The Effectiveness of CPD on Your Job Performance

In every profession, be it teaching, law, medicine, I.T., beauty therapy and so on, the need for continuing professional development (better known as CPD) is getting stronger than ever. 

A good and well-delivered CPD is essential if it were to deliver full benefit to the individual, their profession and the public.

 So, what are the benefits?

Muovo has found the list below as most pertinent in that it sums up all the benefits you will gain from a well-designed CP (first published by CPD Online):

• CPD ensures  your capabilities keep pace with the current standards of others in the same field.
  
  
• CPD ensures that you maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills you need to deliver a professional service to your customers, clients and the community.
  
  
• CPD ensures that you and your knowledge stay relevant and up to date. You are more aware of the changing trends and directions in your profession. The pace of change is probably faster than it’s ever been – and this is a feature of the new normal that we live and work in. If you stand still you will get left behind, as the currency of your knowledge and skills becomes out-dated.
  
  
• CPD helps you continue to make a meaningful contribution to your team. You become more effective in the workplace. This assists you to advance in your career and move into new positions where you can lead, manage, influence, coach and mentor others.
  
  
• CPD helps you to stay interested and interesting.  Experience is a great teacher, but it does mean that we tend to do what we have done before.  Focused CPD opens you up to new possibilities, new knowledge and new skill areas.
  
  
• CPD can deliver a deeper understanding of what it means to be a professional, along with a greater appreciation of the implications and impacts of your work.
  
  
• CPD helps advance the body of knowledge and technology within your profession.
  
  
• CPD can lead to increased public confidence in individual professionals and their profession as a whole.
  
  
• Depending on the profession – CPD contributes to  improved protection and quality of life, the environment, sustainability, property and the economy.  This particularly applies to high risk areas, or specialised practice areas which often prove impractical to monitor on a case by case basis.

The importance of continuing professional development should not be underestimated – it is a career-long obligation for practicing professionals.

For the busy professional who needs to stay ahead of the changes and developments in their profession there are a number of el-earning benefits using online courses. If this sounds like you then you can look up at an e-learning CPD online. If you would like to learn more about this, send us an email on [email protected].

Have you recently attended a CPD seminar? What was the experience like? Muovo would like to hear from you!

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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What Employers Want: An Amplified Worker

Today's world brims with the so-called 'amplified individuals', or people empowered by technologies and the collective intelligence of their social networks, who can do things that previously only a large organisation could. This being said, amplified individuals can often do things that no organisation could do before. It is no news that we are all living in a digital world, where hackers have refined their skills such that they can disrupt large software firms...and much more.

Are you an amplified individual?
Amplified individuals include musicians, community organisers, artists and 'techies' who work with 'nontechies'. Amplified individuals are an especially formidable force because the hard work they do is work they choose for themselves, and it is the basis of the strongest of their talents.

The GOOD news is: You can also become an amplified individual! Muovo has found the tips below most interesting, courtesy of the HBR Blog:

Change how you measure performance. The value you seek from employees, and should recognize and reward, can't be measured only by focusing on their internal contributions. It also depends on their connections to and their standing in external communities that are important to your organization. In addition, leadership skills focus on community building, consensus building, mediation, commitment and humility. Humility (as the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire would say), is the basis of every strong amplified individual, in that he or she is well aware of the strengths and weaknesses that he or she has.

Socialise your underused assets. Under the traditional logic of management, it would make sense to eye the use of any productive assets a firm has invested in. But in reality, nearly every organization has a surplus of resources of one type or another. Some have an abundance of physical space, others have equipment and tools that are rarely used, and still others have talent that is not fully engaged. Think of the resources you have in abundance and how you might 'socialise' them to build your organization's social capital and enrich the flow of ideas.

Stop to consider how these few managerial changes would support and extend an individual's initiative in your organisation, and you'll soon start to think of other tactics as well. Undoubtedly the ideas you come up with will share the common theme of loosening traditional managerial reins. But don't let that loss of control frighten you. By recognising the power of amplification, you will be rewarded with more energised, empowered, and innovative workers, and be able to achieve a whole new level of reach and impact.

Do you have any comments? Muovo would like to hear from you!

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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Ace That Social Job Interview!

Muovo has found the following article, published by Mashable.com, most interesting for all job seekers. Indeed, if you are currently on the lookout for a job - remember that your interview doesn't begin when an employer calls you. Neither does it begin when you walk into an office. And it surely doesn't begin after you've done all the talking.

It likely begins before you even know it. We all know by now that several employers are browsing through a simple online search to check out your presence. They are likely to get their 'first impression' of you from their own background check - before the phone call and any conversation you could have had with your potential employer.

So, how can you nail this new sort of social job interview? Let’s explore.

Think:What Are Employers Looking For?
According to recent studies, 92% of employers are using or planning to use social networking for recruiting. So, with the majority of employers likely conducting a social job interview, it’s a good idea to understand what they are looking for. Some employers want to be sure you are a creative thinker, have initiative and can multitask. Others may expect you to have a bounty of experience listed on your social networks. It just depends on the organization.

Do your research and find out what the employer is looking for. For example, if the job description says you to need at least three years of work experience, make it clear that you match these requirements. This can be done by either listing out your work history or creating a bio that indicates what you’ve done in the past. This helps the employer identify why you’re worthy of a real interview because your experience is clearly listed.

Change How You Present Yourself Online

While having the right sort of content on your social networks is important, the way you present yourself online is equally important. For instance, if you just post content online without any sort of formal opinion on the subject, the employer may never know your stances on industry issues. Nor will they see your critical thinking skills or expertise in the field. Similarly, if you never update your LinkedIn page or Twitter stream, a potential manager won’t be able to tell what sort of candidate you are, freeing up room for your competition.

Put some personality into your social networks, particularly if the company has a heavy emphasis on company culture. For example, if the organization is known to hire self-starters with a penchant for creativity, make sure you present yourself in this light (if applicable, of course). Any of your social networks could easily showcase these traits. Just be sure this content is consistent so the employer notices during pre-screening.

What You Need to Nix
Posting relevant content and being active is a necessity for your social job interview. But what are some

things that are deal breakers? Your old college photos or controversial posts may not fly with some employers, but there are other factors you should think about. For instance, any time you badmouth a previous employer or co-worker, it may reflect poorly on you, not necessarily the situation. In addition, leaning towards one side of an issue when a potential employer is clearly on the other team can also harm your chances.

While you should always be authentic with your online content and with what you post, you should also think about how others will interpret it. If you’ve applied to a position, think about presenting information in a way that will be attractive to the employer.

For example, if there is positive shift in your industry towards a new practice, why not blog about the topic? This not only shows that you’re aware of what’s going on, but that you also have an opinion. Any employer who sees this will understand why you’re an expert in the space, as well as what this expertise can bring to them.

The social job interview may not be something you think about, but it is something you should consider when applying. Understand what the employer is looking for, present yourself online to show your match and clean up your online presence so you’re seen in the right light. When you do so, the social job interview will just be a positive stepping stone to landing the job.

What do you think? What are some other ways job seekers can nail the social job interview?

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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Why Some Women Cross the Finish Line Before Men

The race is usually tougher and more sweating for women – yet, more women are enduring the distance and managing to outrun their male counterparts!

A recent study carried out by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) found that there has been a significant shift over the past few years in the performance of female entrepreneurs. It is seen that women are creating businesses at a faster pace than men while they are also performing on an equal footing with their male counterparts (http://www.gemconsortium.org/).

The results of the study also demonstrate that women who apply for senior roles have a higher rate of success than men. This of course should be viewed alongside the fact that fewer women apply for higher positions in the first place, and this is especially the case for Malta. In February 2010 the number of registered unemployed was 7,852: of these 6,082 were men while 1,770 were female. The rate of unemployment for men stood at 6.7% while that of women stood at 7.1% (NSO, 2010c). Part-time employment as a primary job increased by 1,038 or 3.8% to 28,171 (MFEI, 2009). In October 2009, the number of men employed part-time as a primary job was 11,449 which constituted 10.52% of the total number of men employed in a primary job. There is a significant difference when it comes to women. In 2009, the number of women who held a primary part-time job was 6,503. However, the difference between men and women becomes more significant when we see this number as a percentage of the total number of
women employed in their primary job (those in full employment and those working part-time). The percentage here is 26.38%. The number of female part-time employees continues to be on the increase (cited in Mayo, 2012, p. 5).

So why are senior women more successful than men?
Reasons for higher success rates among women are rather difficult to isolate. It is observed that if a woman candidate manages to get on a short list then she has probably already proved herself to be an exceptional candidate. This, however, seems to demean women in that it makes them appear as though they are not able to fully unleash their managerial potential and skills at the same level as their male counterparts.

 With regard to the difference in attitudes towards work among men and women it is seen that women tend to research thoroughly before applying for positions or attending interviews. Men, however, seem to rely more on their innate ability to promote and sell themselves and to convince their potential employer that any shortcomings they may have will not prevent them from doing a splendid job.

Organizations like the European Women’s Management Development Network provided a range of opportunities for women to enhance their skills and contacts. Although of course this is still in its preliminary stages and much more needs to be done to ensure equality between men and women at the workplace, barrieemntrs to women in employments are being broken down.

References:
Mayo, P. 2012. Adult Education in Malta: Challenges and Prospects.
UNSTATS

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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It's Never Too Late To Build Emotional Intelligence!

Emotional competence is the ability to comprehend, manage, and express one’s feelings and the feelings of others. It may come as no surprise to learn that emotional competency is linked to better health and more satisfying relationships. That’s great for the emotionally competent folks, but what about the rest of us—can we improve our emotional competency, even after we’ve reached adulthood?

Muovo has found the article below of extreme interest, where a recent study in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests we can, at least after a little bit of practice. What’s more, these gains in emotional competency stick for at least a year.

A group of Belgian researchers randomly assigned 132 adults (with an average age of 38) to one of two groups. Participants in the first group went through a two-and-a-half-day program designed to help them deal with emotionally difficult and stressful situations. The other group did not participate in that program until after the study was over.

The emotion training involved group discussion, role-playing exercises, and other activities. Drawing upon prior research on emotion, the program first taught participants to recognize how certain situations can trigger particular emotions within themselves, then taught them various strategies to regulate and express these emotions in a constructive way.

After participants learned the basics of emotional competency through the training, they received two emails a week for a month, encouraging them to apply what they learned. For instance, one email instructed them to watch out for the next emotionally fraught situation they encountered, and to be mindful of their thoughts, feelings, and behavior in that situation.

When the researchers followed-up with the participants four weeks after the entire program ended and then again one year later, they found that the people who’d received the emotional competency training experienced major benefits as a result. Compared to how they felt before the training, these people reported significantly less stress and fewer symptoms of illness or physical discomfort, and significant improvements in their life satisfaction and in their relationships with their family, romantic partners, and friends.Specifically, their life satisfaction increased by 12 percent and their perceived level of stress decreased by 24 percent. The people in the other group didn’t show the same improvements in these areas.

The researchers cite various research findings suggesting that higher life satisfaction is associated with lower rates of depression; lower stress, they note, is associated with stronger immunity against infections, including the common cold.

Many prior studies have found that emotional competence can be taught to kids, bringing them both physical and mental rewards. But this study is the first to suggest that emotional competence can be increased among adults.

'From a practical point of view', write the researchers, the results 'show that it is possible to influence crucial aspects of people’s lives: psychological well-being, subjective physical health, and relationship quality, among others'.

One important caveat: In order to take part in the program, participants had to write a letter describing their interest in it. The authors point out that this prerequisite weeded out people who weren’t motivated to change. Still, the results offer hope to anyone who has the desire to improve his or her emotional skills but doesn’t yet know how.

Courtesy of The Greater Good

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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5 Benefits Of Completing An Internship

What is an internship?
Hobsons define an internship as the time and place where higher education meets employment. It's the time of transition between student life and adulthood, the first entrance into the working world. It depends on where you do your internship, as this could be a place where you can both gain work experience while continuing your studies. This could be paid or unpaid where you have a number of set weeks to work in a particular organisation.

It is likely that your lecturers and tutors have already mentioned the importance of internships and industry experience. It is also likely that the thought of careers and taking on work experience might leave you feeling apprehensive, especially if you are still trying to get your head around university life and study. When you think of all the benefits that go with completing an internship, however, it really is worth it. Muovo has found the following tips as highlighting the main benefits you can gain from embarking upon an internship.

1) You can make industry contacts.
It has been said many times: ‘it’s not about what you know; it’s about who you know’. Of course, it is necessary that you know how to perform the tasks at hand, but having a good range of contacts who can help you find (and possibly secure) a job after you finish your studies would surely be a godsend.

When you finish your internship, you are likely to gain a number of references and referees. These will be fundamental to your hiring process so you should try to remain on good terms with your internship contacts and touch base with them from time-to-time; they will be more likely to keep you in mind for other positions that crop up in the industry and hook you up with those hard-to-come-by opportunities.

2) It looks good on your résumé.
The graduate job market is incredibly competitive, so having a full résumé that includes actual industry experience is sure to be a valuable asset. It has the potential to make you stand out from the competition.

3) You can convert your academic knowledge into industry skills.
For many students university can be quite theoretical and an internship is their first opportunity to apply their knowledge to the real world. The experience will not only help you to develop the skills needed to work in your industry; working on real projects for a real organisation will also give you the interpersonal skills that you need to work effectively with others — and confidence in your own abilities. You may find that longer internships allow you to work on projects from start to finish and give you a more in-depth experience of an organisation. If you have the spare time then a month-long intensive internship or a part-time internship over six months or a year may be a better option.

4) The experience will narrow down your list of potential careers.
Internships really are a win-win situation. They can help you decide if a particular career or area is or isn’t for you, and narrow down the (often long) list of careers that you are interested in to find one that you will be happy in. If you don’t enjoy your internship experience then, at the very least, it will have helped you to determine that a particular area isn’t for you. Don’t give up, you can always try another internship in a different organisation, role or a completely different field and see if you like it any better. Every experience helps you to define and redirect your career path.

5) You can gain an unforgettable life experience.
While the career you end up working in may be a bit more down-to-earth, internships allow you to explore all the possibilities and come away with an experience that you will never forget. While a full-time job may be hard to come across in certain areas and organisations, many companies are willing to take on an intern. An internship could allow you to take a look into professions and organisations that you’ve only ever dreamed of.

Take a look at Muovo's BridgeDGap Internship Scheme

A 6-month Marketing Internship is currently open! Don't miss your chance - send us an email now on [email protected] if you want to take up this exciting opportunity!


Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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Dealing With An Incompetent Boss

Everyone has his own 'ideals' when it comes to what makes the best leader. However, like with a lot of things in life, you would instantly identify a good leader at first sight. Likewise, you are bound to recognize an incompetent boss just by a quick glance. 

Have you just started your new job, or are you currently working with a newly promoted boss? What should you do if you feel that you have more experience and seem to know more than he does? Muovo would like to share with you the following article, which will give you some tips on how to make the best of such a situation, that will benefit both you and your  not-so-competent boss.

1. Be an asset.
Don't look at your boss as an obstacle. Instead, try workout a relationship with him or her that is built on a positive mindset. The strategic life coach Ken Rupert offers the following three tips:

2. Be humble. 
'Always understand you might know more in a given area or discipline, but you do not know everything. Therefore, learning how to manage the relationship between you and your new boss will ultimately dictate the level of your success. Knowledge gets you in the door, [but] relationships get you to the next floor.'

3. Manage up.
'Learning how to coach up can position you as a thought leader. If you develop the ability to coach your boss in areas where you are more knowledgeable, you will be seen as a team asset and not a team liability. Instead of telling the boss what he should or should not do, phrase your statement in the form of a suggestion. This way, you preserve the positional authority and plant the seeds of success in the boss's mind. There may not be a lot of glory in this, but you will have the ability to influence team success.'

4. Be forgiving. 
'No one has the same level of experience as you do concerning you. Your boss will not know what you know. Therefore, giving him or her a little grace to step on your toes will go a long way. It also allows you to make a few mistakes along the way without repercussions. Remember, this is a new relationship. First impressions are filtered through each person's own filters. Learn to look past first impressions, and give each other the room to grow. In the end, managing relationships, coaching up and giving grace will strengthen your new boss's commitment to you.'

This article is courtesy of AOL Jobs Blog. 

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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How To Manage Your Career Life

Looking after your career needs can be a most arduous task! However, choosing and keeping a career that you love is really a gift from Heaven, something that you should cherish and take care of.

Muovo has found the following rules of most benefit, and we hope that they will guide you in managing your career life well and effectively:

1. Manage Your Manager!
Start by finding the very best leader you can, and tie your string to that kite. If you find you are working for an incompetent boss, then you should really try to find another one. Work your way around the organization and see who is sharp and innovative… aim to get into that group. If there are no smart managers to work for in the organization, then find another place to work. You need to be challenged and you need to be happy. You won’t be happy if you’re not challenged.

2. Never Stop Learning.
Learning should be lifelong, meaning throughout your entire life. Yes, it never does stop, really! Keeping yourself up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies will aid in making you an invaluable employee. Track down every training opportunity that is available to you - technical training, computer training, management training, communications training, conflict resolution training – go for it!

3. Get a Graduate Degree.
If you do not have a degree, then you should really start thinking of getting one. You could aim for a diploma or other qualification that will at least show the employer that you are committed enough to engage in some kind of commitment. In addition, you will have much more flexibility in a layoff situation if you are more highly educated than the next person.

4. Get Licensed.
If your profession has a licensure requirement or option associated with it - get the license, even if it is not necessary for the organization you currently work for. You will have more options if you get the license. You can always set up a home office in the backyard and go after business.

5. Maintain a Contact List.
Keep in touch with other professionals in your field who work for other companies. They will be your life-line if you need to move quickly to another job. They will also be a good resource when you are stumped by a problem.

6. Join Professional Organizations.
We cannot stress enough on the importance of networking (with the right people). This is the absolute best way to keep up with what is happening in your field. You will receive journals and email newsletters that will keep you informed about all things professional- technological breakthroughs, emerging fields, political issues, licensing changes, and job listings. You will also know when there are conferences and events that will put you in contact with other people in your field, which is all too essential to your success.

7. Take on Responsibility.
Smart companies in crisis look to keep the high performers. No one ever made a good impression by shirking responsibility. Stop hiding and volunteer for that big project. It will get you noticed!

8. Anticipate Change and Be Prepared.
Most people can expect to change jobs about every three to five years and will most likely make a major career change three times in a life time. Even the most charmed life has disruptions. You will discover that between technological, political, economic and social change – stuff happens.

9. Be Aware of Changes Around You.
Many people just skim through the news on a daily basis just to get the bare necessities (perhaps in order to give them something to talk about during lunch break!). Read technical journals, business publications and a weekly news publication in addition to your usual news feed. Stay informed. Big disruptive events rarely happen without warning.

10. Maintain a Solid Financial Cushion.
When the economy is good it seems like it will last forever- it never does. Have a back up plan- a solid savings and investment plan goes a long way to helping you weather any storm that occurs. Have enough resources to last up to two years. It is as simple as spending less than you earn and paying off your debt immediately. Do both. You will sleep better at night if you know that you are covered even if you never use it. Lets face it - if you have ever been a starving student you have learned to live on less.

Managing your career is task that could be readily accomplished with just a little commitment from your end. Just like watering plants, you need to be consistent in what you do. But finally, you will be oh so glad that you did it.

Courtesy of The Serious Job Seeker Blog

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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