Thursday, May 28, 2020

How to Get Hiring Managers Involved in the Recruitment Process

How to Get Hiring Managers Involved in the Recruitment Process A topic of conversation at Sourcecon Fall 2015 (a national conference for recruiters and sourcers to learn about different recruitment tools and strategies) was: how to get hiring managers involved in the recruitment process. Here was my advice on how to do this… First the challenge. Many hiring managers say: “Why do I need to send a message to my connections regarding job opportunities, isn’t that the recruiters’ role?” Yes, it is the recruiter’s job but recruiting is a team sport and managers cannot just sit back and wait. They must be involved. The Solution. I’m fortunate to work with many proactive hiring managers; here is how I’ve turned them into ‘sourcers’ and ‘recruiters’: Start with the simple stuff: give everyone a voice. Practically speaking, this involves having hiring managers promote the roles you’re working on together. Give your Hiring Managers instructions on what to write; for example: “We’re hiring and growing into 2016.” “Check out our career page” “I’m hiring a team of (fill in the blank) #JoinUs” Provide job related content your Hiring Manager can easily copy and paste into their social media channels [i.e. LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook]. Working on your hiring managers LinkedIn profile. Some easy things to do in the Summary section include: Adding: “We’re Hiring” Under the headline of your LinkedIn profile you can include: [ie. CEO Were hiring Software Engineers, connect with me!] Also, include content under the published section that promotes the employer brand. Create a social media calendar for your Hiring Managers. Another part of the ‘push back’ thing most Hiring Managers say: “I would post updates online but I don’t have the time.” I create a calendar for them with specific pre-written posts including: where to post [which social media channel] and on what day. A simple copy and paste- similar to what’s noted above: “We’re hiring and growing into 2016.” Lunch and Source. Have your recruitment team host a lunch and source day: recruiters sit with your Hiring Managers during a ‘catered’ lunch and begin sourcing through their LinkedIn connections. The idea here is, some Hiring Managers forget they’ve worked with some pretty remarkable people throughout their professional career we want these people! Arranging for your hiring managers to speak at meet-ups and events. Groups, meet-ups and associations are always looking for content and speakers. Work with your Hiring Managers to create a short list of topics they can speak on and help create their bio. Reach out to the leaders of these groups and pitch your Managers as presenters. Remind your Managers. This helps with the engagement and connection part it also helps with their own professional brand. The Payoff. Engaging Hiring Managers in the recruiting process will bring a larger talent pool, greater employer branding and a hopefully a quick and easier hiring process.

Monday, May 25, 2020

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The One Thing That May Lead to Better Hires

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The One Thing That May Lead to Better Hires I spend a lot of time talking to business experts and leaders and the one thing I know for sure: No one knows for sure what the future will bring. Thats not to say these very smart people dont have a clue but the marketplace is changing so fast sometimes that theyre not 100% confident that what worked in the past will continue to work or if their company will even survive. (They dont say that last bit, but enough big companies have died that you know theyre thinking about it.) Thats why I thought some new research was so fascinating. In a nutshell, it says that companies that want to survive and thrive need to look for one key attribute in new hires: adaptability. While companies like Zappos and Netflix have placed great emphasis on hiring workers who will be a cultural fit, they perhaps need to look deeper at how those job candidates will be able to adapt to a company. Specifically, the authors of the study --Sameer Srivastava ofthe University of California, Berkeley, and Govin Manian and Christopher Pottsof Stanford University -- used linguistic analysis to look at more than 10 million internal emails sent from a technology company from 2009 to 2014. (This linguistic analysis is seen as a good indicator of cultural fit over time.) The conclusion: The new hire that was able to recognize and internalize company standards was more successful over time. Its not so much a new workers ability to initially adapt to a culture that matters its how that worker absorbs the culture and adapts over time that matters the most, researchers say. The key takeaway for employers may be that they need to stop screening out candidates who dont seem to fit the company culture. If these candidates show adaptability perhaps theyve lived in another country or taken on diverse work roles then that may be a better indicator that theyll be able to adapt to a company culture and thrive over time.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Go Digital in These 4 Areas to Improve Your Business Productivity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Go Digital in These 4 Areas to Improve Your Business Productivity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Almost every business conceivable has a digital presence today, from the cheap noodle shop next door to the massive upscale supermarket an hour’s drive away. But simply having a website isn’t going to cut it anymore. Companies today increasingly use information technology to improve their productivity in a number of key sectors. Consider going digital in the following areas to improve your business’s overall efficiency and boost your bottom line. Make Human Relations Great Again Ah, the HR department. From sifting through piles of resumes to reminding employees about casual Fridays, HR has never been particularly glamorous â€" but that doesn’t mean it isn’t critical. After all, obtaining and retaining the best people is probably the most important thing a business can do to ensure its long-term viability. And fortunately, big data is coming to the rescue. There’s an increasing number of cloud-based software services, such as Talentsoft, that provide easy solutions for businesses to find and interview the best candidates for a position. These services crunch vast amounts of data that would take ages for humans to complete. That’s much easier than letting resumes pile up and hoping for the best. There’s also a host of performance appraisal software available that can help employees provide constructive feedback, which means less time and money spent on HR and better suited candidates for a position. Make Sales Simple Sales is an excellent place to start implementing digital solutions to improve productivity. If you’re not conducting at least part of your sales online at this point, you need to reconsider. Tweak your business’s website, so customers can obtain exclusive deals by signing up for newsletters and the like. You can also add a custom ordering section, so your clients can order products without visiting the store only to discover what they want just went out of stock. A price estimator on your websites can save your employees time and effort, and you can adjust your website to offer more customized products as well. Such services are simple additions that could provide significant benefits. Harness Social Media in Your Marketing Efforts Everyone’s talking about social media, and there’s a reason for that: Social media is an easy and almost completely cost-free way to boost productivity. If your business can creatively engage customers online, you will experience raised product awareness, which can mean more sales. How does social media make your business more productive? It’s free, but it’s also efficient as a way to reach existing and potential clients. If you own a small business, you can manage your own social media relatively easily. If you’re a medium-sized business, consider hiring a “growth hacker” to create authentic engagement that will translate into added visibility and sales. Hiring a growth hacker usually comes with a onetime fee, and it can be a good solution if you don’t want to spend too much effort trying to build an audience on social media â€" a process that can be hit or miss. Revolutionize Your Internal Communications Remember your employee’s face at the latest meeting when it was clear she hadn’t read the company-wide memo? Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen again. Research shows that poor internal communication in a business leads to obvious losses of productivity. When your employees aren’t up to date, or managers are not giving clear orders or opportunities for feedback, your business will suffer. Fortunately, easy digital solutions can improve the productivity of your workers through better communications. User-friendly services, such as Slack, make sure employees can quickly and efficiently communicate with each other or within different groups. Slack makes it easy to form teams that communicate directly with each other, making it efficient to share files and search archives â€" a much less painful task than trawling through your email to find an old PowerPoint presentation. Going Digital Makes Sense for Everyone It doesn’t matter if your business is large or small. Digitizing basic processes by going paperless makes financial sense. For small businesses in particular, the rewards can be even greater. Employees often waste time looking for documents â€" some firms waste as much as 6 hours per employee per week. It’s no secret that going paperless helps the environment and saves supply costs. Besides making your employees more productive, digitalization will make your business more efficient and help your bottom line. The Time Is Now Running a tight ship in our current “knowledge economy” means going digital. Beneficial digital solutions are currently in vogue for a good reason: They cut costs and allow you to focus on your core business, which, as any good boss knows, consists largely of keeping your employees and clients happy. Once you accomplish that, the rest will come easily.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Application Letter that Stands out - Top 10 Writing Secrets

Application Letter that Stands out - Top 10 Writing Secrets After having completed what seems like countless essay writing assignments, writing an application letter can seem like just one more. Its not the same type of writing, and if you want to be viewed as a serious candidate for a position, you will need to adjust your writing style to fit this specialized form of communication. Check out these Top 10 Writing Secrets to help you present yourself in the best possible manner. 1.  State the Position You are Applying for in the Opening Paragraph Hiring managers are busy, and you want to get directly to the point of your communication. Use the exact title of the position in the ad so the person reading your letter knows which job you are interested in. 2.  Address it to a Specific Person, if Possible Sending a personalized letter means you are more likely to receive personalized attention than if it was sent to a general address. 3. Focus on How You Would Benefit the Employer if Hired  Application letters are different from essay writing in that they dont read like a narrative. They are more conversational in tone. Use short sentences to convey the advantages to the employer if you are chosen for the position. 4.  Limit the Use of the Words I or My When you proofread your letter, make note of how often you see sentences that start with the words I or My. You are trying to introduce yourself to a potential employer, but you also need to make sure the focus does not appear to be solely on you. 5. Make Sure Your Content is Unique You dont want to copy words and phrases from your resume. When you write your application letter, your goal should be to make the reader interested enough in you to want to take the next step and read your resume, so that you will be invited for a personal interview. 6. Address the Skills that are Relevant to the Position Does your cover letter include the skills that are mentioned in the ad you are responding to? If you are reaching out to a prospective employer on a cold basis, you will need to demonstrate that you have firm grasp of the kinds of skills necessary for success in the position. 7. Make Sure Your Cover Letter Reflects Your Personality You are not like anyone else on the planet, and your cover letter should be one of a kind, too. While it is a good idea to get ideas from books and other resources to help you write a cover letter, make sure that the finished product is entirely your own. 8. Use a Show, not Tell Technique Rather than telling a potential employer about your accomplishments, be specific in your description. Use figures as appropriate to give the reader a clear sense of what you are trying to convey. It adds to your credibility and will make you stand out from other candidates. 9. End with a Clear Call to Action Your application letter should end on a confident note, either asking the employer to contact you for an interview, or indicating that you will be getting in touch by a certain date. If you choose the latter option, make sure you call or e-mail as indicated to show that you are a reliable person. 10. Proofread Your Application Letter to Check for Spelling and Formatting Errors Your message may be stellar, but it will get lost if there are spelling and/or formatting errors in your letter. Go through your text several times to check for anything that appears out of place before sending it to a potential employer.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Interview Series - Career Experts - Dana Leavy-Detrick from Brooklyn Resume Studiot CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Dana Leavy-Detrick from Brooklyn Resume Studiotâ€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up with Dana Leavy-Detrick from Brooklyn Resume Studiowho shares her expertise and insights about job search, career change, etc. in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your companyevalBrooklyn Resume Studio crafts impactful resumes and custom branded marketing materials.All resumes and other personal branding materials are designed to stand out in today’s ultra-competitive job market.With expertise in high-level creative, marketing, and executive resumes and career transition, we have partnered with thousands of clients across diverse industries.How did you get started in this path?I spent nearly 10 years in recruiting before earning my career coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.Is this something you decided early on in your career?Not really.What is the Best Career Advice You’ve ever received?Listen to your gut.It’s tempting to hire coaches, mentors, and other professionals who can tell you what to do based on their own experience and best practices.But ultimately, you know your business, your skill set, your career better than anyone. I’ve learned this lesson the hard What is the most exciting part of working in thisindustry?In speaking with hundreds of diverse job seekers per year, I’m constantly on the pulse of what’s going on in the job market, what industries are thriving, and what trends are taking place that job seekers need to be aware of in order to competitively position themselves.As a premiere resume writing company in New York City, we work with professionals who are the top of their game.They’re CEOs of major companies, innovators and change makers in industries like fashion, tech, advertising, creative, cannabis, and numerous others, and it’s always exciting to work with our clients.How do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert?See above â€" in addition to continual research, we’re constantly speaking with the people who are on the front lines of hiring and job searching.Like many of our clients in advertising, design, and tech, several of our team members from from creative backgrounds, so the design of the resume plays a big role in our process, and that’s something we do better than most companies.What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle with the most?How to position themselves competitively when looking to make a career transition.What are the common mistakes that you see them do?Not effectively communicating their value â€" whether that’s on “paper”, or in the interview process. Even the most qualified job seekers lose out on opportunities because their value, skills, and experience aren’t coming through clearly on the resume or in their online brand presence.Also â€" expecting that hiring managers will “take a chance” on you. Hiring is an investment â€" companies don’t take chances unless they feel confident that investment will provide a return. Even if you’re not the ideal candidate on paper, sell them on why you are.How should job seekers approach job search today?Know where your skills and value lie, and let those things guide your marketing strategy.If you don’t know what you’re targeting and why, you’re going to have a difficult time selling yourself.Even if you don’t have a specific position in mind, think about the industry, the type of company, the type of product and service you’re best suited to support, and communicate how you can add value.What is the biggest trend(s) you see that job seekers will face in the next 2-3 years?Longevity at a company will be rare, and may even be undervalued. Companies may start valuing candidates with diverse experience (multiple companies, industries, roles) versus someone more specialized who’s been somewhere for a long time. There’s less growth.Also, there are new industries evolving, like cannabis, that offer job seekers opportunities to really leverage their transferable skill s, so people should be ready to consider opportunities they might not have thought of before.What is one advice you would give someone just out of college today?Don’t focus on accomplishments.As an entry-level candidate, hiring managers don’t expect you to have a resume full of accomplishments.But they do expect to see a candidate who shows potential, by offering a unique skill set, relevant experience, and applicable training.Focus on your skills and potential.What is one advice you would give someone who is switching careers?Know what your transferable skills are, how they can bring value to the new industry/sector/role you’re targeting, and clearly communicate that in your resume and marketing materials.Don’t leave it up to hiring managers to figure it out. Your message needs to be clear and compelling.How should job seekers get the most out of LinkedIn?LinkedIn is the cornerstone of your online brand presence.It should give a nice snapshot of who you are, what you’ve d one, and your skill sets â€" but not the whole story.Let it serve as an introduction that can lead into the resume conversation.Unemployment is at the lowest levels, why do you think that is?The job market is healthy and thriving right now.There is a shortage of talent in key industries, like tech and cannabis, so employers have to be more open to non-traditional candidates who bring alternative skill sets and experience.What is the biggest trend(s) you see that hiring managers will face in the next 2-3 years?Shortage of talent in key industries like tech, digital media, and cannabis due to growing competition.Dana, what are you currently working on?We have a spinoff brand called Canna Career Partners that works specifically with professionals looking to transition into the rapidly-growing cannabis space.What are the best resources you recommend to job seekers?Pay attention to LinkedIn â€" follow companies, thought leaders, writers, and other organizations in the career space and in industries that interest you. That will be the best source of information, relevant, timely, and on the pulse of what’s happening.Media outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, Fast Company, Glass Door, and Inc. are all great as well, and constantly putting out resources and studies on the state the job market and economy.What is the best way for our audience to reach you?Email â€" [emailprotected] .Connect with or Follow Dana Leavy-Detrick on Social Media:LinkedInTwitterDana Leavy-Detrick and Brooklyn Resume Studio have also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€" Top Career Advice Websites.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Dont let your environment stop you from getting your dream career.

Don’t let your environment stop you from getting your dream career. Don’t let your environment stop you from getting your dream career. Don’t let your environment stop you from getting your dream career. November 16, 2010 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment Powered by Podbean.com Many times when we’re looking for a new job, we’re doing so because we need a fresh start in our career.   Whether it’s a sudden change such as being laid off, or a gradual shift such as realizing you’ve been in an unchallenging or unfulfilling job for too long   you’ve made the decision to make a career change and start fresh. One of the key factors that will impact your career change will be your attitude. Yes, you’ll need the right kind of skills and experience, but also just as important will be your ability to remain positive and upbeat in the job interview, as well as throughout your entire job search. I know that attitude was a key factor in my own personal four (4) successful career changes.    Specifically, it was a mix of resilience, confidence and passion.  I found that more doors opened for me, and I had more career choices and opportunities than ever before when I had the attitude that I’m excited about the skills and talents that I provide, and that I will be making significant contributions to the next organization where I’ll be working. I know how hard it is right now to remain positive in your job search.   It would be super easy to let yourself get down and think that you can’t get a new job because it’s a tough economy, or that nobody is hiring during the Christmas season, or the notion that because you’ve had been laid off then you’re unemployable. But the reality is that none of those are true roadblocks to transitioning into a new career.   Companies are hiring professionals and executives every day â€" so why shouldn’t one of those jobs go to YOU?!   Plus, many companies hire mid-level managers and professionals during 4th quarter so that they can hit the ground running in January.   Twice in my own career I was hired during the month of December. Also, there’s no shame in having been laid off.   In fact, never having been laid off is now the exception (not the rule!) and there are many, many professionals who have been laid off and gone on to get hired and enjoy fabulous careers! People, including those who could hire you or introduce you to others who could hire you, are naturally drawn to professionals who have confidence and a positive attitude.   I’m not saying that you need to be Little Miss Sunshine every second of the day.   Everyone gets frustrated in their job search (it’s like a crazy roller coaster ride!) and it’s okay to get cranky â€" but save Mr. Grumpypants for when you can lock yourself in a room by yourself at home. Many of my clients get stressed out at some point during their job search (everyone does!), yet they’re able to get job offers because they have the confidence and optimism in knowing that something better is waiting for them ahead.   They know that they want more in their career and truly believe that a better job is out there that will allow them the ability to do more meaningful and purposeful work. Having the right attitude includes having the confidence that you can do the job and be an asset to any organization.   Even if you’re reinventing yourself into a new job role or industry.   Once I was working for a high tech company and hiring for a communications position.   It came down to two extremely qualified job candidates.   Both had significant talent and the same type of great experience, so I made my decision based on their response to one question, “Can you do the job?”   The man shrugged and said, “Yeah, I think I can.”   The woman said, “Absolutely!”    (Guess which one I hired? J) I’m not talking about arrogance, but instead a quite confidence down deep inside that you’re a valuable employee who can do the job, and that any organization would be lucky to have you (of course I never recommend actually saying this out loud J)   This kind of quiet confidence will help you remain positive and upbeat throughout your career change. Your next career is out there waiting for you â€" you just need to go out there and get it! J

Friday, May 8, 2020

High School Resume For College - Your Complete Guide

High School Resume For College - Your Complete GuideWriting a high school resume for college will teach you how to write an impressive job application. All students who have attended the high school level, even if they are planning to go to college, need to know that getting into college is very hard. Most students with strong high school records often do not get into the best colleges in the country, so they have to attend a selective college and get an excellent grade point average in order to be accepted. This will make them stand out from the crowd of other applicants, but you need to do it in a way that will really impress your prospective employer.Writing a high school resumes for college, such as mine, will give you the knowledge that you need in order to show the right type of enthusiasm and interest for your college application. Most college admissions officers love candidates who love school and who are willing to work hard to improve their grades. I have noticed that colle ges see these types of traits as one of the most important qualities a student can have. The perfect high school resume for college can create excitement and interest for any college that reading it, which will increase the chances of them hiring you.College is a place where you will be required to do research, to obtain information and even to make presentations. It is in this aspect that a resume for college will shine. A resume that gives the impression that you are eager to learn, and who really wants to be there is the kind of resume that will get you a positive interview.A resume for college will contain information about yourself, including your hobbies, awards, honors, special talents and a few other things that will help you gain the confidence you need to come to an interview. You may want to include a picture of yourself, but do not try to overdo it. Many colleges and universities have strict guidelines for the types of pictures that are allowed. If you want to include a picture of you wearing a hat or a beanie, then just do so when it is mentioned.High school resumes for college will also include things like projects you have worked on, awards and other achievements. When doing your own research, you will want to include a part about yourself that you feel is important. Maybe it is because you have been playing an instrument, or maybe you are currently a team captain. Your personal information should be included as part of your college resume, but do not include information about who your parents are or about any grades you have received, unless it is relevant.College applications are very competitive, so you need to present yourself in a way that is sure to create excitement. College applications are filled out by professors, counselors, admissions officers and other people that you will be interacting with. A common trick that many high school students do when applying for college is to add too much information about themselves. Do not over do it , but do not keep it down to one sentence either.Good writing skills, as well as good judgment, are the most important qualities that a college admissions officer will look for when reviewing your high school resumes for college. Make sure that you have a great resume, and you will do great in college.