Sunday, May 31, 2020

Top Traits of Great Recruiters

Top Traits of Great Recruiters What does it take to be a top third party recruiter?  Many things. There are several different  styles, and there isnt one simple rule that governs success.  Different clients will have different opinions about what type of partnership they prefer with their recruiters. Still, there is a a certain set of skills that character traits that all the best recruiters share and theyre  written into what they do every day RECRUIT! Whether youre a newbie recruiter or a seasoned one, it doesnt matter if youre doing well, its likely you possess these character traits. R for resilient Recruiters are resilient they have to be! The work of a recruiter is hard; it requires courage and being able to survive several knock-backs, knowing success is worth the battle. Great recruiters stand the test of time and dont back down in the face of danger. E for enthusiastic The best recruiters are the ones who get excited about their work and bring truck loads of enthusiasm to their client briefs and candidate needs. They keep a positive attitude and inject energy and effort into the work they do. Its contagious and means the recruiter provides a high quality of service; one thats enjoyable and memorable. C for competitive The best recruiters are competitive in a healthy way. They absolutely thrive in an environment where they must rise to the top and get ahead. They are corporate adrenalin junkies who want to come out on top, and will do anything it takes to get there. They dont take no for an answer and make things happen. R for ravenous The best recruiters are  not just hungry to do a good job, theyre ravenous for it! They dont stop until they find the perfect person for their client, and the perfect role for their candidate! The saying is being hungry for success, but great recruiters really do take this to a new level. They dont stop and constantly work to feed  a need that can never truly be satisfied! U for useful Knowledgable recruiters are huge assets to any business! They are extremely useful, providing not only candidates, but market updates and advisory services to help their client benchmark their opportunities and recruitment / hiring practices. The best recruiters are also incredibly useful for candidates, making introductions on their behalf and advising them through the recruitment process, until they land the job they want. I for intuitive Great recruiters are extremely intuitive they are able to read people and situations and navigate a desirable outcome. They follow their noses and can pick up on special cues around them. Furthermore, they trust their own judgment and back themselves. T for talkative Good recruiters love to talk and get people talking in return! Theyre great at picking up important information from conversations and are masters at striking up a good old chat with a potential business partner, candidate or client. What makes this such an important trait, is the fact that its backed up by excellent listening skills! Recruiters will benefit from being talkative if they match it with second to none listening. There are  several other traits that all great recruiters possess let us know what weve missed in the comments below!

Thursday, May 28, 2020

How To Find A Resume Writing Company That Will Do A Great Job

How To Find A Resume Writing Company That Will Do A Great JobWhen looking for a resume writing company, it is always wise to do your homework first. It is always better to be safe than sorry. There are many companies out there that will charge exorbitant fees and require very little work to produce the same level of quality as their competitors. So be wary, because there are some scammers out there who will prey on those that will not exercise due diligence before hiring.The best way to find a good resume writing company is to do a bit of research first and find someone that is reliable and professional. The best way to ensure that they are reliable is to ask for samples. Once you have gotten a few samples, you will be able to decide which one is best for you.The next thing that you should do is find out what they are charging for their services. A good resume writing company will charge a flat rate for their services. This is because it is too difficult to negotiate a lower rate tha n the flat rate that the company charges. You should also be able to get a great deal on editing their services.The last thing that you should be careful about is the company that is going to handle your work. You want to find someone that is trustworthy and experienced. If you can get someone in the same field that you are currently working with to help with your resume, this is a great option.If you do your homework and find a resume writing company that will do a top quality job, you will be happy that you did your research. The best place to look for a good writer is online. The Internet is an amazing resource for finding companies that will do a great job for you.What is more, you do not have to hire the wrong people. There are many places where you can find fantastic writers that do a fantastic job. It is also possible to hire others to help with your resume. You should always hire experts, so that you know that you will get the very best.If you get the services of an excellen t resume writing company, it is a very good investment. They will get you the results that you need in order to land that dream job. There are many benefits to hiring a resume writing company.Once you have gotten the services of a good writer, you will be happy that you got the right resume. A good writer is the key to landing the job that you want.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Get Your Boss to Love What You Do

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Get Your Boss to Love What You Do It sometimes is one of the great mysteries of the universe that the most obnoxious jerk on the planet gets promoted at work while the nicest folks seem to get laid off or stuck in dead-end jobs. But its really not that big of a secret if you consider that Mr. Jerkface has exactly what the boss is looking for: bottom-line focus. While the nicest people at work may pitch in on projects or even bring cookies every Friday, the truth is that if theyre not making real bottom-line contributions, theyre not indispensible to the boss. Nice is good, of course. But its not what keeps companies in business or bosses in their corner offices. If you want to get that next step up the career ladder or keep from being shuttled from one horrible project to another, then youve got tomake sure that the boss can clearly seeyoure contributing to the bottom line. Without that part of the equation, youre going nowhere. Heres how to make sure that no matter what your job, youre focused on what is critical to your employer and to your career success. Remember to: Never submit a proposal before knowing what it will cost.How many people will need to be involved? How long will it take before theres a return on investment?Bosses want to hear...(read more here)

Thursday, May 21, 2020

The Secret to the NFL Shoe Sisters Success

The Secret to the NFL Shoe Sisters Success Kathleen and Kristina Cuce (COO-cheh like “checkers), founders of Cuce Shoes did not go to school for fashion or design. At Old Dominion University in Virginia, Kathleen went for Pre Law and majored in Political Science and Criminal Justice. Kristina was Business and Finance major. After graduation, their parents, who had always been in the food and beverage industry and own several restaurants in Virginia Beach, let their twin daughters run one of their high-end restaurants. The sisters have always had a great entrepreneurial spirit about them as they started in the restaurant industry working at their parent’s restaurants when they were 12. The twins learned great work ethic, how to communicate with customers, and how to run a business. Their years in the hospitality industry would prove to be pivotal to  their next endeavor. Who are these ladies? (Excerpt from their website) Cuce’ Shoes was founded in 2010 by Kathleen Kristina Cuce, identical twin sisters who share a passion for everything fashion and sports. “On November 15th, 2009, we flew from our home city of Virginia Beach, Virginia to Indianapolis, Indiana.   We were heading to watch the Indianapolis Colts take on the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium.   It was extremely cold and snowy as we made it to the Stadium for the 8:30 p.m. game.   By the time we arrived to the arena, our feet were soaked and freezing.   Luckily, it was 75 degrees in the dome so we watched the game in comfort and awe….though our tootsies remained soggy the entire time.   As we surveyed the other women in the Stadium, we noticed every female fan was dressed head to knee in team apparel.   Hats, scarves, jerseys, bracelets, jeans, everything but SHOES!   We asked ourselves, could this actually be a part of a niche market that has been overlooked by other companies? We stopped brainstorming in the 4th quarter as we watched the COLTS come back from a 13-point deficit with only 4 minutes remaining.   Indianapolis ended up beating New England by 1 point in the final seconds of the game.  Everyone will remember this game as the top game in rivalry history.   But we will remember it as the day that an idea was born; the day that changed the course of our careers. When I saw that my MsCareerGirl Editor had posted in our columnist community about the opportunity to interview them, I immediately requested the gig. I was checking emails in bed â€" (7am on Saturday is sleeping in for me) as I eagerly responded and included pictures of my family and I from Packer games and a picture of my shoe shrine in my closet so she would know how fitting it would be for a huge NFL fan and shoe lover like me to interview Kathleen and Krsitina. The early bird got the worm! We excitedly set the interview meeting. Without further ado, it’s time for kick off! How did you transition from running the restaurant to your own business? Our strong work ethic and customer service skills acquired since we were 12 were still in play as we started our next career three general rules still apply: Working long hours Talking to customers Making sure the numbers all add up What was your biggest challenge? Licensing. Kristina called the NFL licensing department every day for a month. They finally called us back and asked, “What do you want?!” After listening, he told us we could come up to New York City for a 20-minute meeting. We knew nothing about footwear. Taking our own boots from our closet, we taped logos on them for our presentation to the NFL. We got lucky. We are believers that timing is everything. Our meeting was at a pivotal time when the NFL had just started focusing on women and marketing products for wives and girlfriends. So right at the time they were putting this huge initiative together, they had two female die-hard Colts fans calling them. If we were a year earlier they wouldn’t have taken our call and if we were a year later, then someone else would have already been doing it. They loved it because nobody else was doing it. That part was easy. The part that followed was the hard part. Licensing took about a year. We made a ton of mistakes the first year. We lost a lot of money from those mistakes. We learned as we went. Somehow we had enough money to make it to year two. Business-wise, our obstacles were finding a manufacturer that would work with all of the logos, ensure quality control, and deliver high quality, cruelty free footwear. That is huge for us â€" we’re huge animal lovers it is not only an ethical choice but also it would allow women to wear the boots in rain and snow. Our next big hurdle was introducing a new product to the market. No one had a history of ever doing footwear with logos and here we were trying to introduce a brand new product in an already lacking industry. Half of the stores (mostly pro shops) didn’t even carry footwear. Talking buyers into testing out a new product was a definitely a challenge for us. What did you say to those who doubted you/projected their fears to you? For the most part our family was supportive. In our first year we were working 16-hour days. When we went to our first trade show, a lot of licensees said “Oh you aren’t going to make it. How the hell do you think that you’re going to compete with people in this licensed club? It’s full of big companies like Nike, Under Armor.” They looked at us as two females just trying to have fun. We kept our chin up and stayed optimistic. Here we are five years later we showed them. One of the biggest tradeshow licensees always joked that they never thought they’d see us again after the first year. Now we’re friends. What is one of your favorite moments from this experience thus far? Our first year there were only three products featured in the NFL commercial and ours was one of them. (Author note: I totally remember seeing this commercial and thinking Ooooooo football boots!!) We had a tradition that no matter where we were â€" at home, in a bar, we would just scream bloody murder whenever it came on. And it played all the time. That really put us on the map. Our second year, we were in the Fit For You campaign with Alyssa Milano. They flew us up to New York to be in the shoot and they flew us up three months later with all of the owner’s wives for the launch of the campaign. That was probably our highest moment. What advice do you have for career girls who are not passionate about their job but don’t know what do next? To focus and stay strong when you’re doing something new. Try not to bite off too much. Don’t spend any money until you make money. Always plan. Expect the worst so you are prepared for it. I think people go into business thinking they have a great idea and expect the rest of the world will think its great. Sometimes it works out like that if the timing is right. Sometimes it doesn’t. Go for it while you still have a job. Go slow. So what do I think was the biggest secret to their success? Timing. Timing is everything. They entered a niche market at the moment when the NFL was looking to expand to the exact same audience. Yes, they made costly mistakes. Yes, they faced doubts from industry partners. But with their perfect recipe â€" equal parts realism and optimism plus timing that was spot on, these twins made their stylish shoes a success. To get fashionable footwear of your own go to www.lovecuceshoes.com/. It was an honor and a thrill for me to interview the Cuce sisters. After our interview, Kristina and Kathleen sent me a pair of Green Bay Packer boots!! I can’t wait to wear them in Lambeau at a GB game this November and when I do I will be sure to tag their Facebook and Instagram so they can see me rockin’ my Cuce NFL Swag. #gopackgo Columnist Archive

Sunday, May 17, 2020

How to Write a Resume With No Job Experience

How to Write a Resume With No Job ExperienceWriting a resume with no job experience is easier than you think. With just a little bit of attention and perseverance, you can have a great looking resume that will help get you the interview you are after.When you first start, start out with a good overview of yourself. Take a moment to describe who you are as a person, what skills you possess, and how you got where you are. To give a good introduction, write down your education, your occupation, and what skills you might have.When it comes to creating a resume, you can try many different things. You can use standard fonts and just stick to a basic layout. Or, you can go all out and design a resume that is to the point and will stand out in any resume database. Another option is to combine the two. Here are some tips on how to do that.Start out by using just a few basic fonts and sticking to a plain font for the layout. Then, add in the important information such as employment history, sk ills, and education. Remember, the more information you put on the resume, the better.Next, include one or two unique resume tips for job seekers. Look for ways to make yourself stand out from the crowd. For example, you could take a picture of yourself if you don't already have one, or add in a personal statement to make you feel comfortable.You can also include a sample resume from your previous employer. This will allow the hiring manager to see exactly what you are looking for and how your work experience and education can benefit them.Finally, when you are going through your resume and you see a paragraph you want to erase, save the resume and take a look at it later. While most people just think about the information on the top of the page, you might be able to find a mistake that you can change without changing the rest of the resume.Writing a resume with no job experience is not that hard. It takes time and a little effort to do it right, but with a little practice and deter mination, you can get your new job with that same resume you used last time.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Welcome to the wonderful world of studyblr - Debut

Welcome to the wonderful world of studyblr - Debut This post was written by an external contributor.  Elisabeth Griffiths has a new method to studying, through the internet trend of studyblr.   Never heard of studyblrs? You’re not the only one. They occupy a niche corner of the internet, though that corner is expanding faster and faster. The concept has also spread over to Instagram, where you can now find 2.2 million “studygram” posts and thousands of dedicated studygram accounts, like this one: Credit goes to  studybiebo on Instagram   So just what is a studyblr? The word studyblr is taken from the word study (shocker, right?) and Tumblr, the popular microblogging social media platform. Studyblrs are blogs focused around senior school/high school and university for the most part. Users post pictures of their notes and desks, peeks inside their bullet journals, lists of their study habits, or really anything at all to do with learning. View this post on Instagram Studying Python in Barnes Noble the other day. ?? . Shifting my thinking from science to business is harder than I expected. ??????? Its revealed to me that I genuinely do want to solve scientific problems. ??????? So I am doing my best to stay true to my science background along this journey so I can start a career I really love. ?? . You can overcome your struggles. Sometimes itll be frustrating or youll want to cry. But after, you can move forward with logic and be boss as ever. ?? A post shared by Melissa | Study Travel (@quantumheels) on Oct 1, 2018 at 7:50pm PDT Credit goes to  quantumheels  on Instagram   They also share other people’s posts and start up conversations with each other. Together, they’ve created a thriving community who are all eager to improve their learning habits and do better at school or in university. You can find studyblrs who focus on one specific topic, such as studydiaryofamedstudent who is you’ve guessed it training to be a doctor, or lexeries, who is a Maths undergraduate. Most studyblrs, though (even those two examples) reblog a wide range of posts that will be helpful to you. If you’re studying, say, English Literature, you’ll still find relevant content even if you end up exclusively following people studying STEM subjects. The studyblr community isn’t just for students, either. Graduates can find plenty of tips on everything from getting a job to  saving money. Delve in and have a look around, you might be surprised at how much useful content there is floating around out there. https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLTuoDBUJW/ Credit goes to  studyingie  on Instagram   How to start a studyblr This is the easy part. If you already have a Tumblr account, you can just create a new sideblog and get going. If you don’t have a Tumblr account, head on over there and sign yourself up. Tumblr will suggest usernames to you, but they can be a little odd, so it’s worth picking one out for yourself. Create a list of several different URLs you’d like to use and be prepared to try quite a few before you find one that’s not already taken there are a lot of URLs already in use on Tumblr! Stuck for a URL? Try taking the word “study” or “student” or anything to do with learning and combine it with your name or a subject you like. Remember, you can always change it at a later date. Once you’ve got your account, it’s time to find accounts to follow. Try these for starters: studyign qualiteastudy adelinestudiess medmood studylustre productivityrocks Have a nose around their blogs, follow a few of the people they follow, and you’re away. You can also search tags and follow the people you find in there. Try #studyblr, #studyspo, and #study inspo, and don’t be afraid to try the related tags Tumblr recommends to you! What is a studyblr good for? Studyblrs can be a goldmine of information. Aside from the expected posts on studying, you can find self-care tips, inspiration for how to decorate your desk, advice on improving your note-taking skills… really anything you can think of. Content that is not unlike the type we produce on Debut, such as advice on preparing for your final year dissertation. https://www.instagram.com/p/BoZnbLjBRDD/ Credit goes to  munibahstudies  on Instagram   If you use it right, though, the best thing the studyblr community does is motivate you. You’ll be surrounded by fellow students of all ages and nationalities who have a common goal: to do their best with their studies. By reading their posts, sharing their struggles and taking their advice (and hopefully offering your own in return), you’ll probably find yourself more motivated than ever to get your head down and start studying. When I was writing my third year dissertation and felt my motivation flagging, I’d make a cup of tea, open up my studyblr, and soon find myself eager to get back to work. But… don’t forget that you’re still using social media! It’s far too easy to get sucked into scrolling and scrolling and scrolling through pages and pages of pretty notes and studying hacks, so its important to remember that spending time on your studyblr is still time you could spend actually studying. Don’t let yourself get too caught up in it if you’ve got a deadline looming! It’s also important to remember that people “polish” their lives in the studyblr community as much as they do anywhere else on social media, so don’t feel disheartened if your posts aren’t as pretty or your targets as sky-high as some of the people you come across. You’re working at the right pace for you, it doesn’t matter what they’re doing. If you do end up starting your own studyblr (or if you’re way ahead of the curve and have one already), then let us know via our social media channels. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Some killer questions to ask in your next job interview - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Some killer questions to ask in your next job interview - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Imagine youre in a job interview and everything is looking great the job looks interesting, the salary and perks are about right, people seem nice. What you really need to know now is, Is this a nice place to work? Are people happy at work here? Are the managers good? Are the co-workers nice? Or is this company a branch office of one of the nastier levels of hell? You could always ask them straight out at the interview. Say I was wondering Is this a good place to work? But you pretty much know what theyll say, dont you? Why certainly, dear applicant, this company is fully committed to the well-being of its employees. We strive to maintain a high level of employee satisfaction and employees are our number one asset. Riiiight! So what questions can you ask to cut through the corporate b.s. and learn whether this is an actual, honest-to-god, nice workplace? Heres what you can do: Ask the people interviewing you about their best experiences working for the company. Questions like: Whats been your best experience working at this company? When do you have the most fun at work ? Who do you enjoy working with the most here? What do you like about them? Which manager do you admire the most in this company? What do you admire about that person? Whats the greatest thing your manager has done for his/her people? You can ask the person interviewing you. If your future boss is at the interview, ask her. An even better option, if at all possible, is to get a chance to ask some of your potential co-workers. Some companies make this possible, and thats the best way to learn more about the company. Whats so great about those questions? Because youre asking about peoples own experiences, these questions are hard to dodge or to answer with platitudes and corporate flim-flam. These are all positive questions. Even if the person interviewing you is a serial complainer, you will get some information on whats great about this company. If they think these questions are just waaaay off base and inappropriate, thats probably a good sign that theyre not into the whole happy at work thing :o) Answering positive questions like these puts people in a good mood, which means theyre more likely to like you and consequently more likely to hire you. Care to try it? Let me come clean here: Ive only been to two job interviews in my life both at the very beginning of my career! Ive been an entrepreneur for almost 15 years, so I have never tried to use them in this way myself. However, I have used the same type of questions in sales meetings (which are not too different from job interviews when you think about it), where they work very well. These questions will give you a much better idea of what a company and its people are really like. If good stories and great experiences start flowing and the word fun comes up a lot, thats an indication of a great workplace. If they look at you like Thats the weirdest question Ive ever heard it may not be. So: What do you think? Would it work for you? Have you done something like this already? Write a comment! Related: How to find a job youll love How to lose your fear of being fired Never stay in a bad job! Fix it or leave! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Friday, May 8, 2020

Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace

Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace Discrimination in the workplace is something we all hope we never experience. Unfortunately, many people still deal with different kinds of discrimination while at work. In order to protect yourself from unjust behavior from your employers, managers, supervisors or coworkers, you need to know the many kinds of discrimination you may face â€" including pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. Pregnancy discrimination can happen to a female employee or applicant if they are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, recently had a baby or have a medical condition related to pregnancy. Like other forms of discrimination, pregnancy discrimination is illegal and should not be tolerated. The first step in protecting yourself from discrimination is understanding how it can appear and what you should do if you face it. What Is the Pregnancy Discrimination Act? The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is the law that states a company cannot discriminate against a woman because of pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is technically an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, pregnancy discrimination in the workplace is technically considered discrimination based on sex. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act helps women in a number of ways. From ensuring they are not treated any differently than a man or non-pregnant woman during an interview to making sure medical bills are covered by company health insurance, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act approaches the situation from all angles. During the interview process, employers are not allowed to ask a pregnant woman questions they would not ask any other candidate. They may also not ask questions about the woman wishing to become pregnant or starting a family, especially if they will use those answers in the decision-making process. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects employees by stating a woman does not need to give notice if she plans to become pregnant, as long as it does not interfere with day-to-day duties of the employee. If there is a legitimate business purpose, the employer may require notice of pregnancy early on. If a pregnant woman can continue doing her job, the company cannot force her to take an absence unless instructed by a doctor. If the company offers part-time disability leave to other employees, pregnant women or women who have lost a pregnancy are entitled to this time. The employer must also hold an equivalent job open for the employee while she is out of the office for childbirth or another pregnancy-related condition. Employers must provide the same level of health care for pregnant women as they provide to any other employees. The amount of health care a woman is given should not depend on her marital status. They must also offer the same health care benefits to the spouses of their male employees as they do to spouses of female employees, meaning the Pregnancy Discrimination Act can also protect against discrimination of spouses. It is also important to note that the Pregnancy Discrimination Act applies to women who have had abortions or plan to have abortions. Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, an employer cannot treat a woman who has had an abortion any differently because of her choice. However, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act does not apply to everyone. Like Title VII, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act only applies to companies with more than 15 employees. Examples of Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace Understanding what the Pregnancy Discrimination Act includes is important, but sometimes it can be difficult to detect. Let’s take a look at some examples of pregnancy discrimination that may happen: You let your boss know you’re expecting. A few days later, you receive a message that your position is being terminated. You make it through to the final round of an interview for a new position when the manager asks if you plan to have children and you say yes. The interview then ends rather abruptly and you’re informed they’re going with another candidate. A few months before your baby is due, your boss begins shortening your workweeks and reducing your hours. You’re the only employee to have a different work schedule. After announcing your pregnancy, your manager has started making comments that you won’t be able to perform to your best ability once you get closer to your due date. You’ve been using sick days to attend appointments related to your pregnancy. Your boss tells you you’re taking too much time off and you may be let go. Your manager has been prepping you for a big promotion coming up. Once you find out you’re pregnant, the manager no longer thinks you’re a good fit for the new position and instead gives it to another employee who is not pregnant. Your boss will not allow your antenatal care to be covered under your health care policy. After talking with your boss about unsafe or uncomfortable work conditions, they refuse to make appropriate adjustments to accommodate you during pregnancy. You’ve left for maternity leave, but your boss refuses to communicate with you. You’re not informed of changes within the company, promotion opportunities or new projects, making it difficult for you when you return. You’re ready to return to work, but your boss says they no longer have a job for you. Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace can appear in a number of different ways. These are only a few examples. If you feel you’ve been discriminated against because you’re pregnant, hoping to become pregnant or just had a child, you’ll want to talk to someone as soon as possible to file your claim. However, it is important to note that pregnancy does not give you a free pass to keeping your position. If you act out of line or your performance drops while you’re pregnant, your employer may have reason to fire you. You are only protected under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act as long as your work does not suffer due to your pregnancy. In most cases, you will receive warning or a poor review before you are fired. If you’ve received notice but your work does not improve, you likely cannot win a pregnancy discrimination case. However, if you are not made aware of decreasing performance and your boss lets you go, changes your hours or reduces your pay, you may still have a pregnancy discrimination case. How to Prove Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace If you believe you’ve been discriminated against because of your pregnancy, you must be prepared to prove it is true. You must be able to show you were treated differently than other applicants or employees because of your pregnancy. This means you will need evidence. Direct evidence will help you the most in a pregnancy discrimination case, although it is the most difficult to come by. In order to gather direct evidence that you’ve been discriminated against, you must have a statement from your boss, manager or supervisor saying you’ve been passed over because of your pregnancy or new stance as a mother. This applies to both job applicants and employees. Having direct evidence is not always likely. Because many employers are aware that making such statements could get them into trouble legally, they’ll be careful not to make any discriminatory comments. Instead, they may present you with a sham reason why you’ve been passed over. If you do not have direct evidence of discrimination, you’ll need circumstantial evidence. This circumstantial evidence can be a bit more difficult to prove in court, but it is a lot easier to come across. Circumstantial evidence can appear in a number of different ways. In a pregnancy discrimination case, you’ll need to look at timing and the traditional progression of events. If employees in your position are usually promoted during a certain period of time but you were not because of your pregnancy, this may be circumstantial evidence. Likewise, if you were fired before your due date because of poor performance but your boss did not follow the same procedure as other underperforming employees, this may be circumstantial evidence. To prove your pregnancy discrimination case with circumstantial evidence, you’ll need to know the typical procedures of your office. From understanding how people in your position get promoted to how they may be let go, it is important you know as much as possible so you can identify what changes appear in your situation. In order to protect yourself from discrimination of any kind, you need to know what it looks like and what your rights are. Whether you’re a woman hoping to become pregnant, an already expecting mother or a mother looking to grow her family, becoming familiar with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act can help you save your job. Have you experienced discrimination of any kind in the workplace? Think you’re being discriminated against due to your pregnancy? Tell us how you handled it in the comments. For more tips on how to advance your career and protect yourself from unjust discrimination in the workplace, subscribe to Punched Clocks. 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