Whats Your Number One Tip to Fix Candidate Experience

Whats Your Number One Tip to Fix Candidate Experience Everybody wants people to talk about their company, but none more so than the people who have applied for a job within your organisation. Whether you end up recruiting them or not, you want candidates to tell others how easy it was to apply for a job with your company and whether they felt that theyre application mattered throughout the process. Nobody likes being ignored or having to go through a rigourous application process for a role that doesnt merit that level of in-depth detail. So how can you make sure your candidates, whether they are hired or not, have good things to say about the application process? Find out what one tip our 10 recruiting experts are willing to share to ensure you get it right. Leela Srinivasan If you did nothing but increase your responsiveness to all candidates throughout the recruiting funnel, your candidates would be doing cartwheels. Of course, it’s not as simple as it sounds. It requires your broader team (read: hiring managers and interviewers) to give swift, high-quality feedback so that you can get back to candidates with an update, fast. Equip your internal team with the technology to do it. Make sure they understand the importance of speedy feedback. And embrace your role as ‘bad cop’: if your hiring manager is procrastinating, the candidate probably isn’t ‘the one’. Leela Srinivasan, Chief Marketing Officer at Lever Erin Wilson Interview transparency is the key. The act of transparently sharing what to expect, with the candidate, from the beginning and then between each step of the process delivers the best possible candidate experience. What this does is act as a forcing function for having the interview process well-thought out in advance. The best candidate experience possesses the following attributes: transparent, collaborative, riddled with data equality. Erin Wilson  is Founder and Talent Engineer at Hirepool.io Amy Volas Its simple, the Golden Rule.   Weve all been or will be in the shoes of the people were interviewing. Its important not to forget that and treat anyone in the process (regardless of outcome) how youd expect to be treated if the roles were reversed. Amy Volas is  Chieftain of Avenue Talent Partners Lars Schmidt Be empathetic. Stop treating recruiting as a transaction and appreciate the fact that changing jobs is an emotional experience. At the very least, update your application auto-response to include FAQs setting expectations on the process and addressing top candidate questions. That allows you to get ahead of most questions and set the tone for what to expect. Lars Schmidt  is the Founder of Amplify Chad MacRae Don’t be a jerk. Decline your candidates and give them feedback â€" no matter what. Don’t leave them hanging: that could affect your employer brand, not to mention your Glassdoor reviews! Survey both declined candidates and hiring managers after each search, so you can learn what you can do better next time. Chad MacRae is the Founder of Recruiting Social Stacy Zapar Communication. Candidates should always feel in-the-know when it comes to application process, interview process, candidate status, feedback, next steps, closure, etc. And make sure that communication is timely. I never let a candidate go into the weekend not knowing exactly where they stand, even if the update is that there is no news yet. Let them know youll give them a weekly update and have an open door policy in the meantime. Stacy is the Founder of Tenfold The Talent Agency John Feldmann Treating candidates who don’t get hired with as much respect as the ones who do will make a big difference in the candidate experience. Due to the sheer volume of candidates many recruiters deal with, it’s unfortunate that some disregard applicants who don’t make the cut. But a candidate who may not be a fit for one job may be perfect for the next, and treating him or her with apathy could burn a valuable bridge. Even if it’s only an email generated by the company ATS, notifying candidates of the outcome of their application lets them know that recruiters are concerned with more than just meeting numbers. John Feldmann  is a writer for Insperity Recruiting Services Maren Hogan Introduce culture and work ethic early on, not only through company social media, but during the actual recruitment process. After each candidate goes through their interview, I introduce them to each of my team members. Even before they make it to the interview, I set a few hoops up to keep candidates engaged through the sourcing process. First, I have them set up a call with one of my team members through our conference line to see if they can follow instructions, then I give them an assignment specific to the position they applied for to get an idea of their process and skill set. Maren Hogan is CEO and Founder of Red Branch Media Craig Fisher My best tip to fix candidate experience is good communication.   The top complaint we ever see on any employers Glassdoor page from job candidates  is that the company was unresponsive at various points in the process.   If you can teach your people or fix your process to provide good communication in a timely manner, even if the news is not favorable, candidates will appreciate you. Craig Fisher is  Head of Employer Brand, CA Technologies, and Allegis Global Solutions Will Staney Fixing candidate experience doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Most recruiters are told to overhaul processes or spend thousands of dollars, but it can be simple as not making a candidate wait a week or more to hear back about an interview, it could be starting an interview on time, or having the mindset of candidate first in your hiring process. When sourcing, interviewing, and offering a job, keep in mind that the talent pool is more competitive than ever and the only way to get the best is to treat each candidate like they are your world. Will is the  Founder Principal Consultant at Proactive Talent Strategies

Easy Dubai Resume Writing Tips

Easy Dubai Resume Writing TipsFor all those who want to have a better career in Dubai, there are some easy Dubai resume writing tips to follow that will surely get the job. The key is to avoid the common mistakes like using English for Dubai names or for shortening names of job descriptions.It's not advisable to use 'Dubai' for a personal name and 'UAE' for a professional one. This is actually a common mistake with many, especially new graduates and also postgraduates. So, when you are applying for a position in Dubai, make sure you use your official, personal and business name.When you are choosing a career, also make sure you do not only choose a career that will give you a salary and benefits but also, you select a career that is both challenging and fun. Choose your career carefully and use your imagination to enjoy your career. Don't go for the high-paying but low-paid careers; instead, choose a career that is well-paying but challenging.People in Dubai should also remember that their jobs require them to travel all over the country, so if you have family back home and there is a need for them to visit you frequently, then it's wise to look for a job where you can be in Dubai for extended periods of time. You might need to have a well-defined schedule and work efficiently. You also need to prepare and organize things well to be able to perform the job tasks.Your job as a recruiter is also an important part of your resume. Many recruiters will look at your job experience, the type of responsibilities you took on as well as the skills you have acquired to make yourself more marketable. As a recruiter, you will be able to provide a summary of your resume to potential employers, and thus, you can take this opportunity to put your skills and education to good use.In case you are looking for a job in Dubai and you have a good score on your bank statements, then you can definitely look for a job in Dubai. Remember that if you have the means to send your CV to any number of employers, then you should do so, and you will be able to land up a good job.As a part of your resume, always include a list of accomplishments and achievements you may have made as a part of your employment history as well as the date they were accomplished. Also, include if you have acquired any foreign language skills or other non-English based skills.Don't forget to mention the three main qualities that are needed for jobs in Dubai. These are personality, initiative and enthusiasm. These qualities will ensure that you land up a good job.

The Most Unique Careers and Those Who Succeed in Them

The Most Unique Careers and Those Who Succeed in Them I am always fascinated by careers in which only a handful of people are able to succeed. When I was growing up, my parents used to tell me that it’s possible to make a living doing anything, as long as you’re the best. It seems that the more unique the career, the more disproportionate the income allotment.  A select few make very lucrative salaries, while the vast majority barely scrape by. Nevertheless, many are willing to take the risk for the love of the profession, or maybe for the thrill of the chase. Let’s take a look at a few unorthodox career choices, and those who have succeeded in their respective fields: Skateboarder: When I was a kid, my father took me to a local skateboard park to watch a skating competition. The winner was an unknown, skinny 16-year-old kid named Tony Hawk.  Ten years later, Tony Hawk was a household name, famous for his numerous contributions to the sport, like being the first to land a 900-degree mid-air rotation. Ask 50 people who made skateboarding as popular as it is today, and at least 48 of them will say Tony Hawk. After lending his name to a number of products including a series of video games, and starting his own extreme sports competition in Las Vegas, Hawk’s estimated net worth comes in at around $120 million. Songwriter: We can all name plenty of famous musicians who earn millions, but making a successful living as a songwriter out of the public eye is truly a feat. Ever heard of Max Martin? Unless you’re in the music industry, probably not. A former recording artist from Sweden, Martin has written many songs you have probably heard hundreds of times for such artists as The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, N’Sync, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi and Pink. Since 1999, he has written or co-written no less than 16 number one songs on the Billboard charts and has won ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year award six times. For his efforts, Martin has amassed a net worth of $250 million. Video gamer: Making a living playing video games sounds like every kid’s dream. Turning this dream into a lucrative profession is something few would dare try. But for Johnathan Wendel, it’s just another day at the office. Wendel is considered one of the best professional gamers in the world, having won 12 world championship titles, including four Player of the Year awards with the Cyberathlete Professional League and one with the World Cyber Games. His endorsement deals include computer hardware companies, headphone companies and even food companies. Wendel was recently named the highest paid professional video gamer in the world by Business Insider, having earned a total of $454,544.98 from 35 tournaments. RELATED:  How a  Video Game  Designers Job Interview Blunder Led Him to Conquer The World Rodeo Clown: When it comes to rodeo clowns, or “bullfighters” as they’re known in the business, I don’t know whether to view them with great respect or as lunatics. Throwing themselves in front of a 2,000-pound bull night after night in order to protect rodeo competitors, injury is not just a possibility, it’s a certainty. Despite being a college graduate, Justin Rumford entered the profession in 2010 after being a competitor for 12 years. He quickly gained respect in the industry and in 2012, was named Clown of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. While this career choice has many downsides, like a fairly short time span, Rumford clears up to $150,000 a year for his work. Artist: The joke about artists is that they must die before their work is worth anything. One exception is Pablo Picasso. No real introduction is needed here. Widely considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Picasso is known for co-founding the Cubist movement, co-inventing collage and inventing constructed sculpture. Picasso died at the age of 91 with a net worth of around $50 million, and in 2010, one of his paintings set a record for fetching $106.5 million at auction. Note to anyone considering art as a career choice â€" you probably have a better chance of winning the lottery twice than achieving Picasso’s level of success in the field. Picasso was once quoted as saying, “My mother said to me, ‘If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.’ Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso.” If you’re just entering the workforce and are thinking about one of these careers, I wish you the best of luck. Someone has to do them, but only a few will be successful, and while it’s lonely at the top, sometimes it’s lonelier at the bottom. If you’re a recruiter and by some freak occurrence one of these positions happens to cross your bench, I wish you even more luck…but please, don’t call me.

Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems

Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems What are Applicant  Tracking Systems Applicant Tracking Systems are services that graduate employers and even some recruitment sites use to manage job applications and the different stages of an interview process. For me and most graduates, Applicant Tracking Systems are Weapons of Mass Rejections. According to job search services provider, Preptel, Applicant  Tracking Systems are used by enterprises to manage their job openings. The initial screenings kill 75% of candidates’ chances of landing an interview as soon as they submit their resumes. A further overview of how Applicant  Tracking Systems  work can be found in this excellent article on CIO.com   Jon Ciampi, CEO of Preptel explains how Applicant  Tracking Systems  rank a resume’s relevance Many job seekers and career experts think applicant tracking systems rely on keywords to determine the fit between a candidates resume and a specific job. They do their best to identify keywords in a job description that may be important to an employer or applicant tracking system, then they stuff these keywords in their resumes. In fact, what matters most to applicant tracking systems is the uniqueness or rarity of the keyword or the keyword phrase, says Ciampi. That is, the keywords and phrases must be specific to a particular job ad. Applicant tracking systems, which see all job ads a company has ever published, determine which keywords and phrases in a specific job ad are unique to that job ad, says Ciampi. The systems then develop a ranking based on how closely a job seekers resume matches each keyword and phrase and how many of the keyword phrases the job seekers resume has, he adds.   What are Applicant  Tracking Systems The figure below shows a typical process in an Applicant  Tracking System. I have tried my best, but haven’t found a proper process diagram of an open Applicant  Tracking System. But from my research and reading material, Applicant Tracking Systems  can be generalised in the simple working process explained below. A â€" Candidates submit a resume or a job application to a generic email address or a web portal (e.g. taleo). Some employers have their own graduate job application user interface, but the back-end of the system is generally similar. All the applications or resumes go into the Applicant Tracking Systems of that enterprise. All resumes/applications represent data being stored onto the companys database. Resumes/Applications are represented by multiple colours signifying different style, information, etc. B â€" The database stores the data, in this case the resumes and graduate job applications of candidates applying. Generally at this stage, the application is not looked at by anybody from the HR or recruitment team. All the resumes or job applications are held as ‘data’ and all appear similar to the system. No individualism. C â€" The HR or recruitment team either manually modifies the keywords that it wants the software to scan the resumes or applications for, or it can also form a search text with multiple keywords and multiple levels with different rating factors (optional). Some Applicant Tracking Systems can also rank each resume against the others and rank them according to the specific job description. Your resume or application is scored/ranked. D If it is in the top, or has a good score, then your resume will be forwarded to next stage (green resume); else it is rejected (red). E â€" Once your resume or job application is ready to be viewed by the recruiter or the HR personnel, the Applicant Tracking Systems allow for modified viewing of the information. It rarely appears as you submit it. The information in the Applicant Tracking Systems is sorted to show only the ‘important’ to the recruiter information. This could be experience, education or competency answers first, depending on the recruiters choice. This time, the recruiter chooses to read your application completely based on how the Applicant Tracking Systems have modified or parsed the information. Some claim that if you put your dates of work before the employers name in the experience section, then your experience is discounted by the Applicant Tracking Systems as its expecting text/employer name rather than numbers or months in there! F â€" Finally, if the recruiter is happy with the information in the Applicant Tracking Systems, then your resume or application is forwarded onto the later stages of the recruitment process. Figure: Applicant Tracking System Schematic Applicant Tracking Systems This is a very crude way of presenting Applicant Tracking Systems â€" accepted. But it’s the simplest way I could use, to explain to you graduates and students how Applicant Tracking Systems works. That is why I stress on the process of ‘Graduate Application Optimisation’. When I review some competency answers or resume for graduates, I concentrate on keywords and how they phrase them rather than tables or colours or layout. Keep it simple and almost straight black and white. I hope this article on Applicant Tracking Systems helps you understand what is going to happen to your resume or graduate job application when you send it to one of these recruiters or employers websites. Note: This system is not fool proof. Ive had fun with the system and you wont believe how easy it is to crack the system, simply by writing what it wants to see. Why am I telling you this? Because nobody else will. But at Career Geek, we are honest graduates wanting to help. Goodluck. 30

Things to Avoid When Writing a Resume

Things to Avoid When Writing a ResumeSome people have the natural knack for writing a resume, but others don't. And some people can write a resume that impresses a hiring manager enough to get an interview. But as you are going through your resume on your own, you might notice a few things that you should avoid. These are things that will help you improve the resume and get a better job interview.First things first, be sure to use all of the space provided. You have the entire page to sell yourself, and nothing should be left out. Of course, there is a limit, and you should not fill up the entire page. However, you can afford to fill up the left side, as well as a couple of spaces around the top. This means you can really make a statement.Another thing to avoid when writing a resume is to include any information that doesn't really matter. No one cares about your hobbies or what you did in high school. The only thing you should consider putting on your resume is your skills. This wil l let you have more of an edge over other applicants.Using abbreviations and acronyms is also something to avoid when writing a resume. It's probably not the best choice, but it's OK to do so for certain positions. For example, if you're applying for a post as a maintenance worker, you might use one of those abbreviations. Just make sure you know the difference between them.Use fewer fonts on your resume than you would on a business card, and avoid using italics. This is known as the font rule. People read right to left, so if they see words that are too big, they won't see them. There is just no need to use italics or too many fonts.You should use the correct keywords on your resume, though you shouldn't use too many. If you are looking for a job as a waitress, you wouldn't put a listing for housekeeper on your resume. Those are two different jobs. Keywords are a way to show that you are seeking employment. They are not a substitute for actual work experience.Then there are some ot her important things to avoid when writing a resume. Don't include information that is inappropriate. Not only is this offensive to the person you are writing to, but it could hurt your chances. It also shows that you are not focused on what you want, which will definitely take you down the wrong path.You can make your resume shine by making these mistakes when writing a resume. You will not only make a stronger first impression, but you will have more of a chance to get the job. Remember to put what you know first, and follow the tips on how to do this to get the best results.

8 reasons why second year is the worst and the best - Debut

8 reasons why second year is the worst and the best - Debut This post is written by a member of the Debut Student Publisher Network. Read on for  Christines  thoughts on the most divisive year of uni: Ah, second year. Its the period of flux between being a keen Fresher and a cynical finalist.  For those of you who think its the worst, its the absolute pits. But then there are some of you rare birds who actually think its the best year of them all. We thought to take a closer look. 1. The worst: living off-campus For students who spent their first years in halls, this is going to be a  shock. Now you have to deal with bills, no heating and crazy landlords like GASP a grown adult. With halls, you had a preordained group of people you could could to befriend or ignore at your own pace. It didnt really matter either way. Now, youre thrust  into a world where you have to collaborate on paying money for your own Internet connection. 2. The best: living off-campus On the other hand, this is one of the biggest steps into adulthood youll take in your life. Its super exciting and provides a lot of freedom. Not to mention, living off-campus youll generally find yourself in a uni town. Its pretty cool getting to know a whole new area. If youre lucky, youll find some hidden gems around town. Theres only so much you can do on campus after all. 3. The worst: the real work begins For many, many students, you live first year by the 40% rule. As long as you pass the year, thats totally fine! But suddenly second year hits and now all your assignments actually matter. Your grades will affect your actual degree, and you can no longer afford to avoid your 9 AM lectures. Now you have to think about your actual future. 4. The best: the real work begins However, this is also when youll have more control over what you get out of your degree. A lot of first years involve taking compulsory modules you dont want or need. Moving into second year probably gives you a chance to explore the niche, cool modules youre  really interested in. Getting a little more of a choice in filtering what you want to learn is awesome. Its the kind of work you expected, the kind that fuels you as an intellectual. 5. The worst: youre not a Fresher anymore The shine of being a Fresher has long since worn off. You watch them in the library with their starry eyes enviously. You wish you could go back to feeling that way. Its a pure naiveté you long for desperately. As they hit up that years Fresher events, you feel strangely old and outdated. Its truly bizarre, the emotional and mental shift into second year. 6. The best: youre not a Fresher anymore Well, now you know your academic buildings back to front. Youve got a good idea of who you are at uni. Heck, you can even show people around now. Youve even got a favourite seat in the library (and god forbid anyone try to take that seat, its yours). Settling into a rhythm and routine is really healthy and its nice to feel like you know whats going on. 7. The worst: youre almost a real adult Youre that much closer to graduation. Youve followed along a specific path throughout life so far a little mindlessly. But here you are in what is probably the final part of your education. You have to start thinking about careers now, about being employable, about what the future holds. You cant live like an ostrich with your head in the sand of Freshers excitement anymore. 8. The best: youre almost a real adult In the end, going into second year means youll be growing as a person.  Youll spend first year in a playful daze and final year in a stressful daze. But in second year, youre not quite done yet. Second year is your chance to build your foundation for final year. Its also your last opportunity to focus on extra-curricular, non-adult things before your busy academic-focused final year. Its okay. You still have time, so enjoy it while you can. Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Christine  on Twitter  @slytherchris Connect with Debut on  Facebook  and  Twitter

A Recruiters Perspective

A Recruiters Perspective Are you working with a recruiter? I use that phrase cautiously because it is not the role of a recruiter to find you a job. They work for the employer. However, there are companies today who prefer to work with recruiters. It saves them time and money in many cases. Recruiters are the first to see trends and know the lay of the land better than most. Do you wantthe real perspective of a recruiter? Hereare some insights froma Senior level IT/Telecom consultant with a combined 30 years staffing experience in the Contingency, Retained and Consulting space. The Job Market Companies are doing a good amount of window shopping. By that I mean positions listed on their web sites are not actual openings but anticipated needs that they are projecting for and are doing nothing more than accumulating resumes. Geographic Preference Opportunities fitting a specific skill set could be anywhere and limiting your geographic options will only make your search that much more difficult. Source of Candidates Finally, I have found one of the best sources of talented candidates to be on LinkedIn. I use this extensively both through first degree connections and posting of opportunities via specific groups which I have joined that specialize in a specific discipline. With profiles and recommendations it is an excellent resource that I have been extremely successful utilizing during these difficult times. Are you looking for a better understanding of what a recruiter actually does? And whats the difference between a recruiter and a headhunter you may ask. The answers to these questions are nicely defined in a post by Sara Welstead. Sara says the difference between a recruiter and a headhunter is The short answer is: Nothing. The only reason anyone gets confused is that recruiters never use the word headhunter to describe themselves, and among recruitment professionals its considered a slightly derogatory term. (Its sort of how real estate people always call themselves real estate salesperson or realtor, but the rest of the world calls them real estate agents.) However, while all headhunters are recruiters, not all recruiters are headhunters. Headhunter is a term used to refer to agency recruiters, who typically work on commission or retained search on behalf of a client, and are the ones most likely to call you up at your current job to headhunt you for another position. Now that you understand the difference, or lack thereof, you should know how to engage recruiters. This post by Jeff Hunter on glassdoor.comlooks at how the business of recruiting has become more specialized and therefore, you as a job seeker, need to make it easy for specialists to find you, ie LinkedIn.

Goals should wear SMARTY pants, just like you do! - When I Grow Up

Goals should wear SMARTY pants, just like you do! - When I Grow Up Yes, these are real pants! You can buy em at Wholesale Baby. Since I can FINALLY talk about something other than Obama and his/Americas awesomeness, I wanted to be true to my word and post an addendum to Goals should be SMART, just like you! I know that you read this brilliant post, but just in case you didnt, please read it now. Cause really, Ill never know the difference. Now that I know you are enlightened by my genius, we can add another piece to this SMART puzzle. In the last 2 weeks, I have become a Twitter addict, mainly because Ive been able to market my new business as well as find fellow coaches/experts/potential clients to tweet (thats Twittertalk forum.talk) with. One of the greatest finds as of yet is Julie Bestry of Best Results Organizing. Julie is a Professional Organizer who helps you clear you tangible emotional clutter. She commented that I’m all for SMART goals, but I often joke with clients that we should make SMARTY goals, where the Y stands for YOURS. Too often, the goals and resolutions people make are designed to serve someone else’s expectations and/or aspirations. When I Grow Up was born to encourage people to find their own path, adding that Y is such a huge way to both discover your goals and increase your probabilities of success. Allowing the client to find the truth for him or herself is an enormous life coach competency, and we are trained to never ask leading questions or offer suggestions to a problem unless we ask permission. Throughout my schooling, Ive seen numerous examples of unenthused clients when they are told what to do without finding it out for themselves. Usually, theyre so unenthused that they wont follow-through. But if they come up with the goal, or the solution, or the decision light bulb! Theyre off and running. This also holds true if youre setting goals based on the expectations of others. Are you on a diet because you want to be thinner/healthier/able to run a marathon, or is it because your Mom started calling you Jiggle Arms? Even if she said it endearingly, thats still uncool. Unless having your Mom calling you Jiggle Arms makes you want to lift some weights so that shell shut her Big Piehole. Lets review. SMARTY Goals now stand for Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely Yours Jiggle Arms. Geez.