​Will Work Change Forever & How Are We Adapting to The New Normal?​It’s the new normal. The day of the normal work environment are gone. People are adapting to the changes as the result of Covid-19. Work from home or remote working are part of the new reality. ​​​​Many of office workers around the world have not seen their desks for months. Social distancing, with extra hygiene measures, new SOP guidelines to workplace or other solutions must be implemented since workers in some countries are slowly returning to their desks. ​The pandemic has shown us that we can easily work from home. We rely on email, chats, and videoconferencing to communicate with colleagues. I think this kind of work life has made us more connected to each other. ​Some say social media and technology is making us more isolated, I think we can have more interactions with distant family members through WhatsApp and Facebook and reconnect with college and school mates. ​It helps us go through these difficult times. I also connecting with my colleagues through Microsoft Teams and we will make a topic and discuss with each other so it strengthen our bonds even though we are not in the office.​We’re social creatures, we want interaction, we are hungry to share experiences and feelings with others. Now we have the opportunities to connect with the people whom we care about, whom we spent time together before, family, friends and acquaintances.​Online yoga classes, virtual runs, birthday parties. Videoconferencing shows that the beauty of technology and social media are important tools to adapt with the new normal. ​We still can see each other even though it’s not often. We still can be active. ​I know. These activities are not the same as physical interactions we had before but they are the second best ways humanity has ever had. ​As the work changes, it makes us be more creative about how we do things. People are picking up to have more conversations rather than sending emails as human connection is far more likeable through videoconferencing. ​I believe that the most amazing thing is the incredible power of human endeavour. At ManpowerGroup globally we have 90% of our workforce that operating from home yet we continue to support our employees, associates and clients. Working from home is part of contemporary working now.​We’ve been more in touch with our employees, associates and clients in the last month that we’ve done before. Because of the obscurities everyone is facing, we want to provide more value for people.​Limitations only happen in our minds. Even though Covid-19 has invaded our lives, so many more things are possible to survive with the changes.​​22 May 2020Posted by:Nadhirah Afiqah - Marketing Assistant

​6 Tips to Excel in Video Interview​Video interview will give you experience from a different perspective than a normal face to face interview.​During this Covid-19 pandemic, hunting for a job can be a challenging experience. There are companies that still hiring and seeking workers to work such as in the essential services.​Job interviews are looking a bit different right now as during the Restriction Movement Order (RMO) or Movement Control Order (MCO) that we are having make the interview gone fully digital.​Even though we are dealing with the coronavirus, people are still getting business done via the internet with platforms like Google Meet, Zoom, Skype and WebEx. ​One of my friend asked, what to do if the interviewer or hiring manager wants to do video interview? There are few tips that can help you to excel in a video interview. 1.  Test out your technology​Do you know what kind of platform that the hiring manager will be using for the interview? It’s a good idea if you test out the technology first to familiarize yourself with the software being used for the interview. Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts are some common platforms right now.​You also need to check your speakers and microphone. Do they work properly? Make sure you are coming across clear and loud with no static.​When you want to test the camera, it’s the time that you’ll find if your environment is properly lit and away from distractions.​You might need a strong internet connection for the video conferencing to avoid lag in the interview session. 2.  Don’t show up late​Traffic delays, accident will not apply as excuses in video interview as you’re dialling into the interview remotely.​It’s important to be early to your online interview as it might take some time to open your computer, to log in and ensure that your internet connection is good. Tardiness is a no in every interviews. 3.  Find out the best lighting​It’s the time for you to look at your best and a great lighting can help. You have to make sure that the place that you sit for the interview should have ample light to light up around you as well.​A ‘ring light’ or ‘selfie light’ can help to boost your complexion and give you an evenly lit face with minimal shadows. ​You can put the light behind your computer or you can let the natural light get through your face while video interviewing by facing the light.​Make sure it’s the soft light in the morning not the evening of afternoon light that can make your face sweaty. 4.  Check your outfit​You will never know if your hiring manager or recruiter will ask to stand up and grab something during the interview so please wear interview clothes from head to toe.​Sometimes, it can be smart casual instead of formal but please wear pants or you will reveal your mismatched bottoms. I know that it’s tempting to wear a blouse or shirt with a pyjama bottoms but who knows if they will ask you to stand up.​You can view yourself through the webcam to make sure that your outfit looks professional on the camera.  5.  Making good eye contact​Eye contact is very important in every interviews. If you want to have good eye contact while in video interview, you should try looking straight to the camera when speaking as often as possible. ​It would show that you’re engaging with the interviewer more than being distracted by what’s happening on your screen.​It might be weird if you’re looking straight to the camera while talking but if you’re looking on the screen, you’re not actually making eye contact as you’re focusing on the interviewer’s face instead of the eyes.​This will give your interviewer the sense that you’re engaged and not distracted by what’s happening on your screen. 6.  Listen attentively and maintain good posture​It’s important to listen to the interviewer even though it’s an online interview. In fact, listen carefully to the interviewer and pause before speaking to avoid cutting in. Pay close attention to what interviewer is saying. Keep your mind from drifting off.​Body language is crucial as it can convey a lot of things about you. Sitting up straight in your chair gives an automatic signal of positivity. Your feet should be on the ground, hands in your lap at a time, avoid slouching and fiddling. ​You can move your fingers while you speak such as touching your fingertips, clasping palm to show the sign of honesty and openness. Remember to be respectful and remain professional personal attitude towards the interviewer. Don’t forget to nod your head as you’re listening, maintain the eye contact, use hand gestures to express yourself and no slouching. Best of luck for your interview.​Don’t let Covid-19 get in the way of your career progression. ManpowerGroup offers online learning platform that provide a vast resource pool across industries and skill sets. Time spent working remotely can provide an opportunity to explore and develop your skills. ​17 April 2020Posted by Nadhirah Afiqah - Marketing Assistant

​It’s Flexibility, If You Want To Attract and Retain Gen Y In The Workforce​Most of the generations are driven by pay, especially Gen Z that hungry for cash. Gen Y are also driven by pay but they place more priority on flexibility. For women and men in Gen Y, they want flexibility and challenging work. ​In the 2018 Malaysian Labour Force Survey shows that 60.2% of women are not seeking for work because of housework, which includes family responsibilities that include child and elderly care. It’s a common problem raised by women as it’s the reason why they can’t take heavier responsibilities or leadership roles in the workforce. ​To retain and attract Gen Y in the workforce, flexibility is a very important criterion for women and men in Gen Y.For Gen Y, they understand that they have a career ultra marathon ahead of them and want to achieve One Life balance for the long run. As for women though, for them to participate in the workforce and pursue challenging work, it must come with flexibility. ​So what are the factors that contributing to the lower rate of women participation in the workforce compared to men?​I asked my colleague, she's married and she said "as a millennial women that married and have children to take care of, lack of day care facilities are one of the factors". A lot of women can’t return to the workforce after a career break because of absence of support or training.​The other factors that are frequently addressed are no options for flexible working hours and also lack of gender diversity policies in the workplace. Flexibility Can Be a Win-Win Situation for Both​Flexible work environment benefits everyone. A new father might want to spend quality time with his children. A new mother might want to have time with her new-born. A son and daughter might want to help to take care of their aging parents. ​Dean of Harvard Kennedy School said that “millennial men's interest in having a fuller life out of work than their predecessors may accelerate gender equality, but only if they are also interested in caring for children”.​We need to move away from a perception where we cannot be productive when we out from our desk. We can work flexibly as today’s workforce allows us to plug-in and work from anywhere. Employers Should Support Workplace Flexibility​63% of enrollment in public university are women, and it shows that Malaysia has done well in achieving gender parity in education. However, large number of them tend to leave workforce due to personal or family commitments.​Employers should foster a more flexible work culture throughout the organization. Employers can leverage on Talent Corporation’s (TalentCorp) Future of Work initiative, to consider flexible working arrangements to retain talents especially millennial or Gen Y.​Managers should understand the importance of family as being able to recognize that working Gen Y have the same needs to take care of their children and provide support for each other for the development of the children. For her, to be a good mother to children and also good daughter to the aging parents, the access to flexibility for parenting and care-giving is very important. ​Nowadays, in the current workforce, we can see that women as a leader as employers now realized the important of work flexibility to attract and retain talent. ​Although it seems that flexibility is critical for millennial women than millennial men, we still need to give opportunities for men to find out what it would feel like to be a more available dad or care-giver and they can also share in the burden of the work at home. So, flexibility is critical for her and still a nice to have for him.​Read more on specific generational needs here​

​How To Stay Sane In a Toxic Work Environment? In one huge study published in Harvard Business Review, analysts gathered information from meetings and studies of around 14,000 individuals to understand how common is incivility at work. Research has shown that it is almost impossible to be untouched by incivility during one’s career. ​Common examples of incivility include taking credit for other’s efforts, passing blame for our own mistakes, talking down to others, belittling others and many more. Bad behaving employees promote bad work culture. Some people like their job but their co-workers or managers drive them crazy! It’s a sign to leave if you cannot endure such an environment but it might be worth hanging a little longer in certain circumstances. Here are the few tips to stay sane in a toxic workplace.  Create a Positive Workspace for Yourself​Hang posters that are relaxing to you. Put up pictures of your loved ones at your working station. If that is not your thing, you can consider motivational quotes instead of photos. You got to surround yourself with things that will create a positive aura around you. After all, positivity is a mental state which can be motivated with certain cues.  Communicate and Clear Up Any Misunderstandings​Do not allow issues to rot. On the off chance that something should be talked about, address it promptly at that point of time. Avoid sweeping concerns under the carpet as they may transform into something you never expected to. Communication is of the utmost importance just like in any relationship. Sometimes it all it takes is a few minutes conversation to address a long term grudge.  Stay Away From Drama​Don’t get caught up in gossip or drama. Do you want to be drama free? Don’t mingle with the gossiping co-workers. Of course, you still want to be friendly with your colleagues, but you can do that by talking to them one-on-one or chatting with them during the course of your workday without joining a gossip group. You also need to differentiate which conversations are part of the job and which are only opportunities to gripe. In any toxic workplace, there will be employees behaving badly toward one another. It will be harmful to the work culture when people start talking bad about each other. "Drama" is also bound to happen in any workplace. Everyone will get caught up in it at some point. Stay positive, focus on work, productivity and results.

​How Do I Make My Mark When I’m New at Work?​“First impressions make long-term lasting impression,” as said by Brandi Britton, district president for Office Team in an article by FairyGodBoss. She also explained "If you make a great first impression and you make mistakes down the road, people are more likely to forgive you. It is harder to overcome when you start off on the wrong foot and then make yourself look better later on.”​You got the job after going through rounds of interviews. You’ve signed the papers and yay! As you’re a new employee, all eyes will be set on you. But how do you want to make your mark when you’re the new guy/gal at work? 1. Meet People You Wouldn’t Normally Meet Getting to know co-workers outside of your department will help you understand the organisation more and its culture clearly. Introduce yourself to colleagues you haven’t officially met. Be respectful and friendly. Your goal is not only to gain knowledge about the firm but also make progress in building your personal network. If you run across someone in the pantry or hallway, start a small talk. The pantry is a particularly good place to socialize, since it's a rather casual environment where people probably will be more open for a chat because they're not focused on work. 2. Become an Expert on Company Processes The absence of real work means you have time to learn systems, get your inbox in order and prepare for what surely to come. See if there is research and reading you can do for the first assignment that lands on your desk. Your ability to do your work effectively will come down to how well you understand the processes and how organised you are.It is also important to understand how different the new environment is from the ones that you experienced before. Be attentive and listen carefully to what the current company challenges and objectives are. Remember, not everything that worked well in your previous job will fit into new frameworks. ​3. Be Proactive ​Challenge yourself and get involved in project that can highlight your skills on the field. After all onw of the best ways to learn is by doing. Whether you can help your manager or a member of your team can position you as an expert in a certain area. Set aspiring objectives for yourself, move in the direction of achieving those objectives by taking initiative upon consulting key stakeholders. You do not want to make certain actions prior to talking to your boss since he or she will probably have a more holistic view of the project at hand.​It is a new journey! You need to get a feel for your new organisation and its culture to fit in the new workplace. In the first month, you can allocate your time to learn about company's systems, processes by reading collateral and building connections with as many people as possible. Getting to know people and making friends with colleagues will help you understand more about "how the things get done around here". Start getting your hands dirty by taking the initiative of contributing to certain projects. That will help you build your image and will have a big role on the first impression you make on all project stakeholders.