Taking the Driving Seat in a Candidate Driven Market

Taking the Driving Seat in a Candidate Driven Market Have you ever had a gut feeling that a candidate is not as good as you â€" and your client â€" think they are? As a recruiter, naturally eager to fill that position, especially if it’s a particularly challenging one that you have spent a lot of time and effort on already, how much time do you give to this feeling? How much do you allow yourself to consider its potential implications? Your candidate has performed well at interview, demonstrating that they have the skills and experience to do the job, that they will fit well culturally within the organization/team, and that this is the job they want. Essentially, they have done everything right to put themselves in strong consideration for the position. But something is somehow off. You look back on their behavior during the recruitment process itself. Not during the interviews, but the in-between bits. The email communications you have had with them weren’t quite as well presented or as timely as you would expect from the “perfect candidate”. Then there was that time they asked for a last-minute rescheduling of the second interview. Then there was a change in demands during the process â€" more flexible hours, a change in salary expectations, etc. And, looking back, it took you longer than it should have done to reach them when you were setting up the interviews, getting feedback, and doing follow-ups, etc, etc. (I’m sure this is starting to sound, at least in part, familiar.) So, suddenly you are questioning whether your candidate â€" who had convinced you, and your client, that this was their perfect job and they were the perfect candidate for it â€" is actually the person who showed up at interview. I would suggest that you should give serious recognition to those questions in your head, and here’s why. Candidate behavior during the recruitment process can tell you a lot more than you might give it credit for. If you think about it, the kinds of tasks, actions, and behaviors,   that the candidate engages in through the process â€" those things already mentioned above â€" are the kinds of things that they will be doing or using in any job they end up in. So if they can’t get the “simple” stuff right now, what’s to say they will get it right if they end up in your client’s role, no matter how well they have performed at the interview? In a way, the whole recruitment process itself is like the best kind of generic competency-based interview one could conjure, testing core skills and behaviors like written communication (accuracy/clarity and effectiveness thereof); verbal communication (ditto); following instructions; doing what you say you will do, and when; integrity and transparency; and an all-round “straightforwardness” in attitude and manner that, in my opinion, every great candidate possesses. My advice is, Listen to your gut. If something feels off, test it. You can do this either by direct questioning (if you have a decent relationship with your candidate and feel confident enough to do so) or by asking them to do something additional for you as part of the process â€" whatever seems most relevant to the doubts you have about them. And think about sharing your thoughts with your client â€" you should have the kind of relationship with them that makes this possible (and not too uncomfortable). If your spidey senses have kicked in before the end of the interview process perhaps you could work with your client to add an additional element into the next interview that will get to the heart of your suspicions? Just because we all live in a highly competitive, candidate-driven recruitment market that often requires us to make quick decisions, it does not mean that we should allow the candidate to drive the recruitment process in its entirety. Keep something back to make sure you, and your client, are still making solid judgments. No matter how much you want the “perfect candidate” to be just that, don’t be afraid of admitting that they might not be. In the end, no one wins if the perfect candidate turns out to be the wrong employee. About the author: Liz Arnold, is the Director of True Recruitment Solutions Ltd.

4 Ways Apps are Increasing Productivity at Work

4 Ways Apps are Increasing Productivity at Work You might have heard of the slogan ‘there’s an app for that’, one used (and now trademarked) by Apple in 2009 during a series of TV ads they ran to promote the multiplicity of apps available on their ever-popular App store.  Well this slogan is especially true to productivity in your workplace. Whether you want to waste less time in meetings or manage your clients more efficiently fortunately theres ‘an app for that. Forbes report that nearly every brand feels the need to have multiple specialized apps, which already tells you the significance of apps within the modern workplace. Therefore we have piled together four significant ways apps have increased productivity in the workplace, and hope you might use one to improve your productivity. 1. Automation There are hundreds of apps out there you can utilize that will automate almost anything nowadays. Being able to automate different tasks is a significant time-saver, and time is precious at work! From social media schedulers like Buffer or Hootsuite, to a billing system like Mint that lets you automatically track all your checking accounts, credit cards and saving accounts in one central location. Your workplace is a more efficient place thanks to the plethora of automation tools out there. Your business will see a significant reduction in time wasted and a real increase in quality of work if you employ the right automated tools for you. They are really easy to find too, just search for what aspect of your work you need to do faster and more efficiently, and you will most likely find an app that will help you do just that. 2. Scheduling If you havent ditched your paper calendar for an online calendar app like Google Calendar then we feel sorry for you. A calendar in general is an integral tool when it comes to the productivity and time-management aspect of your work, but a calendar app like Google Calendar or Apple Calendar is paperless, less fussy and sync-able across all your devices. You might be a recruiter or an employer, and need something to help you schedule meetings and appointments. An app like Doodle or Calendly will help you do just that. Send prospective clients or employees an email of your available timings using Doodle, and they will get a simple interface of available timings to choose from. Whether youre an employee or employer, using a scheduling app will help you organize your time much more efficiently. So throw that paper calendar sitting at your desk away and get with the times! 3. Collaboration Similar to calendar apps, collaborations apps are all about mobility and accessibility. Online collaboration is essential to a modern-day workforce, as it means that employees dont have to be right next to each other to work together. Bain find that 15% of a businesss time is spent in meetings. Collaboration tools allow your workers to work remotely and share documents with each other from anywhere. Employees are able to communicate easier, but more importantly spend less time-wasting time on face-to-face meetings, and instead spending more time on more important tasks. Slack, for example, is a popular instant messaging and file transferring service I just started using at work. It has a ton of useful tools and it easily integrates with other vital work tools like Google Drive, Mailchimp, Trello, Twitter and more. 4. Customer Service Lastly, It is imperative you give your employees all the tools necessary to maximize their relationships with your customers. You probably already use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program such as Hubspot and Salesforce, which help you manage customer interactions and store valuable consumer data. Some CRM systems are more complicated than others, and we recommend you pick ones that have developed their program into an application. Why? So that your employees can access information and build relationships on their personal devices. This will lessen the time it takes for a problem to be solved, and in turn make your customers happier, and your employees more efficient. Don’t go overboard with apps though! Using too many apps at once risks not just losing the benefit of each app but also risks making your workplace less productive the exact opposite of why you employed the application in the first place!  We’d love to know what your favorite productivity apps are (as well as the ones you’d never use again). So just comment below and let us know!

How Much Do I Need To Trust My Doctor

How Much Do I Need To Trust My Doctor We tend to automatically trust our doctors. They studied for seven years and hold our health â€" and, often, our lives â€" in their hands. Why would we not trust them? In most cases, this trust is justified. However, some doctors aren’t quite as deserving of it as others. With the wrong physician, problems like medical negligence and deteriorating health can be the ultimate result. So do you trust your doctor or do you need to find a new one? Health benefits of trusting your doctor Trusting your doctor is useful for your health as well as your peace of mind. A study into the issue found that if you trust your doctor, you’re more likely to do better in your recovery treatment. The research looked at 119 people with various forms of cancer and found that those who trusted their doctors were more able to take care of themselves three months after diagnosis. It’s not highly surprising. You’re going to be more likely to follow their recommendations if you trust your doctor, as well as share important â€" and potentially sensitive â€" medical information with them. This all helps to keep you as healthy as possible, making it a pretty big deal that you trust your MD. Finding a good doctor If trust levels aren’t high between you and your healthcare provider, you might want to think about finding a new one. After all, if you’re unhappy with a service you’re being provided, you’ll probably switch to another one. Should your health be any different? When it’s one of the most important aspects of your life, you shouldn’t just let things slide. When looking at potential new doctors, you might want to find out about their professional history. Look at where they went to medical school â€" was it a competitive school? Look at the hospitals where they trained â€" do they have strong reputations? This can help to differentiate the best performers from those who just scraped through. You should also consider recommendations. Ask your friends and family if they’re happy with their healthcare providers and whether they’d recommend them. A satisfied patient is one of the best indicators of a competent and trustworthy doctor. If you can’t get any recommendations from anyone you know, look online. There are plenty of review sites for doctors and medical practices. Check out what people saying before deciding to make an appointment. Building trust Trust is a part of a relationship that takes time to build. So don’t expect to immediately trust a physician as soon as you walk through their door. There are things you can do to boost the chances that you’ll develop a trusting relationship with the doctor you’ve chosen, though. Make sure you’re being honest with them. Keeping information from your doctor can negatively impact your treatment and if they find out, can show your doctor that you could hide things from them in the future. So even if it’s an uncomfortable experience, be truthful about what’s going on and why you’re there. Trust is important in most relationships. But when it comes to your health, it becomes vital. Doing your part to improve the trust between you and your doctor can lead to real advantages in your treatment. So keep this in mind whenever you find yourself looking for a new clinician.

Where are all the part time jobs on campus University of Manchester Careers Blog

Where are all the part time jobs on campus University of Manchester Careers Blog The good news: There are jobs available for students on campus. The bad news:  There arent 38,000 of these jobs so there wont be enough to go round. Most jobs at the University are advertised on https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/  by the Central HR team not Careers. As you will see they range from: Academic Professorships and lectureships Management and professional Specialist administrative and management jobs Research Research associates, fellows and assistants Secretarial and clerical Administration staff, including assistants, secretaries and receptionists Technical and computing Technicians, programmers, IT officers and IT support General Gardeners and ground staff, security, caretakers, porters, cleaners, catering staff etc Most will not be part time or not part time enough for students usually less than 15 hours a week. Most require experience or qualifications in a relevant area. That said if you see one and it fits your needs PLEASE APPLY! OK so where are the student  jobs on campus? ALL THE JOBS WE HEAR ABOUT ARE ON CAREERSLINK  and they include Telephone work Events work Guidance ambassadors, Student ambassadors purple people Students Union jobs Campus brand managers you dont work for the Universirty but it is on campus. Participating in studies and focus groups. .and all the jobs we dont hear about (because they dont need to advertise them) Jobs in the shops and bars on campus. One off jobs in your School, could be helping on open days or doing some admin. Jobs in the library Tutors in Halls of residence. (usually Postgrads, you dont get paid cash but its free accommodation) Teaching assistants (usually for PhD students) Just go and ask!   Follow us on Twitter and when we see something we will tweet it. What about jobs near campus? Much more likely. the further you go away from student areas the less competition you will find.   Consider city centre plus the suburbs, Didsbury, Withington, Stretford, Sale, Trafford Centre, Salford, etc Check out our guide for places to look, how not to get caught out by scams and info on how to get your NI number. Top tips for  Part time job applications Just because its a part time job doesnt mean that its not important to the employer to get the right person. If you are taking your CV round or making enquiries  in person look presentable. Think about how people in that store dress and wear something appropriate or at least semi smart. You may well be talking to your new boss or someone who will be asked to comment on what you were like. So be polite, positive and presentable! Think about the role carefully and make a good tailored application.   Not sure how read our guides or come and talk to us. If you know of a reliable source of part time jobs on campus, or have jobs to advertise please leave a comment. All Undergraduate applications careers CV First year students job hunting job market jobs Part-time University of Manchester Where are all the part time jobs on campus University of Manchester Careers Blog The good news: There are jobs available for students on campus. The bad news:  There arent 38,000 of these jobs so there wont be enough to go round. Most jobs at the University are advertised on https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/  by the Central HR team not Careers. As you will see they range from: Academic Professorships and lectureships Management and professional Specialist administrative and management jobs Research Research associates, fellows and assistants Secretarial and clerical Administration staff, including assistants, secretaries and receptionists Technical and computing Technicians, programmers, IT officers and IT support General Gardeners and ground staff, security, caretakers, porters, cleaners, catering staff etc Most will not be part time or not part time enough for students usually less than 15 hours a week. Most require experience or qualifications in a relevant area. That said if you see one and it fits your needs PLEASE APPLY! OK so where are the student  jobs on campus? ALL THE JOBS WE HEAR ABOUT ARE ON CAREERSLINK  and they include Telephone work Events work Guidance ambassadors Purple people Students Union jobs Campus brand managers you dont work for the Universirty but it is on campus. Participating in studies and focus groups. .and all the jobs we dont hear about (because they dont need to advertise them) Jobs in the shops and bars on campus. One off jobs in your School, could be helping on open days or doing some admin. Jobs in the library Tutors in Halls of residence. (usually Postgrads, you dont get paid cash but its free accommodation) Teaching assistants (usually for PhD students) Just go and ask! What about jobs near campus? Much more likely. the further you go away from student areas the less competition you will find.   Consider city centre plus the suburbs, Didsbury, Withington, Stretford, Sale, Trafford Centre, Salford, etc Check out our guide for places to look, how not to get caught out by scams and info on how to get your NI number. Top tips for  Part time job applications Just because its a part time job doesnt mean that its not important to the employer to get the right person. If you are taking your CV round or making enquiries  in person look presentable. Think about how people in that store dress and wear something appropriate or at least semi smart. You may well be talking to your new boss or someone who will be asked to comment on what you were like. So be polite, positive and presentable! Think about the role carefully and make a good tailored application.   Not sure how read our guides or come and talk to us. If you know of a reliable source of part time jobs on campus, or have jobs to advertise please leave a comment. All Make The Most of Manchester Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted applications careers CV First year students job hunting job market jobs Part-time University of Manchester Where are all the part time jobs on campus University of Manchester Careers Blog The good news: There are jobs available for students on campus. The bad news:  There are not enough for every student at the University to work at the University! More good news: there are plenty of jobs near campus. Most jobs at the University are advertised on https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/  by the Central HR team not Careers. As you will see they range from: Academic Professorships and lectureships Management and professional Specialist administrative and management jobs Research Research associates, fellows and assistants Secretarial and clerical Administration staff, including assistants, secretaries and receptionists Technical and computing Technicians, programmers, IT officers and IT support General Gardeners and ground staff, security, caretakers, porters, cleaners, catering staff etc Most will not be part time or not part time enough for students usually less than 15 hours a week. Most require experience or qualifications in a relevant area. That said if you see one and it fits your needs PLEASE APPLY! OK so where are the student  jobs on campus? ALL THE JOBS WE HEAR ABOUT ARE ON CAREERSLINK  and they include Telephone work Events work Guidance ambassadors, Student ambassadors purple people Students Union jobs Campus brand managers you dont work for the Universirty but it is on campus. Participating in studies and focus groups. .and all the jobs we dont hear about (because they dont need to advertise them) Jobs in the shops and bars on campus. One off jobs in your School, could be helping  at open days or doing some admin. Jobs in the library Tutors in Halls of residence. (usually Postgrads, you dont get paid cash but its free accommodation) Teaching assistants (usually for PhD students) Just go and ask! What about jobs near campus? Much more likely. the further you go away from student areas the less competition you will find.   Consider city centre plus the suburbs, Didsbury, Withington, Stretford, Sale, Trafford Centre, Salford, etc Check out our Part time jobs guide for places to look, how not to get caught out by scams and information on how to get your NI number. If you are new to Manchester check out our Finding work in Manchester guide to get a feel for the area. Follow us on Twitter and when we see something we will tweet it, the Manchester Job Centre also have a good Twitter account and often have news on part time opportunities locally. Top tips for  Part time job applications Just because its a part time job doesnt mean that its not important to the employer to get the right person. If you are taking your CV round or making enquiries  in person look presentable. Think about how people in that store dress and wear something appropriate or at least semi smart. You may well be talking to your new boss or someone who will be asked to comment on what you were like. So be polite, positive and presentable! Think about the role carefully and make a good tailored application.   Not sure how read our guides or come and talk to us. All Undergraduate applications careers CV First year students job hunting job market jobs Part-time University of Manchester

8 Interview Tips to Help You Score That Accountant Job CareerMetis.com

8 Interview Tips to Help You Score That Accountant Job They often say that getting an interview is the hardest part of getting a job. It’s true that if you’ve already gotten the interview, it means they’re interested.However, your resume and cover letter won’t land you a job as an accountant on their own. Just about every candidate will have similar educational qualifications and probably similar experience.evalSo how to stand out?Showcase during the interview that you’re a great fit for the job. Use your unique personality to show that you’re more than what you’ve put on your resume. It’s a tall order, but with some smart planning, you can score that dream accounting job.Here are 8 tips to help you wow the interviewers.1) Basics First: Be Sure to PracticeevalIt might seem cheesy or unnecessary to practice for an interview, but you won’t be laughing when you’re able to answer the questions you’re asked without hesitating or freezing up. Most people aren’t comfortable with public speaking and that can translate int o extreme nervousness during an interview.Interviews for accountant jobs generally consist of a mix of technical questionsthat are related to accountancy and finance concepts and personality and work style questions.The best way to prepare for these questions is to go over your finance experience at previous positions and run through balance sheet examples. Make sure you can point at and explain cash flow, company assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity. While you won’t be able to practice your answers to all the questions they’ll ask Have friends or family role play, and remember to have fun with it! The key is to build up confidence and poise.2) And Don’t Forget to Show Up More and more companies are going more casual when it comes to their dress code, but that doesn’t apply to interview attire.If you only own one suit, then it’s time to break it out. Dress to impress! There are lots of resources out there if you’re not sure what’s appropriate.It’s a good id ea to think about your interview outfit well in advance. Consider the time of year and the type of accounting job you’re applying for.If you need to buy something new for the interview, think of it as an investment in creating your first impression.4) No Need to Get Right to Business â€" Have a Friendly Chat!People don’t just look at the skills and experience of a candidate in order to make hiring decisions.A lot of interviewers make decisions based on the relationships they build during the interview and on how much they like the candidates as people.You don’t want to come off as a person who likes numbers more than people To get a better sense of the company culture, ask your interviewer what they enjoy the most about working at the company. It can make a big difference.5) Make Sure You Clearly Highlight Why You’re Perfectly Qualified evalSometimes, we feel the need to downplay what we know or what we can do because we don’t want to seem boastful or create unrealistic ex pectations. While that makes sense, it’s a poor strategy during an interview for obvious reasons.You don’t want to claim that you have experience when you don’t, but if you’re an accountant with the right education and skills, you need to highlight that during the interview.Because there are several different certifications and qualifications accounting professionals can earn, be clear about exactly what you know when you’re talking to interviewers.Highlight how your certification or degree has served you and makes you the right fit for the position.eval6) Craft Your Resume to Reflect Your Potential PositionLet’s get something out of the way: you should never lie on your resume. It’s just not worth it and you won’t be able to keep it a secret for long.What you should do, however, is tailor your resume for the applications you’re sending out.When you craft your resume to reflect your potential position, you’re projecting confidence. To get a high-paying accounting job, you need to act like you’re used to taking these kinds of rolesâ€"even if you haven’t yet.Show the company what you could bring to the table from the moment they glance at your resumeâ€"not just what you’ve done in the past.By tailoring your resume to show specific actions and impacts you’ve made in the past, you can help interviewers see how you’ll benefit the company if you were hired.7) Take the Next Step Research the CompanyAnyone can walk into an interview and answer questions. But the candidates that land great accounting jobs are the ones who take some extra initiative and do their research beforehand.Carve out some time before your interviewâ€"maybe an hour or soâ€"and go over the company’s website. Take a look at what they offer, who the key players are, and who your colleagues might be.Read their blog posts and press releases to see some of the recent work they’ve been doing. Most company’s have several social media profiles that they use to share co mpany successes and upcoming events, so be sure to check out the company’s social accounts to get a better sense of their company culture.This kind of basic research is easy to do but will help you stand out from other candidates. Management always finds it impressive when you’ve done your research, and they’ll be able to tell if you’ve come prepared or you’re just winging it.Plus, if you do your research, you’ll have more to talk about with the interviewers and you’ll be able to highlight how you’ll contribute specifically to the company’s success! 8) Really Looking to Impress? Practice Active Listening In an interview, it can be tempting to talkâ€"a lot. While you do need to tell the interviewers about yourself, you should also showcase more subtle skills, like active listening.People want to know that you’re really focused on what they’re saying, rather than just waiting for your next opportunity to talk. As you practice for your interview, add active liste ning to the list of skills you want to work on.In addition to really impressing interviewers, active listening will help you really understand what the company is looking for and give you opportunities to showcase why you’re the best fit for the job.So take a deep breath and get readyâ€"your dream accounting job is waiting for you!

Insanity Expecting Results from Random Acts of Application (RAA)

Insanity Expecting Results from Random Acts of Application (RAA) Insanity: Expecting Results from Random Acts of Application (RAA) The problem: Steve submitted 20 applications on Indeed.com, Monster.com, and some company websites with no response. He complained, “I applied to 5 jobs at X company and not one response back for two weeks. How rude of them!” Are you like Steve, sitting at your computer, pressing “enter” on your résumé submission to jobs that you might be qualified for? And that’s all you’re doing? Join millions of others. There are two major trends occurring today: Job seekers are being less strategic and more random in their applications. The result is more candidate frustration and a longer timeframe to land a job. As a matter of fact, I’m reading about candidates getting MAD at companies expecting them to respond sooner, give them feedback, and doing more to make them feel good. Hiring companies are receiving anywhere between 125 and 800 applications per job posting. Many companies are deploying Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to handle the influx of résumés. Small-to-medium companies need more time to review applications, select the few candidates to interview, and execute a productive interview process. The same trends occur for internal job searches where internal job applicants commit RAA and get frustrated that they don’t hear back even though they work for the company! Before I address the first problem, the Random Acts of Application (RAA), allow me to be frank about what you should and should not expect from the companies you apply to. The answer is “nothing.” That doesn’t mean they don’t care. They do. They would do anything to make sure you leave the process with a positive brand experience. Some send out an auto-response with an acknowledgement that they received your application. Others send an auto-decline. However, there is no common procedure. Applicants should not base their perceptions of a company’s care, integrity, people-sensitivity, or any other value on the fact that they don’t get back to you. The fix: You need to find a balance between building a job search pipeline of about 10 active opportunities and NOT applying for too many of the wrong opportunities. Did you know that you can be black-balled or blocked from a company’s applications tracking system if you apply too many times? Be strategic! Sit down, study job postings, and write a specific and succinct description of the positions you are looking for your job search goal. Then your applications will no longer be random; they will be perfectly targeted! I have created all kinds of tools for you to plan, organize, and manage your job search. Find them at https://www.danamanciagli.com/tool-downloads/.

5 Things to Know About Your Coworkers With Kids

5 Things to Know About Your Coworkers With Kids Woman working on laptop with son by George Rudy / Shutterstock You might’ve attended a baby shower in the break room, or maybe you caught a glimpse of a framed baby picture on your colleague’s desk. Either way, you know that some of your coworkers have kids â€" what you don’t realize is how their new home lives might affect them in the workplace. A 2011 survey of women in the workplace revealed that nearly half of moms felt as though their colleagues without children would never understand the amount of stress they endure â€"  and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It turns out that there’s a lot to know about being a working parent, and learning what it’s like might make you a better boss and colleague. Here are a few of the things they’d most like you to know. 1. A Rescheduled Event Could Turn Their Calendars Upside-Down As much as we’d like our schedules set in stone, the unexpected is bound to happen. In those cases, everyone has to adapt. But regularly changing times and locations for meetings can cause lots of stress for parents. An early-morning meeting might mean they have to find someone to drop the kids off at school, while an after-hours session would require the nanny to stick around longer â€" if she can. The best way to be considerate of your coworkers is to give as much of a heads up as possible when you need to switch the agreed upon schedule. The more time parents have to reconfigure their timetable, the better. 2. Parental Leave Isn’t a Walk in the Park As of 2016, 40 percent of families counted the mom as their main or sole breadwinner, while fathers began to take on more parental responsibilities than in days past. Still, the United States workforce faced a staggering, daunting statistic: In a study of 41 nations, it was the only one that didn’t require parental leave. Some companies might provide it anyway, but it’s typically a short period that’s either unpaid or funded at a fraction of the person’s regular paycheck. Regardless, coming back from this leave of absence is extremely hard for new parents. Not only did they just work round-the-clock to adjust to life with a newborn, but they also had to learn to leave their baby behind to go to the office â€" that’s tough. Fathers might not even take advantage of this time because they feel as though it makes them appear uncommitted to their jobs. To be a good coworker, encourage your expectant employees to take time off, and go easy on them when they come back. There will be plenty of time for them to ease back into their role. 3. Pumping Isn’t a Break You might slip out of the office for a coffee while your coworkers-slash-mothers take breaks for an entirely different reason. They have to pump, and they need to find somewhere they can do so comfortably. Don’t make the mistake of taking a pump break as an actual break, even if the woman in question has found ways to make pumping at work less stressful. She likely can’t eat or relax while performing her routine pump. So, give female employees all the time they need to pump throughout the day so that they feel comfortable and have plenty of nutrition to provide their babies. 4. They Might Band With Other Parents You might notice cliques forming in the office, but not necessarily the wrong kind: Once coworkers become parents, they have an in-office ally who can understand their stressors, mishaps and triumphs. Even though you’re a good colleague, you might not be the right person to open up to if you can’t relate to their most important responsibility. If you’re one of the people in charge, you might see new moms and dads turning to managers who have kids because they, too, can understand the hiccups that come with parenting. Taking a day off to care for a sick child or arriving late thanks to a slow-moving carpool lane will be heard and understood by someone with kids. If a colleague doesn’t confide in you or come to you in times of need, these issues could be why. 5. They’re Probably Working Harder Than You This isn’t to say that parents are the only ones working their tails off at the office, but you’ll probably realize that they’re more efficient than those without kids at home. The reason is very similar to why a canceled or rescheduled meeting is such a big deal to moms and dads: They have someone depending on them to be home and present at a specified time. Now, you might start to notice that parents keep their heads down, work through lunch and leave as soon as their eight hours are up. They’re not being rude or over-eager, they just want to have everything done and be home in time for dinner, baths and bedtime with their kids. Sometimes, all they get is a little more than an hour for all of that. With these five tidbits in mind, you hopefully have a better understanding of your colleagues with kids. This insight will make you a better, more understanding coworker and friend â€"  there’s no better reputation to have as a leader. Want to keep up with all of our work-related tips, tricks and advice? Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss a beat. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.