Job Board Fast The Power of Informational Interviews

Job Board Fast The Power of Informational Interviews Remember, July is the month were fasting from job boards.  Yes, its quite unconventional. Have you heard of Informational Interviews?  Im capitalizing them because they are that important. I was on a call with a career counselor at a university in New York City.  We got to talking about Informational Interviews vs job boards and she said something like this: If job seekers would do informational interviews all month, they would probably have a job by the end of the month! I think Informational Interviews are critical. If you arent doing it yet, and doing it well (if you enjoy doing it, you are probably doing it well), you are delaying your job search. In the last two weeks Ive had two people let me know how awesome my Informational Interview video series is (its $50).  You can check out whats included in this series here: Informational Interview Videos Job Board Fast The Power of Informational Interviews Remember, July is the month were fasting from job boards.  Yes, its quite unconventional. Have you heard of Informational Interviews?  Im capitalizing them because they are that important. I was on a call with a career counselor at a university in New York City.  We got to talking about Informational Interviews vs job boards and she said something like this: If job seekers would do informational interviews all month, they would probably have a job by the end of the month! I think Informational Interviews are critical. If you arent doing it yet, and doing it well (if you enjoy doing it, you are probably doing it well), you are delaying your job search. In the last two weeks Ive had two people let me know how awesome my Informational Interview video series is (its $50).  You can check out whats included in this series here: Informational Interview Videos

The Dos and Donts when applying for your First Job

The Dos and Don’ts when applying for your First Job There’s a first time for everything and getting a job is no exception. Recent graduates may become overwhelmed when theyre trying to get their first job but they must understand the thin line between the real world and their college/university life. This is not the time to take extended vacations or become a couch potato. It is the time to develop themselves and stand out from the competition. photo credit: snigl3t via photopin cc Leaving the comfort zone of education and making a shift from campus to career could be quite a challenge initially.   However, the tips, skills and tricks learnt during those days  will not go in vain. As you have to compete with other experienced workers in this tough market, employers will not take the time to give you a second chance. So here are a few important tips to help you handle your first job application and start in a new role or company. Do boast your skills Presenting confidence in your skills, experience and qualities within your career, as well as education, is highly recommended. This is required especially when it comes to getting your foot in the door and submitting your cover letter and resume. In this competitive world, recruiters always look for confident and skilled candidates that they can rely on. Your personal statement shows what makes you a better candidate than the next student and your job application should be no different. Don’t fill your application with clichés Your potential employer is likely to despise clichés. He/she has most probably become bored of phrases like, “I am an excellent listener” or “I am an enthusiastic individual”. Instead of using these clichés, why not use your experience to reflect the qualities that can make you a success? Discuss those circumstances where you have gone that extra mile to prove your potential. Talk about an instance that clearly shows your passion for the industry you wish to progress in. [ALSO READ:  20 Career Destroying Mistakes You Need To Avoid] Do share your personal experience It is not just the professional experiences that make an application stand out from the crowd. How you confronted challenging situations in your personal life can offer the perfect anecdote for an application and show the real person in you. However, make sure that you don’t share your entire life story. Instead, use those experiences that demonstrate what has influenced your professional progression and made you a better and stronger person. Don’t tell porkies photo credit: The Rocketeer via photopin cc Although it is crucial to show your skills, telling lies or making wild claims about your qualifications and experience is a step too far to and can make you land up in trouble. Be true to yourself and remember that all the information in your application would be verified by the authorized person of the organization. Do learn new skills This is the right time to learn new skills and expand your skill-set.  Developing new skills will increase your job opportunities and make you more appealing to employers. It is a good idea to look for good job listings and see if there are certain skills required that you could develop. Learning these skills will certainly open the doors to those dream positions. Don’t stay away from the industry trends It is important to be aware of the changes in your industry, especially the ever-changing worlds of news and technology. In some cases employers might ask about current events and industry trends to see whether you are up-to-date. That knowledge would not only help in the interview process but also prepare you for work in the industry. Be confident to be the individual you are While you are crafting the best personal statement for your job application, the aim at this point should be to sell yourself. However, when youre trying to sell yourself, dont forget to be true to your personality. Do not pretend to be a different person. For instance, if you are known for your humour, that should be reflected in your application. Putting your true personality on paper and in your professional experience is the key to success, especially when filling in applications for your first job. Getting hired starts with the right job application. If you do not take that seriously, I am sure you will also not take your job seriously. Trust me, it makes a difference! 56

How Vodafone Dials Up Global Recruitment Marketing

How Vodafone Dials Up Global Recruitment Marketing How do you build a global employer brand for 120,000, in 26 different countries? We recently had a chat with  Catalina Schveninger  who is the Global Head of Resourcing and Employer Brand at British telecoms giant Vodafone. Have a listen below, keep reading for a summary and be sure to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast. What are Vodafones talent challenges as a global company? Vodafone gained organic growth due to where this industry is right now, but also through a lot of acquisitions. Challenges come from integrating, creating one culture across, but still being very respectful of our local roots. Our CEO is a big believer in acquire companies and let them do what theyre good at, also be very respectful of local customs, local culture. In that perspective, from an employer brand, and from an HR practice perspective, we are a federated company. The way we work is we spot best practices, we pilot different things, and then we co-create to work together with markets. So we are very different from more centralized companies where lets say, staff strategy is fabricated at the centre and then is rolled out everywhere. Thats what makes the challenges, but also makes us more interesting, and gives us an opportunity to really look at things critically from a global perspective. For example, when you roll out an employer brand you look at, Will it work, will it be relevant to our employees in the front line in India, as much as for our B2B folks in Germany?. My colleagues across the world are more talented than me, and know their customer and candidate base much better. They helped us shape that. How do you activate your recruitment marketing? The focus in the beginning was, Lets bottle our key messages and give them in the hands of local markets so that they can create their content that will drive engagement locally. Italy was one of the best examples when they completely reshuffled the whole of their website and their candidate experience. Theyve done an amazing job in digital. They also work very closely with our care team. Imagine you are on the call with your call centre, even they were trained on talking about the employer brand. So getting really into all the digital touch points across all channels. In India, where we have over 500 offices, we focused more around physical assets. They even had banners on highways. I was so impressed when I went to Mumbai, and on the highway, I would see a banner with our employer brand. The ultimate compliments and deployment was in Germany when we even used our employer brand claim in an advert. That was fantastic. As we evolved, weve become very famous for what were doing in the diversity space. And now, a lot of the great stories around the employer brand and inclusiveness are coming, especially in the digital and video content. We had a couple of award-winning videos around LGBT, and around the very diverse group of people at Vodafone from all parts of the world, as well as from different ages. So a lot of focus has been to build more brand consideration and awareness around the diversity space. What I particularly like is that the feedback has been from my colleagues on employer brand. Its so broad that you can actually be very creative, and build your own proof points. Its not limiting because we have different proof points, and you can build a lot of great engaging content that talks to different audiences. Theres not a one size fits all. Your proposition for front line is different from our proposition for graduates, or for women later in their careers. So it gives you a lot of options to be adapting it in different segments in different markets. Im particularly proud of countries where weve looked at every touch point. Not just a nice and shiny content you put on social, but also how you engage with candidates. How you send an email when youre declining a candidate, which we believe is a very critical moment that also has to be very branded. #VodafoneLive is the hashtag you use? #VodafoneLive is the hashtag that they use in the UK. We never said you have to have a hashtag that trends because in the end we want to keep it authentic. Were seeing that our own employees are using #AtMyBest or #AtYourBest, especially when they are sharing stuff that theyre proud of. And thats what we feel is the global hashtag. My role is to set guidance and head good practices, but we never said, please go and trend on this hashtag. Different countries like UK have chosen a different one, but were seeing that #AtMyBest and #AtYourBest picked up. Amazing evening with amazing women @Vodafone_WIT #womenintechnology #Vodafone #atmybest #womenempowerement #turkishwin #heforshe #powertoyou pic.twitter.com/UvNUbBgMrx Marisol Galindo (@MarissolG) November 29, 2016 What hard lessons can you share? One of the hardest lessons that we underestimated initially is it takes a lot of work and a lot of time to build your brand and bring it alive across all touch points. You are only kidding yourself if you think Ive re-branded the website, and Ive created a couple of videos, and off you go. We took the long-term journey. So we took about six months until we had everybody bring all their assets up to speed. But then we looked across all touch points; our learning and development, content, and everything that went externally. One lesson learned there is to have a very clear view, and a list of all the touch points in advance, and dont limit just the window-shopping bits where people immediately go on your website, or go on your LinkedIn page. In a company like ours with such a broad global presence, with so many touch points, and so many people involved, its a marathon, not a sprint. Were very cautious about that, now that were looking again at the branding, giving it a fresh view to go through the same journey again and make sure that we dont miss out. Like messaging in our applicant tracking system. Some of the applicant tracking systems are better than others. It took us forever to embed new messaging into ours. So nine months later we were still sending boring messages. Thats one example where you can fall short, in sending incongruent messaging. Co-creation was a highlight in the beginning, involving people from different countries. They come from a different perspective and saved us a lot of hassle later. We felt that they owned it. Connect with Catalina on Twitter at  @CSchveninger.

Do What I Say, Not What I Do Advice From a Successful Businesswoman

Do What I Say, Not What I Do Advice From a Successful Businesswoman Young entrepreneurs and aspiring executives tend to have a hard time taking older business professionals’ advice â€" and I understand why. The environment was incredibly different when I started my career: College grads were relatively few and far between, so there was plenty of opportunity for a gal like me, equipped with a bachelor’s degree and eager to work. The internet was new, and small businesses could grow massive with just a small amount of innovation. Finally, business leaders had much different reactions to non-typical workers â€" i.e., women and people of colour â€" than they do today. In some ways, it was much easier for me to find success; in others, the odds were stacked against me in ways young women and men will never comprehend. As I look back on my career, I have recognized many of the opportunities I missed â€" opportunities that young workers in the current business climate cannot. If you are searching desperately for a path to success, you definitely shouldn’t do what I did. Here’s what to do instead. Expand Your Possibilities I am currently working in the same field as my first job so many years ago. In my career, I have changed responsibilities, changed titles and positions, and changed employers â€" but I have never migrated to a new industry or field. On one hand, this strategy allowed me to accumulate extensive industry experience; on the other hand, I was supremely lucky that there was always space for me to move up. It is by far safer and smarter to diversify your skills and knowledge, so you won’t be pigeonholed into one industry. Before your career begins â€" if you have the luxury of time â€" you should consider interning in a variety of fields or shadowing diverse professionals to gain a more thorough understanding of different industries. Additionally, you should obtain credentials that make you attractive to essentially any field. For example, you can earn an MBA, with no GMAT score required while you decide where your career should start. Then, you will be better positioned for higher-level employment and better equipped with skills that apply to every organization. Assess Your Progress My career goals were always vague: reach success, make it to the top, earn authority and prestige, be comfortable and confident. Because of this, in my early and middle years, I never felt successful. I would look at where I was in that moment, compare it to my unclear aims, and be utterly unsatisfied. It wasn’t until recently that I looked back on my career path, on what I had accomplished, and felt triumphant. My first mistake was failing to make quantitative career goals. From the start, you should write down your goals, in a journal or some other permanent place, and use specific wording to make the goal line clear. Then, you must be diligent about documenting your career â€" for your own benefit as well as your employers’. You should have a file that catalogues your employment history, including major and minor achievements at each job, so you have concrete evidence that you have made an impact at previous workplaces. This allows you to tell your story truthfully and in its entirety, especially to yourself, who is likely your harshest critic. Rely on Others When I began my career, there were precious few female role models in business, so I looked to men to learn proper behaviour. Unfortunately, men in that era were restrained by their own masculinity, so alongside useful habits for establishing authority and ensuring confidence, I also gained the ignoble custom of refusing help, even when I needed it. Cooperation is innate in women, and quashing that drive will only hurt you in your career. In fact, you should feel comfortable relying on others, especially when they volunteer their aid. Mentors and career sponsors can introduce you to valuable contacts and guide you through tricky career manoeuvres; co-workers can support you and teach you invaluable career lessons; and eventually, employees and subordinates will help you make your name. You can’t do everything alone, so you should accept help when it comes. Find Satisfaction Elsewhere There were several times during my career when I felt unsatisfied. However, instead of evaluating what, exactly, was missing in my life, I assumed I was simply slacking at work and threw myself more thoroughly into my career. You may love your job. You may see career success as the ultimate success. Still, you shouldn’t live and die by the status of your career. When you clock out of work â€" and you should clock out â€" you should have something worthwhile at home, be it a loving pet or a loving partner. You should have hobbies, friendships, and other valuable diversions to take your mind off work for just a bit. You deserve that.

Do Quitters Win The Truth about Quitting Jobs and Your Pay

Do Quitters Win The Truth about Quitting Jobs and Your Pay A few weeks ago I had some dinner guests over at my home in Montana. Somehow the conversation veered toward work, and one of them mentioned that his father, who is now in his 60s, has worked for the same company since he finished high school.“Seriously? That’s crazy!” I responded.The table immediately split between those who, like me, thought it was shocking that a person would have a job their whole life, and those who thought it was shocking that we were shocked.evalInterestingly, it was divided geographically. Three of the people at the table were Midwesterners who had worked for the same large companies sincetheyhad finished high school. Not only did they think a lifetime at a company was normal, but they found it strange that I’ve literally quit so many jobs at so many companies that I can’t remember them all.The number is somewhere around 15-17, depending on what I count.Is job hopping easier in the West?evalPhoto Credit â€" english-online.atAfter that dinner, I thoug ht on this a bit, and talked to my brother about it.He and I both grew up in the Midwest, but have lived in the western U.S. for the better part of the last two decades.As we talked, we both recalled this Midwestern virtue we’d perceived of sticking with a company for as long as possible.We didn’t notice until now, but in the western U.S. this virtue kind of evaporated. I haven’t been able to find any statistics to support this idea â€" while the BLS collects data on employee tenure, they don’t appear to slice it by state or region.But I’ve lived all over the west during the last 20 years, and have never noticed a cultural affinity toward sticking with one particular company. I think this is partly because large corporate businesses are relatively new here, compared to the Midwest.Talking to my brother, we decided that we tended to job hop both because it was culturally acceptable, and because we get bored easily.evalBut what we really wondered was whether it was a good or bad thing. Were we missing out on something by bouncing from job to job so often?The surprising truth about quitting and salariesWe soon foundthis articlein Forbes showing that it isn’t just a little better to hop jobs every couple years. It’sreallybeneficial to your bank account. Conservative estimates showed that people who change jobs every two years make50 percent morethan their job loyal counterparts.Why?The article points to recession era caps on raises that stuck them between 3 and 5 percent at most companies. Unsurprisingly, after the recession these caps didn’t magically go away. So if you stay at a company it’s likely thatyour raisescan never exceed 5 percent of your current salary per year, no matter how much more you deserve.evalIf you jump companies, you break this barrier. On top of that, you enter terrain that is particularly favorable to job seekers right now.The U.S. currently has more job openings going unfilled than ever in its history, combined with the lowest unemployment rate in 10 years.But I’ve got a hunch that there’s also something psychological going on here.If you’re a great hire, out on the market, and you’ve got several companies competing for you, scarcity and people’s egos are on your side. A hiring manager naturally wants to “win” by beating rivals at other companies for a chance to grab a great candidate, and they’re afraid of missing out on a valuable option that will soon be gone.But once you’ve been hired, the company has you. You’re not scarce anymore, and now a manager’s ego may be telling them that “winning” means negotiating the smallest pay raise possible out of you each year, rather than trying to beat competitors on the market.So, should you quit your job?Probably. But hey, I don’t know you, and I’ve clearly got a high tolerance for the risks of quitting.There area lot of complicated things to take into account. If you’ve got a solid long term career plan, and the job you have fits into it nicely, it may be worth holding onto for a while.Also, you’ve got to assign some value to having a job you really like. If the people you work with are good, and day to day life on the job is enjoyable, that’s worth something. If you get a raise by moving to a company that stresses you out and makes day-to-day life hell, you probably won’t be happier.I would say though, if you’re at a job that doesn’t have much potential for career growth, that you don’t actively enjoy going to, and your pay has hit an arbitrary growth cap, you should be on the job hunt.evalAs I mentioned earlier, it’s a great time to look for jobs, and you’ve really got nothing to lose by putting yourself out there and seeing what kind of offers you get.Ok, where do I sign up?Ready to start looking? As I mentioned, now is a great time to look. Betterteam put togetherthis great list of job boardsand career blogs that’ll help you get the intel you need.Beyond that, I’d recommend doin g research of your own. How in demand is your job? What is the market rate for it?You can find out by going to the BLSOccupational Outlook Handbookand searching for your job.This will give you the job growth outlook and median pay, as well as other valuable statistics about the job.evalIf you’ve been at the same job at the same company for a long time, it might be interesting to see how your current pay compares to the market rate.After that, I’d start by giving your LinkedIn page and resume an overhaul. It’s possible that just by updating your LinkedIn profile, you’ll get contacted by recruiters.Next, I would go to Glassdoor and do a search for the job you’re interested in to see what kind of ratings companies get. As I mentioned, you don’t want to get a pay raise but end up working for a tyrant.Glassdoor allows employees to rate the companies they work for and leave detailed feedback. Look for top rated companies that are hiring for your job, and see what people have t o say about them. Just about every company will have something listed as “cons” of working there. Are these ones you can live with?If you find a company that’s a really great match, do some more research about them online. See what current and former employees say on LinkedIn and Twitter. If everything points to a positive company to work for, go for it.If this doesn’t work, you can always start searching for jobs on big boards like Indeed, but I’d start by looking for companies you want to work for, rather than hoping good companies find you.evalNegotiating your new salaryMost good hiring managers and recruiters are going to ask you a very pointed, perhaps uncomfortable set of questions during your first interview.They’ll want to know how much you’re making now, and what you’re expecting to make with them.If your salary has been held down by artificial caps for 10 years, you’re probably going to give them a number that’s below market rate, which could make it di fficult to negotiate the pay you actually want.First off, don’t lie about your current pay. Ultimately it will come back to bite you.Most recruiters and hiring managers will be aware of why your salary is below market, and will expect this to some degree.To get a salary at or above market, be ready to explain in detail why you’re worth what you are. Talk about your experience and abilities you can bring to the company, and why they put you at or above the rest of the crowd.Ready, set quit!Or don’t. But I think that most people who have been at a job for more than two years, and feel that their salary has been capped, should at least be checking to see what the market has to offer them. I hope this helps you get started.

Police Virtual Reality Exercise [New Police Assessment Centre]

Police Virtual Reality Exercise [New Police Assessment Centre] Download Your Police Example Practice MapsPlease note: these downloads are to be used in conjunction with our MET Police Assessment Centre Guide Book. Please enter your code contained within your guide to access your downloadable maps. First Name * Email *  Submit #section_1943923715{padding-top:59px;padding-bottom:59px;min-height:300px;background-color:rgb(228,228,228)}#section_1943923715 .section-bg-overlay{background-color:rgba(0,93,173,.9)}#section_1943923715 .section-bg.bg-loaded{background-image:url(https://www.how2become.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Police-Officer-Course.jpg)}Virtual Reality Exercise Explained#row-1937234589.col.col-inner{background-color:rgb(227,254,0)}As part of the MET police’s brand new assessment centre, candidates are expeted to take a virtual reality exercise where a VR (virtual rality) headset is worn. This exercise lasts for approximately 10 minutes.The Virtual Reality Exercise essentially requires you to work in a coordinated fashion with an other candidate, to resolve a problem. One person will wear a VR headset, which will place them in a particular environment â€" such as a set of rooms. The other person will use their iPad, which contains a map/picture of how the room should look.One person will play the role of control and the other person will play the role of ground. Together you will need to decide which of you will play which role. You won’t be marked on this conversation, but you will need to have the conversation in front of the assessors. The two roles are as follows:Control’s job is to provide key information and navigational help to Ground. You will essentially need to guide Ground around the room/virtual reality environment, helping them to reach the finishing marker.Ground’s role is to verbally relay what they can see using the virtual reality headset, to Control.How Is The VR Test Structured?#row-1821021957.col.col-inner{background-color:rgb(227,254,0)}First of all, you’ll be briefed on the oper ation. For example, you’ll be told that you are visiting the scene of a suspected burglary.Both participants will sit down. Ground will be given a virtual reality headset, and can then move and turn to see a more detailed view of the room that the headset depicts. Ground will be given very limited info about exactly where they are and what should be in the rooms. Control will be given an iPad which shows a detailed map or picture of how the room should look.There will be deliberate differences between how the room is meant to look on the iPad, and what Ground sees using the virtual reality headset. The two candidates will be expected to communicate and remember these differences. Furthermore, Control will be given a list of items on their iPad, detailing items that should be present within the room, and also information about the location where Ground is. Control will be expected to communicate these to Ground. #image_6537130{width:100%}What Does The Police VR Assessment Test?#r ow-1665969141.col.col-inner{background-color:rgb(227,254,0)}The Virtual Reality Exercise is a direct test of your teamwork skills, and your communication abilities. Both candidates need to work together to pass the test, and will need to be constantly communicating clearly and effectively with each other.Where Can I Learn More Practice The Police VR Assessment?#row-1956346542.col.col-inner{background-color:rgb(227,254,0)}#section_1925564970{padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px}Want Complete Police VR Exercise Practice? Order our 200+ Page MET Police Assessment Centre Guide Now: #image_209361023{width:100%} Learn More #section_1994696593{padding-top:59px;padding-bottom:59px;min-height:300px;background-color:rgb(228,228,228)}#section_1994696593 .section-bg-overlay{background-color:rgba(4,177,154,.83)}#section_1994696593 .section-bg.bg-loaded{background-image:url(https://www.how2become.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/How-to-Become-a-Police-Officer-Help.png)} This entry was posted in Police, Assessment Centres. Bookmark the permalink. Joshua Brown PA (Personal Assistant) Interview Questions and Answers: Ace Your Next Personal Assistant Interview!Leadership Interview Questions and Answers: 7 Interview Questions and Answers to Guide You to Success!

Are Executive Business Cards Still Effective

Are Executive Business Cards Still Effective Having a digital presence in today’s business world is invaluable. However, some people only focus on improving their digital brand, which is a big mistake. Business cards have been effective since the beginning of time, and it hasn’t changed. Technology has made certain things easier for executives, but there are also plenty of challenges if you solely rely on it. Focusing on writing an executive bio on your LinkedIn page is great, but you still need a business card for people to find you. Here are some important points to consider when it comes to business cards for executives. Business Cards Are Still Respected Whether you’re at a formal networking event, or you just happen to meet someone in passing, they may ask you for your business card. And if you don’t have one, your credibility is going to take a hit. Trading business cards is still expected for executives, so do yourself a favor and always have several handy. This practice is one of the most respected and expected methods of trading information, so you could be the talk of the event in a negative way if you don’t have a business card to offer. Be Careful Going Completely Digital When you learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, it can be easy to go completely digital in your networking efforts. The truth is other professionals want to have your information readily available at all times, rather than searching for you on LinkedIn. Even if you have your LinkedIn URL on your business card, it’s still more effective handing them a business card than just saying “look me up on LinkedIn for all the information you need.” Accuracy Is Never A Question With A Business Card If you verbally give someone your email address or phone number to write down, the chances of them transposing numbers or not spelling your name correctly increases. But when you have the information on a business card, accuracy is never a question. Similar to writing an executive bio, being clear and concise with the information displayed on your business card is invaluable and can improve your brand even more so than your LinkedIn profile. Professional Resume Services is an executive resume service dedicated to helping professionals with their resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and even business cards. Whether you need help simply writing an executive bio or need to start drafting a resume from scratch, feel free to contact us at any time for assistance.