?? Why Recruiters Lie When Rejecting You

?? Why Recruiters Lie When Rejecting You 231 One of the harsh realities of job search explained. Photo credit: Phil Dolby This is a guest post by Recruiting Animal. Have you ever felt that a recruiter lied to you? Yes No View Results (If you voted Yes, can you share your story in the comments below?) I was going to write about hiring managers being the dumbest people in the world but I decided to write about recruiters instead because, you know, they're dumb, too. I'll often see a recruiter puffing up her chest online and strutting around bragging about how transparent she is with candidates.eval So, then, I'll ask her, “If the hiring manager rejected a candidate because he didn't like her voice, would you tell her that? Imagine he said, ‘She's very intelligent but if I had to listen to that all day, I'd shoot myself.' Would you pass that on?” Of course, the answer is always “No.” but you have to force them to admit it. They'll say, “He thought you were very intelligent but it just wasn't a match,” and try to claim that this is transparent.eval What they usually mean when they say “transparent” is that you send an automated email to someone who applies to a job online telling them that their resume has been received. Then you send them another email when they have been rejected. But the recruiter wants to prove to everyone what a good person she is so she tries to argue that this is transparency. No recruiter gives substantial feedback. We can't.Click To Tweet No recruiter gives substantial feedback. We can't. If you're missing specific skills and someone else has them we can tell you that because it is a matter of fact. But we can't tell you that the hiring manager doesn't like you because you look a bit frumpy or because you're a drip. And people get rejected for that. I once sent an HR Generalist to an interview and she was rejected because she didn't fit her clothes very well and her hair didn't look nice so the company didn't want her representing them. I didn't tell her that. My client didn't give me permission â€" and I didn't ask for it either. So, remember this job hunters: recruiters aren't social workers. It's not their job to tell you how to improve. If they can, they will; but usually they can't. About the Author The Recruiting Animal is a headhunter not a rock star. He's not even a rockstar headhunter. (That's @Jerry_Albright). He runs a rowdy online call-in show about recruiting and careers. His website is: RecruitingAnimal.com. READ NEXT: Professional Recruiters: Job Seeker Friend or Foe? 10 Little White Lies EVERY Recruiter Tells Help! Recruiter Lied. Now I’m Stuck in a Job I Hate! An earlier version of this article was part of the Over $6000 in Prizes: It’s The 6th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest, which was made possible thanks in large part to our sponsors: WebHostingBuzz is a reliable web hosting company with the servers hosted at multiple US and Europe locations and over 30,000 happy customers worldwide.

Dont use workplace jargon

Dont use workplace jargon Dont use jargon. I know youve heard this rule before, but maybe no one has ever told you the real reason for the rule. Your choice of jargon reveals your weakness. A lot of jargon is specific to an industry and if you use it outside the industry no one will understand you. This jargon will undermine you because you are so likely to alienate someone by using words or phrases they dont know. Theres also jargon that goes across most industries. The phrases you hear whether youre an accountant in consumer products or a programmer in health care. Most people understand this jargon, but using it makes you look bad because most cross-industry jargon is a euphemism for being desperate or incompetent or calling someone else desperate or incompetent. Here are some examples: Lets think out of the box: Really means, Can you creatively anemic people please come up with something? People who really do think out of the box do it whether they are told to or not. Thats how they think. If you feel like you need to tell someone to think out of the box, then its probably hopeless. The person who says, Lets think out of the box is usually desperate for a new idea and surrounded by people who are not known for generating ideas. So the phrase is actually an announcement that says, Im in trouble. I need someone who can hit the ground running: Really means, I am screwed. Because no one can hit the ground running. You need to at least assess what race youre in and who else is running. Everyone has a race strategy when they are in the blocks. You need a little time to get one. In the case of a new hire this means taking some time to assess company politics. If your employer needs you to hit the ground running then youve already missed your window to achieve success. Do you have the bandwidth? Note that bandwidth is not time. It is something else. If you ask someone Do you have time? you mean, Am I a priority? If you ask someone Do you have bandwidth you mean, You seem like your brain is fried. Can you pull yourself together to do this for me? Lets hit a home run: Im desperate to look good. Even though the odds of a home run are slim, Im banking on one because its the only thing thatll save me. Something for all your sports fans to remember: If you have a bunch of solid hitters you dont need a bunch of home runs. You and I are not on the same page: Get on my page. Your page is misguided. No one ever says, Were not on the same page, so let me work really hard to understand your point of view. If you want to understand someone else, you say, Can you tell me more about how youre thinking. Im calling to touch base: I want something from you but I cant say it up front. Or I am worried that you are lost and Im sniffing around for signs to confirm my hunch. Or Im calling because you micromanage me. Lets run the numbers and see how they look: I know they look bad on first blush. But the true use of Excel is to keep changing the formulas until you find a format that makes the numbers look good. My plate is full: Help Im drowning, or I would kill myself before Id work on your project. Lets close the loop: Let me make sure Im not going to get into trouble for this one. Lets touch base next week: I dont want to talk to you now, or You are on a short leash and you need to report back to me. Keep this on your radar: This will come back to bite you or me.

One Simple Tip To Immediately Increase Social Media Engagement - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

One Simple Tip To Immediately Increase Social Media Engagement - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Between April 1 and July 31 of this year, social media optimization platform SocialFlow conducted a study collecting data from 1.6 million organic posts from Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. They found that an amazing ninety-nine percent of non-paid posts generated little to no engagement at all. If you’re using social media to build your personal brand, find a job or grow a business, you want your updates to be a part of the elite one percent of posts generating engagement; likes, shares (retweets), and comments. All forms of engagement are not created equal. While likes are nice, they are not nearly as valuable as a comment, which demonstrates an increased level of interaction and interest from your social media connections, or a share (retweet on Twitter), which is social media gold in the form of others increasing your reach by introducing your posts to their own friends/followers. How do you increase engagement? Make it about your audience The simplest method for increasing interaction on social media quickly is making your posts about your connections. You obviously want to post items that your connections will find valuable, but don’t stop there. Take it a step further and ask them for their opinions. For instance, if you share a blog post via Facebook outlining ways stay-at-home moms can increase their efficiency, make sure you ask your connections to share their number one tip as well. You may even tag a couple of stay-at-home mom bloggers you know, asking for their opinions. Another way to make a post about your connections is to ask them what they need/what questions they have about a topic pertaining to your area of expertise. Encourage them to provide each other with solutions as well, especially on networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ where strings of conversations are fairly easy to follow. You’ll not only see more interactions, but you’ll also foster feelings of goodwill as you’re facilitating a community conversation versus simply focusing on you and your responses. Lastly, share posts from friends/connections and tag them in your comments leading up to the link. Building a personal brand on social media is not simply shining a spotlight on yourself twenty-four hours a day. To be seen as an expert, share resources and stories from others that help solidify your core brand message while still adding value to connections reading the shared posts, as well as those who you are highlighting.

5 Good Habits You Can Implement Today - Classy Career Girl

5 Good Habits You Can Implement Today I’m sure you’ve read enough self-help books to get tired of the S.M.A.R.T goals setting formula. Yes, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely are all important, only they are not enough! You also need good habits. You see a couple of months after the exciting “big commitment”, chances are you’re still daydreaming about this career makeover/life change. Because let’s be honest â€" life gets in the way… Well, I have some good news and some bad news. Bad news: most of those big dreams and aspiring S.M.A.R.T goals never get achieved. Ouch!   The good news, though: you can do something about it. Systems are the name of the game. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with so many ideas and being stuck on how to actually execute them, so creating a structured process and committing to taking one step at a time to achieve your ultimate goal, is the way to make it all happen. Why should you have good habits? Everyone is on the lookout for tactics and hacks that can make success easier. S.M.A.R.T goals are a good start, the problem is that big goals often require A LOT of activation efforts and it’s easy to get lost on the way. In the beginning, you might have the energy to get started each day because you’re motivated and excited about your new goal, but pretty soon (often within a few weeks) that motivation starts to fade and suddenly you’re lacking the energy you need and you begin to feel stuck and overwhelmed.  Good habits will propel you through all of that! 5 Good Habits You Can Implement Today 1. Declutter your Priorities. The word “priority” came into the English language in the 1400s, and it was singular. When we say that we have multiple priorities, what we’re essentially saying is that nothing’s a priority. Most of us have some great expectations from ourselves, and our New Year’s resolution list is a mile long… well, this is really self-sabotaging! Now it’s time to decide what your true, single priority is and pursue that with all your power. 2. Multi-tasking is the Enemy of Focus Modern society loves multi-tasking (and I’m as guilty as anyone). However, the myth of multi-tasking is that being busy is synonymous with being better. The exact opposite is true â€" having fewer tasks leads to better work. If you take a moment to study world-class experts in nearly any field â€" athletes, artists, scientists, teachers, CEOs â€" you’ll see this is true. One characteristic that runs through all of them is focus. If you want to actually achieve your career goal, instead of adding it to the list of diets to do, hobbies to pick up, languages and instruments to learn, and the like that you never actually finish, then practicing focus is the key. 3. Baby Steps Do what you can, with what you have from where you are today. Yes, big aspiration is good, and yes we all want to see results, like yesterday. But, it’s only the small actions and consistency that are going to get you one step closer to the desired makeover. 4. Positive Mindset Ever heard of “time flies fast when you’re having fun?” that’s because your mind attracts more positivity while you are already enjoying yourself. Pretty neat, yes? It seems that the word Mindset has become the buzz term nowadays, and it’s being thrown around all too often. For the success system framework, the meaning is merely being positive and focused on the accomplishments. When you appreciate your achievements, you become more confident, driven and â€" yes once again â€" focused. Start a gratitude journal today, and write down 3 things you’ve accomplished every single day. 5. Accountability We live in a fast-paced, busy, loud world. It’s easy to see why things (even S.M.A.R.T things) get put off ‘til tomorrow way too often, and why there is always the bigger and shinier object waiting in line. Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to keep going, and that’s what your accountability partner is for! This can be a close friend, a neighbor, a colleague â€" someone you know and trust â€" who understands your goal, wants to see you succeed, and is willing to let you know when you should stop being lazy. Now, it’s super important that the terms and condition of this relationship are charted out, so you don’t end up ruining a friendship by being too pushy.

Personal Branding 10 Easy Steps toward a New Professional You

Personal Branding 10 Easy Steps toward a New Professional You Nowadays, it is not just enough anymore to have a suitable brand for your business. You need a personal brand as well. Apersonal brand is marketingon a more personal level.Personal branding is the process of creating and preserving that personal brand.evalHaving a personal brand defines how people see you and how you express yourself. It is like reputation management and branding together. If your personal brand is good and worthy, your business has more chance of succeeding.Why Should You Build Your Personal BrandevalPersonal brandingis not always about selling but making yourself available to others. This is also an extension of who you are and what you want to present to others. If you maintain a strong personal brand your business will appear more humane and caring to others that can actually win their trust.And remember, people, trust people so people will trust a personal brand more than a business brand â€" hence, it is important to build your own personal brand.How to Build Y our Own Personal Brand1. Get a Professional HeadshotHeadshots realistically demonstrate one’s appearance for casting or branding so in order to have a good personal branding, having a good headshot will help.And in choosing a professional headshot photographer you must consider the following; their website, experience, specialty, price, and most importantly the quality of your pictures taken.2. Be Discoverable OnlineYou might be the best individual in your field or the most knowledgeable of them all, but it is hard to find you online either by your name, profile or any relevant information boasting your expertise. If this is the case, you don’t actually exist. Some professional create their own website in order for them to be discoverable online.AsLittle Giant Web Designwould put it, “Having your name or profile available online when they try to search you makes you more credible and authentic.” Over time, people will be more inclined to follow you and that will be a great w ay to make amemorable impressionon others.3. Have a Professional PurposeevalThe purpose isn’t just about work. It is something like a fuel that gets us wherever we want to go, it grows as we grow, deepening and evolving over time. So learning to open yourself up to curiosity and oddity might surprise you on your quest to satisfy the urge generated by your professional purpose.It is not always about profit but we must also set a professional purpose because without planning we limit the chance of channeling our future with what we desire.4. Learn to Listen and Practice EmpathyAsuccessful businessmanhas empathy and knows how to listen to others. Even in real life, listen to people is important in order to know their needs, and knowing their needs is advantageous to your part because you now have an idea what to market and what to supply to meet the demand.Every business needs to learn the art of listening and share the feelings of others.eval5. Practice WritingEvery one of us has th e inborn skills in writing about ourselves, expressing what we think and what we feel. We can all write but not all people have the skills to do the right thing in order to reach and connect with the readers.The connection is the very essence of writing; it is the most common reason why we write. And all we need to do is to have the courage and overcome one’s fear due to the thinking that we have nothing to share online or that people are not interested enough to listen or follow what we write which may hinder you to develop your innate skills in writing.6. Re-engineer Your Digital PresenceReimagining vitality plays an important role in connecting with the customers or clients digitally which is far imaginable to happen in the past. There are three steps in reimagining your digital presence; measure, evaluate and adjust your platform by recognizing whether the platform is effective or not.You can also deal each of these with a different approach and use each channel simultaneously with one another.7. Analyze Your CompetitorsCompetitive analysis refers to the relationship between the business strategy and how it deals with the competition which the main purpose is to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each competitor in the market.It is important that you know who the primary antagonists of your business are and do your very best to play along with them. It is also advantageous that you know them more than they know you, and make sure that you should be able to make yours better than what they can provide.8. Craft Your Personal Branding StatementWhat is a personal brand statement? Your statement is 1-2 sentences answering what you are the best, who you serve, and how you do it uniquely. It sums up your unique promise of value. Your personal brand statement must be distinctive to you and you alone.And the step starts with “5 in 5” where we will sit with a partner and talk for five minutes about the following: work experience, education, hobbies and interests, weaknesses, and future plans. Knowing these details about yourself will help you create your perfect branding statement.9. Embrace and Expound Your ExperienceevalIn order to have a good personal brand that will give a good impression, you need to balance what you know and what you have not yet known. Remember that experience is the best teacher, but learning from other people’s experience is the wisest thing to do.It is also important to embrace and expound your experiences and use it in building a personal brand. You will never go wrong once you’ve learned how to utilize or use what you experience in order to avoid unwanted scenarios.10. Be Social by DesignSocial media is one of the most powerful media that greatly influences the people. You can use social media to boost discoverability, speaking engagements, in-person interaction, and more. You can supremely make your brand out if you effectively promote it on social media likeFacebook,Twitter,Instagram, etc.To make your personal brand stand out, start with your personal profile and get your social infrastructure right! It is also an important factor that you are able to create contents with great value and you should know how to optimize your speaking engagements using hashtags.Another thing is, you have to possess an attitude that will remark on the minds of people. And lastly, always be a social wherever you go.eval

How to Identify Your Passion (and Use It To Fuel Your Work) - Kathy Caprino

How to Identify Your Passion (and Use It To Fuel Your Work) I hear from hundreds of women each month asking a fascinating variety of career and work-life questions, hoping for some guidance. But one question emerges more frequently than any other, from women of all walks, levels, and capabilities. The one question I hear more than any other is, “How can I figure out what my passion is?” I had a powerful personal experience this week that I think exemplifies the answer to this question and I’d like to share it with you. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend two important conferences in New York City that opened my eyes to new insights and learnings. The first conference was on business innovation and “disruption,” sponsored by WOBI, and the other was Claudia Chan’s S.H.E. Summit, a global women’s leadership and lifestyle event.  WOBI on Innovation focused on the many, multifaceted disruptions that are impacting business today, and the tremendous upside opportunities they present for those flexible and aware enough to both spot and react to them quickly. The next day I attended the 3rd annual S.H.E. Summit which convened more than 60 thought leaders and partners igniting change and offering a global conversation and celebration of female potential and possibility. Both conferences featured renowned experts, and both focused on exciting topics at the forefront of culture and business. After the first day on innovation, my mind was full with new ways to think about business and career problems, how to turn these problems upside down and perceive and analyze them differently. I was inspired and motivated, by Andy Cohen, on Overcoming Barriers to Disruptive Thinking, and by Stephen Ritz, on Transformational Innovation. Ritz’s story is deeply inspirational â€" it reveals the transformation that’s possible when we challenge assumptions, think very differently, and refuse to accept the unacceptable. Ritz is a Bronx County science teacher leading a double revolution â€" of education and urban renewal. His world is New York City’s South Bronx, a place traditionally associated with gang activity, poverty and crime. As the leader of the Green Bronx Machine, Ritz is driving a movement that is changing people’s perceptions and transforming lives, based on his belief that students shouldnt have to leave their community to live, learn and earn in a better one. The best quote of the day for me was his, “I don’t want to accept what I cannot change. I want to change what I cannot accept.” (Now THAT is passion.) The second day offered the same high level of educational and informational information and experiences â€" with fabulous speakers including Claudia Chan, Marlo Thomas, Sallie Krawcheck, Nigel Barker, Gary Barker, Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power, and many more. I was engaged and upflited, and also had new flashes of insight and revelation about the current state of affairs for women around the world, and new solutions to improve that state. But one thing grew very apparent to me throughout the two days’ experiences â€" my heart, spirit and mind were much more actively engaged by discussions, research and information that touched on global women’s growth and advancement. Throughout the S.H.E. Summit, for example, I cried, I laughed, and felt deeply moved by the speakers’ experiences and often contrarian viewpoints on gender equality, violence against women, fostering diversity in corporate America, integrating men in the support of women, women’s economic independence, education, and more. At times, I wanted to jump up on stage and join the conversation myself, and (dare I say), add my different views and perspectives. I was “buzzing.” The important lesson I was reminded of from this experience is that when you find yourself learning about an area in which you desperately want to help and simply can’t stop yourself that’s your passion. And you are happiest in your work when you’re tapping into that passion â€" giving form to your life intentions in ways that help others (as Maria Nemeth explains in her great book The Energy of Money). Based on my coaching and training work with hundreds of women around the globe who’ve found their passion, and are leveraging it in their work, here are the hallmarks of the experience when you’ve discovered your passion and are working in your sweet spot: Despite all your concerns about how crashingly busy you are already in your life, you want to DO more to help this situation and are ready to act NOW You’re enlivened by the people you meet who are involved in this cause or area, and they inspire you You feel like a beginner you realize you have many things to learn and can’t wait to learn them This area of focus for you is deep, rich and inexhaustible â€" there is so much that needs to be done and explored You feel more alive, valuable, and contributive when focused on these issues, and that makes you happier and more engaged personally and professionally Being involved in this area helps you marry up everything you’ve ever cared about, and everything you are, and allows you to draw on your many talents, skills and capabilities in new, exciting ways This area of focus gives your life meaning and purpose You feel humbled at the enormity of the task ahead of you, but thrilled to be part of it You feel more love and compassion in your heart, and more connected to the world around you But many women say, “Kathy, I’m not sure what I’m passionate about. How do I discover that?” To identify what you’re passionate about, dig deep and answer these questions: Look carefully at what you’re drawn to in life. What do you read, watch, listen to, follow? What agitates and upsets you in the world and compels you to DO something? Where are the people who inspire and uplift you? What are they focused on? If you could take one college level course or program for free on anything at all, what would it be? In what areas are you drawn to helping others? What “mess” in your life can be turned into a “message” for others? What skill or talent do you wish you had, that would be exciting to pursue? What area do you secretly fantasize about being involved in but feel foolish to say it out loud? If you knew you couldn’t fail and it would all work out beautifully (financially and otherwise), what would you try? What did you adore doing as a child that you’ve let slip through your fingertips? What (or who) holds you back most from pursuing what excites you most? Before my current career, I lived through 18 years of a corporate life that was devoid of passion and purpose, and that led to depression, illness, and misery. I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that being lit up by your work is a far happier and more productive way to go. Are you ready to identify your passion and get moving doing important work that fuels that passion? (To build a happier, more rewarding career, visit the Amazing Career Project. And check out my latest Forbes post on how to pursue your passion without going broke.)    

How to Properly Send a Resume, and that Resume Writing Service Should You Choose

How to Properly Send a Resume, and that Resume Writing Service Should You ChooseI'm going to be the first to tell you that if you have a resume writing service, your resume is your first and last impression. Every resume that gets sent out has some sort of flaw, it's the same as having a dog in the house without the collar.There are hundreds, if not thousands, of professionals that use these kinds of services every day, and there is a different line for each one. Some use bullets, others use code words, and still others take a bit more time before they fill in the gaps. But what exactly is the 'right' way to send a resume?You have to realize, when it comes to a resume, you can't send it back and forth without any sort of modification. Some will customize your resume with any picture that you can think of, a couple will even add to the header of your business details and website. The best thing about this is, you can tell them what information is missing. So if you have a picture of y our family or your dog, they can change it for you.Then there are those that may write an introduction that begins with something like 'To whom it may concern', or they may start with 'Hello'How may I be of service to you'. This is important because it will help your resume stay on track and make it easy for you to scan through.Your resume will be your first impression, so you have to make sure that you are clear and that you communicate your needs and who you are in the most concise way possible. After all, no one wants to sit and read a resume that is a mess. If you're going to send one out anyway, make sure that it's clean and organized.Professional resume writers will go through the information that you already have and then go over the rest, adding whatever is needed to make it flow. They do this for both the larger companies and smaller ones. But do you know what they do the most for people who don't have their own service?Your resume writing service will add the header and yo ur contact information to your existing resume, and then they'll give you the first paragraph. These are the first words that they want you to see, and when you get them, you have to make sure that you have all of your information there. This means that your date of employment, the position that you held, how long you've been working for the company, and your current duties.Most times, the companies will go over this first paragraph with you and then add the job's requirement to the resume. If you do this, it will take away any doubt about the resume being part of a job application.