Before accepting a job offer, candidates should ensure the job is a good fit for them, consider how it will affect their family and be sure that all terms have been negotiated, some career experts suggest. "You want to ensure that everything you were promised or expected is in that letter before signing on the dotted line," says Paul Wolfe, senior vice president of human resources for Indeed.com. Fast Company online (10/22)
Hire Smart
Best hiring practices to build a team Good hiring practices can determine whether a business will succeed or fail, writes Melissa Burns. Find candidates whose career path and personality type fit the role and check the candidate's social media first to shorten hiring time and get an accurate impression of the person, she suggests. Business 2 Community (10/25)Don't shrug off the hiring process Despite hiring being essential to success, many businesses don't properly train their interviewers, writes workplace expert Alison Green. In addition to missing out on talent, poorly done interviews lead to candidates judging and reviewing the company's mistakes. BBC (10/26)
Poll
Poll question: Are you a teacher, cheerleader, connector or always on? Last week's top story (see below) spelled out which type of boss is the most effective. Which of the four types of boss are you? Poll results on Friday.
Why firing an employee is often the right move It's often difficult to fire an employee even when it's the right move, but doing so may result in a better situation for both the employer and the employee, as the worker can find a new job that's a better fit, Matt Michel writes. Employers must remember that the company is more important than any individual and that it's their job to maintain a positive working atmosphere, even if it means terminating troublesome employees or low performers. Contracting Business online (10/24)
Your Next Challenge
Travel to learn new leadership skills If professional development conferences have become routine, traveling the globe might be the better option to improve your leadership skills. Plan your trip with goals in mind, such as improving empathy, and reach out to local chambers of commerce or trade groups, writes Nicole Brusewitz. Forbes (10/25)
It took seven years, but NASA's Curiosity rover finally found a place to do "wet chemistry" in its portable lab. The rover scooped up soil samples, tested them for signs of life, and took a selfie. Daily Mail (London) (10/25)
What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?
Mary Shelley, writer from "Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus"