What Should Candidates STOP Doing

What Should Candidates STOP Doing Theres probably a whole list of definite no-nos for candidates but this week our panel of experts share their advice on what they think should never be done in the hiring process. You might be telling your candidates some of this already, but if youre not, feel free to add them on. Kerri-Ann Hargreaves STOP ghosting recruiters and hiring managers. It’s become a horrible trait and we are all feeling it in the industry. You have to consider that you never quite know when your paths might cross again. Or when you might need the support of a specific recruiter again. Think before you act. Think before you don’t speak. Kerri-Ann Hargreaves,  Director, H2 Consultancy. Jeff Berger Don’t be afraid to show your personality. While a job candidate’s experience and skills are important hiring criteria, a study carried out by TopCV and CV-Library found that personality is not far behind. The data revealed that 77% of employers consider a candidate’s personality to be among the top three factors in deciding whether to extend a job offer, substantially more important than education (13%) or appearance (12%). Let employers see the ‘real’ you during the interview process, but be certain to toe the line between coming across as ‘confident’, rather than ‘arrogant’. Jeff Berger, CEO and Founder, Talent Inc. Lysha Holmes A chorus of recruiters are shouting GHOSTING- there is no excuse these days to not update your recruiter- you can just whatsapp them to advise of a change of mind/circumstances! Lysha Holmes, Recruiter of Recruiters, Qui Recruitment. Paul Wolfe Instead of focusing on the number of applications, candidates should direct their efforts into screening each open position carefully in order to create quality applications. Many people who are looking for jobs feel that their chances of receiving a response from an employer will increase if they apply for more roles. It is important to remember that showing attention to detail in the application process will help a candidate stand out to a recruiter. Paul Wolfe, Indeed Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources. Rebecca Fraser Asking for a job at first point of contact, sending unsolicited emails with no context to why the person is receiving it, not providing evidence of their skills through demonstrated examples and just making blanket statements, not having a purpose or clarity in their career direction. Rebecca Fraser, Digital Experience and Learning Manager. Ben Martinez Randomly applying for jobs. Focus less on applying to an ATS and more on finding the people who are influencing the hiring decisions. Ben Martinez, Principal Founder, Ramp Talent. Jo Cresswell Taking a job offer at face value. Companies expect candidates to negotiate and come back with various asks at the offer stage. This isn’t only for salary, also think about working hours, place of work, scope of work, etc.. The interview process and offer stage is the best time to create an overall package which fits the candidate’s life. Jo Cresswell, Corporate Communications Manager, Glassdoor. Darain Faraz Doubting themselves!  Research from LinkedIn  has shown that, in the UK, confidence is the number one barrier when it comes to candidates finding their dream job. Darain Faraz, Careers Expert, LinkedIn. Allan Leung Requesting to connect and then immediately sending a resume asking to be considered for any open career opportunities. While this may work sometimes, messages like these tend to get lost in the shuffle. A stronger approach focuses on building the relationship first. Allan Leung, Lead Talent Acquisition Advisor, HCSS. Chris Murdock Stop setting unrealistic expectations and stop taking results personally. If you are rejected for a position, learn, improve and move on Chris Murdock  is Senior Partner and Co-Founder at IQTalent Partners

Tips For Library Resume Writing

Tips For Library Resume WritingLibrary resume writing is no longer limited to library computer systems and documents. Today, the availability of many more types of library material are available in the form of CD-ROMs, and the ability to have library resume writing become an effective and regular part of the library work force has been utilized for. So if you are not the bookworm type, chances are that you would find it quite difficult to make use of all the available material in the library, or at least the old fashioned library computer systems.However, the Internet has enabled the library to make the use of this material in the library much easier, and many employees are able to make use of the Internet as a system to post their resumes online. This makes the library resume writing even more efficient. So with a little effort on your part, you can make a library resume writing even more successful.The first thing that you need to do is to get some good library resumes to put onlin e, and a simple search term for library resume writing will show you what you need. Some of the most sought after and popular resume postings are the ones on job sites such as Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, and USJobs.com. These are some of the better known sites that employ the concept of library resume writing.It is important that you use these sites to find the best library resumes writing. After all, these are some of the main movers of the industry. Some of the other well-known job sites, which do employ library resume writing, are Flipboard.com, Forbes.com, or Zing.com. The goal of these sites is to gather information from the best and the brightest people who work in the library, and then compile them in a blog format so that library resume writing becomes an effective way to keep resumes posted.These sites are great for job seekers as they are able to post their resumes along with a resume writing sample. This allows the job seeker to see what a library resume writing sampl e looks like before he starts working on his own. Other sites that employ the concept of library resume writing include Stack Exchange, Upwork.com, Or.com, and eLance.com.Using the sites listed above, you will find it easy to find the best library resume writing samples to use in your site. The next step in the process is to then submit your resume to the appropriate positions. This will allow you to make use of all the great library material that is available online, and also use your creativity to create some interesting looking and appealing resumes.The Internet is a vast resource, and there are a number of people who are now creating websites and blogs on the topic of library resume writing. In fact, many of the best library systems have already been taken over by these new generation of writers. So while the job seeking staff will continue to utilize the library computer systems for resume posting, there is no reason why you cannot post your resume on the web.Using the Internet to post your library resume is becoming more popular, and with more people becoming employed, the demand for these resumes will continue to grow. So consider the option of using the internet to post your resume, and make the most of the ever-growing database of library resumes.

Are You Going to Accept the Wrong Job Offer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Going to Accept the Wrong Job Offer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Good decisions are the foundation of a successful career. One of the most important career decisions you will make (or are currently making) is what company to accept a job offer from. When you work for a top-rate company, you enjoy the following benefits: A happier career. A higher class of co-worker. More money. More room for advancement. More employer appreciation. More intellectual stimulation. Better future prospects for your next job. Conversely, when you dont approach your job search correctly, you run the risk of waking up every morning unhappy, underpaid, unappreciated and little to no future job prospects. Our recruiters have also seen poor career decisions take adverse health tolls on individuals. Needless to say, you want to avoid bad companies at all costs. Life is too short. The first way to do so is to keep an open mind about industry, function and size. Job offers and industry, function and size a. Industry Look at any and all industries. There are some really great companies in verticals that you probably have never considered. This is not to mention that some of the hottest industries have so many job applicants applying to their open positions, that you run the risk of just being another number to them. b. Function You should always follow what youre passionate about. Although, a bit cliche and overused, I dont disagree with that. However, many job seekers dont realize that they could be passionate and effective at more than one thing. Thus, they fail to look at opportunities that could turn into very fruitful careers. The first step to opening your mind to other experiences is understanding that no job is perfect regardless of what you may be told. c. Size Dont mistake a companys size with their ability to provide you with a good career. The best companies in existence are the ones that can make the most money with the least amount of expenses. Traditionally, our recruiters have also seen very little correlation between a companys size and their stability. Determining if you are going to accept the right job offer Any recruiter who knows what theyre doing will tell you that just because someone offers you a job, doesnt mean you have to accept it. Interview enough places and youll eventually get some offers. Its getting job offers at progressive, interesting companies which separates the men from the boys and the women from the girls. Here are 3 questions to ask yourself prior to accepting that job offer: 1. Does the industry have a moat? The best businesses are the ones that are not easy to get into. They have a fortress in the same manner that Kings would put water around their castle (hence, the reference). For instance, anybody can become a social media manager, therefore the industry gets saturated. However, opening up a viable competitor to Wal-mart is a bit of a different story. 2. Are they technologically up to date? If the firm is running outdated servers, has outdated web programming and old computers, consider them less viable. Technology moves too quickly for any firm to not be on top of whats going on in the tech arena. 3. What are the tones of their speech patterns? Of the 5 analysis listed, speech pattern analysis is probably the most subtle to pick up on. In our recruiters opinion, its the most important gauge of whether a company can provide you with a fitting career. In a nutshell, look for people who convey positive thoughts. Optimism is a key component to a quality company that you want a job offer from. Author: Ken Sundheim  is the CEO of  KAS Placement Recruiting  a sales and marketing executive search firm based out of New York City. He is also a writer for Forbes.

How to Market For Your Future and Not Your Present - Classy Career Girl

How to Market For Your Future and Not Your Present This past week I had the opportunity to participate in the American Small Business Championship briefing. Coming from a corporate background, when I heard the word briefing I was not too excited.  But, I was  surprised at the number of other female entrepreneurs and bloggers that The Motherhood had assembled.  This was one great  fabulous group of women supporting each other and making things happen! What I learned is that The American Small Business Championship is hosted by  Sam’s Club and SCORE to address the unique challenges and obstacles faced by small business owners. Here are some of the tips they shared during the briefing to market for your future and not your present: 1) Be consistent. You have to be unique and actively engage with your customers. Getting online is the best way to do this. 2) Dont forget that face to face matters!  Do your best to meet your potential customers in person as well. 3) Its all about the customer relationships. People are much more likely to purchase if they see positive reviews or recommendations online. Do your best to  capitalize on positive client relationships and share them with other potential clients. But what if you cant find the time to even work on your new business!  If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, here are 3 ways to work smarter that they shared during the briefing. 1) Get your biggest and most important priorities  done before 9am. Set your alarm and get them done! (This is what I do! I try to get all my stuff done between 5am-7:30am before my daughter wakes up!) 2) Change your patterns.  Look at your schedule and see what habits and patterns you need to change.  Where are you wasting time each day?  Replace procrastination with scheduled breaks. 3) Who cares what happened yesterday and how much you should have completed off your to-do list! Today is a new day. You are in charge of your calendar! Forgive yesterday so you can do better today. (I love this one!!) During the briefing, we were also joined by two female entrepreneurs and challenge winners to hear about their success stories. Veronica Jacobsen, Owner of Baby Love, provides inclusive childbirth education that empowers families to have healthy births and be confident parents. You can find out more from her at  @BabyLoveMN  and  babylovemn.com. The other challenge winner was Tabitha Birdsong, Co-Founder of  Birdsong’s Sweet Tooth. I loved her 3 most important priorities for her business which were  Family, Friends and Fun! You can find out more about Tabitha at  @birdsongsweets and  missbirdsongsweetooth.com. The team from Sams Club and SCORE also shared what they thought was the  most important item for entrepreneurial success? 1) Determination and passion. 2) Support and mentorship.  People who are willing to stick with you during the hard times. Laying out a plan with a mentor helps the plan fall into place much easier than without a plan! 3) Clear knowledge of what success means to you. You dont have to build the next Google. What is most important to you? 4) Set consistent goals with where you want things to be. Look five years from now and see where you want to be. Actually visualize it.  See it so clear.  Visualize what you want for your business, the success will come. You can learn more about The American Small Business Championship  here: 1) score.org 2) samsclub.com/giving 3) championship.score.org There are three more regional training programs coming up! You can go to www.championship.score.org to find out when and where those are, and you can certainly attend. You can also apply to be a champion in the future, and learn how you can get involved with Sam’s Club. Just know that both Sams Club and SCORE  are available  to help you! This post is brought to you by Sams Club and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Resume Writing Skills

Resume Writing SkillsWhen you are trying to enhance your resume, the first thing that comes to mind is always good resume writing skills. This is the most crucial part of your resume, as it is the foundation on which all else in your resume will be based.However, there is more to having a good resume than just having a good resume writer. When you are writing your resume, you should take note of these characteristics. They include basic science knowledge, having knowledge about yourself and the things that you can write about, and the ability to convey yourself with good grammar and punctuation.A good resume writer should know a great deal about writing, including all the aspects of scientific writing such as structure, composition, and style. This means knowing what types of language best suit the needs of the people who are applying for jobs. This type of writing skill is also important because your resume is being reviewed by an employer to see if you are qualified to do the job, and therefore, if you are not giving him or her a good idea of what you can do, you could be wasting his or her time. So you need to give the employers the best information you can. This means communicating clearly and accurately, rather than just presenting your point of view.Another thing to consider when you are going to go into scientific writing is the basic scientific knowledge of your own life. You want to make sure that you know enough to write about specific and solid topics without ever losing sight of the fact that your own opinion is what makes you qualified to do the job. You want to be honest and fair, but you don't want to be too clinical. Your goal should be to talk about facts, not emotions.You should have good grammar and spelling, which mean you should use correct punctuation and spellings. Many people make the mistake of using the wrong types of grammar or punctuation in their resumes. This is what happens when they're reading for the first time. They might even get too excited at the idea of being able to apply for a job in a specific field, so they write more than necessary.Having good writing skills is important because it means that you can write about the type of job you are looking for, instead of focusing on what your resume is about. It also shows that you care about making sure the information you are putting on your resume is accurate and true. Remember that an employer can look at your resume and immediately get a sense of whether or not you know what you are talking about. If you are not careful, your resume can end up making him or her look bad.In addition to having good science skills, you should also have a strong personal statement. This is a statement that talks about why you would be a good candidate for the job, or why you think the employer should hire you. By showing how you can help other people and create a positive working environment, you are showing your employers that you are a good person to work with.As you can see, there are many different traits that go into having a good resume writing skills. It takes more than just having the latest science writing skills, or knowing how to write well, but it also takes a good understanding of yourself and your career goals.

Let Go of What You Hate To Make Room For What You Love - Kathy Caprino

Let Go of What You Hate To Make Room For What You Love Welcome to Episode 11 of Work You Love! Today, Id like to share about the idea that, in order to build a successful, rewarding career we love, we have to proactively move away from doing work that drains and demoralizes us. How do we let go of what we hate, and what kind of outcomes are possible when we do? Check out the video below for answers to that, and for a recent true story from my own life of how letting go of work I didnt like created the space, opportunity, and energy for work I love: The key takeaways from todays video are: 1. Determine what you want to let go of, specifically. 2. Identify what you want to do more of â€" what you love. 3. Commit yourself to creating new opportunities to do what you love. 4. Be open â€" don’t overly-attach to what it has to look like. For more information on letting go, check out my Forbes post Why Letting Go Of What You Hate Is Essential To Building a Career You Love. Heres a tweetable for you: If your plate is overly full with work you hate, youll never do work you love.   Be brave; let go. @kathycaprino Click to tweet:  http://ctt.ec/bpRHj See you next time! What work are you ready to move away from?

5 Ways To Improve Your Job Search

5 Ways To Improve Your Job Search There is no denying that the job market is more competitive than it ever has been. If you are to secure the job you have your sights set on, you need to approach your job search in the right manner. It may have been a while since you found yourself needing to look for a job or you may simply be struggling to make it to the interview stage. Either way, the five tips below can help you to improve your job search. Draw upon relationships you have already made â€" At this point, it is very likely that you have already made some key relationships in your career that can help you, even if you do not realise it. Refer to your contact book and get in touch with everyone. Explain that you are looking for a fresh challenge in the industry and ask if they know about any opportunities. You would be surprised by how many doors this can open. At worst, you will be able to get a ton of references to assist in your job hunt. Research well â€" If you are going to secure your dream job, you need to show your passion for the role. This consists of researching the vacancy effectively. You need to make sure that you display your knowledge of the company, as well as why your personality would be the right fit for the company culture.    If you are  considering a career in tech companies, it is best to research the background, culture and core values of the company you are eyeing on to help you get noticed by employers. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date â€" Spend some time working on your LinkedIn profile. It needs to be up-to-date and it must be optimised so that you are visible online. LinkedIn offers a great way to connect with potential employers, industry experts, and influential people, but only if you use it correctly. Consider professional assistance â€" When looking for professional recruitment advice to aid your job search, don’t merely go for the cheapest or first firm you lay your eyes on. Outplacement support should consist of a firm that really gets to understand you â€" your skill set, your career goals, your needs â€" and matches this to the best opportunities so you have a career that flourishes. If you merely get email notifications for any job in close proximity, find another company to assist. Don’t waste time â€" Finally, a lot of job seekers go wrong because they waste too much time. You don’t need to apply for every job you come across. Only apply for jobs you are excited about and genuinely interested in. So there you have it: five important tips that can help you to improve your job search. If you follow the suggestions that have been presented, you should, hopefully, find it a lot easier to find the job that is right for you. Remember, your job search is a two-way thing. It is not just about impressing an employer â€" it is about finding the right job for you so that you can have a career you are happy with.