Sparrow Training

A practical, easy-to-use guide for job changers and job seekers, The Career Transition Pocketbook details seven key stages to the career transition process: self-questioning, goal setting, preparing a career history, networking, applying for jobs, getting ready for interviews and evaluating job offers. Each stage is described in a separate chapter.

Simply put, a competency describes the behaviour or actions that can be seen when a job is being done well. Organisations use competencies to get consistency in what they do, ensure people are treated equitably, enhance communications, improve stakeholder relationships and establish high standards of quality and performance. The Competencies Pocketbook explains how to develop a competency framework, how to assess competencies and how to reap the benefits from both the individual's and the organisation's perspective. It also describes why some competency initiatives don't work and how to make sure that yours does. Author: Roger Mills. Pages 128

This new, updated edition of The Employment Law Pocketbook, published in summer 2006, provides managers and HR professionals with a quick and ready grasp of employment law. Written from the perspective of employers rather than lawyers, the pocketbook takes a practical approach, presenting the facts clearly and concisely. Readers will be told how to avoid taking actions that prove indefensible in law and how to follow procedures that meet statutory requirements and can be shown to be fair. The pocketbook also explains what records need to be kept and when and where advice should be sought. From making selection decisions and appointments to dismissals and redundancies, the content covers all aspects of employment law including working with trade unions, workplace and attendance problems, and health and safety matters.

The Impact & Presence Pocketbook explains the importance of impact and shows readers how to develop a congruent and personal presence, enhance their leadership skills, create an atmosphere in their teams that will motivate and enthuse, and how to manage difficult situations. Subjects covered in the new pocketbook include: self-awareness (with a questionnaire that will enable readers to review their own impact), visualisation, creating a brand image, posture, gesture, eye contact, emotional control, dress style, creating rapport, what to do in difficult circumstances and how to create impact in different situations (e.g. meetings, interviews, presentations and one-to-one sessions).

First impressions count! A well-planned and thoughtful induction process will give new employees a sense of belonging and lead to greater motivation and productivity. The Induction Pocketbook examines ways of introducing a successful programme at all levels. It looks at the benefits of induction, who to involve in delivering induction (not just personnel staff!) and who should receive induction (not just newcomers!). There are further chapters on what to include in the induction programme, when and where it should take place and how to evaluate the induction. Finally, there is a series of checklists (one for each stage of the process) and a case study.

The Interviewer's Pocketbook was voted 'best of its kind' in a review of books on interviewing carried out by Management Today magazine. 'Thought-provoking and amusing:the practical tips and insights are extremely helpful', it was reported. Author John Townsend believes The Interviewer's Pocketbook is the best book he has written! It begins by looking at the skills necessary for good interviewing, specifically: questioning techniques, listening skills and interpretation of body language. The next section deals with the different types of interview: recruitment, appraisal, counselling, fact-finding and disciplinary. It covers the interviewing techniques that should be applied in each situation and gives specific examples. The final section summarises the essential interviewing skills in the form of a series of useful, 'at-a-glance'

Recruiting successful candidates leads to improved performance, increased customer satisfaction, enhanced organisational reputation, greater staff morale and a positive reflection on those involved in the recruitment process. The Managing Recruitment Pocketbook explains how to plan recruitment, attract the right candidates, assess CVs and application forms, get the most out of the interview, use different methods of selection and how to make the job offer. Under 'attracting the right candidates', the pocketbook looks at advertising methods, using the internet, employing recruitment agencies and recruiting internally. Selection methods addressed include psychometric tests, personality questionnaires, assessment centres, presentations and work sample exercises. The final chapter covers how to pull all the selection information together, references, medicals, handling unsuccessful candidates and making the eventual offer. Complementing this new title are two other existing pocketbooks, The Interviewer's Pocketbook and The Succeeding At Interviews Pocketbook.

Psychometric testing helps employers to assess people, in a way which gives results that are objective, systematic, reliable and valid. The Psychometric Testing Pocketbook offers insight into how these tests can improve recruitment, selection, promotion and assist organisational development. The book takes a practical approach and is aimed at the non-specialist reader. It explains the process of test selection and demonstrates, with the aid of case studies, how some of the more popular tests can be applied to achieve workplace solutions. In better understanding the unique characteristics of its individuals, organisations are equipped to undertake a range of actions, including building effective teams, implementing change and identifying future leaders. This pocketbook not only benefits employers, but also provides employees with an understanding of what is involved in completing such tests and how the results can focus career counselling and development plans.

The Self-managed Development Pocketbook gives an overview of the increasingly important process of self-managed development (SMD), in which individuals take responsibility for, and control of, their own development. The book looks at the reasons why SMD is growing in popularity and how it fits into the other organisational processes. Attention is then turned to the individual's role: raising self-awareness (using techniques such as skills audits, performance reviews and SWOT), reviewing self-perceptions (to increase awareness of new possibilities) and, finally, action planning (setting objectives and measuring commitment and motivation).

The Succeeding at Interviews Pocketbook will boost your confidence in preparing for and attending job selection interviews (internal and external) and assessment centres. It is suitable for anyone seeking a new post, from school leavers upwards. The foundation of successful interviews is thorough preparation. The author explains what research you should carry out and how to anticipate what those advertising the post are looking for. The importance of rehearsals and visualisation is also stressed. Deep breath; now for the interview! There is advice on how to enter the room, how to answer questions, what questions to ask and how to create a positive impression. Employers are increasingly relying on assessment centres to meet their recruitment needs. Such centres use a range of tools to test applicants' suitability, including psychometric tests, role play and group exercises. Each different type of test is described and there is advice on how to prepare for and successfully undertake them.