Working hours What you need to know

Working hours What you need to know by Amber Rolfe The secret’s out; working 9 to 5 isn’t the only way to make a living… But you do need to make sure you’re not working more than you should. Luckily, employers are legally obligated to ensure their employees aren’t working more than the allowed maximum amount in any period â€" a legislation that’s there to protect workers and make sure that you don’t go overworked and underpaid.To ensure you’re working within your rights (and to answer any questions you may have), here’s everything you need to know about working hours:What are the maximum weekly working hours? You’re allowed to work 48 hours a week, averaged out over 17 weeks.If you’re under 18, this is lowered to 40 hours per week, or 8 hours per day.Will I ever have to work more than the maximum weekly working hours? In certain industries, you might be required to work more than 48 hours a week.These include:The armed forces, police, or emergency servicesAn industry where 24-hour staffing is needed (e.g. healthcare)Security or surveillanceSeafaring or sea-fishingIf you’re self-employed and in control of your own hoursContract of employment â€" key terms explained and your rightsCan I choose to work more than 48 hours a week? If you want to work more than the maximum weekly working hours, you can opt out. This must be done in writing, and can be for a specified amount of time, or for an indefinite period.However, you won’t be able to opt out if you work:For an airlineOn ships, boats, or in the road transport industry (e.g. delivery drivers, bus conductors)As a security guard transporting high-value goodsWorkers under the age of 18 are also not allowed to opt out.Why does employment law exist?How can I calculate my average weekly working hours?To calculate how many hours you work per week, add up the number of hours worked in the reference period, and divide by the number of weeks.A reference period is usually 17 weeks, but there are exceptions in some industries. Trainee doctors, for example, have a 26 week reference period. You can find out what your reference period is by looking online or speaking to the accounts team at your organisation.  Types of employment contractsWhat is included in my working hours?Time spent travelling, if travelling is part of your job (e.g. mobile therapist)Job related trainingBusiness lunchesTime spent on call, on-siteTime spent working abroadTime spent on business callsPaid overtimeUnpaid overtime (which you’ve been asked to do)Travel between home and work for those who don’t have a fixed workplace (e.g. freelancers, contractors etc.)  What is not included in my average weekly working hours?Time spent on call, outside of the workplaceHolidays (paid or unpaid)Breaks when work is not done (lunch breaks)Unpaid voluntary overtimeTravelling outside of working hoursTravel to and from work if you have a fixed workplaceHow many breaks am I entitled to? You’re legally required to take one 15 minute break after wo rking 4 ½ hours. A 30 minute break is given after 6 hours, but this can include the original 15 minutes.As they’re not considered working time, you won’t be paid for these breaks.How many days off am I entitled to? All employees are entitled to 5.6 weeks paid annual leave, including bank holidays.This works out as 28 days a year for someone working 5 days a week. For part time, seasonal, or casual work, annual leave is worked out pro rata. For example, if you work 3 days a week, you’ll be entitled to 16.8 days a year (3 x 5.6).Annual leave: What you need to knowOut of office email templateHow can I change my working hours?If you’ve worked for your employer for more than 26 weeks, you’re legally entitled to discuss the possibility of changing your working hours.However, whether you’re able to is at the employer’s discretion. The best thing to do is to state the hours you want and your reasons, and then try to reach a compromise with your boss that ensures you’re both happy.Or, if you work on a shift schedule, consider chatting with your colleagues to see if there is anyone who’ll swap shifts with you.If you’ve tried all of the above and the answer is still no, you can ask for written justification of the decision. With this, and your own statement of why you believe you should be allowed a change of hours, you can take your case to an employment tribunal.How to ask for flexible working hoursFlexi time: What you need to knowNeed a more flexible position?  Have a look at all of our current vacancies now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Employee rights Employment Law Flexible wor king Life At Work

How to Find a Good Job and Relocate in Singapore

How to Find a Good Job and Relocate in Singapore Singapore is an incredibly inviting and friendly place to be. The city is energetic and full of colour, but it’s also a fantastic place to be career-wise. I’ve visited Singapore before and can honestly see the wide appeal for wanting to move there. If you’re looking to build a great life for yourself, you’re going to need to find a good job with a job search in Singapore, as well as know what’s involved in relocating, right? â€" Well, you’re in the right place! Becoming a Permanent Resident An Entry Permit or EP in Singapore is one of the first steps to relocating. You would apply for this permit through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to give you and your family a means of legally being able to reside in Singapore. You could become a citizen after living there for at least two years, and you must be older than 21. The chance to be considered as a permanent resident in Singapore would depend heavily on how long you’ve been working there and the contributions that you have made. They have a Central Provident Fund where you can provide a certain amount of your earnings for things like retirement and health care â€" this would certainly help your case! Finding a Good Job When it comes to finding a job, learning as much as possible about the current markets and whether or not Singapore is going to be the most suitable place for you to work is vital. If you’re happy with the kinds of jobs available, you can begin your search. You can look specifically for the kind of role you would like to have. For example, if you’re in a high-level position with your current job, you can search for those more executive roles.   Make sure to check the free job posting in Singapore for   the job that fits you best. You’ll quickly realise that there’s a myriad of job prospects open to you at all different kinds of levels. You may also be glad to know that Singapore embraces entrepreneurship and is constantly providing new businesses with support â€" it’s one of the most accessible places on the planet to begin a new company. Relocating Moving to Singapore is something that you should take your time with. It requires planning and focus, especially if you have a family. There are a number of important factors to consider. One of them being accommodation. There’s a wide selection available and, to start out with, renting an apartment seems to be the way to go for most people. But, if you know that you’re going to be in Singapore long-term, buying a property may be more suitable, although the government must approve you. Those looking to secure their job whilst simultaneously searching for other living options may want to rent an apartment or even stay in a high-quality hotel for a short duration of time. You’d also need to inquire about your medical insurance since it may carry over from the policies you have purchased whilst residing elsewhere. The medical care is spectacular; you’ll have no hassle finding a local GP or hospital near you. Your Judgment If you’re envisioning yourself living in Singapore, your dreams may not be that farfetched. In reality, it just requires you to do some digging around to see how beneficial it would be for you to make the move. Do you want to live there for the rest of your life or are you just looking for something more short-term? Regardless, Singapore has all the opportunities waiting for you.

Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers

Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers Healthy Choices Simply Steamers Lets face it.   We all have busy lives.   So when it comes to dinner on the go, we want a healthy diet that doesnt compromise on ingredients, flavor, and appearance. In the early 90s frozen dinners earned a bad reputation for their ingredients, taste, and appearance. Healthy Choice changed all that with their Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers and are debuting new flavors that are organic and offer so much flavor and taste its hard to believe its frozen. I am a frequent buyer of their regular steamers often grabbing them for dinner or lunch on those days that have more to do than what my planner can hold. This was my first experience with Healthy Choices Simply Cafe Steamers and I would not hesitate to buy these in the grocery store. They challenged every preconception we have about frozen dinners.   Healthy Choice sent us 4 meals to review.   I cant wait for them to hit the store shelves because I am already craving them again. Creamy Spinach Linguini The Creamy Spinach Linguini offered a light fare with noodles that werent mushy at all. This meal was one of my favorites. Unwrapped Burrito Bowl The Unwrapped Burrito Bowl is one that will have a few on-the-go Mexican places shaking in their boots. With fire roasted corn, tomatoes, black beans, pinto beans, scallions, red peppers, and brown rice in a Tomatillo sauce, this offers a spicy flavor for those who like to walk on the wild side. I could eat this all day every day and die a happy gal. Sweet and Spicy Asian Style Noodles I am more of a south-of-the-border kind of girl, but the Sweet and Spicy Asian Style Noodle Bowl impressed me. The whole meal did not feel like a frozen meal. It was delicious, and the ingredients were crispy. The meal contained Udon noodles, edamame, carrots, celery, red peppers, and scallions in a spicy soy sauce. Three Cheese Tortellini The Three Cheese Tortellini with Spinach and Mushrooms offered plenty of veggies and sauce. The flavor was excellent and it just was enough to fill me up. I loved all the Healthy Choice Simply Steamers.   For anyone who is always on the run, it offers it all in a perfect and convenient package.   Organic ingredients make it a healthy choice with a flavorful punch. It will not leave you feeling like you compromised on quality to get a quick meal. Thank you Healthy Choice for sponsoring this post. Visit your local retailer to pick up your own Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamer organic ingredient meal today! #livehealthychoice

Does your CV pass the 10-second skim test

Does your CV pass the 10-second skim test Graduate roles can receive hundreds if not thousands of applications. This means that time-strapped recruiters don’t spend long reading your CV, even if you spend hours making sure it’s perfect. Here’s what guest blogger Andrew Fennell (the founder of CV writing advice website StandOut CV ) thinks your CV needs to do to pass the 10-second skim test and what you need to do to get it there: An optimised, impactful CV will grab the reader’s attention and tell them what they need to know about you, in around 10 seconds. Seem impossible? Don’t worry it’s easier to optimise for impact than you think! The reader knows exactly what you can offer Underneath your contact details, you should write a punchy and persuasive personal statement about your university degree, any relevant experience, your core skills and your motives for applying for the role. Graduate recruiters are looking for the right fit. They’ll have a checklist of things they need to see in your CV to put you on the shortlist. Therefore, before you set pen to paper, it’s vital to carry out some research. Find out what the employer is looking for in their new recruit by looking over the job requirements, browsing their website and getting a feel for their company culture. It’s also handy to run a search for similar roles and list down any required skills or knowledge which frequently appear. Then, you should try to match these requirements as closely as you can (without lying) in your personal statement. This forces recruiters to see that you’re a great match for the role as soon as they set eyes on your application. A helpful tip! Every word counts. Avoid using generic clichés like ‘go-getter’ or ‘motivated hard-worker’. Recruiters have read them thousands of times focus on hard facts, skills and experience instead. Your relevant skills stand out Underneath your personal statement, creating a snappy core skills section is a great way to show off what you can do in a simple, easy-to-read way. Again, if you look back at the original job ad, you’ll see exactly what the employer is looking for. If they’ve listed skills Photoshop and video editing skills in the job description and you’re proficient in these disciplines, you’d list them clearly in your core skills section. Two or three columns of 4-5 bullet points is ideal. This will take recruiters no more than a few seconds to skim-read and see that you’re a great fit. Bullet points, bold text, and clear formatting Recruiters and employers prefer CVs that are broken up into clear, signposted sections. They can find out what they need to know in a few seconds, as opposed to skimming through lots of wordy sentences. Formatting can have a huge impact on the readability of your CV. Make sure to divide up each CV section personal statement, core skills, education and experience clearly, using bold headings. You can make large blocks of information easier to digest by dividing it up into separate paragraphs, using bullet points where appropriate and using bold on standout words or skills. Cut out the fluff and waffle It’s all too easy to go into too much detail or pad out sections with unnecessary detail. But when it comes to CVs, more isn’t necessarily better it’s actually going to make a busy recruiter switch off and move onto the next CV in their digital pile. When you’ve written a draft of your CV that you’re fairly happy with, force yourself to be a little ruthless and cut out anything unnecessary, wordy or which doesn’t actually add much value. This ensures all the important information doesn’t get swamped down by irrelevant filler. The less time a recruiter or employer needs to spend reading your CV, the better. Highlight the essentials, tailor your CV to the role and keep it brief. This is the best way to introduce yourself to the employer as a promising graduate, prove that you’ve got what they’re looking for and ultimately secure that interview.

Resume Writing Tips for Working in Specialized Careers

Resume Writing Tips for Working in Specialized CareersIf you're currently working in a job that doesn't require much specialized resume writing, you may be at a disadvantage in trying to make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd. This is a problem that plagues many people, and it's a problem that you should take care to overcome. Here are some tips for improving your resume writing skills.- Focus on the goals you want to achieve. To successfully write a resume, you need to be able to present yourself as someone who has specific goals for your future. Start this process by clearly stating your vision for your career. You should tell a story about how you wish to use the skills you have acquired in your previous work to reach the career goals you have listed on your resume.- Focus on your credentials. The major part of a resume is made up of contact information. For this reason, you should focus on your credentials. You should write these things out so that they are easy to re ad, with no unnecessary characters or symbols.- Focus on your education. To effectively write a resume, you should be able to point out your educational background and achievement. Writing things out in detail is the best way to get this information across, and it will also help you see how this information correlates to your current career goals.- Start small. Many people make the mistake of jumping right into the more complex parts of their resumes. In order to develop the skills you need to effectively tackle larger sections of a resume, you should start with sections that you know you can handle first.- Don't fall into the trap of trying to do too much. When you write your resume, it's very important to keep the space focused. Try to stick to just one or two areas when you write. Remember that you are only writing a document for one person; not someone else.- Write what you want to say. If you're trying to get a very detailed message across, it's best to leave out some of the de tails. This means that you should focus on the main points that you want to emphasize.Before you write your resume, consider these suggestions. You should be able to handle them and improve your resume writing skills accordingly.

3 Tips to Create a Rock Star Resume to get noticed, get hired and even get a higher starting salary

3 Tips to Create a Rock Star Resume to get noticed, get hired and even get a higher starting salary 3 Tips to Create a Rock Star Resume to get noticed, get hired and even get a higher starting salary 3 Tips to Create a Rock Star Resume to get noticed, get hired and even get a higher starting salary June 11, 2010 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment Prefer to listen to the podcast version of this post? Powered by Podbean.com You can also subscribe to our Career Coaching 360 podcast RSS feed. Career Coaching 360 podcasts are also available on iTunes. I want to give you a very simple piece of advice and that is if youre sending out your resume and NOT hearing back from companies then you need a stronger resume. Its just that simple. Its a good problem to have because its completely FIXABLE! If youre going after jobs that youre qualified for but not hearing back from hiring managers or HR managers then your resume stinks!! You need a stronger resume. Did you know that your resume can do 3 things It can get you MORE INTERVIEWS. It can get you interviews for those jobs that YOU REALLY WANT. And Im talking about those jobs that make your heart flutter a little bit. It can help you get a HIGHER STARTING SALARY. I help clients every day by writing their resume and giving them my step-by-step career strategies. The reason my clients are able to successfully reinvent themselves and transition into a new career is because I give them the exact same strategies that Ive personally used when I reinvented my own career and successfully transitioned into the radio, TV, professional sports and high tech industries. So here are my top 3 resume tips to help you get noticed, get hired and even get a higher salary! Showcase key words. Key words are those skills in the job postings that are listed as the job requirements. Key words are different for every job, so you need to look closely at the job description and what I do is pull out a highlighter and go through the job posting and highlight all of those requirements. And then, I take all of those requirements that I meet and showcase those KEY WORDS, or those KEY SKILLS right at the top of my resume. Underneath my Objective in my resume, I have a section that I call Key Strengths and I list in bullet format those requirements, or key skills, that I have. So thats #1 showcasing key words. Emphasize results. This is the single biggest difference in making your resume stand out from your competition. Dont talk about responsibilities. Thats boring. Instead, talk about what you achieved for an organization, or what youve helped the organization achieve. This is how I transitioned into different industries. This is how I got into the Fortune 100 Companies. Because my resume did NOT focus on responsibilities instead, I focused on results. For example, dont just say that you managed a team of 9 people in the sales department. Instead, say that you led a sales team that generated $250,000 a year for the past 3 years! Or say that your marketing campaign helped generate 3-percent of additional annual revenue, or that you helped resolve an average of 6 customer complaints a day for the past two years! That says that you take your job seriously, and take your career seriously! Quantify each of your career highlights in terms of dollars, numbers or percentages. Show leadership and teamwork. Hiring managers look for candidates who are strong contributors and strong leaders (or at least leadership potential.) Talk about projects or teams that youve led and what the results were. If you havent led any projects or teams in your professional life, then highlight any leadership experience youve had in professional organizations, sports leagues, church activities or community events.

Know Thyself

Know Thyself The great philosophers said it long ago.   Know thyself.   It is so basic and so obvious, why do we fight self-assessment?   Because it is difficult. Life moves so quickly today, running around doing something, texting, emailing, cell phones, IM, chat, meetings, work, errands.   Where do you fit in self-exploration? I have a friend who goes on an annual personal retreat.   During this time, he focuses on himself.   He re-evaluates what is important in his life personally and professionally.   Out of this experience comes clarity and energy. He is able to set priorities that address what is important to him then. We should all take a personal retreat.   It may just be a weekend cooped up in the bedroom in your house, or a night each week spent alone without family interruptions. To make this experience worthwhile, you will want to have some good questions to ponder as well as know what the outcome of this retreat will be, goals need to be set. Here are some questions I put in journals I gave to friends for their 40th birthdays: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life? Who has had the greatest impact on your life and why? What has been  your greatest learning experience? What is the greatest innovation you have seen in your life and why? What is the most memorable event? By the way, journaling is another wonderful way of getting in touch with your self. Job seekers waste a lot of time going through the motions of searching and applying for jobs they are not interested in or not qualified for because they havent taken the time to assess themselves. My hope is that you will take the time and truly understand what is important to you in this next phase of your life.   You deserve to be happy.