Surveys can be done online, during face-to-face interviews, through paper questionnaires, over the phone, or through polls. There’s an art to carrying out surveys, as the right questions must be asked if the answers provided by the respondents are to be considered reliable.

Below, you’ll find easy and actionable tips that will come in handy when setting up a survey. Here we go.

1. Prioritize Close-ended Questions

Surveys can contain open-ended questions, close-ended questions, or a combination of both. Ideally, you should prioritize close-ended questions as they are easy to read and understand by respondents, and your target audience won’t have to read and re-read the questions to understand them. Also, close-ended questions provide definitive answers that can be easily analyzed and quantified.

This is not to say open-ended questions don’t have their place in surveys. But they generally take more time to answer, something that can be discouraging for many respondents. Open-ended questions have the advantage of providing deeper insight into the subject matter.

Ideally, a survey should have just a couple of open-ended questions, which should be included towards the end of the survey. Even if a respondent doesn’t feel like answering the closing open-ended questions, they’ve already answered the previous questions, and their answers can be recorded.

• Ask Neutral Questions

The whole idea of surveys is to collect data and find out the target audience’s opinion. As a result, the questions asked should be neutral and void of any opinion or sentiment. Consider a survey question like this – “We think our customer care service is superb as we respond to inquiries promptly. How awesome do you think we are?”

The above question shows that those who set up the survey have a good opinion of themselves which is fine. But they are already projecting that opinion to the respondents, which may consciously or unconsciously affect the target audience’s response.

So, neutral questions must be asked. A question like “What do you think about your customer care service?” would be more appropriate in the above scenario, and this encourages the respondents to truly say how they feel.

• Consider Translating the Survey

You’d need to translate the survey if you want to reach a global audience or an audience whose native or preferred language isn’t English. Respondents are more eager to answer surveys if it’s in their preferred language. So, a Spanish speaker or national would want a survey in Spanish translation.

There are two aspects of translating surveys. The first aspect is translation, which is about making the survey available in the native or preferred language of the respondents. The second aspect is localization which deals with adapting the survey to the culture and local nuances of the audience.

Using the above example again, a Spanish speaker could be fluent in Mexican Spanish, Peruvian Spanish, or US Spanish. By localizing a survey, such a survey will be made available in a variety of Spanish the target audience is familiar with.

• Avoid Double-Barreled questions

For those not familiar with double-barreled questions, it’s a type of question that asks about two different issues yet allows for only one answer. The main problem with double-barreled questions is that there’s no way to know the question that respondents are answering.

Consider a question that says, “How would you rate our product and delivery time?”. If a respondent says he’s satisfied, it could be referring to the product, delivery time, or even both. But there’s no way to know this. So, double-barreled questions are problematic and should be avoided.

Luckily, it’s easy to spot double-barreled questions as they have the conjunction “and.” So, be sure to go through your survey to check if there are double-barreled questions.

• Do a Test Drive

The last thing you’d want is to send out a survey and then find out it has several issues. Depending on the severity of the issues, you may need to cancel the survey and set up a new one.

So, before sending out a survey, send it to a number of selected people and analyze their responses. This will give you insight into what to expect when the survey is sent out.

Before you decide to launch yourself headlong into a career in HR, you may wish to know some of the prospects that draw people toward the profession. HR is an exciting sector that’s constantly developing, with new practices and software to support the work the job demands (check out Sage.com for the latest in HR software). Browse the reasons below to see if you might be suitable for a nine-to-five in HR.

Day-to-Day Variety

HR isn’t a single task. All careers in HR are, in fact, multifaceted. From looking over job applications and onboarding new staff members to tracking employee performance and arranging training, there’s always something new to do.

The variety of tasks involved in HR often mean that training and travel are part of the role. This adds to the constant feeling of delivering a valued service to the company – being central to so many company objectives, you are unlikely to feel left out, overlooked, or underappreciated.

There’s also the variety in dealing with novel situations as they arise. For example, no other career would see you regularly dealing with good and bad surprises thrown up by job applicants and employees alike.

Helping People to Succeed

Part of the role of an HR team member is to provide training and advancement opportunities for all staff. Whether you are guiding an apprentice through the final stages of their assigned work, or whether you are helping employees to identify new ways to add value to the company through career progression, there is always a way to help other people.

Using Technology to Problem Solve

HR software can be used for many different aspects of tracking workflow and employee satisfaction on a daily basis. As an HR specialist, part of your role will include monitoring software to solve problems. Where your expertise is put to use in finding solutions, and where those solutions are backed up by data, you will achieve a sense of accomplishment that no other role is likely to offer.

Learning New Skills

Due to the varied nature of all roles within HR, you are unlikely to ever reach a personal saturation point in your education. From software to people skills, you will need to constantly expand your skill set to allow you to provide accurate business solutions.

Again, there is likely to be an element of travel and professional engagements involved with any training courses – if this sounds like something you might gravitate toward, HR careers could be right for you.

Making New Connections

Some career choices do not require you to make connections with new people on a regular basis. However, when you choose a career in HR, the expectation is that you will make new connections with people on behalf of the company almost daily.

If you enjoy utilising and building on your interpersonal skills, choosing to undertake a career in HR could not only be a sensible choice but a lifelong rewarding choice as well.

If you’re interested in searching for jobs in HR or any other field, Jooble is a helpful job aggregator you can use with salary, location, posting date and other great filters to narrow your search!

Returning customers should be at the very heart of your business, and in terms of recommendations, reviews and boosting your revenue, they’re virtually invaluable. Don’t make the mistake of taking your repeat clients for granted, here we’ll explore some simple things that will keep your customers coming back!

Make payments easy

When working with you is straightforward and uncomplicated, customers are much more likely to return. This is relevant in terms of your billing process and your payment options. If clients are struggling to pay for your products or services using their specific bank or credit card, if they have to make phone calls or paying you is overly complex then it’s only going to put them off using your services in the future. Investing in payment software – check out this website for more information – is a quick and secure way to ensure customer payments are streamlined and easier for everyone.

With payment software, clients can store all their payment information on a secure platform, while you can handle subscription billing and payouts to your bank. This software works in conjunction with your invoice software, which means clients can pay without being redirected to a different site. This kind of convenience might seem simplistic, but that’s exactly what your clients want.

Improve your communication

If a customer has a query or issues – regardless of what stage in their customer journey they’re at – communicating with you should be a cinch and not a long, drawn-out process. Whether you’re always available at the end of the phone, you’re poised at your inbox or being active on your social media platforms, if customers know that you’re active and responsive, they’re more likely to return.

Remember to stay in touch

Just like any connection, it must be nurtured and meaningful. Once a client has paid for their product/service, that isn’t the end of their journey. Actively keeping in touch with your customers and offering them new products first, offering discounts and incentives are simple yet effective ways to keep them coming back. Just be mindful of being overbearing, subtle communications are usually better received than persistent sales tactics.

And finally, value their feedback

When you reach out to clients and actively ask for their feedback, it sends a message to your customers that you value their experience and opinions – good, or bad. This approach will not only show your customers how much you appreciate them, but it can also allow you to rectify any issues that could result in a negative online review. Showing how much you value your customers’ satisfaction will encourage them to return in the future.  

The first step is to narrow down your ambition. Do you want to work with animals? Do you want to do something involving numbers? Perhaps you enjoy music or drama or the theatre? Today we’re going to look at a few university course options relating to working with people.

Physical therapist

Physical therapy changes people’s lives (see physical therapy degree programs). The positive impact of a physical therapy course can mean the difference between someone regaining their independence or relying on carers every day for the rest of their life.

To begin with, let’s think about career prospects. Why would you choose a career in helping people to strengthen their muscles and improve their mobility? The fact is, that from motorcycle stunt bike riders to everyday commuters slipping on an icy train platform, there will always be a steady flow of clients. You will never be out of work.

In terms of a rewarding career, working in physical therapy (PT) gives you the chance to apply your skills and knowledge in a way that can help somebody find work or rediscover their love of life. Nobody likes to feel forgotten, and a physical therapist’s job is to help people feel more integrated with society. What could be more rewarding than that?

Social work

Social work is the ideal field of work for anyone who is a good listener and isn’t scared of taking the appropriate action. What does that mean? You could be faced with a young person who has been referred to you for reasons that, upon investigation, are just the tip of the iceberg.

The next day you could be dealing with a family, an elderly member of the community, a professional sportsperson, or a homeless person. The variety in the workload is vast.

Drilling down to the root cause of the issue and helping people to confront and resolve their problems is something not everyone can do. If that sounds like a line of work in which you think you could thrive, social work may be for you.

Teaching

There’s an unfortunate phrase associated with teaching. You may already be familiar with it. ‘Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach’.

There is not a teacher in the land who would not take umbrage with such thinking. After all, Aristotle was a teacher (of sorts), and he learned from Plato who learned from Socrates. And nobody’s lining up to tell the world’s most notorious trio of philosophers that they weren’t applying themselves.

Teaching shapes lives. If you’re a public speaker with a way with words, and if you can use that gift to explain complicated topics in an easy to understand fashion, teaching might be your people-centric calling. Simply pick a subject that means something to you and pass on your passion.

Being able to manage your role and simplify the procedure for creating your events can go a long way, especially if you have numerous events to co-ordinate at the same time. Improving your efficiency can be done by changing the way you work, both before and after events.

Software

There are a number of different event planning software packages available, depending on your style and size of event. This software may be able to assist you in consolidating your tasks onto one platform. Whereas in the past, you may have had to call, email, or log into different providers for certain tasks, such as ticket sales, venue booking, or even invitational communications, you may now be able to do all of this through one main account.

On top of this, if the package gives you the ability to connect with your social media platforms, this can also help you to streamline the marketing of the event, pushing it out to a wider range of potential attendees.

Teamwork

As your events workload grows over time, you may find that it is no longer feasible to manage all the subsequent tasks yourself. Having another member on your team can greatly assist with this. It is imperative that, prior to letting them loose on your events, you thoroughly train them in the processes required, as well as which aspects of the role they will be undertaking. Failure to do this may lead to complications, such as two venue bookings made for a single event.

You may find that creating a workflow chart depicting when each step should be carried out, and a means of marking off which aspects have been completed, can help to reduce the chances of any overlap.

Feedback

Following the event, you can look into ways of improving your service, or the event itself, should it be one that you repeat regularly. A short, easy to answer survey can help with this. Sending out a survey by email is the easiest way to accomplish this. You may find that not all of your attendees respond but, by looking at the responses of those who do, you may be able to find ways to further build on your events, and keep improving your services.

A lot of work can go into a single event day, so you want to make the most of the time you have available to you. Cutting down on the sources you use, and looking for ways to improve upon your existing practices, can help you to continue promoting high-quality events that attendees will love.

Have a Reason to Study

Although it is exciting learning a brand new skill, it is much harder sticking with it once that rush fades. Before fully engaging in learning a skill, take time, and think about why you want to study the skill you are about to train. It is good to have an end goal in mind and understand what you want to do with the information you gain. If you do not plan on using any of the skills you study, there is little chance of retaining the information with you. Have a cool project concerning the skill that will enable you to work towards something.

Find the Right Instructor

Finding a teacher who is right for you is the most important part of learning anything online. Some instructors may be too slow, while others too fast, and others may have a voice not convenient to you. However, you must get the one who is right for you. Learning a new skill entails that you dedicate some time to look around and see the available courses. Take advantage of free lessons offered through videos shared on YouTube and other platforms, and check from the introductory part if the class fits your skill level and speed. You can upgrade your skills through we teach me.

Do Not Learn Too Much in a Short period

Watching online tutorial videos can be addictive. If you watch several tutorials in a row, you will stop taking in the information. Duration of study depends on several factors. The amount of information in each video and the density of the subject matter a lot. In skills like coding and web design, it is advisable to pause the video to follow along. Likewise, the much you know about the subject is also important. You will find most videos easier to watch if you are already at a high level.

Follow Along as You Take Notes

Use the sample files that the instructor works with to follow along. The best way of learning is doing and practicing and not just watching. It is required that you watch the lesson through once, then watch it again as you follow along. If you already have basics and you are learning skills of a higher level, you can follow the video along as you go. Always try the skill out once you are done learning it. Whenever you get lost, always go back to the original lesson. As you plan to undertake a new skill from home, always think of what we teach them.

Ability to adapt and innovate

HR is certainly not a job for you if you are someone who is against change. Part of your role will be to look for new systems and software that will help everyone do their jobs better and more efficiently whilst encouraging those who might be dragging their feet a little to get on board with new ways of working. There are some fantastic software systems for HR teams which you will also want to implement, in order to make your own tasks, such as payroll, much easier and less time-consuming.

Focus on each employee

One mistake that some HR teams make is focussing too much on recruitment and onboarding new employees but forgetting about the members of staff who have been at the company for a while. For these employees, you should be looking at how to get the best out of them. How to recognise their achievements and hard work and how to help them upskill. You should know what the aspirations of the staff members are so that you can support them in climbing the ladder and developing their skills. Each person should be treated as an individual with different specialisms and needs, and a great HR manager will be able to support each employee in a way that works best for them.

Passion and genuine care

When you are dealing with law and policies and ensuring that everything is kept above board, it can feel like a bit of a dull, never ending process at times. A good HR manager knows the various policies and is up to date on the latest laws, but an excellent HR manager can enforce these in a positive, confident, and warm way that works for everyone. It might be difficult to find a specific passion for policies, but a passion for wanting to improve a workplace and get the best out of people is a real must if you want to thrive in the HR world.

Communication

There may be times when you are having to have difficult conversations with people, and that is certainly not something that comes easily. You may have to manage conflict and be a peacekeeper between employer and employee when discussing changes in policy. You need the ability to listen and make the staff feel heard and supported. It’s not something natural to everyone.

If you have these qualities and are willing to work at it, you could become an excellent HR manager and make a real difference in the lives of so many employees.

An empathetic approach to the needs of your clients

Clients come in all shapes and sizes. This seems like an obvious thing to say, but people who are considering a career in law may not have considered the range of backgrounds from which their client base will be formed. Typically in life, we surround ourselves with like minded friends. This means that the issues affecting one member of our friendship group are likely to be similar to the issues that have already affected other members of the group or may potentially affect you or your friends in the future. In short, we become accustomed to the things that we show empathy towards, and we may not know how to express empathy to people with problems outside of our normal realm of experience and understanding.

However, if you are the kind of person who takes pride in getting to the bottom of matters, so as to see things from someone else’s point of view and find a resolution, you could find that a career in law may be suitable.

Determination to see things through to the end

Some people give things a try, and then give in when they don’t get what they want the first time around. Others might try again, perhaps even a couple of times, albeit with diminishing levels of effort, in sort of a “well let’s just see if this little change to my prior attempts helps at all” kind of a way. If those things sound familiar, a career in law may not be suited to your particular outlook. But if you are the kind of person who doesn’t readily accept the prospect of defeat without exhausting every option in the book (indeed, before getting to a point where increasingly creative options are required), a career in law may be more suited to you than you may have thought.

Academic abilities (attention to detail)

There’s no denying that anybody planning to undertake a role in the legal arena is more likely to succeed in carving a long and rewarding career where they are able to call upon some degree of academic ability. Facts, figures, dates, emails, spreadsheets – this may all sound like standard fare for any office role, but where the law is concerned, there is likely to be a vast difference between the research required. If you love to get stuck in and to problem solve, a career in law may be for you, but if you prefer to steer clear of research and note taking and learning and planning, you might soon find that working in law means you are in the wrong job.   

Feed-in areas

HR is all about people and requires a lot of integrity, confidentiality, and communication skills. That said, you will also benefit from knowledge or experience in business management and/or finance, so if you are coming from one of those areas, you are already a few steps ahead. Anything that shows your interpersonal abilities or any experience in managing people is also a huge benefit as your role will require a lot of these transferable skills. There is no formal degree or qualification required, but you can look to do a qualification in something such as organization development, communication, or public administration as a way to get into the area. Perhaps you could take economics or social sciences in college to get a leg up, or if you want to go in at a higher wage, a Masters’ degree in a relevant area is a real plus too.

What do you do in HR?

There are different tasks that an HR manager is required to do, including hiring and recruitment, developing the organization, training, and development of employees, complaints or dispute resolution, managing the salary and benefits, and more. The role of an HR manager is to keep employees happy, in a fair and considered way. It is a delicate balance of emotional intelligence and experience or knowledge of the inner workings of business – finding a way to keep everyone happy while doing what is best for the company as a whole isn’t easy!

Policies and procedures

One of the biggest parts of an HR role involves various policies, procedures, rules, and laws. To be successful in Human Resources, you have to be willing to learn about these, remember them, and enforce them. You also need to be a creative problem solver and want to leave a legacy of making the work environment better for everyone. If you are someone who enjoys strategic thinking and wants to make a difference to a business by increasing engagement and retention, you will be perfect for a job in HR.

People who thrive in HR roles get into the area for the right reasons – a desire to help people. If you think that is for you, and you are able to balance the difficult combination of empathy and procedures, then why not look into an entry-level HR role or internship and see where this new career takes you!

But don’t be dispirited. There are still plenty of opportunities to sink your teeth into. You might just need to be a little creative. So, here are 5 ways to improve your job search.   

Get a website

When you’re looking for a job, you need to know how to promote yourself. And what better way to do that than build your own website? This can be like a digital version of your CV. It’s a place to show off your skills and experience. You might start creating content, blogging or offering advice. Plus, regular traffic on your site proves that people value what you have to offer. If you’re not sure how to create or boost your own website, check out https://www.fastfwd.com/digital-marketing/ for more information.  

Perfect your CV

We all know how tedious writing a CV is. You might find that you’re constantly editing and tweaking, tailoring your CV to match the job specification. But it’s important to get your CV right. Research finds that an employer will look at a CV for approximately 3 minutes or less. After all the time and effort you’ve spent on it, that can be pretty frustrating. So, what’s the answer? Simply that your CV needs to stand out. Avoid typos, clichés and weird layouts. Don’t simply list your skills and experience. A great CV includes tangible experiences and examples. And don’t forget to check the job specification so your skills match.

LinkedIn

If you aren’t using LinkedIn for your job search, you’re missing out. Most industries rely on LinkedIn for recruitment, and you can indicate on your profile that you are looking for opportunities. LinkedIn can be a great place to network and connect to employers. So, use it properly. Spend some time organising your profile and listing your experiences. Ensure you have a professional picture. Don’t sit idly, waiting for someone to message you. Reach out to people in a professional manner and make your presence known. 

Use your contacts

You’ve probably made plenty of contacts during your working life. Now’s the time to use them. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Connect with old colleagues or acquaintances on LinkedIn and ask if they know of any opportunities. The world of work is often about who you know, so a recommendation could be a huge help. There’s nothing wrong with using your contacts and accepting help. 

Clean up your social media

The modern world can be difficult to navigate. It’s completely legal for employers to check out public social media accounts before hiring, so you may need to have a clean up. Think about how your profile could be perceived. Avoid drunken or inappropriate pictures and try to keep it professional.