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Is Your Office Liable if an Employee Catches the Coronavirus?

Leave a Comment / Blog, Employers

Depending on where they are located, offices are slowly and cautiously welcoming back employees after the shutdown. Likewise for retail stores and restaurants.

In the vast majority of cases these openings have been accompanied by stringent measures to protect the health and safety of workers and visitors. But is that enough to protect a company from liability if someone catches COVID-19 within their premise?

In fact, it is only half of the battle, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr attorney Louis P. Archambault tells GlobeSt.com. Companies not only have to follow the necessary guidelines to safeguard their buildings from COVID-19, but they also have to ensure compliance with those measures, he says.

At the same time, visitors to these establishments—shoppers in a grocery-store for example—must do their part to act responsibly, Archambault continues. That means wearing masks, practicing social distances and adhering to local guidelines as well. “As human beings we have a responsibility to each other,” he says. For the less altruistically inclined, he warns that individuals not taking these steps could lose out on potential claims should they do get sick.

It has been argued that in a lawsuit it would have to be proven that a person caught COVID-19 in a particular building, on a particular day etc. Archambault argues this is an easier case to make than many might expect. Between our mobile devices, private security cameras and other tracking and tracing methods, there are enough records available to determine who was within six feet of an infected person, he says.

“Businesses absolutely need to take this seriously. But let’s say that despite their best efforts, someone catches COVID-19 at their building. If they have been following the guidelines and are actively enforcing them, they can show they have minimized the risk and potential exposure to people. Then it becomes much harder to prove that a duty was breached.”

What Guidelines Apply?

In a way, Archambault says, much of this is basically premises liability 101, only now companies have new guidelines to follow. It is important to follow the right ones, though, starting with those that have been issued by the CDC. There are also county-specific guidelines for location and business type that must be followed as well. In addition, OSHA has released guidelines for workers that must be adhered to. Finally, there have been a slew of guidelines released by industry associations, brokers and leading companies. The latter don’t necessarily have to be followed but it would be good to be aware of them and comply when possible, Archambault says.

“I would recommend checking with trade organizations. They are working to take all of those general guidelines and convey them to members and that can make it easier from an enforcement perspective.”

Also, he adds, it can help a business not feel so alone if trade association is helping.

Read More: https://www.globest.com/2020/05/28/your-office-has-reopened-are-you-liable-if-someone-catches-covid-19/?kw=Your%20Office%20Has%20Reopened.%20Are%20You%20Liable%20if%20Someone%20Catches%20COVID-19?&utm_source=email&utm_medium=enl&utm_campaign=nationalamalert&utm_content=20200528&utm_term=rem&enlcmp=nltrplt4&slreturn=20200502084634#

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An Advanced Guide on How To Land a Remote Job

Leave a Comment / Blog, Interview Tips, Job Search

As more companies transition teams to remote arrangements, managers and employees are learning firsthand that it takes a different skill set to work from home. And for those that are hiring right now, they’re looking for employees who can show that they’ve got what it takes to work from home right out of the gate.

These are five skills remote employees need to possess, as well as how you can prove to an employer that you’re a good candidate:

1. Organization

When you work from home, you have to be more disciplined in your organizational and scheduling skills, says Angela Hall, associate professor and associate director for graduate programs at Michigan State University’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations. “You need to be able to set a schedule and work, even though you have distractions,” she says.

Hall recommends setting up goals at the beginning of the workweek as a way to stay on track. “Knowing how long this will take can take trial and error,” she says. “Things that might take a long time to complete in an office might go quicker at home, and conversely some things take a lot longer at home.”

You can demonstrate these skills in an interview by talking about how you built a schedule for yourself when you worked at home, says Hall. “Talk about your successes,” she says. “Even if the job wasn’t remote, you can share a time when you had a long-term project and you had to self-manage and organize. Self-management and self-organization are the big keys when working remotely.”

2. Self-Motivation

Remote employees need to be proactive and take initiative to get things done without being constantly reminded, monitored, or pinged for progress updates, says Wang. “In an office setting, your manager may sit next to you and can monitor you or help you throughout the day,” she says. “In a remote setting, you need the person to be able to do things on his or her own with a lot more independence.”

Remote workers need to be self-starters, says Hall. “Employers want to know, does this person require a lot of direction? Does this person keep their deadlines? Can this person set goals and achieve them?” she says. “Employers often structure interviews with behavior-based questions that post hypothetical situations, asking how the employee would approach a project.”

Be sure your answer demonstrates your motivation by including the methods and systems you use to get the job done. “You can say, ‘This is what I would do in this situation,’” says Hall. “Share how you would structure a task and prioritize important work. Show the employer how you get things done.”

Read More: https://www.fastcompany.com/90490491/5-skills-you-need-to-demonstrate-to-land-a-remote-job

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Give Your Resume a Spring Cleaning

Leave a Comment / Blog, Resume Ideas

With the current uncharted times we’re all facing and the tremendous shift to the global economy, many of us are feeling the impacts of shakeups in the job market. Whether you have recently been affected by layoffs and forced to think about a new job or are simply taking this time at home to better yourself and reflect on your career and future goals, now is the perfect time to pull your resume out of storage and give your professional image an update.

Top 3 Resume Tips:

  1. Bullets, Bullets, Bullets – Because hiring managers are sifting through hundreds of resumes per job opening, they are forced to quickly determine whether or not a candidate has the right skills for the role. If a hiring manager can’t quickly find what they’re looking for, they will move on to the next resume. Using bullet points instead of paragraphs, helps break down the content into a more easily comprehensible format. It’s a bonus if your bullets reflect actionable verbs and quantifiable successes.
  2. The One Page Rule – Historically a maximum of one page has been emphasized as best practice for a resume but it’s an outdated rule. As long as your job history commands it and your content is aligned and not full of fluff, a strong resume can easily be longer than one page.
  3. Tailor Your Resume to the Job – In some cases, your resume may not align directly with the various jobs you’re applying to. Take the time to read through the job description of your desired position and make notes of the requirements and skills with which you have experience. Ensure that those are clearly spelled out and exhibited in your resume. Having the right key words in relation to the job description is critical!

Whether you’re ready to apply for jobs or simply keeping your eyes peeled for the “perfect” role, I’d love to work with you with you to implement formatting upgrades that will make your resume relevant and appealing and/or content creation that will help you best tell your professional story.

Email me, Julia Turpit, at JETurpitConsulting@gmail.com to schedule an introductory call.

Areas of Expertise:

  • Resume Formatting
  • Resume and Application Content Creation
  • Professional Summaries
  • Cover Letters
  • LinkedIn Profile Building

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3 Ways Technology Can Humanize Working From Home

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In the weeks following the explosion of COVID-19 cases and subsequent work-from-home or stay-at-home orders, employee engagement issue has become even more critical. Perhaps concerns in the workplace are because the physical or virtual office itself isn’t really the problem. Could the issue actually be the health and happiness of the people inside your office that matters? Here is a list of 3 ways technology can humanize working from home during this uncertain time.

1. Improve Communications

With so many communication channels now available — email, chat, text, and so on — important information often gets lost in the shuffle. To make matters worse, everyone who is now working remotely must coordinate his or her efforts exclusively through digital means (and without the aid of face-to-face interactions).

Internal communications tools such as a modern intranet help cut through the clutter and serve as a single source of truth. Implementing a single location for all information is vital for companies. They deserve their own communication channel — one they can oversee and administer — rather than a channel that is produced for mass audiences.

2. Contribute Feedback

Good ideas thrive when information flows freely. In addition to having a platform for shared information, teams must leverage it to supply feedback and share constructive criticism.

Populating the intranet with content such as surveys or discussion threads will ensure that stakeholders have the means to express their opinions without fear of recrimination.

Decision-makers, in particular, must make it a point to solicit feedback. Nothing kills employee engagement faster than ignoring people — especially when they are talking about fundamental needs and wants.

3. Do away with Hierarchies

Companies must abandon the mentality that suggests information flows from the top down. Technology liberates information to flow in all directions — and it serves as a kind of community resource accessible to everyone.

When employees have easy access to things such as announcements, files, and reference documents, it increases transparency and keeps misunderstandings at bay.

Companies reflect the people within them for better or worse. It’s not a radical statement, even when it is coming from titans of industry — which means it is not a radical change, either.

Companies do not need to transform to fulfill their true potential. Rather, they must unlock the assets already inside the ranks. Technology has the key.

Read More: https://readwrite.com/2020/04/24/how-technology-can-humanize-workdays-and-why-that-matters/

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Best Practices for CRE Professionals Navigating the 2020 Recession

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If you’re like most CRE professionals, you have a lot of questions and concerns about navigating the 2020 recession. There’s no denying it – things look bleak. Yet as many leading lights in the commercial real estate industry are pointing out, there are strategic steps you can take to mitigate losses and actually strengthen your position for a dramatic comeback when the dust settles.

The Bad News

The bad news is we are facing an almost certain recession, and it could the sharpest correction most of us have seen in our lifetimes. We who make our living buying, selling, building, and managing commercial real estate have to face facts. The recession is coming.

Are we in a recession now? Well, not officially, no. An economic recession is defined as a period of at least six months of economic shrinking. While our economy has been dramatically shrinking, it’s only been since March. We won’t officially be in a recession until this continues through August. But experts agree that’s only a technicality – our economy is already shrinking rapidly.

The Good News

However, while it may be easy to give in to fear, economists and CRE experts tell us not to panic. Navigating the 2020 recession strategically will require calm thinking and perspective. After all, the 2008 recession was historically dismal, yet many real estate investors and CRE professionals came out of that crisis stronger than ever. And there are many reasons to believe this current crisis presents similar opportunities for those who are vigilant, aware, and strategically focused.

Top economists and CRE experts predict the damage will largely be short-term, and the turnaround will be quick. Indeed, many of the reasons 2008 was so bad are not in play for this unordinary downturn.

If you’re wondering what your top priorities should be right now to minimize ill effects and weather this downturn successfully, here are a few best practices to help. These tips and strategies will position you to come through a bad storm with a smile on your face and a bright future ahead.

Top 5 Considerations for Navigating the 2020 Recession

1. First, don’t get over leveraged. Properties with large debt ratios should be re-considered. Keep your expenses and overhead low. This should go without saying.

2. Next, focus on communication. Talk to your team. Talk to your investors. Talk to your colleagues. We’re in this together, and we will get out of this together. Now is the time to be in touch with tenants, lenders, and all involved parties. Keep those communication lines open to manage expectations and timelines. We’re all in the same boat, so be open and honest with others to build trust and understanding.

3. Don’t neglect your properties. Right now, it may be tempting to stop managing your properties. Going without cash flow for a couple months is understandable, but keep managing the property to keep it viable in the coming downturn. You want your properties to be as attractive and competitive as possible.

4. Stay in the game. Prospect and hustle like it’s 2019. Right now is when it matters most. Because things will be very slow in 6-12 months, and the early work you do right now to fill your pipeline will pay off when you need it most. Navigating the 2020 recession and coming out of it stronger in 2021 will require dedicated efforts to plan and grow when everyone else is crippled with fear.

5. Examine yourself and your priorities. Is your career path on the right track? Stress has a way of sorting out our strengths and weaknesses. This is a perfect opportunity to take stock of where you are and where you want to be. Take time to reflect on what you bring to the table in a crisis like this one – and whether rising to the challenge means making changes or doing more of the same.

Whether you work in investment, management, construction, or sales, keep your wits about you. As Mark Twain is rumored to have once said, every crisis is an opportunity in work clothes. So roll up your sleeves and start planning your comeback. This is when leaders are made.

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How to Be a Leader During COVID19

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Everyone is looking up at the CEOs, at the principals and directors, at the presidents and project managers, and thinking, “Uh-oh. They’re just as clueless as me.” And it’s true.

No matter how prepared some people may have been, nobody has ever done this particular thing before. For the past few months, everyone in power has been fumbling, trying to come up with a plan, trying to reassure the people around them, and trying to figure out what happens next. It’s scary to be a leader during COVID19.

That is a nerve-racking test, especially because leaders feel uncertain, frightened, exhausted, and alone too. But as uncomfortable as those feelings are, they actually serve as a guide for how to lead right now.

When you feel uncertain, you want a plan. When you feel frightened, you want kindness. When you are exhausted, you want recognition and motivation. When you are alone, you want companionship and camaraderie.

Those feelings and anxieties are universal right now. For leaders, that’s good news. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for leading through this crisis, this is a shared experience, and that provides a fairly clear-cut rubric for offering support to the people around you. Here’s a list of how to be a leader during COVID19

Create A Game Plan

Not a grand plan. Just a plan to get through tomorrow, and the next day. Pick one reasonable goal to accomplish, and then assign everyone you lead a task that will contribute toward it. Land one new client, finish one project, clean one room in the house—everyone (including you) will feel better with a single, simple objective. When one task is complete or one goal accomplished, find another.

Read More: https://www.fastcompany.com/90496726/how-to-lead-when-youre-scared-too

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Building Careers Celebrates 5 Years!

Leave a Comment / Awards and Recognition, Blog, Building Careers

April 15th, 2020 marked five years of Building Careers serving as an adviser, connector, and recruiting and search solution partner for the Southern California commercial real estate industry, and we couldn’t be prouder! Working with talented individuals and thriving companies is what drives us and we have been humbled and inspired by the things you have accomplished. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives in such a tremendous industry with such genuine people. Stay amazing, San Diego!

Cheers to 5 years!

-Carly and Julia

5 Years Company Anniversary | Building Careers Partnership | San Diego Commercial Real Estate Recruiter

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How to Have a Successful Job Interview Via Video Conference

Leave a Comment / Blog, Interview Tips

The coronavirus is changing the way we conduct our professional lives. Studies have found that more than half of professionals in the U.S. are now changing their in-person meetings to either phone or video. Many recruiters and hiring managers are switching to in-person interviews to video for health and safety reasons.

While the questions and conversations are likely to be the same, there are some differences between interviewing in-person versus through a digital screen. If you’re in the process of getting ready for a job interview on video, here are some best practices to get you set up for success.

Check Your Internet Connection

Check your internet connection speed to help ensure your video will come across smoothly. It’s also a good idea to download the virtual meeting tools that are used to conduct interviews, like Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts, which are currently being made available for free test runs. Before your video interview, make sure your interviewer has your cellphone number in case you need to conduct the interview over the phone. If something does go wrong, try to relax and–if you can–make light of the situation. How you behave under stress is an important signal to your interviewer.

Arrange Your Interview Space

If you’re doing the interview from home, choose a quiet, well-lit space with a neutral background. It’s important to remember that video interviews give a peek into your personal life, so make sure that your space is clean and free of distractions. If possible, keep pets and family members in another room during the interview. Turn off all your phone and computer notifications. One of the benefits of virtual interviews is that you can have resources around you, so consider having a few large note cards at hand that highlight why you’re the right person for the job.

Read More: https://www.fastcompany.com/90479058/5-things-you-must-do-to-have-a-successful-job-interview-on-video-during-the-covid-19-outbreak

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The Best Work From Home Tips During the Coronavirus

Leave a Comment / Blog, Employers, Set Yourself Up For Success

In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time.

Even if you’ve done it before, working from home because of coronavirus might feel like a whole new world. Since we don’t know how long it’ll last, here are some of the best work from home tips to help you make sure that you’re successful!

1. Defined Your Work Hours

Just as you designate and separate your physical workspace, you should be clear about when you’re working and when you’re not. You’ll get your best work done and be most ready to transition back to the office if you stick with your regular hours. Plus, if your role is collaborative, being on the same schedule as your coworkers makes everything much easier.

If you live with other people, this separation is even more critical. Communicate with the people you live with to establish boundaries so you can cut down on distractions during the workday—and then disconnect and give the people you care about your full attention. Having a separate time and space to work will allow you to be more present in your home life.

2. Create A “Commute” To Work

Your commute not only gets you to and from work—from one physical location to another—but it also gives your brain time to prepare for work. Just because you’re not traveling doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carve out equivalent routines to help you ease into your workday.

Maybe you usually read or listen to music on your commute. You can do that at home. Or maybe you can spend some time with a pet or loved one. You can even add in a workout (preferably at home because of the new coronavirus, but see what is being recommended where you live) or spend some time on a hobby (again, make sure it’s appropriate given the health recommendations where you are).

Read More: https://www.themuse.com/advice/coronavirus-work-from-home-tips

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Now is the Time to Reflect on Your Ideal Career Path

Leave a Comment / Blog, Job Search, Set Yourself Up For Success

It’s a scary time right now, and you probably find yourself having some down time due to the Coronavirus shutdowns and cutbacks. But instead of feeding the fear, put this time to better use. What is your ideal career path? What’s your next move? Are you satisfied with where you’re currently at, or is it time for a change?

Reflection, Not Fear

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the headlines, grim predictions, and banter on social media and the news. But successful people don’t focus on the fear during times like these. In fact, it is in these times that reflection and creative thinking can change your life for the better.

During the down time, take a few career quizzes. Think about who you are as a professional. Examine your current setting, and ask yourself some of these questions:

  • Am I successful in my current career path?
  • Do I enjoy working in this role?
  • Am I good at what I do?
  • Is there ample advancement opportunity in this career track?
  • Am I passionate about this kind of work?

Your answers to these questions may indicate it’s time for a change. Maybe you don’t have to change industries, but a different role within your industry might suit you best. Is this where you want to be in 10 years?

There’s nothing wrong with changing course in your career – in fact, it’s becoming the norm in the modern nomad economy. So if you would be happier in a different role or an advanced position, ask yourself which skills you need to acquire and steps to take. Begin formulating your strategy.

Skills, Passions, and Values

Career experts and successful businesspeople agree that the ideal career path is somewhere at the intersect between skills, passions, and values. This is where career magic happens. So how about you? What would that intersect look like for you?

First, let’s look at skills. Obviously, these are your abilities. But many of us have hidden skills we don’t even know about, because we don’t use them every day in our jobs. To find these, list your skills by three categories:

  • Skills you learned at work (anything you were taught in previous roles, for special assignments, etc.)
  • Skills you learned from formal education (college, workshops, in-house trainings, seminars, etc.)
  • Skills you learned from neither (hobbies, volunteer/community work, home projects, leadership activities, etc.)

Next, reflect on your passions. A Gallup poll found that 85% of employees are actively disengaged at work. If you are not working in an area you are passionate about, your disengagement will translate into less buy-in, less problem solving, and less advancement.

On the other hand, your ideal career path will directly include something you’re passionate about and thus invested in making work. If you love doing something, you will move heaven and earth to succeed at it. And you will develop the necessary skills to be good at it.

Not sure what your passions are? Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What am I curious about?
  • What makes me smile?
  • What engages me so much I lose track of time?
  • What would I enjoy doing even if there was no money in it?

Lastly, what are your values? These are the core truths and standards that drive you. Perhaps you are committed to:

  • Serving others
  • Always telling the truth
  • Embracing change
  • Doing more with less

Whatever axioms uniquely define you and your moral compass, those are your values. Write them down.

The Path Forward

Tomorrow is full of uncertainty and change. But you can help shape it for yourself. Don’t get stuck in a dead-end career path. Take advantage of this slowdown, be grateful for all you have, and take stock of where you should go next. Pause, reflect, and plan. Your career growth path is up to you.

If you need any help determining where your ideal career path should lead or just need some help getting there, please contact us right away. We’d love to listen and offer any help we can.

Be safe, everyone!

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