Working from Home: Is it Easier or More Difficult?

Imagine rolling out of bed in your pajamas and getting straight to work on your laptop to meet that deadline for work, while watching "Live With Regis and Kelly"...Nice huh? To many this may seem like a very easy decision to make: it would be perfect to have time for yourself and be able to do your work on your own time schedule without your boss looking over your shoulder? right? well maybe not. There are some companies in the US and Canada that allow their employees to work from home: "IBM" and "AT& T" are two big companies in North America that allow this option for their employees. What these companies have done to create resolution they have embarked on a program aimed at getting more employees to work from home and other off-site locales, joining the growing ranks of companies to catch the virtual-workplace wave. About 14% of the U.S. workforce gets its job done at a home office more than two days per week. Roads leading to these major corporations simply weren't designed to handle the 75,000 commuters who report for work there each day.

Smaller companies are picking up on this option for their employees now: American Airlines, TDS telecom, Sprint, Xerox, and Aetna- to name a few. Though this would probably take the stress off a busy work environment for the employee, this would be an advantage to the employer as well. There are a number of reasons why companies are introducing this option: It helps the business save money, increases productivity, reduces overhead costs, there is a less turnover for the company, and there would also be bigger advantages in recruiting. It also fosters the employee retention, boost worker productivity, and slash real estate costs. Many conduct online conferencing and utilize a collaboration software that makes it easier for people in different locations to work together and conduct meetings .Another way to bridge the physical distance is to provide a worker with the essential tools needed to stay connected to colleagues. For the virtual worker, a laptop, high-speed Internet access, and a personal digital assistant or mobile phone.
There are many disadvantages and advantages for working from home for the employee as well. Some virtual workers can feel lonely, isolated, or deprived of vital training and mentoring. And communication breakdowns can impede innovation, trust, job satisfaction, and performance .IBM discovered that workers who spend three or more days without talking to a manager or colleagues start to feel disconnected. For one, you are more susceptible to get easily distracted by things around you: a popular distraction: the phone! When you first start working at home job or business, it will be very tempting to allow personal calls and other household chores to crawl into your workday when your not looking. It is necessary to make sure that you do not do personal business during office hours. Besides when you are in a work setting, you leave home duties until after you punch out right? So the same rule applies when you work at home. For the hours you dedicate to your job, you need to focus on those hours. A second disadvantage of working from home is that you may not have time to spend time with family or leisure activities. Some individuals may become to wrapped up in their job, that they may end up neglecting their family and any leisure activities. Another disadvantage of working from home could be that some individuals may attempt the balancing act between work life and private life. People may underestimate the difficulty of trying to do too many things at once. This just requires too much time and superman willpower that alot of people would not be able to give. There is a need to have a high level of self discipline. Working from home is not all bad: there is definitely a flipside to it as well.
There are many advantages as well such as some turn to a combination of mobile devices, e-mail, instant messaging, and collaboration software to help colleagues stay in touch. IBM teams use tools that provide customizable online team spaces, or portals that can be tailored to a specific project--complete with calendars, task lists, discussion forums, and document libraries. One advantage of working at home would be saving time on commuting. With working from home, you would have more time to focus on work during the day, and then also have time for yourself for leisure activities in the evening; not be stuck in traffic like everyone else. When working from home, there is another plus side: expenses are then deductible. For either employees or self-employed individuals, you can deduct your internet, phone, supplies and even the square footage you use in your home to work. You can always ask for your company to pay for your internet access , phone line and needed supplies. This saves you a ton of money that would've been spent on these items. A third advantage would be that you will experience less anxiety and stress. By being in a work atmosphere, there is always so much competition and gossip going on among co-workers that it may take a mental and emotional impact on individuals. So it really seems like working from home has its advantages and disadvantages: its in between hard and easy.

Nofel Izz

JID MGMT
Jobs In Dubai

Nail your Dream Job in 5 Steps !!

Little time to prepare? – No problem; we’ve done the research for you.

Pursuing your dream job is a big step, so get the ultimate start by using these best practices for success.

1. Attitude - When was the last time you heard that someone negative actually had something work out well for them? Have a positive attitude and nothing will stand between you and your dream job. If interviews make you nervous, remember you are not the only one in the ‘hot seat’ – you are interviewing the company as well!

Be persistent and do not give up, there is no failure than that of not trying.

2. Resume – It is paramount that your resume be up-to-date and reader friendly (meaning well-spaced, formatted with bold headings and clear, short points). Highlight and prioritize pertinent experience and credits. Employers do not have time to ‘search’ your resume for relevant information.

Next, take time to tailor your resume and cover letter to the position you are applying for – doing so shows initiative and that you researched the role and matched your skills and experience to it. This is also a good chance for some reflection - to double check that the role would be a good fit for you, before moving forward.

3. The Company – Be sure to arm yourself with the best tools available. Research the company you are applying to: its origin, when it was established and major clients - Wikipedia can be a great resource for this. We are extremely fortunate to have such information at our fingertips and should take advantage of it. Ignore the bad press that you read, as there is bound to be some, just keep an open mind. Showing knowledge of current issues involving the company (whilst staying away from controversial topics) will say a lot about you.

4. Interview Psychology - It is important to present yourself in the way that you would like your prospective employer to see you: organized, sincere and capable. Before the interview, make sure you have: at least two crisp copies of your resume; business cards and; any references you’d like to share.

Practice a firm and assured handshake. Be polite, smile and make eye contact. This can be challenging for many – bear in mind that between 3 and 5 seconds is an acceptable length of time for professional eye contact. It is important to engage and really interact with the person who is speaking to you, also where possible try to draw on your own experiences during your interview.

Interestingly enough, research has shown that it is acceptable to glance at your hands, your lap or any materials (resume or references) that may be the subject of discussion–balance is the key, just don’t overdo it!

Lastly, never underestimate the impact of simple gestures: arriving on time, dressing appropriately (dark colors make the best first impressions) and addressing your interviewer by name and paying attention to your posture – no slouching!

5. And last but certainly not least…Breathe! Be calm in the knowledge that you have prepared and made your best impression, now sit back and relax.

JID MGMT.

Jobs In Dubai

Fresh Grads in Demand... !!

The job market is improving, it really is. A recent study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that employers plan to hire 13% more new college grads this year than last year -- with business, engineering and computer fields taking top priority.

That's good news if you or someone you know is preparing to make the move from library stacks to a corporate cubicle. But it doesn't mean the perfect job will just fall in your lap. And misconceptions about job hunting, the working world and the entry-level employee's role can easily bog down a young professional's progress.

Improve your chances of finding your dream job. Don't get sucked into these 9 common job-hunting myths:

1 | Finding a job after college will be quick and easy

Although the job market for this year's college grads looks rosier than last year, don't expect the job offers to come rolling in. Finding work may be a cinch for a select few, but for the vast majority, it will still take serious effort.

The length of your hunt will depend on a variety of factors, including:

• The job market
• Your location
• Your qualifications
• The amount of time you dedicate to your search
• Your interviewing skills
• The types of resources you use to find job openings

If it takes a while, don't get discouraged. The average job search lasts four months, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. To make ends meet in the meantime, you may have to take a less glamorous (and lower-paying) gig. A few of my friends have worked in call centers or flipped burgers for a couple months after graduation -- just until they landed a job where they could use their degree.

2 | I'll make at least x Amount at my first job out of college

As graduation nears, you're probably fantasizing about the wads of money you'll make as a member of the working world and how you'll spend your new-found cash. As such, you'll be happy to hear that according to the NACE, 2004/05 grads can expect higher starting salaries than last year's. There's nothing wrong with a little planning, but make sure your expectations are in line with reality.

3 | There's no room for negotiation with an entry-level salary

With some jobs, this may very well be true. But most employers leave some wiggle room in their offers to new employees, even those that are fresh out of school. The bottom line: You won't know unless you ask.

4 | The person who gets hired is the one who can do the job best

If you've got the skills, you're a shoo-in. Right?

Not so, says Hansen. More often than not, it comes down to interviewing skills and your rapport with your interviewers. Your qualifications, education and experience will usually get you an interview, but then "you need to prove why you are the best person to fill the job."

Make a good first impression by showing up on time and looking clean and professional. Act confident but not cocky. Use concrete examples to illustrate your qualifications. Maintain eye contact and relax.

5 | A well-designed resume will boost my chances of getting noticed

A snazzy resume may actually be a hindrance. Most employers accept resumes via email, but many won't open resume attachments either out of laziness or fear of contracting a computer virus. Your chance of getting noticed: zilch.

The solution: Create two copies of your résumé. The first one should be a simple version you can paste into the body of an e-mail -- sans formatting. That means no fancy fonts, bolds, italics, underlines or special characters. Keep each line under 65 characters and replace bullets with plain old asterisks, Resume Builder (see Sample) The second resume should be nicely formatted for you to carry in-hand to your interview.

6 | What I think of an employer doesn't matter as much as what s/he thinks of me

Of course you're eager to impress. But in your zeal to get hired, don't forget that the employer must pass your screening too. Many first-time job hunters overlook this key point until it's too late. Think about this: There are 168 hours in a week. If you spend 40 of those at work, that means you'll pass one-quarter of your week there. You better make sure you like the place

7 | If a company isn't currently hiring, I can't get an interview

One of the most powerful job-hunting tools is an informational interview. You can arrange an informal interview with people working in your field to learn more about working in the industry, get expert career advice and, most importantly, build a network of contacts in your field.

A friend of mine in college was interested in working in the insurance industry, and he'd heard good things about an employer in the area. It wasn't hiring at the moment, but he set up an interview with one of its executives to talk generally about a career in the industry. He took a copy of his resume with him, and the exec offered to keep it on file should an opening arise. Two weeks later, he was called in for an interview for an opening that the firm hadn't even advertised yet. And he got the job.

Not all informational interviews will result in a job offer, but they're time well spent. It may not pay off immediately, but later in your career, you may reap the benefits of the contacts you made and advice you received.

You can find more on Dubai Hiring trends by posting a Question to Anna - the career guidance expert @Jobs In Dubai

Happy Job hunting.. Post a comment if you need any further help.

Thanks

Santosh Koshy

Best Practices to get hired in Dubai

Searching for a Job in Dubai is tougher these days. Let me give some tips at the recession-hit time to find a Job in Dubai.

Dubai is probably one of the most attractive places in the planet where there is an active job market – where you have tax-free Salary / Income. There are many ways for you to get placed in Dubai / UAE. Try applying from your home country and get interview scheduled before you come to Dubai or you can come to Dubai on a Visit Visa and search for a job-Dubai is promoting this. Another possible way is to consult with a Recruitment Agency and upload your resume with JobsInDubai. Use references, contacts if you have, newspapers are another medium that can help you to find a position that matches your profile.

A best tip, which I can suggest you for getting an employment, is networking. Therefore, you should actively try to network in the Dubai because it will give you unbelievable results. To get a job in Dubai is very much possible and is very easy than any other countries. In Dubai they mainly concentrate on your experience and your communication skill. How effectively you communicate that makes impression on you, it makes your way easier. You must convince your hiring manager that you are the best qualified of all available candidates. I personally know many admin managers, GM, production managers and other similar managerial positions, they don’t have a MBA or other required qualification but they know how to communicate and how to attract people. And another truth is that most of them were initially placed as Junior Executive or Office Coordinator and gradually they acquired their current positions through their effort and experience.

As we all know interview is a face-to-face interaction between two parties – one necessarily has a contractual or full time employment need and the other considered filling that need. However, it’s better if you consider the interview just as a meeting to avoid your nervousness, but make sure don’t take this meeting too casually also. It’s nothing more than tete-a-tete interaction.
Your mission is to create a rapport with the interviewer; you must understand the style of communication of your interviewer and mirror it. That means, if your hiring manager is soft spoken and nervous and you are loud, boisterous and dominant then you can imagine the consequences of the meeting. That might create an over estimation of your character. Therefore, it’s very important to understand the nature, tone of voice, eye contact, physiology even the mood of the hiring manager. Then you try to match presentation closely to his or hers. Eye contact and your body language are very important factor. Similar to popular belief, opposite doesn’t attract. According to my recruitment experience, recruiter wishes to hire people they like and who are similar to their temperament. This Sample Interview would help you further to figure out the Do’s & Dont’s of Interview.

Happy Job Hunting... Feel free to post a comment or follow me on Twitter to know more on your job search mission in Dubai.

Santosh Koshy