What Is Included in a Job Relocation Package

What Is Included in a Job Relocation PackageWhat Is Included in a Job Relocation PackageWhen you receive a job offer or your company transfers you and you need to relocate, you may be eligible for a relocation package. In some cases, the company will pay for the full expense of moving. In others, you may be given a flat dollar amount to cover your expenses. If youre coming on board as a new employee and a relocation package isnt offered, you may be able to negotiate reimbursement of expenses aspart of a counter offer. However, there is no obligation on the part of an employer to cover moving expenses for either new or current employees. Whats Included in a Job Relocation Package? Typically, if offered, most relocation packages include some or all of the following Home Finding.A trip, including transportation and pension costs, to the new location to find a future home suitable for your family is paid for. Home Sales / Home Buying.The costs of selling your home and purchasing a ne w home are commonly included in relocation packages. This would include closing costs, real estate commissions, and other expenses normally incurred when buying or selling a house. Job Search Help.Some employee relocation packages include job search assistance for your spouse or partner. Transportation.Companies may reimburse travel expenses to employees who have to move to their new location via train, automobile, or airplane. Temporary Housing.The cost of temporary furnished rental housing or a hotel for a certain period of time is often provided. Rent and utility fees are typically included for rental housing. Moving.The cost of a moving truck and other related expenses may be included. Full Pack / Unpack. When the company fully covers the expenses and logistics of the move, movers will be sent to pack up your household goods and transport them to your new home, where they will unload, and in some cases unpack, the boxes where you wish. Check on Whats Included in the Package Before you make arrangements to move, double-check specifics of your relocation package with your employer so you know exactly what will be covered or reimbursed. You dont want to get stuck with expenses for items that you thought would be covered, but arent. Some companies frequently deal with relocating new employees, and may connect you with their sub-contracted companies. Others may give you a lump sum to pay for relocation, or ask you to keep all receipts for reimbursement. Ask for specifics beforehand. Negotiating Job Relocation as a Benefit Because relocation expenses are a one-time cost for a company, negotiating a relocation package is sometimes easier than negotiating a higher salary. For companies, covering relocation services can be a smart, cost-effective recruitment tactic - companies may try to attract candidates by mentioning that relocation services are available in job listings. And, for internal candidates, the relocation services are often cheaper than the c osts of hiring and training a new employee. Tips for Negotiating a Relocation Package Ask questions. Begin the process by asking if the company provides relocation services and what the company typically provides. Even if the company does not provide full moving expenses, they may be willing to reimburse some expenses. Know your numbers. If the company typically offers relocation packages, they may have a sense of the costs. Otherwise, its up to you to provide the employer with a sense of how the move will affect you in terms of time and money spent. As well, review the various relocation services that employers provide above. This will help you know what you want, and make a specific, detailed request. Get the details in writing. As with any job-related benefit, its important to have all the details in writing. That way, both you and your employer will be clear on expectations and coverage.

5 Things Not to Do After Getting Fired from a Job

5 Things Not to Do After Getting Fired from a Job5 Things Not to Do After Getting Fired from a Job5 Things Not to Do After Getting Fired from a JobJob loss may binnenseem like the end of the world, but it doesnt define who you are as a person. TWEETFired, terminated, and released no matter the wording, this depressing end to our career happens to the best of us. Life goes on, and we must pick up the pieces after a job loss. Getting fired from a job is as close to a physical ailment as career stress comes. But it doesnt have to be the end of the world.Tempting as it may be to tell the world how unfair your former employer is, this isnt the time to fall apart and lose yourself in pity and tears. Have a good cry, drown your sorrows for one night, and take the next steps to a better career. Dont do anything rash or stupid. Give it a week before acting on any instinct or desire and follow these tips after a job loss.1. Dont use social media as a diarySocial media, especially Facebook, has changed from communications platforms to microblogs and diaries for some. Dont fall into this trap. Social media isnt the place to tell people your issues, complain about your boss or even ask for advice. Remember, future employers may be able to see what you post. Negative posts about former employers or getting fired from a job are red flags for hiring managers.Pick up the phone and call someone instead. No email, texts, direct messages or other electronic communication can replace physical, intimate conversation. Your friends will offer a shoulder for tears and eye for complaints.2. Dont lose controlOkay, emotions aside, we all want to take our frustration out on something or someone. After a job loss isnt the time to regress to childhood tantrums. Dignified responses are the best for retreating your job. That means not telling your supervisor how you feel or what youve been holding back for years. If you go for the low blows, bridges burn and fall, colleagues lose respect for y ou and those negative references start piling up pretty fast.Remember what mother used to say, If you cant say anything nice, dont say anything at all. If given an end date, continue showing up for work on time and professionally attired. Fight the lazy urge, and continue doing your job as if you were working for a promotion. Be dignified in all you do.3. Dont hideHiding in your den after getting fired from a job with the drapes closed and Oprah playing on the TV may be a good for a few days, but dont drown yourself in pity. Get up and live. Losing a job may be embarrassing and painful, and its natural for your reaction to be to avoid interacting with others as you cope with the emotional roller coaster, just dont let it overwhelm you. If the depression is too much to handle, see a counselor to help you cope with these dark hours. Remember thisGrieve but dont give up.Look for motivation and inspiration.Ask for help from friends and family.4. Dont lieThe truth will platzdeckchen you free, or, at least, a lie will cost you a job. Potential employers may ask why you left your previous job. Dont lie. Tell them the truth. Also keep in mind that most new companies ask your immediate past supervisor for a reference. This may seem a little scary, but here are some strategies to prevent a negative impact after a job termination.Explain your side of the story, without placing blame.Take ownership of your mistake, if applicable.Offer solutions to prevent future mistakes from happening again.Seek a positive reference from your past company to negate any negative references.Most companies are more interested in your qualifications than bad references and lost jobs. Unless you were criminally prosecuted or made a serious ethical breach, the lost job is not as bad as you think. Keep that in mind, dishonesty always disqualifies you from a job.5. Dont lose faithLooking for a new job is daunting. Careers are investments, and losing one is the equivalent of overdrawing your chec king account. It may take a month, or longer, to even land an interview. It may take several interviews before finding the right fit. Dont give up and become discouraged. Discouragement from a job loss comes off as low self-esteem in an interview. Hiring managers pick up on those subtle emotions and make judgements on your abilities. Preparation and dedication go a long way in keeping your faith and preventing depression and loss of motivation. Stay motivated bySetting a time and place to look for jobs online or in a newspaper.Taking classes.Polishing your resume and practicing for interviews.Job loss doesnt define who you areGetting fired from a job may seem like the end of the world, but it doesnt define who you are as a person. We are all human and make mistakes. Some mistakes just have more severe consequences. Use the experience to learn from your weaknesses. Develop strategies to prevent the same mistake from happening again. Dont get hung up over the past. Sweep the dust unde r the carpet, move forward and start your day fresh. Each day is a new beginning there are more jobs out there waiting for you to conquer.Let TopResume help you write the next chapter of your career. Heres how.

Why the None of the above answer is poor test design

Why the None of the above answer is poor test designWhy the None of the above answer is poor test designFor those of us who hate standardized tests, we may suspect that multiple choice questions are designed more to trip us up than to actually help us learn. And we may be right. Multiple choice tests are a popular assessment tool used to test the knowledge of students and professionals. But a new study argues that some of the most common practices within a multiple choice test are bedrngnis actuallygood for measuring learning.For the Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition,Andrew Butler of Washington University in St. Louis reviewed the literature of test-taking and came away with evidence-based tips of what does and does not work. Top of his list of donts complex question formats. He found that complex question-and-answer formats confuse participants and question formats should challenge students but allow them to succeed often, and target specific cognitive processes th at correspond to learning objectives.Avoid none of the above if you want students to learnWhen the correct answer to a test is A and B, but not C, students have to jump through a variety of hoops in their brain to reach the right answer. Students are more likely to get stumped by the options and can have more misunderstandings as a result. This makes the complex question format an unreliable tool to measure learning. The variability in responding among test-takers reduces reliability, which is critical for assessment, Butler writes.One of the most interesting tips from Butlers research was to avoid None of the Above or All of the above constructions if you want to help test-takers learn. When None of the Above is the correct response, test-takers are presented with only incorrect information, he writes. If your goal is teaching a student, you dont want to remind them of wrong answers, you want to reinforce right answers. All of the Above can also be confusing when it is the wrong an swer, but it can be helpful when it is the correct answer, because the test-taker is only exposed to correct information.You want a test that is not too easy and not too hard. Butler said that the ideal difficulty level is a bit higher than the midpoint between chance and perfect performance. The main takeaway is that test-takers do not need to go through A-J choices to be challenged enough to learn. Test-makers and graders can make their jobs easier by simplifying answer formats. Keeping the process of answering multiple-choice items simple maximizes both effectiveness and efficiency, Butler concludes.The act of taking a test is not just assessing learning, it causes it too. Test-makers need to be sure they are modeling the right kind of learning they want test-takers to remember.