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.
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.
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
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?
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
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 ?
Ways to successfully and truthfully explain gaps in your CV during an interview ?
It is common for a professional to notice in the CV of the candidate, what we usually call a « gap » in the career path of the latter, during the process of a job interview. Beyond a pure conjecture this embarrassing situation that appear as inconsistency in the career, whether it is true or not, is actually quite common. It does ring a bell especially knowing that majority of people have had that happened at least once in their lives. A gap in employment can be due to many factors. It could be due to a maternity leave. Or again to a personal project like trying to start a business for example. Finally, it could be the result of a contract breach that both parties agreed on and that led to a year leave. Either way, whatever the nature is, a gap in employment is always something that requires some logical explanation unless you want to fail the interview. But how exactly do you go around it without making a mistake? We will try to give an answer to that question in the following paragraphs.
Justifying a gap in your CV by making a coherent plan ?
First thing first, one of the smartest techniques used to explain a gap in your CV is by setting up a coherent plan that would fit with you career path or working experiences. It is crucial because you can be sure that the recruiter will not take lightly the words you choose to justify the gap in your CV. It is obviously a determining factor in the profile of the future employee.
Avoid lying to explain a gap in your CV by all means.
Because they want their interview to be successful some people are tempted to systematically lie to justify an existing gap in their CV. That type of behavior that consists of lying to justify in bad faith those times of inactivities or to change the dates of employments can end up having the opposite effect because if they find out about it, the candidate will lose any chance of having a successful interview. This is why it is very important to be honest when you are trying to explain a gap in the CV. Also, whatever the reason why your career was interrupted at some point of your life, be brief about your personal life. It really is the number one rule.
Use your cover letter to be ahead on the justifications
Contrary to popular misconceptions, a gap in the CV does not mean that you will not have a successful interview. Your cover letter can come handy when trying to anticipate on the questions you will probably get at the interview. It can help overcoming any concern the employer might have. Be honest no matter what and have a persuasive presentation. Make the person you’re speaking to know that what you were doing during your time of inactivity is not the proof of an incoherent behavior but rather the proof of an existing sense of initiative and determination. Taking this type of approach will help you gain some points and convince the employer that you are the best candidate for that position…Making an obstacle turn into an advantage will therefore show how good of a master mind you are.
You can also read Occupational burnout, an unknown disorder in Africa
Well-being in the workplace: Where do we stand in Africa?
Following the succession of suicides of some workers that shook France in 2007, the topic regarding quality of life in the workplace is not something that Management takes lightly anymore. People merely talked about it before but these dramatic event that occured, make them realise how well-being in the workplace plays a key role in motivating the worker. It is not a secret anymore that nothing great can happen if the worker is in a working environment where he is feeling down and is stressed out constantly. Actually, some companies have understood it very well. That is the reason why they put in place some mechanisms to encourage the well-being of their employees. The same is true for African companies. However it is sad to see that it underlines a deeper issue that doesn’t seem important. Many African companies have yet to find a way to deal with the matter effectively.
A wake of interest from the World Health Organization about the concept of well-being at the workplace.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is very much concerned with the issue of well-being at the workplace and gave an official definition to describe it. It is defined as “ A state of mind where there is a quite good balance between the skills, needs and aspirations of the worker and the pressure and opportunities at the workplace. Basically “well-being at the workplace”refers to all elements that could potentially have an impact on the working conditions of the employees. It includes security, hygiene of the premises, health protection of workers, the physical and mental effects of the tasks carried out, workplace ergonomics etc. According to the Administrator of Syntec and president of the consulting firm Stimulus, David Mahé who published a look out about stress at the workplace “there is 2 types of stimulation, one that gives meaning to what we do and another that is about duty. Being committed is about the meaning and the enjoyment.”Despise all that, in Africa, many companies struggle to adapt to that reality.
A theoretical approach of the issue of well-being at the workplace for many African companies
Officially in Africa, many companies talk about the interest they have on the well-being of their employees. However, if we pay more attention to it, we notice that there is a gap between the declarations of interest and the reality. Progress is not for pretend anymore. African companies really need to commit themselves to finding ways to improve the working conditions. It is about, putting the human being in the center of the values of the company for its own sake and for the sake of the co-workers.
You can also read Professional retraining in Africa
Professional retraining in Africa
A good amount of the workers who are not really open to venture to unknown lands, feel a certain way about contemplating the idea of doing a professional retraining. Whether it is about being afraid to explore the unknown, to step out of their comfort zone or an instinctive search for professional security, professional retraining is not something very popular among workers in Africa and anywhere else in the world.
Change your career to take control of your life
A professional retraining consists of a change of career or work status but more than anything it is about taking your life under control which requires obviously to be someone rather audacious and able to go to the unknown. However, the number of people who are making radical changes in their career, not to mention those who are only talking about it, has risen up this last decade and it keeps growing. According to a study published by Opinion Way in 2016, on “professional retraining” 68% of active workers have considered seriously changing their life and 31% said that they did it at least one time already. Such a decision that is solely based on the desire to take one’s life in controle can’t happen without a change of environment or occupation.
Agriculture: the most popular field in Africa for workers undergoing a professional retraining
In Africa, the issue of migration in addition to a job market getting more and more overloaded make many workers turn to professional retraining. When it comes to investment, Africa still is the continent that offers the most possibilities for investors unlike Europe or the United States where almost all sectors have had some. That is the reason why people who are considering undergoing a professional retraining have plenty of areas to choose from to change their career. Agriculture happen to be a very profitable sector that offers many investment opportunities and job creations. Many professionals who are tired of their jobs or looking to have more independence in their professional lives are going into the agriculture business in Africa. That happen to be the case for the ex professional football player Ferdinand Coly who traded his football boots for a career in agriculture in his home country.
The obstacles that come with undergoing a professional retraining
Just like any adventure in life, a professional retraining is an exciting experience but yet stressful. In Africa, many workers that have the objective of going into a professional retraining sometimes have issues finding the appropriate training that meet with the criterion they have set. Another thing that make a professional retraining difficult in Africa is the funding of a professional activity. In many African countries, the Government have put in place many structures to fund those who want to engage in something or undergo a professional retraining. However they are yet to be efficient. Because of the sense of uncertainty that come with taking this type of decision and the issues mentioned earlier, many people would rather stay in the comfort of what they have instead of going to the unknown. Still, African professionals are being more and more aware of the fact that a change of career is an opportunity rather than an issue related to unemployment.
You can also read Team spirit development in a company: What solutions do the managers have?