Category: How To

Blog articles for recent graduates emphasizing how to get head and guides to help you as you start on your career journey.

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How To

Learn how to make a personal introduction video

Sometimes the presentation in the resume is not enough and some companies prefer to know the candidates in a format that allows more details of the person to be detected.

Learn how to make a personal introduction video

Virtual or digital interviews have become an ally for selection processes, they serve companies to streamline and optimize recruitment processes and candidates to be effective through technological tools.

Talent recruiters currently use two types of video interviews. In the first, the interviewer sends the candidate a series of questions to be recorded and later sends the video with the answers so that it can be analyzed. The second is the best known and implemented by companies and is done through a virtual platform such as Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger or Viber; In these cases, the candidate is spoken to in real time and not only his knowledge but also aspects of his personality are measured.

“Video interviews allow us to speed up the selection of candidates during the early stages of the process. In divisions such as technology, about 40% of the interviews, in the first instance, are carried out using this methodology, since it is a tool that makes it possible to efficiently refine the list of candidates without implying greater efforts in travel and identifying key skills for the position that needs to be covered”, explained Daniel Camacho, IT executive manager at Michael Page Colombia.

Register or update your resume 

Faced with these situations typical of a selection process, ask what type of video interview you are going to do, check the conditions that the video must have, the duration, the operating system, the place where you are going to record, the camera, the computer and other details that could present inconveniences.

“The interview process allows the candidate to make the reasons that have been put in the resume to access a position much clearer. For this reason, it is necessary to think about it strategically and concentrate efforts on demonstrating the specialization of the profile. Some selection processes may require the support of audiovisual media, either as an input for companies in the first phase or as a means for the interview when the distance does not allow a face-to-face meeting,” said Carolina Forero, Marketing and Communications Manager. in Colombia and leader in Latin America for Hays.

“Whether the medium is, you have to think about the information that is going to be provided in that first instance. Knowing the profile of the company and, if possible, the interviewer, this will help to set the tone: formal or informal conversation, emphasis on certain skills of the profile, adjustment in one’s own speech and even a position issue. The key message that must be delivered is that of a specialized profile that meets the skills expected by the company, this demonstrated in specialized knowledge and experience”, added Forero.

Choose a good place to make the video, find one where you won’t have distractions. Apart from this, the videoconference or video must have the same relevance as a traditional interview. Personal presentation is essential, regardless of whether you are in a workplace, a public place or at home. So, it’s important to rise to the occasion and meet the expectations that companies have of an applicant for one of their positions.

“Minimize possible interruptions: it is important to put the cell phone on silent, and in the case of being at home, also the landline. Think of anything else that might distract you during your interview and schedule everything so that doesn’t happen. Close all web pages that might catch your eye and turn off email alerts. If you live with other people, let them know you’re having an interview so they won’t interrupt you. If you have a pet that makes a lot of noise, try to move it from the room,” Camacho recommended.

Apart from the traditional questions, about formation, strengths and weaknesses, think about the possible questions that you will be asked. Take care of your image and the way in which you will make the video. Your creativity and formality can be the way to get the job you want.

“Make visible your skills that are required for this new position, the achievements in previous experiences, and how you have managed to build your experience. It is also essential, depending on the industry, to have the latest requirements in the advancement of existing programs or regulations that are essential for the business. Demonstrating the strength of the profile is the key, and the questions can be many. Seek to make it evident, as it will help you provide a more solid image,” Forero pointed out.

Keep in mind 

If the username or email you’ll use to submit the video isn’t professional, your interview may get off to a bad start. There are many video editing applications that you can use. Everything you say and do in an interview will be used to create an image. Lastly, make sure your profile photo features only and exclusively you, and hopefully it’s a sober photo.

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How To

This is how you telecommute effectively

The social, economic and ecological emergency declared in Colombia due to the coronavirus impacted the development of business activities and the management of its employees, leading companies to grant teleworking so as not to reduce their productivity.

This is how you telecommute effectively

To comply with social isolation and not opt for the cessation of activities, many have their employees working remotely and with the help of technology. But what does it depend on if this modality is a success?

Set a work schedule

According to Alejandro Arévalo, executive manager of DNA Human Capital, although teleworking “is a benefit given by companies, this is a professional challenge that is transferred to employees, since the responsibility falls directly on them. This is why it is important to have structures that allow it, and that the collaborator establishes their work routines in the same way as they would in an office. “

Although this modality was used in particular cases, today it is used in an almost-majority way in companies. Adopting this way of working implies mixing family and work dynamics and, therefore, we must try to ‘move’ the office correctly to the home.

A study carried out by the DNA Group showed that during the last week of March 2020, 38% of companies in Peru, Colombia and Chile decreed to implement ‘home office’ among their employees, this taking into account coronavirus prevention policies.

The expert consulted By

advises that the worker should organize his workday and activities towards the fulfillment of objectives.

Designate a space in your home to work

Thus, you must “behave as if you are still going to the office. Get out of bed and fix yourself as you usually would. Jumping from bed to computer is not recommended, because you will confuse rest spaces with work spaces, “says Arévalo.

In the same way, it is important to adapt a workspace that resembles your office as much as possible, that is, a space without many distractions. Do not work in bed or on the sofa, because your body may think it is time to rest and doing so your health can be affected, since these objects are not designed to execute the workday.

Use apps to make your job easier

On digital tools that can facilitate your work, Google offers its cloud Drive, where you can edit documents -online- of Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Also, if you need to make video conferences with your work team, you can use Hangouts, a messaging application, also from Google.

Learn here about other tools that may be useful

Get used to a work schedule

Regardless of your duties, you have to “set a work schedule to meet weekly goals, and thus prevent your workload from increasing. To do so, coordinate leadership meetings where goals and weekly tasks are set to meet them,” advises the expert.

Talk to your superior and set work schedules where you feel more productive, because many times some collaborators perform difficult tasks for a few hours, while in others they finish less complicated ones.

Explain to your family the situation of teleworking

The previous point is also related to the family or personal aspects that surround each employee, as well as responsibilities at home and eating habits.

Along the same lines, you must “involve your family in the change, since this modality modifies the routine not only of the collaborators but also of their families and the people with whom they live. That is why it is important to share the planning to be able to differentiate the moments of work from those of leisure, “says Arévalo.

Companies are making a big bet on their talent with teleworking. With this alternative, employees have in their hands the time and the fulfillment of goals without constant ‘supervision’ by their superiors.

Responsibility is the most important thing

For this reason, you must have work maturity and comply with the designated schedules. Answer calls and messages when needed, stay online and do not spread the trust they have given you.

Avoid distractions and organize your diet so you don’t get up constantly to check your fridge. Likewise, use your cell phone for work issues and personal urgency; social media can affect your productivity and focus.

Apart from work, you invest better the time you will save on travel. “On average, a person takes two hours in transfers, which in a week are 10, in the month 40 and in the year more than 400 hours free thanks to the fact that he will not have to travel anywhere. Plan those hours to invest in your well-being, but not in work, “concludes Arévalo.

Teleworking is an opportunity for employees to demonstrate to their superiors their capacity for self-management, as well as responsibility and commitment to their work.

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How To

Things every professional should know how to do

Every day, employees face challenges that they can solve thanks to the knowledge learned at university and thanks to their work experience. However, there are competences that cannot be discriminated against because they have one profession or another.

Things every professional should know how to do

First, there are communication skills. To write an email or make a report, having good writing and spelling will allow your superiors to take it seriously. It will always be key to manage clarity in the information you deliver and express yourself correctly.

Now, math skills can be considered only for careers like engineering or finance. However, knowing how to make a simple or inverse rule of three, knowing the basic mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and being able to get a percentage is something that every professional should be able to do, this without the need for a spreadsheet or calculator.

Knowing and making use of these aspects allows any professional to have ‘financial intelligence’. According to Sonia Jaramillo, senior manager at Hays Colombia, every professional must have a “financial and accounting knowledge, including basic statistical knowledge to understand expenses, income, losses or gains.”

Also, do you know how to take advantage of tools likePowerPoint or Excel? These computer programs allow you to get out of trouble, especially when you need to deliver an organized report where you can show graphs, ‘cakes’ and, of course, perform advanced mathematical calculations.

For bosses who are not bilingual it is very useful to have a work team that understands and manages English.

“For any profession, the management of the spreadsheet is essential, as it provides the facility to collect information in an organized manner, in addition to executing mathematical calculations, scheduling dates and times, preparing graphs and extensive reports, but above all, taking budgets,” recommends Liliana Guzmán, director of Human Talent at Loor.

Technology, an ally that every employee should use

Using calendars and emails allows you to effectively schedule meetings, invitations, and events at work.

To minimize the time of tasks “and to be able to share information, you can make use of the ‘storage clouds’ or for people whose work involves the management of communications or relationships with third parties, it is essential to handle tools such as Prezi, as well as know about the creation of blogs and the commercial management of social networks. “

While it is impossible to know everything thoroughly, it is key that the professional is recursive and knows where to find answers. Going to free web applications or tools can get you out of trouble in the workplace.

Finally, it is important to know where you stand and what is going on around you. Staying informed about laws, “political and socioeconomic situation of the country, allows a broad knowledge in national and international issues, taxes, free trade agreements and issues that can influence companies,” concludes Jaramillo.

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How To

Learn how you can increase productivity in your work assertively

Workers from different sectors of the economy in Colombia, constantly seek to give their best in their respective positions and add value within the company in which they work, in order to grow within it, despite not having a motivation as the basis of their life project. Likewise, organizations have set themselves the challenge of increasing productivity in the midst of the economic reactivation that has been taking place.

Learn how you can increase productivity in your work assertively

However, a question arises, and that is how to achieve greater productivity assertively, if it has been shown that in most companies, their staff unmotivated and poorly aligned with corporate objectives?

María Reina, an expert in innovation and human talent management, affirms that “the demotivation of employees occurs because they do not know what they are good at or what they are passionate about“. This perception is reaffirmed by what was said by the American psychologist Howard Gardner, who states that “75% ofemployees in organizations are increasingly unmotivated, which affects productivity and the results required to recover the pace of growth and advance exponentially”.

Are you looking for a better job?

And what are the keys?

If you want to increase your productivity, we let you know keys, which despite seeming common, if you put them into practice in your work environment, will give an excellent result.

– Enhance capacities: Look for individual strengths and foster them collaboratively. Teamwork and the union of skills and abilities are fundamental.

– Socialize with peers: With the reactivation, after the contingency caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the return to the office is a reality and by establishing interpersonal relationships with colleagues, motivation grows, while there is collaborative work.

– Express ideas: Through team meetings, explore your ideas and discuss them without fear. Contributing contributes to the increase of self-esteem and self-confidence.

– Learn to differentiate your personal life from your work life: You must have the ability to leave your personal problems outside of work and concentrate on your work, along with the relationships you weave with your colleagues, based on cordiality and kindness.

– Project: When you work, you not only do it to generate an income, but also to contribute to your personal development and build a future, based on aspirations, such as studying, traveling and growing in an integral way.

For both employees and companies, well-being and finding motivation based on passion are factors that influence productivity and good results for the growth of the company. The methodologies are important supports for the understanding of business contexts and the development of human groups that generate interpersonal relationships within it.

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Learn how to spot a fake job offer

Currently looking for a job is a task that involves quite a big effort, not only to find the best option to find a job and have stability, but also to avoid false offers that are offered through social networks and to which many people who need help. an urgent job, they apply, unaware of the consequences. (REGISTER YOUR RESUME HERE)

Learn how to spot a fake job offer

It should be noted that the people behind the fraudulent offers seek to swindle the candidates, ask for money or obtain personal data to sell it to database companies and use it in the future for various procedures. Also, remember that in a selection process you should not be charged anything.

Here are some recommendations or tips that you can keep in mind so as not to fall into the trap of false job offers or job calls:

– If when registering on any platform or employment page they ask you for sensitive data such as your document number, bank accounts, and data that have nothing to do with your professional profile, this is a warning sign. 

– If you are charged for participating in the selection process, this offer is not real.

– If you are required to pay for medical tests, desist from applying for the offer.

– If you search the internet and see that there is no company with the name you were given and there are no social networks either, it is a reason to leave the offer aside.

– If the email of the offer, to which you are asked to send documentation, has the domain “@Gmail”, “@Hotmail”, “@yahoo” or other free e-mail addresses, it is suspicious, since a company constituted, like that their personal, they have their own domain.

– If when looking for the address of the company, it does not correspond, it is an alarm to avoid applying your resume to the vacancy.

– If they seek to impersonate another company or platform and the link is not a secure connection (it does not have a lock), it is better that you do not give any of your data.

– If you receive a message via Whatsapp, Telegram or SMS from a cell phone number, do not answer, ignore it and block the number. It is important not to enter the links that may be in these messages.

– When you see a statement from employment agencies about calls to apply for vacancies, try to check the social networks of these entities and communicate with them to validate the information and make sure that the calls are real.

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How To

Learn how to identify if you are being a good leader in your company

Having good leaders in companies is essential to achieve the expected results within the company. The abuse of authority, arrogance and lack of assertive communication by bosses has gone into the background to turn them into true leaders who inspire and motivate their employees.

Learn how to identify if you are being a good leader in your company

To find out what a good business leader should have in elempleo.com we spoke withMarcela Rojas, career coach and headhunter, who told us some aspects that must be taken into account to be a good leader within the company.

If there are vacancies in your company you can publish them in this link.

What should I keep in mind if I have just assumed a position as a boss in the company?

Know in depth the scope of the position, who will depend on you, your peers, your bosses, clients, all this to take into account before making decisions, making changes or implementing new ideas.

It is important that you know what is behind everything you will be in charge of: the work culture, the stories behind the triumphs and failures, who the strategic people are, how things are being handled and why. When you have these answers then start your strategy taking into account the story that accompanies your position.

This will allow you to adapt your ideas to the needs and culture of the organization, which will not only generate a better work environment, by taking into account the past and present of the company, but will reduce the margin of error when knowing the reasons why something has gone wrong in the past.

What are the characteristics that a good business leader should have?

1. Emotional intelligenceto not allow your emotions to govern your decisions and reactions. This allows you to speak with respect even if you are upset, feel that there is room for everyone to shine, and share your knowledge sincerely so that everyone wins.

2. Listen to understand the needs of those around youand from there speak and propose with empathy. A leader who cuts his internal speech to really hear what the other person is saying, connects with his interlocutor and begins to speak his language, in this way communication flows and confidence increases.

3. He adapts because he knows that the world is a changing place, so he does not cling to a single idea even if he likes it very much. It is open to new knowledge and ways of thinking. He constantly evaluates, studies and tries new ways of doing things to improve his work.

4. He surrounds himself with a good teambecause he knows and recognizes that he cannot be an expert in everything, so he seeks and values the knowledge that others can bring to improve his work, this makes his good results not only the result of his knowledge, but of the synergies he achieves with the people around him.

5. Allow others to grow because youknow that success is an abundant and infinite morsel that everyone can eat if they have worked for it.

Want a better job opportunity? Find it here by posting your resume.

How to identify a bad leader in a company?

A bad leader is based on his own interest, he is the typical person who takes credit for team-built achievements. They tend to have very bad interpersonal relationships and are constantly caught up in power struggles and egos. They let themselves be carried away by their emotions, they do not listen to the needs of customers, employees, peers and suppliers, they believe that their word is the only one that counts.

What is the most common mistake leaders make in companies?

Not listening, living in an internal monologue where the world has to adapt to their needs and not them to the needs of the world.

How should a leader behave in the face of the personal situation of workers?

With empathy, we could lose a good element of a company by not having empathy and tact.

An employee will never forget a sincere and disinterested call from his boss to ask how his health is going or the situation that has him outside his job, without him taking advantage of that minute to ask about work issues.

Flowers, condolence or greeting cards, paid days off, the possibility of teleworking while solving their situation, among other things, are emotional salaries that people value very much and generate loyalty and a sense of belonging to the company.

3 current leaders who inspire society and we must have as a reference…

In Colombia and the world there are many. I would recommend locallyArturo CalleandLuz María Jaramillo (Pavimentos Colombia), and outside ColombiaSir Richard Branson (Virgin Group).

What these three people have in common is the value they give to their human talent, which they see as a priority and a fundamental part of the machinery of their companies. They have a sincere intention to grow together.

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How To

Learn how to give an excellent job interview from home

Companies did not abandon their selection processes due to the coronavirus. In fact, many recruiters are interviewing candidates virtually.

Learn how to give an excellent job interview from home

Being at home is then an opportunity to continue looking for a job and applying for job offers. The portal consulted with experts on how to succeed in job interviews by video call.

Essential tools for teleworking

Prepare the technical aspects

Initially, you should prepare for the medium or technology you will use, whether you will communicate through your cell phone or computer. Surely, the recruiter will notify you through which software or application they will establish a connection; If not, ask in advance to download or create an account on the designated platform.

Learn more answers to frequently asked questions in our Labor Research section

Regardless of the type of computer the interviewee uses, according to Michael Page experts, it is vital to check the device’s battery charge and Internet connection level. When the loss of communication is generated, the continuity of the interview can be affected.

Pauses between answers

Once this is done and once the interview has begun, you have to “wait before speaking, since it is common for videoconferences to have a delay in the camera. Just like in the news, it’s a good idea to wait a few seconds before answering a question, so you’ll avoid accidentally interrupting the interviewer in the middle of his speech, which may seem like a discourtesy,” adds the information provided by Michael Page.

How to access unemployment benefit for coronavirus emergency?

Dress for the occasion

Also, you have to take care of the personal presentation, not show yourself in sportswear or pajamas, hence the interest and respect of the candidate for the process he performs.

“It is important that the applicant investigates the business well or, if he has the opportunity, talk to people who already work there to know what their dress code is like and present yourself to the virtual interview according to this,” advises Joaquín Jiménez, managing director of The Bonding.

Relax and get ready to make your best impression

According to Jimenez, the advantage of video calls lies “in control, because in a virtual interview the candidate should not face external factors such as traffic, hunger, nerves for not arriving on time or the direct presence of the recruiter. On the contrary, he can control his environment and, therefore, be calmer and more prepared.”

Finally, do not forget to have ready the answers to frequently asked questions about the interest you have in the company, your possible contribution to it, strengths, weaknesses and expectations regarding hiring or work experience.

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Learn how to earn a 100% scholarship to study a master’s degree in another country

For many professionals, the option of doing a postgraduate degree is increasingly valid in their life plans, either to have more knowledge, get better income or be able to live in another country. However, for many young people the obstacle lies in the cost of master’s degrees, so here at we bring you options so you can apply for scholarships, thus fulfilling the dream of studying a postgraduate degree and growing professionally.

Learn how to earn a 100% scholarship to study a master's degree in another country

The International University of Valencia (VIU) in Spain launched the second edition of the ‘Becas Quiero’, an international program of 60 scholarships to which students from Spain, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru will be able to access.

This program will finance 100% of the teaching of the 50 master’s degrees and 10 online degrees chosen by the students who submit their candidacy to the ‘Quiero Scholarships’, within the portfolio of programs of the online university.

If you are looking for a job in Colombia or want to improve yours, register your resume in this link.

This program was born from the will of the International University of Valencia to reward and encourage effort, talent, and academic excellence and therefore, although the criteria for choosing the winners are mainly academic, the trajectory and curriculum of the candidates will also be highly valued, in addition to their motivation and progress. With this, VIU seeks to launch a message of optimism and hope, enhancing the transformative role of education, and its role as an agent of progress and social improvement.

The most demanded programs in the last edition were those of the Business Area with a total of 12 scholarships awarded and those of the health Sciences Area with 9 scholarships. 8 scholarships were also awarded in the Legal Area, 7 in the Science and Technology Area, 6 in the Communication Area, 5 in the Arts and Humanities Area and 3 in Education.

How to apply?

Candidates may apply for the scholarship for any of the Degrees or Masters of the seven Academic Areas of the International University of Valencia indicated on the website

The deadline for receiving applications will end this Friday, July 30. The presentation of the application will be made through the same website, and in their candidacy the applicants must include both the academic record, as well as their professional career and a motivational video in which they must make known their motivations to apply for the scholarship. The winners will be announced on September 15, through the same website and social networks of the University.

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How To

Learn how to create your personal brand to find a job

Don’t know what personal branding is all about? Do you want to improve it? In a live broadcast and exclusive for users of VIP an expert delivered the best advice. For this occasion, users who have VIP employment had the opportunity to talk with Claudia Palacio, a personal brand consultant, focused on employability with more than 10 years of experience.

Learn how to create your personal brand to find a job

During the broadcast, topics directly related to personal branding such as resume, personal portfolio and social networks as a presentation tool were discussed.

Would you like to participate in these conversations and have exclusive access to these contents? Acquire the VIP job, receive this benefit, visibility advice with your resume. 

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How to use severance pay?

This Monday, February 14, was the last day of the term for the payment of severance pay corresponding to 2021 and doubts arise about the use that can be given to this money that has been consigned to the severance fund to which the worker is affiliate.

How to use severance pay

At we consulted Leonardo Mejía, lawyer and director of the Mejía López Office, and Javier Del Real, the firm’s lawyer and Specialist in Labor Law, who explained that there are three severance payment systems, which are:

Traditional system, which is characterized, because only until the end of the employment contract is it liquidated and the value of the benefit is paid directly to the worker based on the last salary earned.

The definitive and annual liquidation system, created with Law 50 of 1990, where the so-called severance funds were instituted. In this system, they are settled year after year with the value of the salary and it is consigned to the respective fund, unless the contract ends before the maximum date for its consignment.

And the Comprehensive Salary System, which recognizes and pays the value of severance pay within 30% of the benefit factor and which makes up the total value of the comprehensive salary; It is considered as an advance payment of the benefit.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A JOB? REGISTER YOUR RESUME HERE AND APPLY

With regard to the above, and after having proof of receipt of the amount of the severance pay, in case you want to withdraw it, the most advisable thing is to make a list of priorities, based on the fact that the severance pay can only be spent in the following cases:

– Support in case of unemployment

– Acquisition of housing.

– Housing construction.

– Home improvement.

– Payment of mortgage loans.

– Higher, technical or technological education of the worker, their children, their spouse and/or permanent partner.

– I pay credits with ICETEX.

– Payment and purchase of education insurance.

– Acquisition of state bonds and shares.

Workers have no control over the free use of their severance pay. That is, they can only be used in the aforementioned cases.

It should be noted that,

“Whatever the reason for the partial withdrawal according to the indicated possibilities, this is done directly before the severance fund and on the value that is already caused and deposited from previous years, in such a way that the employer only corresponds issue the corresponding withdrawal authorization”.

Likewise, the calculation of layoffs is made by taking the value of the last salary earned by the collaborator, as long as there has been no variation in the last three (03) months, multiplying it by the number of days worked and dividing the result into 360.