The Most Powerful Question to Ask When Prepping for a Speech or Presentation: Why You?
You're preparing to give your first company-wide presentation, and you want to make a good impression. In prepping for it, you need to ask yourself one deceptively simple question that can make or break your success: Why you? In other words: What gets you out of bed in the morning? Why do you care about your work? What made you choose this career or industry? What are you proud of in...
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7 Reasons Why You Need Personal Business Cards, and 7 Facts to Include on Them
A funny story I tell my workshop attendees: Once, I ordered 250 personal business cards from Vistaprint — only to find when I opened them that I'd spelled my occupation wrong: "worksop facilitator." There went 250 business cards into the trash. I'm ashamed to even type this, but I'm making a point: Spell-check your order before submitting it. That said, my point today is a bit bigger...
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What Your Candidate Experience Says About Your Company Culture
Featured Image Credit: Career Employer We're hearing a lot these days about candidate experience and company culture. Both have been identified as keys to successful recruiting. Most job seekers care deeply about the type of culture your company has, and there's an increasing body of research to suggest that your candidate experience has a powerful effect on your ability to attract and...
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Diverse Voices: A Univision Executive Considers Her Career
Growing up in New Jersey, I looked at my Latino friends, neighbors, and classmates — people from Ecuador, Colombia, and Cuba — and I was struck by how people from all these different countries, thousands of miles apart, were unified by language. Even though Mexicans insisted they were different from Dominicans, who were different from Puerto Ricans, who were different from Venezuelans, it...
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The Key to Building a Successful Startup: Stop and Listen
From our days in high school and university to our first jobs, everyone's journey in life looks a little bit different from the rest. This is especially true throughout the course of our careers. Personally, I have traveled through various companies and industries. Despite the obstacles I encountered along the way, I was able to build a successful startup, roOomy, with the help of my...
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Don't Go With Your Gut: 3 Ways Data Can Improve Recruiting Outcomes
Recruiters and hiring managers used to rely solely on their gut feelings for hiring decisions. It was mostly about whether you had a connection with someone and whether they "seemed" like a good fit for the company. Today, we know that first impressions are generally unreliable predictors of success. Gut instinct can be useful when hiring data is absent, but recruiters and...
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For a Successful Referral Program, Keep Employees in the Loop
Imagine you're going to work. You walk through the front door of your office building and find yourself surrounded by coworkers you cherish. They work hard, they're driven, and they've all been at the firm for several years. They're your friends, colleagues, college classmates, and maybe even some relatives. They all have one thing in common: They were referred to your company by...
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401(k) Basics: What You Need to Get a Handle on Right Now
Not long after you accept a job offer, the onboarding process starts. A lot needs your attention right away: There are documents to fill out, people to meet, systems to get logged into, etc. What you're really concerned about is getting proficient at your job as soon as possible. You're probably not all that concerned about setting up your 401(k) plan, one of the most valuable benefits in...
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In an Interview, the Employer's Experience Comes First
Despite countless technological advances in the recruiting industry, one puzzle piece has remained largely untouched for the last 50 or so years: the interview. The interview is where you land the job or don't, where you get called back or get the call you don't want. Since this part of the process has remained the same for so long, both sides have become complacent, succumbing to the...
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Mitigating the Legal Risks of Rapidly Growing Your Workforce
Last month, Samsung announced it plans to hire 1,000 artificial intelligence researchers as part of a $20 billion investment in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies over the next three years. If past experience is any indication, the emergence of these new technologies is likely to spur rapid workforce growth in a host of other companies as well. While Samsung may be...
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How Much Is a Job Interview Really Worth?
We don't often think of job interviews as money-making — or money-losing — opportunities, but perhaps we should. While you can't really put a hard price on a job interview, it could be worth far more than you think, especially if you're unemployed. Lower Self-Confidence = Lower Earnings Waiting around for a job interview can affect your self-confidence. Sitting at home and applying...
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Thinking of Pursuing a Career in Cybersecurity? Here's What You Should Know:
I was a software developer and continuous integration practitioner for more than 20 years before I unintentionally found myself in the cybersecurity field. This was during the great recession of 2008. I remember even today the date: October 3. That was the day I found out the company where I was working was closing. I had no idea what my next move would be — or should be. I soon found...
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Don't Undervalue the Need for Emotional Intelligence in Your New Employees
It's a hiring tale as old as time: A candidate knocked it out of the park in their interview and had the most impressive credentials only to become a source of stress and frustration within months of being hired. Now, instead of fostering a productive workplace, damage control takes priority. As an HR professional or recruiter, you're trying to find the best person for the job — but that...
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To Stand Out in a Sea of Qualified Talent, You Have to Think Like a Marketer
A stellar resume isn't enough to stand out in a pack of fellow applicants anymore. Whether you're a recent graduate seeking your first real job or a professional hoping to make a career shift, competition is stiff. Sticking to traditional methods no longer works; applicants must prioritize new methods to differentiate themselves. One key consideration for today's job seekers is social...
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Telemedicine: A Creative Benefit That May Help Attract Top Talent
Attracting top talent in today's climate is especially challenging when you don't have the same name recognition and capital as Google or Target. That doesn't mean all hope is lost, of course. They key is to offer a competitive compensation package that is innovative and all-encompassing, one that shows candidates and current employees alike that you are invested in their...
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Why Job Seekers Are Walking Away From Your Hiring Process
If you're a hiring manager, there's a good chance you're finding it harder to hire this year than you did last year. The unemployment rate just fell to its lowest level since 1969, so competition is especially fierce for good workers. In fact, it now takes 82 percent longer to fill jobs than it did in 2010. On average, companies need 31 days to fill an open role. I heard these statistics...
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Great Recruiting Is Like Great Marketing: It's All About Positioning
Attracting great talent is getting more and more competitive. Employers are scrambling to differentiate themselves from everyone else courting the perfect candidate. Oh no! XYZ Corp now offers free facials and two flavors of La Croix! Well, we'll offer full massages and every Dasani sparkling water flavor! Meanwhile, you're desperately pulling up Amazon to order twelve cases of Dasani. Thank...
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What Builds Trust Inside an Organization?
Progressive leaders care about promoting trust in the workplace because they understand it will make the organization stronger. Sadly, it isn't easy to cultivate a work environment where employers trust their employees, and, in turn, employees trust the organization. Even if your company was built on a foundation of trust — grown from humble beginnings with an open-door policy that...
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Why Founders Are a Vital Part of Employee Onboarding
A proper onboarding experience is one of the best investments a startup can make to ensure the success of its employees — and, by extension, the success of the organization overall. But there's one critical component of onboarding many startups overlook: the presence of you, the founder. As a company scales, the founder's priorities can shift, and their input on hiring and onboarding...
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How to Talk About Your Side Hustle During a Job Interview
If you have a side hustle — whether it's driving for Lyft or writing freelance for online publications — an interview for a new full-time job can raises a couple of important questions. Should you mention your side job to your prospective employer? And, if so, how? Talking about your other work could be to your benefit, especially if the side gig has taught you transferable skills....
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7 Things We Should Add to Job Ads
Long gone are the days when you could find a job in the classifieds or drop a resume off in the office to get your foot in the door. While few of us miss these things, the alternative in the job market hasn't proven much better. While how and where we look for jobs have changed significantly, the job descriptions themselves haven't. Look at any ad on a job board, and you'll see that it...
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How to Present Yourself Like a Rock Star
I am asked all the time why I gave up a lucrative career in entertainment to become a recruiter. The answer is simple: I love working with those who can benefit from my years of expertise as an artist development executive. Working on gold and multiplatinum projects at record labels such as Jive, Arista, and Columbia/Sony Music in the '90s was the thrill of a lifetime. Nothing can compete...
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3 Ways to Retain Talent in the Gig Economy
New York City recently passed a bill requiring Airbnb to provide the names and addresses of those who rent through its site. Airbnb fought back, claiming the measure would hurt everyday people who make ends meet by renting out their homes. Actions like this help gig companies gain the trust and support of their contractors. With the freelance workforce growing almost three times faster...
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5 Tips to Make Text Messaging an Effective Recruitment Channel
Millennials and Gen. Z-ers are, combined, the largest generational group in the workforce. These candidates want to feel more connected to their employers. They want faster means of communication and more convenient ways to stay engaged during the hiring process. New technologies, like text-based recruiting, are making this increasingly possible by providing businesses with easier, more...
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How to Promote Yourself From Employee to CEO of Your Small Business
When I launched my Seattle-based law firm in 2012, it was because I loved the work that I did, and I needed a "container" in which to do it. I had no idea how to run a business. However, having worked in other law firms prior to starting my own, I had learned how not to run my own business. I wanted to avoid cultivating a toxic environment and make the work the focus. I had no desire...
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Been a While Since Your Last Interview? Brush Up on These Methods:
In my previous article, I covered job search basics for those who are either new to job searching entirely or returning to the market after a long time away. In today's article, I'd like to cover the next step in the process: interviewing. Again, this information may seem very basic to some people, but to new job seekers and those entering the market for the first time in a long while, it...
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Fast and Effective Ways to Hire Top Talent in 2018
Recruiting technologies are continuously improving the way we work, but technology isn't the only thing that can assist when you're trying to grow your workforce fast. Here are some inexpensive (but proven) methods to help you hire top talent in 2018: Double Down on Employee Referrals Employee referrals are second to none when it comes to finding quality people for your company....
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How to Choose the Right Applicant Tracking System for Your Small Business
Recruiting for a small business can be quite different from recruiting for a large company. Big companies have many luxuries that small businesses do not, including internal recruiters and/or outsourced headhunters. In a small business, the individuals in charge of hiring often have other responsibilities as well, making the task much more difficult to prioritize. This is where applicant...
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Preparing for an Interview With a Tech Company If You Don't Have a Tech Background
I love tech companies. I earned a computer engineering degree in undergrad, and I've spent my entire career working in the world of technology in one way or another. Recently, I've worked with a number job seekers who have interviewed with tech companies — the kind with ping-pong tables, video games, free lunches, and only a few hundred employees. I noticed that something was...
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Your Next Must-Have Job Benefit: A Mentoring Program
According to a survey by the American Society for Training and Development, 75 percent of senior executives say mentoring has been critical in helping them reach their current position. Despite this candid accreditation from those who've made it to the top, surprisingly few candidates ever ask during the interview process about the mentorship opportunities a potential employer might offer....
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How Corporations Can Thrive Despite the Skilled Labor Shortage
An unusual phenomenon is happening in the United States. Even though 6.9 million jobs are available, 6 million Americans are unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Despite there being more jobs than people to fill them, businesses are struggling to secure new workers, and this disconnect has employers scratching their heads. "Business's No. 1 problem is finding...
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10 Tips for Surviving Campus Recruiting Season
The school year has started, and college students everywhere are settling into their dorms and hitting the books. With each new school year comes a new university recruiting season, filled with opportunities to find and hire the next generation of top talent. Ready to nail your next university career fair? Follow these 10 tips: 1 .Work With Relevant Clubs to Promote Your...
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Why STEM Grads Are Heading Into Sales Roles
As the sales world becomes more disciplined and data-based, the scientific side of selling is growing rapidly, in terms of both importance and the number of people working in the field. When it comes to recruiting STEM grads for sales roles, the best advice for HR teams is to start now. By investing today in the talent that will drive tomorrow's performance, you can keep your organization...
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Google for Jobs Is a Game-Changer – Here's What You Need to Know:
Your career site is the absolute best resource for candidates to obtain the information they need to apply for a job at your company. However, before job seekers ever reach your career site, they are first taken on a detour through third-party job boards, filling out duplicative forms and profiles along the way. The experience is incredibly frustrating for nearly every candidate in the job...
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What Geoffrey Owens Teaches Us About the Art of Work Ethic
Last month, when photos of The Cosby Show actor Geoffrey Owens working at Trader Joe's went viral, the country reacted with mixed emotions. While some began job-shaming Owens, others praised him for his unapologetic work ethic and grit. Many fellow members of his acting community came out in support, sharing their own stories of holding similar positions in between acting roles. Chris...
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3 Qualities of Optimistic Leaders
Article by John Addison Have you ever asked someone how they were doing — and then immediately wished you could stuff the words back into your mouth? This tends to happen when we encounter people who radiate negativity. They gripe about how terrible life is and how difficult things are for them. They drag you down with how they view the world. I always say that if somebody asks...
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Recruiting Lessons I Learned While Binging 'The Voice'
"The war for talent is over — talent won," J.D. Roux, vice president of human resources at Activision Blizzard, once quipped to me. It's a common turn of phrase these days, used to express the difficulty many employers face when trying to recruit talented candidates in today's highly competitive market. As droves of baby boomers retire and take their experience with them, companies are...
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Making a Career Change: How to Go Back to School on Your Time
These days, career changes are incredibly common. In fact, some experts predict the average worker will have five different careers throughout their lifetime! If you're one of the many working adults considering a career change, you may be hesitant to make the move. This is a major shift we're talking about. You're going to need some serious training if you want to be a competitive...
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Say What? How Vocal Tone Speaks Volumes About Professionalism
The tone of your voice — its quality and the emotions it conveys — can send a stronger message about who you are than your actual words. Your tone reveals whether you're confident, uncertain, bored, annoyed, stressed, enthusiastic, skeptical — whatever your state of being, your tone of voice will communicate it to those around you. Just imagine, for example, that you've been...
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Abundance Leaders in a Scarcity World: Creating Healthier Organizations
Some leaders create more energy, joy, productivity, and dedication in their staff than others. About these bosses, people say, "I loved working for them." The memory of these bosses brings smiles to our faces. Sometimes, we can articulate one or two behaviors the boss exhibited that made them so great to work for; sometimes, it was the boss's overall attitude or approach that we...
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Start Your Day Off Right by Avoiding These Morning Productivity Killers
Did you know the choices you make during your first 10 minutes at work every day could be killing your productivity for the whole day? While many of us are content to ease on into the day, the fact is how you kick off your morning matters a lot. Even something as simple as choosing to stand for the first few minutes of your shift instead of sitting down right away can dramatically...
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Staying Motivated in Your Job Search When You're Just Not Feeling It
A job search can be exciting, filled with promise and possibility. It can also be downright draining. Staying motivated during a long job search can be a challenge, but there are things you can do to keep your stamina high and stay the course: 1. Be Varied in Your Approach Submitting resume after resume to application portals with no sign of life on the other end can make it...
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How AI Complements — Not Replaces — Sourcers
Worried about being replaced by AI in your sourcing job? Given the current media narrative surrounding AI, I would be, too. AI has become a foreboding presence in many fields, but it seems to pose a particular threat to sourcers and other recruiting professionals. AI can complete many manual sourcing tasks in less time and with fewer errors than a human sourcer. Does this mean an end to...
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If You Haven't Searched for a Job in Years, Here's What You Need to Know:
If it has been a decade or more since the last time you hit the job market, you need to know that times have changed. You may have searched for your last job in a newspaper. You may have even gone to the local library to print copies of your resume to hand out to business owners. These outdated techniques will not land you a job today. Instead, you have to adjust to the new tools and...
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2 Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Redefining Leadership
Conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) and jobs often revolve around the reallocation of tasks and skills as society prepares for the 2.3 million new jobs AI will create by 2020. However, AI's impact transcends manual tasks. The strategic, high-level skills of business leadership are also set for disruption. For many leaders, the changes have already begun. Today's more...
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Time to Face Facts: The Purple Unicorn Doesn't Exist
Dear Hiring Manager, You're amazing. You're the gatekeeper to new jobs, the person who will help a new hire settle in and, later on, progress in their career. But we need to talk. For you, the last 18 years were pretty great. Unemployment was high, and you were able to be picky. You could create a long wish list for your open jobs, and a perfect candidate would appear. They might...
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Knock Down These 3 Recruiting Roadblocks to Discover Top Sales Talent
According to LinkedIn's "Global Recruiting Trends 2018" report, recruiters have set their sights this year on diversity, new interviewing tools, data, and AI in an effort to improve their processes. Unfortunately, even with the latest tech and best practices on their side, recruiters can still run into unforeseen roadblocks that prevent them from attracting, hiring, and retaining top...
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Looking for Employees With Grit? Be Careful What You Wish For
These days, I hear the word "grit" used often in reference to employment and recruiting. It's a characteristic we all look for when hiring. We see people with grit as fighters, determined, and resilient — all of which are fantastic qualities that drive performance. What we don't recognize is that grit has a dark underbelly that, left unchecked, can have severe consequences. Only by...
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