Video Interviewing, Resumes, and Screening Services Collide
There seems to be some misinformation abounding about the use of video in recruiting and HR. While plenty of people are writing about the digital streaming and live video as it weaves itself more into HR Tech, fewer actual practitioners seem to understand why it's useful, what it's for and how it can help make their jobs easier. On the other hand, even as digital video invades every aspect of our...
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Getting Gov't 'Off the Backs' of the Job Creators: a Seductive Metaphor
Many media and political talking-heads tell us that if government would only "get off the backs" of the "job creators", they, the real-life counterparts of Atlas Shrugged's capitalist hero John Galt, could spark a vigorous job recovery in what used to be a smoothly-running, humming U.S. economic engine, The heads insist that if the government backs off, the U.S. economy would not...
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How to be Friends with your Boss on Social Media
A recent survey performed by Cisco Systems, the Cisco Connected World Technology Report, found that over two-thirds of young employees are friends with managers or coworkers on Facebook, worldwide. This number is astronomical compared to the U.S. where only 25 percent of employees are connected to their coworkers in this way. Contrastingly, 68 percent of employees who use Twitter follow the...
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Deciphering Common Job Board Codes
As if the process of wading through hundreds of online job postings weren't tedious enough, eventually those postings begin to appear indistinguishable thanks to several common terms used by recruiters to attract certain candidates. The problem is that while job duties and qualifications vary from posting to posting, every recruiter is looking for candidates with the same basic set of...
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Shifting Salaries and Switching Jobs
While many employees have felt stuck at their current salary point for the past several years, and good jobs have been hard to come, recent data suggests that employers are experiencing a turnaround involving their pay structures which often involve increasing pay ranges by several percentage points. Asking for a raise during a time of mass layoffs and industry-wide cutbacks and freezes may seem...
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How Measuring Your Time by the Hour is Blocking You from being Happy
A recent report from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto has shown that reducing your time to dollars makes it much more difficult to relax when away from work. For the study, over 50 undergraduate students were divided into two groups: one was required to estimate their hourly earnings upon getting their first job while the other group was not. During a 10 minute...
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Dealing with Gossips and other Unsavory Attributes of Office Politics
No matter where you work, office politics are forever with you. When people come together there are inevitable power struggles between those who perceive they know the best way to best run an office, project, or other work-related entity. And while you don't necessarily have to participate in those politics in order to get ahead, it is necessary to understand the nature of office politics so...
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What to do about Job-Related Burnout
At some point during our careers, it is highly likely that the average American will experience at least some symptoms of job burnout. The major source of this burnout, particular to Americans, is the way we work. Compared to the rest of the developed world, American workers receive the least amount of vacation time. According to data collected by the CareerBuilder.com survey of American workers,...
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Qualities Employers want most out of their Employees
While every employer needs a unique set of qualifications and experiences for a given position, they also expect a general set of personal characteristics that are often times considered even more important than your professional and educational background. Not only do the personal traits you convey affect the chances of receiving a job offer, but they eventually play a factor in how much you get...
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Learning the Cubicle to Leave the Cubicle
Entry-level jobs often require residence in a cube no larger than a small prison cell: a cubicle. Being the model cubicle dweller can go a long way in moving up the corporate ladder and out of the cubicle farm. To save you from distraction, distracting others, and otherwise drawing negative attention to yourself, follow these laws of the land in the cubicle universe. One of the biggest...
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Adding Value to what Really Matters
Regardless of where you are or how you got there or how you do your job, arguably the most important thing you can do for yourself in the modern workplace is add value; to drive creativity within your own life. Every day you work to add value to your industry, your employer, your accomplishments, and your life and to find creative ways of delivering that value to others. No matter the receiver...
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How to Leave your Job without Hurting your Career
Quitting a job, like any other separation, is a time for diplomacy. Leaving a job is especially tricky because it is hard to predict when, how, or if your past bosses and co-workers will intersect your life again so it is prudent to maintain positive relationships as you depart. To this end, there are several practices that can be beneficial to your both during and after your last day, but there...
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What to Consider when Pondering Relocation
One of the primary motivators for relocation is employment. Some may be simply looking for a new place to begin a career while others must decide whether to move in order to keep their current position. Whatever the reasons, there are many things to consider before abandoning your current city for the greener pastures of another place. One misconception that many people hold is that the...
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Think before Sending (Email, that is)
Emails in the workplace are so commonplace that most people don't consider the potential consequences of using the modern tool in the wrong way. Using work email for private purposes can prove disastrous if used irresponsibly or carelessly and can reflect poorly on your work ethic and personal reputation. Before sending another personal email from work, it's important to consider several...
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Top Strategies for Boosting your Worth in the Jobs Market
Increasing your financial value as an employee isn't something that simply occurs with time or charm; it is a process that requires an actionable strategy and a commitment to raise your worth in the employment marketplace. To that end, augmenting your overall value in the workplace can be attained through the implementation of one or more of several tactics with inherent attributes that help...
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What to do about Job Referrals
While a referral never guarantees an interview or job offer, having a few quality people willing to espouse your viability as an employee can go a long way to getting your foot in the door; especially referrals by people already working at your potential employer. On the side of the coin, however, a poorly chosen referral can have pronounced negative effects on your chances as a job candidate....
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How to Keep the Peace in a Workplace Warzone
Managers responded in a recent research report by Robert Half International that an average of 18 percent of their time is spent arbitrating conflicts between co-workers. That amounts to an annual time expenditure of 9 weeks. With that statistic in mind, it's a safe bet that if you are looking for a way to impress your boss and stand out from your colleagues, a great way to do it is to adeptly...
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How to Learn to Stop Worrying and Impress your New Boss
One of the primary reasons for an early job dismissal is the failure of an employee to fit into the corporate culture of the employer. During the first weeks of a new job, boss and co-workers are forming their impressions that may last through an entire professional relationship. One of the first things to remember when entering a new job is that no one expects you to be perfect. What's most...
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Making a Career Move? Examine Employers Closely
Whether starting a career right out of school, transferring careers to something more suitable, or restarting a career after a layoff, before changing your lifestyle and settling in for a new position it is critical to research employers before making a big commitment. In addition to important questions regarding company ownership, sales and earnings forecasts, industry reputation, growth...
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Five Ways to Improve Your Job Search with Social Media
LinkedIn. Facebook. Twitter. YouTube. Not only have these social media giants changed the way we interact with people in both our personal and professional lives, but they are also becoming vitally important marketing tools for job hunters and employers alike. While the overwhelming volume of information filtering through these massive social networks can intimidate even the most conversant...
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How to Make a Good Start from a Bad Ending
A lot of people can empathize with others who have worked a job that they hated. It's one of the realities of the workplace: not all jobs are for everyone and some jobs are for no one. But even though many may empathize with victims of a bad job or boss, regardless of the reason you left, there are ways to transform that experience into a positive reflection of you as an employee (and venting...
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Fastest Growing Salaries Announced
While many factors such as education, work experience, and business location influence the compensation package offered by an employer, many jobs experienced above average salary growth (5 percent or greater) between 2010 and 2011. These positions may be most relevant to those individuals looking to change careers or simply investigate areas for further skill development. And while elevated...
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Diagnosing the Symptoms of an Ineffective Job Search Plan
There is no question: searching for a job can be a frustrating and discouraging affair. But a lack of available jobs and increased competition may not always be the cause of a failed job search. A lack of progress here may indicate a need to rethink your approach. In fact, there are several suggestive signs that your search methods may need a drastic overhaul. Scenario 1 – You are snagging...
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Getting the Most Out of a Job Fair
Given the cursory, assembly line nature of job fairs, it may seem ineffectual to spend time and effort crafting a job fair strategy and investing time into creating a unique presentation – after all, you'll just be shaking hands, exchanging greetings then being shuffled along, right? But don't talk yourself out of ignoring a perfect opportunity to stand out amongst your peers and grab the...
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Looking for Some Impactful Answers to the Dreaded "Tell Me About Yourself" Interview Questions? Read On.
Each interview has its unique set of anxieties and uncertainties, but no matter how seemingly mysterious and arbitrary the rest of the interview questions may seem, there is one request you always know is coming: tell me about yourself. It's unfortunate, it's tedious, and it's not fun, but it is there lurking behind the door of every hiring manager and recruiter you may ever meet. But,...
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Ready to Accept a Job Offer? Do Your Homework First
After the arduous tasks of scanning job boards, customizing a résumé or CV, researching businesses, writing cover letters, and attending nerve-wracking interviews, receiving those well-earned employment offers feel like a major victory for the good guys. But be sure not to ignore the need to scrutinize major aspects of the job such as the company, job description and other considerations that...
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Unemployed Means Unencumbered
Public perception of the condition of being unemployed is often negative and tends to blame the jobless without regard for economic circumstances or other barriers to employment. Many people who have not suffered through the loss of a job or extended unemployment look down on those in the midst of this trial. Indeed, those unemployed often blame themselves for their situation when the self-blame...
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The Way to a Hiring Manager's Heart is through the Presentation
One of the most challenging aspects of a job search is figuring out just what will draw the attention of the only person that really matters during the job application and hiring process; that gatekeeper to opportunity, that corporate deity for whom you weep, sweat, and brood over: the hiring manager. Fortunately, no matter what job you're after, no matter what industry you're preparing to...
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Crafting an Effective Resume
In simplest terms, a resume is an advertisement; tool with the singular purpose of winning an interview. Like all good advertisements, a well-constructed resume shows an employer the direct benefits to be received through the employment of the advertised job applicant. A resume is a persuasion piece used to convince an employer that a particular applicant has the ability, experience, and...
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Creating an Effective CV
A curriculum vita, literally meaning "course of life," is the primary document for persons seeking academic employment and positions within the medical field. CVs serve a purpose similar to a typical résumé; however CVs have unique structures, are much larger in scope, and are updated regularly to refocus emphasis on job-specific qualifications and accomplishments. CVs are often several...
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The U.S. DOL Offers its Fraud Tips and Leads Gateway to Combat Unemployment Insurance Fraud
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a new online tool for state use in combating unemployment insurance (UI) fraud and preventing improper UI payments. Acting as a public fraud reporting portal, the Fraud Tips and Leads Gateway offers an aggressive means for states to investigate fraud leads and to prosecute abusers. In conjunction with the release of the tool, the DOL is also publishing...
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Top E-Signature Myths Busted
E-signature solutions provider Sertifi have sought to set users and potential users straight in regards to the false information spread about electronic signature software; a web technology that allows users to sign documents faster. The common worries about e-signatures center around compliance; many think that e-signatures are not as authentic and legitimate as hand-signed signatures. The...
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Bloomberg BNA's Quarterly Employment Survey Predicts Rise for Q2 2012 Employment Prospects
The responses by the 344 employers polled by Bloomberg's survey indicated that hiring projections for the second quarter of 2012 are up for production and service employees and office and clerical employees. Projections for technical and professional staff are unchanged over the quarter. About 25 percent of participants reported that they will add production and service positions in Q2, up 4...
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Job Openings and Labor Turnover – January 2012
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 3.5 million job openings at the end of January 2012. The hires rate was slightly higher than that of separations at 3.1 percent to 3 percent; both unchanged over the month. Despite the upward trend in job openings since the official end of the recession in 2009, the number of job openings has consistently remained below the 4.3 million...
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Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary – January 2012
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that unemployment rates, both regional and state, continued a downward trend during January 2012. Of the 51 states plus D.C., 46 posted rate decreases, four states were unchanged, and only New York recorded a rate increase. During the period between January 2011 and January 2012, 48 states plus D.C. reported unemployment rate decreases, Illinois...
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Demand for Cloud-Computing Skills Soars
Business-intelligence provider WANTED Analytics has reported that recruiters posted over 5,000 online job postings for cloud computing positions in February. This data reflects a recent skyrocketing demand for such skills, rising by over 90 percent since February 2011 and about 400 percent over February 2010. This new demand has created a major gap between job demand and talent supply across the...
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Senate Special Committee Out to Help Small Businesses Offer Retirement Plans
According to a report by USA Today, only 36 percent of small business employers had access to retirement plans, sponsored by their employer, in 2011. And, according to the Government Accountability Office, over 70 percent of very small businesses (those with fewer than 25 employees) lack access to a company-sponsored retirement plan. The primary cause of this lack of participation is the simple...
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Independent Standards Board Reports Strong Hiring Outlook for 2012
The National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM) has reported that its most recent survey of community association managers has revealed that over one-third of management companies predict a rise in staffing during 2012; this statistic is up from one-quarter of companies during 2011. The data come from the NBC-CAM report The 2012 Employment Outlook for Community...
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Report: Corporate Pension Plans Improve Funding by $20 Billion
Consulting and actuarial firm Milliman Inc. has released its Pension Funding Index composed of the country's 100 largest pension plans. For the month of February 2012, the plans saw a $20 billion improvement in funding resulting from a $24 billion jump in asset value offsetting a pension benefit obligation increase of $4 billion. The results indicate the continuation of the modest upward trend...
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U.S. Department of Labor Cracking Down on Violation of Breastfeeding Rule
The U.S. DOL has already become sending out citations to companies violated its new breastfeeding rule signed into law with the healthcare reform bill. So far, 23 companies have been cited, including major corporations such as Dollar General, Dillard's, Starbucks, and McDonald's. The healthcare reform law amended the Fair Labor Standards Act by adding a rule for employers requiring that any...
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ADP's Mobile HR App Gets Benefits and Flexible Spending Account Information
Payroll services and benefits administration giant ADP has announced additions to its free ADP Mobile Solutions application. The core program gives employees of U.S. ADP clients the ability to access many payroll services, benefits information, and HR resources from their smartphone or other mobile device. The new expansions on the popular app include enabling employees to view current benefits...
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The Changing Face of the U.S. Unemployment Program
With the newly created Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act being signed into law in February, both employed and unemployed have received, or will maintain, a modest benefit throughout the rest of 2012; unemployment benefits have been extended along with the current payroll tax cut of 4.2 percent. But what may go unnoticed are the issues the Act addresses regarding state unemployment...
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Hiring is Increasing while Unemployment Rate Remains Steady
Workforce solutions provider ManpowerGroup is urging U.S. employers to focus on both short and long-term workforce models as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the national unemployment rate remains at 8.3 percent while private-sector employers add almost a quarter of a million jobs in February; especially in the professional business services industry which add 82,000 jobs for the...
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Employment-Screening Company EmployeeScreenIQ Reports on Organizational Interpretation of Background Screening
A recent survey released by EmployeeScreenIQ examining how companies use screening results to filter applicants has reflected positively on HR professionals who respond appropriately to negative screening results within the context of tightening employment laws and other challenges regarding the use of background checks as a valid hiring tool. The report polled 650 individuals from a wide...
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The Employment Situation (Establishment Survey) – February 2012
The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics has reported in its most recent establishment employment survey that private-sector employment increased by 233,000 jobs during February 2012, with job openings in the professional and business services, healthcare and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and mining sectors. Professional and business services, reporting the largest job...
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The Employment Situation (Household Survey) – February 2012
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its household survey data and revealed that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 227,000 jobs in February 2012. Gains were seen in the professional and business services, healthcare and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and mining sectors. The number of unemployed persons held steady over the month at 12.8 million,...
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Pulse Survey Reveals Long-Term Care Coverage Declining as Insurers Dropout
Healthcare benefits packages are less and less likely to contain employer-provided long-term disability coverage, reports HighRoads' Long-Term Care Benefits Program Pulse Survey. The compliance and benefits management company reported that only slightly over half of employers (51 percent) continue to provide long-term care coverage (LTC). Half of those no longer offering the benefit stated that...
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Employee Staffing Firm Synergroup finds IT Jobs Moving back to Domestic Arena
Synergroup has announced that it has observed a major increase in interest from domestic companies looking to fill IT positions with American workers. The company has found that, over the past several months, outsourcing jobs overseas has become more costly and the state of the economy has motivated more companies to consider keeping jobs in the U.S. Even near-shore countries are becoming a less...
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