Sunday, May 31, 2020

The New Employee Loyalty Cautiously Optimistic

The New Employee Loyalty â€" Cautiously Optimistic I had a cool discussion with two fascinating people on a flight out of San Jose, to Las Vegas on Friday night. On one side was a VP of Marketing for a mid-sized company, on the other side was a junior at a local college. I was telling the VP of Marketing that I didnt think Id be able to have any loyalty towards any company I worked for you know, after getting laid off it is very difficult to trust again. He said sure you will have loyalty. But youll be cautiously optimistic. I dont mean to beat a dead horse about getting voted off the island where I worked, but experiences like that stay with you for a very long time. And Im not alone (check out the amazing comments on my Depression Clouds Everything post). But Ive felt bad about perhaps not having the same enthusiasm, passion and dedication towards a future employer. When this VP phrased it as cautiously optimistic, that really resonated with me. Now, with this new phrase, I can go back to an employer and give them all I have to give, do an excellent job, work for the common goals of the team or department, etc. Ill put in the Jason Alba work ethic, for sure. All with a new understanding of employee loyalty, which is the old way of saying cautious optimism. The New Employee Loyalty â€" Cautiously Optimistic I had a cool discussion with two fascinating people on a flight out of San Jose, to Las Vegas on Friday night. On one side was a VP of Marketing for a mid-sized company, on the other side was a junior at a local college. I was telling the VP of Marketing that I didnt think Id be able to have any loyalty towards any company I worked for you know, after getting laid off it is very difficult to trust again. He said sure you will have loyalty. But youll be cautiously optimistic. I dont mean to beat a dead horse about getting voted off the island where I worked, but experiences like that stay with you for a very long time. And Im not alone (check out the amazing comments on my Depression Clouds Everything post). But Ive felt bad about perhaps not having the same enthusiasm, passion and dedication towards a future employer. When this VP phrased it as cautiously optimistic, that really resonated with me. Now, with this new phrase, I can go back to an employer and give them all I have to give, do an excellent job, work for the common goals of the team or department, etc. Ill put in the Jason Alba work ethic, for sure. All with a new understanding of employee loyalty, which is the old way of saying cautious optimism. The New Employee Loyalty â€" Cautiously Optimistic I had a cool discussion with two fascinating people on a flight out of San Jose, to Las Vegas on Friday night. On one side was a VP of Marketing for a mid-sized company, on the other side was a junior at a local college. I was telling the VP of Marketing that I didnt think Id be able to have any loyalty towards any company I worked for you know, after getting laid off it is very difficult to trust again. He said sure you will have loyalty. But youll be cautiously optimistic. I dont mean to beat a dead horse about getting voted off the island where I worked, but experiences like that stay with you for a very long time. And Im not alone (check out the amazing comments on my Depression Clouds Everything post). But Ive felt bad about perhaps not having the same enthusiasm, passion and dedication towards a future employer. When this VP phrased it as cautiously optimistic, that really resonated with me. Now, with this new phrase, I can go back to an employer and give them all I have to give, do an excellent job, work for the common goals of the team or department, etc. Ill put in the Jason Alba work ethic, for sure. All with a new understanding of employee loyalty, which is the old way of saying cautious optimism.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

How to Write a Resume For USA Jobs

How to Write a Resume For USA JobsYou have to learn how to write a resume for USA jobs in order to improve your chances of getting an interview. A resume can make the difference between getting an interview and having to give a verbal rejection. If you are familiar with all the steps involved, then you can start looking forward to your next job search.It is important to create a program plan that has the elements needed to get you through the initial stages of the program. Create your program by taking a look at what you have already done for the school and then compare this to what you have learned from experience. Also, you will want to see what the course will be like. By doing so, you will be able to customize your plan so that it fits your personal needs.To begin, know what your needs are. Be sure that your needs are aligned with the job. If they are not, you may lose out on a great opportunity.You should begin by reviewing the basics of what writing a resume is. You will need t o understand that the task is similar to writing a resume in other countries. Your resume is going to include your name, contact information, education, work history, and work experience. You may also want to use a space to include an abstract of your academic achievements and your accomplishments within your field.The purpose of your summary is to let the potential employer know more about you and what you can do for them, your current employment history is going to come in useful when you are writing your program. When you are writing a resume for USA jobs, you will be asked to give a work history for each position you have held.In addition to that, you should consider any past family situation that you are working on. This could include a previous marriage or children. If there is something you can add to your resume that would show that you have been a responsible parent, you should be prepared to do so. Be honest about the fact that you may not have always been able to handle s ituations as well as you did earlier in your life.When you are looking over what you wrote, you will want to go over what you created and create a plan for what you want to change. It will help you build on the information you have written down. You can use a version of the resume template found online that will help you create a fresh one for each position you apply for.Writing a resume for USA jobs is not easy. It takes a lot of time and effort, but it can be done if you are prepared. Be aware that you are going to need to set some boundaries about what you will include and what you will exclude, as well as provide any supporting documents you have for your work history.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

5 Hard Truths About Agency Recruiting

5 Hard Truths About Agency Recruiting The world of contingent, agency recruiting is extremely competitive. The salesperson that visits clients will usually have a nice suit on and promise you the world, but as the saying goes, don’t ask how the sausage is made. The main thing to understand is that contingent recruiting is a sales game and, as with any sales industry, it is all about earning commission. Contingent recruiters must provide a majority of their service for free and there still is never a guarantee of earning their commission. [I would venture to say recruiters provide roughly 80% of their services for free]. It is only if their candidate gets selected will they be paid. As a result, it creates a lot of competition, not just amongst competing agencies, but between the many candidates the recruiter has sent to the client. Therefore, agency recruiters focus more on making a successful placement with any candidate rather than a specific candidate. So while a candidate may be sent to that client by the recruiter, there could be as many as 5 â€" 10 other candidates being sent as well. This makes for a difficult situation because the candidate and recruiter have the same goal, but different outcomes.  What I mean is both parties want a successful placement, but the recruiter will be happy with whoever gets placed as long as they are earning a fee. The point of this article is to take a look into the truth behind agency recruiting. Please understand that I do not have an axe to grind against the agency world. I spent the majority of my career in that environment and I had a great time. I made great money, met some of my closest friends and helped change the lives of people when it came to their careers. However there are parts of the world of agency recruiting that I feel it is important for people to understand: 1) Agency recruiters are not there to get a candidate a job: If you are working with an agency recruiter, do not expect them to fight to get you a job. Ultimately recruiters are loyal to those who pay their salary those people are the client. They will contact you about a job, but if you do not fit the bill it is on to the next candidate. Yes you will enter into a pipeline of candidates because that recruiter should be filling similar positions. However, if they do not have an immediate role for you, do not expect them to go around looking for you! READ MORE: NEWSFLASH: A Recruiter is Not a Job Finder! 2) Recruiting  agencies hire young: Most recruiting agencies hire right out of college. There are many reasons for this, but the one I have noticed the most is because recent college graduates will work 60 hour weeks for about 30K a year. That is typically what is asked of you right out of the gate. Most agencies will have working hours from 7:30- 5:00, however if you leave right at 5:00 you can expect a not so great meeting with your manager the next day. As a result there is a high turnover rate. The amount of people I have seen get let go is astounding. It’s the main reason companies like Aerotek, Adecco, Robert Half or any of the other major agency won’t hire someone with experience. It is impossible to get someone with good recruiting experience to agree to that kind of demand. 3) Agency recruiters have the candidates best interest in mind when it benefits the recruiter: A candidate is only useful to an agency recruiter if they are in consideration for a job. If you are not in consideration for an opening they will most likely not give you a second thought. Again this industry is sales based and a popular phrase in the agency world is “closest to the money”. A candidate not in consideration is not closest to the money therefore is an afterthought. 4) Your resume may open the door for other candidates: Go to any car dealership and what will you notice? The shiny, new cars are always out front drawing the customer into the showroom. Recruiting is no different. If your resume is one that is impressive on paper consider yourself that shiny car. Recruiters will use your resume to show their clients that they should do business with them because they will get them the best resumes. It is good to see yourself as the resume that opens the door for them, but you may only be starting the process to get someone else hired. Hiring managers do not want to hire the first person they see, they want to do their due diligence. So while your resume may be the catalyst that starts the conversation between a client and a recruiting agency, you may just be setting up someone else to get the job. 5) Candidates are numbers: The old saying goes “Sales is a numbers game”. The same goes for recruiting. When a recruiter first starts out in the agency world candidates are treated as numbers. For example, when I first started my career at Aerotek I was told to just bring in as many candidates as possible to gain experience. Regardless if I had a job for them or not I should bring them in for an interview. What about the candidate? They are taking their time to come into the office and interview with a recruiter, for what? All so the recruiter can gain experience? I am not against training people, but that is up to managers, not the responsibility of prospective candidates. Conclusion: This article is not to persuade someone from entering the recruiting industry or candidates from working with agency recruiters. I personally have gone through all these experiences and have enjoyed my career tremendously. If you survive the initial demands as an agency recruiter there is a great career awaiting you. So if you are looking for a career in the industry, jump on in! Just understand the truth behind what goes on. As a candidate you need to be selective with who you work with. Develop a relationship with a recruiter beyond just picking up the phone the next time a job comes in. Understand which recruiters are working in your specific industry and networking with the people you want to meet. Then develop an understanding with the recruiter of what your career goals are so they can align you with the proper hiring managers. A good recruiter should be there to create conversation between two people who normally may not be connected. Recruiters can open up doors that you didn’t even know existed, you just need to know which ones to work with. RELATED: 5 Recruitment Agency Myths: DEBUNKED! Image: Shutterstock

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

5 Things You Can Do To Attract the Right Candidates

5 Things You Can Do To Attract the Right Candidates Recruiting the right workforce is a key element in business success, as like minded people will work well towards the same goals. Every employer wants to have a dedicated team of employees who enjoy their jobs and are looking out for the best interest of the company. The best potential candidates will not necessarily be looking for you, as with so much to offer their services are in high demand. Therefore, it will be essential to make your company and position appealing to them. Consider these five tips, proven to make attracting the perfect job candidate a little easier, leading to success in recruitment, as well your business. Leave it to the Professionals Hiring a professional to recruit potential job candidates has a few easily identified benefits. A well-rounded campaign for employees can be incredibly complicated and time-consuming, so it can be a great relief to allow professionals to handle your recruitment management strategies. Recruitment management consultants will have many proven techniques, as well as established contacts to help you find the ideal candidates to fill your available positions. They will also be able to assist in the decision-making process, growing your brand and workforce to be the strongest and most successful it possibly can be. Have a Presence at all Candidate Attraction Activities These are several activities that can draw the attention of potential employment candidates towards a business. These activities include online advertising, employment databases and networks, social media marketing, job fairs and recruitment campaigns. Online posting in only one location will not be effective, as there are several online professional communities, and you will want to have a presence on all of them to be drawing the best pool from each. When drafting adverts be clear and concise, offering easy to understand job descriptions, and always be upfront about required experience and education. Being overly wordy, or using too much industry jargon will be confusing to potential applicants, and may make it unclear who the welcomed and qualified applicants may be. Have a Respectful and Transparent Application System Being respectful to job candidates is crucial to creating a positive image for a company amongst the workforce. This should be taken into consideration throughout every step of the recruitment, application, interview, and hiring process. Always be mindful of an applicant’s time, and keep the application system relevant and reasonable. Online forms and pre-interview questionnaires are not convenient for potential applicants as they can only provide generalized information. Often by only being able to answer yes or no questions, they experience frustrating technical errors and are very time-consuming to complete. Offer a streamlined and personal method of application to make the process easy and interactive. Be Worth Working For Offer a position an employee can be satisfied with. Employees will seek out competitive wages and benefits, but are also looking to be stimulated and fulfilled in their professional lives. Providing a highly functional and professional work environment with employee recognition, effective and approachable management, as well as a strongly developed brand that one could be proud to work for will generate streams of competent job candidates. Accurately Present Your Company Image In addition to capable employees, it is important in business to attract candidates who will have a genuine interest in working for your company. This will help to ensure they fit in well and become long-term, loyal employees. This can be achieved by always being forthcoming. Using informative and promotional materials that truly reflect the company ethos, and always having a public representative that accurately depicts a brands desired image, will attract the right type of people.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

What Does Proficient Writing Skills Mean and Should You Put It on Resume?

What Does Proficient Writing Skills Mean and Should You Put It on Resume?What does proficient writing skills mean and should you put it on resume? Let's see why people look for this information before considering hiring someone. Before you start writing resumes, read about this important element.It all started from the first personal computer in 1980. This computer gave a platform for interactive communications in the most rapid time. It started with the appearance of the mainframe at IBM in 1970. It then expanded to include floppy disks, laser printers, word processors, and other electronic devices that facilitated the creation of multimedia information.This was all achieved thanks to the emergence of the technical capabilities of computers that made skilled writer possible. In other words, it meant that people are now able to easily produce high quality documents, applications, and even websites if they have the required skills. With all these advantages, it is expected that the de mand for a skilled writer will keep on increasing.Another reason why it is important to put proficient writing skills on resume is that hiring a writer is not really a hard thing. The market has many writers and as long as you have knowledge of basic writing, you can be confident to ask for the services of a writer. If you want to be sure that you get a good writer, you can easily perform some research online.So, what does proficient writing skills mean and should you put it on resume? A highly skilled writer will always be perfect to portray your requirements as a client. Moreover, he will also be able to produce your project in the most affordable price. In other words, when a client knows how to manage a writer, they will end up getting all the best quality service for their project.You might wonder what a highly skilled writer can do for you. A well-written and perfect project is always known to bring profits to a business, thus, it is a must to look for a qualified and reliable writer who will be able to produce an efficient project that will surely bring your business to success.How should you know whether you're getting a truly skilled writer or not? Start by reading through his portfolio or testimonials. Check whether he can produce a project that will guarantee your needs and make you profits.Should you put proficient writing skills on resume? Yes, of course. Remember, the person who delivers the project that will satisfy your client is the best one to hire a writer.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

6 Ways HR Managers Can Use a Knowledge Base CareerMetis.com

6 Ways HR Managers Can Use a Knowledge Base Original Source â€" Depositphotos.comDoes your company have an internal knowledge base that can be accessed by all employees?If so, are you using it to the full?Whether your knowledge base is big or small, here are six important ways you can use it to the full:1)To Store Forms Used with Applicants, New Hires, and ContractorsevalWhenever your company interviews someone new, that likely generates a lot of paperwork before they’re even hired. If hiring managers have to come to you If there are loads of them, create different categories of questions â€" potentially aimed at different levels of employees A style guide can go beyond covering all the little details 5) To Train New EmployeesDo new employees get bombarded with information during onboarding… only to end up coming to you with lots of questions later, because they’ve forgotten everything? Are managers and other employees frustrated with having to spend a lot of time going through the basics over and over again with each ne w hire?Your knowledge base can come in handy here if you create a training portal for employees. As wpDocs explains:The employee onboarding process can be tedious for management and the new members of your company.Creating training portals via a knowledge base and providing online training manuals will make the process faster and more efficient, and will help your team get to work with the information they need.6) To Capture Knowledge Before Employees LeaveWhen an employee hands in their notice, you want to be ready to capture any knowledge they have that hasn’t yet been documented. This could include almost anything from the process for segmenting clients in the mailing software to the best way to fix the photocopier when it jams.While you may not want to let employees add content straight into the knowledge base themselves, it’s definitely a good idea to capture and share content swiftly once you know an employee is leaving â€" even if that means fitting in an extra meeting or two before they go.Tips for Ensuring Your Knowledge Base is As Valuable As PossibleIs your knowledge base working as efficiently as it should? Or is it rarely updated and often ignored by employees?Here are three key tips for making sure that your knowledge base offers as much value as possible:a) Keep it up to dateevalIf your knowledge base consists of articles that were mainly written years ago by the previous HR manager You might find it helps to include “portals” that link to key information on specific topics (e.g. you might have a portal for new employees, plus one for managers).c) Encourage employees to request new contentFinally, while you’re hopefully adding new content to the knowledge base as soon as you recognize a need for it, there may well be questions or omissions that you’re not aware of.Encourage all employees to request new content any time they come across something they need and can’t find, even if it’s something small like “how do I create a drop -down in Excel?”(If you get frequent requests for content that’s alreadyin the knowledge base, that’s probably a sign that you need to categorize it differently to help people navigate it better).You might find that including a form in the knowledge base for “new content requests” helps, or you might want to ask employees more proactively whether there’s anything new they’d like to see in there.Whether your company (and your knowledge base) is enormous or relatively modest, it’s important to use it to the full. Is there a particular area in which you could go further with your knowledge base? For instance, if it’s used primarily as a repository for useful documents, could you add in a “Frequently Asked Questions” page as well?Make sure it’s as easy as possible for employees at all levels â€" from new hires up to senior management â€" to find and use the content in the knowledge base, too. Keep it up to date and keep in mind that layout and organization can ma ke a huge difference to how easy people find it to dig in and find what they’re looking for.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Train Driver Recruitment Tips How To Ace The Application Form

Train Driver Recruitment Tips How To Ace The Application Form Train Operating Company application forms vary. However, the types of questions that you will be asked to respond to are relatively similar in nature. In this blog we have provided you with train driver recruitment tips and advice on how to increase your chances of progressing through this important stage. Yes, it is true that only a small percentage of people make it through this initial stage of the selection process, but this doesn’t mean you have little or no chance of succeeding. Follow the guidance that we have provided you, and your chances will greatly increase. Train Driver Recruitment Tips The Covering LetterSending a covering letter shows the TOC that you are serious about joining their particular organisation. The manner in which you formulate your covering letter is very important. If you simply create a generic covering letter and then send it to lots of different companies, the TOC will see right through it. When constructing your letter (see example provided) make i t presentable, logical and relevant to the TOC you are applying to join. We also advise that you personally write the letter, as this will demonstrate to the TOC that you have put more time and effort into your application.Remember to state what job you are applying for and remember that letters that are seeking ‘any job’ are more likely to be rejected. Within your letter, state the reasons why you want to join this particular TOC and demonstrate that you know a little bit about their company. Once again this will add some weight to your application. Draw attention to one or two points expanded on in your CV or application form to explain why you think you are well suited to the job with this company. Before sending off your application, try to find out the name of the person who will be on the receiving end of the letter. This can be achieved by contacting the TOC Recruitment Office either by e-mail or telephone. If the letter is addressed to them personally, then again, this w ill show how serious you are.Finally, as with all letters, you need to check for correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. You may wish to get a friend to help you read through the letter and check for any errors. Take a look at the following sample covering letter. This will give you some top train driver recruitment tips, and ideas on how to construct your own letter based on your own individual circumstances.Sample Covering LetterMr Richard McMunn, 31, Fictitious Street, Fictown, Ficton FCT 1AW Dear Sir/Madam, RE: Trainee Train Driver position reference 126/TTDPlease find enclosed my completed application form and CV pertaining to the above position. I am applying for this post because I see Ficshire Rail as an exciting and forward-thinking company and I would very much like to work for you. In particular, the position of Trainee Train Driver is one that I have been working towards for many months now. In my quest to become a Train Driver I have researched your company thoroughl y and have been impressed with the ‘Meet The Managers’ section on your website.This shows that the company is serious about its customer relations and I believe that I have the professionalism and high standards that are required to work with your company and can also meet the expectations you require of all employees.I am a highly ambitious, safety conscious and reliable team player who can be trusted to carry out pressurised tasks. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading my application and CV and if you need any more information from me then please let me know so that I can forward it on to you as soon as possible.Yours faithfully, Richard McMunn Preparing To Complete The Application FormTop train driver recruitment tip: Most of the sections on the application form are relatively straightforward to complete! However, there are a number of very important sections that will need your utmost attention if you are to succeed. First of all, read the following tips and advice that relate to the completion of your application form:Read Everything First This applies to both the application form, the accompanying literature (if any) and the TOC website. You will need to understand a little bit about the company first before you can successfully complete the application form. You should also study the job description, person specification and the accompanying recruitment guidance notes.Correct Ink Colour Unless you are submitting an online application make sure you read any requirements that relate to ink colour or capital letters etc. The TOC Recruitment Office will receive hundreds of applications for every job advertised and the initial sift will look at minor errors such as these. If you cannot follow simple instructions such as the correct ink colour then there is not much chance you’ll be able to operate a train safely. Read everything carefully and follow all of the instructions.Complete a Rough Draft First The first time around you are more than likely to make some mistakes. We advise that you photocopy the application form first (unless you are completing an on-line version) and complete a rough draft first. This will give you the opportunity to practice. Then, once you have finished your application, take a copy of it so that you can refer to it before you attend the interview. The interview panel will most certainly refer to your application form during the Manager interview.Later this week we’ll be posting a blog on train driver application questions and answers, so stay posted! This entry was posted in Train Driver, Career Advice, Job Competencies. Bookmark the permalink. Jordan Cooke 5 Top Tips for Joining the Royal NavyHow to Pass the PSNI Online Initial Selection Test (IST)

Friday, May 8, 2020

Help Your Adult Child Find a Career - Without Doing It For Them! - Hallie Crawford

Help Your Adult Child Find a Career - Without Doing It For Them! Is it time for your adult child to get out of the house and find a career direction? Are you ready for them to get moving but don’t know how much support to give them, and where to draw the line? If you have a boomeranger living at home, you’re not alone. A boomeranger is an adult child who has been to college, graduated and at some point, has moved back in with their parents. When the economy is tough, there is a dramatic increase in the number of boomerangers. So how much support and help is appropriate to give them in their career search? Where do you draw the line between enabling vs empowering? First of all, it is good for your adult child to have your help and support because this is a new experience for them. They need to know you are on their side and truly want what’s best for them. At the same time you need to be careful. There is a fine line between support and enabling them. You need to make sure that while you are helping them they are still in charge of the process. Being the parent of a boomeranger can be challenging because you don’t want to do everything for them, and that includes handholding them as they find a career, but you do want to support them. Plus you might get resistance from your child because they don’t want you “butting in”. Other times they might expect you to do everything for them including writing their resume, making phone calls, and networking. Each child is unique. So, how do you know when you are “supporting” them just a little too much? Here are 5 things you can do to help your child without doing too much of the work for them: 1. Review their resume You do not want to write it for them, but once it is completed, go over it with them. Give them constructive feedback. If they have problems with formatting, don’t just fix it. Provide them with samples, books, etc. 2. Help them practice for interviews or career fairs â€" Do not go with them, but you can help them prepare an elevator speech. Talk with them about what they can expect and what they should be looking for at the career fair. 3. Give them networking contacts â€" It is okay to give your son/daughter information for people they can network with. That’s a great place for them to start networking. But make sure they are the ones doing the contacting and connecting. 4. Don’t be afraid to be the parent. Draw the line, tell them the deal They need to know they have to take the action steps. Help them with the tools but make sure they are implementing them on their own. 5. Create a financial plan for them living at home with a time frame â€" Create plans and goals with your son/daughter on what they plan to do about finances. If they are living at home have them pay for part of the bills, give them chores, and assign them responsibilities. Help them to create a plan with realistic goals for progress in their job search. The most important thing to remember is that your son/daughter needs to learn and grow during this time in their life. Your young adult will not be able to do this if you coddle them. Look at it in this light, your young adult will give a bad impression in the work force if they can’t think or do work on their own. An employer may not even hire them if they feel they can’t handle the responsibility. It can be hard as a parent to let go of your child, but ultimately letting them be independent is in their best interest. We hope this article has been helpful to you and that your child will find a career that fulfills them. , Certified Career Coach Schedule a free consult with HallieCrawford.com today