Interviewing well is so very critical. Everyone should learn as much as possible and be ready to give a flawless presentation of “you” at the next interview.
You’ve just landed a job interview for a position you really want. Congratulations! Now, you know you only get one chance to impress, but how exactly do you do that? Given all of the conflicting advice out there and the changing rules of getting a job, it’s no wonder that job seekers are confused about how to best prepare for and perform in an interview.What the Experts SayOne common piece of advice is to “take charge” of the interview. John Lees, a career strategist and author of The Interview Expert: How to Get the Job You Want and Job Interviews: Top Answers to Tough Questions, says this advice is misleading: “The reality is that the interviewer is in control. Your job is to be as helpful as you can.” Claudio Fernández-Aráoz, a senior adviser at Egon Zehnder International and the author of Great People Decisions, agrees: “You need to help interviewers do the right thing since most of them don’t follow best practices.” According to Fernández-Aráoz, who has interviewed more than 20,000 candidates in his 26 years as a search consultant, most interviewers fall prey to unconscious biases and focus too heavily on experience rather than competence. It’s your responsibility to make sure this doesn’t happen. Here’s how.
Here are a few good tips concerning Nanny and household staff compensation.
As you interview candidates for a nanny position, at some point, salary and benefits need to be discussed. Typically this discussion occurs during the second interview, when both the nanny and the nanny family have an expressed interest in seriously exploring the possibilities of working together. For all parties to be happy, you will want to be on the same page, or at least in the same chapter, of the salary and benefits book as your potential nanny.Consider asking these salary and benefits related questions when you come to this juncture in the interview process. What was your salary at your last position? – This will give you some idea of the general range you can expect to offer. The candidate may or may not expect an increase over what was received at her previous post. What experience do you have as a nanny? – Like in any profession, the more experience a candidate has, the higher the salary they typically demand. What level of education do you have? – Even though this is a question about education, it directly impacts the salary you will want to offer the candidate. A well trained and educated nanny is a valuable asset; this person will have the duty of giving your children the care and attention they require and should encourage and inspire kids to do well academically. A college educated nanny typically earns more than a nanny who has no formal education. Do you have a particular salary in mind? – If you choose to ask this question, you will most likely get a salary range. Take all the qualifications into consideration when deciding on a figure within that range. Keep in mind…
Are your employers protected from this type of activity or accident on the property? How will you handle it as a House or Estate Manager?
William Shatner is facing a lawsuit from two former employees who allege that the “Star Trek” actor discriminated and harassed them after one of them refused to sign a waiver after getting injured on the job.Oscar Alfaro and his wife, Delmy, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court Tuesday, alleging that Shatner, 81, and his wife, Elizabeth, “harassed and berated” them so bad that they had to quit their jobs, according to court documents obtained by ABC News affiliate KABC-TV.Shatner’s manager and lawyer have not responded to ABCNews.com’s requests for comment.The Alfaros worked for Shatner for 20 years, but they left their unspecified jobs after Alfaro refused to sign a waiver after sustaining an undisclosed injury at the actor’s Studio City, Calif., home, the lawsuit alleges.As a result, the Alfaros claim they suffered humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish in addition to the loss of earnings and benefits, according to the lawsuit. They’re suing for an unspecified amount.
Here’s a good post on the basics of paying employees and service providers for the home. Sent in from our new pals over at 4nannies.com. Thanks for the info!
To make it easier for people to hire household employees for short or infrequent periods of time without having to struggle with the normal tax obligations, the IRS created a yearly wage threshold. When an employer pays a household employee less than the threshold, the employer doesn’t have to deal with many of the typical employer taxes. Although the threshold was designed to simplify nanny taxes, there’s a lot of confusion around how the threshold affects babysitters, summer nannies, and temporary nannies. The facts outlined here will help you understand the law and ensure that you pay your nanny correctly.
The IRS household employment wage threshold is $1,800 for 2012. This number may be raised in future years depending on cost of living factors.
The wage threshold affects FICA taxes, which include Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes.
The wage threshold applies to all household employees including nannies, housekeepers, gardeners, and other people you pay to provide services in your home. The threshold doesn’t apply to independent contractors such as plumbers, construction workers, and others who provide services through a business.
The wage threshold doesn’t affect the nanny’s worker classification. It doesn’t matter how little or how much a nanny earns, she’s considered an employee and not an independent contractor.
Regardless of whether a nanny reaches the wage threshold or not, she’s considered an employee from the first day of work. As an employee, she’s entitled to labor law protections like minimum wage and overtime from the first day also.
This is a great art to master – for both the employers we serve and our own basic travel needs!
Packing efficiently may well be considered an art. This interactive guide to packing from Louis Vuitton can teach you a few tips and tricks for maximizing your suitcase space and folding your clothes to reduce wrinkles.
You’ll find step-by-step guides to packing clothes and accessories for both men and women, and can choose between a trunk, rolling suitcase, or carry-on bag (all LV luggage examples, naturally, but you can adapt the tips to any kind of luggage). The webapp highlights which pieces to pack first (e.g., heavy toiletries) and shows you the best way to fold clothes. For example, click on the shirt to button it up, turn it over, fold in the sleeves, and unfold the collar to make it ready for packing.
It’s always fun to look at the royal household as a model for staffing…
Garden parties, maintaining castles and entertaining statesman doesn’t come cheap, it was revealed today, as the Queen published her yearly accounts.British taxpayers spent £32.1million to support the monarchy over the past year, Buckingham Palace accounts showed, an increase of £200,000.The figure includes paying the wages of the Royal Household staff, royal travel, maintaining property and communications.While expenditure increased, in real terms spending has dropped, reflecting the Queen’s eagerness to do her bit to reduce public expenditure.Sir Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said: ‘When the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced his plans for the public expenditure to reduce by 25 per cent in real terms over a four-year period, the Queen was very keen that the Royal Household should play its part in reducing its expenditure accordingly.’‘We are pleased to report that we have achieved this reduction a year ahead of the public expenditure target and managed to transfer £3.3million to the Sovereign Grant reserve.
Records showing the staff who served Britain’s kings and queens are being made available online to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
They include 50,000 records from the reign of King Charles II to King George V between 1660 and 1924.
The Royal Household lists are being made available by findmypast.co.uk, which carries some charges, in association with the Royal Archives.
The records also provide a rare glimpse of the royal court and household.
A reigning monarch typically had 1,000 staff in the Royal Household. The biggest department was Lord Chamberlain’s department, which had 700 staff on average and was responsible for ceremonial and social life.
This is a very important topic for both employers and staff to understand. Households that employ staff have legal obligations and a good management structure is the key. Educate yourselves and your households!
Employee lawsuits are not the only risk that comes with prosperity. The more cars you own and loan, the more exposure you have. Yachts, swimming pools and jet skis are liabilities as much as they are signs of success. Even the best of intentions can lead high-net-worth individuals into risk: Bob Courtemanche, division president of Ace Private Risk, cautions that homeowners who serve alcohol at a fundraiser or wedding can be sued if an over-served guest harms another guest — or crashes into another driver long after he or she leaves the party.It is domestic staff, however, that provide the bulk of lawsuits, precisely because nannies, maids, and gardeners have become such widespread fixtures of an upscale lifestyle. Many wealthy homeowners consider their household help members of the family, and don’t think about their constant presence in terms of hours worked and overtime pay.In 2010, workers filed a record number of wage complaints against employers, and initial reports indicate that the number went up again last year. Most of those were class actions, which homeowners may imagine only occur in factories and big-box stores. Even a relatively small staff can file collectively, however, as long as they all share the same complaint.Making a case against household employers is getting easier. “More people are filing because they can,” says Leigh. Last year, New York state passed a domestic worker bill-of-rights law that mandated vacation days, sick days and a weekly day of rest, and is following up with a campaign to make workers aware of their rights.The U.S. Department of Labor’s Timesheet app for smartphones, which allows employees to track their hours, breaks and days off, has also put newfound power literally in domestic workers’ hands. If the app is the only record of a worker’s hours, says Leigh, “the judgment will fall to the employee because you can’t prove otherwise.”
Check out this fantastic workshop for Personal Assistants:
Be the Ultimate Assistant
Weekend Intensive Workshop for Personal Assistants
Instructor – Bonnie Low-Kramen
Ft. Lauderdale, FL May 19 - 20, 2012
Workshop Schedule Saturday, May 19, 10AM-5PM Sunday, May 20, 10AM-5PM
Invest in your professional development and maximize your earning power and marketability as a Personal Assistant.
If you are the “right arm” to your employer and seeking to step up your game, you are invited to learn from the best. Bonnie Low-Kramen, 25-year assistant to actress Olympia Dukakis, is one of the most respected celebrity assistants and instructors in the country and she is coming to Ft.Lauderdale to teach a 14-hour weekend workshop.
Discussion Topics
Must-have skills in the workplace of 2012
Technology Tips for the PA
Organization, Research & Creative Problem-Solving
Utilizing Resources & Networking
Communication & Personal Presentation
Career Management & the Job Search (Bring your resume)
full workshop information via this link: Ft Lauderdale.
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About domesticblog- Domestic Employment and Staffing News for Luxury Homes and Estates
This blog is written and managed by Domestic Placement Network, LLC. Our full service Domestic Staffing Agency provides experienced, professional, domestic staff to exclusive clients. Please visit us at www.dpnonline.com for more information. Our Industry leading Job Site www.estatejobs.com is a professional job board for employers, agencies, and domestic professionals to connect through targeted job listings. Please call anytime with questions about our full range of domestic staffing services. 805-640-3608.
