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The Mentor-Mentee Relationship: A Two-Way Street for Learning and Growth

3 Things You Must Start Doing When You Become a Team Leader

A mentorship can be a powerful tool for your personal and professional development, but don’t think that you are the only one benefitting. Mentorships can be incredibly valuable for your mentor, too.

Mentorships can help you gain valuable insights and knowledge from your mentor’s experiences and expertise. Your mentor can share their successes and failures, provide you feedback on your work, and offer advice on how to navigate challenges you may come across. This guidance can help you to develop your skills, knowledge, and confidence which can accelerate your personal and professional growth.

But mentorships are not a one-way street. These relationships also benefit your mentor in several ways:

  • Reinforcement of skills and knowledge – mentorships can provide an opportunity for the mentor to reinforce their own skills and knowledge. As they guide you, they will find themselves revisiting and reflecting on their own experiences and strategies. This reflection is can help them gain new insights and perspectives they can apply to their own current work.
  • Personal and professional growth – mentoring someone can be a powerful tool for your mentor’s personal and professional growth. It can help them develop their leadership, communication, and coaching skills. Mentoring can also provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment as they help someone else grow and achieve their goals.
  • Fresh perspectives – mentoring someone from a different background or with different experiences can provide your mentor with fresh perspectives. This will help them see their work in a new light and be able to come up with innovative solutions to problems.
  • Networking – mentorships can also provide an opportunity for your mentor to expand their network. As they work with you, they may be compelled to connect with other professionals who focus on your specific interests. This can help your mentor stay up-to-date on industry trends and they will make new connections, benefiting their own career as well.

Mentorships are a valuable tool for both your mentor and you. Don’t forget this when you are looking for one. It can feel like a lot to ask of someone, but most people would take your interest in them as a mentor as a high honor. The importance of knowledge sharing between those with expertise in an industry and those just starting out cannot be overstated. Mentorships are powerful relationships that can benefit not only you and your mentor, but the entirety of the industry you are working within.

We hope you found this useful, for more personalized advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Contact@quardev.com!

 

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Continuous Learning: Essential for Your Personal and Professional Growth

3 Things You Must Start Doing When You Become a Team Leader

Continuous learning is a vital aspect of personal and professional growth. In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving world, the ability for you to learn and adapt quickly has never been more important. Whether in your personal or professional life, life is full of lessons and it’s up to you what you take from each one you encounter.

One of the key ways to do this is by prioritizing continuous learning and professional development. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of continuous learning, as well as some practical tips for staying up-to-date and competitive in your career.

In the workplace, continuous learning is essential for career growth and advancement. With constant advancements in technology and changes within your industry, it’s critical to stay up to date on the latest trends and best practices. Not only will this help you to perform better in your current role, but it can also increase your chances of being considered for promotion or new opportunities.

Why Continuous Learning is Important?

  1. Career advancement – continuous learning can lead to career advancement opportunities. When you demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning you will be seen as more valuable and are more likely to be considered for promotions or new job opportunities.
  2. Job security – in a constantly evolving job market, continuous learning can help ensure job security. By staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, techniques, and industry trends, you can remain relevant and a valuable asset to whomever you work for.
  3. Personal growth – continuous learning also has personal benefits. It can help you to feel more confident and fulfilled in your work, as well as more equipped to tackle new challenges and take on greater responsibilities.

Continuous learning can take many forms, such as attending workshops, seminars, or industry conferences. Online courses and e-learning platforms are also great ways to gain new skills and knowledge; with the best result being, once you’ve gained knowledge it is your knowledge to use.

Tips for Continuous Learning:

  • Set learning goals – identify areas where you want to improve or expand your knowledge and set specific goals. This could include attending workshops, taking online courses, or reading industry publications.
  • Make time for learning – prioritize learning by scheduling time for it on a regular basis. This could mean setting time aside each week to read articles, watch videos, or attend webinars.
  • Seek feedback – seek out feedback from your colleagues, managers, or mentors to help identify areas where you can improve or build new skills.
  • Collaborate with others – collaborating with colleagues or joining a professional organization is a great way to learn from others and stay up-to-date with industry trends.
  • Embrace change – being open to change and new technologies will certainly help you to be a continuous learner. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new tools or techniques – these will help you be more efficient and effective in your work.

Continuous learning is a key factor in staying relevant and competitive in the workplace. By prioritizing ongoing learning and professional development, you can not only improve your job prospects and job security but also experience fulfillment in your career and personal growth.

Moreover, continuous learning has benefits well beyond the workplace. Engaging in lifelong learning practices can enrich your personal life, broaden your perspective, and increase your overall well-being. Learning new skills, pursuing new interests, and studying new topics can stimulate your mind and foster personal growth.

Continuous learning will also help to keep you mentally sharp and engaged – especially as you age. Our brains tend to become less agile, making it difficult to learn new things, however by continuously engaging in learning activities you can keep your mind active and improve your cognitive abilities.

Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth. It helps you stay competitive, adapt to changes, and become the best version of yourself. It’s up to you to seek out opportunities for learning and to make learning a lifelong habit. By doing so, you can unlock your full potential and achieve success both in your personal and professional lives.

We hope you found this useful, for more personalized advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Contact@quardev.com!

 

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Employee Motivations for 2023

3 Things You Must Start Doing When You Become a Team Leader

Last year when we wrote about the biggest Employee Motivations of 2022, many elements, such as flexibility and autonomy, stood out as vital to employees; which is still holding true for 2023.

The Great Resignation of last year spoke to the growing movement of employees seeking purpose and personal value in their positions.

Some companies have really heeded the call and expanded mental health coverage or instituted retention programs that focus on personal and professional development. And some are still operating under the status quo.

If you are an employee, keep reading to see which of these motivations resonate with you the most. Our hope is that you can use this information to evaluate your current role. Maybe you will notice which of the aspects mentioned you feel satisfied with. Alternatively, maybe you will discover elements you can work with your employer to see more of as we move into the new year.

If you are an employer, we hope that these employee motivations will help you reflect on your current team and take into consideration what their motivations are. And ultimately, we hope that by keeping these in the forefront you end 2023 with a team that is even more motivated and engaged.

Professional Development

Why it’s important

Encouraging professional development allows employees to envision what their future might look like at the company. It also tells them that their role is not stagnant and that they will continue to grow. What’s more, having you as an employer support their professional development lets employees know that you value them and care about their careers.

Another benefit is that learning new skills will help employees increase their self-efficacy and sense of autonomy, which contributes to increased motivation.

All of these outcomes benefit the company; its culture, retention, and bottom line – it is an investment that needs to be taken seriously.

How to provide opportunities for professional development

Encouraging professional development can be done in a variety of ways. One of the simplest ways is to discuss personal and professional goals with employees. Asking them about their aspirations will show them that you care.

It also provides a chance for you to get to know your employees better. Another action you can take is to offer opportunities for upskilling and reskilling. Upskilling and reskilling helps employees feel more competent in their roles and more confident in moving into new ones.

It can be accomplished through a variety of means, including classroom training sessions, access to online courses, seminars/webinars, and mentorship programs.

Flexibility and Autonomy

Why it’s important

Giving employees more autonomy is critical for feeding intrinsic motivation. If employees are micromanaged, they will get the work done, but it will be out of fear of being reprimanded, not out of their own interest or drive. And if they keep completing work this way, it will inevitably lead to burnout.

Giving employees breathing room to do work on their own terms will decrease burnout. It will also foster a relationship of trust, which is essential when it comes to motivating employees.

It is also important to acknowledge that employees have lives outside of work and that this doesn’t mean that their work will be any less effective.  Along with autonomy, offering employees flexibility to make their jobs more manageable.

Flexibility doesn’t mean scrapping deadlines altogether. It just means giving employees the freedom to do work on their own time.

How to allow more flexibility and autonomy

So, now that we’ve established their importance, what are some ways to offer flexibility and autonomy to employees?

One way is to provide flexible schedules. This may mean allowing employees to take extended lunches. It could also look like being generous with sick days or half days.

Additionally, you might consider giving employees the chance to choose their own hours or at least work collaboratively to decide on them. Some workers might prefer to start earlier or later in the day so that they can manage their personal demands.

Furthermore, in a study of 30,000 U.S. workers, 88% reported that the flexibility to work from home or the office had increased their job satisfaction.

Even if you prefer an in-person workplace, offering remote work, even just one or two days a week could go a long way toward improving employee satisfaction.

Recognition and Appreciation

Why it’s important

Everyone welcomes being recognized and appreciated. It doesn't have to be a grand public gesture, but it is always a good idea to show people that you see them, on a human level.  Showing recognition and appreciation facilitates a positive relationship between the employee and the manager, which is huge. Going to work every day feels much less like a chore when you get along well with your boss.

Being shown appreciation makes work feel more human.

In addition, it helps employees see that their work matters and is making a positive difference in someone’s life. Feeling valued is essential when it comes to motivation. Nobody wants to do work where they feel their skills are not seen or appreciated

How to show appreciation

When it comes to expressing appreciation, consistency is key. Don’t wait until the performance review to pay someone a compliment. When an employee does good work that makes your job easier, make sure to let them know!

Small gestures, such as thank-you emails, written notes, or verbal words of thanks, can all help someone feel appreciated.

Furthermore, if your budget allows, bonuses and increases in compensation certainly go a long way in telling employees that you recognize their hard work.

Another way to help employees feel recognized is to celebrate milestones. Giving them a shoutout on their anniversary of working at the company or on their birthday shows them that you value them.

Positive Company Culture

Why it’s important

As a culture, we are becoming more aware of the role that mental health has on our overall lives. And hopefully, one of the positive outcomes of the pandemic we’ve all been dealing with these last few years will be that work will become more human.

If employees don’t feel that their basic needs are accounted for, they can’t be expected to perform well. Because let’s face it, we’re not robots made for work, we’re human beings with aspirations, ideas, and feelings.

Having a positive company culture makes employees feel cared for and comfortable at work. It also helps them stay mentally and physically healthy, which allows them to have the capacity to perform at their best and be most engaged.

How to make space for a positive company culture

A positive company culture is one that places emphasis on wellness, emotional and physical.

This might mean offering fitness programs to help employees stay physically and mentally healthy. Another thing a company with a positive culture might do is offer food and snacks throughout the day, to keep employees feeling well-fueled and energized.

Also, a company with a positive company culture encourages employees to have a good work-life balance. For example, especially with remote or hybrid work, it can be beneficial to gently remind employees to switch off at the end of their working day to help them avoid burnout.

Furthermore, something that is essential to a positive company culture is fostering emotional safety. If employees don’t feel comfortable speaking up about issues they’re having at work or in their personal life, they’re probably not feeling their best at work.

One way to foster emotional safety is to have an open-door policy. Make sure that employees know that they can come to you with their concerns at any time. This will strengthen your relationship with them and will help them to feel supported.

The bottom line

No two employees are the same, but in general, being treated with humanity and respect goes a long way. There are many actions you can take, both big and small, to make your employees feel like they belong at your company and to increase motivation.

And if you want to learn even more about what makes your employees tick, ask them! Asking for input demonstrates that you care.

If you are an employee, we hope that these elements resonated with you and that you are seeing them in your current role. You deserve to be appreciated and treated well.

We hope you found this useful, for more personalized advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Contact@quardev.com!

 

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Writing Your Resume – Starting from Scratch

3 Things You Must Start Doing When You Become a Team Leader

You’ve probably heard about the importance of customizing your resume for every job description. But what if you don’t have a good base resume to start with? Or maybe you have one, but it could use an overhaul.

Sometimes it’s best to start back at the beginning to make sure your resume is appropriate for the position you are going for.

Here, we’ll walk you through, step-by-step, how to create a resume from scratch so that you can start your job search on the right foot.

Choosing Your Style and Fonts

If you aren't sure how to style your resume, you’re in luck.  We’ve done the research for you. You can find tons of templates for free, like these Office templates or you can develop one in Canva with a free membership. Once you have settled on a style you can start thinking about the formatting.

There are some general formatting rules that you’ll want to follow. Firstly, go with standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Calibri.

Next, make it no longer than one-page front and back. Additionally, use plenty of white space, and have no more than six bullets per job or experience.

Finally, you should stick to mostly black and white, with possibly one additional color for emphasis.

Choose a Base Format

The standard and most used resume format is reverse chronological. In this type of resume, you list your most recent work experience at the top and then move backward. It is appropriate to only list the last 10-15 years; this commonly involves listing three to five positions.

Another less common format is a functional resume. Functional resumes place emphasis on your relevant skills, rather than your work experience. You would be inclined to use this format if you are just starting out, a recent graduate, or switching fields.

There are also hybrid or combination resumes, which combine elements from reverse chronological and functional resumes. You will want to use this format if you have gaps in your work history. This format lets you highlight your skills without calling attention to any employment breaks.

In most cases, you’ll want to go with the standard reverse chronological format, first mentioned.

What to include in the Header

A header includes essential information that the recruiter or hiring manager needs to understand who you are and how to get in touch with you. It also might include information that can help them get a better idea of your career path, and where you see yourself going.

Ensure that there are no typos in your header because this may prevent whoever’s looking at it from reaching you, which would really set you back in your job search.

In your heading, make sure to include your name, your phone number, and your email address.

There is some question about whether it is still appropriate to include your home address in the header. It would be necessary when applying locally and the work will be in-person.

When applying for a remote position, just listing your city and state should be sufficient.

Additionally, you should list current your job title. Some additional information that is optional to include would be your LinkedIn profile, a website, or any other relevant social media platforms you want to showcase.

Now that you know what to add, let’s go over what you should purposely leave out. A safe rule of thumb is if it isn’t relevant to the position you are applying for then you don’t need to share it.

You can forego adding your date of birth, as well as any photo of yourself, as detailed by US guidelines as means of avoiding certain types of discrimination.

However, if you’re outside of the US you’ll want to check what the etiquette is regarding photos because in some countries it is customary to include them.

What are Summaries and Objectives?

You’ll need to decide whether writing a summary or objective in the header is appropriate for you and the position you are going for. Currently, a summary or objective seems only necessary when you are just starting out, don’t have very much on-the-job experience, or are switching fields.

This section allows you the space to match your skills with the needs of the position you are going for, so they are obvious and clear.

Summary:

A summary is a two-four sentence summary of your career. It is where you highlight your most relevant skills. It should include numbers and measurable achievements to back up your strengths. It can also include volunteering or other experience that is applicable.

Objective:

If you are making a career shift, an objective might be more appropriate than a summary.

An objective includes a summary of your work experience, but the bulk of it should be spent describing your goals and reasons for your career change.

In doing this, it’s important that it explains how your knowledge and skills from your previous work are relevant to the field you are entering.

Work Experience

Listed at top of your work experience in bold is your job title, the company name and location, and the dates you worked there.

Underneath each title, you will list your achievements and responsibilities in the role. These descriptions should contain three to six bullet points speaking to your responsibilities. You should always want to show, rather than tell, what your skills are. This can be done by listing percentages, numbers, and specific achievements as much as possible.

Education

In the education section, you should always include the name of institutions attended, your program or major, and the years ended. You can also include relevant courses and academic achievements, honors, or awards. You may also wish to include your GPA but only do this if it is especially high.

Volunteer Experience (Optional)

If you have volunteer experience that is applicable to the field you are entering, it’s a good idea to showcase it on your resume.

This is especially important if you don’t have a ton of relevant work experience. When listing volunteer experience, follow the same format as work experience.

Skills

Hard skills

Hard skills are concrete abilities or areas that you have training in. These skills are needed to fulfill specific job duties or tasks.

They are often listed in job descriptions as essential or desired qualifications. Some examples include a specific certification, typing speed, or the ability to speak a foreign language.

Soft skills

Soft skills are difficult to measure with awards and numbers, but this does not mean that they are any less important. In fact, including them on your resume is crucial.

Soft skills are applicable to pretty much any line of work. They are what make others want to work with you and are essential to your success in the workplace. Some examples of soft skills are time management, adaptability, and empathy.

Writing your resume from scratch can feel like a daunting task, but using an email template and following our tips will have you ready for your new job search in no time.

We hope you found this guide useful, and that it made the process of creating your resume less intimidating. For more personalized advice on crafting your resume, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Contact@quardev.com!

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