The Unfair World of Hiring

The Unfair World of Hiring Who’s scared as sh*t about how the government and corporations monitor us, categorize us, recruit us, abuse us, and ultimately misuse our information because we share on the internet? It lives in the back cells of our minds and fore nerves of our fingertips. When it comes to the NSA’s staff welcome message, Box CEO  Aaron Levie tweeted: First Day at NSA: You are the brightest minds of this generation. Now please follow around these avatars in Second Life. Aaron Levie (@levie) December 9, 2013 But this is the modern life. We are not avatars; we are not f*cked. The three disturbing truths in the unfair world of hiring â€" meaning how the candidate’s quality and fit is misjudged â€" are (attractiveness of) appearance, (current employment) status, and (lack of) analytics. I will outline these concerns, the pseudo solutions you have probably already heard, and my proposed solutions to these modern-day-the-internet-is-changing-us -and-our-business problems. (Attractiveness of) Appearance: We’ve all been in the room when the beautiful person is treated better. It starts from the top down. In business, as in life, beautiful people have it easier. Italian researchers found a significant social problem of discrimination in hiring process. Messina  University students deemed thumbnail photos were attractive and unattractive.” Then, they sent out identical text resumes to Italian businesses, changing the photo. Those who were deemed unattractive received a call back 17% of the time, those who did not attach a photo received a call back 39% of the time, and those who were deemed attractive received a call back 50% of time. Yes, some statistics show it is easier for attractive people to get a job. Yes this study has major flaws. This is a reminder, DO NOT HIRE FOR ATTRACTIVENESS. Pseudo Solution: Never look at someone’s face, online or in person. Just don’t look. Imagine we all wear paper bags all day, working all day alone in the world. Real Solution: We live in world where our likeness markets us online. As opposed to running away from thumbnails in your Facebook news feeds and Google search results, your business needs to come up with a strategy to ensure smart and objective hiring decisions. The best solution to unbiased decision making, is knowing why you made the hire you did, and being able to back up that hiring decision with facts. I recommend using recruiting software that aggregates relevant data points, such as past credentials, accomplishments and your colleagues’ opinions. READ MORE:  Recruiting: The  Beautiful  Backlash (Current Employment) Status: Not working right now? You cant be a good hire. I covered it before, but it bears mentioning it again today, we anonymously surveyed recruiters, hiring managers and HR professionals, about discrimination against the unemployed: 82% confirm that “discrimination against the unemployed is a reality” 55% say they have “personally experienced resistance when presenting qualified yet unemployed candidates” 53% see unemployed job seekers as “unemployed for a reason” or “probably not qualified.” It is a reminder, NOT INTERVIEWING/HIRING SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED IS WRONG. Currently working for Focus on the candidates ability and willingness to do the job. Pseudo Solution: Ignore the problem. Think, I’m just one business â€" what’s unemployment have to do with me? What’s that next job have to do with me? Real Solution: Where there is talent, there are profits to be had. The unemployed are a talent pool you should source from. I recommend averaging at least one interview with an unemployed candidate per open job. (Lack of) Analytics: Really dig into the employer’s objectives. What’s your time to hire? Most of you know that, or at least for your most recent hire/s. What’s your cost per hire? Most of you know that, or at least your boss does. When we consider that your business’ success is most dependent on the quality of your team and that recruiting is a $400 billion industry, it’s clear that smart companies push for more granularity in their recruiting statistics. For, every week, every day, and every hour that you company leaves a profitable role open, it loses revenue. Pseudo Solution: Open up that spreadsheet and make data entry your religion.  Try to reach the point where you are spending more time reporting on your recruiting efforts than actually recruiting. Real Solution: Automate the reporting of essential and occasionally useful recruiting statistics. Use software that records activities for you while you do them. I recommend measuring source quality with candidates to interview ratio, candidates to hire ratio, and candidate quality (as aggregated by hiring team); and measuring cost efficiency by total spend, spend per candidate, and spend per hire. Make sure you are able to filter by department and function to measure the efficiency of growth across the sects of your company. Well look, don’t dismiss my lighter tone to the unfair world of hiring. I want to better the discussion around major issues of work that we so often ignore, like how attractive people are treated better in the workplace, how your current employment status can eliminate you from consideration of jobs you are qualified for, and how too many businesses are ignoring the new data available. The world of hiring will never be fair to everyone. Nevertheless, by identifying our bias and measuring the performance, hiring can be a better world for the next candidate.

Understanding the Basics of Writing My Resume

Understanding the Basics of Writing My ResumeToday, more people are creating and submitting their resumes online so there is no reason why you can't too. There are a lot of steps to creating your resume, but the thing you should be aware of is that most hiring managers don't have the time to go through all those details when it comes to the resume of a qualified applicant.You'll want to know the basics of writing a brief resume. And the reason you'll need to put your personal information in a section that is formatted correctly, because if not, there will be questions that your potential employer will ask about it. Be prepared for anything that they may want to know.The first thing you should do is review your career path and what you've accomplished along the way. Think about what steps you've taken to get where you are today. What skills and qualifications have you gained along the way?Once you have a clear idea of what you are up against, you need to put it into words. Write out a ll of your accomplishments so that you don't forget any of them. Don't write it too long either, just enough to let the hiring manager know where you've been and how far you have come.Don't forget to put your personal information on your resume. There are websites and online applications that allow you to attach files so that you can add a personal graphic and that's something you can put in place. It also helps to give your employers a sense of who you are.Need to learn more? Follow the links below for more useful resume writing tips! Want to learn how to write a personal statement that will stand out from the crowd? Follow the links below to get more information on how to write a personal statement that you can use on your resume and even your cover letter.Writing My Resume Tips - Some new methods are available that can help you avoid professional blame. Making yourself the judge, jury and executioner of your own resume could be a skill you may wish to learn. Learn more here.This is a very important step in writing your resume, because your ability to prove your expertise and success in a specific career path is based on how well you document your achievements and how well you put them into words. Put it in writing and apply for the job you've always wanted!

How to Handle Rejection after A Levels

How to Handle Rejection after A Levels Never Give up! Do you feel hurt, alone and anxious to advance? Well, let me make this clear, you’re not alone. Rejection hurts, and there’s no question about that. However it’s the way you deal with rejection that can either relieve the pain or increase it. First and foremost, I’m going to cut to the chase, accept it! It’s perfectly normal to feel down about it, but the clock is ticking and you need to get moving. Competition is fierce! Whatever it is, whether it’s getting rejected after a job interview, getting rejected after an audition, not getting your dream internship in a top organisation or receiving all five rejections on your UCAS application, the main thing is not to give up! A-Levels Rejection Let me give you an example of what happened to me a couple of years ago. Every A level student, and they know this, dread what is known as ‘Results day’. I’m pretty sure that this day might not be as daunting to some people, but when you open your results and find out that you haven’t met the grades of your first choice university and your insurance, it can be painfully shocking. This was what happened to me. Obviously, if you didn’t work hard enough, or didn’t do the work at all, then there’s no surprise there. However, if you did do the work, worked hard and, therefore, haven’t secured a university place at the end of it, I can imagine, in fact I know, that the world has turned against you and you’re probably asking yourself what had gone wrong. In a case like that, my personal advice to you is to remain calm, pick up the nearest phone and get on hold onto universities that are in Clearing. At the end of the day, you need to keep on trying to get somewhere and itâ €™s not acceptable to give up! At the end of it, I managed to secure a place at a university, studying a course that I’ve always dreamt of studying, and I love it! Feedback is Key If it’s possible, request feedback. When applying for jobs, internships or anything similar, they either publish an application form online or merely state that they require a CV and a covering letter. With regards to covering letters, take a look on university websites, especially if you’re applying for work experience or internships, as they provide a great deal of information that can strengthen your application. The University of Kent, Manchester and Bristol are amongst many of my favourites. Get Advice Referring back to the main issue of this blog, I would also strongly advise you not to lose yourself. If you’re having a difficult time dealing with rejection and have no idea of what to do, talk to someone. Whether it’s a friend, family member or even a therapist, it illustrates that you’re determined to get back on your own feet rather than fall and not get up at all. Dont Let Anything Get in Your Way of Achieving Your Goal I’m also going to provide you with another example, which I’ve come across and where rejection is common. Law students who are applying for training contracts face one of the worst possible experiences of rejection. The majority, most likely all, require a minimum of a 2.1 from their degree. As a result, where does this leave students, who are interested in a legal career, who have graduated with a 2.2? In fact, a lot of those meeting the grade requirements receive rejections too. Then again, I cannot stress the importance of not giving up! I, for one, have yet to experience applying for a training contract, but if you’ve chosen a career path that you’re passionate about, nothing should get in your way of applying. Believe it or not, there are cases where students who have graduated with a 2.2 do gain a training contract. However, it does require a lot of hard work and persistence. Additionally, I have read various blogs and comments on forums by people stating that they’ve written numerous amounts of letters, over 100/200 to be specific, to law firms speculating about a possible work experience placement or an internship and, furthermore, the number of responses is very small. Sometimes, you have to fight in order to get your foot through the door and that’s perfectly acceptable, if not admirable. Dont Let Regection Define You! Last but not least, I’m going to end by stating: Don’t let rejection define you. Showing your willingness is always the key and, as a known fitness instructor in the US states: Trust your heart.you will find a way. 6

Be Accountable For Your Mistakes It Feels Great! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Be Accountable For Your Mistakes It Feels Great! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Being accountable can be cathartic and even exhilarating if you realize its a path to fulfillment! -Beth Kuhel “Stop blaming and start aiming.”  ?  Rob Liano Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!   No one cares about your excuses! Just get over yourself and realize that the best thing to do when you make a mistake is to accept responsibility for it and develop a game plan so you won’t repeat it!  Every week I set an hour aside to review my past week and consider what I did well and where I could improve.  My personal goal is to avoid repeating mistakes and to learn from my errs whenever possible. For those of you who are committed to growing both on a professional and personal level, I recommend you start by reviewing the positive things youve accomplished and list all your strengths (include things you like about yourself and list the strengths you possess that others have pointed out to you). This will reinforce in your mind that most of the time youre doing things right. Once you recognize your good qualities you may then be  more open to areas where you can improve. Listing your strengths and then listing a few areas which you want to improve is an accounting of sorts: Youll increase your clarity by writing it down so you can see your strengths, successes and where you may have fallen short.  Sometimes our emotions can interfere with reality. This systematic approach of making a list of strengths and limitations eliminates excessive self-criticism or blind self-aggrandizement. By taking an objective look at your flaws you can develop a more strategic approach to fixing your mistakes and growing from them. Theres no need for denial or embarrassment for noting your flaws. In fact, the most confident people are ones who can see themselves clearly and are comfortable seeking help when necessary to improve. We all have areas of greatness and areas in which we could improve. There’s no shame in making mistakes but there is in denying that we’ve made them. If the list formula isnt enough to propel you into action, try the formula I use with for myself and with my clients. Its an effective strategy for changing a behavior that holds you back from achieving your personal greatness: The ARCS method for becoming accountable: A    Accept that you’ve made a mistake R    Regret the behavior C     Commit to making a change S     Substitute a new behavior in its place Don’t be afraid to try this strategy at home and see how you’ll become a more fully actualized, accountable person in all aspects of your life. Your friends, family and coworkers will surely notice a positive difference and don’t be surprised if they follow your example! Author: Beth  is Founder and President of Get Hired, LLC.   She advises students on how to bridge the gap from school to career.  Beth is the co-author of  From Diploma to Dream Job: Five Overlooked Steps to a Successful Career.  Her coaching assists students and career changers to successfully match their needs, interests, passions, skills, and personal goals with the needs of a sustainable industry in a sustainable location.  She is a resource for print and online media and offers workshops for University Career Service Departments, Executive Recruiters, Outplacement Services, College Guidance Counselors and College Alumni Associations. See website for more details about Beth’s services  www.fromdiploma2dreamjob.com.  Beth’s Webinar was sponsored by George Washington University’s Career Services Dept. for their worldwide alumni association:  Leverage Your College Diploma.  You can follow Beth on twitter @BethKuhel

Makes Your Resume Envelope Writing Even More Effective

Makes Your Resume Envelope Writing Even More EffectiveResume envelope writing is perhaps the most important part of the whole process. Without it, you will end up writing the same CV every time you apply for a job. Hence, it is essential that you follow some simple steps to make your resume envelope writing even more effective.Your resume is essentially the first contact that you make with your prospective employer. So, how do you want your message to be delivered? In order to get the best results from your efforts, it is important that you choose the right template and read through it thoroughly.The first and most important role of the resume is to convince the potential employer. It must not only tell him what you have done but it must also persuade him to hire you. Therefore, before you go out to write your resume, you must first decide which style of CV you want to use. You can either use an opt-in form or create a tailored one for your specific job profile.Now, it is a good idea to start your CV envelope writing by writing your name in the header and followed by the company and position that you are applying for. You should then indicate the main point that you want to highlight in your CV. Again, you should include your contact details, school history, certifications and personal details in the middle of the CV in order to help the employer remember you easily.Always remember that resume envelopes play a very important role in making sure that your prospective employer is reading your CV and thus, they are aware of your skills and capabilities. Thus, you must try to make it as appealing as possible by writing on both sides of the paper.After you have written your CV in the beginning, the next step is to write a lead-in paragraph. This is usually a statement that could provide the potential employer with information that will let them know what the rest of your CV is about. While writing this part of the CV, you should keep in mind that your resume is only meant to grab the attention of the employer and the lead-in paragraph should be something that will make them take action.Next, you should offer your most useful skills and accomplishments. You can also include any experience that will be helpful for the employer in understanding who you are. On the other hand, your resume has nothing to do with you. Therefore, you should write the lead-in paragraph so that the employer is able to see how they can get more benefit from the resume.Finally, you should follow the rules of resume envelope writing by maintaining an outline for your CV. To avoid losing focus, you should write down what you want your CV to say in bullet points and use your imagination when it comes to creating your CV. By being organized, your CV will look more professional and you will end up building a very convincing CV.

The Winding Road To A Career In Construction - CareerMetis.com

The Winding Road To A Career In Construction Construction jobs are rising and so are the opportunities for newcomers. Since the population around the world is skyrocketing at the moment, it’s only right that the construction industry is seeing a boom in employees and projects.On the one hand, you have a need to build more homes for starting young families, and on the other, you have a desire to build more commercial buildings for more jobs.evalUltimately the economy is set to only go one way, and that’s in the ‘getting bigger’ direction.Thus the demand for professionals in the industry is only set to go the same way also.Maybe you want to change careeror you’re trying to get into this field because you have followed it since you become a professional.It’s a winding road with no clear way to get your foot in the door. For something so practical, that’s a good thing as lots of options are at your feet.1.Attend a schoolevalConventions exist for a reason and it’s usually because the method and reasoning to why you d o something have been established and understood. So one way to get into the construction industry is to attend a school.evalDepending on your chosen course, you will learn the trade secrets of how to build, design and maintain something. They have qualified teachers who may or do still own their own construction or building business.Modern courses have online portals also that you can access at any time to learn when you want. They have information and written texts that inform you on how to build a certain type of project. It’s a class environment when you are learning so others will be in the same position as you are.You can help each other out, and form friendships that could lead to professional relationships.eval2. Take a testStarting from the lower ranks, and trying to reach up to the higher jobs takes time if you do things the old-fashioned way. Paying your dos is certainly the right thing to do, but you don’t have to stay stuck in one job while you do.There are earthmov ing coursesthat allow you to learn how to use the best in practice machines in the industry. They have personalized professional services so the course can be molded to your needs. In the end, if you should pass you will receive a license which means you can now apply for that kind of role.Earthmovers are a big part of any construction business. They’re the ones that essentially start off a project by moving and digging up the soil so the builders can lay the foundations. The certified staff is experienced in bobcats, front ends, rollers, backhoes and of course excavator tickets.All the machinery will be provided for you during the learning and assessment as well as the final test.It’s a booming industry and a great place to get started or create your own business in. The construction profession has many opportunities for newcomers and veterans alike. It’s wise to get involved now before it goes through a slowdown period in the future.

7 strategies for staying employed during this downturn - Sterling Career Concepts

7 strategies for staying employed during this downturn 7 strategies for staying employed during this downturn Todays guest author:Lisa Orrell, The Generation Relations Expert Typically, companies hire Lisa to conduct seminars on recruiting, managing, and retaining their multigenerational workforce. But based on the economic downturn we’re experiencing, she decided to write about how you can increase your chances of being retained as an employee, regardless of what generation you’re from, when others around you may be facing a lay-off. Certainly, there is no magic cure for preventing this, but you may find these sevenstrategies will increase your odds of staying employed! Cut Down on Telecommuting: If possible, get into the office more often. By increasing your visibility, your supervisors will notice and it will only reflect well on you. And, you will be more apt to be on the inside track of information about what the company is planning, in terms of cutbacks, if you are there in-person versus alone in your home office. Communicate With Your Boss: This is NOT the time to avoid regular conversations with your boss. This is the time that you should be going out of your way to ask, “How can I help you during this challenging time? What can I be doing to help the company?” Take On More: Whenever you are in a meeting and volunteers are requested to take on a project, even if it’s something you despise and would not normally raise your hand for, take it on. Showing the extra effort and dedication to the team will go far when your boss is (potentially) faced with having to provide a list of whom he/she can live without. Don’t Whine: Avoid complaining about the economic circumstances, your job, how small your office/cubicle is, how low the company stock has dipped, the raise you didn’t get, how many hours you work, etc. Even if it’s just venting to your co-workers, your complaining can mysteriously reach your boss and your bad attitude could get your name on the short list of employees to let go. Beat Your Boss: This is one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it would be very wise to arrive to work 5 minutes before your boss does and leave 5 minutes after he/she does. This extra effort will reflect positively on you and can make a difference when he/she is faced with determining who is dedicated to their job (or who isn’t!). Detach Yourself from Negative Co-workers: First of all, their negativity will not help you in any possible way. Negativity breeds negativity. And secondly, you will be perceived as “one of them”. Again, this is the time for you to banish your bad attitude (if you have one) and show yourself as a leader, motivator and positive team member. Showing an upbeat spirit is needed during challenging times like these and is the trait of a leader. A great attitude can go a long way and could influence your boss to keep you around! Be Proactive With Cost Savings Ideas: Rather than wait for your company or boss to tell you what you can be doing to help the company save money, brainstorm ideas on your own and present them. Your ideas could range anywhere from: How the company can save money on copier paper; how to adjust a current process to make your company (or department) more streamlined and productive; negotiating with current vendors on price and/or volume discounts; or suggesting a new benefits plan that will reduce overhead costs companywide. The bottom line to all of this is play the “hero” role at work; not the (whining) victim role. A little extra effort can go a long way and could be the thing that keeps you employed during this challenging time! For tips about attracting, recruiting, managing and retaining Millennial talent, and for improving your internal Generation Relations to increase team-building a productivity, visit this popular blog: http://blog.generationrelations.com About the Author:Lisa Orrell, The Generation Relations Expert, is the author of the top-selling book, “Millennials Incorporated” (on Amazon), and is an in-demand consultant and speaker about Millennials Generation Relations. She has been a featured expert on ABC, MSNBC, and NPR, and by many other national and international media. For more info about Lisa’s seminars and workshops, and to access her popular blog, visit: http://www.TheOrrellGroup.com.

Is Your Lack of Personal Branding Holding You Back From the Perfect Job

Is Your Lack of Personal Branding Holding You Back From the Perfect Job There are many things that could potentially hold you back from landing your dream job, and none of them are more notable than a lack of c-level personal branding. Having a perfect resume is still essential today, but it won’t get you a job on its own in most cases. You have the opportunity to shape your personal brand however you want. Every action you take or don’t take has an impact on your personal brand, so it’s always a good idea to keep this at the forefront of your mind. Here are some tips for effective c-level personal branding to help you land the job you desire. Narrow Down Your Personal Brand When you’re searching for the perfect job, it’s important to understand what the particular company values. You may be a good overall person, but companies want to know exactly what you bring to the table. Find out what the company needs and shape your c-level personal branding around it. This can include shaping your resume, LinkedIn profile, executive profile and more to ensure consistency throughout. When you narrow down your personal brand, you’ll also be able to conduct a more targeted job search and give yourself a better opportunity to land the perfect job. A Strong Personal Brand Doesn’t Mean Boasting A common misconception among executives is personal branding requires you to brag on yourself. The reality is the opposite is true. No one likes to work with someone who constantly brags on themselves. The key to personal branding for senior level managers is showing your authenticity. Present yourself in a way that demonstrates the value you bring to the table, rather than telling everyone why you are better than them. Let the employer decide that part, but your role is to be confident in what you offer and stand behind it completely. Improving Personal Branding Every Day When you have an understanding that every action impacts your c-level personal branding, it will be easier to improve it. You don’t have to attend a networking event every day to boost your brand. Being conscious about the conversations you have with anyone, inside or outside of the office, can help you maintain your brand. You never know what conversation will lead to a new opportunity, so it’s always important to keep your personal brand at the top of your mind. Professional Resume Services helps executives with their c-level personal branding efforts every day. It’s one of the most important aspects of a job search, along with crafting a perfect resume. The two go hand-in-hand for any job search, and we can help you with both. Feel free to contact us at any time to see how we can help you in all areas of your job search.