Friday, May 29, 2020

How To Recruit Passive Candidates Online

How To Recruit Passive Candidates Online 79% of working professionals around the world are considered passive candidates. The other 21% are actively seeking a new job. In which group do you think the better talent is? LinkedIns research shows that on balance, passive candidates care disproportionately more or less about certain factors than their actively job-seeking counterparts. Through that research, five factors stand out as major points of differentiation. These factors have a bearing on how you might approach passive candidates. Passive vs active candidates takeaways: Passive talent are 120% more likely to want to make an impact 56% are more likely to want a corporate culture that fits to their personality Passive candidates are 33% more likely to want challenging work Passive talent is also less needy, 17% less likely to need skill development and 21% less likely to need recognition 3 tips to passive talent recruitment success: Leverage your entire team to find the right talent. Good employees know good people who could be a strong culture fit. Start the conversation right by being targeted and personal. Emphasize impact over skill-laden job descriptions. Listen. Invite candidates to talk about themselves, uncover their needs and motivations, and keep detailed notes at every touch point. Related: How To Use Mobile, Social Media and Video To Recruit Passive Candidates [Video]. Main image: Shutterstock

Monday, May 25, 2020

10 Things that Give Us a Headache (Vote to Win Prizes!)

10 Things that Give Us a Headache (Vote to Win Prizes!) A few weeks ago, the folks at  Excedrin ® Extra Strength reached out to me to let me know about a contest they are running. I did a double take when I saw their email: my own life had become so crazy (and headache-laden) that I almost felt like it was a sign. Excedrin wants to know: who has the biggest headache? My guess is some of us live lives that would qualify instantly.  For example: new Moms, mega commuters, people who have awful bosses, those whose sidehustles day jobs combined lead to working every waking minute Excedrin has created funny videos of headache inducing scenarios and wants your vote on who has the biggest headache.  Check them out at Facebook.com/Excedrin then cast your vote.  Excedrin Facebook fans will be entered to win weekly prizes through May 14th with the grand prize of a trip for two to JAMAICA! (umm yes please!) The winner will be announced at the  beginning  of June. In the meantimewe also have a little giveaway wed like to share with people who comment on this post! Read the headache inducing scenarios our Editorial Assistant  Molly Marotta  and I put together below. Then leave us a comment (which includes your email address!) and share the scenario that you can most relate to. We will randomly select one winner on Monday May 6 who will receive a stress kitcomplete with a yoga mat, anti-stress microwaveable neck pillow and a foam roller for the day when you need a massage (but cant afford one!). 1. Not getting enough sleep because we are always working or studying Need we say more? 2. Being victim to other peoples last minute requests at work that arent even part of your job description This video does a great job of illustrating what a lot of career newbies feel on a regular basis. 3.   Ignorant social media posts Unfortunately we have several examples of this onethe most irritating to us was the way Epicurious tweeted after the Boston Marathon. Other runners up for most headache-inducing social media  activity: Evan Rachel Wood admits pregnancy isnt easy (thats weird, because I was told it was A WALK IN THE PARK.  A WALK IN A PARK THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO HAVE FREE COFFEE, AN OPEN BAR, AND UNLIMITED SUSHI) This is a thing:  #AFollowerThatIWannaFight (Not only does this take up most of your tweet, but really? its fightin time? lemme grab the other peasants of the village and utilize the only thing we have for entertainment.BECAUSE THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING ELSE TO DOoh wait) I do not accept Reese Witherspoons apology. (WHO EVEN ARE YOU?) 4.   Putting in laundry or dishes then forgetting about the soap Or, forgetting to press start. A small detail of life that just leaves you ANNOYED UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Stop mocking me Elroy! We get it, you know how to use soap. 5.  Pets that ruin your hard-earned belongings! When my dog Giada was a puppy, she loved to eat things that werent mean to be  eaten   Like my bed sheets, my cash, my clip on hair extensions (dont hate- I wore them to cover up a depressing haircut-gone-wrong) and the foam in my pillow (this one made for a good laugh when she pooped it out though! Karmas a bitch, Giada!).  We love our pets, but this type of behavior is ANNOYING and expensive. Not cool dog.  Not cool. 5.   Too much (or not enough) caffeine Can you imagine speaking to this crazed lunatic??  Not to mention it appears as though his skull is MADE OF A COFFEE CUP.  WHO ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN? 6. Mondays where Murphys Law applies to your every moment Again, need we say more.  I think weve all had a day like this guys. 7.   Guests that never leave This is so awkward and your best friends are never the perpetrators. Its always the people you invited out of guilt or some random connection and then they want to stay forever. 8.  Old trends that are coming back that really shouldnt The other day someone told me about a 90s theme party a college sorority was throwing.  I was like, umm really?  What does that even MEAN?! As a resident of Chicagos Wicker Park neighborhood, I see way too much 80s and 90s worshiping going on.  In fact, sometimes I wonder if they spent hours getting ready, just to look soooo old school. You nailed it, beautiful.  No, no, stop it!  Your lace sleeves look WAY better than mine, and that collar?  Bridal perfection.  WHO INVENTED THESE? 9.   This music video Wait. Actually, this video is HILARIOUS and it makes me want to do a post of other videos just like it.  Music videos have come a long way Dont get me wrong, I LOVE this song.  An unhealthy amount.  But the amount of times I realize that this was an 80s bands VISION for the MOST FITTING MUSIC VIDEO FOR THIS SONG.  MEN WITHOUT HATS THINKS THIS VIDEO MATCHES THEIR SONG.  I think my head just exploded. 10. Being a New Parent While Molly and I have NO experience with this one, we sympathize for those of you who are in the new parent phase.  This video made us laugh out loud and say a little prayer for those of you who spend sleepless nights getting up with your little one, then having a full day the next day. Now its time for you to leave us a comment (and your email address!) for the chance to win a free stress kit provided by Excedrin!  The winner will be selected randomly, then announce on Monday May 6th via a comment! Note: I am an Excedrin ® Extra Strength brand ambassador. I’ve been compensated for my work and all opinions are my own.

Friday, May 22, 2020

5 Tips for New Grads Building a Professional Wardrobe - Classy Career Girl

5 Tips for New Grads Building a Professional Wardrobe Graduating from college can be an understandably bittersweet experience for a number of reasons. You’re naturally excited about finally embarking on your new life as an educated adult. However, you’re bound to miss a lot that came with college life as well. If that includes your carefree college student’s wardrobe, you’re definitely in excellent company. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that finally getting to go pro means settling for stuffy, drab attire from here on out, though. Today’s professional wear is anything but boring. Plus, it’s easier to build a professional wardrobe to be reckoned with than you might otherwise think. Keep the following tips in mind when shopping and you’ll definitely be off on the right foot! 5 Tips for New Grads Building a Professional Wardrobe 1. Start by Building a Solid Foundation Building an impressive professional wardrobe as a new graduate is a lot like building a house. You need a firm foundation that you can grow with, later on, so focus on building a solid capsule wardrobe first. (Accessories and statement items can come later.) Think timeless foundation pieces that never go out of style and neutral tones that will go with a variety of different looks. You’ll not only look sharp but make sure every cent of even a limited budget really counts. Men should focus on stocking their closet with essentials like business jackets, dress pants, dress shirts, and ties. Women have more options to choose from but should focus on professional tops or blouses, fitted jackets or sweaters, and a combination of professional pants and either skirts or dresses. Start by investing in two or three of each item except for the tops. With tops, it’s a good idea to make sure you have at least four or five different options to choose from. 2. Know The Three F’s In order to be a good fit for your new professional wardrobe, a given piece needs to be more than just professional and affordable. It needs to take all three of the “three F’s” into consideration as well. Fit: Fit can make or break your outfit, not to mention your first impression. When what you’re wearing is properly tailored, you instantly give the impression of having your act together, and then some, so don’t be afraid to have a seamstress help you achieve that perfect fit. Fabric: When you’re working with a limited budget, you’ll want to be careful of choosing too many high-maintenance fabrics that are “dry clean only.” Opt for wrinkle-free pieces whenever possible and always make sure your professional clothes are ironed. Feel: It’s not just about how an item looks; it’s also about how it makes you feel. If a given option looks professional but doesn’t allow you to feel like yourself, it’s a no-go. 3. Remember What Does and Doesn’t Work For Your Silhouette By the time you’ve successfully completed your degree, you’ve usually got at least two decades worth of experience to your credit when it comes to dressing yourself and putting together different looks. That said, you probably have a pretty good idea of what your assets and weaknesses are. You know whether you’re curvy or lanky, short or tall, squat or leggy. You’ll definitely want to keep this knowledge in mind as you put together your first professional wardrobe. One really flattering dress is going to be worth twenty trendier items that don’t really suit your body type. Interviewers will definitely be sizing you up based on first impressions, so showing that you understand how to dress for your body type without simply trying to cover it up works in your favor. It shows you’re self-aware and confident, among many other things. [RELATED: How To Transform Your College Clothes into a Professional Wardrobe] 4. Don’t Underestimate The Importance of Footwear What you choose to put on your feet really does say a lot about you, especially in a professional environment. That said, it’s important to know your stuff in this area. Make sure you have at least two or three pairs of low heels or flats in similar tones. (Skip the stilettos for now.) Choose solid options from trustworthy brands so that they’re with you for years to come. You’ll also want to make absolutely certain you care for your footwear properly. Invest in some good shoe care supplies and make sure your work shoes are always polished. Take care of dirt and stains promptly before they have a chance to ruin your shoes. Use shoe trees so that footwear retains its shape when not in use. 5. Don’t Abandon Your Personal Style If you assume that building a professional wardrobe means leaving every inkling of personal style out of the equation, think again. Contrary to popular belief, your future employer isn’t looking for a corporate drone devoid of personality. They want someone who’s as unique as they are professional and responsible. Keep this in mind as you build your foundation of wardrobe essentials into the future. Are you a bright, cheerful person who absolutely loves color? Pair your black pencil skirt with a jewel-toned blouse or choose a colorful tie to go with your tailored gray business suit. Is your love of music a huge part of who you are as a person? Accessorize your look with a tasteful necklace that reflects this or layer one of your favorite vintage concert tees under your blazer some casual Friday. As long as your choices are respectful of the dress code at your place of business, there’s always room for a healthy dose of creative expression. At the end of the day, graduating from college and moving toward your new life as a working professional is less about trading one style in for another. Instead, think of it as adding to the style, personality, and value set you already have. You won’t be able to help but succeed!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Choosing A Fragrance That Compliments Your Personality

Choosing A Fragrance That Compliments Your Personality No two wearers of the same perfume will smell the same and whether you purchase fragrances online or in a store, choosing one that suits you can be tricky. The amazing thing about choosing a signature fragrance, whether it’s for you or someone else, is that each individual note of a perfume will in fact smell differently on other people, depending on their skin type, diet, hormones and even their personality. So finding the right one that compliments all of these things isn’t as straightforward as you might initially think. Personal Preference When it comes to finding the right fragrance to suit your personality, a lot of it will come down to the types of fragrances you like. Each perfume is made up of different notes and each fragrance can say a lot about the person wearing it too. The top note tends to be the first fragrances to hit your senses, whereas the base notes will be more subtle and usually take more time to develop and hit your nose. When trying to figure out what type of fragrance matches your personality, the first thing to do is to identify the types of scents you like most or even the things you enjoy doing. If you’re a lover of flowers or the great outdoors you are more likely to be drawn to floral, herby or ocean scents that might remind you of long walks along the coast or even your own back garden.   Whereas, those who love the mystery of travel, faraway places and spicy foods may prefer musky, spicy and oriental tones that reflect their passion for exotic places. You can take this to the next level and extend it to the types of music you like, your favourite foods, holiday destinations and the type of person you are. Are you fun and playful, sexy and sultry, shy and sensitive or a hopeless romantic? All of these personality traits and lifestyle preferences will dictate the choice of perfume that will best compliment you. The Personality of a Fragrance If you start to look at the ingredients in a fragrance, you can get a good gauge before you even smell it as to whether it’s right for you. Each fragrance has its own personality, so identifying the fragrance personality as well as what you like will help you to decide whether it’s a good match for you. Many people with strong personalities, who want to make a statement with their perfume when they enter a room, are more likely to be better suited to stronger fragrances that contain ingredients such as vanilla, cinnamon and sandalwood. These tones can be overpowering if they aren’t matched with the right wearer or other ingredients, so make sure you have the personality to match. These ‘heavier’ scented perfumes can also enhance sexiness and sultriness of the wearer, and make for a wonderfully elegant and impressionable evening perfume. These types of fragrances, don’t match everyone though. Those who are perhaps more shy and sensitive, could well be better suited to a lighter, more floral fragrance that has more subtle tones throughout, but also hidden depths of fun and playfulness too. When it comes to finding your signature fragrance don’t just opt for the first thing you see; shop around and experiment with different scents to find the right match. It’s always a good idea to know what you like before you buy and a good fragrance supplier, whether you buy fragrances online or in a retail store, there always be advice on offer and a good range of products to suit your needs.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Purple Cow Job Description - Should I Apply [Updated] - Career Pivot

The Purple Cow Job Description - Should I Apply [Updated] - Career Pivot Purple Cow Job Description? I guarantee you have read a purple cow job description. It’s one of those that, when you finished reading it, you said to yourself: I am not qualified for this job but…is anyone? They are looking for the purple cow. The ideal candidate does not exist! I am going out on a limb to say that most job descriptions are badly written. In my last corporate job, I had an open position to fill. I had to write a job description.Did I know how to write a job description? NO! I went onto Indeed.comand searched for openings with the same job title. When I found one I liked, I copied it! Did I know what a good description should look like?NO! I am sure that the job description I picked was as vague as any other one I had ever seen. I was expanding my team for a training and certification program. I wanted a technical trainer who was familiar with the program and was already certified. We had certified less than a thousand people worldwide.The candidate needed to have five years of technical training experience and be located in Austin, Texas. The odds of finding someone who was certified in the topic, had five years of experience as a technical trainer AND lived in Austin, was close to ZERO! No, it WAS ZERO. I was looking for the Purple Cow! Did I write the job description saying I wanted everything? YES! Note: This post was originally posted in August of 2014 and updated in September of 2018 Dissecting the Job Description We will want to look at: High-level job description Responsibilities Requirements/Qualifications Education (More: Is the Resume Still Relevant? ) High-Level Job Description Can you honestly see yourself in this job? One of the problems with high-level job descriptions is they are so vague. Do not write yourself off even if it does not look like a fit just yet. Perform a Google search using the high-level job description and see what comes up. Responsibilities/Description Read through this section carefully. Have you actually performed more than half of the responsibilities described? If so, you are probably qualified. More importantly, do you want to have all of these responsibilities? For those of us in the 2nd half of life, we do not want the grind of lower-level tasks. Requirements/Qualifications Check out each item in the requirements/qualifications section of the job description: How many of the requirements/qualifications do you have? Make sure you meet at least half of the requirements/qualifications. Do you have equivalent requirements/qualifications? Do you have existing skills that you can map to what is in the job description? How long would it take, given your current experience, to attain what is needed? Take some time to diagram out how your experience directly relates to these requirements. Creating a visual will help you determine whether this is a good fit for you, and give you a way to explain why you are a good fit. Education Do you have: All of the required educational credentials? The preferred educational credentials? The experience that can be substituted for any of the credentials? One way to get around having all of the educational credentials is to put in your resume a statement like the following: 20 years of experience in xxxxxx…in lieu of an MBA. This will often get you past the applicant tracking systems and at least get you a phone interview for you to prove your worth. (More:What Does Your Resume Say About Your Age? ) Gender Havard Business Review recently published an articleWhy Women Don’t Apply for Jobs Unless They’re 100% Qualified. Basically, the author opens the article with the statement: You’ve probably heard the following statistic: Men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100% of them. Women appear to be especially susceptible to the Purple Cow job description and will tend not to apply. Ladies, is this true based on your experience? Do Not Be Afraid of the Purple Cow The purple cow job description is an outgrowth of the explosion of technology that has been injected into the hiring process. The fact is, most companies do not use this technology effectively, or to be blunter, they do not know how to hire. You may want to read my post on 5 Things You Will Never Know About the Hiring Processon how broken the hiring process is at some companies. Lastly, if you are following a targeted job search strategy, you will have an internal contact within the company. Ask your contact to find out what the hiring manager is really looking for! Your next job is going to come via a relationship. Have you encountered a Purple Cow job description? Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Non-inspirational quotes - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Non-inspirational quotes - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Got this in the mail today. Pretty funny! Top 20 Sayings wed like to see on those office inspirational posters: 1. Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings, they did it by killing all people who opposed them. 2. If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaosthen you probably havent completely understood the seriousness of the situation. 3. Doing a job RIGHT the first time gets the job done. Doing the job WRONG fourteen times gives you job security. 4. Eagles may soar, but weasels dont get sucked into jet engines. 5. Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity 6. A person who smiles in the face of adversityprobably has a scapegoat. 7. Plagiarism saves time. 8. If at first you dont succeed, try management. 9. Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether. 10. TEAMWORKmeans never having to take all the blame yourself. 11. The beatings will continue until morale improves. 12. Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups. 13. We waste time, so you dont have to. 14. Hang in there, retirement is only fifty years away! 15. Go the extra mile. It makes your boss look like an incompetent slacker 16. A snooze button is a poor substitute for no alarm clock at all. 17. When the going gets tough, the tough take a coffee break. 18. INDECISION is the key to FLEXIBILITY. 19. Succeed in spite of management. 20. Aim Low, Reach Your Goals, Avoid Disappointment. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Friday, May 8, 2020

How to Write a Good Resume for the Job You Want

How to Write a Good Resume for the Job You WantWhether you are going to be in Illinois or elsewhere, your resume will play a very important role in determining if you get the job you are seeking. Whether you have a college degree or not, it is of the utmost importance that you have a good resume.It is also very important that when you are doing the initial job search, you try to get a good resume for the job you are seeking. Your resume is a direct reflection of you as a person and what you can do for the company. It is your marketing tool.The first step to making sure that your resume is of the best quality is by writing it. If you are able to write a good resume yourself, you can ensure that your potential employer will be impressed. Although there are people out there who claim to be able to write a resume just like this, the truth is that most of them are lying about their abilities.To help you with your resume writing, you need to know how to make it so that your potential emplo yer knows that they should hire you. This does not mean that you have to be able to memorize something. If you have done a good job with your current job, it doesn't mean that you have to do a great job in your next job. The fact is that you will get a second chance.Writing your resume is not a major task. You don't have to put a lot of time into it. There are actually companies out there that can help you with this. These companies have templates that you can use in your resume writing.They will also help you understand where you need to change and insert your information. They also will give you tips and suggestions on what type of information you should include in your resume. It is not necessary that you need to be an expert at writing resumes. Even if you are not, you can still get these services.Another important aspect to be aware of is the actual length of the resume. You should not make it too long. It should be a little shorter than two pages. Keep it in the four-page rang e and do not use more than two pages for your resume.There are other things that you should do to ensure that your resume gets you the job that you are seeking, but these tips should help you through the process. When it comes to applying for jobs, having a good resume will help you out of your current situation.