14 Steps to Build Your Recruitment Plan

14 Steps to Build Your Recruitment Plan This post is sponsored by  InHiro. Do you use all available sourcing channels? Recruiting can be a tough job when  you don’t know where to start, and it can be pretty expensive too. Here is a sourcing map created by InHiro â€" a simple tool for recruiters. Takeaways: Everything starts with a  job description. Think about it as your homepage.  It should be attractive enough to get the candidate’s attention. More expensive doesn‘t mean better. Use the free channels available to  you first. The key to success is targeting. Where do your current employees hang  out? Great sourcing strategy is just a start, however and recruiting tools may  also be able to aid your recruitment process. Author:  Lucia Kubinska  is the founder of InHiro a  simple recruiting tool that helps companies  build employer branding, attract quality candidates, manage all recruiting  processes, and make better decisions with advanced stats and analytics.

Internships Career Boosters or Financial Suicide

Internships Career Boosters or Financial Suicide Do your grandparents ever tell you stories about how they walked ten miles a day to go to school uphill both ways? How about how they got their first job and the only respectable thing to do was stay at that company for the next 40 years? Both sound a little crazy, huh? I don’t know about ten miles in the snow, but they weren’t kidding about their careers. Simply put, the times are a’changin and so is the career landscape. Gone are the days of staying at one job until retirement. Gone too are the days when a college graduate had a near guarantee of getting a job upon graduation (if those days ever existed). So what can you to do when it’s time to switch companies or careers or if you can’t find that first job? Let’s talk internships! Internships in Today’s Market I’ve been on both sides of the coin when it comes to internships. I’ve had some that were a great experience, some that went nowhere, and well, one that led me to the seat I’m sitting in today. (Read more about that here.) No two internships are alike. They can be a great way to break into a new position or a dead end. It all depends on the job, the company, and what you make of it. So before you decide whether taking an internship is the right thing for you, here are a few things to consider: Signs an internship may be a good option for you You want to get a foot in the door of the company hiring for the internship The internship closely matches what you want to do with your career There aren’t many positions open in your field right now You’ve been applying for jobs but not getting many responses The skills don’t exactly match your desired position, but may help you get closer This company is willing to train you on skills that you may not have which are necessary to break into the field you want Signs an internship may not be a good option for you There are plenty of other entry-level jobs in your field that you can apply for The skills required and gained at this internship don’t relate to what you want to do You’re getting good responses on your resume for full-time paid positions The company doesn’t tend to hire their interns on full-time (yes, you can ask if this position is one that can grow to full-time) The company has a reputation that you don’t want to associate with Internships for the New Grad Now let’s talk about finances. Some internships don’t pay much, and others don’t pay at all, but since you’re just starting out then getting your foot in the door could be more valuable than anything. So if you think this is your best opportunity, then get creative to make it work. Start off by finding out what hours you’ll work and see if there’s a way to take on a part-time job on the side. There are many jobs that can be flexible, and one that you may still have from college. Look at things like waiting tables or working at a coffee shop so you can take home tips on top of part-time pay (and typically work less hours for the money). If you really don’t want to go down that path, consider looking for another part-time paid internship to supplement your income. If your current internship is full time, then look into working as a freelancer so you can decide your own hours. There are many jobs that can be done by freelancers and you may find one that helps boost your resume even more! Internships for the Career Switch It’s becoming more common for full-time workers to try internships in order to switch their careers, as Farnoosh Torabi mentions in her article on “returnships”. There are many reasons to take these on! Perhaps you’ve been let go and think it’s a good time to try something new, or maybe you moved to a new city and are struggling to find work, or maybe you are unhappy in your job. No matter the reason, it can be harder to take a cut in pay at this stage in life. If you are currently working, make sure you have a solid emergency fund of 6 months to 1 year saved up before you take the plunge. (That is, unless, you already have a part-time or freelance gig that you know will supplement your income completely.) When doing your budget, don’t forget to account for the fact that you’ll now be paying for your health insurance out of pocket. If you aren’t currently working, then the main concern should be the odds of this internship turning into a full-time position at this company or a similar one. Internships work best when the company hires you on full-time, but that doesn’t mean the experience won’t help you get another job. Just make sure you know exactly what you’re walking into before you take this over another paid position. Making Internships Work for You Professionally Whether you’re a recent college graduate looking for a way into your career or a professional in need of a change, an internship actually can be a great opportunity. Just like anything else, it will be exactly what you make of it. If you want this to be the boost you need in your career, make sure to go above and beyond every day. Are there new projects you can take on or processes you can improve? Talk to your supervisor about your ideas to show that you have creativity and initiative. On that same note, this is an entry-level position and there could be days in which you spend more time brewing coffee and making copies than rubbing elbows with the head honchos at your company. That’s okay! Keep a positive attitude and show integrity in everything you do. Chances are your hard work will be noticed as you build a reputation of someone who gets the job done no matter how big or small. Image Credit: Victor1558

Professionalism in the Workplace by the Numbers

Professionalism in the Workplace by the Numbers Generation Y is accustomed to a much more lax atmosphere where sending text message-like emails from their smart phones is second nature. Recent grads are becoming more laid back, but their future workplace may not be. The job market is as competitive as ever. As recent college graduates have looming school loans over their heads there is no better time to avoid the common mistakes of the rest of the Gen Y’ers vying for the same positions. The 2012 “Professionalism in the Workplace Study” surveyed a national sample of HR professionals, upper class undergraduates, and managers or supervisors. The study helped to define professionalism and provide numbers to analyze the current state of professionalism in the American workforce. It is important for recent graduates to take in to account the qualities most sought after by their next interviewer. From an  HR standpoint, the most essential qualities of professionalism are listed below: Interpersonal skills (33.6%) Appearance (25.3%) Communication skills (24.9%) Time management (20.8%) Confidence (20.7%) Ethical (15.2%) Work ethic (14.2%) Knowledgeable (9.3%) Now, how are recent graduates lacking in professionalism? Here is how Generation Y’s habits and lifestyle are conflicting with their Generation X employers: The obsession with technology is hindering recent hires and their ability to maintain a strong, qualified presence on the job. The study reported 83% of new hires excessively utilizing social media at work. Furthermore, 82% text at inappropriate times during the day. Lastly, the most common interview mistake of recent graduates is inappropriate attire at 40%. RELATED: Professionalism in the Workplace: Myth, Mystery or a Must?

The Most Off-Putting Things Recruiters Hiring Managers do to Candidates

The Most Off-Putting Things Recruiters Hiring Managers do to Candidates Ghosting, the term used to describe ending a relationship by not responding to texts or calls, has gained such popularity in recent years. Even the New York Times wrote a story on the phenomenon.?? At least the broken-hearted have good company! Jobseekers have many frustrations about the search process, but none greater than a lack of communication.?? One disheartened jobseeker on social media called Megan says: “The most thoughtless thing is not hearing anything back…even after investing time and money interviewing several times with a company. Its fine to be turned down, but just to be ghosted by a company? Tell me and let me move on. The lack of communication has consequences beyond personal disappointment.?? Megan also says a hiring manager contacted her references and set up times for a call and then ghosted  her: I was pretty embarrassed he wasted my references time like that. Very unprofessional.” (Unprofessional, by the way, is a term that comes up a lot when jobseekers discuss recruiters; so do some others I probably shouldn’t write here.) Chaim Shapiro, Director of the Office for Student Success at Touro College hit the nail on the head when he tweeted: “Keep job candidates updated on their status. Rejection is hard but WAITING is intolerable.” Indeed, with applications submitted electronically and more ways to communicate than at any time in history (!) there is no excuse for keeping candidates in the dark. And yet every candidate has heard something like this: ??“Due to the volume of applications and in the interest of thoughtfully considering individuals best suited for each position, we will only contact applicants moving forward in the process.” That doesn’t sound very thoughtful at all! ?So, let’s get 2017 off to a good start. Even if an applicant isn’t the “one”, building a cordial relationship with two-way communication will surely benefit us all. Make the process simple The aforementioned ghosting is exasperated by how much time and energy candidates must put in to every job to which they apply. “Im applying for a part-time job, that requires an application and a resume, both containing the same information. One of us is doing this wrong,” writes a jobseeker on Twitter. One candidate was asked to complete an 11-part “homework” assignment for an interview. Others complain of “extensive, exhaustive,  months-long, multiple-interview search processes.” ??So take a few minutes to review. Would a five-part homework assignment suffice? For applications, do you really use every field? Find the balance between getting what you need and overwhelming candidates. Keep an open mind, really! Everyone’s circumstances are different and complex and no one’s life fits in neat little boxes. (Another reason applications are universally disliked). One jobseeker implores recruiters to stop the “rapid elimination of candidates” just because they are currently unemployed, overqualified, too old, too young, etc. ??An HR insider say he knows recruiters who ask seemingly open-ended questions. But beware! “Theyre deducting points for every word that doesnt match.” A person who has been unemployed for a while might be just the hardest worker ever. A career changer will have a truly unique perspective. An older worker has irreplaceable experience. With an open mind, you might find genuinely great talent. Beware of the hoops While job hunting, most candidates are working and they have the same daily life obligations we all do plus their job search. This means every step requires the jobseeker to jump through hoops even if they never mention it. (And they won’t). Want candidates to take a call during the day? No big deal, right? Wrong. If they work in a cubicle, finding a quiet and private spot can be an ordeal. Want candidates to do a Skype interview during the day? If they work in an open office space, they’ll have to take time off. Want the candidate to “just send over” work samples or other “homework”? Anyone with a job will stay up all night to finish. Want to postpone an interview? That’s another excuse to the boss at the least and a loss of travel (tickets, hotels) money at the most. Jobseekers realize they will have to work hard and make some sacrifices. They just want recruiters can show a little humanity in the process.?? Emilie Mecklenborg, the social media manager for Alexander Mann Solutions (a talent acquisition and management services company), says companies are getting the message. “They are starting to realize that no feedback and long applications equal bad candidate experience.” If Mecklenborg is right, maybe the only ghost stories we’ll be talking about next year are the ones we heard on Halloween. About the author:  Fritzi Bodenheimer tells stories on the air, in print, and around the dinner table.

Trends in Resume Writing This Year

Trends in Resume Writing This YearAs you look at the trends in resume writing this year, you are likely to see a large increase in the use of samples. These are now a common component of many resumes. Your traditional resumes may still use samples, but your samples should be included in the parts of your resume that include the call to action.When writing your resume, always keep in mind that you want to catch the eye of the employer. With this in mind, it is important to have the resume to make an impact. The trends in resume writing this year indicate that an applicant with a sample will be considered for the job more than one who does not.While you are working on your resume, you should also remember that the length and content of the resume are going to depend on what position you are applying for. In many cases, your resume is just a summary of your education and work experience. You should not have to rewrite your resume every time you move to a new position. Since your job sit uation may change, you will need to have a fresh resume.If you are applying for a career-oriented position, you are not likely to have to write your resume to be exactly like someone else's. Instead, you should write your resume to match the specific requirements of the position. A sample will give you a starting point, but you should not rely solely on the sample. The resume should match your overall personal goals.You can list your basic skills, such as interpersonal communications and research skills. You can also list additional skills and education, such as time management and information technology. These are the things that employers look for when they are reviewing a resume. They can easily tell whether your resume is from the same person because they will already know what the goals of the person are.You can find a number of sample resumes online. While some employers provide their own sample resumes, most offer samples for free. Look for a sample that incorporates some of the same key words or subjects that you want to use. This will give you a list of potential topics for your resume.Resume writing samples also show you how to format your resume. You can add your contact information, education, and skills at the top, and highlight areas where you can strengthen your resume. This will help you focus on the major points that make up your resume.Keep in mind that trends in resume writing this year require you to make sure that your resume is professional, easy to read, and easy to understand. It is also important to stay updated with new trends in resume writing. This will help you stay competitive when submitting your resume.

seek.com.au Say This for a Pay Rise - Jane Jackson Career

seek.com.au Say This for a Pay Rise - Jane Jackson Career Original article appeared on seek.com.au, Jane Jackson interviewed by journalist, Lindy AlexanderWant a Pay Rise? Say This!Few things are as nerve-racking as asking for a pay rise. But with the right words, you can make sure you’re putting your best foot forward when asking for more money. Once you’ve done  all the prep work required  to have the conversation, you can use this script for guidance on what to say in your pay rise meeting.Start with the positives about your role and what you are proud of “Thank you for  making  the time to meet with me today. As you know I have been working here for [amount of time] and have recently been focusing on [quick summary of what you’ve been doing].I have really enjoyed being part of [project or team] and am proud of the role I played in this  organisation.”Talk about your achievements “Over the past 12 months I have [talk about your achievements that have benefited the  organisation].”“If you are able to include a dollar figur e or percentage improvements do that,” says  Jane Jackson, a career management coach and author of Navigating Career Crossroads. “If you are not able to provide numbers then talk about the perceived benefit â€" such as how you streamlined a process or improved team morale. Tangible and intangible benefits are what you must bring to the attention of your manager.”Get to the point “With my achievements over the past 12 months and bearing in mind the benefits I’ve brought to the  organisationrecently, I would appreciate it if you would consider a review of my current salary.I’ve also had a look at current compensation levels for roles similar to mine in companies of the same size and believe I have a clear view of the industry standard salary.”At this point, your manager will likely require time to think over your request and have the idea approved by other stakeholders involved in salary increases. It’s likely the exact dollar value discussion will be revisited in a la ter conversation, should your request be fulfilled.The next steps After the meeting, Jackson suggests sending an email thanking your manager and include the points you discussed. “If there is another conversation to be had, confirm the day and time this will happen,” she advises.“If the answer to your request is no, you can ask if there is another way to acknowledge your achievements, such as bonuses, time off in lieu, extra paid leave,” says Jackson. “If there is no leeway whatsoever, your manager will still have gained an awareness of your value. You can ask them for another discussion in three to six months time.”If your manager agrees to a pay rise, ensure you ask for this in writing (email is fine), clarify when the raise will be paid from and suggest that you meet in another year to review your progress and salary again.While asking for a pay rise can be daunting, it is a great opportunity to highlight the value you bring to your role. As Jackson says, “Be well a rmed with the knowledge and reasons your manager needs to say yes!”For ongoing career management and career transition support, join The Careers Academy and take control of your career today!

Factors That Affect The Productivity Of Your Employees

Factors That Affect The Productivity Of Your Employees Every successful business owner understands the importance of productivity in the workplace. It helps to keep your customers happy, which generally leads to an increase in sales, it saves you money, because you’re getting more done in less time, and it keeps morale high, as your employees benefit from the increased profits and you have less to be stressed about. Your employees are human beings, so it’s natural for them to feel unproductive now and then, but you should still do all you can to prevent it. Here are four factors you should take into account if you want to improve employee productivity. 1) The Tools If you want your employees to be as productive as possible, then you need to make sure that they have the proper tools to get the job done. If they don’t, then they’re going to struggle, which, of course, means that the tasks they have will take a lot longer to complete. You should also ensure that you maintain and upgrade tech tools, like computers and smartphones, when needed. Many companies fail to do this in a bid to save money, but slow devices will slow down your employees, which means you end up wasting money anyway. 2) The Workload Delegating work to your employees is part of being the boss, but that doesn’t mean that they should have to handle every task you don’t want or need to complete. Giving your staff a huge pile of work to do each day is only ever going to cause stress, which will have a negative impact on the productivity of the entire team. Instead, you should consider which tasks aren’t as important, and outsource these tasks to freelancers and other companies. This will free up time for your employees to focus on the more essential work. 3) The Workspace You might think that your office is a great place to work, but, chances are, there is something wrong with it that affects the productivity of your employees. You should speak to your team and see what they have to say. Once you have some insight, you can find ways to address the issues. This could mean changing something as small as the colour of the walls, or it could mean finding a new space and carrying out a complete commercial fit out. This, of course, would be a lot of work, but it’s worth it if it improves your working environment. 4) The Attitudes If your employees view you or your company in a negative way, then they’re not going to be as productive as those who love their job and are completely happy. This means that it’s important for you to do what you can to improve your employees’ attitudes towards work. You should take an interest in their lives, offer praise and rewards for meeting targets, and just generally show that you care about them, rather than just what they can do for you. All of this takes very little time and effort, but can really give your team a boost. If you want to improve the productivity of your employees, then make sure that you address the four factors listed above.