Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Aon Study Shows Employee Engagement Is Improving - Somewhat

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Aon Study Shows Employee Engagement Is Improving - Somewhat In Aon Hewitt’s 2013 Trends in Global Employee Engagement report, a grim portrait of the post-recession business world emerges. Right in the introduction, better employee engagement is cited as the solution to our current ills. “Pay freezes, benefit cuts and layoffs are still at the forefront of many employees’ thinking. Additionally, the continued high rates of unemployment, lack of hiring, and extended hiring cycles for open positions create further stress and uncertainty for employees, making it more difficult to achieve or maintain healthy levels of engagement. Striving to maintain a higher level of employee engagement not only contributes toward short-term survival during economic volatility, but also is a key factor for longer-term business performance and better positioning when market conditions become favorable. The companies that get engagement right can enjoy a surplus of competitive advantage in talent strategy and business results that is hard for others to replicate.” Improvements in Overall Work Experience The annual study of more than 2,500 organizations representing 3.8 million employees found that employee engagement levels rose to 60 percent in 2012, up from 58 percent in 2011 and 56 percent in 2010. The way employees perceive their overall work experience also improved in 2012. Areas with the highest increases in employee perception scores were: Effective communication (+7 percentage points) Business unit/division leadership (+6 percentage points) Managing performance (+5 percentage points) Innovation (+5 percentage points) Recognition (+5 percentage points) Engagement scores dropped in the areas of: Sense of accomplishment (-3 percentage points) Customers (-3 percentage points) Organization reputation (-2 percentage points) For more results from the Aon report, check out Intuits Fast Track blog.

Head2Head How NOT to Handle a Group Interview

Head2Head How NOT to Handle a Group Interview Group interviews exist not only to test your personal skills and competencies, but to examine your demeanour in a  team setting. We know theres no i in team; a selfish person who is great at their job will be more  hindrance than help for a business in the long run. HR and other business leaders are placing an increasing importance on cultural fit in  recruitment endeavours these days, as everyone  knows this  goes hand in hand with employee engagement levels and tenure. Given a toxic hire often has  a negative ripple effect throughout  an  organisation, employers want to make sure theyre hiring people who will fit in personality-wise as well as skills-wise.  If youre gearing up to go into a group interview,  consider these no-nos when shaping your approach: Dont admit early defeat Standing out from the crowd can be difficult. Group interviews are likely to  be full  of different personality types, and each individual will have their own way of doing things; their own views and opinions. If you know you struggle to cut through the noise in a group setting, dont just throw your hands in the air  before the interview and hope for the best. Your  nerves will be fighting to get the better of you, but a group interview is an opportunity to challenge yourself and beat the odds, so embrace it. Interviewers will want to see persistence, dedication and some hunger for success! You need to bring energy to the interview and keep your eyes on the prize if you can get through this round,  you will be a whole lot loser to bagging the role. Dont  go in under-prepared Being able to offer impressive contributions during group activities and conversations largely comes down to preparation. Just because group interviews might involve impromptu team activities, dont undermine yourself by going in ill-prepared. You still need to research the company, the role and brush up relevant skills, using the job description as a guide. Treat the group interview as though it were the final opportunity you to have to showcase your interest and suitability to the role, even if it is only the first round and with HR, not the actual hiring managers. When it comes to interviewing in competitive industries, every moment counts. Dont play it safe Group interviews are not the time to tip-toe on eggshells and be timid. If the interviewers asks a question, dont be the one who shies away from the limelight and lets others take centre- stage. If the interviewer is looking for a solution, dont be the one to state the obvious and offer safe, vanilla answers. Employers want to hire visionaries  and problem solvers who can add great value to a business, not just break even for them. This is the time to give yourself an extra boost of confidence to go for it not fade  into the background. Dont be a know-it-all There is always one person in an interview who tries to stand out in the worst possible ways, whether it be by hogging question time, dictating group presentations or  showing off their expertise at inappropriate times.  Dont be afraid to take a managerial / organisational role in the team (as this will be highly regarded by managers who are looking for employees with leadership potential), just be sure to listen to everyones point of view and showcase your ability to lead people, not squash them. If youve scored yourself a group interview, congratulations! Now its time to do everything in your power to make sure you leave a lasting impression. For more nifty tips, check out this article:  http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/group-interview/