Posts in category: General

As a remote worker, you find yourself so glued to your digital screens, giving out and consuming so much stuff through your digital devices that we often overlook the harmful consequences of excessive screen time.

Excessive exposure to your digital screens has long-term harmful effects such as physical strain to your eye, migraine, sleep deprivation, loss of cognitive ability, and even impaired brain development.

It would be nearly impossible to live without digital devices now that they have become such an integral part of our daily lives. Furthermore, going to such lengths is unnecessary; merely limiting your screen time and managing it properly can protect you from the negative effects of excessive screen time.

Here are a few ways you can limit excessive and harmful screen usage:

1. Figure out where you spend most of your time: Examine the windows on your computer to see where you spend most of your time. Document where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing to better understand your patterns. Estimating the amount of time you spend gaming or working can help you figure out when to stop. Screen time can be easily tracked because most devices have built-in capabilities that perform the work for you—iOS has Screen Time, and Samsung devices have Digital Wellbeing, other android devices also have their respective software applications that will help you measure your screen time.
   
2. Establish your priorities: Consider what is more important than spending all of your time staring at a device. Set clear priorities and set aside time for friends and family, personal goals, and other activities that do not entail utilizing a screen. Socialize and communicate with your co-workers/friends more often via audio call/ physical interaction to balance your work and limit screen time.
   
3. Take frequent breaks away from your digital device: If you can’t reduce your screen time by working fewer hours during the day, make sure you take frequent computer breaks. You can relieve Strain by softly covering your open eyes with your palms and allowing them to acclimate to the darkness for about a minute. You can also take a break from your desk by going to the restroom, filling your water bottle, or getting a snack. Allow your eyes to acclimate to the natural light in the room during these few minutes away from your desk.
   
4. Avoid using multiple screens at a time: Even though working on only one screen is tough for many individuals, it is something that everyone should strive towards. It is scientifically known that working via several screens excites the brain excessively, generating mental exhaustion and tiredness. Multiple screens and devices also reduce productivity and put additional strain on your eyes. Use numerous displays and devices at work only when essential. Stop doing things like watching TV while constantly checking your phone outside of work.
   
5. Make use of time-saving software: One of the smartest methods to reduce screen time is to automate monotonous tasks that keep you glued to your computer screen. There’s almost always software to make your tasks easier and faster, research the one that will work for you.
   
6. Protect yourself: Know how to protect yourself from the dangers of blue light your eyes are exposed to while working on your digital screens. Blue-light filtering glasses can help alleviate some of the symptoms linked with prolonged usage of digital gadgets. Also, learn to make use of your device software that makes it possible for you to reduce the screen’s brightness. Adjusting your screen light to match the setting you are in goes a long way to help you limit the strain on your eyes.

It’s critical for a remote worker to understand when and how to restrict screen usage in order to stay healthy and productive at work.

As a remote worker, you should be aware of how to take care of your health during work hours, from taking frequent breaks to avoiding the hazardous side effects of blue light.

In an interview, your main goal is to persuade the hiring manager that you are the best candidate for the position out of all the others. To successfully achieve that, there are certain things you should never say in a Job interview.

It’s just as vital to know what the hiring manager will consider a red flag as it is to prepare answers to interview questions.

Negativity does not go over well in job interviews, since employers like positive people, and divulging too much personal information in a job interview will hurt your chances of being hired.

What you say and how you say it during an interview is critical in assisting the interviewer in determining whether you are a great candidate and a suitable match for their company and culture. One thing you can do to prepare for an interview is to consider what you don’t want to say and what you want to make sure is covered. In this article, we’ll go through some of the things you should never say in a job interview.

Here are 6 things you should never say in a job interview:

Asking What the Company Does: The first thing to do while preparing for your interview is to do your research. You never want to go into an interview knowing nothing about the position or the firm; you want to show that you’re interested enough to conduct some research and consider how you’d fit in. To begin, conduct some online research and locate a current or former employee with whom you may speak before the big day if possible.

Speaking Negatively about your previous employer/Job: Answering questions relating to your prior company or career in a professional and pleasant manner, without mentioning anything negative demonstrates your capacity to remain professional and positive in any situation. Positive responses to the questions might help reassure the interviewer that you’ll fit in well with their business culture and that you won’t say anything negative about them in the future. When responding to inquiries regarding your prior workplace, attempt to concentrate on what the position you’re going for has to offer that your previous job didn’t.

Saying you can do whatever is available: The majority of hiring managers are searching for candidates that are extremely enthusiastic about the position they are applying for. So it’s a massive red signal if you say something like, “I don’t care what positions you have available—I’ll do anything!” Instead, narrow your search to a single role at each organization and be prepared to explain why it’s the right fit.

“it’s on my resume”: Even if the answer to the interviewer’s question is on your resume, you should always try to answer their questions on your terms and provide them with additional information. When you have your answer to a question on your resume, the interviewer is most likely just seeking further information. Try to respond to these questions with concrete examples that demonstrate your experience or skills, or by describing how your qualifications are applicable to the position.

Asking about benefits, vacation, and pay: During the interview, you should concentrate on demonstrating why you are the best candidate for the job and persuade the interviewer or company to provide you with a job offer. You should aim to avoid asking about perks, vacation time, or pay until the interviewer brings it up first. Rather, wait until they make you an offer before you start negotiating. Instead of asking about perks, vacation, or pay upfront, you might bring it up near the conclusion of the interview. This gently informs the interviewer that you still have questions about the perks the employment provides, but it does not put any pressure on them to respond right now.

Saying “I don’t know”: Even if you practice, practice, and practice, you may still be stumped by a question. However, answering “I don’t know” is rarely the best response. This could be an excellent chance for you to demonstrate your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. You can tell the interviewer that you need a moment to think about your response or that you need more information to put together an accurate response.

Knowing what to say, as well as things you should never say in a job interview will help you get hired.

There are far too many possibilities to say something inappropriate. You may be tempted to express your worries about the position, the employer, or your candidacy, especially if you’re nervous from the stress of an interview or you have self-doubts.

Keep your responses focused on your abilities and credentials. This isn’t the time or place to talk about your troubles; instead, concentrate on capturing the employer’s attention.

Acing the first interview is no guarantee that the position is yours, there are reasons why you might not be getting a second interview.

Job searching is full of all kinds of frustrations!

Perhaps the most challenging issue, however, is getting stuck at the same point in the interview process.

Here are some reasons why you might not be getting a second interview.

• You didn’t follow directions.

At all points during the interview process, it’s important to follow directions. Send the requested materials, (e.g., resume, cover letter, portfolio, etc.) and use the specified file formats.

Once you’ve interviewed, be sure to follow the hiring manager’s lead when following up.

• Your social media is too revealing

Recently, some employers decided not to hire a candidate based on online activities.

If your social media contains material that employers find objectionable, like certain types of Party pictures or political opinions, you might be hurting yourself in the job search.

It is best to lock down your profiles so that only work-appropriate material is visible to hiring managers but don’t delete your accounts.

• You didn’t have the type of experience the hiring manager is looking for.

The goal of the first interview is to check the depth of your industry knowledge and skill levels as it relates to the work the employer needs you to do and this varies for each company.

While you might have all the requirements listed in the job description, you may not have the right amount of experience in a certain area. It’s not that you couldn’t do the job, it’s that another candidate had the right combination to get up to speed and produce results faster.

• One of your references isn’t on your side

Make sure you’re asking for references from people who are familiar with what you do and the job position you are seeking for. Make sure they are people, who will definitely have favourable things to say about you.

Always ask potential references if they’re willing and able to attest to your good qualities before you pass along their information. Also, review the job details with them so that they’ll know what the hiring manager wants to hear.

There are several ways to blow an interview, and while you can make up for some of them in your follow-up, sometimes you just can’t recover.

When that happens, learn from your mistakes and do better next time. And don’t beat yourself up—bad interviews happen to the best of people.

There always seems to be more to do than time permits and even when you know how to manage your time, sometimes it can feel like it isn’t enough.

Social media can be a valuable job search tool, but it’s important to leave out details that don’t serve you in your search for work. Here are some things you might want to consider not doing before your next job application:

Complaints About Your Current Job or Employer

Refrain from complaining about a specific position, company, or supervisor by name online. Airing your issues in such a public space could show a lack of discretion and disregard for confidentiality that may not sit well with potential future employers.

Sharing Current Work-Related Plans or Projects

Make sure you don’t reveal information about confidential or proprietary projects you may be working on for your current employer, or about work assignments you were involved with in the past. This is unprofessional and it may also get you into some legal trouble.

Bad Grammar and Poor Etiquette

Even if you’re not looking for a job that involves writing or editing, it’s important to make sure your social media posts come across as professional, use proper grammar, correct spelling and double-check for anything auto-correct may have switched. Swearing is, of course, off the table By knowing what (and what not!) to post and share on social media, you’ll be able to reap all the benefits of your accounts and find a job you love.

Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence…Sheryl Sandbag COO of Facebook

How do you know if your leaders are effective? Here are 5 common symptoms to quickly assess for ineffective leaders:

1️⃣ Issues and grievances from their team consistently get escalated above or around the leader.

2️⃣ Their team is chronically risk-averse and delivers mediocre results.

3️⃣ Members of their team are stagnant in their career development.

4️⃣ The team deteriorates into confusion or conflict when the leader is absent.

5️⃣ Compared to the rest of your organization their team has higher absences or turnover rates.

The success of your organization hinges on the performance of the people, particularly the managers and leaders.

If any of the above symptoms ring true, your leaders might be in need of some extra support.
Investing in your leadership development can pay off in spades.

We offer individual coaching and structured leadership development to executives and leaders to hone their skills, better manage their teams and steer their organizations through times of challenge and change.

So what are you waiting for? Let us help you position your business for success in 2022, dm us or email us at info@primekbsinstitute.org or call +234 (0) 803 308 281

This 2022 take a strategic, active approach to managing your career that will improve your odds of achieving success this year and beyond. In other words, don’t just float around in an ocean of opportunities hoping the currents will take you to an island of your dreams. Instead, actively search for that island and then start swimming!

In this spirit, adopt these three career essentials and avoid the dangers (stagnation, layoffs, “settling”) that come with a more passive approach to your career.

1. Develop a vision for where you want to go with your career.

Having long-term goals help you to make better short-term decisions. Center these long-term career goals around creating a purpose-driven, meaningful life. According to research, you’ll achieve a deeper sense of wellbeing from your chosen path if you choose your career goals with this in mind.

To better understand what’s needed to achieve your long-term vision. The questions you ask yourself might include:

How do I want my career and job to fit into or support the rest of my life?

What type of work do I want to be engaged in, and at what level? You may find that these assessment exercises will help you to figure this out.

What industry or sector do I want to be in?

What type of organization do I want to work for (including potentially my own)? Is it the same as the one I’m in now or something different? If different, how is it different?

2. Come up with a plan.

Figure out how you’re going to get from where you are now to where you want to be at each point in the vision you laid out. The best plans are highly specific around actions, metrics, benchmarks and timeframes.

To help you move forward, consider creating a four-month plan that will include these three phases:

A decision-making phase around job targets, which includes taking self-assessment exercises, developing your long-term vision, and several other several sub-steps.

A planning and organizing phase, which should include a contact management strategy, your positioning, filling any gaps in knowledge, and your job search marketing materials (resume, LinkedIn profile, pitch, and emails).

A getting-interviews execution phase – where you would join the right associations and prioritize your network and cold outreach over job postings and search firms.

Some plans to achieve your vision may involve taking a financial risk. For example, you may be contemplating quitting your job to start your own business or make a big career change. If this risk is holding you back, try to assess a) how likely the risk is to be realized, b) if there are ways to mitigate it, and c) what the opportunity cost is of not taking the risk, via this “Fear Setting” exercise.

3. Build and maintain your network of relationships.

In a job search, whether internal within your current organization or at a new place, the best opportunities are usually found through your network. Also, if you’re trying to move up within your current organization, building your network and optimizing your relationships with those at all levels of your organization will be key to your success.

As an added benefit, building and maintaining relationships, even those that are based on “loose ties,” will make you happier.

A New Year is coming up quickly, and your team is looking to add new members to help prepare for a successful 2022.

But what skills should you be looking for when reviewing resumes? What abilities will help best position your company for success?

Here are a few things to look for.

1. Innovative problem-solving.

The world is changing faster than we’ve seen before. If the last 18 months have taught us anything, it’s that you need a team of people who are quick on their feet, adaptable and willing, and able to make big changes with very little notice. You’ll want people who can see a big problem and figure out a way to address it. We never know what’s coming around the corner, but the more innovative thinkers and problem solvers you have, the better off you’ll be.

2. Strong communication skills.

With people working in all kinds of settings, both on your team and with your clients, you’ll need employees who are great communicators. You need people who can make everyone feel connected and up-to-date on all projects, never feeling like they’re on the outside looking in and feeling out of the loop. Good communication skills also help sharpen and improve your social media presence, sharing your company’s successes and opportunities online to help expand your bottom line while also attracting new talent.

3. Emotional intelligence.

We’ve all been through a lot recently. Having people on your team who can be flexible, respond in real-time, understand what you’re saying when there are unspoken implications; people who can be an impromptu leader when the going gets tough – all of these skills and signs of emotional intelligence can help your team stick together when there’s uncertainty. This also means speaking deliberately and focused, using the best language to keep your team together.

4. A positive outlook.

No one’s happy all the time. We’re all human and have bad days. That’s fine! But you also want to have people on your team who are more positive and can find opportunities in every challenge. These people will help navigate your team through the dark, stormy times and will keep everyone on track and focused while also brightening spirits. They see the big picture and can help communicate your company’s goals with the kind of reassurance people need from time to time.

5. Teamwork and collaboration.

The successful teams are the ones that can pull together, work as a unit and have each other’s backs when things get rough. A good sense of collaboration and respect for everyone in the group is important for making sure everyone is viewed as important and valued. It’s important to find employees who know when to switch from “I” to “we.”

Who knows what 2022 has to offer, but keeping these skills in mind when hiring new employees can better prepare your company to deal with whatever comes next.

We’re winding down 2021 and looking ahead to 2022, a time for thought and reflection while also thinking ahead. It’s a great time to consider where you are in your life and where you’d like to go!

In that spirit, here are some goals to consider for the year ahead, ones that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, or SMART. Setting goals with these attributes in mind will make them easier to reach and will help focus your efforts.

1. Start small: updating your resume.

If you’re looking for a new job or a career change, start here. Using the SMART mindset, pick a date by which you will update your resume. Whether you chip away at it little by little or dedicate a big block of time to it, this is a specific goal that can be achieved in a set amount of time. It’s relevant to your job search. compared to other goals, it won’t take too much time, and you’ll know you’ve achieved it by having it completed.

2. Next step: Decide how many positions you want to apply for.

Looking for jobs can be exhausting and can feel overwhelming. A SMART goal can be really helpful here! For example, if you want to change jobs, determine how many jobs you want to apply to each week, or each month. Start a list and write down every resume you send out. Decide that, if you want to apply to 20 jobs in a month, you’ll apply to at least one job each weekday. This specific goal allows for both the occasional off day (if nothing new has been posted that strikes your interest) and gives you the chance to exceed your goal.

3. Keep going! Expand your horizons.

Suppose you’ve been thinking about adding to your skillset and knowledge base, either for personal enjoyment or professional advancement. In that case, you can set a goal of taking a certain number of courses in a year. If you want to take five classes in the year, decide that you’ll enroll in your first by March, your second by May, and so on.

Set aside time to look for courses that appeal to you — you’d be surprised how many free tutorials and instructional courses are available on YouTube or through LinkedIn, not to mention things offered by local colleges and adult education programs — and keep a list of what you’ve enrolled in or applied for. They don’t have to be college-level courses, it might be a six-week certification program, but this is a goal that can be easily accomplished, measured and will be relevant to your life.

4. Expand your circle.

Socializing of any kind has been kind of tricky the past year, which makes getting out more an excellent goal for 2022. How is this a SMART goal? Easy: Decide that you want to attend five networking events in a year, for example. Start looking for groups that interest you and sign up. Circle the dates on your calendar. That’s it! Keep a running list to make sure you’re meeting your targets — and keep those business cards and names of people you’ve met handy, you never know when you might be able to help each other out!

5. Think about your future.

Most interviews ask where you want to be in five years. But have you asked yourself where you want your life to be? Give it some thought and start setting your own goals for yourself. Would you like to save money? Start an automated savings account with a few dollars each week or month automatically deducted, with a goal of raising a certain amount by the end of the year. If you reach your goal earlier, so much the better! Decide what you’d like to use that money for and start daydreaming. If you want to move to a different house or a different city, take steps to make that happen, like looking at real estate listings or taking a trip to see if you’ll feel at home there.

Goals are great things to have, but making them measurable, and holding yourself accountable for achieving them, is a different story. Making incremental progress is, in itself, a victory! It will also help you stay on track to achieving whatever it is you’re working toward. Break big goals down into little steps, keep track of your actions and see how much more manageable it is. Good luck!

The importance of the saying “no man is an Island” has been proved to be the reason why many of us need to make a collective effort in the bid to achieve professional success.

For many individuals that have succeeded in their careers, the causes have largely been attributed to the strong networking channels they have created over time.

There’s no denying the power a strong professional network can have over your career success. When it’s done well, networking will not only help you land a job faster but will give you a competitive edge throughout every stage of your career.