7 Hallmarks of Top Professional Recruiters

7 Hallmarks of Top Professional Recruiters Guess what? The most professional recruiters are the most successful in terms of billing. Once you have decided what job you want, you should aim to take advice from and be represented by the best recruiter. How do you know who the best ones are? Well, you can ask the people around you, find out who your HR department uses or do your own research. We have compiled a list of qualities the top recruiters possess; your job is to find a recruiter that ticks these boxes. The top professional recruiters: 1) will work for the company with the best name: This company is most likely to work with the best clients (employers) in the market. They will have worked up tight relationships with hiring managers over the years. Employers are very conservative and prefer to only work with the recruiters they know well. Sometimes they will give their favorite recruiter heads up on brand new roles so they can start covering off the market before anybody else. This relationship will ensure you will not only have access to the best roles as well as full information about the roles and what your chances of success are. 2) are very good listeners: Like in alls sales jobs, the ability to listen to the customer (in this case, you) is critical for success. Instead of going in all guns blazing with a spiel about their vacancy, the best recruiters will ask open and probing questions. These questions will nicely filter down provide an understanding of your preferences as a candidate. This way they will know whether the vacancy they had in mind will be of interest to you, even before they ask you. 3) will find you: When you are approached out of the blue and pitched a very interesting suitable position, you know the recruiter has done their research and made a very precise strike. The best recruiters out there don’t rely on their database, advertisements or direct applicants, they get referrals and use other creative methods of finding the best talent. 4) let you make your own decisions: The top recruiters out there know that you can turn somebody who has declined a job offer into taking it, using a number of black magic recruitment tricks. The trouble is that before long, the candidate is very likely to be hit by buyer’s remorse and drop out. Good recruiters will say their piece, let you go away and get on with your decision making process. Career changes are major decisions and it is only fair to be given a few night’s sleep on it. 5) are clear, honest and provide full information: The top recruiters will be very clear about who they are, what companies they represent, what they can and can’t do for you, what time scales they work toward. They will have full information about the jobs they are working and will give you an honest appraisal of your chances. They will also get back to you when they say they will, keep you updated as well as keeping your contacts strictly confidential. Last but not least, they will expect you to reciprocate. You will have to be clear on what you want, honest about your situation and be ready to provide the recruiter will all information necessary. 6) will have references ready for you to review: These references or testimonials will be both from successfully placed candidates with similar skills to you as well as hiring managers/clients in your industry they have actually done business with. Just like a good candidate has references, so does a good recruiter. 7) will be happy to keep you on the books: Far from every candidate will be at a stage where they are ready to make a move when being pitched a vacancy. The top recruiters know that some candidates have to warm to the idea of switching jobs and some will take a very long time. This is the reason they are happy to stay in touch over time, sooner or later you are likely to have an interest. The savvy recruiter also uses this relationship for giving and getting industry information and referrals. What is your experience of top recruiters? RELATED:  How Good is Your Recruiter Really? LinkedIn Will Tell You!

Why Your Job Search Needs a Targeted Employer List - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Your Job Search Needs a Targeted Employer List - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Successful salespeople target specific clients by developing a prospects list of companies or individuals. As a job seeker, you will be far more successful if you think and act more like a salesperson. YOU are the productand, you are also the product being sold.  One critical question you have to ask yourself  is, Who are my prospective employersones who are of the right size, in the right industry sector(s), having needs for someone like me, operating in my desired geographic area? If you are actively seeking to find a better job or intending to do so within the next year, it is more important than ever that you research potential employers and bosses. Why? Because, unfortunately, many companies continue to overload their workers rather than expand hiring, retain poor managers and nearsighted executive leaders rather than replace them, and fail to respond to changes in their markets rather than take positive action that would benefit their entire workforce. You must research employers in advance of accepting new employment in order to increase your odds of finding those exceptional employers where you can thrive and be properly rewarded for your contributions. Not to mention avoiding the bad apples where you are likely to be underpaid or underappreciated. In my career consulting practice, I have found that a targeted list of employers is a valuable tool for job seekers. Clients use such lists during their networking to focus people into the industries, sizes of companies, geographic locations, etc., that they desire. This helps them get more and better referrals in their areas of interest and it also generates names of other desirable companies that they may not have otherwise identified. As I mention in Chapter 9 of my book Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!), When you are conducting an active job search, you can set yourself apart from the average career seeker and find a job faster with a customied list of 75-100 target employers. If you are happy in your current job, it would still be a good strategy to occasionally meet with peers in such companies to broaden your industry relationshipsWhen actively job hunting, sharing your target employers list with your networking contacts can gain you many useful personal introductions to desirable contacts. Before computers and the internet, compiling such a list was a laborious manual task and much of the printed informational resources were one to two years out of date. Today, however, the internet allows you to research and identify desirable employers in a reasonably efficient manner. I can normally create a list of several hundred potential prospect in about an hour. Here are three of the web sites mentioned in my book, where you can research and identify desirable employers: www.referenceusa.com, which  is available at many public and university libraries (check with yours) www.finance.yahoo.com, which provides financial performance information www.glassdoor.com, which compiles employee and job interview feedback Utilizing these and similar resources will allow you to compile a fairly well researched list of employers of interest. I say fairly well because you will need to sanity check employers with current and former employees. (A current client checked out her prospective boss last week and turned down a $25,000 increase.) LinkedIn is a great resource for this because you can search for people by current or former employer name. Connecting with current and former employees can be especially valuable when job interviewing because they can give you accurate feedback on company cultures, job compensation, and bosses. A targeted list of potential employers can be one of your most productive job search tools. Try using it in your networking meetings to focus your referrals and I am sure you will see better results. Best wishes for your success! Author: Richard Kirby  is an executive career consultant, speaker on career strategies, and author of Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!). Richard Kirby’s earlier experience includes managing engineering, human resources, marketing and sales teams for employers that ranged from a Fortune 100 to a VC-funded entrepreneurial startup. For the past 11 years at Executive Impact, Richard has helped hundreds of executives and professionals successfully navigate today’s transformed 21st century job market and achieve better employment for themselves. Richard’s expertise includes career assessments and goal setting, personal marketing/branding, resume enhancement, strategic networking and job interviewing, and “contrarian” job search methodologies. He is a Board Certified Coach (in career coaching) and a Certified Management Consultant (recognized by the ISO).

Travel Documents The Basics on ESTA

Travel Documents The Basics on ESTA So we have done a few features on San Francisco and Buffalo recently, and a friend in Europe is interested to see them. When we started talking about travel docs, she seemed to have little idea on what is needed, so I thought to look it up. Whatever reason it maybe to visit friends, check out a business prospect, or to just see the iconic landmarks you have to make sure that your travel documents are all sorted out to guarantee a hassle free and safe trip. For many countries, that means securing your ESTA. With the increased number of visitors to the United States yearly, the efforts to strengthen security measures and ensure the safety of visitors travelling to the US has become of prime importance. One way to warrant this valuable aspect of your trip is to secure an Electronic System for Travel Authorization, also known as ESTA. What Is It For? The ESTA basically evaluates a person’s eligibility for Visa Exemption under the Visa Waiver Program. In place of filing for a travel visa, you will only need to present your ESTA, which can give you more freedom and flexibility to enter the US without the dangers of the lack of security and the hassle of repetitive paperwork. If you are from any of these countries, you will need to apply for an ESTA online: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Can I Get Declined an ESTA? Yes. There are many reasons including something as simple as answering the forms and questions wrong, or something more complex as previous records of overstaying, fraudulent activity, or a previous denial of a Visa to the US. If you want to avoid possibly getting denied entry to the US, there are fortunately measures you can take to create better chances for you to get it. Do I need ESTA Assistance? Many first time travelers are unaware of the need for this travel document and end up procrastinating weeks or days away from traveling. If you are in urgent need of one, even when you have nothing to worry about in terms of your track record, assistance might be a good idea. This service can help you have your peace of mind, especially if you already bought that ticket. When looking for assistance for your ESTA Application, make sure that you ask yourself the following questions: Are they knowledgeable of my destination? Do they have experience in processing my application? Are they able to thoroughly explain and walk you through the process? Do they provide a seamless and convenient service? Can I communicate with the agents easily via chat and email? Do they have the patience to answer all my questions? Can they speak in my native language? Are they making the effort to create a professional relationship with me? Will they assist me as a client all throughout having the ESTA? Can they guarantee assistance until my permit expires so I can make the most out of their service? Have you had experience in securing this travel document? Tell us all about it below or tweet us @mscareergirl!

3 Ways You Can Help Your Candidates Deal with Interview Rejection

3 Ways You Can Help Your Candidates Deal with Interview Rejection Interview rejection happens to even the strongest of candidates. However like any great recruiter, you know that your candidate will live to fight another day. So it’s also vital to ensure that their confidence isn’t dented because if a candidate still carries their rejection baggage they’re not going to be able to perform at their absolute best for their future interviews. Which will lead to further rejection and heart ache for both you and your candidate. I’ve put together three ways to minimise the negative impact of their interview rejections so that it its doesn’t affect their confidence and self worth. So that you can get your placement and your candidate can secure their dream job. 1. Big picture mindset If you look at any successful person, in any sphere of life they never lose sight of the bigger picture. It’s a little known fact but both Henry Ford and Walt Disney whose business empires are now worth billions initially went bankrupt (in Henry Ford’s case twice!). Another example is of someone I know very well, who’s currently earning a 6 figure income, struggled for over a year and a half before finally breaking in to his career of choice. What’s common in all of them was that despite the setbacks they never wavered from their long term goal. So it’s important to reinforce that the job offer isn’t the end goal it’s just part of their long term career journey. Tell them to think about it in the same way as they did when learning to ride a bike, there were many falls, cut’s and grazes, maybe even a few tears, but they kept getting back on that bike. Why? Because they had a dream of riding your bike and going on adventures! So remember to emphasise that failure is a fundamental part of one’s journey to success and the their dream job will be just around a corner. 2. Ensure they focus on themselves and not the interviewer Interview decision making are always subjective. Every hiring manager has a slightly different preference in what they prefer. Some might like you others less so. It’s important to emphasise that up to a certain point it’s out of their control. Therefore it’s better to spend for them to focus their time and energy on thing which they have control over. Such as their preparation, exuding positive body language and delivering your answers with confidence. Rather than of wasting precious emotional energy on a such a fruitless endeavour. It’s also important to remind them that by trying too hard to please, can actually have the opposite effect. Interviewer will perceive it as fake or insincere. Again more of a reason for them to focus their energy on themselves! Avoid analysis paralysis A rejection of any kind especially if it’s important, can lead to a moment of self reflection and analysis. This off course is an important process as it helps us to learn, grow and improve. However forensically picking apart everything moment like an episode of CSI will lead to confusion and a loss of self worth. Therefore when helping your candidates analyse their interview performance focus on the following: Were the answers strong enough? And If they weren’t how can they improve them for future interviews. How were their first and last impressions? Could they have done anything better? How was their general body language? What could they have done better? By keeping a sense of perspective and focus in the analysis will ensure that your candidate will actually learn and improve so that they’re better prepared for their next interview.

3 Simple Steps To Writing Better Copy

3 Simple Steps To Writing Better Copy We all know the ingredients of great copy: tight sentences that effectively deliver compelling messages.Add in the creativity that sets your clients apart from their competitors and the reassurance that every choice is backed by data and thorough research and your copy really will make a meaningful impact on helping your clients to grow their business.But you can still do better.evalOnce you’ve mastered the basics of copywriting, it’s vital to develop your own practice: a process that enables you to work efficiently and stay fresh so that you continue to produce relevant and valuable content long into the future.Today, I will share three steps I use to write better copy and ensure that my clients receive only the highest quality copywriting.1. Begin off-screenYou’ve finished the brief, you’re super excited and you just want to sit down in front of your Retina display and start pumping out those wicked wise lines.But hang on or you’ll miss the real gold.Our reaction to the e xcitement of great ideas is a physical one, but the action of typing on a computer is anything but. By constricting our bodies and letting only our hands move quickly over the keyboard, that vibrant motivation to create something special will slowly leak out. You may still produce good copy but you’ll almost certainly miss the really special stuff.Instead, you should get messy and get physical. Whether you use a whiteboard, reams of unlined paper or the nearest white wall, release your energy by channeling it towards opening the project’s full potential.See the bigger picture. Get up, walk around and scrawl ideas as they come to you. Scribble things out and connect your brilliant thoughts with big arrows drawn in colourful markers.From scribbles will emerge the real gold.evalBut why bother? Shouldn’t you just be able to sit down and pump out something that works?Sure, if you like writing average copy. The great idea that sets you and your client apart is rarely the first one t hat jumps out. You must open the potential in a democratic way, which means not believing too quickly that one idea is ‘the right idea’.If we sit down at the computer and type, we make this exact mistake. We are already giving our words a finality. As this is the format we are likely to produce and present the copy, starting in front of the screen effectively shuts the door on other potentially valuable routes.Get messy, get physical and release all those ideas and potentials that great brief has inspired in you.2. Make a plan Copy rarely tries to achieve more than one message at a time. If it does try to hit multiple messages it often ends up convoluted, ineffective and even confusing.By choosing a structure, carefully laying out how each section contributes to achieving a clear and compelling message, it makes sure that all your hard research work doesn’t go to waste.Within the parameters of that structure, let your creative side shine. Let the keywords you’ve identified w ork their magic. And write the words that complement the rest of the design to produce brilliant sales pages, landing pages or wherever else your copy is destined.A good plan will make you more efficient and effective, so know where to channel your inventiveness and where to follow a plan.eval3. Send it tomorrowYour clients love how fast you work and you feel satisfied that you have smashed the deadline.Until it comes back with questions, revisions andâ€"shudderâ€"typos.We’ve all done it and we’ll probably all do it again. There’s little worse than receiving a reply from a client where they point out your errors. After all, you’re meant to be the pro, right?Typos may seem minor but they can really affect your professional image and reputation. Hold off on sending that copy until you’ve given a good check through and proofread.And the best time to do that is the next day when you have fresh eyes and when you’ve not just left the process of creating the copy. There’s a p hrase that fits this:Write hot; edit coldAnd it’s true. Make this a part of your working process and how you plan for deadlines.But maybe you just must send it today. In which case, invest in a proofreader or colleague to give it a look over and point out any issues.Whatever you do, don’t send copy that doesn’t reflect your quality and professionalism. It’s just not worth it.Now, go and discover what else makes your copywriting process efficient, inventive and unique â€"then share your tips for your fellow copywriters in the comments box below.

Check out my op-ed piece - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Check out my op-ed piece - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Today The CS Monitor published an op-ed piece I wrote called Yes, you can be happy at work which talks about the difference between American and Scandinavian attitudes. A quote: You get paid to do your job, not to like it, seems to be the attitude of most US managers and workplaces. Whats worse, American employees seem to be willing participants in this arrangement. When I ask Americans what makes them happy at work, they rarely talk about the work itself ? many tend to see it as a means to an end, rather than as something to enjoy. The result is that US workplaces are dominated by status-seeking career climbers, where the paycheck is the only motivator, where employee turnover is shockingly high, where bad management is never challenged, where burnout and cynicism are the order of the day, and only Dilbert comic strips provide relief. Click here to read the whole thing. Its inspired by this earlier post about my experiences from a recent trip to America. Before the paper would publish it, I had to agree to a few edits though. For instance this line didnt make it into print: In fact, recent studies have Denmark leading the lists of happy nations so eat it, Sweden! Though I kinda figured it wouldnt :o) 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

Technology Resume Writing

Technology Resume WritingTechnology resume writing is one of the ways to gain a fast promotion in the industry. It helps in making a new face in the work place. It should be used in order to fill a vacuum in the company.Resume writing is a very popular technique and it is fast gaining popularity all over the world. By using technology, it has made the work easier and faster.There are many companies that require this resume writing services, which includes various people, especially in the United States. They provide a written resume for every applicant who wants to enter the job market with the help of technology.There are a lot of things in this resume writing service, which helps in identifying the right candidate for the company. The technology that is used is graphical based. This method provides the applicants with a written interview.The applicant has to follow the steps of the process when he writes his resume. The written resume has to be consistent in the technical perspecti ve and it is free from human errors. It is important to take note of the content of the resume, because the interviewer is going to examine it closely before the interview.Technology has made the job and life simpler. The introduction of technology has brought a revolution in many fields. The development of technology has given the better job opportunity and it has reduced the expenses.If you want to become successful in technology resume writing, then you need to write the resume in a creative way. It has to be original and it has to show that you are good at writing. It has to show your skills and knowledge in the subject.If you know how to utilize the technology properly in the resume, then you will be successful in the technological resume writing. Before hiring any resume writing service, it is important to take note of the qualities and characteristics of the companies and the professionals that they employ. This will help you get the best outcome.