10 Things Every Recruiter Should Check for on a Candidates CV

10 Things Every Recruiter Should Check for on a Candidates CV As a recruiter you want to give the candidate you are representing the best opportunity to stand out from the crowd and their CV is the first opportunity they have to sell themselves. Ensure  that the CV which you send to your client is clear, concise and highlights the relevant experience effectively. Follow these easy steps to ensure that they have that punch on the nose CV which really  gets them noticed! 1. Candidate frontsheet I would recommend having a unified candidate front sheet template. The kind of things this should include on it are: name, location, relevant experience, notice period, education and other relevant notes.  Most importantly, ensure that you talk to your candidate about the role and ask them what similar things they have done. From this you will be able to tailor the relevant experience section so it is specific to their application (theres nothing worse than a regurgitation of a candidates key skills, it will only make you look sloppy)! 2. Personal statement A strong CV should include a short (ideally between 30 â€" 60 words) personal statement which they have clearly crafted themselves. Make sure that they have outlined their abilities, achievements and career motivations and that they havent just used a standard template which includes a bunch of soft skills (everyone can claim to have these, get them to concentrate on what is truly makes them unique). 3. Always start the work history with the most recent role The  most recent role is going to be the most interesting experience for any potential employer (its unlikely that the candidates  part time work experience around their  college studies 10 years ago is going to be  of any interest) so make sure that this part of the candidates CV is the most in depth. Candidates should always explain how they have added value in the roles they have held, not just what they were responsible for doing and list personal achievements. Make sure that they describe the feature, the advantage of it and link back the benefit. For example (I used C++ instead of C to code, which  supported the design for object-oriented programming and meant we could develop the product faster, and also made the  program run faster). 4. Keywords Does the person have the specific experience for the role the client is hiring for? By this, I dont mean that they have included every keyword on their  resume, be vigilant to ensure that the important keywords contained in the main body of their experience are represented in the  work history. Failure to address this might look like the candidate has just copied and pasted the key words in the job specification but has no real experience in this area. 5. Gaps Make certain that if there are any gaps in a candidates experience that theres a sufficient explanation. Its the absence of an explanation that sometimes will make an employer wonder and jump to negative conclusions. Make sure that the candidate also includes any side projects/courses which they undertook during this gap of employment. It will help to prove that they are proactive and werent just sat at home twiddling their thumbs! It can also be a great way to show that they have a genuine interest in the industry if they have been working on industry related projects. 6. Too much info   Make sure you speak to your candidate about any potential TMI  (too much information) moments.  Many employers try  to avoid any type of discrimination, so often seeing that stuff on a resume can be uncomfortable and by that stuff, I mean, Im glad a candidate is happily married with two children  (really I am) but it doesnt  pertain to their ability to do the job! Please also make sure they take their photo off their  resume. If the employer wants to see what the candidate looks like they can just stalk them  on LinkedIn! 7. Online footprint Whilst this isnt essential, if a candidate has an online footprint, make sure that theyve included it in their  resume, (especially if its relevant to their industry). This includes personal domains, Quora profiles, Twitter handles, GitHub contributions, Dribble accounts, or anything a candidate has chosen to list. A good, relevant side project or creative account can help a candidate stand out and it shows that they  have passion for the  industry. 8. Location and logistics Include the travel time for the candidate here (especially if they are local), it shows that both you and the candidate have considered this (theres also nothing worse than a candidate calling the day before their due to attend an interview and pulling out because they didnt realise it was a tricky route). If the candidate lives further away and is looking at relocating make sure that you specify this and any further relevant details (for example, if the candidate is relocating to the area because of their partner or family ties), this will make more sense for the employer. 9. Grammar Bad spelling and grammar is sloppy and easy to avoid, its a recruiters job to check for these mistakes and to ensure that they have clearly presented their experience. Make sure that the candidate has picked a voice,  a tense, and that theyve stuck with it. I suggest third person and past tense. If I were you, Id make sure they eliminate pronouns (e.g. My, I, She, He) from their resume altogether. 10. Length Theres nothing worse than seeing a CV which, at first glance looks like it could be interesting, turning the page and realising that theyve sent you their full autobiography, it  means that you and no doubt the employer will completely lose emphasis (and concentration) when it comes to reading relevant experience. Any more than 3 pages and I usually completely disengage with the content.  A common mistake is that candidate will use the same CV and just add their newer roles at the top, make sure you speak to them about condensing job roles  further back in their career. Final thoughts Most of these points are a matter of common sense but they require  being vigilant every time you send out a candidates CV. Sometimes (and Im sure weve all been there), recruiters are so keen to get the CV out the door that proper consideration isnt given over making them stand out, an extra half an hour speaking to and consulting (yes recruitment CONSULTANTS) will really make the difference. You will look professional to your client and also gain credibility with a candidate who believes you are genuinely trying your best to give them the best opportunity at getting the job!

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The Interrupting Co-Worker

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The Interrupting Co-Worker I recently received a letter from an employee (Ill call her Barbara) who was fed up with a man (Ill call him Jason) in her office who constantly interrupted her. The interrupter was nice, the person said, but she was going to strangle him one of these days.He just starts talking, really loudly, when Im on the phone, Barbara says. And, the other day he did the same thing when I was in the middle of a conversation with someone else. He couldnt miss the fact that I was speaking with someone, but he just kept talking really loudly.To add to the annoyance is the fact that Jason has an irritating laugh sort of a cross between a honking goose and braying jackass, Barbara wrote.This letter is similar to many complaints I have heard over the years. While we may find the people with work with nice enough, some of their habits drive us crazy. We spend up to eight hours a day or more with these folks, and often certain personality quirks can cause huge problems if not addressed.Heres a way to h andle someone like Jason:Be perfectly clear. Theres no use pussyfooting around someone who continually interrupts you. If youre on the phone, ask that person to hold a moment, or excuse yourself with a smile when speaking directly to someone. Walk up to Jason, look him in the eye and say, I am in the middle of something that I need to finish. I will talk with you later. If you need to, guide Jason out of your office or away from your work space with your hand on his elbow.Follow up. If the problem exists on many levels Jason interrupting when youre on the phone, Jason interrupting private conversations, Jason interrupting when youre in a meeting then you need to make sure he fully understands your position. Find a time and place to speak to him privately and say: I should have spoken up when this first happened, so forgive me for that oversight. Your voice can be very loud and disruptive when Im on the phone, and interrupting me when its not an emergency is a problem. Id like to t alk about how we can resolve it.Finally, remember that because you have to continue to work on a daily basis with some of these people who irritate you, dont be so rude or hostile to them that you sever any chances of working together in a professional way. Always remain calm, but continue to stand by your position that its a problem affecting the way you do your job, so it is an issue that must be addressed. del.icio.us

How Colored Envelopes are a Marketing Tool

How Colored Envelopes are a Marketing Tool The primary function of envelopes has remained irreplaceable despite technology advancements which have entirely shifted business operations. This simple and often overlooked component of an organization’s communication holds so much potential that can be leveraged to gain competitive advantage. A commonly accepted notion is that envelopes are just a piece of paper that will be thrown out immediately after the content in it is removed but not if you get away from the boring and standard white varieties. The decision to come out of the ordinary and try out the powers of coloured envelopes is a simple but efficient strategy that will change how recipients will view your brand. Its About Marketing Superior marketing strategies  are never about doing the impossible but in paying attention to the tiny details which the target market finds appealing. In envelope marketing, the vital role of sending documents in a well-sealed package is to give the recipient the assurance that the parcel was intended for them and not any other random person. However, this does not change the fact that the same recipient could have received hundreds of letters and will need a reason to always open the one you send.   This calls for the need to distinguish your business and brand from all other competitors who are seeking attention from the same individual. Scientific research on human behaviour has proven that it takes an average of eight seconds to either capture or lose the attention of an adult. Translated to the use of envelopes in marketing or formal communication, this means that immediately an envelope is received there must be a compelling reason for the recipient to open it instantly. The fact that you have to accept is you are never going to get any advantage by having an envelope similar to the one a company launched in the 1950’s used to reach out to their clients. Colour Makes A Difference Nothing evokes human emotions and curiosity like colour, and when you have to use envelopes, and then customized solutions are not an option but the go-for strategy. Printed envelopes that take to account colour design elements will without any struggles capture the attention of your clients thereby increasing the chances of them opening it up and acting on the message delivered. Increased percentage of the response rates is the greatest joy of any business that uses envelopes, and by gaining extra bits of attention, you are already miles ahead of any other competitor. Everyone likes to have fun, and even when you have to talk business, it is never a crime to give your partners or clients an element of personalization. Sending a coloured envelope to anyone shows that you took the time to think about them and did not randomly order envelopes in bulk to send them documents. In having a sense of association with your brand, you stop using envelopes as another channel that has always been in place but instead makes it a communication avenue for business growth. The best part about custom printed envelopes is you do not have to worry about the finances as this is one of the most affordable and customer-focused marketing tools you can ever utilise in the modern market.

Now Its Time To Show Your Character(s) On Twitter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Now Its Time To Show Your Character(s) On Twitter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In case you missed it, a certain corner of the social media world experienced an influx of joy, celebratory actions and a splash of a surprise this week when Twitter announced changes to the way we will tweet. In the coming months, were introducing new ways for you to express even more with a Tweet: https://t.co/l1sWRvXWqr pic.twitter.com/zzhWpRcABs Twitter (@twitter) May 24, 2016 When news of new ways around Twitters 140-character limit were announced, people rejoiced, screamed emphatically, and waved their hands in a similar manner as if they didnt care. The soon-to-be technical structure of a tweet is something many of us, especially in the world of marketing, have been requesting for years now. Elements such as the ability to not worry about a persons handle, new methods of retweeting and not needing to worry about the URL of a picture or a link in a reply is a boon to the Twitterverse. However, it would behoove us all, especially us marketers, to remember to heed the words once spoken by Ben Parker, with great power comes great responsibility. The majority of the power that I am referring to here can be found at the beginning of the extended tweet structure above. As you can see, the 140-character count is now considered in the space after a users Twitter handle(s) and before a link whether that URL is an image, GIF or link to a web page. This new extension allows for up to 50 autopopulated handles to be mentioned in an individual tweet. The potential issue here is a simple one: SPAM. Think about how a tweet with 50 people in it would look. It would be inadvisable, to say the least, to tweet to that many people, especially unsolicited, at once just because you can. There are certain rules of engagement in social media that must be followed and they include following regular social cues in order to hold a conversation with people and not jumping into conversations that you werent invited to. And speaking of that Twitter has also dropped the worst kept secret hack on the platform, the .@ convention. Replies are now broadcast automatically instead of only to those who follow both you and the person to whom you are replying. Once again, weve reached another point where we as marketers can show that we know how to use Twitter responsibly. The spirit of the initial change that resulted in the .@ convention was one that focused that focused conversations like that on the parties in the conversation. It provided a small layer of protection for the people conversing as well as cleared other users streams of conversations. To quell the justified fears of people jumping into conversations to which they have not been invited, we can simply not jump into conversations wherein we have not been invited. As a whole, the changes that are due to appear from the blue bird are beneficial to users and that is something that we should all be happy about. With that being said, we must remember all that we should do in order to make Twitter a place those who connect with us want to be. Showing our worth in that way makes everything better.

How to Find a Good Builder on Line

How to Find a Good Builder on LineIt is not that difficult to find a builder online for your next project. However, you must be careful and make sure you are buying from the right person. Here are some ways to find the best builder online.A quality builder online will have many years of experience in the industry. He or she should be able to show you pictures and provide you with photos of previous projects they have completed. You can visit their website and view the kind of work they do. If they have a good amount of pictures and information to help you decide if they are the right builder for you, you are on the right track. If the builder does not provide you with anything, it is probably time to move on.The builder should be up front about any problems that may come up during the construction process. If he or she is not up front, you should probably avoid that builder. There is nothing worse than buying a home and having the contractor ruin the project because of an issue that was never properly discussed.Another way to determine if the builder on line is a reputable person is to contact their references. A lot of the builders on line will provide you with a phone number and will provide you with their personal references. Ask them what kind of builder they were and what kind of contractor they would hire to complete the job. This can also help you determine whether they are a good choice for your next project.A good builder online will provide you with a guarantee. This means that if the company is not able to finish the job, they will replace all the materials you purchase for free. It also gives you peace of mind knowing that if something goes wrong, they will get back to you in a timely manner. A quality company will do this for their customers.The best builder online will also provide you with all the necessary materials for the project. They should have the measurements of the property and the general layout of the building. They should also be able to provide you with a list of the contractors that they use for other work.The best builder online will have a staff that is well-trained and educated about the material and the type of contractor they are using. They should also provide you with a list of references and their phone number. Any one of these items is a good sign that the company is good and should be considered by any homeowner who is looking for a builder on line.One of the best ways to find a good builder on line is to go online and look at a company's history. If they have a good reputation, they will likely have good results for any homeowner.

Slides from Meaning Conference - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Slides from Meaning Conference - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Yesterday I spoke at the Meaning Conference in Brighton and it was one of the best events I have ever experienced. I was especially impressed by the incredibly ambitious theme and how it was covered brilliantly from so many interesting angles. I also rated the conference on twitter yesterday right after it ended: Overall, I would rate @meaningconf at 27 on a 10-scale. Yes, it was that good :-) Alexander Kjerulf (@alexkjerulf) October 1, 2012 Anyway, if anyone wantsem here are my slides. And if youd like to see Valerie again, here she is: Thanks for a fantastic event to the organizers and everyone who came and see you next year for Meaning 13. 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

Company Culture Gets More Attention

Company Culture Gets More Attention Once you find a job you are interested in, you research things like salary and benefits. But what you really want to know is whether youll fit in with the company culture. This is when job seekers start to get discouraged. Where can you find out about a companys culture? The good news is that there are employers who are listening to what job seekers want. Some companies have begun taking steps to provide you with more information about life as an employee. (Glassdoor is always a good option too!) As you know, finding the right job requires a lot of effort. Finally, employers are doing more to help you find the information you are really looking for! Cultural  Fit Is Most Important To You Workers of all ages want to know more about what it is like to work for a new company. According to Harvard Business Reviews analysis of a Gallup survey of 1,700 U.S. workers, employees ranked opportunities to learn and grow and quality of manager/management as the top considerations for taking a new job. Image from HBR And Employers Have Finally Begun to Listen Employers are attempting to connect with candidates in new and nontraditional ways, such as storytelling videos. Rather than telling candidates what its like to work there, companies are showing them by finding new ways to share the employee experience,  wrote recruiting and talent strategies expert, Lars Schmidt, in a recent Forbes article. In Schmidts article, he highlights videos by the consulting firm, KPMG and senior home care company, Nurse Next Door, for their ability to take recruiting to the next level by incorporating the concept of storytelling. These videos go beyond a day in the life of an employee and instead address the bigger impact the company and role have on society.  Heres one example: Examples of Companies Doing More Kimberly-Clark, known for consumer products like Kleenex, launched an online quiz to help prospective employees learn what kind of thinkers they are and what types of jobs theyd best fit. Candidates also learn about the culture and values of the company and the diversity of jobs. The Welcome Original Thinkers quiz takes you through nine quick questions to assess the type of thinker you are and then shows a listing of jobs you may be interested in. For example, are you The Dreamer, The Analyzer or one of the other six types of thinkers? You can also view the profile of a featured employee with the same thinker type. Kimberly-Clarks campaign is designed to create a useful experience, especially for new graduates or early careerists looking for new jobs. This initiative is also designed to increase its brand recognition (and reputation). (I wrote about Welcome Original Thinkers here) LinkedIn Is Helping, Too! LinkedIn announced it will be rolling out new paid features for employers career pages. Their announcement states: [a]ccording to the 2016 Talent Trends Report, the number one roadblock to applying to a job is not knowing what its like to work at the company. And 60% percent of candidates say that, first and foremost, they want to know about the company culture and values. FYI: LinkedIn data finds that when candidates view LinkedIn Career Pages, they’re 2.8x more likely to respond to an InMail and 1.3X more likely to apply to an open job Employers who pay for enhanced career pages can create a new tab called Life. The Life tab can include photos and articles written by employees about life at the company. Even more good news is that job postings will have a section called Meet the team which allows you to view the profiles of employees similar to you, including their education, previous companies and skills. Learn more using LinkedIns newest features here. This Is What Job Seekers Need To Know (and do) If you are in the market for a new job, dont search the job boards just yet. Take a few minutes and figure out what you want out of your next job. If you say rewarding work is important to you, then define what that means to you and what a company would need to show to prove its culture and values. For example, do you value a company that offers training or do you want time to support community activities? Once you know what proof you are looking for, it will be easier for you to identify a company that is doing the right types of things. Now you are ready to investigate the companys career page and LinkedIn company profile. The information provided can help you assess the culture and learn more about employees who work there. Now you are ready to investigate the companys career page, LinkedIn company profile and Glassdoor reviews. You should be able to find information to help you assess the culture. You can also learn more about employees who work there. Dont Forget To Tap Into Social And if you still want to learn more, see which social networks the company lists on their career page or website. TThen go look at those profiles. Note what information is being shared and, by all means, take action by liking or commenting on their status updates. A huge advantage of social media over email is the potential to engage in conversation (real-time) with people (you dont know) who work for a company you are interested in. You can learn more about networking via social media here. Ask Open-Ended Questions The best way to get good answers is to ask open-ended questions. Heres a sample so you understand what I mean. Instead of asking does your company have centralized or decentralized decision-making, rephrase the question to: “when requisitions need to be signed, what is the process” and then, “How long does that typically take?” Dont ask are there opportunities for advancement?  Instead, ask the employer the same type of “situational questions” they are asking you in interviews…”tell me about a time when one of your employees was recognized for an accomplishment.” This post originally appeared on US News World Report On Careers