5 Ridiculous Company Rules to Make You Appreciate Your Job

5 Ridiculous Company Rules to Make You Appreciate Your Job We’ve all heard the entertaining stories of employees who got fired from their jobs for the most ridiculous reasons. Of course, what seems shocking to some appears perfectly sensible to others, otherwise those employees would still have jobs. But there can be no terminations without rules to be broken, and where there are ridiculous firings, there are usually ridiculous rules. A code of conduct is a necessity in any workplace, for without it, there would be no delineation between productivity and anarchy (as evidenced by the movie The Wolf of Wall Street). Nevertheless, in their effort to protect the company, achieve personal goals, or sometimes for no apparent reason, some employers instill rules that cross the line. Let’s look at a few examples. 1. Kissing the boss How would you feel if you were required to kiss your boss every morning before starting work? Such is the case with a company that sells home-brewing equipment in Beijing, China. Apparently, each morning, female employees are required to line up and kiss their boss before starting their shifts. The head of the company claims it enhances corporate culture, boosts employee morale and fosters a closer bond between employees and their superior. Not surprisingly, this rule has been causing quite an uproar on social media, with photos of the daily routine going viral. While the company claims the women haven’t complained, other sources say differently. According to Shanghaiist, “While the women were initially reluctant to attend the morning ceremony, almost all of them have since given in to their boss’ demand. Only two female staff members absolutely refused to kiss their boss and resigned from the company.” 2. Timed bathroom breaks Remember in elementary school when bathroom breaks were timed? This is also the reality that call center employees in Norway experience. Thanks to a new hi-tech surveillance system, workers at a Norwegian insurance company have exactly eight minutes of restroom time before an alarm sounds, accompanied by flashing lights. This alerts management that the offending employee is away from his or her desk beyond the allotted time. Employers claim the reason for the time limit is to avoid leaving call center phones unattended. However, unions and workplace inspectors have called the practice “highly intrusive” and a potential breach of employees’ human rights. This isn’t the first time a Norwegian company has been reprimanded for its overbearing bathroom rules. Recently, another company made employees sign a “visitor’s book” before using the restroom, while a third employer issued workers an electronic key card to gain access to the toilet so they could monitor breaks. 3. No pointing Disney may be home to the Enchanted Kingdom, but according to Guff, they’re well known for imposing some unique and stringent rules upon their employees. For example, pointing is forbidden. When employees are asked for directions, they are required to point with two fingers or their whole hand. Because pointing with one finger is considered offensive in some cultures, Disney rule makers don’t want to risk offending their international guests. Another unique rule is the requirement that employees pick up trash if they see it on the ground. However, they are not allowed to bend over, but must pick it up in a “scooping” motion. Finally, you’ll never hear a Disney employee say “I don’t know.” If they’re asked a question they don’t know the answer to, they must find a phone and call an operator. 4. No pyjamas Ever wish you could wear your pyjamas to an interview? Apparently in Ireland, too many people did, causing the need for banning the practice. Damastown social welfare office in Dublin banned interviewees from wearing pyjamas, posting a notice stating “pyjamas are not regarded as appropriate attire when attending Community Welfare Service at these offices.” Surprisingly, this is just the latest in a string of pyjama bans, including schools in Belfast, Ireland and Middlesborough, England, a store in Cardiff, Wales and attempts at a city-wide ban in Caddo Parish, Louisiana after the parish’s commissioner was offended by a pyjama-clad individual at a local Walmart. 5. Public spankings Apart from termination, what’s the worst that can really happen to you for not excelling at your job? How about a public spanking followed by having your head shaved? According to online reports by the BBC, this is what happened at Changzhi Zhangze Rural Commercial Bank in northern China. During a recent training session for 200 employees, eight were singled out for receiving low scores in a training exercise. The trainer then subjected the eight employees to four rounds of spankings with a stick, followed by shaving the men’s heads and cutting the women’s hair. While the trainer was not a bank employee, the bank’s chairman and deputy governor were suspended for failing to check the content of the course. While the trainer issued an apology, it only added to the online outrage the incident caused, as many felt the apology was directed toward the bank’s executives and not its employees. A few years ago when Reddit posed the question, “What is the dumbest rule your school or workplace has actually enforced?” it brought to light a wealth of ridiculous responses. No water bottles, no emails without a purpose, no turning things off, no carrying boxes, no cell phone-shaped objects, no saying ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes â€" these are just a few of the beauties keeping workplaces safe from inherent evil. I’m sure every company has a rule or two that its employees could do without. But when looking at the extreme examples cited above, the majority of us can leave the office taking comfort in the fact that we really don’t have it so bad.

9 Questions to Take Your Brand to the Next Level - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

9 Questions to Take Your Brand to the Next Level - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Personal branding is an iterative process. As you change career paths, relocate, find new lines of work or climb upward at your current job, its helpful to step back and reflect on what makes you, you. Answer the questions below to make sure youre in tune with You, Inc., and can articulate your value effectively to those in a position to advance your career. (For a deeper analysis of your brand, complete ReachCCs Brand Quiz, developed by William Arruda of Reach Personal Branding -the source of a number of questions below). 9 questions that will take your brand to the next level: 1. Can you state your three most relevant and compelling brand attributes (adjectives that describe you)? My top three brand attributes are: 2. Do you know what those around you think is your greatest strength? Those around me consider my greatest strength: 3. Can you clearly describe what differentiates you from your competitors? What differentiates me from my competitors is: 4. Do you have a positioning statement that describes what you offer, for whom and how youre different? My positioning statement goes like this: 5. Can you clearly describe your target audience â€" those people who need to know about you so that you can achieve your goals? My target audience is: 6. Do you regularly Google yourself and proactively manage your brand online? Yes / No (see my Online Visibility Audit, LinkedIn Audit, Facebook Audit and Google Audit for tips) 7. Do you have a coach, mentor, or someone helping you improve yourself? Yes / No 8. Do you have an area of thought-leadership or specific point of view that you are known for? Yes / No 9. Do you know the next step in the evolution of your brand (i.e. What you need to do next to increase your visibility among your target audience members)? The next step in the evolution of my brand is: Conclusion Remember that your brand is how other people feel about you. You need to understand what other people consider your strengths, weaknesses and differentiators. Ask friends, family and coworkers for their objective opinion on what makes you uniquely you. If their thoughts are consistent with your self perceptions, congratulations! Now its time to proactively and compellingly articulate Brand You to your target audience. Be consistent and 100% authentic. Good luck, and let me know how it goes! Author: Pete Kistler is a leading Online Reputation Management expert for Generation Y, a top 5 finalist for Entrepreneur Magazine’s College Entrepreneur of 2009, one of the Top 30 Definitive Personal Branding Experts on Twitter, a widely read career development blogger, and a Judge for the 2009 Personal Brand Awards. Pete manages strategic vision for Brand-Yourself.com, the first online reputation management platform for job applicants, named one of the Top 100 Most Innovative College Startups in the U.S.

8 Awesome Ways to Make Money as a Stay at Home Mom -

8 Awesome Ways to Make Money as a Stay at Home Mom - Being a mom life is not that easy as it usually does. You have to do your chores, handle your kids, husband, and do everything that makes a life complete. Things go messy sometimes and may be it can become little tougher paying paychecks and your bills. However, this is not a usual case but you could be one of them. Working at home as a mom can be a great choice which can help you pay bills and save you some money for your beauty products. Still, with the time left, there are other several ways to make money. And thats exactly what we are going to discuss today. Let’s dive into the top ways to make money as a stay at home mom: Become a YouTube creator Cooking, I assume, is a daily chore of yours. You need to do just that, but record while you do it. Make different dishes, prepare and present it nicely, and consistently upload your How to or such videos. Be patient because the cooking niche on YouTube is crowded yet rewarding. If you are not interested in cooking, there are other niches too. Start v-logging about your daily life. Share beauty hacks make-up tutorials, for example. Besides that, you can make exercise or yoga videos at home too. Once your YouTube channel starts to take off, i.e., get enough subscribers and watch time, you will be qualified for monetization. That means YouTube will begin to show your ads on your videos, and you will be able to make money from them. Moreover, if you can grow a substantial audience and build your influence, you can get sponsors too. Alternatively, affiliate marketing is an option, as well. Freelancing Freelancing is the most popular way to make money at home. If you are educated and qualified, you can easily make money online. As a freelancer, you can work with small or big companies temporarily and provide them your services Many people with no skills make money for completing easy tasks, but if you have some skills, you can make much more say graphic design, copywriting, programming, etc. And to get started, freelancing platforms are an excellent choice. Start with Fiverr, Upwork, PPH, Freelancer, etc. like sites. Alternatively, online communities such as ones on Facebook and Linkedin are fantastic too. Sell Products online If you have some stuff or you can make something at home, you can sell it online. Start with established e-commerce stores such as Amazon, eBay, walmart and all others. Alternatively, if you are marketing savvy (and I know you wont need me to tell this), try woo-commerce or Shopify. Just remember you have to manage all by yourself in case you don’t have money to spend. Sometimes it becomes quite unmanageable. Managing a business isn’t that easy as it sounds. So considering other Business ideas for stay at home moms can be a great choice. Sell Food Products Of course, you are a master at cooking. Why not sell it? For example, if you are an Indian, things like papad, pickle, khakhra, etc. come easy to you, and theres a market for that online and offline. In the beginning, you can sell your food to your relatives, and they will tell their relatives, and this goes on a good old word of mouth chain to be precise. If the food tastes good and remains fresh, then the customer will order again and also tell other people about you. Note that deliver the order at the time to your customer and dont make them wait for so long. Solve Captchas Have you ever noticed those irritating and confusing images or text that you need to solve to submit any online application form? If yes, somebody solves that captcha puzzle before us, so that when we enter the solved alphanumeric code, it can verify your answer with the preloaded correct answer. You can be that somebody. There are plenty of websites on the internet to earn by solving captchas. If you can do it, this is an easy way to make money in your free time. Sell your photographs Do you have any photography skills? If you do, selling photos online can be a great profitable option. Online websites like Shutterstock, Istockphoto, Gettyimages, etc.  These websites offers loyalty fees to people for sharing their pictures witin the marketplace where people look for professional photos for their brands or business. In short, if you have the required skillset, this is an amazing way to showcase your talent and get paid for it. To start here are some websites to selling photos online. Sell your crafts If you have a crafting hobby, you can make crafts and sell it. Handicraft, sewing, crochet, quilting, and drawing everything works. Just do it and sell them off on sites like Etsy. Indeed, an excellent way to cash in on the craft. Join Focus groups or surveys A focus group gathers people and discusses specific topics like what product will work and which one will not. Its a survey/research, basically. Focus groups are a daily practice for businesses. They outsource such work to other sites, and you can register to such sites to earn by providing your perspective â€" a simple way to earn as a homemaker. The list goes on but starts with little steps. Be patient with every source mentioned above. The internet is like a tree: you plant a seed today, and you will reap fruits after the necessary time is over. So, treat it as a tree, keep watering.

5 Ways To Earn Money for Travel

5 Ways To Earn Money for Travel Almost everyone at some point has a desire to travel. However, for many of us, this is just a pipe dream, bogged down and away from sight given the responsibilities of work. However, what if there was a way to see the world while still maintaining the upkeep of your life back home? While it’s going to take a solid amount of blood, sweat, and tears, you too could set yourself up to earn and travel at the same time. In fact, once you’ve got your foundation set, this might be some of the easiest money you’ve ever made. Here’s how:  Rent Your Home  If you’re lucky enough to be a homeowner, then it might not be a bad idea to try and rent it out so you can afford travel. While your local market is largely going to be what determines the rent price you can charge, this can be something that could take care of your monthly expenses while you’re away. Plus, if you set everything up to make the process seamless, this is a relatively simple way to make some passive income. First and foremost, if you’re going to be away, then it’s imperative you have all the resources necessary in place in case something goes awry. For example, having a trusted plumber or electrician on call, as well as communicating when you’re going to be available in case something goes wrong with your tenants. Additionally, updating your home to newer appliances, as well as being energy efficient can both help you save while allowing you to charge more. All-in-all, this strategy is one that’s great for earning while you’re away and should be highly considered if you own a home.  Pick Up A Side Hustle  Having a side hustle can be one of the most lucrative ways to earning travel money quickly, especially if you have little to no debt. According to the Recode, approximately 5 million people are currently working in the ‘gig economy,’ which highlights how these types of contract work and can be a tremendous way to make some extra money. Whether it be driving Uber, doing design, or even walking dogs, taking on something that makes an additional $100-200 a week can add up quickly, and will have you in another country in no time.  Start Reselling Clothes  As an extension of the side hustle, a popular trend lately has been entering the resell market, especially with fashion. As noted by ThredUp, apparel resale accounts for $18 billion in revenue per year, which is a pretty significant figure when you factor in the margins that people are buying and selling for. Check your closet to see what you might find that a secondhand or boutique might sell. Additionally, while it will take some digging and a keen eye, finding items in a thrift store to bring into more high-end resellers is also an excellent way to make some serious cash. Once you develop a pattern with this, the potential earnings you could have will be tremendous. All it requires is a little homework and some patience.  Get A Remote Job  Remote work has been an incredibly popular trend over the past few years (especially amongst millennials), and it’s easy to see why. As noted by The New York Times, approximately 43% of employees spent some time working remotely last year. And who can blame them? After all, while you’re going to have to dedicate a few hours a day to grinding while on the road, the payoff is the ability to make your own schedule, as well as go where you want.  Take some time to search through job boards like Angel, We Work Remotely, or Remote OK, as these sites will have numerous opportunities no matter your skill level. Become A Tastemaker  Although it’s going to take quite a bit of work to establish yourself, becoming a tastemaker can be a dream opportunity to get paid (as well as potentially eat and sleep for free) on the road. Unfortunately, this is somewhat of a situation where you’ll have to spend money to make money, but after you’ve created your personal brand and gained some traction, the paychecks will be well worth it. As noted by AdWeek, influencers can make anywhere from $300 to $800 per post depending on the number of followers you have, and landing even just two or three of those a day could expense your trip tremendously. Brush up on your social media and blogging game, and this might be the perfect chance for you to travel. With so many of us having the desire to travel, what are some strategies you’ve used to earn money for trips? Comment with your insights below.    

The official young persons guide to why and how to vote

The official young persons guide to why and how to vote Now, if youve got even a casual interest in the world at large, you may have heard something about an election coming up (June 8th, to be precise). If youve managed to register to vote before the May 22nd deadline; top work, superstar. Treat yourself to a lollipop for being so well organised.  ?? With so many vital issues on the line in this election (lets not get it twisted, this is about way more than Brexit), now is the time for our generation to stand up for ourselves and each other and make our voices heard. Theres tons of important things to talk about from zero-hour contracts to tuition fees, LGBT rights to the NHS. If any of those things affect you or someone you know, youre more interested in politics than you realise. Kingston councillor and record store owner Jon Tolley explains it better than we can. YOU. ALREADY. ARE interested in politics. so make sure you have a say in #GE2017 https://t.co/876hwJZbcr pic.twitter.com/MCJAKhYN70 â€" jon tolley (@JonTolleyTweets) 16 May 2017 All  that being said, its time for us young people to express ourselves in the ballot box. Its true, the way our democracy is set up isnt perfect. If youre disillusioned with party politics and you feel like your vote wont count, you have every right. But at the same time, you should understand that the people that dont want the status quo to change or improve are counting on you feeling that way. In the 2015 election, more people didnt vote for anyone than voted for the winning party.    An astonishing 246,487 young people signed up to have their say on the last day, but thats only a job half done. It doesnt matter what your allegiance might be. If you vote and encourage others to do the same we could swing this thing, boys and girls. If you dont know where to start, let us give you the skinny. Your guide to getting informed There are all kinds of neat resources out there that help you figure out how to use your vote if youre not already sure. A lot of them will demystify the whole process too. Here are just a few: GE2017.com Here youll find a quiz where you can find out what party aligns most with your beliefs and, if youre a student, a  calculator which tells you whether your vote will have more impact in your home constituency or university town. ISideWith Another tool thatll tell you, well who you side with, but with polls on specific issues, news and data. Itll tell you what party is right for you without you having to risk getting tripped up by media bias. Use Your Voice An unbiased guide to the ins-and-outs of the political system in this country. Your Vote Matters This site will tell all about how an election works and how you can do your bit Tactical 2017  We wanna make it clear that Debut isnt endorsing or condemning anyone. But if you did want to vote tactically, this website will explain how you can do it in your constituency. TheyWorkForYou Punch your postcode in and it will tell you how your MP has voted in parliament, so you can see if they are truly standing up for your needs. Bite The Ballot A charity looking to stop political apathy among young people and make sure they get to have their say. The Election and Human Rights by RightsInfo Analysis of the three main parties manifestos (more on the way) on how they approach human rights issues for different groups of people. The Politics Project A hub for all things election-related, with free resources about voter registration, the political system, issues and more. How to vote on election day   Voting on the day itself is as easy as you like. When the time comes, heres what you need to do and need to know. 1. Identify your local polling station If registered you should get a polling card delivered to you door within the next two weeks. Thatll tell you where your polling station is and how long its open. Its usually a school or church hall in your local area.  If the address of the polling station isnt familiar to you, make sure to seek it out prior to election day so you know what youre doing. IMPORTANT: Most polling stations open from 7 in the morning and open as late at 10pm, so dont think that if you have a 9 to 5 you wont be able to vote. Make sure to pick a time and punch it into your diary for June 8th posthaste. 2.  Follow the instructions on your ballot paper Therell be instructions on your ballot paper telling you exactly how to make your choice. Its important that you follow these to the letter and not write anything else on your ballot or your vote may not count. Therell be a Presiding Officer in the polling station on hand to help if you have any trouble. 3. Take photos! But not inside. Taking a pic of your I voted sticker or posing outside the polling station is a big yes. It reminds your pals to also do their civic duty. However, take a picture inside and you could be breaching secrecy of ballot rules.  So, you know. Dont do that. IMPORTANT: If you live in Northern Ireland, youll also need photo ID to vote in the election. Passport or driving license will do nicely. Voting postal and proxy Cant make it to a polling station to save your life? No problem. Its too late to apply for a postal vote now, but you can still appoint a person to vote for you by proxy. Take note because theres a different form for each different situation. You can vote by proxy if: A disability stops you from getting to a polling station If youre away on a course or being otherwise educated If youre overseas If youre away for work If youre away as part of the Armed Forced You can find each of these different forms on the Your Vote Matters site. Best of luck to everyone voting and remember to show the world that young people care about our future by turning up to vote on June 8th! Images via Bite The Ballot and Jelly London. Love the graphics? Download and share them everywhere using the #TurnUp hashtag.   Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Five Little-Known Ways to Stand Out in Your Interview - CareerAlley

Five Little-Known Ways to Stand Out in Your Interview - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Interviews can be very tough, and they are the most important part of the job application process. Its your first chance to meet with your prospective employers, and the impression that you make here can make or break your application. Weve talked about the interview process extensively before, in our article Ace That Phone Interview!, where we discussed how to make a good impression without the aid of face-to-face contact. There are tons of different ways to give a good interview, and many have been discussed at length. Whether youre doing your research on the company to practicing for interview questions ahead of time, all types of preparation are important. However, there are some methods of preparation that are equally important but not as well known. So, here are five unusual ways to stand out in your interview. Research Your Interviewers Image by rawpixel from Pixabay Many articles on acing your interview will tell you to research the company, but youll help your case even more by researching your interviewers as well. You can try calling ahead to the HR office to ask about who will be handling your interview, or look them up on LinkedIn or other similar websites. Researching your interviewers will give you a better idea of who they are in the company, where their interests lie, and how to build rapport with them. Itll also help calm your nerves and prepare you for the interview by removing the element of surprise from the equation, making you more confident and ready to take on their questions. There are tons of different ways to give a good interview, and many have been discussed at length. Whether you're doing your research on the company to practicing for interview questions ahead of time, all types of preparation are important. Tweet This Keep Up With Company News Image by rawpixel from Pixabay While research is an important part of preparing for an interview, many applicants will simply look up the company homepage and stop there. Although having a general grasp of the companys vision and mission is important, youre more likely to impress if you have a clear idea of how the company is performing and in what specific areas. You can look at a companys blog posts, or put out a Google Alert for related news. Forbes outlines this is one of the many ways that setting up Google Alerts can help your job search. Arrive Early, Not On Time Image by annca from Pixabay Being punctual is an important habit to cultivate in any aspect of your life in fact, Alore states that punctuality is essential for higher productivity and a better working relationship with your colleagues. But when it comes to job interviews, its time to go one better. Rather than simply being on time, try to be around 30-minutes to an hour early instead. Showing up early to an interview is important for several reasons. First, it shows that youre willing to go the extra mile for the job. Second, it allows you more time to familiarize yourself with the company building and atmosphere. Third, its an opportunity for you to center and calm yourself before your interview, ensuring that you arent frazzled or out of breath when its your turn to face the panel. Learn the Ins and Outs of Proper Communication Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay Communicating well is essential for any aspect of the job application process, but its impossible to overstate just how important it is. Proper communication allows you to get your ideas and thoughts across to your interviewers. It helps you prove your capabilities as a candidate, and shows them that you have a clear idea of the demands of the job as well as the purpose of the company. It also helps cement the impression that you are a confident, self-assured, and capable worker. Aviation Job Net lists the different ways that proper communication can help your case as a candidate, including how to communicate with prospective employers via phone, email, and how to make the right impression when starting a new position. Use Fashion to Your Advantage Image by Public Co from Pixabay Everyone knows that you have to dress to impress, but your choice of fashion during interviews is more than about simply dressing up. Your fashion says a lot about you, so this is a great opportunity to make an impression on your interview panel. This doesnt mean that you have to go all out when it comes to your outfit, but the right accessory may open up a world of opportunities during your interview. Clothing can be a great conversation starter, and bonding over the experience can help you build a better rapport with your interview panel. Anything from an understated yet unique collar pin to a scarf purchased from some exotic locale can be a memorable part of your overall look. Its also a chance to talk more about yourself and your personal history, which can humanize you in the eyes of your panel. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to nail the interview and get hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Efficient Email Writing Skill Resume

Efficient Email Writing Skill ResumeEvery man and woman are different, and so it is always better to be specific about what the qualifications of the applicant are in the case of an email writing skill resume. This is not the same as a typical resume, which only features the name and the address of the prospective employer. While it can still be impressive, a person would be much more impressed if the resume included their educational history, experiences and the course they have completed.The webmaster needs to get in touch with as many websites as possible, which may be a very daunting task if you're trying to narrow down the choices you have. An excellent method for this is to submit an email writing skill resume that shows off the number of websites you have written for, which also highlights your site content and number of services you have provided. Include links to each website if possible, which could help make it easier for the webmaster to locate you later on.A resume shoul d not only highlight the past achievements of the applicant. It should also highlight the skills that they possess and the expertise they bring to the table. When talking about skills, the possibilities are endless. Examples include marketing and online business writing skills, content writing, SEO/SEM, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and web design, and more.A great resume will also contain relevant experience, which highlights what type of work they did previously, and how much time they spent in it. There should be some sort of general experience mentioned somewhere, such as writing articles, proofreading other writers, working for a certain company, or even helping to start a business. This is necessary to show the prospective employer that the person has knowledge of specific topics and has experience in a particular field.An applicant may have degrees in business or marketing, but they may not necessarily have any professional background or experience. To showcase these capabilities, the candidate should state the areas they have worked on in their own words. This would include the problem solving skills they used while working in a particular industry, or the insight they gained from those experiences.The best way to get into touch with a person who has the ability to provide you with jobs is by using a text box. It is simply a box, which when filled out, lists the past employment. This is a great way to know which individuals you may be able to contact, as well as help the prospective employer to find out if you are the one they are looking for.The internet can be a great resource for getting jobs in the job market today. However, this doesn't mean you should simply jump at the first job that comes across your desk. As long as you have made a few phone calls, and sent a few emails, you should at least have a working knowledge of what they are looking for, and the best thing you can do is be as detailed as possible.These tips are me ant to be helpful in making sure you present a concise and comprehensive email writing skill resume. Always make sure that your text box is filled out with accurate information regarding your past employment.