Human Resources

In the recruitment lifecycle knowing how to interview potential candidates is a fundamental skill to learn. The interview process takes place after you have either shortlisted qualifying candidates who have applied to your applicant tracking system for your roles. Or you have sourced candidates that meet the criteria of the job you are looking to …

Hopefully by now, you have heard or read enough advice to know that giving me your job description doesn't tell me what I want to know. I need to know what did, how your did, what were you able to accomplish. I need verbs, actions, and results. Simple as that. Sure if you want to list on your resume that you were "employee of the month" that is great, but what I really care about is what you did to earn that recognition and why it was important in your role. If you can give me that in a concise way on your resume, even better. If not, I am going to ask you if you make it to the interview, so be prepared to give the details.

The changes in the job market over the past few years have certainly impacted job seekers in a way that many of us have not seen before. For the first time in history, there are four generations of workers in the job market with each generation facing a unique challenge. Whether you are a recent college grad looking for your first opportunity or a victim of downsizing looking for your next career, the job search can be a very frustrating experience.

An employment contract is a quintessential tool when establishing a professional work relationship. It’s a documented agreement between an employer and an employee outlining the terms and conditions of employment. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various types of employment contracts, their essentials, the importance of updating them, and much more. …

In business, everything rises and falls on leadership. A brilliant CEO can ignite growth, inspire teams, and transform an industry. The wrong leader? They can sink even the most promising venture. That’s why the hunt for top executive talent is more than just hiring. It’s high-stakes matchmaking at the very top of the corporate ladder. …

Assessing your career goals and interests is essential to beginning your job search. Reflect on what you want from your next role, such as the position, industry, company size, or the importance of work-life balance. Identify your core skills, strengths, and areas for improvement. Consider how these factors align with your long-term career aspirations.  Consider …

California’s job market is one of the most dynamic in the country, with thriving industries ranging from technology and entertainment to healthcare and beyond. While this variety creates exciting opportunities, it also makes the job search more complex and competitive. Reverse recruiter services offer a practical solution by tailoring the job hunt to your skills, …

Headhunting is a specialized recruitment process where firms actively seek and approach highly qualified candidates for executive or specialized positions. Unlike traditional recruiting, which often relies on job postings and candidates actively applying, headhunters take a proactive approach. They identify and reach out to top talent, even if they aren’t seeking new jobs. Headhunting firms …

A common misconception with employees and managers is that of the “paper trail.” It is believed that in order to make a termination decision, a manager must create this “paper trail” of documentations until they have enough evidence to satisfy the Human Resource (HR) Department. Unfortunately, this very notion typically brings great frustration to everyone …

Gusto is a payroll processing software, offering tools to expedite payment processing and tax filing. To rise above the competition, it provides features to make other areas of business management easier as well. This Gusto review uncovers the features that make this platform shine. Our Verdict Gusto at a Glance Gusto packs a lot into …

Contractor payroll is an organized process that enables you to pay independent contractors and freelancers. It is an essential procedure for you if you hire people to perform services for your business. An independent contractor is a temporary employee, while a freelancer is a self-employed, nonpermanent worker. Learn how to manually complete the freelancer payroll …

Square Payroll is an online payroll service specially designed for small businesses. It offers an easy way to manage employees’ paychecks along with seamless timecard imports, automated tax filings, and a range of other helpful features.  We’ve thoroughly researched the payroll processing software market on your part to bring you a comprehensive Square Payroll review. …

If you own a small business with multiple hourly workers, it’s essential to convert minutes for payroll when your employees work partial hours. Converting their time worked to exact minutes prevents a lot of payroll problems in the future. It also provides accurate wage distribution to ensure your employees aren’t overpaid or underpaid.   How to …

Paycor is a human resources (HR) software that features comprehensive human resource management and payroll tools. This software handles the bulk of employee recruiting, onboarding, management, benefits administration, and payroll. Labeled as a human capital management (HCM) software, Paycor is ideal for companies that want a solution that offers more than what free payroll software …

In this ADP payroll review, you’ll see it’s one of the best on the market, with multiple plans, so you can upgrade as you grow. The company offers plans for organizations with less than 50 employees, but it may be a bit complex, so we recommend it for businesses expecting rapid growth.  We’ve narrowed down …

Payroll laws determine how you pay your employees, calculate payroll taxes and file them. Failure to comply with these can result in fines, interest on unpaid wages, employment lawsuits, and in the worst case, you may have to shut down your business.  Getting yourself familiar with payroll laws might make you feel just a little …

One of the first decisions you must make as a business owner is concerning payroll schedule. A payroll schedule determines how often you pay your employees. There are four types of payroll schedules to choose from, and we’ll go through them in this article, looking at their pros and cons and determining which suits what …

© Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Adapted from Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development Suggested Pre-Reading Overview of Performance Management Process for any Application Sections of This Topic Include Traditional Performance Management Process Problems With Traditional Approach Progressive Approaches to Performance Management Traditional Performance Management Process Whether for organizations, teams or …

The emergence of the team idea can be traced back to the late 1920s and early 1930s with the now classic Hawthorne Studies. These involved a series of research activities designed to examine in-depth what happened to a group of workers under various conditions. After much analysis, the researchers agreed that the most significant factor …

This quick team building exercise gets small teams to communicate when they can’t see one another or their progress. Communication is the key to success with this team building exercise Overview The challenge is to take a length of rope and lay it out on the ground to make a perfect square. Throughout the task …

Optimizing Application Performance: Planning for Success © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Adapted from Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development Strongly Suggested Pre-Reading Performance Management: Traditional and Progressive Approaches Overview of Performance Management Process for any Application Approaches to Developing a Performance Plan NOTE: The term “domain” in the following refers …

Selecting Performance Measurements: Guidelines for Any Application Assembled by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD Suggested Pre-Reading Overview of Performance Management Process for any Application Sections of This Topic Include Guidelines for Selecting Measurements Myths About Measurements Examples of Measurements General Resources Also, consider Related Library Topics Learn More in the Library’s Blogs Related to Performance Management: …

© Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, Ph.D., Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Adaptedfrom the Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision in Business andField Guide to Leadership and Supervision for Nonprofit Staff. Strongly Suggested Pre-Reading PerformanceManagement: Traditional and Progressive ApproachesOverviewof Performance Management Process for any ApplicationPerformancePlanning Phase Approaches to Doing a Performance Appraisal Remember that information in this section …

There’s been a lot of talk about happiness and general well-being of late. Here we explore the four components of happiness and ask if busy teams can ever achieve a happy team. Since becoming the Conservative leader and Prime Minister in the UK David Cameron has argued that we should be monitoring GWB (General Well …

We would like to share an idea for a team building energiser that can be run inside or outside and would work especially well with larger teams. It’s called ‘Team Jump’. Overview: This team building activity is a great way to re-energise the team and have a great photo memory of your day’s training. Running …

As promised, here is Part II of Useful Quotes for Training and Education. I have decided, on a whim really, that I will sit down with my new speech students and let them discuss the meaning of the following quotes, and how they might use them in a speech. Of course, there are useful quotes …

Ideas for Improving Any Training and Development Plans © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Adapted from the Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision in Business and Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision for Nonprofit Staff. Sections of This Topic Include Introduction Planning — Some Considerations for Developing the Training and Development Plan …

Best Practices for Effective Training with Learners Sections of This Topic Include Preparation for Implementing Your Training Plan Key Considerations During Implementation Wise Advice for Any Trainer Additional Resources to Guide Implementation of Your Training Plan Also, consider Related Library Topics Learn More in the Library’s Blogs Related to Implementing Training Plans In addition to …

Guidelines for Successful Peer Learning © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Sections of This Topic Include What is Peer Learning? What Are the Benefits of Peer Learning? What Are Some Forms of Peer Learning? How Do I Develop a Peer Learning Program? Various Additional Perspectives On Peer Learning Also consider Related Library …

Directions for Learners to Complete This Training Plan Complete this training plan by following the guidelines in the document Complete Guidelines to Design Your Training Plan. Learners may modify this framework to suit their nature and needs. Name of Learner: Approval (if applicable): Time Frame Start date: Completion date: Funding Requirements (See budget at the …

One would think that of all the training needs facing an organization, selecting a trainer would be the simplest, a matter of hiring the right person for the job. While selecting the right trainer is not as simple as it seems, the task can be made easier if you think about what your company or …

It’s easy to think of the trainer as the leader–at least in the moment, but he or she is a leader in other ways, too–keyed to the human factor that makes the company work and its people resource rewarded and fulfilled. The trainer/leader listens to his audience and works with them. He or she teaches …

It is relatively easy to test information learned in a classroom or from a book. But can you accurately assess if that knowledge can and will be applied in a practical sense? While information can be remembered in the short term, its not nearly so simple to determine its application to the real world and …