5 Social Media DONTs for Job Search

5 Social Media DONTs for Job Search Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few years, it is pretty hard not to have noticed how entwined our world has become with social media. Gone are the times that we only use social media to talk to our friends, we now use the platforms to interact with TV shows, voice customer service issues, contribute to worldly debates and build relationships with total strangers. Now as most of us aren’t stupid, we know that when applying for jobs, future employees will scope out our Facebook and LinkedIn profiles. Just type in “social media” to an online search and you will be presented with an abundance of horror stories about how inappropriate use of social media cost somebody their dream job. Research by CareerBuilder revealed that 2 in 5 hiring managers have been put off from hiring a candidate because of what they stumbled across on social media. A figure which had increased by 9% compared to the previous year. We are becoming more aware of the impact that social media has on our lives, so why are we getting it so wrong? Here are a few tips to help you get it right: 1) Don’t hide behind privacy settings: We are all guilty of sitting in glass towers laughing at the public profile fools, thinking our drunken snaps are safely hidden away from the prying eyes of the future employer. However, did you know that anybody can see your tagged photos if whoever uploaded the album has made the album public? An employer can log on and all of your unprivate tagged photos will be readily available for anyone to view. Make sure you have your privacy settings locked down. Facebook status privacy settings have been known to change when posted from a mobile device, however secure you think your private settings are make sure you double check before posting. 2) Don’t wish me luck: So you have a hundred different interviews for entirely different roles? Don’t let your friends wish you luck all over your social accounts. Chances are employers will see the goodwill gestures and think you arent serious about their job opportunity and are merely adopting a scattergun approach to finding a better role. 3) Don’t be a lurker, get involved! You may think that employers are logging on to dig some dirt on you, but the reality is they are just trying to get a fuller picture of a potential new employee. It is important that you fit in well with the work culture, so employers often look for evidence of a well-rounded individual that they could envisage working with. You may not be displaying any negative qualities through your social media, but inactivity doesn’t show off any good qualities either. 1 in 5 hiring managers surveyed by CareerBuilder, claimed that they found something on a social media profile that confirmed their decision to make the candidate an offer, including having a wide range of interests. We all know that nobody likes a show off, but social media is a great way to flaunt your achievements without looking out of place. Stating you are an expert baker in a legal interview may seem a little unorthodox, but showing off your culinary talents online will score you brownie points. Get involved with discussions, network with people and post engaging pictures about your hobbies to demonstrate what a well-rounded individual you are. 4) Don’t voice controversial opinions:  While it is important to get involved with discussions online and flex your ideological muscles, nobody wants to employ an overly-opinionated loudmouth. To employers, your passion could come across as argumentative and you may seem difficult. Steer away from controversial issues if you want to keep the peace between you and your future employer. 5) Don’t be a fake: Although social media is often used to paint a shining picture of yourself, don’t stray so far away from the truth that you become a different person. It’s a bit like lying on your CV you shouldn’t do it. While having active hobbies can be helpful, you don’t need to climb mountains at the weekend to land your dream job. It will also be painstakingly obvious if you go for a job interview and suddenly start tweeting everything about the industry you interviewed for. Keep your social media consistent, and if you are going to go down the industry-themed route make sure you do your preparation and start well before you apply to avoid your efforts looking forced. Takeaways: If you managed to get through the interview and your employer is looking into your profile, chances are they already like you. Social media shouldn’t be a corporate chore, by all means show off your unique personality online and have some fun, but consider your audience and whether there will be any consequences from what you post. If you are unsure about how your chosen industry will react to your social media, it’s better to play it safe and keep it tame. Be the best version of yourself on social media, think before you post and keep active! Author:  Nick Taylor is a Marketing Executive at Forward Role Recruitment, a leading digital marketing agency in the North West. Forward Role specialise in finding exceptional candidates their dream role within SEO, PPC, Social Media and other digital industry positions, by delivering a personalised and expert service that guarantees the right person is placed in the right job.

Follow The Example of These 4 Prominent Entrepreneurs to Become Successful - Classy Career Girl

Follow The Example of These 4 Prominent Entrepreneurs to Become Successful In the business world, you are the architect of your life and destiny or let’s say, the master of your fate. There are no limitations to the things you can achieve. They key is learning the rules of the game and playing your cards right.  To begin with, let’s learn the most important business success secrets you should know. 1. Learn How to Make Money This sounds obvious, but making money for your business is a major challenge to most people. It is important that we understand that the market pays depending on your performance. If you expect excellent rewards, then you have to focus on offering the best in your business field. Otherwise, average rewards, frustrations, and failure will be part of you.  Be vigilant and aggressive to understand the key competencies and skills needed to become an expert in your niche. With these, you can build your business and implement effective entrepreneurial strategies every single day. 2. Get Around The Right People It is worth noting that 80 percent of your success in life depends on personal and business relationships. The same trend applies when it comes to entrepreneurship. Any successful businessman will tell you there will be someone at every turning point in your life, to either help or hinder you achieve. It is therefore important that you build and maintain a network of productive relationships throughout your life. If you want to succeed, associate with positive and ambitious people. As much as they keep you motivated to achieve your goals, they can potentially bring valuable clients and partnerships to your business. Many people will offer you tips for successful entrepreneurship, but these two are must-have traits to ensure your business succeeds. Additionally, we have compiled a list of four prominent entrepreneurs that should inspire you. From Oprah to Bill Gates, we’re sharing their success stories and real-life experiences to motivate you on your entrepreneurial journey. Follow The Example of These 4 Prominent Entrepreneurs to Become Successful 1. Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey has one of the most-inspiring rags to riches story. Oprah’s current net worth is over $3 billion, placing her as the richest African American and arguably, topping the list of most influential women in the world.  Oprah was born in a very humble background where she grew up in abject poverty. Considering the rough upbringing of a single mother who worked as a house help, Oprah faced many challenges including sexual abuse throughout her school life. However, this did not bar her from achieving her dreams. Her career began at a local black radio station where Oprah impressed the station managers with her passion and oration. Later, Oprah landed better gigs in leading radio stations and eventually on TV. Through her passion and aspirations, she launched the widely-known Oprah Winfrey Show. Fellow entrepreneurs, PERSISTENCE is the key. Do not give up. 2. Steve Jobs It is almost impossible to create a list of the most famous entrepreneurs without featuring Steve Jobs. Due to financial burdens, Steve dropped out of college but continued with audit classes unofficially. He later formed Apple Computer Company, the tech-giant considered the “grandfather of the digital revolution.” He changed the electronics industry significantly, and his influence will be felt forever by the coming generations. Jobs passed away with a net worth of over $8.3 billion. Today, one of the biggest technology moguls of the century, with commitment and unrelenting spirit to his vision, Steve Jobs was undoubtedly an all-time entrepreneurial star. With his contribution on how we can leverage technology in marketing and businesses, Jobs’ inventions have been a real game-changer. [RELATED: 3 of The Most Inspiring Women in Business] 3. Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie, among other examples, serves as an inspiring figure in entrepreneurship.   Carnegie had a tough childhood life where he worked in factories for a living. It was rough constant hunger was the order of the days. However, Carnegie was brilliant enough to work his way up, where he ended as a superintendent in Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He used his earnings to create several businesses, including the Carnegie Steel Mill. Being one of the richest people in America, Carnegie proved to be a class act illustration of generosity.   He believed that anyone who dies rich dies disgraced and therefore, ended up donating almost all his wealth to charitable organizations and foundations including educational institutions and libraries across the United States. 4. Bill Gates Bill Gates is among the most successful entrepreneurs of our age. Gates net worth is estimated to be over $80 billion. He has been crowned world’s richest man for 17 of the past 23 years, the founder of the world’s largest computing company, Microsoft, and recognized as a leading figure when defining computer revolution.   Gates developed a great interest in programming at a very tender age; spending all the time creating computer programs in school. He later created Microsoft and led a developer’s team in creating the Windows Operating System-which is increasingly popular. Gates, just like other famous entrepreneurs, is known for his philanthropic activities which include donations to charitable organizations as well as scientific endeavors. He also founded a philanthropic foundation that aims to reduce poverty, enhance health care, improve education opportunities and provide technological access worldwide. Having internalized the success stories of some of the most successful entrepreneurs, it’s time to place yourself on the billionaire roadmap. Follow the entrepreneurship strategies above and influence the lives of people positively it’s the real measure of success.

History of the Recruiting Technology [Infographic]

History of the Recruiting Technology [Infographic] Even through recruitment is not the hottest topic in these recession-filled times, recruiting technology is definitely a hot topic on the start-up and technological advances front. The 1990s brought recruiter-centric automation, but now social recruitment is definitely on the rise. The infographic below is on the history of recruitment technology and the different aspects of it, including resume databases, source analytics, recruiting marketing and other minute topics that otherwise go unnoticed. A definite read for those in the recruitment and HR industries. Recruiting Technology: A Social History is brought to you by Jobvite. Infographic developed by Jobvite. 11

Candidates Priorities in the Modern Workplace

Candidates’ Priorities in the Modern Workplace As recruiters, we need to understand what makes our candidates tick. To gain a deeper insight into candidates’ priorities, Tiger Recruitment recently commissioned a survey of 1,000 UK employees, with interesting results. The survey revealed that the following values were most relevant to job seekers across the country, indiscriminate of sector or industry. Meaningful work For someone to find meaning in their work, their role must fulfill their individual goals and desires. This is entirely unique to each candidate, whether it’s working for a more sustainable or ethical company, performing a more challenging role, or choosing a job that fosters learning opportunities. The quest for meaningful work is now an integral part of our job search; it’s something that 33% of female employees and 27% of male employees look for in a new role, according to Tiger’s recent research. This is also something that is valued at a higher rate in millennial job seekers (37%), and trends show that this looks likely to increase year on year. Career progression Perhaps not surprisingly, career progression is one of the most important factors for job seekers. Men are looking for this in slightly higher numbers than women (33% to 27%). For some, career progression means seeing a higher salary with their move. Broken down by gender, 62% of men and 56% of women would actively seek a pay rise when changing jobs. Ultimately, it’s important to understand the motivations behind someone wanting to progress, as these will differ from employee to employee. Work-life blend A positive work-life blend is important to both female and male UK workers. According to our research, a surprisingly high number of men (40%) valued this over women (35%). Therefore, your clients should understand that what is desired by one employee in terms of the work-life blend may not necessarily work for someone else. Use this information to work with each employee to put together a solution that works for their lifestyle. How can employers best use the data to their advantage?   In light of the low unemployment rate in the UK, we’re continuing to operate in a candidate-short market. Therefore, your clients will want to do all that they can to be attractive to potential new recruits and existing employees. Establishing initiatives in the workplace that reflect the desires of your workforce makes good business sense. As with all workplace initiatives, it’s important to first identify exactly what each employee is looking for. This can be achieved by organizing an online feedback survey to understand the priorities of staff, which should guide any changes. This is an inexpensive yet effective way to gauge employee sentiment. Whether they be the implementation of flexible working, encouraging CSR initiatives, training opportunities, or creating clear career progression strategies, changes should be implemented with clear communication and processes. Investing the time to take these steps will reassure employees about the meaningfulness of their work and pave the way to attracting new talent.

Professional Resumes: How to Write Professional Resumes and Letters

Professional Resumes: How to Write Professional Resumes and LettersWhile many would say that applying for a job, regardless of what it is, can be as easy as flipping a switch and right clicking the mouse, these same people often will find themselves submitting numerous professional resumes and cover letters for the same job. While each job will have its own unique qualifications, a resume or cover letter will be a central tool in getting the job.Using one of these applications for the same job will almost certainly get you some 'butterflies' in your stomach. Your resume and letter could catch the attention of your potential employer, but if your application is filled with errors, you may not stand a chance at the job.It's well-known that a professional resume and cover letter are the two most important components in any hiring process. Because these letters and resumes take up such a large portion of a person's application package, they will be read and reviewed quickly. If you submi t an application to more than one company, or more than one employer, there is no telling how long it will be before your resume or letter will get back to you.When you're looking for a job, it's best to hire a professional resume writing service to write your letter and resume. Most professional resume writing services offer not only writing assistance, but have someone on staff who can review your application and make sure that it's error-free. They have the time and training to do this in the office, on weekends, and on other days. A professional resume writing service is also in a position to give feedback on your application if there are things that need to be changed.Once you've sent your application and letter, your professional resume writing service will begin work on it. You can expect to receive your resume and letter in a timely manner and in a very professional appearance.It is well-known that a professional resume and letter should be relatively short and concise. This is especially true when the job is for a position that requires a comprehensive interview, and it will help the professional resume writing service to make sure that your letter and resume won't be lost in the mass of applications that were submitted.When you send a professional resume and letter to an employer, you will want to make sure that you submit it on time. The last thing you want is to be rejected by the employer or overlooked because you didn't send your resume and letter on time. If you wait until after the deadline to send in your resume and letter, you may find yourself falling behind, and this will have a negative impact on your employment opportunities.So, regardless of whether you're applying for a job in the IT department or another department, or even if you're an associate in marketing, using a professional resume writing service to write your letter and resume will give you an edge in the hiring process. These services will ensure that your letter and resume ar e as professional and as appealing as possible, and this will help you stand out from the crowd.

The L Word and Your Career

The L Word and Your Career 0 Flares 0 Flares This post is inspired by the brilliance of Matt Cheuvront. Matt runs a sweet and utterly awesome blog called Life Without Pants. Go lose yourself over there for a bit, you wont be disappointed. Matt recently posed the question,  Do you need to LOVE your job to be happy, which sprung a debate between many Gen Y minds.   In three sentences Ill try to summarize mattChevys thoughts, but before reading further it may be best you spend a couple minutes and read what he wrote. Basically, Matt thinks the big L word may be a bit too strong when considering work.  He insists that maybe love should be saved for your spouse, kids, or even your dog.  When it comes down to it, Matt hopes you Enjoy the journey and Let life be about the living. When reading his thoughts, my HR mind immediately thought of two things Work/Life Balance and Employee Engagement. The level of employee engagement can many times be from the result of work/life balance.  My opinion is that most people wont say they love their job, but that in itself doesnt mean they cant be happy overall.  This is where a strong work/life balance program comes into play.  When a company enforces a top notch WLB program, employees can enjoy flexible schedules, higher than average paid vacation, and maybe most important know that their employer actually does CARE ABOUT EMPLOYEES. Knowing, as well as feeling that your employer does care how decisions affect you is powerful. Most HR pros will point out two levels of employee engagement being engaged and disengaged.  My theory of employee engagement actually contains three levels. Level 1 Extreme Employee Disengagement In this level, job satisfaction is terribly low.  Job stress imposes on outside personal relationships many times.  A strong work/life balance program wont help the employee in some cases.  An employee in Level 1 absolutely hates their job, and is most likely a current job seeker.  They need out, and their employer probably is looking for ways to push them out as well. Level 2 Engagement In this level, employees are satisfied with their position, although they may not LOVE their job or have the most passion for the work they do.  They have no problem working hard on a daily basis to complete tasks and are generally content with their job.   A strong work/life balance program helps to retain employees in this category.   Level 2 employees have their ups and downs in regards to job  satisfaction, but overall feel pretty good. Most people are in Level 2. Level 3 Extreme Employee Engagement In this level, employees are  extremely passionate  and committed to work. These employees may be surrounded by work even when outside of work.  Hard work = success and happiness.  Work may get in the way of personal relationships for some, which can create stressful situations outside of their job. I understand that not every working individual can be categorized as a Level 1, 2, or 3 employee, but its my theory!  My thoughts are that most successful people fall into Level 2 and Level 3. So, does knowing what you love = an opportunity for happiness? What I mean by this is if you KNOW your enjoyment in life comes from a hobby or activity that is not related to work, than maybe you should look for employers who value providing a balance of work and life.  Maybe you enjoy spending ample time with family, long-weekend fishing trips, committing to a 6 day per-week meat head gym routine, or even watching Oprah every single day.  Or, maybe what you love is work.    Once you know where your enjoyment comes from and what makes you happy, you can decide just how important work/life balance programs are for you. My last point is hopefully obvious.  Life isnt all fun and games.  Level 2 employes need to realize when outside activities should be cut back.  We all go through times when extra work is needed for our job. Besides, money is critical for many of our favorite activities.  Level 3 individuals that strive on constant work should know when to take a step back and relax.  Work will around for a long time, but there will come a day when it doesnt.  Who and/or what will be there for you when work isnt? But neither Matt nor I are going to tell you what to do.  Its your life, love what you do and ______ the rest.  (which movie is that line from?) What level of engagement are you currently in, and how does your (if they have one) employers work/life balance program play into things?  Let me hear from you! Photo Credit Johnny Colino

Being excluded hurts - literally - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Being excluded hurts - literally - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog An article on CNN, reports on a UCLA study that shows that when people feel rejected or let out, this activates the same center in the brains as physical pain. The ACC is the same part of the brain that has been found to be associated with the unpleasantness of physical pain, the part of pain that really bothers us. Theres something about exclusion from others that is perceived as being as harmful to our survival as something that can physically hurt us, and our body automatically knows this. Interesting. This points to one reason why its so important for people to be a part of a group, to feel that we belong. Read the article here. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related