4 Badass Ideas for a Team-Building Day With a Difference

4 Badass Ideas for a Team-Building Day With a Difference Everyone knows that a bit of team bonding can make a work environment more productive, more successful and more fun. So why is it that whenever somebody mentions a “team-building day”, everybody groans internally? Well, because team-building days are notoriously not fun. At best, they’re boring and cliché (trust falls? Really?). At worst, they’re awkward, patronizing and humiliating. These aren’t acceptable even for the stalest office environments where nobody knows each other â€" even less so if you work as part of a tight-knit group that takes on bigger challenges as part of your everyday roles. If you work in a demanding environment where your colleagues are more like family, here are four ideas for an adventurous day to let off some steam together. 1. Bushcraft and Orienteering What better way to bond with your colleagues than learning how to survive together in the wilderness? From basic bushcraft like building a shelter and starting a fire, to working as a team to navigate a wild environment, this type of activity day is practical, challenging and fun in equal measure. What happens? There are lots of places around the UK that offer bushcraft and orienteering, so the exact itinerary will depend on the center you choose. For the most part, you can expect to be navigating a forest or countryside using maps and compasses, learning how to start a fire from scratch and how to build a basic shelter in the wilderness. Expect to get wet and muddy! Teams will need a combination of brains and brawn to succeed, making this the perfect event to boost collaboration between skillsets and departments. Who’s it for? These types of activity days usually let you set your own level of difficulty, meaning that everyone can get something out of the experience, whether they’ve done this type of thing before or they’re a complete beginner. Bigger groups might prefer to split down into several teams â€" either mixing abilities so that each team has the chance to complete the same challenges or by having an “easy”, “medium” and “tough” option. A decent level of fitness will be required to make the most of the day, and certain parts of the day might not be suitable for those with reduced mobility (and it won’t be much fun for spectators). Best to call up and discuss your requirements if you think your team might have particular needs. 2. Team Gladiator Assault Course Fancy proving your abilities as a team by facing a grueling physical challenge? Don’t let a few obstacles stand between you and victory â€" push every muscle in your body as part of an adrenaline-fuelled team-building day on a gladiator assault course. What happens? The gladiator assault course will pit your team against nets, tire paths, sheer walls and water obstacles to see whether you can claim victory or get defeated by the course. Compete together for strength and honor, cheering each other on to reach the finish line in one piece â€" albeit sweaty, muddy and absolutely exhausted. If you actually manage to complete the course? You’ll be given the chance to repeat the challenge, going head-to-head with your colleagues to claim the fastest time. Who is it for? As the name might suggest, this level of assault course is designed for participants that have a good level of fitness. This particular run is intended to be challenging and might not suit teammates with limited fitness or restricted mobility. 3. White Water Rafting Take an exhilarating ride down a stretch of raging river rapids, with a single guide and the expertise of your team to keep you afloat. One of the most popular water-based activities, the thrill of white water rafting is a great way to bond with colleagues in a new, challenging environment. What happens? After a full safety briefing, your team will be provided with wetsuits, life-jackets, helmets, paddles and splash jackets before hitting the water. Once you’ve learned how to ‘read the river’, you will head into boats in groups of 6-8, led by a trained raft guide. Each rapids course is given a rating, with ‘1’ describing calm, flat water and ‘5’ indicating the highest level of adventure (and risk). An easier course will provide you with an enjoyable, bouncy ride, while the most challenging routes will involve fiercer water and require technical skill to navigate narrow channels. If you decide to go rafting in summer, you’ll probably find that the water is much calmer. You’ll still have a go at the rapids, but you can also try your hand at more leisurely water sports like body surfing. Who’s it for? Needless to say, you have to be confident in fast-moving water to be able to enjoy white water rafting, although being a strong swimmer is not mandatory. Weight restrictions may apply and this activity is not suitable for pregnant women, although most centers welcome spectators. 4. Specials Ops Spy School Don’t think your team will be up for all of that running around and getting wet malarkey? Take them on a role-playing secret mission instead, where you’ll operate under code names and forge a new identity. Based on the real-life taskforce formed by Churchill during WW2, the Special Ops Executive day is about teaching you all the skills you need to carry out secret activities on behalf of the British Government. What happens? In a team of up to ten people, you and your colleagues will undergo weapons and combat training, including a session with Welrods, sleeve guns, pistols and thumb knives. You’ll also get to work with grenades and plastic explosives and learn how to carry out covert tasks like dead drops and coded messages. Once you’ve completed your Special Ops training you’ll sit down to a wartime-inspired ration lunch and receive your brief. The mission? Put your new skills into action by taking on the role of an undercover British agent that’s been sent into occupied France. You’ll be tasked with causing chaos and obtaining intel on the Nazi advance. For more information about the SOE team building days, have a look at this explanatory post here. Who’s it for? The Special Ops Executive day is for anyone that’s ever been curious about the clandestine lives of specially-trained wartime operatives. Whether you’ve wanted to try your hand at clever disguises and covert surveillance or fancy a go at close combat skills with a retro twist, this is the perfect day for you and your team. About the author:  Mike James  is an experienced business writer specializing in HR, tech, and cybersecurity. On the latter, he has contributed to many of the leading publications both online and in print â€" such as StaySafeOnline, GlobalSign, Tech London and more.

Why the New Facebook Ad Methods Mean Bad News for Universities

Why the New Facebook Ad Methods Mean Bad News for Universities Everybody at the moment is talking about the ooohs and aaahs of social media and how universities, recruiters, companies, Presidents, Prime Ministers and every other thing on this planet should be on social media. Thats all well and good, but what happens when these social media platforms try different things, only because they need to make money? Traditional advertising (which can go wrong as well) is shifting and adapting to social media advertising, but a certain Facebooks attempt with a new advertising model could be bad for universities. Facebook Suggested Stories or Sponsored Stories Recently I came across two posts on Facebook, I had subscribed to neither of the page. Both posts were either suggested or sponsored. In one case, it was by OnlineDegrees.com, except they were speaking about University of Liverpool. And people who saw that post were not posting very nice comments about it. More importantly, users didnt want to see that post on their news  feeds in the first place, and instantly users expressed their frustration in the comments below the post! Heres an image of the post I am talking about: What Else Can Go Wrong In Facebook Ads? The Facebook ad above is perfectly fair. An online website about online degrees advertising one of the universities that offer online degrees in the UK to someone on Facebook in the UK. The trouble? A lot of people on Facebook use it for personal reasons. And Facebook is randomly adding these sponsored or suggested stories in users news feeds. Which a lot of people think = spam. In the above post, a lot of people commenting were having a go at the University of Liverpool, even though it had no part to play in it. What can that university do about this? My fear is that the same will start happening to more universities. As the number of review and third-party university comparison sites  like Compare The Uni and the new Real Uni Guide grows, universities cant manage how their names are used in social media. For example, any of the above-mentioned comparison sites can advertise on Facebook through sponsored or suggested stories and use any universitys name and their logo! And then all the negative comments below that post will be directed at the university. I cant figure out a solution for now. Maybe Facebook users will eventually start ignoring these ads, but for now, the users are having a proper go at these posts. Good luck to universities managing their online reputation! photo credit: iluvcocacola via photopin cc 5

The psychology of quitting

The psychology of quitting I am at a hotel. I think Im dying. I have a bruise from where the Farmer slammed me into our bed post. I took the kids and went to a hotel so I could have time to think. I think I need to move into a hotel for a month. The Farmer told me that he will not beat me up any more if I do not make him stay up late talking to me. If you asked him why he is still being violent to me, he would tell you that Im impossible to live with. That I never stop talking. That I never leave him alone. How he cant get any peace and quiet in his own house. Thats what hed tell you. And hed tell you that I should be medicated. Im trying to make sure this is a career blog, because, if nothing else, if I dont have a career then its pretty hard to have the discussion of why I am not leaving. I am having trouble writing, in case you havent noticed. Im not great at faking things. I am trying to do business as usual because we all know that I should have left the last time there was violence. Look. I cant even write the last time he beat me up. I tried to, but then I thought: No. Its my fault. I deserve it. Hes right. Im impossible to live with. Our couples therapist told us we will never make any progress. The reason that we will never make any progress is because neither of us can be vulnerable in a relationship. This might be true. The Farmer responded by saying he thinks we are making good progress. That was when he had made it to two months without hurting me. He said that was progress. I feel like I am never going to get past this if I dont write about it. Some days I wish I had a real job at Brazen Careerist where I had to go into an office every day. I think it might be good for me. Structure is good for me. I thought it would be such a big deal when I stopped working there. But its not. No one really cares. The company moves on. I show up to board meetings and there are people working there who Ive never even met. When I was growing up I always heard women say that you should have a career so you can take care of yourself without a husband. What if theres a divorce? You need to be able to support yourself! Dont let yourself get stuck. But now we know more about work. Its fun to have a career. Its fun to get the accolades that work provides. And we know more about domestic violence. You dont need a career to leave. You need something else. I am not sure what. I think I might need a hotel. But really I need to know what is keeping me there. Im pretty sure that blaming myself is keeping me there. I think, Why would I leave him when its all my fault? This is what I felt like when I was a kid. I was taken out of my parents house when I was fourteen. But I kept wanting to go back. I kept thinking that Id be better and theyd like me better. My parents were banned from family therapy because of poor behavior. The final blow to their time in family therapy was when they said the family is much better with me in the mental ward. So I did therapy alone, and after a while I got that feeling again: That maybe now I would be the type of person my parents liked and we could all get along. I lasted one day at my parents house before there was violence. I tell you this to tell you where my comfort zone is. Right there. And I tell you this to tell you that I blame myself for getting myself into this. I think I have poor relationship skills. I think I am probably only interested in sharing my feelings if Im writing them. I think my closest relationships in my life are with my kids and with you, the person reading my blog. The hardest thing about leaving is that no one cares. My parents were so relieved when the police finally took me out of the house. The police said, Were going to have to take her now, and my mom said, Thank you so much! Please do that. She wasnt mean when she said it. She was genuinely relieved. Thats how the Farmer will be, too. He broke up with me 50 times while we were dating. He loves the feeling of getting rid of me. Thats why I cant leave. I want someone to miss me.

26 Unique Interview Questions to Ask Employers - Career Sidekick

26 Unique Interview Questions to Ask Employers - Career Sidekick 26 Unique Interview Questions to Ask Employers Interview Preparation / https://www.edenscott.com/blog Most people ask the same generic questions in their interviewsIf you want to stand out in your interview,you should aim to ask the employer a couple of unique questions that nobody else has asked.This is how youll stick in their mind, make them remember you, and get more job offers.So to help with this, Im going to share 26 unique interview questions to ask an employer based on my experience as a recruiter.Lets get started1. What’s one thing you’re hoping a new person can bring to the role?This question is a great one to ask employers for a few reasons. First, it shows that youre focused on coming in and helping them. And it also shows that youre looking to come in and bring a new spark or new ideas, rather than just copying what everyone else is doing.Asking this question will quickly show the hiring manager or recruiter that youre smart, proactive, and different than the other candidates theyve seen.2. What is something that the most successful p eople in this role do differently than everyone else?This shows the hiring manager that youre thoughtful, different, and genuinely interested in being a top-performer in this job.This will make them excited to hire you and will help differentiate you from other job seekers.This question shows them that youre focused on coming in and being successful before theyve even offered you the job, which will help you get hired.3. What does it take to be successful here?Like the questions above, asking this question shows the employer that youre not just trying to find a paycheck and be an average performer; youre aiming to be the best.This is the type of person they want to place into a new position! Someone whos going to be working hard from day one to make sure they succeed. This makes the hiring team a lot less worried about you failing in the role, taking a long time to get up to speed, etc.4. What are some of the things you saw on my resume that indicated this role might be a good fit?T his is one of the more unique questions to ask the interviewer, and it will reveal what pieces of your background caught their attention. (Then, you can make sure to discuss those pieces whenanswering questions in the interview).5. What are the most important things you’re prioritizing or looking for in the candidate you hire?This is another excellent, unique question to ask the interviewer, and most employers dont hear this often if at all.This question focuses on their interview process and what theyre thinking behind the scenes. Its a thoughtful, interesting question, and its bold, too! It takes guts to ask this, so itll grab the hiring managers attention AND make them think a bit to give you a thoughtful response.Any time you can ask a question that makes the employer stop and think before they answer, its a good thing!6. What would success look like in the first 90 days?This follows the pattern of a couple of the questions above it shows them that youre focused on success in the role and already thinking ahead about how to be a big success for them!Thats going to get them excited about you as a candidate because it shows them that you care about helping their company, not just getting paid.7. Where do you stand right now in terms of the hiring process and interviewing candidates? And how long has the job been open?This is one of my favorite questions for an interviewer because it will provide you with valuable information about the hiring process and situation behind the scenes.This can help you know what to expect as the process continues, and its also an original question that most candidates arent asking, so youll stand out in the interview.8. What are some things that would make someonenota good fit for this role?Most hiring managers dont get asked this (which is a good thing for you!)Ask this question to show them that youre careful and thoughtful in your job hunt (which is the opposite of desperate) and that youre looking for therightfit, not t he first job offered to you.This is how to position yourself as a top-tier, A+ job candidate.9. Why did you say yes when the position you hold now was offered to you by this organization?Its nice to ask at least one question to learn about the interviewer and their personal experience at the company.Everyone likes to talk about themselves, so most interviewers will be happy to share their experiences here.Also, since this is an opinion-based question, you can ask it to multiple people. If you meet with three people, you can ask all three about this topic, so youll never run out of questions!You should go into each interview with at least one opinion-based question like this, so you know you wont run out of things to ask (in case you meet more people than expected). And always make sure its a creative question like the one above so you stand out.10. Whats the most challenging aspect of the role?This question shows employers that youre realistic and ready for a challenge and that you realize its not going to be comfortable at the beginning.Its also a relatively uncommon question that most job seekers dont ask the interviewer, so youll get bonus points for being different.You could follow-up to this question by asking how they recommend overcoming the challenge, too. That will impress them even more.11. What is your leadership style? (Ask this to your potential future boss)Ask this question to your potential next boss (not HR or a recruiter) to find out whether youll enjoy working under this type ofwork environmentand leadership style.Its a thoughtful question that they probably dont hear often, and itll make them think before answering. Thats always a good thing, especially since hiring managers are typically asked the same generic questions in the interview and dont have to think much about answering.12. What are your biggest concerns about the department/team right now?This is another question to ask the hiring manager in a job interview (not HR). Itll force t hem to think and be honest about the downsides of the job, or the struggles of the group.You dont want to accept a job without knowing what youre getting into, right?13. What information will I have access to as an employee, in terms of whats happening overall in the companyThe best companies Ive worked for have been transparent and open about big decisions, goals, and strategic direction. The worst employers were guarded and secretive. So this question will help you know how this employer treats information, and how they treat their employees (with trust, or distrust).14. How often do you promote employees internally?The first recruiting agency I joined ONLY promoted from within the company. That meant that if you wanted to be a Manager, you HAD to start as an entry-level Recruiter. Everyone began this way.This gave me fantastic opportunities as anentry-level job seekermyself (and I did end upgetting promotedto Project Manager eventually).So this is something I like to see in an or ganization and something you should ask questions to find out about.Most companies wontonlypromote from within (its only really possible in a tiny start-up, which we were). But youll still learn a lot about asking the employer about this in your job interview.15. How will my performance reviews be handled?Dont take a job without knowing what your performance reviews will handled and how the process will look.This is one of the mostimportant questions to ask before accepting a job.16. What have people gone on to do in the company after taking this position?This is important to know for your future career growth, and asking this also shows the interviewer that youre goal-oriented and motivated. That will help you get more job offers. Every company likes to see this in their candidates.17. What has been your best experience working here?This is another personality-based question, which means you can ask multiple people in your job interview. Its also unique and engaging and could spark a great conversation. Then, you can build more rapport and get to know the interviewer (always a good thing!)18. Whats the first problem or challenge the person you hire will need to tackle?This question shows that youre coming in focused and ready to contribute from day 1. It also shows that youre making sure to look for a position that youre well-equipped to handle.So youll build trust with the company, and show them that youre a motivated candidate. Thats a win-win.19. What is your companys most significant competitive advantage?Asking this in your job interview will show that youre a big-picture thinker, and are naturally curious and interested in their business overall.While most candidates are just asking about the role and day-to-day work (which you should, too, by the way), youre ALSO asking about something bigger/broader, to show that youre able to see the bigger picture and think at a higher level.20. Have other people failed in this position? If so, why?This will provide you with valuable info, and its also something most job seekers arent asking, so youll set yourself apart and make yourself more memorable in the job interview.21. How fast is the company growing?This is another question that shows youre a big-picture thinker, and that you like to be aware of whats going on outside of your specific role, too.This signals that youll be strategic, smart, and potentially a great management candidate after they hire you!22. Who are your top competitors, and what do you think makes people come to work for your organization over the others?This is very similar to the question above it shows a general interest in their company, industry, and how they fit with their competitors.One note: You should have more questions about the actual job what youll be working on, the challenges of the position itself, etc. Dontonlyprepare questions about the company overall. This could be a potential red flag and make them worry that you like their company but arent pas sionate about working in this individual role.23. After I master the basics of the role, what opportunities are provided for continued learning and career growth?This is yet another way to show that youre goal-oriented while finding out valuable info to help you decide whether to accept ordecline the job offerif it gets to that point!This alsoshows a lot of confidence in the interview, which is always good.24. Which other teams will I interact with?This is one more way to show that youre a big-picture thinker. Asking this in your interview will help you understand how your role fits in with the other parts of the company.25. How would you describe the company culture here?This is important to know a job could look great on paper, but the company culture could be a disaster. So ask this and make sure youll feel comfortable in their work environment.Note that employers may askinterview questions to discover if the culture will fit, too. Two examples:Describe your ideal manager.What t ype of work environments do you prefer?26. Do your team members/employees ever get together outside of work hours?This is an interesting question that will help you know how close the team is and whether they get together after work. If this type of thing doesnt matter to you, then you dont need to ask it. But I like work environments like this, so Id want to find out about this.Conclusion: What to Do NextId recommend picking just a couple off the above questions, getting familiar with them, and using them in every job interview.That way, you dont have to think too much each time, and you can also compare the answers that different interviewers give you (to decide which job sounds best).If you use these questions, youre going to make a better impression, differentiate yourself from the competition, and land a better job!

Boost Your Marketability With Free Online Courses

Boost Your Marketability With Free Online Courses Two years ago, Randstad Canada surveyed employees in 33 countries, and the results indicated one in three Canadians believe their jobs could vanish in a few years due to the rise of technology.“The jobs of tomorrow are on the drawing boards of today â€" being aware that innovation is occurring and making the effort to understand and grow with those innovations will help you grow and maintain your career.” ~ Tom Turpin, President, Randstad CanadaevalA more recent article, The New Job Market and the Robot Revolution, discusses robots and artificial intelligence and the impact they will have on the future of work. It talks about the displacement of millions of factory workers in China because of these robots, and how China is planning to move these workers into knowledge jobs such as banking, insurance, media and service firms.All of this sounds scary. What will the work place and work force look like in a few years?No one can make a precise prediction, but one thing is certain. We are living in the knowledge economy age, and lifelong learning is critical to career success. If job seekers want to become more competitive; if they don’t want to become obsolete, they will need to take advantage of new learning opportunities wherever they can be found.Fortunately, the world is becoming one great University where one does not need to be physically in a classroom to get a good education.Learning opportunities abound where job seekers and career changers can gain real-world skills, often times for free, and within the confines of home. Courses are offered in many disciplines, including technology, language, and some essential workplace skills.Below is a list of universities and other learning institutions offering free online courses. Some offer certificates and some do not. Others will offer certificates if the student upgrades and pay a fee.Alison is a global online learning community, offering free, high-quality resources to help develop essential, certified wor kplace skills. The site states that it offers 750 free coursesevalCanadian Virtual University My Slide Rule offers MBA-level courses without having to attend MBA schools. While this does not mean participants will be able to add the MBA designation behind their names, they can learn the fundamentals of business (or improve their business skills), by engaging in some online learning.Open Culture, brings together high-quality cultural and educational media from Top Universities for the worldwide lifelong learning community, and it’s all free.University of Toronto . Offers free courses accessed via Coursera, which was mentioned above.Yale University provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn.There are many more institutions that offer free online courses in various disciplines. The above list is just the tip of the iceberg.Readers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence on these institutions to make sure they meet their needs. It might just be worth it to enroll in one or several of these courses and boost your marketability.

Ted Williams and the New Era of Job Search

Ted Williams and the New Era of Job Search The job offers are pouring in for Ted Williams, the homeless man whose YouTube video featuring his golden voice went viral last Monday. The video was recorded by an employee of The Columbus Dispatch who spotted Williams with his sign claiming he had the God-given gift of voice and was an ex-radio announcer.According to a CNN article, some members of the radio community have expressed frustration because there are so many others in the industry who have been let go, despite their talent. The article goes on to say that if you look at a site such as Voice123.com you will find a warehouse of radio talent.Enter the new era of job search. Theres a ton of talent on Voice123.com as well as the traditional job boards out there. And its overwhelming. No one has time to listen to hundreds of voice reels or read even more resumes. And often, no one even wants that many choices.Ted Williams has offers pouring in because he had a unique story and yes, a unique voice. No one had to dig for him. He was plastered all over the Internet within 24 hours of the video release. He became a hot commodity and the guy weve got to have in seconds. Because he stood out and you would have to be living under a rock not to notice him.I read blog comments every day from frustrated job seekers claiming they post for hundreds of positions and get no results. And act surprised. And keep doing what they have been doing for the past year because they think this is what they are supposed to be doing. ..that these are the rules of job search. But the only rule of job search is that there are no rules.The CNN article ends with this thought. Imagine you get that automated e-mail sent from an HR department after they closed your profile saying, Thank you for your interest in job #0002792614, but we have filled the position. In fact, we actually hired a homeless guy who we saw on YouTube. Good luck in your job search!I think their sarcasm is misplaced. If job seekers continue to use the same useless, n on-differentiating methods of job search, they will indeed be beat out by someone who sets themselves apart from the pack.Certainly Williams story is unique and not everyone can expect to land their job via a YouTube video, but Williams story proves that people take notice when you have an interesting story to tell and everyone knows who you are. Get off the job boards. Create your own great story and then find the right people to get it in front of. Hint-they arent the same people who are posting jobs on line.

Resume Assist Review

Resume Assist ReviewResume Assist can help you with your resume. It is an online service that will give you an overview of your resume. It will look over it and then create a summary for you.The summary is basically a formal essay, which you fill out when you send in your resume. This is then the information you send to prospective employers. They are working to find a match for you. After a few of these, you may get a call back.Then, the services are giving you a follow-up questionnaire to take when you fill out your form. You can ask a lot of questions to yourself, and this will allow them to write a useful summary for you.They might have other things on their mind, like the new employment trends, or different things like that. So they can follow up with you.They will review your resume and then make a summary. This summary will be sent to the employer. The summary is very important, because it is used by your potential employer as a first contact.The great benefits to using this t ype of service are that you do not have to use a lot of effort. They have already done the work for you. All you have to do is just fill out the forms and wait for them to deliver a summary of your resume.They do charge a minimal fee, but it is much less than sending out an entire resume in a little initial consultation. This is the reason why they have become so popular over the past few years.If you are a stay at home mom, or dad, this is a great service for you. You'll be able to get started and get your career started right away. It can get your mind off your situation and get you thinking about other things to do.