words that you need to avoid using. It is also possible to tailor your Resume around the requirements of a specific job. For example, if you are a professional writer, you may want to write your Resume around the words' appearance. They should be presented in a neat, professional manner. Avoid using many complicated or long-winded words as this will only make your resume look messy and unprofessional.Writing a Resume is also useful in making yourself more aware of your qualifications. If you are employed in a large office, you may wish to outline your previous work experience using bullet points. In addition, you should include in your resume your personal information including details of your educational background, references and interests. You should remember that you will be asked to justify these details to the employer so using a Resume will help you prepare.Using bullet points is also a great idea when writing your Resume. Remember that your resume will not be taken seriously if it is riddled with unnecessary information. A clear explanation of your qualifications will be much more convincing than a pile of irrelevant jargon.Using your experience as part of your resume will also help in getting a better job because when you can tell an applicant about your experiences, they will think that you are someone who has worked in the same role for years, rather than someone who is just starting out. Many employers like to hire those who are self-confident and who have shown that they are tough. If you can clearly show that you are a hard worker and that you are able to handle the day-to-day running of a company, you will be much more likely to get a job interview.Always include your hobbies and interests in your writing. This will help you appear more human and it will also help build your credibility. If you are in a situat ion where you are not comfortable being too transparent, you can write your hobbies and interests in another section of your Resume such as your References or your Information Technology section.An important aspect of your Resume that you will need to consider is how to create a compelling cover letter. This letter should contain your contact details, your contact address and the address of your current employer. It is important that you never leave this vital information out of your Resume.