Recruitment Taboos Discussed and Exposed!

Recruitment Taboos Discussed and Exposed! Taboos the things we do not discuss, even in whispers but that we all know. Sometimes, we’ll make jokes about it instead, as one way of getting there. I read  an article last week that said 36 days is the amount of time needed to pass before  mocking a tragedy. Louis CK has a bit on similar lines, however hes  a different act. I think that humor heals  scars, and we should make fun of everything. Laughing is the cure for all that ills us  and helps us to dialogue about the uncomfortable. It is also the way we can avoid talking about things we do not want to talk  about. How we avoid issues that might, if serious talk occurred, upset us. I am  going to talk about some of the awkward recruiting taboos that we often don’t even  discuss amongst ourselves. I don’t have answers to how to fix them but I am hope by  bringing them up we can begin to talk about them. From there, maybe we can bring  about change. A few years ago I read an article here called The Headhunters Guide to  National Stereotypes. I was alternatively amused, offended and nodding my head  in agreement. I understood why Tony came to these conclusions and was ashamed  that I often agreed. So, without further ado, here are some things that we don’t talk about, we  don’t talk about enough, and perhaps things we do that make us feel shame: 1)  â€œDon’t send me any Indians/Chinese/Russians/Midgets/Jews/Scotsmen”: I  used to hear some version of this (in the past few years it’s been Indians) all  the time. Some times it is given in code words:  Excellent communications/presentation skills are mandatory  or perhaps  The role is client facing. We  all know what that means. Then we answer: “I only will send you the best  candidates for the role. I don’t look at race/creed/color/penis size when  screening for you”. Then, we send them only white people. We know who  will get the role and we are in this for the commission not the kicks. This  disgusted me when I was agency. Then, I went and did what I had to do. I  wish there was a way we could fire a client who says that, but again, who of  us is in a position where we could make a stand? At 40k + commission, is that  really something we can do? Like the Nazis said at Nuremberg, “I was just  following orders”. 2) H1-Visas held by “Third Parties”: I can only speak for the US on this but H1  visas are absolutely disgusting. They add to the phrase human capital, as  these human beings are treated like objects and not people. If you are on an  H1, whoever holds the H1 controls you. (H1s) are sponsored by companies,  who then use your services at their assorted clients. Sure, you technically can  have it switched to another employer. Sure, you can always go back to India  or China. The reality is a twenty first century version of indentured servitude. If your goal is a Greencard/Citizenship, you don’t do anything to f*ck it up  which includes making waves. I know what we bill the client. I know what  we are paying the third party company. I am always shocked when I find out  what pittance the actual human being is getting at the end. Profit isn’t a dirty  word, but profits at the expense of people are always dirty.  In my time, I have seen people being paid in rupees into bank accounts in  India, and given stipends. I have seen people sent to places they never even  heard of when they decided to leave their home country and try to make it in  the US. I once placed a junior developer at some company in downtown NYC. I met  the candidate at Penn Station and as I walked him to the client, I said, “So, now  that you’re in the US, what do you want to do?”. The gent had been in the  country less than a week a true FOB (Fresh Off the Boat). He told me he only  wanted to see NYC and when I replied with, “Dude, you’re in NYC!” you could  hear his jaw dropping. The company put him on a train, told him to go meet  Newman at Penn Station… and that was all. He didn’t even know he was in  NYC! 3) 3rd  party companies who hold H1s do things beyond the poor way they treat  their human chattel: I have done interviews with people whose resume  wasn’t the one I was looking at. I have hired contractors and have a bait and  switch done where someone else shows up. I have gotten calls 6 months into  contractor’s engagements from some guy I have never heard of saying: “Jeff, you  need to increase the rate and pay me and not company X.” Turns out they  hold the visa, and not the company I have been paying, and now I am being  squeezed to keep the guy on project as some middle man (who I thought held  the visa) gets squeezed out. All I know is I have to keep the client happy, so I  make it work, but it doesn’t help my soul! For that matter, it doesn’t help me  with my ethics. 4) Telling lies without ever actually lying: I always go back to Homer Simpson  when this comes up. Homer has 2 great quotes with this: It takes 2 to lie: 1  to lie and 1 to listen.  and Its not a lie if you believe it  Also known as its not  what you say, its how you say it As recruiters, we’ll often leave out salient  facts. We’ll shade things to our best advantage and sell, sell, and then SELL. I  understand why we do it. Whenever I hear about behavior like this I’ll send  this article to the person. It explains it better than I ever could. So yeah, most of  us aren’t egregious liars we are sales people. It doesn’t make me feel any  better about it, though. 5) Working with people, companies and candidates who are morally repugnant  to us: If the client is paying a fee, we do it. That is business.  None of us are in a position to turn down a check. I know I am not. Man, did  I hate doing business with Wall Street though. I once knew a salesperson  who wouldn’t work with some guy named Veal, as she was a vegetarian.  She was more than happy to do business with IBM, and we all know IBM  was more than happy to do business with the Nazis (I think I got 2  Nazi references so far in this article!) We cannot pick and choose as much as  we’d like. Have you ever “sold” a candidate to a manager, even though she  disgusted you for some reason? She had the skills and she wasn’t Indian (see  number 1) but she was reading a book by Ayn Rand or about why vaccination  is wrong? The humor I mentioned above is how we deal with these issues internally. I  remember contests such as saying iconic movie lines but with an Indian accent  and syntax. “I am the Batman. I am here to do the needful”. Numerous threads  in respective boards about your worst client experience or your candidate who  showed up drunk and naked on their first day propagate the sites dedicated to  what we do. Making up what are names would be, if we were Indian or mocking the  weird names of universities… At the heart of the humor, at least for me, is a sense of  shame. Business can be very unsavory. Conclusion: Anyway, I think these just skim the surface. Some of this is about us, as recruiters  and sales people. Some of these things are just business as usual in a day and age  where Robber Barons from the turn of the century would look at us and say, “Dude,  that is to far.” I wish I had a better answer than take each day by itself and be the best YOU you  can be. You and I will not be able to change these things, by talking about them, by  wishing them away, or by whom we vote for. I really wish we could. I do feel that big  changes start with the little world around us. If you have ways you deal with any of  the above, or more things we’re not supposed to talk about, I’d love to hear them.

How to Write a Resume Using Resume Writing Services

How to Write a Resume Using Resume Writing ServicesIf you are looking for a reliable service in the field of resume writing then check out resume writing services Florence Ky. The services of resume writing experts are not an easy task. Most probably it requires a lot of work and effort. There are several processes involved when you have to write your resume and the services of a professional resume writer is required to do this work perfectly.The task of professional resume writers is to collect the resume and gather the information needed for the review. The information includes information regarding education, past and present employment, personal details, skills and experience. You may write the resume yourself, but if the information is vague then it will be difficult to get a good quality. It will be a waste of time and effort.When you are to write your resume you need to be organized. If you are not then the resume will be very difficult to read. It will be so long that you wi ll get bored with it. To write the resume using resume writing services, it is important to be organized. This way, you will be able to write your resume easily and on time.The hiring companies usually ask you to follow certain format when you are to write your resume. If you follow the rules then you will be able to get a better result. The resume must follow certain formats to make sure that the hiring company will find it easy to read and understand.This helps them to understand your skills and knowledge and make them useful to the company. The hiring company also needs to know what other responsibilities you have held during your career. All these details are helpful to make the resume easier to read and understand.The hiring company must also know about your career goals before they can put a particular focus on your resume. All these things help the hiring company to understand what the future job holder wants to achieve. They will also be able to judge your skills, whether th ey are required or not and what the present skills are.By following the rules of the hiring company they will know what to focus on and how to highlight your career goals. It also helps them to check your skills and compare the ones that you have with those that they are already having. Since your resume will be sent to a number of companies, your resume must contain the contact information of each and every one of them. It is important that the hiring company will have all the details about you so that they can contact you.Once your resume is ready, it is important that you print it out before handing it over to the hiring company. In this way, you will be able to have a proof of the contents of your resume. You can print it on transparency paper so that the background and color will not show through. If there are any mistakes in the resume then you need to know about them.

The Balancing Act How to Be Your Best Self (VIDEO) - Classy Career Girl

The Balancing Act How to Be Your Best Self (VIDEO) I have learned so much about the balancing act of being a working mother over the last 9 months since I had my daughter. The most important thing I have learned is self-care. Having a daughter has actually helped me prioritize and focus on the most important things in my work and life. It has helped me say no to the things that are not really that important.  In todays video I am sharing with you the three things you must do to be your best happy and balanced self. I have also learned that if I have no energy myself, I wont have any energy for my husband, my daughter or my clients. I am still not an expert in this motherly balancing act but I sure have learned a lot! Share in the comments your takeaways from the video and what you learned about work-life balance. Tips for me and other new moms are always appreciated as well!! Lets help each other out!! 1) How can you pamper yourself and practice self-care this year? 2) What is your happy place? What activities did you enjoy as a child that you need to add back into your life now?

The 16 Employer Brand Attributes

The 16 Employer Brand Attributes Lets face it. People arent attracted to just money anymore. People want purpose, they want culture, they want to make friends, the way to innovate, they want to learn and all in all, they want to be themselves at work. Thats what your employer brand is all about. Your employer brand encompasses all those things that make you attractive as an employer. At Link Humans, we developed an employer brand measurement tool called the Employer Brand Index, because we know that the first place candidates go to assess their fit with a company is  online. After researching the online reputation of countless companies using our methodology and analyzing tens of thousands of data points on 30+ employer review sites, social media platforms, and online forums, we came to the conclusion that there are 16 key employer branding attributes your team should be assessing and monitoring to maintain a healthy employer brand. 1. Career Advancement This is the upward progression and career opportunities your company offers to your employees. An area we see issues with at larger conglomerates we work with. And according to Gallup,  87% of millennials say professional development or career growth opportunities are significant to them. 2. Learning Development How your organization develops your employees capabilities and skills.  Monster reports that if you invest 3.5% of your wage bill on training, you might achieve a 40% boost in competence. Thats an incredible ratio to consider. Not every employee is perfect from day one. Training matters. 3. Work/Life balance The balance between your employees work and life is key, especially for those with families, with passions and interests they want to pursue outside of work and more. Life isnt purely about your work. A healthy balance is crucial. 4. Job Satisfaction This is the fulfillment and satisfaction your employees get from their job. According to HBR, businesses with highly engaged and satisfied employees see 100% more job applications. Thats an easy one to digest. If people see happier and more engaged employees in places like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, then youre going to see more relevant applications. 5. Culture Values These are the values and behaviors your company possesses. Are you a company that acts with integrity? Is your culture based on teamwork? Would you consider your company to have a results-oriented culture? These are all aspects we find in the Employer Brand Index to see if what is being said externally about your culture, match the internal culture of your company. 6. Environment Having a great physical environment has numerous benefits. It can help boost productivity, collaboration, learning and more. And your environment is in many ways a representation of your culture. 7. Diversity Inclusion Is your company a place that fosters a diverse and inclusive environment?  Candidates want to be a part of a company with a multicultural team and a company that is accepting of their people no matter who they are. McKinsey reports that companies with a diverse executive board have a 95% higher return on equity than those with non-diverse boards. Do I need to say anymore? 8. Mission Purpose This is all about overall purpose, mission, and vision that comes with working at your company. Another report by  Gallup claims that  only 40% of millennial employees surveyed feel strongly connected to their company’s mission. This can be very detrimental to morale and will cause disengagement. 9. Remuneration SHRM report that 56% of employees believe being paid competitively with the local market is critical. So  If youre not paying your employees competitively, they will leave. Never disregard the impact of remuneration. 10. Benefits Perks Your company’s non-monetary perks and benefits. This could be: Health Medical Insurance Free or subsidized meals Paid time-off Sick leave Retirement plans And more. Its essential you understand what your employees want as benefits, rather than just throwing a bunch of perks at them. 11. CSR Your commitment to social and environmental responsibility is becoming more and more important to people. Nielsen says that a staggering 67% of employees regard business social and environmental responsibility as essential when choosing the right employer. 12. Team People: The people your employees work with are the people they are spending most of their days with. So its imperative these relationships are healthy. Potential candidates looking in from the outside will also want to learn more about the employees when assessing their fit with the company. 13. Management Organization: This is the managerial, leadership and organizational structure of your company. Fortune reports that  50% of employees leave their jobs if they have issues with their managers. Your managers can be the make or break for people. By assessing online commentary, on places like Glassdoor and Twitter, you can find out what employees truly think about your managers and make instant changes. 14. Company Reputation In this modern age of social networking, it is your job to be aware of your reputation on a continuous basis and be responsive to anything that may hurt your reputation. Reputation is everything. Its essential to your survival. If consumers trust you, then candidates will trust you. And vice versa. 15. Change Stability Businesses are always changing, whether thats hiring new people, conducting a reshuffle or acquiring new businesses. Within this process, your people get affected. Some common effects of change are: Fear Enthusiasm Anger Ambivalence Understanding their emotive response helps you get a picture of the effectiveness of these changes, and you tend to find your people communicating these issues online. 16.  Innovation Technology According to Randstad, 79% of graduates say working at an innovative company is important to them. If youre stuck in your old ways and unwilling to task risks, then you are hurting yourself. Potential candidates who value any of these attributes will be going on places like Twitter, Quora, Indeed, Instagram and many more to see if your company is owning all these attributes and matching their ambitions. If youre interested in finding out how your company scores in each of these attributes, check out the Employer Brand Index!

Freelance Writing-Resume Objective - Creates a Creative Statement That Creates Interest

Freelance Writing-Resume Objective - Creates a Creative Statement That Creates InterestFreelance writing resume objective is an important element to creating a professional resume. It is a crucial element that sets your writing apart from the rest of the pack, but when done correctly it can also help to develop you as a writer.Freelance writing resume objective is designed to boost your CV. It is designed to show your potential employer that you are able to write for a living and show them why they should hire you. If done well, it will generate plenty of responses and invitations for you to look for other projects that could include the opportunity to work in a writing capacity.When I first started to try to develop my skills as a freelance writer, I would read as many resumes as I could find on various websites. The reason I did this was because I wanted to make sure that I used the resume that attracted the most attention and got the best response.One of the things that I found ab out successful freelance writers is that they tend to have one or two words that catch the eye of the reader and pull them in. When writing a writing resume objective, these are the words that you should focus on.The first thing that I found when I was looking for interesting words was to do a search on Google for freelance writing resumes and the word 'interesting'. I saw that every business and job posting had an interesting section and words like 'legendary', 'new', 'significant'legendary' were just the ones that I was looking for. It seemed the more interesting a word is, the more people associate it with success.Another way that I found to find interesting words is to look at the small print on each resume. If the person has a distinguished degree or is a recipient of awards, then that is a good place to start with the keyword. For instance, ifthe writer lists the professor of the field that they worked in, then they are telling you that they have significant knowledge of their area of study.Finally, another great way to build an interesting writing resume objective is to take a few minutes and think about what you feel about yourself. By doing this, you may be able to think of some powerful words to use in your writing. By thinking about what you want to show the employer about yourself, you are showing them that you are passionate about your field and that you are dedicated to your work.When I decided to focus on developing my skills as a freelance writer, I tried to take all of these things into consideration. By taking the time to take some time and really think about what I wanted to show the employer about myself, I was able to write some powerful words that grabbed the attention of the hiring manager and kept them reading.

How to Get Hired after a Layoff

How to Get Hired after a Layoff How to Get Hired after a Layoff How to Get Hired after a Layoff December 1, 2012 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment Having trouble getting your career back on track after a layoff?   A few years ago, I woke up one morning after being laid off and realized that I had to start taking more control of my career by becoming more proactive and less reactive. Through a journey of trial and errors, I learned a lot about how to build my personal brand after a layoff, customize my resume and tell my story to hiring managers.   I went on to work for 3 Fortune 500 companies, and had a 6-figure salary and status I never would have dreamed of.  In my new book, The Bounce Back personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback I reveal the success strategies from myself and 13 other professionals and executives who bounced back after a setback.  Below are a few of the strategies from the book about how to get hired after a layoff 1. Telling your story to hiring managers. The best approach is to always say something positive about your previous position. Talk about how it was either a great company, or how much you enjoyed your role and responsibilities. Make sure that you always have something positive to say about the experience, that you truly believe it and that you are genuine when you talk about it.Also, if the lay-off had been due to company down-sizing, ?? â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker and best-selling author of “The Bounce Back” and “Career Smart â€" 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand. “ Get more tips and strategies on how you can bounce back from a layoff, re-org, bad manager or other career threatening setback in my new book, “The Bounce Back” now available on AMAZON and BARNES NOBLE. You can download three FREE chapters of THE BOUNCE BACK at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

Job Loss Knows no Holiday - CareerAlley

Job Loss Knows no Holiday - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve! Andrew Carnegie A friend of mine just told me that his company went through (another) downsizing. There are many ways you can lose your job. Typically, the most challenging (in terms of surprise) is usually a downsizing. Depending on the size and health of the company, a downsizing can be relatively small (5%-10%) or large (something north of 15%). Whatever the number, the results are always the same, people lose their jobs. If you were one of the lucky ones left behind, you are either feeling that you just dodged being hit by lightening or maybe you are feeling guilty. If you are one of the unfortunate people who are let go, you are also feeling many things guilt, depression, overwhelmed, pissed-off, shell-shocked. What ever the feeling, it is not unusual. The trick is to have a mourning period followed by getting back on the horse and starting your job search. Todays post is about both those left behind and those moving on. I lost my job, now what This post is by yours truly and is one of my favorite posts (both mine and my readers). The article covers the what you are feeling aspect followed by what to do next. There are a few embedded links as well as links at the bottom of the article for related posts. Always Be Prepared: 5 Tips for Unexpected Job Loss Okay, so you cant always be proactive in losing your job, there are things you can do to prepare just in case. This article, posted on Consumerismcommentary.com, provides some of the basics of preparing in case of job loss. Some, like keep 3 to 6 months of cash available is a standard. Other suggestions (like get recommendations without asking) is not one that most of us would think about if we already have a job. The article is definitely worth a read, take a look. 5 non-financial ways to help a friend whos lost her job Sometimes its not about you. Sometimes its about helping others. This article, posted on Yahoos Shine site, gives some great ideas about how you can help someone who lost their job. There are some really great ideas here (like offer up your home office) and, as you read it, Im sure you will come up with some ideas of your own. There are some comments which give additional ideas (and some that are not worth reading). The First Things to do When You Lose Your Job A great article from Jobacle.com, there are some really good ideas supported by embedded links with additional related information. The planning tool is interesting as is link to the art of getting a job. While you are there, take a look at some of their other resources. How to Future-Proof Your Career Maybe your job is fine now, but is your career at risk? Is there some new technology that will ultimately put you out of work? Maybe what you do has become too expensive and there are other countries (or states) that can deliver it for less. Whatever your fears, this article can help you plan for the future. Posted on AOLs job site, there is some good advice with an embedded video and a listing of some careers that are somewhat recession proof. While you are on the page, take a look at some of the links at the top of the page. Good luck in your search.Visit me on Facebook