Why You Need to Treat Candidates Like Gold Dust

Why You Need to Treat Candidates Like Gold Dust All recruiters know that the most frustrating thing during the hiring process is giving out a great opportunity to an awful candidate it can lead to low productivity and a high attrition rate. It can also cause massive damage to your personal brand as a recruiter. To ensure you dont make the same mistake, take a step back and review your strategy. Are you engaging with candidates or solely focused on pleasing your clients? If you arent, youre playing a dangerous game. Here are the reasons why you should be treating any candidate like gold dust (courtesy of Manila Recruitment): 1) You wont need to spend on job advertisements: If you can fill any position without having to place a job ad, then make use of your database of CVs and resumes some may not fit the job spec, but there will be people who will jump at the opportunity. Youll save money, and make your job easier plus your candidates and clients will be happy. Winners all round! 2) Engaging with candidates equates to a good word of mouth: Just remember: candidates do not need recruiters, but recruiters need candidates you dont only work for your clients. Engaged candidates will not only let you know when theyre ready to move on (and possibly help you fill a position), but will also share the good news about you on social media, and to friends and family. No-one can ever put a price on good referrals or word of mouth, so thats why you always need a good candidate experience. As you develop your talent pipeline, and build ongoing relationships with qualifying candidates, ensure you dont alienate any good content during the rejection process too so choose your words wisely. 3) Placing candidates becomes easier and faster: If you are the person who reaches out to candidates on a regular basis allows them to understand that interactions are something that you would welcome. In term, it saves you effort and time. 4) The recruiters playing field is levelled: Candidate engagement has always had a big impact on the success of the hire however researching and reaching out to potential hires is becoming increasingly easy, in turn levelling the playing field. This means that if you dont engage with your candidates and treat them well, someone else will and youll have to return to the start so be quick, and good! [Featured image: Shutterstock]

The Correlation Between Good Looks and Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Correlation Between Good Looks and Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Looks matter in business as much as in the rest of life, even if their professional influence tends more to the subliminal. A quick Google Scholar search for “appearance discrimination” will leave you hard pressed to deny that appearance affects professional life, whether you want to be a print model or a product marketing manager. What is a main element that interacts with physical appearance to give some people an attractive leg up? And more importantly, what are some traditional and not-so-traditional things can you do about it, no matter who you are when you step out the door in the morning? It’s how you seem: self-esteem   Appropriately high self-esteem is correlated with attainment of leadership status. In this context, the better you feel, the better you come across to those around you. Old School: Fake It ’Til You Make It â€" The worst-kept secret of confident people is that no one feels confident â€" or attractive â€" 100% of the time. A tried and true method of getting through almost anything is to act as if you’re doing just great at whatever it is. Good posture and a relaxed smile will not only make you look more appealing to colleagues and clients; they will make you feel more in control of a high-pressure situation, too. New School: Sign Off Of Facebook â€" This winter the popular media was abuzz with a study from Berlin’s Humboldt University that declared keeping up with Facebook status updates actually makes people feel worse about themselves. While a healthy sense of competition is a good thing, poring over friends’ news about weight loss, world travel, or whatever your personal insecurity revolves around risks putting you in a negative frame of mind. So before a big interview or crucial meeting, just sign off. Give yourself at least 24 hours’ lead time to focus on feeling confident and looking put together. Tackling change: old school and new school Studies show that perceived attractive looks and youth go hand in hand. While everyone ages, not everyone treats change the same way. Ignoring it is the most ineffective strategy. Those who meet change head on by accepting it and tackling it typically end up on top. So when it comes to appearance and career, embracing change, whether age-related or otherwise, with proactive, optimistic resolve is what sets some people apart. Old School: Exercise, Exercise, Exercise â€" Frank Maggi, a personal trainer with over a dozen years’ experience at New York City’s high-end Sports Club LA (not to be confused with LA Fitness), is unsurprisingly a big proponent of physical activity to elevate overall mood and personal confidence. Maggi sometimes sees the biggest reversal in those who start with doubts about whether “this whole ‘exercise and diet thing’ would work.” Whether you go to a spin class at the trendiest gym or do Hatha yoga alone in your living room, exercise isn’t just about looking different: it’s about feeling better in your own body and coming across more confidently to those in your professional circle. Exercisers tend to have more energy, better concentration, sleep better… the list goes on and on. New School: Cosmetic Intervention â€" According to a USA Today report, Botox was only a $90 million a year business in 1997 and now is a $1.8 billion a year industry. Since 2000, usage of the Botox has increased over 600%. Dr. Steven J. Pearlman MD, FACS, is a well-known New York City physician, Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Despite its Manhattan location, his practice hardly sees a clientele of only actors and actresses dealing with hi-def cameras. 75% of Dr. Pearlman’s patients are in the business world (25% are male) â€" many from Wall St. His practice works with finance high-ups to soften frown lines and utilize Botox ‘browlifts’ not just to chase youth, but for actual professional benefit. “They are concerned that habitual worry lines might indicate falsely to a client that they are worried about a deal or their portfolio,” Pearlman says. In the end A winning smile will only take you so far and savvy executives know that there is no real correlation between intelligence and beauty. After you get in the door, you have to have something to say for yourself. But the likelihood remains: your physical appearance will probably play a part in how peers, superiors and potential clients perceive you. Acting on that knowledge doesn’t mean radically changing everything about your appearance, but identifying strategies that work well for who you already are. Author: Ken Sundheim  is the CEO of  KAS Placement  a recruiting firm based out of New York City.

Why Resumes are like Personal Ads

Why Resumes are like Personal Ads I’ve already shared in a previous post that I read so many career books that when I find one that’s funny and profane in equal parts, I can’t help but share the advice with you.   Michael Laskoff is the author of a “survival guide for the recently unemployed” called Landing on the Right Side of Your A**.  (Title redacted; this is a family friendly blog, after all.)   His often hilarious advice is based on his own checkered career.   He’s a graduate of Harvard Business School and has held several high profile jobs for companies like McKinsey Company.   He also wrote an employment column for Business Week Online. In the chapter about resumes, Laskoff starts out by comparing them to personal ads.   Here is how he makes his case that “looking for love is a lot like looking for work.” Personal ads state precisely who the writer is looking for as a soul mate.   It requires enough focus that the “last man or sheep on earth I’d consider” won’t reply, but not so narrow that everyone opts out.   The perfect personal ad states its goal clearly, but leaves enough latitude to make sure that a sufficient number of people are interested to make the exercise worthwhile. Second, a great personal ad makes clear what the writer has to offer.   If the ad mentions stable finances, you can be sure that the author values that, and hopes that you do, too.   If it’s family life or outdoor activities, the author is writing about strengths and what he or she brings to the table. Third, says Laskoff, good personal ads are intriguing, but based in reality. If a writer says he’s tall, young and rich, and any of those qualities is clearly false, he loses all credibility. Writers must learn to present their best qualities well without succumbing to the temptation to make things up.   You may get a first date, but you will never achieve a long term relationship if you start out with a lie. Finally, a good personal ad is brief.   Laskoff writes, “Being clever, rather than long, is the key.” The implications for writing resumes are obvious.   Start with a clear professional goal, so you know a good match for you when you see it.   Make sure that your goal is specific, but not so narrow that you overlook opportunities for great jobs that come your way. Interestingly, Laskoff’s advice on your clear personal goal mirrors the advice of resume masters I wrote about. He also says that you should write the goal, but not include it on your resume.   Use it in cover letters, conversations and interviews, but don’t include it in this important document.   It’s for your benefit only; the rest of your resume should reflect the employer’s needs and wants.   Laskoff proceeds to outline what he calls the Five Content Commandments.    Support your goal.   Your entire resume should convince the reader that your goal is reasonable and achievable (even if the recruiter hasn’t actually read your goal.) Having your goal in mind gives you a filter to help you edit your writing.   “Does this sentence / achievement / assignment support my goal of being considered for X?” Cover the basics.   By this, Laskoff means that you should make sure you anticipate any questions a recruiter might have and cover those in your writing. That includes gaps in employment, and education and community activities that helped build your skills or experience. Be brief.   Real estate on a resume is precious, so edit your writing down to the essence of your meaning and eliminate anything that doesn’t advance your case for getting the job.  Intrigue the reader.   Laskoff emphasizes accomplishments over duties and making your writing more interesting. In my opinion, intriguing is easier to accomplish  in the cover letter, so it pays to spend some extra time in crafting that document.   Don’t forget that intriguing is in the eye of the beholder; the facts you gain through researching the company may make your cover letter more compelling to a recruiter. Bottoms up.   Of course, most everyone knows that resumes are written in reverse chronological order.   Laskoff also makes the case for presenting the most valuable skills and experience you have at the top of your document; it’s where the will get the most attention. Laskoff finishes the chapter with two versions of a friend’s resume: bloated and fit.   His fit version is a good piece of editing, proving that a sense of humor and serious content are not mutually exclusive.

Going Green in Education Inspiration You Can Use

Going Green in Education Inspiration You Can Use The following is a guest post by Shaya Kirkpatrick.  Her bio follows. Do you want to be a part of helping save our planet now and for future generations? If everyone does something, whether it’s small or large, we can collectively make our Earth a cleaner and safer place for everyone. Grades of Green is changing the course of the future by instilling environmental values in students today.  Grades of Green began in 2008 at Grand View Elementary in California by four moms wanting a better world for their children. After receiving an award from the EPA, the founders created a  non-profit so that other schools would have free and easy access to the tools and information needed to empower and  inspire students to care for the environment. Grades of Green  offers 40+ Activities aimed to instill environmental values in students. Whether you want to concentrate on conserving  air,  energy, waste, water, or toxins, Grades of Green has an array of Activities that will help protect the environment today while instilling environmental values in students for years to come. Two Wins:  Schools and Environment Statistics show that greening schools protects the environment but also saves schools money, decreases absences, and increases test scores! But most schools lack the guidance and resources to produce tangible results. Grades of Green fills that gap by helping students, parents, and educators bring environmental education to the broader school community. I am one of those four moms who saw a need to instill in our children a lifetime of environmental practices that will ultimately help their school, community and our planet. I saw a need and worked with others towards solutions to get things started and get things done!   The issues facing our environment are extremely important. In fact, our lives depend on it. With a little planning and commitment, you could be on the road to making some significant contributions to our planet. WHERE DO I BEGIN? There is so much going on in the environmental sector as sustainability feeds into almost everything. How do I know where to begin to find a job in the environmental field? Attending events in your community and speaking to people first-hand allows you to gain insights, ask direct questions and, most importantly, make contacts.   MAKING CONNECTIONS: When meeting people in the environmental field, you can find out about their backgrounds, what their job involves and what their goals are. This makes it possible to identify areas where you could potentially collaborate or promote each other’s work and achievements. You can also ask about peoples interests as it helps to gain an idea about the bigger picture, such as peoples motives and routes to joining the environmental sector, which then helps communicate and engage others in environmental issues. Whether you’re in school or in the workplace, contacts are everything. If you are in school, studying environmental science, biology, chemistry, engineering, industrial hygiene or construction management, there is more than likely a job career center with a focus on the environment. That would be the place to start as many colleges/schools have internships and work study/jobs connections. If you’re just starting out in the workplace, there are so many environmental jobs in fields like education, construction, health and safety, environmental planning for starters. The beauty of the environmental sector is you meet people who are all out to achieve a common goal, yet are all approaching the goal from a different motive, background, perspectives and are faced by different challenges. Its important to be aware of as many of these factors as possible. VOLUNTEERING AND INTERNSHIPS: Grades of Green offers volunteer opportunities and internships which have so far helped many young people make that first step into gaining experience in the environmental world. Internships are a great place to show your commitment and ability to work in the environmental field and get an inside track if a part-time or full-time position becomes available. You can also use the networking resources of that company to find other positions in the same or related fields. Volunteering can help you make important connections with people who can help you find your “dream job” in the environmental field. Call local groups, agencies and businesses to see what you can do to help and make a difference! Sign up for all the environmental news, job websites and newsletters that appeal to your level or interest. Working as an environmental professional is a terrific career. You work with dedicated people and have a positive impact not only on people today but also on future generations. The work is exciting as it is always changing as new challenges emerge and fresh solutions are developed. Shaya Kirkpatrick Shaya Kirkpatrick is a co-founder of the non-profit Grades of Green, an environmental education organization whose mission is to inspire and  empower kids and the broader school community to care for the environment. Previously, Shaya was a founding member of Planet Pals, an environmental program working with schools in Southern California to help children take a hands-on approach to help the environment. In that role, Shaya helped lead Grand View Elementary School start an e-waste recycling program and plant their  first native garden. Shaya received the Environmental Hero Award by Assemblywoman Betsy  Butler in 2011. Shaya received the 2008 Environmental SBBEC  Steward of the Year Award; recognizing her leadership in protecting our local  environment. In that same year, Shaya received the Congressional Commendation Award, which  was given to her by the United States Congress for her exceptional efforts in  promoting environmental conservation. In 2009, Shaya was the recipient of the  Environmental Award from the Environmental Protection Agency which recognizes  individuals and groups outside of the EPA who are working to protect public health and the environment.  Shaya also received the County of Los Angeles Green Leadership Award for  recognition in commemoration of environmental public service. In 2007 Shaya  served as an advisor to PeaceJam, an international organization helping youth  and Nobel Peace Laureates working together to tackle the most pressing issues  facing our global health. And in 2006, Shaya served as the Chair for Growing  Great, a non-profit whose mission is to adopt healthy eating habits through  innovative classroom lessons, school gardens and community events. Image credits. Planet.    Classroom.

Top 100 CEOs in the World - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Top 100 CEOs in the World Harvard Business Reviews Magazine for January-February takes a look at which CEOs have done the best job running their companies, and ranks them on a variety of criteria. The authors, Morten T. Hansen, Herminia Ibarra, and Urs Peyer, collected data on close to 2,000 CEOs worldwide to determine which large public company CEOs performed best over their entire time in office, or for those still on the job, up until September 30, 2009. Criteria used included: During their tenures, the CEOs had to post a total shareholder return of 997 percent (adjusted for exchange-rate effects). They had to raise company shareholder wealth by $48.2 billion (adjusted for inflation, dividends, share repurchases and share issues). Perhaps its no surprise that Apples Steve Jobs is number one on the list. Following him are Yun Jong-Yong (Samsung Electronics), Alexey B. Miller (Gazprom), John T. Chambers (Cisco Systems) and Mukesh D. Ambani (Reliance Industries). There are some relatively unknown faces at the top, and some obvious candidates in terms of reputation don’t make the top 50, or even the top 100 or top 200. The top five female CEOs are Margaret C. Whitman (eBay), Andrea Jung (Avon Products), Carol Meyrowitz (TJX), Susan M. Ivey (Reynolds American) and Kate Swann (WH Smith). Location and industry didnt factor heavily in the results. But whether the CEO was with the same company or a different one before taking on the CEO role was a factor. CEOs who were insiders (promoted from within their companies) performed better than those who joined their organizations in that position. 00 0

156 Lee Lam Instigator of Change - Jane Jackson Career

156 Lee Lam Instigator of Change - Jane Jackson Career Lee Lam is an instigator of change. I met Lee during a LinkedIn Local event (#linkedinlocaloldstreet) when I was in London in May as I’m also a co-host of LinkedIn Local events (#linkedinlocalsydney). I felt an instant connection to Lee as she is warm, open and authentic.In this podcast we chat about Lees career journey, how she is passionate about being a people developer, and her top 3 tips for team success.Whether it is for a business, a team, or an individual, Lee thinks outside of the box and challenges the belief that we have to think in the same familiar (and failing) ways.In order to make a change you have to accept the need to change, and this takes honesty, delivered with integrity and passion.Having worked in the Financial Technology industry for the last 20 years, most recently in senior COO / Chief of Staff roles, Lee is a blend of risk-taking, change-making creativity, with the security, safety and logic of a COO who can implement change without any dramas.For the las t 13 years, she run a coaching practice working with established businesses to help them move with the times, and Business Startups who need a structured operation as quickly as possible, from someone who knows.For individuals, she challenges them to think big about their career and their ambition, with a plan of action that makes success a when not an if.Lee Lam’s top 3 tips for team management success:Ensure that your team’s objectives and activities align with the company’s goalsEmbrace the differences in your teamDon’t look at people management as a sideline â€" leadership is essentialWhere to find LeeWebsite: www.leelam.co.ukTwitter: @leelamconsult

Best Professional Resume Writing Service

Best Professional Resume Writing ServiceThe best professional resume writing service is a must for any company that is in need of a new employee. As the saying goes, hiring the best is paying the most.By hiring a professional resume writing service, you are ensured that your prospective employee's resume has a professional look to it. It will also come with the requisite experience and education. In order to find a professional resume writing service, you can do a search on the internet.Resume writing services will produce professional resumes for each of their clients. They will base this on the requirements of the client. Thus, the person in charge of the resume will be the one who made it to the first page.Even when they are all prepared, the next step will be the editing process. Once the resumes are ready, they will be sent for printing and distribution to potential employers. To make the best use of the service, you should be able to tell the writing company what you want.One g reat feature of the best professional resume writing service is that they use a template that is set so that they can create a resume that is specific to each client. The template is based on your particular qualifications and work experience. However, it is just a standard template that you can alter to suit your requirements.The best professional resume writing service will have extensive experience in creating well-written resumes. In addition, they will be able to write a resume that can stand the test of time. Thus, it is worth your while to hire them for this purpose.Some other services that can help you in the creation of a professional resume include being able to customize your resume according to your tastes and preferences. You can do this by mentioning your needs and interests in the resume. You will be given the freedom to change the summary of your career into what suits you best.You may also choose to write your own resume. However, having a professional resume prepar ed by a good resume writing service will help you in getting a job.