How Recruiters Use Social Media in 2014 [STUDY]

How Recruiters Use Social Media in 2014 [STUDY] A new Jobvite study has unveiled how competitive  the labour market is today, and the tactics companies  use to find, engage and retain the best candidates. The sourced survey  was completed by 1,855 recruiting and human resource professionals, spanning across various industries. Participants were both Jobvite customers and non-customers. Jobvite last year revealed  How Social Media is Used for Recruiting in 2013. Here are some of the main takeaways: Recruiters: 69% of recruiters expect competition to increase in 2015. LinkedIn remains the recruiters network of choice, although 83% of job seekers are on Facebook. 73% of recruiters said that to compete against other employers they highlight company culture. Better benefits is used to compete with others at 51% Flexible hours is at 45% While 46% of recruiters hire passive candidates. Job seekers are always shopping for the next best opportunity. Employees generally leave a company due to high compensation elsewhere (61%). Long-term growth potential is the second reason why employees turned elsewhere (44%). Recruiters want to fill the following job openings this year: Engineering (38%) IT (48%) Operations (49%) Marketing (41%) Sales (50%) LinkedIn continues to be the most popular tool for recruiting, 94% of recruiters using it. Facebook is second at 66%. Shockingly, only 18% of recruiters consider themselves experts at social recruiting, 31% considering themselves novices. Mobile: Recruiters plan to invest more in social recruiting (73%), referrals (63%) and mobile (51%). Mobile being  just  51% is shocking  considering its global dominance. Recruiters utilise mobile to find candidates in the following ways: 22% post jobs. 36% search for candidates. 41% contact candidates. 30% post jobs on social. 40% forward candidate resumes to colleagues. 43% of job seekers use mobiles in their job search, yet 59% of recruiters currently invest nothing into mobile career sites! surely this will  rapidly  change? Those that do embrace mobile see an increase in engagement: Improved time to hire (14%) Improved quality of candidate (13%) Improved quality of hires (19%) Improved quality of referrals (10%) Social Media: Social recruiting is now standard practice for recruiters â€" 93% use or plan to use social to support their recruiting efforts. Recruiters are taking social profiles more seriously than previous years â€"55% have changed their mind about a candidate based on something they saw on a social media profile. Be careful what you put online!   73% of recruiters have hired a candidate through social media, LinkedIn being the most popular at 79%. 26% of recruiters have used Facebook to hire candidates. 14% of recruiters used Twitter. only 7% hired through a candidate blog. 93% of recruiters will review a candidates social profile before making a hiring decision. Professional experience is what recruiters  view on  candidates most at 97% on LinkedIn, 20% of Facebook. Recruiters also look at length of professional tenure on 96% on LinkedIn, 14% on Facebook. Candidates industry-related posts are desired by 88% of recruiters on LinkedIn, 27% on Facebook. Some of the tactics recruiters use on social networks are: Facebook: Showcase employer brand (59%), Post jobs (48%), Generate employee referrals (51%)  Twitter: Showcase employer brand (44%), Post jobs (39%), Generate employee referrals (32%) LinkedIn: Search for candidates (95%), Contact candidates (95%), Keep tabs on potential candidates (93%) What are your thoughts on the study? Let us know in the comments! RELATED:  How Recruiters Use Social Media: By the Numbers [STUDY] #socialrecruiting

How to Write a Resume That Will Stand Out From the Rest

How to Write a Resume That Will Stand Out From the RestThere are a lot of people who are frustrated with writing a resume. They want to know how to write a resume that stands out from the rest. Many of them feel that they could write one but when they take a look at their resume they realize that it just doesn't reflect their true self.It doesn't matter what the job is, if you write a great resume it will stand out from the rest. The more you can do to make your resume stand out, the better.Why does it matter that your resume looks good? Well, many people feel like all they have to do is create an incredible resume that will sell themselves. They feel they will be so confident in the way that they write a resume that they can sell themselves into anything. But then they ask themselves, 'Is my resume going to stand out?'That is the first thing that you have to decide if your resume is going to stand out. Because it may be the only thing you have to your potential employer that says, ' My name is Jim and I am an exceptional candidate for this position.' In order for your resume to make an impact, you have to remember that you are the only one that will be looking at it. Even if the person reading your resume already knows that you are qualified for the job, they may not think that it is extraordinary.If you want to make your resume stand out then you have to think outside of the box. Don't just use what you learned in school, it probably doesn't work well. When you think outside of the box, you will be able to come up with some things that will be hard for most people to believe.When you are trying to come up with something that is going to impress someone, itis a good idea to try something that they haven't seen before. If you are thinking about ways to make your resume stand out, consider doing something you haven't done before. Most people don't do anything different to their resumes and have only seen one or two of the thousands of job descriptions they see ev eryday.Another thing you can do is to use a cover letter. Why? Well, you may want to include a line of code in your cover letter to help you highlight some of the more unique aspects of your resume. Be creative when it comes to including a line of code in your cover letter.You can also take a look at your professional background. People are going to look for job titles and positions based on your work experience so make sure you are accurate when it comes to your work history.

Whats the Number One Pitfall to Avoid with Employer Branding

What’s the Number One Pitfall to Avoid with Employer Branding Your employer brand is never static, its constantly changing with new people, new values, new economic conditions and more. There are tons of important variables that you have to consider. Because  it is constantly changing, theres lots of room for mistakes, especially if youre not taking it seriously. So we ask our  employer branding experts to delve into common mistakes people make with employer brand, and how they can fix it. Carmen Collins Talking AT people, and not WITH them. Cisco talks in social media, on the Website and at events like we are 70K employees working at a company, not like we’re a 70K employee company. There’s a difference, and it’s that conversational tone that makes us relatable. Carmen Collins, Social Media Lead Talent Brand, Cisco Estela Vazquez Perez Thinking that you are doing employer branding when in reality you are only doing recruitment marketing. The later is one of the many strategies used in employer branding, recruitment is important but not the only one to receive the benefits of employer branding. Expand your horizon to citizenship, communications, learning, compensation, leadership, wellness, and even the recruitment process itself. For example, think of amazing employer branding applied to attract talent, add marketing sciences to recruitment, all together is the attraction package but if you do not have a great product the recruitment process then there is nothing to sell. A bad recruiter or recruitment process is all it takes to tell candidates that there is no connection between your words and your reality. Employer branding is needed to guide the recruitment experience too. Estela Vazquez Perez,  Global Employment Brand Director, Royal Bank of Canada Ton Rodenburg I’d say the biggest pitfall of employer branding lies within communication. Why? Because today branding is about managing all experiences people have with brands, communication being one of them. Branding old style is boasting, sending and selling, while branding new style is about building distinctive inspiring experiences that people talk about. Branding is crafting and strengthening signature cultures and work by leadership, HR, people, processes, facilities, work conditions and communications. The latter ultimately is designed not only to send (comms 1.0), to involve in dialogues (comms 2.0) but more and more to create signature experiences ‘people talk about when you are not in the room’ (free from Jeff Bezos. comms 3.0). Ton Rodenburg, Employer Branding Strategy Director, ARA M/V Human Resource Communications Audra Knight I see too many companies with the same messaging. Their content does not differentiate their culture from your competitors. Nearly every employer brand video says “we have the best people and they are all happy”. That may be true but it’s dull and the same thing your competitors are saying. Tell people what makes you different and be bold. It’s ok to repel people that are not a culture fit. Audra Knight, Recruitment Operations Manager, Tenable Hannah Fleishman Trying to do too much. Especially as you’re getting started with your employer branding strategy, you’ll want to tackle every opportunity and say yes to every request from your hiring managers, recruiters, or leadership team. It’s important to think critically about where you can have the biggest impact with employer branding now, and down the line. By taking on too much or focusing on the big, flashy ideas, you may miss opportunities to solve for your candidates long-term and build a lasting employering branding program. With so many blog posts you could write, contests you could run, landing pages you could create, Facebook videos you could publish, remember to focus on doing fewer things, better. Hannah Fleishman, Inbound Recruiting Manager, HubSpot Sarang Brahme Unfortunately, often the biggest pitfall to employer branding is that employee sentiment is not genuinely listened to or understood. It’s easy for employers to think of ideas and campaigns that they believe work in a top down approach, but until employees buy into what’s being created, any ideas will ultimately fail. Sarang Brahme, Global Social Recruiting   Talent Brand Manager, Capgemini Shaunda Zilich The No.1 pitfall to avoid with employer brand is to not clear definitions of what it is and/or what success looks like.   So many times I see employer brand and the company treats it as just another marketing arm that manages social channels related to careers.   It is so much more than this.   In ensuring the definition is clear you will ensure resources are provided to encourage success. Shaunda Zilich, Global Employment Brand Leader, GE Jörgen Sundberg The #1 pitfall is to jump straight into employer branding, as opposed to employer brand. Long before you start activating a brand, you’ll need to put in the research to uncover what your reputation as an employer is. By defining your EVP, or people promise, you will know the reasons why candidates ought to pick your company and also why current employees would want to stay. The EVP will not be right for everyone, and that’s a good thing. Once you’ve launched this internally, you’re ready to activate it internally by doing what some people refer to as employer branding, or employer brand management. Jörgen Sundberg, Employer Brand Consultant CEO, Link Humans Jaclyn Campbell You don’t want to sound cookie-cutter, or worse, like any other organisation. The biggest challenge is to have a unique tone of voice so that talent know it’s your employer brand when they see a campaign or piece of content â€" this is easier said than done! Jaclyn Campbell, Employer Brand Consultant, Optus Jennifer Johnston If I have learned one thing in my ten years in employer branding it is this: You actually have to be able to deliver on your Employee Value Proposition. Otherwise, all the brand marketing is just lipstick on a pig. You have to get the buy-in of your leadership team to be intentional about culture and committed to delivering the best possible employee experience before you start building your story and your reputation because it will all fall apart in terms of both attraction and retention if you dont. Jennifer Johnston, Senior Director of Global Employer Branding, Salesforce

When Social Sharing Turns Bad

When Social Sharing Turns Bad Are you one of those people who “checks in” wherever you go on Facebook? Are you the “mayor” of your favorite restaurant on Foursquare? Do you keep your network apprised of your every move on Twitter? Location-based apps are certainly popular on social media these days and letting your network know where you’re going and what you’re doing there, as well as “tagging” those who are with you, is as simple as a few clicks. How many posts have we read recently about how millennials love to share everything on social media? Status updates and pictures aren’t enough. We must let everyone know where we are and who we’re with at all times. As I’ve watched this activity grow in popularity, my concern continues to grow as well. Despite the fact that this is a career-related blog, there’s one career that probably doesn’t get much coverage on this site â€" that of a criminal. If I decided to change careers and begin a life of crime, Foursquare would be my best friend, with Facebook and Twitter being a close second and third. What better gift could be given to a thief than a website that tells when people are away from their homes, and the distance they must travel to return? In this age of social media and the convenience with which we share personal information with our networks, I’ve noticed a complacency with sharing that which may have caused concern just a few years ago. According to The Independent, in the UK, criminal activity linked to Facebook and Twitter has increased 780 percent since 2008. In a recent Foursquare post, the website states that access to user information is limited to select universes of friends, and cautions users from cross-posting their status updates to more easily searchable sites such as Twitter. They go on to say: We definitely ‘get’ the larger issue here â€" location is sensitive data and people should be careful about with whom and when they share it. According to the California attorney general’s office: We are seeing issues arising from websites, not only with reference to criminal acts against property, but also [gathering] intelligence about people. Recent statistics by InstantCheckmate.com reveal that 78 percent of burglars have admitted they use Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Google Street View to select victims’ properties, and 54 percent said that posting one’s whereabouts is the most common mistake made by homeowners. In 2008 and 2009, a group of seven young adults now known as the Bling Ring committed a series of burglaries of celebrity homes in Hollywood, California, during which they stole around $3 million in cash and belongings. After being caught, the thieves admitted they targeted specific celebrities, then researched their travel schedules using Facebook and Twitter to determine when they would be out of town. A new website called PleaseRobMe.com is raising awareness about over-sharing on social media. The site states, “The danger is publicly telling people where you are. This is because it leaves one place you’re definitely not…home. So here we are; on one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on a holiday, and on the other we’re telling everybody on the internet we’re not home. The goal of this website is to raise some awareness on this issue and have people think about how they use services like Foursquare, Brightkite, Google Buzz, etc.” According to Kevin Bankston, senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, “There are physical and economic safety risks when you’re publicizing to the world where you are. It’s obviously a treasure trove of information for criminals. PleaseRobMe is a good demonstration of how easy it is.” In an article featured on NPR.org, Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet American Life Project, refers to the trend as the 21st-century equivalent of reading the obituaries. In the past, burglars have been known to read obituaries to find out when funerals are taking place, knowing that the homes of family and friends will be left unoccupied. But new technology brings new opportunity. Regarding location-based posting, Bankston states, “Like any useful tool, the bad ends to which it could be put is limited only by the human imagination.” So how would you rate your geolocational behavior? Do you err on the safe side, or do you broadcast your every move like an amateur chess player? I can see this posing an interesting dilemma for those who travel frequently for business, especially to highly publicized events. I’ve noticed just within the past few weeks several of my social media contacts in the recruiting and HR industries announcing their travel plans to various conferences around the globe. Have you ever had difficulty reconciling self-promotion with preserving home safety and privacy? I’d be interested to know your experiences… RELATED:  Do You Suffer from Social Media Overload?

Resume Writing Service - Why You Should Use One

Resume Writing Service - Why You Should Use OneIt's that time of year again, which means you are probably looking for the best rated resume writing service for the money. Resume writing is one of the easiest things to do online because it is a do-it-yourself task and you can do it without paying someone else to do it for you. This means you will make yourself more competitive on your next job interview.Using resume writing services is a great idea if you can afford to pay for them. The best rated resume writing service for the money is typically one that is established and well known in the field. These companies have offices all over the country and will have customers who will know what they're talking about.One reason why a writing service should be the best rated resume writing service for the money is because they have professionals who specialize in writing resumes. As much as people want to believe the hype about everyone trying to sell them a product they know nothing about, there is a difference between just pretending to be an expert and actually being one. If you want to impress an employer and get that new job, it is essential to become the expert and the best rated resume writing service for the money.Another reason why a resume writing service is the best rated resume writing service for the money is because it is staffed by professionals who have actually been in the field for years. These employees have been employed by top companies in the industry and have worked their way up through the ranks of management. Their resumes will be the top rated because they will have been around for quite some time and know all the tricks of the trade.This is also another reason why using a resume writing service for the money is the best thing to do. When you are just starting out, it can be difficult to find people who are qualified to write your resume. There are many people out there who might say they are qualified to write your resume but have no actual e xperience or training.This is where reputable resume writers come in. They are the ones who will be able to provide you with your resume from the top to bottom. With their assistance, you will be on your way to becoming the expert in your field and getting that first job interview that you've been waiting for.If you are thinking about trying to find the best rated resume writing service for the money, you will need to do some research to find the best. You should start by talking to friends who work in the industry. Find out who they used and how they felt about the company and they experience.Once you find a resume writing service for the money, contact them and ask them for a sample. With their assistance, you will be on your way to obtaining the skills you need to land that job you want.

You Need a Professional Email Address

You Need a Professional Email Address A personal email address Ugh!! talking about losing credibility instantly. Chances are you would reconsider your decision to hire him or work with him Now,let’s look at some options on where you can obtain a Professional Email Address.DOMAIN REGISTRARevalIf you have your website registered with a company such as Godaddy, they will most likely offer you a free email address. Also your web-hosting company also offers you the same option. This is the cheapest option, you might be able to get your email address for free. However, there are some limitations.For instance, in most cases you are only able to access your email by logging into your domain/hosting control panel. There is no easy-to-access web application or mobile app. This could become a pain in the ass, as you won’t be able to get real-time notifications. However, If you are starting off or low in funds, this is a viable option.GOOGLE FOR BUSINESSThough predominant in the case of personal email â€" GMAIL has been become e xtremely popular with Small Businesses. For as little as $5 per month you not only get a professional email address of your choice, but also additional perks such as Google Drive Storage Here is more information on Google Mail for Business. Moreover if you use primarily Google Apps such as Drive, Zoho CRM,etc. this would provide seamless integration.OFFICE 365 (EXCHANGE ONLINE)Microsoft has come a long way in terms of the value offering for its cloud-based email solution. For many years, Microsoft dominated the Business Email scene however with added costs of licensing ,software assurance -the cost does add up over time and it became unaffordable for freelancers and small business owners.Today, the story is completely different â€" for as little as $5 per month â€" you will get a professional grade email address, 1 TB OneDrive Storage (plus tons of other cool stuff such as Office Online, Yammer,etc.). And Microsoft keeps adding more and more features each month. Here’s more inform ation on Office 365 for Small Business.I hope this article has given you some perspective on the importance of having a Professional Branded email address. And I do hope you take this matter seriously.You put tremendous amount of time and effort into your business branding â€" so why not make your communication more Professional Credible.

Build Job Search SupportNot Sabotage - Hire Imaging

Build Job Search Supportâ€"Not Sabotage - Hire Imaging Photo by Lululemon Athletica Tom was a client who engaged my coaching services earlier this year. His position had been eliminated after an organizational corporate restructure. With a a small nest-egg, his financial burden was eased somewhat. He knew what he wanted. We began coaching around strategies and action planning. A red flag waved when we hit upon assembling a support team of champions. Here’s what was bothering Tom. He was a single guy who lived with his father. All was fine in this setup, except for the fact that Tom’s dad was applying his own perceptions and judgments to Tom’s job situation. And the effect was negative. His dad thought Tom should “just get a job; so and so is hiring.” “In my day, we were just happy to have work.” Well, Tom’s goal was to land a CPA role in public accounting. The jobs his father mentioned weren’t even close. He had the experience, credentials and skill sets for his target positions. He was willing to relocate. He had to find the opportunities and market to them. His dad’s advice was a distraction he did not need. He also felt his dad might be (perhaps subconsciously) saying these things to keep him close to home. To make matters worse, he was getting the same from several friends. “Just go for this job; you could do it in your sleep.” “If you wait too long and your funds dry up, then where will you be?” Tom needed to detach the naysayers and distracters, and to surround himself with those who would be advocates in his job search. Here’s what he did: He distanced himself from those friends negatively impacting his search. He did so politely, saying “I really need to focus on my searchâ€"a job in itself.” I will definitely be back in touch once I’ve achieved momentum.” And he had a heart-to-heart with his dad, explaining that he loved him dearly, respected him, but in this case, his dad needed to give him space to pursue the job search in his own way. Tom was quite amazed; his dad said, “No problem” and backed off. He got to work gathering a support team. It was strategically a mixed bag. Two accountability partners. He chose his neighbor Mary, because she was a great cheerleader. She would be a reliable reminder in “You can do it!” He also chose his Uncle George, an ex-Army officer. George had a “cut to the chase” style; he would keep Tom on task. Two colleagues who were well connected in the CPA/Public Accounting niche through face-to-face and online networking. These were all people he had worked with and knew quite well. He also had an expanding list of networking contacts; these two were specifically asked to be champions on his support team. An outplacement job support group through his employer. The group met weekly. The group enabled Tom to meet others and expand his network, tell his story succinctly (practicing elevator speeches and pitches), get new ideas for job search strategies, and help othersâ€"which made him feel quite simply, good! He was careful to not use this as a place to bemoan how hard his week had been (and let’s face it; sometimes there will be the rough patches). This was just not the right setting for that. A trusted confidante. Tom selected his girlfriend, Jeanne. With pre-discussion around parameters, here’s where he garnered support when he needed to vent. Their relationship was already one where they supported each other in good times and bad. She refrained from being judgmental, from giving advice. She listened and let him debrief; and work through his challenges. A professional career coach. Here’s where I came into the picture. Tom sought my help in supporting his fast-forward progress. I served as a catalyst, resource, strategist, collaborator, cheerleader, accountability partnerâ€"a person with objectivity and experience in this realm of job search campaigns.  In approaching his team (excluding the job support group and myself), Tom’s message varied slightly depending on their relationship and expected role. But it went something like this: “Mary (etc.), I respect your opinion. Because of that, I wanted to share with you some career plans that I’m excited about. I’m focusing my next move on a CPA position within the public sectorâ€"consistent with what I’ve been doing. To help keep me on track, I’m putting together a team of a few key people whom I can meet with weekly and separately, either by phone or for a cup of coffeeâ€"my treat of course! At our meetings, I’d report my progress for the past week and share what I plan to do in the coming week. I thought of you because you’re focused and goal-driven (or action oriented, upbeat, strategical, etc.).    I know that your time is valuable; we would keep the meetings short and at a place and time convenient for you. I would also want to pay it forward. I want you to be thinking of how I could help you. Is this all something you feel comfortable doing?”  Once he had his team’s commitment, he was true to his word; he was respectful of each person’s time. He was also careful not to count on any one person for too many answers or too much emotional support. He remembered to give back. He gave one (a boat enthusiast), a book on a related topic, another a referral, another a bottle of good wine, and so on. To navigate through a period that encompassed grieving (he had really loved his former position) and stress (what, when and where would the next one be?), Tom surrounded himself with a support team of people who could help him stay motivated and on track, give him honest feedback, and assist him in reassessing his strategies and planning. When he accepted an offer three months later to join a CPA firm within 45 minutes of where he currently livedâ€"for more money and better benefitsâ€"his team was there to celebrate with him! The job search is not an isolated event. It happens through people connections. It is a team activityâ€"from champions in the job seeker’s corner from the get-go, to those with his next employer, welcoming him. If you are in a job search, don’t do it alone. People feel good about helping other people!

Is there A Silver Lining in the Job Loss Cloud New Careers or New Locations to Consider -

Is there A Silver Lining in the Job Loss Cloud New Careers or New Locations to Consider - Marci Alboher, author of New York Times column and blog, Shifting Careers, which recently ended its run, tweeted about a piece on the NBC Nightly News in which she commented. The segment, which is called, Layoffs Land Some in Second Career, tries to focus on a potential positive outcome of being let go from a job, especially a long-term career position. The upside? Turning a negative into a positive by retraining for a different career, possibly one that was once a pipe dream or seemed unrealistic. In the piece, they highlight a former Wall Street executive who decided to go to school to become a chef after losing her finance job. It had been a long-time dream, and she decided to view the lay-off as a doorway to a new career. The woman in the segment was able to use her savings to pay for schooling, but Marci suggests in the piece that there is scholarship money for those willing to look for it. If you are considering changing fields and retraining, another NBC segment (Recession Proof Jobs) suggests the following industries to consider: Healthcare. Reports show that 1 in every 5 jobs in the next 5 or 6 years will be in health care. This includes doctors and nurses, home healthcare aides and new medical technology experts. Education. In certain parts of the country, especially in the west (California, Utah) as well as in places such as Georgia and Kansas, there is a big need for post-secondary teachers, elementary school teachers and substitutes. Apparently, Connecticut has such a shortage of subs, they were calling in parents to watch classes when teachers were out! While substitute teaching isnt necessarily a career path itself, you can certainly look into this option while pursuing other training or looking for steady work. Technology. Theres a big need for network systems administrators and main frame experts. Unless you already have a background in these fields, re-training will be required, but at least youll probably be buying yourself some job security for the next few years! None of these areas appeal to you? Lindsey Pollak suggested some other resources to consider in a recent blog post. Some of her suggestions: North Dakota is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. BusinessWeek offers a list of places to ride out the recession. The following industries have potential, according to one study: railroads and utilities, the logging and mining sector, food, drink and tobacco manufacturing as well as oil pipeline transportation. President-elect Obama pledged to create a huge public works program to stimulate the economy, which will mean jobs in that sector. Lindsey suggests that   you could set up a Google news alert for phrases such as public works, national infrastructure or expanding broadband access to keep abreast of this growth segment. Accounting is a growth industry. Looking to move outside the U.S.? Lindsey notes that Australia and Dubai are two hotbeds of job opportunities to consider. The point is even if you arent interested in moving to North Dakota, Australia or Dubai, keeping your options open and thinking beyond the obvious could help propel your search. With open eyes and a strong career search strategy, there ARE opportunities, even in an economy that seems to be spiraling down the drain. What other locations or fields are offering opportunities? Share your thoughts in the comments! Youll want to be competitive no matter what your field of choice. I can help you succeed by writing a great resume and teaching you how to leverage your strengths and skills for todays job market! www.keppiecareers.com. photo by matty_p