23Jul

Graduated and disoriented? Some advice to guide you after your studies

You still spend a lot of time thinking about your professional future, without really knowing where you are going or what you will do. This unpleasant feeling of professional uncertainty is widely shared among many young graduates. It prevents them from moving forward, but also prevents them from being optimistic about their future. However, you should not give in to discouragement. No more sitting in bed doing nothing, it’s time to take action! Here are a few tips to put your situation into perspective and guide you …

Taking stock of yourself …

It is important when you are lost and discouraged by a professional future that you feel uncertain, to take stock of yourself. This will allow you to get back on track. In particular, you need to ask yourself a number of questions to help you find your way around. What exactly do you want? How and where do you see yourself in a year’s time? What about later? The answers to these questions will allow you to project yourself towards a more serene future and to get a feel for your expectations. The aim is to inspire you, to get out of a lethargic state, in short to discover yourself in a new light.

Review his professional experiences …

As a graduate, remember that even if you haven’t seen the end of the tunnel yet, that doesn’t mean you have no skills or that you’re worthless. On the contrary, you have many skills that are just waiting to be put to use. To discover them, you need to take stock of your skills. Review all of your work experiences. No matter how small they may be, don’t underestimate them. In a student job or internship, for example, you have learned to adapt, to work in a team, to develop certain abilities, to obey, etc. Take stock of what you liked and what disappointed you. This will allow you to orient yourself so that you know exactly what field you would like to work in.

List possible career options …

You didn’t graduate for nothing. You certainly have ideas, career dreams. List them! For each idea, you need to think about the prerequisites needed to implement them, as well as the consequences of such a choice on your life. You still need to be realistic, because it is clear that you will not be able to achieve your long-term goals immediately. Be ready to roll the dent. At first, expect to find a position that suits you and that will allow you to move up the ladder in the future. So, when looking through job offers, avoid all those that require a minimum of two years of work experience, as you have a very small chance of being selected. Anticipate by avoiding rejections and negative feedback. This will help you not to become discouraged.

Get to know the jobs related to your training …

You need to take the time to find out about the jobs that interest you, or more precisely those that revolve around your field of training. For example, if you know someone in your entourage who has completed the same training as you or who knows the sector you are passionate about, ask them for information. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the professionals, those who are already practising their profession, they will be delighted to answer you. You can also get information from former graduates, those of your year, etc. In short, give yourself the chance to diversify your sources of information.

02Jul

How to integrate into a new team ?

Finding your place in a new team is not always easy. Relationships with new coworkers can be troublesome sometimes. It is understandable because people who don’t know each others need time to understand and appreciate each others so they can work together efficiently. With that in mind, when you have just joined a team, you have a key role to play in successfully settling.

1- Be humble

It is true that you must show your skills in order to be respected and accepted by your coworkers, but that doesn’t mean that you should act as someone who lack humility because that certainly will make it impossible to develop efficient collaboration. You must not give the impression that you look down on your coworkers or question their skills. That could create some type of frustration that could be detrimental to your integration to the team. Whether you are a young hire or an expert executive, settling into a new team is a good way to achieve your mission. Plus, having a good relationship with your coworkers is necessary to make you feel good in a company, it is even a motivation factor for waking up every morning to go to work. Think about it!

2- Show energy and enthusiasm

Generally, your new colleagues make an opinion about you on the very first contact. That is basic. That is the reason why you should show energy and enthusiasm when you first meet them. As a matter of fact, many HR specialists all agree on the fact that the integration period is crucial for building a positive image in the long term, even beyond carrying out your duties. So in order to successfully settle into a new team, do not hesitate to put a smile on your face, you must also be discreet and nice. It is also recommended to dress with simplicity. It is only after you are well integrated or if the dress code of the company allows you to, that you can wear a shirt with patterns on it.

3- do not try to change it all

Your input will certainly be exptected and appreciated by your management. It is a good thing actually that you have specific ideas on how to boost the numbers of your company. But be smart, do not show them off on the first day. “ ont the first days, you must essentially observe, listen and ask questions” an HR specialist advises. Take the time to adapt yourself to the culture of the company in order to better understand its challenges. It is only after a while that you will be able to bring some suggestions to your manager. “ Be careful not to confuse bringing your experience on the table and forcing it”, the specialists tell us.

4– follow the rules that your team has set up

Of course, the minute you join a team, expect to have some rules to follow. Find out about them so you don’t risk violating them. Certain rules are unfortunately not written down anywhere and you will know them as time goes by. As a new hire, the difficulty lies on following those unwritten rules that exist between coworkers. « You must pay attention to the habits and costumes of the group because there will surely be some tacit or explicit social rules », adds an HR expert. If, for example, your new coworkers usually have lunch together, make sure you go with the flow… at least until you are well settled in. Of course if you notice clans and tensions between certain people, stay away from it. Every office has its way of working anyway. Those operating rules can work during meetings for projects review, or working hours only. Make sure you absorb them fully to better your chances of successfully integrating a team.

18May

The Monday Blues : how to beat the Monday blues?

Sleeping in on Saturday or Sunday morning always feels good… However, usually after weekends, it is always difficult to go back to work. The first day of the week is certainly never the best one. Many people have trouble finding their pace of work on Monday morning. Therefore, they spend more time at the coffee machine than in their office. If this happens to you, know that you are probably suffering from what we call the ‘The Monday Blues’. It is a very common phenomenon. If it is happening to you, we have 4 ways on how to get ride of it.

Maximize your weekend…

If you are not in great shape on Monday morning, it is probably because you didn’t make the most of your Sunday rest. Keep in mind, then that if you want to have a good week at work, the work must be done ahead of time. The beginning of the week will definitely be less chaotic if you make sure you have enough rest during the weekend. « It is crucial to unplug from work during the weekend so you are efficient on Monday. To do that, the best way is to not think about work at all. Avoid checking emails for example” said psychologue and coach Boris Charpentier. Basically, some rest and some relaxing time, with activities that take care of our wellbeing.

Plan for some relaxing time on Monday night…

If you are not careful enough, the “Monday Blues” could expand over the whole week and ruin your work. In order to find a solution to it, it is recommended to plan a relaxing time on Monday night, like having a drink with friends or going out to the movies, for example. It makes you feel better and makes you feel happy because you are looking forward to something. That way, in the morning, you have something to be excited about because you know you will have a fun night. You will take on your Monday work with serenity. Also, it will help you regroup before having a good sleep and feeling good for the rest of the week.

Plan you Monday work ahead of time…

A lot of reasons can explain the “Monday Blues”. It could caused by a reminiscence of the fun time you had over the weekend, a feeling of injustice, or in some extreme cases, it could be a warning sign. It expresses pain and could be a sign of depression or burnout” explains Boris Charpentier. The most obvious sign of a “Monday Blues” is the loss of focus. If your agenda is not clearly planned, your situation will only get worse. You actually don’t even need to try because your day is already ruined. Think about time management and try to plan your Monday work ahead of time. Otherwise, you will loose some precious time and that will have a greater effect on your focus. This planning will give you a new boost from the very beginning of the week. Not to mention that it “will make you take control of your everyday life and set the tone for the week”, adds the psychologue.

Take a break from time to time…

To avoid fatigue, it is crucial to take breaks. That is not only true for Mondays. Take your mind off and empty your head, away from the screen. A deep breath of fresh air can work miracles for you. If you like coffee, a good cup of coffee is the perfect pick-me-up drink in Monday mornings. But don’t drink to excess because too much caffeine is not good for your health.

06May

How to make up for a mistake at work?

No matter how qualified you are, it is not impossible for you to make a mistake at work. This could turn into a nightmare if not handled properly. You can for example mix up the address of an order, or the recipient of a confidential mail, in brief, you just didn’t do what you were asked to… When everybody makes mistakes at work, the ways however to handle them or to make up for them can be different. Here are some tips to save faces.

Keep your cool…

When you happen to make a mistake at your workplace, there is no need for you to panic because no matter what the consequences of that mistake could be, going into panic mode will not solve the issue. Tell yourself that everybody makes mistakes and panicking would only make things worse. It is obviously naural to feel embarrassed and stressed out about admitting that you made a mistake. But the faster you act on it, the better it will go. It is useless to just bury your head in the sand. If you manager was informed about the situation quickly enough, there would be more time for him to get involved and minimize the damages. If your mistake can have repercussions then confess immediately. It will stop it from getting any bigger and leading to serious consequences. However if it’s a little mistake you can handle it yourself, no need to bring it up.

Don’t point fingers at anyone…

There is nothing that upsets a boss more than an employee who doesn’t own up to his responsibility. That is the reason why, the moment you realize you have made a mistake, take full responsibility and confess your wrongs. Show your manager that you are aware of your mistake and that you have learned from your lesson. Do not point fingers at anyone by any means. If, for example, you didn’t quite understand the instructions, admit it. Owning to your mistakes is proof of maturity.

Present solutions to correct your errors

It is not just about admitting your wrongs. You must also commit to finding solutions to the problems that you have created. Presenting solutions to correct the errors will show your manager that you are really genuinely sorry. Do not hesitate to ask your colleagues for some help. It will prove that you really want to fix the problem. You must then learn from your mistakes. Take the time to explain what have happened, what you have learned from it and how you will use it to do better in the future. In short, communicate. That could work on your favor.

Don’t beat yourself over it

If you continue feeling guilty about it, it could hurt your self-esteem and make you question yourself. Know that most of the time, talented workers make mistakes and that doesn’t take away their skills. Moreover, you must know that in many situations, you are a link in a series of events. “A mistake is never solely the fault of the person who did it, the organization and the procedure that had been put in place are also to blame. Reason why it is important for managers to get with the person who made the mistake and go through the series of events that led to the error” argues specialist Jean-François Thiriet. So basically, stop beating yourself over it and move on peacefully.

03Feb

managing return to work after maternity leave

Returning to work after a maternity leave is not easy. The changes happening in your life after you’ve just had a baby are so overwhelming that you feel like you must be available mentally, physically and emotionally. This state of mind mixed with the physical changes that naturally come with having a newborn make it difficult,nerve-racking even stressful to go back to work. Or worse, mind you end up losing your mental balance. You will find here some tips on how to manage your return to work after a maternity leave.

1. Reach out to your company to prepare a good transition from your maternity leave

It would be a mistake to go back to work after a maternity leave without being mentally prepared. It is strongly advised to not make it too sudden. So if you still have two weeks left before you return then try to put yourself back in your own shoes as an employee. Start your preparation by reaching out to your workplace. Do not hesitate to contact your manager to ask him about any new updates in terms of strategies. You must also contact the person who is replacing you so he can give you the last informations about the undergoing files. Be ready to eventually find some new changes in your work schedule. Contact the HR service to find out more about that. A lunch with your colleagues could be a good idea to help you get back in the mood and share a nice time with them. Just make sure to slowly soak in before the big return.

2. Make sure you organize a transition period for the baby before you go back to work

When you are a mother your balance and the well being of your baby come as a pair. That is the reason why you must prepare the baby to the upcoming changes coming in his life with you having to go back to work. This preparation should be done as soon as possible so don’t wait until the last minute to do it. Once you have all the childcare settled and under controlled, it will be important to organize a transition period. Take advantage of that last week before the end of your maternity leave to do a smooth transition. If it is done right then you should be able to anticipate the eventual setbacks to the new planning so the baby has no problem adjusting to his new life. In any case, it is crucial to organize a transition period for the baby before you get back to work so there is no risk of a sudden break in the child’s life rhythm. Specialists actually all agree on the importance of a step by step transition.” It is important for this adjustment to be as progressive as possible” gives Myriam Szejer as an advice. “ It is important to go to the places where the baby will be staying, to make him discover new scents, to leave him there on specific times for one or two hours then a whole day” explains Sylvie Sanchez-Forsans. The idea is to “to let go of the privileged relationship” and create a “new environment”.

3. Trust yourself again…

You must learn to trust yourself again so you don’t experiment any shock following your maternity leave because after you have been away from the office for a long period of time, it can be difficult to get back to your work activity. Many women go as far as doubting their abilities and skills. This feeling of lack of trust is widely present among lots of women who return to their jobs after a maternity leave. Thus, the best way to bring back that trust is to make an assessment of it before your return. “You need to take the time to focus on your accomplishments, on your main skills, what was working very well before you were gone for those few months. This small list allows you to remember and rekindle your trust in yourself. It also serves as to remind you that this is also what people who are in the same work environment as you, remember about you,” advises Jenny Chammas, life coach and founder of Coachappy.

27Jan

Expatriation in Africa, an opportunity not to be missed

One can’t help but admit that Africa represents one of the main driving force in today’s world growth unless you want to resist to the idea. With an interesting average growth rate, this last few years, the black continent has been attracting multinational companies and investors from all over the world. Turning to Africa has become a very promising trend. This has led to expatriation in Africa being something very popular and more and more important.

Why go to Africa?

You could have a good career opportunity in Africa if you were to work there as an expat. It is however, a priority to know ahead of time what is going to happen to you once you get there no matter how you managed to get a job abroad. In addition to getting an opportunity to learn about a culture that is different and rich, working in Africa will allow you to live a less expensive life because usually life is more affordable in African countries than in Europe or in any other continent. Therefore, you could live a better cheaper life. In terms of housing, the opportunities that you will have are way more interesting.

Work opportunities to take on in Africa

According to World Bank’s estimation, the economic growth of sub-saharien Africa should reach an average of 3.6% in 2019-2020. Thanks to that number, the emerging countries of the continent have been getting more investments from companies. Not only does it contribute to reducing the unemployment rate but it also increases career opportunities for expats. The fact that the oil sector is one of the most promising ones in Africa goes to show that. Angola, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gabon, Algeria, Libya and recently Senegal represent important oil production poles. Thus, due to oil windfall operating needs, the construction business has been booming in most of those countries. Also, the fast growing banking industry is creating new career opportunities for expats. They have been getting opportunities in Maghreb and West Africa in that specific department.

Preparing your departure to Africa

Even though Africa is a land of opportunity, we wouldn’t recommend you to go there without being well prepared. It is actually a must. So, way before you sign your expat contract, make sure you are fine with the terms and conditions that they offer, the financial part especially. That way you won’t have no bad surprise. Even better, it is preferable that your contract also mentions the conditions of your return. The minute you sign the contract, make sure that all the legal conditions are met to allow you to work peacefully in your host country. From the resident visa to any necessary permit that allow you to do your job. You must also check that all your shots are up to date before you get on the plane. For example if the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, the hepatitis A and B are only highly recommended.

15Oct

L’Afrique, nouveau terrain de jeu des géants de la tech

Fitting into a new company: essential tips

You finally got your dream job after many interviews. You have signed your contract with a lot of enthusiasm. However it is not a done deal just yet. You still have one step to go through that is as important as the one before, which is fitting in the new company.

This step might seem easy but it is not because obviously adjusting to an unknown world is not a peace of cake especially for those who are just entering into the work world. This is why it is not a waste of time to look into the necessary tips to successfully fit in a new work environment.

First, one of the most important things for the new hire to do is to be aware of the challenges this represent. If not it will be difficult to properly adjust. That way, according to Catherine Berliet, coach and co-author of Manger au quotidien, three steps are vital to successfully fit it a new company.

The first one being, according to her, well prepared for the new job by carefully reading the job description in order to know precisely where you will take actions.

The second one consists of a SWOT which stands for Stenght,Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. The goal is to put in writing the necessary elements that would allow you to quickly be efficient in your new job.

Finally, the third step according to Catherine Berliner still, consists of putting interest in the Dow and the don’ts. Which means all the aspects in terms of culture, its values and its creation etc. Basically, it means for the new hire to spot the appropriate dress-code that is put in place, the way people are talking and the way they are operating internally.

In this adjustment phase, it is essential to open up to new people, to go to people to make it easier to communicate and develop contacts. It is even more important knowing that on the first days, your new colleagues will judge you. Be nice and honest without putting yourself in the spotlight and risking to sound arrogant.

You can also read Africa: when artificial intelligence gets the business world excited

11Oct

Africa: when artificial intelligence gets the business world excited

Artififial intelligente has found the way to our everyday life and got quite comfortable in doing so. It’s an amazing reality. The future of the planet revolves around artificial intelligence. “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”,said Vladimir Putine the President of Russia.

In the working world, some are a bit scared of it, while others, in the other hand, do see some potential in it. Artificial intelligence has changed all the habits in Africa. In that side of the world, more and more young people have taken upon themselves to take advantage of everything that artificial intelligence has to offer. For that reason, some kind of excitement happened in the “Black” continent over the rise of artificial intelligence especially in the entrepreneur field.

Artificial intelligence is made of a set of functions that the computer can execute better than the actual human brain or the human intelligence. The same is true for the analysis of massive amounts of data for example to proceed risk assessment. AI makes the machine learn about those mass data on its own and self improve.

With the huge potential that AI offers, Africa surely plans on relying on it to be on the same level as the rest of the world, because there are more and more investments made in that sector. From the health field, the education field to the environment field, mainstream AI based apps are very popular considering the fact that the smartphone business is booming in Africa.

In fact, according to Koundi a Deloitte Africa associate, the number of machines which are by the way around 350 millions, should double by year 2020 in Africa. Prices dropped from 80 dollars to 30 in less than two years, thanks to the launch of machines specifically made for Africa.

With this in mind, Betelhem Dessie was able to mention that AI could be the lever that allow the African continent to rise to the top next to the Northern countries. It would be, in other words, some kind of fast track to development that will make people forget that Africa has missed out on the first two revolutions, the industrial one and the post-industrial one.

Africa has considerably felt the impact of AI in the job market just like any other region in the planet. Today, despite the numerous advantages AI has to offer, there is a risk that a lot of jobs will disappear in Africa. This is, in fact, one of the main concerns that critics have toward this revolutionary trend. Despite the fear it might have brought, AI has been well received in the “black” continent.

It is safe to admit that the way young African entrepreneur have been getting excited over it goes to show that Africa does plan on relying on AI to secure an economic take-off.

You can also read Professional relationships: how to handle a difficult colleague?

09Oct

Professional relationships: how to handle a difficult colleague?

Les relations professionnelles ne sont pas toujours cordiales, comme toute autre relation. La plupart du temps, la vie au travail nous obligera à travailler avec des collègues difficiles à gérer. Qu’ils soient collègues ou employeurs, les personnes difficiles dans une entreprise peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur votre humeur. Si vous contrôlez la bonne attitude à adopter, ils peuvent faire de votre vie un enfer. Il est épuisant de les traiter émotionnellement, mentalement et physiquement à moins de connaître le jeu auquel ils jouent. Malheureusement, vous trouvez ces types de personnes dans toutes les catégories de travail, des petites entreprises aux PME en passant par les grandes entreprises. Mais comment traitons-nous avec eux? Découvrons-le!

Préparez votre retour

Un collègue difficile trouvera du plaisir à provoquer chez vous une attitude défensive, fâchée, effrayée ou même triste. Son but ultime est de vous briser afin de contrôler vos émotions. Ne lui donnez pas ce pouvoir parce que c’est à vous de le laisser gagner ou de l’arrêter tout de suite. Même la plus petite expression sur une émotion le laissera penser qu’il a le contrôle sur vous. Pour éviter que vous deviez préparer votre retour et surveiller vos arrières. Ayez 2 ou 3 phrases en tête que vous pourriez utiliser lorsque vous sentez que des attaques malveillantes vous arrivent. Vous allez le mettre en échec.

Choisissez de rester calme au lieu de vous mettre en colère

La plupart des personnes difficiles se nourrissent des explosions de colère de leurs victimes. Ils auront le sentiment d’avoir gagné à la minute qui leur est réservée quelque chose qui montre l’état émotionnel de la victime. C’est la raison pour laquelle vous ne devriez jamais casser sous la pression, peu importe ce qui se passe. Lorsque vous êtes avec lui, soyez sur lui. Pour ce faire, vous devez être capable de gérer votre propre colère avant de lui parler. Dans tous les cas, ne vous inquiétez pas et répondez calmement. Il va se perdre …

Ne vous sentez jamais coupable d’une personne difficile

Certaines personnes difficiles à manipuler sont si douées pour vous faire sentir coupable de quelque chose qu’elles ont fait. Ne tombez jamais dans ce piège parce que vous n’êtes pas le problème. Vous êtes la victime en fait. Malheureusement, si vous ne l’obtenez pas, vous pourriez parfois vous sentir coupable. Il est également important que vous vous souveniez que vous êtes manipulé pour vous faire du tort sur vous-même.

Vous pouvez également lire Culture d’entreprise: un défi majeur dans le processus de recrutement

25Sep

How to become a successful negociater as a salesman ?

Having salesmen with great negociation skills is a recipe for success for a company. The art of negociaion is not limited to the world of sales only actually. It touches all parts of life, from the life of a couple, a life of politics, to a life in business or even a family life. Nowadays, the fact that they are plenty of training courses aiming at maximizing the chances of being a good negotiator in terms of business, is proof of how important it is especially for a salesman for who it represents a good deal. For salesmen in deed, having a successful negociation means managing to establish a long lasting relationship with the clients and the partners. It is therefore crucial for the salesman to be on top of the game when it comes to negociation so he can fully understand it and find ways to improve the skills in that department.

Good negociation comes with good preparation

The first thing you need to know is that as a salesman, it is essential to be rightfully prepared before you start a process of negociation. To do so you will need specific coaching and management from salesmen managers. This would mean for a salesman who cares about being the best at négociations, to be fully prepared and know the product perfectly, the market and the needs of potential clients. The preparation requires a certain analytical mind, an intellectual curiosity, reasoning skills especially when the negotiations are about a specific subject.

Knowing how to improve and develop your emotional intelligence

As a part of the soft skills intelligence, emotional intelligence is something very important especially in negotiation. Emotional intelligence comes with control of yourself and your emotions in order to handle negotiations in the best conditions. This quality comes handy in situations where you find it hard to close a deal with a client. Self-confidence and empathy are more than needed in that type of situation. The best negotiators are the ones with the best emotional intelligence. It can be improved by getting coaches that will give you training and specific advices. Also, determination and a strong will to persuade are very important qualities that facilitators look for.It does not mean that salesman who don’t have those qualities are not good negociators. It is never too late to overcome our own weakness by planing specific tactics to do so.

You can also read Ways to successfully and truthfully explain gaps in your CV during an interview ?

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Taking stock of yourself …

Review his professional experiences …

List possible career options …

Get to know the jobs related to your training …