Saturday, May 30, 2020

Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom 3 Steps to Effective Social Media Recruitment

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom 3 Steps to Effective Social Media Recruitment Social media can be a terrific recruiting tool, but only if you understand your audience and the laws that formally and informally govern networks. Most organizations have figured out by now that blasting generic job postings over Twitter doesn’t generate much targeted interest. The better approach requires a bit more legwork but is certainly worth it in the end. Locate where your targets already hang out Most organizations go directly to LinkedIn because that’s what everyone else is doing. But depending on the segment you’re trying to attract, LinkedIn may or may not be the best option. There’s also Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, as well as hundreds of industry-specific social networks. In an article for the Cornerstone on Demand blog, Andy Headworth suggested employing Google X-ray searches to find potential candidates across networks by using relevant keywords with job titles, skills and interests. Here’s the command: Site: linkedIn.com inurl:pub “insert job title” Site: twitter.com “insert job title” OR “insert job title synonym” Site: plus.google.com inurl: about “lives in insert location” “insert job title” As you do more searches, you’ll notice a pattern of certain types of candidates appearing in specific places on specific networks. That’s how you’ll know where to focus your recruiting efforts. Create audience-specific content When using social media, it’s a best practice to engage substantially with each community before posting too much of your own content. This means commenting on others’ posts and offering feedback and ideas 5-10 times for every 1 time you submit an article or link from your company. Your own content should present a strong and consistent employer brand. It should also be novel and relevant to the topic and/or audience. Curating interesting content from other expert sources is a smart way to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, and using different types of content â€" from quotes and questions to videos and Slideshares â€" will prevent things from getting stale. Here’s another important piece of advice: don’t just set and forget. Even if you have an automated system (Hootsuite, etc.) that allows you to send social media posts live at a particular time, it’s your responsibility to monitor comments and likes and engage frequently with feedback. Only then can you accurately assess if the content is fulfilling recruitment objectives. For the last tip, check out the full post on the SilkRoad blog.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Transform Yourself Change Who You Hang Out With! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Transform Yourself Change Who You Hang Out With! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You are the mirror of your influences. If you want to know how to create a positive change in your life, you should consider your major influences. Your activities, the movies you watch, the books you read as well as the type of people you interact with all influence your values and shape your identity. These relationships can bring out different facets of your personality and reinforce those qualities over time. If you surround yourself with negative people, read vacuous books and watch an inordinate number of inane sit-coms youll be less likely to think positively and creatively. By contrast,  if you hang out with a group of positive-minded individuals who believe in taking responsibility for their lives, you will be more inclined to grow in a positive direction. Your association with pessimists will eventually start a descent into a negative spiral even if you are initially a positive individual. Consider this exercise: Ask yourself the following questions. What kind of person do I want to be? What is the ideal self I would like to become and what are the qualities I want to possess? Who are the five people I know who embody these qualities? Do these people match who I want to become in the future?   Do they elevate me or bring me down? Are my friends proactive? Do they strive to make a contribution somewhere? Do they associate with wholesome activities? Do my peers have a healthy balance between work, social, family and their community? Are they strictly interested in their own success or do they also reach out to assist others? Try to be introspective about your relationships not for the sake of being critical but for noting how you can improve yourself. If you attract friends who are balanced, motivated, kind and productive you will be more likely to mimic their behavior. So here are 3 suggestions if you want to transform yourself: 1.  Change who you hang around.  Plato said, “People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die.” For better or worse, we become more like the people we hang around. Our behavior, speech, manners, dialect, interests, outlook, motivation level are all influenced by those in our environment.   Knowing that we are swayed by our peers and consciously and subconsciously affected by them is an important principle to accept; since your friends are going to influence you either way, why not pick the friends who will be a positive influence?   Seek out people who excel at something and don’t be intimidated by someone who has an aptitude in an area you don’t; the best way to improve yourself is to attach yourself to people who possess a skill or quality you admire and learn from them. It takes a certain amount of confidence to surround yourself with top-notch people; Chances are this person may have strength in areas where you are weak but he may have a weakness in an area where youre strong. Don’t always assume that you don’t have something to offer a perceived “winner.” Adopt the mindset that they can learn something from you as well. Enter every relationship with the mindset that your main goal is to learn from other people and help them grow as well. Eventually you may find that you’re naturally attracted to people who have a positive attitude and are motivated to excel at something. You’ll be emulating their positive behavior without exerting so much effort as they will be your closest connections. Your entire identity will take a 180 shift and your “personal brand” will become tied to these successful people; the way you perceive yourself is how others perceive you. When you hang out with people who are positive, accountable, inspiring and elevated you too will become positive, accountable, inspiring and elevated. 2. Start Reading educational books: Another way to invoke change in your direction is to start reading more. Reading allows you to shape your identity independently of your current circumstances. Books that can increase your knowledge of various topics from History, Science, Business, Art, literature from different periods will expand your mind and could prompt creative thought.  You internalize the wisdom and knowledge of the authors who you read. They say that there are two types of experiences that we can learn and grow from: personal experience and the experience that we borrow from others. Reading allows you to learn from mentors who you don’t have access to in your daily life. Learning from other people’s stories of challenges  and triumph is far less painful and time-consuming than going through those challenges yourself. That is why most of the world’s greatest leaders have been avid readers. 3. Be selective in the movies you watch.   Blend in entertainment which highlights characters who have overcome obstacles and became successful against all odds. Avoid seeing films that merely exploit your senses for a quick thrill or for pure escape.  Of course there are times where movies, books, tv shows and even certain friends can help you unwind and refresh by merely engaging in light thought and carefree activities. But if you only go to movies that appeal to your lowest sensibilities youll miss the opportunity to be elevated by film and inspired after leaving the theatre to engage in more positive activities. The occasional blow off movie, book or social excursion is not only fine but can be healthy.   But if your dominant pattern or only outlet is blow-off activities, you may reconsider trying some other modes of entertainment, different genres of books and movies and try hanging out with more enlightened friends. In short, you can affect positive change on your personality and your outlook by making a subtle shift in who you choose to spend time with and what you choose to watch and read. Dont underestimate the power these influencers have on your ability to make constructive changes in your life. Your friends, books and even theatre can assist you in reaching your full potential and in breaking out of your limitations to achieve greater success. Author: Beth  is Founder and President of Get Hired, LLC.   She advises students on how to bridge the gap from school to career.  Beth is the co-author of  From Diploma to Dream Job: Five Overlooked Steps to a Successful Career.  Her coaching assists students and career changers to successfully match their needs, interests, passions, skills, and personal goals with the needs of a sustainable industry in a sustainable location.  She is a resource for print and online media and offers workshops for University Career Service Departments, Executive Recruiters, Outplacement Services, College Guidance Counselors and College Alumni Associations. See website for more details about Beth’s services  www.fromdiploma2dreamjob.com.  Beth’s Webinar was sponsored by George Washington University’s Career Services Dept. for their worldwide alumni association:  Leverage Your College Diploma.  You can follow Beth on twitter @BethKuhel

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Work for yourself without financial worries

Work for yourself without financial worries I am in Boston having post-traumatic stress syndrome from being too close to the town where I went to college. The kids are doing a music workshop and its in Newton, which is very close to Waltham, which is where I went to college. So I thought travel planning would be easy since I know my way around. But the cab pulled up to the hotel and I realized it was the hotel where I lost my virginity. It was not a good scene. Well, the first time I was there was definitely not a good scene,  but this time was not either. Mom! I dont want to leave the hotel! Mom! I like this hotel!  I want to lay in bed and watch TV! I took half a Xanax and we changed hotels. My son, it turns out, is allergic to gluten. I dont know how I missed this. The pediatrician thought he was allergic when I was breastfeeding so I was off bread for two years and I lost so much weight. So youd think Id have just kept everyone off bread. But no. Because bread is addictive  and Im an addict and how can I raise two kids without PowerBars? They count as bread  in the gluten-free world, you know. So we went back to eating bread and my son had diarrhea for five years. I dont know how he had it for five years before I put the puzzle pieces together. I think its because I have been insane with financial worry for most of the time I have been parenting him. I mean, there was the year where I was the incapacitated breadwinner coping with his face being totally deformed at birth. Then there was the year of me trying to make ends meet as a journalist/author. Then there was the year of me blowing out my 401K to pay for unproven therapies for my son who was diagnosed with Aspergers. Then there was the year of me starting a company and traveling every week. Then I uprooted our whole city existence and moved to the farm. So, okay, its looking reasonable that I could miss the allergy. Right? In the lobby of my hotel where I am screaming at the kids that they cannot eat the cookies, I actually hear someone say, Oh, shes a Brandeis girl. It sends chills down my spine. Its an East-coast thing to say, I think. I mean, who has heard of Brandeis besides East-coast Jews anyway? I was a big outsider at Brandeis. Probably because I spent a lot of my time either getting ready to go to the mental ward or recuperating from my stay at the mental ward. But also, you might think  that as I am older and wiser I have figured out how to have friends from college. But in fact, I think I alienated everyone who ever knew me by writing what I thought was an olive-branch of a column in order to reintroduce myself. I should have known that there is a rule that you cannot call out your college roommate for having Aspergers in the colleges alumni magazine. While the kids and I were on our way to Newton, somewhere in Illinois, I lost my credit card. Actually, I didnt lose it. It turns out that it was in my wallet the whole time. And why would anyone manufacture a wallet that has a slot that is just long enough to lose sight of a credit card? So I tell the kids, Were at the bank. Get out of the car. They want to stay. I say, Kids die in parked cars all the time. They say, But you leave us in the barn alone all the time. Do kids die in barns? Im not sure. Probably more often than in cars. So I go by myself to report my lost card. And to withdraw a ton of cash since you cant get a replacement ATM card if you are out of state. (little-known bank fact, eh? Also, heres another: Bank robbers who work alone make more money than working in a group.) Im with the banker, with my kids in the car, and my cash in my hand, and I watch the guy typing away at his screen and I see there is a label next to my name HIGH POTENTIAL. When someone I know says that about me, I think, Whateverthey are just trying to make up for all the classes at Brandeis that I failed due to emerging agoraphobia. But when the bank says that about me, thats a head turner. Ive been thinking about that. It is incredibly difficult to work for yourself. I think it doesnt matter how much money you have, you still feel like you might not have enough. At my twentieth college reunion, I was thinking of going because I was looking for a husband, and also because I know reunions are about showing everyone that you turned out to be better looking and more successful than they are, and I was thinking that I am doing okay in that regard. And anyway, the two are related because I can just spend a lot of money to look good. But I go through waves of confidence and no confidence and I never feel safely in the confident realm. So I didnt go. And anyway, I am terrible at small talk and everyone likes me better just reading my blog and not talking to me. So probably it was right to not go. The thing is that Im HIGH POTENTIAL. But I dont feel that way. I feel like my head is always four months into the future, where I am unsure where my revenue will come from, and Im nervous. That photo of the barn, above, is my favorite place to be on the farm. Its cool in the summer and warm in the winter and the acoustics are soft and the hay is firm enough for building forts. But I look at the picture and notice that you could see it like a prison. Like youre a baby calf and you cant get out. Thats what I feel like about working for myself. Sometimes its heavenly and sometimes its a prison. Thats the life of someone who works for themselves. You cant be happy with the money you have this month or else youll starve next month. Ive been doing this so long that I can trust that I wont starve, but also, I dont have a lot of savings. Well, actually, I have no savings. Someone once wrote that one way of looking at savings is that its an ability to drum-up money in an emergency. I have that. I can get $10,000 in a month if I need to. But I have done that so many times that Im sick of it. I think of the person I was in college. I was nutty and unstable and a sitting duck for the most physically aggressive men and the most intellectually needy professors. But Im not that now. I want to have the confidence that I am pulled together and stable and self-sufficient. A therapist once told me that I am stuck because I think that the reason that I am able to support myself so well is that I worry incessantly about supporting myself so well. Thats true. I dont think I realized how much I want to be done with that until I went back to the hotel where I lost my virginity. I am not that girl now. Now I know Im HIGH POTENTIAL. I can earn money because Im confident and capable and not because Im worried and anxious. I want to do that. Right now. I used to think if I could just earn a little more money then Id stop worrying about money. But no amount of money feels safe. And I know Im not alone in this feeling. Daniel Gilbert shows, in his book Stumbling on Happiness, that we are hard-wired to not feel safe with the amount of money we have. So I have to make a mental shift instead: Focusing on action instead of worrying. Im going to make a list of the things Ill do this month that could earn money. And Ill do those things. And Ill trust that one will work well enough that Ill be fine financially. Do lists calm you down? Lists calm me down. And Im going to go make one right now.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why You Must Learn to Work With Other Departments

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why You Must Learn to Work With Other Departments In the past, the only time the tech department and those in finance or business operations might have interacted was at the annual holiday party. But even then, the employees pretty much huddled with their own department, like Super Bowl teams plotting the next interception. But its a different story these days, as more companies encourage or even require cross-functional collaboration. For example, a recent Robert Half Management Resources and Robert Half Technology survey finds that 51% of CFOs report theyre collaborating more frequently with their companys CIO, compared to three years ago. Before, these functions were run as silos, says Tim Hird, executive director for Robert Half Management Resources. But business has become more complex and organizations continue to invest in technology to make strategic decisions. A few years ago it wasnt necessary to work together now its essential. Thiscross-functionalcollaboration will not only change how a company operates now, but also how it hires for the future, Hird says. Specifically, more organizations will seek those who can not only do their jobs such as data collection but are also able to communicate and collaborate with those in finance, sales or operations. Teams that make it a priority to focus on collaboration help pave the way for smoother integration of new systems and processes, he says. Still, its not always easy to achieve full cross-functional collaboration, especially sinceresearchshows that 20% to 35% of value-added collaborations come from only 3% to 5% of employees. These employees who go the extra mile and become top collaborators can become real bottlenecks as work doesnt move forward until they weigh in. Another problem is that these collaborators often dont get credit for their contributions. Currently, its easier to find examples ofcross-functional teamsthatdontwork. Benham Tabrizi, who teaches transformational leadership at Stanford Universitys Department of Management Science and Engineering, says his research finds that in a study of 95 teams in 25 leading corporations, 75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional. Cross-functional teams often fail because the organization lacksa systemic approach. Teams are hurt by unclear governance, by a lack of accountability, by goals that lack specificity, and by organizations failure to prioritize the success of cross-functional projects, he says. However, those teams that had support by a high-level executive leader who championed their efforts had a 76% success rate, he says. In their research, Robert Half recommends that companies seeking to successfullyboost collaborationamong various departments must begin with a company-wide effort. They suggest, for example: Providing greet and learn opportunities.Guest speakers from other departments can meet with employees or set up mentoring programs to help new and long-time employees stay current (read more here)

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Resume Writing Service Minneapolis

Resume Writing Service MinneapolisWhen you contact a resume writing service in Minneapolis, it's a sure sign that you're trying to get the most out of your time. And when you get a job, you're sure to feel satisfied, because you've done all you could in your spare time. It is therefore important to use a resume writing service in Minneapolis to help you build a better professional career.A resume writer, or a writer of resumes Minneapolis, is required to understand and use the various templates for Minnesota. While there are no hard and fast rules, this is why you must be careful before you spend your money with the services of the writers.Resume writing service Minneapolis is available for all sizes of employers and businesses. In addition, they can customize each template to a particular business or company and can even offer additional information to custom-build a perfect resume for your job.The services they offer are sample work, but they can give you more samples of different kind of resume templates that can greatly affect your success in a particular job. You must also choose a resume writing service in Minnesota, so that you can do research online to get your best deal.If you're looking for professional, experienced resume writing services, you should be sure to search around for the experience you need. Look for writers who know how to make a perfect, professional, ideal cover letter and cover letters. Aside from that, they should have experience in writing in the English language, so that they can meet your needs in learning and teaching.Choosing the right job, is not that simple. You have to be very meticulous, and take some time to find out what's good for you. Professional resume writing service Minneapolis would surely help you.You will be a part of an essential job, and not just a mere name in the list. You need to put effort in making your resume to be recognized by all, which is why you must choose the perfect resume template Minneapolis. Res ume writing service in Minnesota can help you with this.In short, it is crucial that you find the best professional resume writer. There are a lot of companies, which are trying to get you to their services, but you must ensure that you're getting the most out of your time and hiring a professional resume writer would be ideal.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

How the timing of job interviews could be a key to success

How the timing of job interviews could be a key to success Job interviews aren’t just about thorough preparation and quick thinking â€" although those aspects are certainly at the top of the list. There’s another lesser-known success factor that is often overlooked: The time of day the job interview is held. Many finance executives say they have a strong preference when it comes to the timing of interviews with prospective hires. In a recent Accountemps survey, 61 percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) polled said they believe between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. is the most productive time for conducting job interviews. The majority also say they need only a few minutes to get an impression of the candidate â€" more than half of CFOs form a positive or negative opinion of a candidate within the first 15 minutes. ( See graphic: Timing’s Impact on Job Interviews.) As a hiring manager, you might consider avoiding interviews during the afternoon, when energy and attention levels often drop after lunch. As a job candidate, you may not have control over the timing of your job interview, but, if possible, you can give yourself the best chance of getting an offer by requesting this mid-morning sweet spot. “Mid-morning is an ideal time for a job interview because it gives the interviewer time to set daily priorities and settle into his or her day before the meeting,” said Bill Driscoll, a district president for Accountemps. “Avoid scheduling an interview late in the afternoon when fatigue sets in. Late afternoon is also the time when interviewers may start shifting their focus to personal priorities.” First impressions during a job interview can be telling. “A first impression starts with the initial handshake,” Driscoll said. “What you wear, your demeanor, and body language are details that interviewers assess within the first few minutes of meeting someone.” Many interviewers will start the job interview with an open-ended question such as, “Can you tell me a little about yourself?” This is often an opportunity for the candidate to shine by briefly summarizing relevant work experience and objectives. Make a lasting first impression to win the offer Given that you may have only 15 minutes to make an impact on the interviewer, as a job candidate, you’ll want to bring your A game. Be prepared to: Give specific examples of your past successes. While you may have gone over this summary many times to prepare for the job interview, you’ll want to avoid coming across as if you’re speaking by rote. Provide polished answers to questions. Research responses to common interview questions in advance so you waste no time getting to the point. Have some well-worded questions to ask the interviewer. This will help you avoid being caught unprepared when it’s your turn to pose questions or saying something impulsive. Try to take time off for the interview if you are currently employed. It’s often best to take personal leave, if possible, rather than relegating the interview to what may be a less- advantageous time â€" lunch or after work. Above all, be on time. This hard-and-fast rule of interviewing is even more unbreakable when you have only a few minutes to make that first impression. Evaluate candidates during the job interview and beyond As a manager, you understand that hiring the right employees is critical to your organization’s success. While first impressions are important â€" even those based on 15 minutes or less â€" there can be serious drawbacks if managers rush to judgment. To broaden your view into the candidate’s attitudes and personality: Try asking some less conventional interview questions. Beyond the queries about job accomplishments and skills, ask questions such as, “If you didn’t have to work for money, what would you be doing?” or “What bloggers and news sources do you follow, and why?” Ask other members of your teamâ€" including administrative or junior staff â€" about their experiences with the candidate. Someone who interviewed well may be eliminated from consideration after you discover a member of your staff got the “Jekyll and Hyde” treatment. Don’t forget soft skills. The ability to communicate clearly with customers, for example, can be critical to an employee’s contribution to the team. The idea is to avoid forming an opinion within the first few minutes of the interview and closing yourself off to additional information that may contradict it. Make the most of the interview â€" whenever it may happen As a job seeker, being invited to interview with a company you’re interested in is always a good thing â€" regardless of the timing. There’s no harm in politely asking for a mid-morning job interview if you are offered a different time of day. If your request can’t be met and your interview is scheduled for what seems like a less advantageous time, don’t lose heart. Not all managers share the mid-morning preference. Some survey respondents said they prefer to conduct job interviews later in the day. Whatever the time of day, remember to make the most of that first impression. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class right now and immediately access the most comprehensive job search system currently available!

Friday, May 8, 2020

A Fun Side to Unemployment

A Fun Side to Unemployment My previous post about travel being good for your career sparked me to do additional research on the topic. Interestingly I came across a related phenomenon -Funemployment. According to a recent article on SFWeekly.com, some of the jobless in San Francisco are actually viewing unemployment as an opportunity to volunteer, travel, freelance and consider career shifts. (Notably these are folks who have savings and/or severance who did not get caught up in the real estate crisis.)Alexis Mansinne, profiled in the article, had been an event planner for Dwell magazine until she was laid-off. Though shocked by her pink slip, Ms. Mansinne decided to take a refreshing perspective on her situation (helped by the 50 weeks of unemployment benefits she was about to receive) and see it as a chance to take a more socially redeeming career path. She started a blog (Funemployment.blogspot.com) to share her thoughts on how to take advantage of being unemployed and has since decided to go back to school to become a school guidance counselor.The article also mentions another interesting blog, Unemploymentality.com and one of its founders, Tania Khadder whos quoted as saying, Being unemployed, took my attention, which was spread over a lot of different things, and gave it focus. In a way, it derailed my financial plan. But it accelerated my professional plan. Ms. Khadders plan is to attend graduate school focused on public policy.I realize that no one wishes to be unemployed and that many are struggling to pay for even basic expenses even with unemployment checks. For those however who do have the means to invest in themselves and their futures careerwise, many are having fun exploring their interests, talents and passions. Share your thoughts on the upside to unemployment positive perspectives welcome!