Five ways to make the most of career fairs

Five ways to make the most of career fairs by Aaron Obeng Want to speak face-to-face with recruiters in your industry? Career fairs are a great way of getting in front of hiring managers and recruiters in your sector not to mention an excellent opportunity to make valuable connections to help move your career forward. Not sure what you can do to make them work for you?  Here are some of our top career fair tips, and how you can learn to use them to your advantage:Know why you’re actually attendingNo matter what your current job situation is, career fairs have a huge range of benefits. However, if you don’t even know what the point of being there is, or what recruiters you could talk to, you’re only likely to be wasting your own time.Maybe you want to ask about how to improve your CV? Or maybe there’s a particular job in mind that you’d like to know more about? Whatever it is, act on it and leave feeling satisfied. A great deal of market research can be done here too, even for those of you not (yet) on the job hunt. Do not take this for granted.  Write down what you want from the experience before you go, and you’ll automatically give yourself a goal to aim for by the end of the day.Top tip: ALWAYS have copies of your CV to hand as well as examples of your work, if you have them).Do ‘proper’ researchNever underestimate the importance of good preparation. Job fair websites are great for providing detailed information regarding all upcoming events, including potential guest speakers and workshops. So start by seeing what companies are there, and where they’re likely to be.You can also look up their vacancies online before you attend, which will give you a background of the type of roles they have available â€" not to mention give you some good material when it comes to thinking up potential questions you could ask.And always work on your ‘elevator pitch’ in advance. It will make things far less awkward when it comes to introducing yourself on the big day.Top tip: Prioritise who you really want to talk to, and head to these tables first. Turning up early is also a must â€" you don’t want to miss out on speaking to a company just because their stand is too busy.Dress appropriatelyAh, the age-old dress code debate. Heels or flats? To tie, or not to tie? Nike tech-fleece tracksuit, or literally anything else? We get it. Putting together an ‘appropriate’ outfit for these occasions can always be a challenge. Try to think of it as somewhere between a job interview and a work event. It’s your chance to sell yourself to potential recruiters and give off a good first impression. And, let’s face it, why would you want to give your well thought-out elevator pitch dressed in a hoodie and bright green trainers? Additionally, you have no real idea of the influence the people you’re meeting have on the hiring process. So, although their badge may not say “impress me, and I will get you employed”, they could actually help make the decision. Or at least remember you when you application comes through. So dress accordingly, be professional and hope for the best.Top tip: It’s always better to be underdressed than overdressed. Think ‘professional’: shirts and trousers, smart skirts and dresses. And leave the baseball caps at home… NetworkJobseekers and employers alike, understand the value of ‘networking’. Why? Well, remember the recruiter whose badge didn’t imply they were a key decision maker in their company? Because of your chat, they made you aware that their partner was the Talent Acquisition Manager of your dream company, and so they’d be more than happy to pass over your details. Now is this likely to happen at every event? No. But if even one recruiter you speak to takes your details down, then the event has been well worth it. And they aren’t just about connecting with recruiters. There are a number of insightful career coaches and like-minded job seekers out there who will be more than willing to help you improve everything from your applications to your personal branding.As a wise man once said, ‘networking is more about farming, than it is about hunting’. So go on, plant those crops and watch as they yield fruitful dividend. Also, you know, another helpful analogy which isn’t about farming. Top tip: Some research suggests that up to 70% of people in their current roles assumed these through effective networking. So don’t pass up your chance to make the right connections.Follow upOur number one tip for career fairs? Don’t just think of the short-term gains. Using the connections you’ve made to actually benefit your career can often come weeks, months or even years down the line. So, in order to make the most of them you have to put the work in first.Once you’ve got their details (did someone say business cards?), send them a follow-up email a few days later thanking them for their time. And add them to your professional networks across your social channels, if possibl e. That way you’ll know as soon as a relevant role comes up. Finally, the most effective career fair candidates make themselves memorable. Be personable, be personal (i.e. asking about their experiences, rather than generic questions about the company), and relax.It could just be the start of a brand new career. Top tip: In your email or invitation on social, always try and mention one thing you learned or enjoyed about the conversation. That way they’ve got an easy reference point to remember your conversation. Still searching for your perfect position? 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Back to Basics Tech-Savvy Sourcing Tips

Back to Basics Tech-Savvy Sourcing Tips It’s been sometime since I’ve shared my insights with Undercover Recruiter (my recent move to Los Angeles with Recruiting Social has been a busy but exciting time).  What better way to dive in again than by sharing some sourcing tips! Let’s get back to basics and learn how to improve our sourcing efficiency.   Tip 1: X-ray search Start with a basic x-ray search using site in Google. Depending on your platform of choice, stick with one of the basics: For example: (site:linkedin.com) *Until youre ready to use other social platforms. Try this search string:  site:www.linkedin.com/in (software engineer) (java OR j2ee) san francisco -jobs -inurl:company (“ecommerce” OR “e-commerce”) The perk of using LinkedIn as your starting point? Name generation. Most of the time you can create a healthy list of candidates by using a similar LinkedIn search string.  If you want to try other social channels like Twitter or Github, simply remove LinkedIn from the search string and replace it with another site of choice. For example:  site:github.com inurl:repositories javascript (vancouver OR “british columbia”) *@gmail.com You might have noticed one string included ‘site’ the other included ‘inurl’. The difference between site and inurl? (inurl searches the whole URL while site just searches in the domain).  In addition, I would include ‘gmail’. This will allow me to extract emails from users accounts that have a gmail address visible on their Github account. We can use this email to reach out about a job opportunity, without having to use a LinkedIn Inmail. Tip 2: Email addresses Once you’ve found your ideal candidate, here are a few resources I’ve come across that have been helpful in identifying email addresses. Before using any tool, always, always remember to check the candidates’  â€˜Advice for contacting section’ OR ‘contact info’ at the top of their LinkedIn profile page (directly under the candidate’s profile picture). Some candidates will either include their blog site, Twitter account or other relevant contact information. Other tools include: Hiretual Hiretual is a Chrome Extension that allows you to gather additional information (i.e. email addresses) from a candidate’s LinkedIn profile. An extra search method to try:  Reverse Image Search. Example: Right click on the image and select  Search Google for Image. Some candidates use the same image for other social media sites as their LinkedIn profile image, which provides sourcers/recruiters alternative ways to reach out on those platforms [i.e. a candidate’s Twitter account tweet about a job opportunity]. Verifying Email Addresses At this point, you may have come across a candidate’s email address (but unsure if the email address belongs to that candidate) try these tricks: Rapportive  (Gmail specific) Chrome extension: Rapportive shows you everything about your contacts right inside your inbox. Open up your Gmail account and click ‘compose’ (to generate a new email). Include the candidate’s email address in the new message (ensure Rapportive is turned on). Once you’ve included the email address, view the right of your screen. Recruiters/sourcers should be able to see social information generated on the candidate (i.e. LinkedIn profile, Twitter account, ectc.) this will help provide confirmation whether the email address is associated with the candidate. Facebook You can also use Facebook to verify email addresses (not always a guaranteed method to verify).  In the search bar of your Facebook homepage type in the candidate’s email address and see if you can find the candidate. Tip  3: Target competitors [Github] This next step is a helpful for sourcers/recruiters in technology. Researching candidate’s Github accounts is not always easy. Let’s get back to basics. Check out a competitor’s page on Github. Github users that are part of the organization’s account are sometimes set to private BUT check out the repositories section: Click on the most updated repository (see above) Once you’ve clicked on the repository sourcers/recruiters can see how many users have contributed. Click on contributors You will now be able to see the contributor’s account go ahead and click on the account. Guess what? You may come across this (yup, an email address). Hopefully these ‘back to basics’ tips will support your sourcing and recruitment efforts. Remember the fun part of souring is the research part, gathering the information (while also using some free tools to support your search)!

How to Make a Great First Impression at the Interview

How to Make a Great First Impression at the Interview It takes just seven seconds for someone to evaluate you when they first meet you. In this short amount of time the other person will form an opinion about you based on your appearance, body language, demeanour, mannerisms and how you are dressed. These first impressions are very hard to reverse or undo and that is why it is crucial to know and understand how to create a good first impression at interview. This article will provide you with some useful tips to help you achieve this: Getting off to a good start: Everyday, unexpected things happen which set us behind on our planned schedule (e.g. traffic congestion, road works, bad weather, accidents and not being able to find your keys). That’s why we always tell our candidates not to be on time for a job interview but to be there half an hour before their allotted interview slot. Being late to an interview creates a bad first impression as you will not have time to collect your thoughts. There is also a very good chance that you will come across as apprehensive, disorganized and unreliable, whereas if you arrive with plenty of time to spare, you will be able to get in the right state of mind so that you are fully prepared and ready to walk through the employer’s front door five minutes before your appointment time. Arriving early will allow you to present yourself as a poised, polished and prepared professional which will help you get off to a good start and ultimately make a positive first impression. A picture is worth a thousand words: The ‘picture’ you choose to present to your prospective employer at interview through your physical appearance will go a long way in telling them about who you are as a person. When you’re deciding what to wear, you should take into consideration the culture of the company you’re interviewing with and dress accordingly. Appropriateness is the most important factor on what to wear to a job interview. The key is to wear something that you’re comfortable in and that makes you feel great, but at the same time corresponds with the dress code of the company. It is also important to be properly groomed when going to an interview as this is an indication to the interviewer that you pay attention to detail and that you take care of yourself. If you don’t take the time to look after your own personal hygiene or dress appropriately an employer may think that you will not make an effort as an employee. Pay attention to small details ironing your clothes and shining your shoes can go a long way. As a general rule of thumb if you’re unsure of how to portray yourself at interview imagine you are meeting with one of the prospective company’s clients and present yourself accordingly. RELATED: What NOT to Wear to Your Next Job Interview Smile and the world smiles too: As well as your appearance, body language speaks much louder than words. When you’re in an interview setting, use your body language to your advantage to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Smiling can be utilised effectively when you first meet the interviewer as it helps to break down any barriers by showing them that you’re pleased to meet them, and that you are a friendly and approachable person. However you should be careful not to go overboard and smile too much as this may come across as insincere. A firm handshake when greeting shows confidence and is preferable over a limp handshake, which can indicate to someone that youre not interested in building rapport with them. Posture is important, standing tall will make you appear open, confident and approachable; slouching makes you look closed, insecure and unapproachable. Maintaining a healthy level of eye contact when communicating is also crucial as it expresses that you are interested and paying attention to what the interviewer is saying. Prolonged eye contact can feel threatening but frequent breaks in eye contact may indicate that you’re uncomfortable or distracted. Smiling is often described as contagious because when someone smiles at you more often than not you will naturally smile back at them. Be yourself, be at ease: It goes without saying that most people are nervous when it comes to interviews. This can be a benefit because it shows that you care about the role you’re being interviewed for. In some cases, if you are feeling uncomfortable and on edge you can inadvertently make the person who is interviewing you feel ill at ease too and this can create a bad impression. That is why it is important to try and be yourself remaining calm and confident when you’re interviewing for a position will make the interviewer feel more at ease and create a solid foundation for making that first impression a good one. A great way to keep your nerves in check is to project a positive attitude, strive to learn from your meeting and contribute appropriately. Trying to be more aware of your bad habits is also an excellent way of understanding how to control these minor faults better in the future. Finally, it goes without saying that good manners alongside attentive and courteous behaviour help to make a good first impression. You should turn off your mobile phone before you have your interview to minimise disturbances or distractions when speaking to your prospective employer. Author: This post is about nrl.co.uk.

The Languages of Appreciation

The Languages of Appreciation Gary Chapman and Paul White are the authors of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. Their book discusses why appreciation is one of the most important elements of employee motivation and satisfaction. That sounds elementary, and perhaps it is. Everyone, after all, wants workers to feel appreciated. The art is in figuring out how to make an individual feel it; the same kind of appreciation can have very different effects on different people. Over the next few posts, we’ll discuss the five “languages” of appreciation that Chapman and White examine. They’re based on the Five Love Languages that Dr. Chapman developed as a marriage counseling tool. The five languages are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. In the workplace, Dr. Chapman and Mr. White take these concepts and apply them to office relationships. The authors say that appreciation is one of the most common reasons people leave their jobs, and it costs employers millions of dollars each year in recruiting, training and lost productivity. In a recent research project by the U.S. Department of Labor, 64% of workers said that they left a job because they did not feel appreciated. Chapman and White say that understanding what “language” your team members speak is essential to keeping them motivated and happy. If you’re very, very thirsty, they say, and someone offers you a seat to sit down, no matter how genuine the gesture is, you’re not going to appreciate it. You needed a glass of water, not a chair. It sounds so simple when you think in physical terms, and we’re much more open about what our bodies need than what our emotions tell us. “I’m hungry,” “I’m exhausted; I could use a nap,” or “I’m dying for another cup of coffee” lets the people we’re close to know exactly what would make us happy. But we’re somehow shy about saying to our boss: “I love it when you sit down with me and share what you think about the future of the company.” Add to that that most of us practice the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That gives many people a blind spot when it comes to appreciation. Because I don’t thrive on public praise, I don’t think to offer it to others. If you’re an introvert, being singled out in front of the whole company is excruciating, not motivating. If you’re not the touch-feely type, your teammate’s shoulder pats are annoying, and do nothing to make you feel appreciated for finishing the report early. We all “speak our own language,” according to the authors. And we’ve almost all had times when we felt unappreciated on the job. But we may not have taken the time to think about what would make us feel appreciated. Is it that your coworker never says “thank you” out loud? Or is it that your boss never takes the time to sit down with you and discuss strategy? Understanding what you mean by “expressing appreciation” (your primary language) may help you look for signals from your employees and peers about what works for them. Look for posts on each of the Languages of Appreciation in future posts.

Do You Need Some Example Skills For Resume?

Do You Need Some Example Skills For Resume?If you are an employer and need some sample resumes for your new employee, then you need to know more about the example skills for resume that will really impress the recruiter. The most common mistake that employers make is that they feel like they have to write out a resume for every new applicant because it is too time consuming.There are many employment agencies that will get you a great job. These are the same agencies that will get you the latest resume examples that will really work for you. It is important that you find these samples to be able to benefit from what they have.One of the biggest mistakes that employers make is that they have to rely on their current skill level when hiring a new employee. By having current resumes available they are not taking advantage of the extra time that an employer can use to review your work history. You have to stand out and show them that you are in the running for the job.One of the most impo rtant skills that you can learn in this area is to write an effective resume. This will help to get your resume noticed in the eyes of the employer. If you have experience and skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for then this is how you are going to stand out. The resume is going to be the first thing that will be seen by the recruiter when they go through your application.It is best to start off with a resume that is very basic and simple. A lot of the time these resumes look good but they do not sell anything to the recruiter. In fact, the recruiter is going to be so impressed by your resume that they will ignore what is on the rest of your application.If you have a resume and a personal statement that are both well written then you will be well on your way to creating a resume that will give you the edge over your competition. The personal statement will give the recruiter a better idea of who you are as a person. It will also show them what skills you have and w hat you have been doing for the past several years.This is where you are going to be able to show them what you have to offer and show them that you can add value to the company by adding to their skills. The resume will serve as a stand alone resume and you should put the skills on the top. This will give you the best chance of getting the job.Make sure that you know how to write an example skills for resume example. There are some good websites that will help you write these examples. This will help you to really impress the hiring officer and get that job.

6 Point Executive Resume Checklist

6 Point Executive Resume Checklist 6 Point Executive Resume Checklist You may have heard of Marshall Goldsmith’s bestselling book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful. The truth is, it’s the same with resumes. The resume that generated interviews early in your career, won’t get you noticed once you reach the executive level. The resume that listed your duties and responsibilities won’t impress recruiters and employers who are filling executive roles. Here is a 6 Point Checklist for developing an interview-generating, executive resume. #1 Contact Information Make sure you include: name, phone number, email address, physical address, and LinkedIn profile link. Always use personal contact information, not your office email. While I’ve heard rumors that you don’t need a physical address any longer, some recruiters and employers won’t look at resumes without an address. #2 Strongest Skills Your strongest skills should be easy to locate on your resume. While you should not “stuff” your resume with keywords, recruiters and hiring managers will be scanning your resume so make sure important skills are easy to find. Also, make sure to focus on skills you want to use in your target position. #3 Achievements Neither recruiters nor employers want to read long lists of duties and responsibilities. They want to know how you can solve their problems. Make sure you demonstrate the positive impact you’ve had on your employers. Quantify your results with numbers ($$, %, etc.) whenever possible. #4 Leadership Once you’ve reached the executive level, or are pursuing those roles, you need to convey leadership as well as achievements. This goes beyond saying that you’ve managed a team. You need to demonstrate this in terms of guidance and direction. #5 Education Most recruiters will review your education the first time they scan your resume. Unless you have a recent degree, which might be a new MBA, education should appear at the bottom of your resume. If you’re a recent grad or pursuing a degree you may want to include information on relevant courses. #6 Modern Format While strong content is essential, you’ll need to package it in a fresh, modern document if you want to stand out from your competition. Make sure you’re not sending out a resume that looks like your secretary, or mom, typed it for you. If you don’t want to hire a professional at least pick up a resume writing book like Resumes For Dummies. When you’re first starting out you may get away with a boring resume that focuses on your duties and responsibilities. However, once you’ve reached the executive level, or are pursuing those roles, you need to step it up. To edge out your competition you need a compelling resume that demonstrates your value in an engaging, easy-to-read format.

Customers - Jane Jackson Career

What are you Worth to your Clients/Customers - Jane Jackson Career What is Your Value to Your Client?(What are you worth?)Are you a consultant or independent contractor?   Are you getting paid what you are worth?   Whether you answer, “Yes” or “No” what will be interesting to know is according to whom.    What do you think you are worth?   How do you determine what you are worth?Have a look at the online salary surveys such as those you will find on www.robertwalters.com.au or www.hays.com.au/salary/salarysurveyrequestThese will give you the industry average when it comes to contract rates and salaries for various roles in all industries.   However what YOU are WORTH to your potential client or employer does depend very much on your ability, your contribution, your attitude and your negotiation skills.   In a nutshell, it rests on your Credibility, your level of Confidence and your Currency, or relevance, to the role.Let’s consider the following:Your CredibilityIf someone were to look you up on www.linkedin.com what would be said about y ou in the recommendations section?   In fact, do you have any recommendations?   If so, what do others say about you?   If you don’t have any written recommendations is it because you never asked for them or are people unwilling to provide them?    Others enhance your credibility through their endorsement.   Your credibility builds value in the eyes of your employer.   Are you a specialist in your field?   Are you the person to whom people go when expert advice is required in your area?  Ensure that you provide examples of what is meaningful to your employer, examples of your accomplishments that have added value to your role, as this will build your credibility and also your personal self-confidence.   Then others can make well-informed decisions about what you are worth.Your Level of ConfidenceHow confident are you about charging for your services? Are you confident that you always deliver on your promises, consistently add value and should be  financially rewarded for doing so ?  If not, then you cannot put a number to what you are worth. You must be confident of your ability to deliver, on time, within budget, to expectations.   Once you’re confident to charge for your services, the next step is to be confident about the amount you charge for those services.  If you charge too little you’ll feel undervalued and over time this will affect the quality of your delivery.   If you charge above the rate of your competitors then you must ensure that you deliver above and beyond the norm.  Test out what is right for you and ensure you also include large quantities of Credibility and what we will discuss next, Currency. Your Currency or RelevanceYou need to be able to express why you are the one to do the job, and why you are the one to do the job NOW.     Work out what their return on  investment (ROI) is likely to be if they engage you and ensure that you can discuss this in detail articulately.  Facts and figures,  supported by research and endorsement s will ensure you stand out from the competition and consequently this will boost your confidence in your rates negotiations.  To support your Credibility make sure you include relevant and current information that will demonstrate  that you understand the industry, the organisation and the requirements of the assignment.   Make sure it is what is relevant NOW and not what was relevant in the past.You are in the strongest position to negotiate what you are worth if you are confident of your ability, can demonstrate your credibility and ensure your currency.Jane Jackson is Director/Coach at Style Success and specializes in career management and career transition coaching, confidence building and personal branding.   To find out how you can enhance your professional life contact Jane at jane@janejacksoncoach.com or visit www.janejacksoncoach.com