You often read and hear recommendations during your job search regarding community connections, however, very few give important points to keep in mind while you reach out in your community. While it is great to enlist your community connections to help you find your next job, it is important that you also give back. Make sure that you are not just there to constantly ask and have your hand out – you must show your passion for helping those same community connections. Keep these points in mind when connecting with your community:
- As you get the word out in the community about your job search, you need to make sure that you are not showing any desperation. Shame, embarrassment, and desperation are killers and will turn community members away. Be tactful in how you announce your interest in finding a new job.
- It is important that as you connect with the community that you impress them upon your first interaction with them. Make sure that you are considerate of their time, dress to impress, and do not rant or complain about your prior position, the hiring process, etc.
- Before you begin meeting people, be sure that you understand what you “really” want to do. Do not go in thinking you will take anything that is offered to you. Be concise and clear about your goals and what you hope to obtain for a position. This will give those you speak with a clear idea about you, if they can help you, and if they will be willing to help you.
- Make sure that you carry business cards with you at all times. Any community event that you attend is a potential place to meet someone that can help your job search efforts.
- When you speak with someone that potentially can help your job search efforts, it is important to stay in touch, follow up, and return the favor! Make sure that you do something to show you are genuinely thankful for their assistance.
Invest the time in developing your community connections during your job search – you will be glad you did!
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Just when you thought you had a handle on millennials, now you need to try and figure out generation Z and how they fit into your hiring plans. Unfortunately, the difference between these two groups is enough that hiring managers are scratching their heads and having to rethink how they attract, hire, and retain this generation.
As you probably know, generation Z consists of adults born after 1995, but what you might not know is that they account for more than a third of the current job pool candidates and that is expected to increase over the next two to three years. Here are a few things you need to know about generation Z and how it will affect your recruiting strategies:
- Recent statistics show that generation Z is already doing freelance work to earn money to get through college and pay for their expenses. They have demonstrated that they have a strong work ethic, which is a great plus to any business. Because they have a strong entrepreneurial spirt, you should focus on that when hiring these candidates. Show them ways they can keep that spirit alive by working for your company.
- With all the turmoil over the last decade, these candidates have had to learn to overcome many obstacles in their way. This gives them strong problem-solving skills, another great attribute that you are sure to look for when hiring. Show them how they can use these skills in the jobs you have available.
- Similar to millennials, generation Z is looking for flexible work environments, so they can continue working while they go to college. These candidates are not looking to rack up tons of college debt but prefer to work while they earn their degree. If you have a tuition program, make sure to highlight that, or if you have internships, showcase them.
Once you understand what generation Z is looking for, you will see that you have plenty of jobs for them and they will be a great addition to your team.
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Using storytelling as part of your job hunt strategy is something that has mixed reviews. Many will tell you that it has no place in a job search, yet, so many hiring managers are looking for more information than what is simply listed on the resume. For this reason alone, many are having huge success when they implement storytelling strategies into their job search.
While using storytelling can help your chances in securing the job of your dreams, there still needs to be caution on how you use this approach. Here are a few tips and guidelines to help you build your story:
- You must remember that your story should be used to sell you and your skills. It is not about “telling” a story, it is about showing the hiring manager through your story that you have the skills needed for the job.
- Make sure that your story is focused and contains details of how you can help the business. Do not generalize the story but target specific areas that seem to of concern for the hiring manager and the company.
- Your story needs to be compelling and interesting. Do not bore the interviewer with regurgitated details from your resume but impress them with new attention-grabbing details.
- If you will be telling a story regarding a gap on your resume, make sure that you include details before and after the gap to bring the story together. The hiring manager does not have time to put together the pieces of a puzzle. Make it clear!
- It is important that you take ownership of your story. Do not tell it through the eyes of anyone else. Tell it from your perspective, and if needed, include details on things you would have done differently.
Storytelling strategies may be a great step for you in your job search. If you do implement, make sure you follow these tips and guidelines to have the most success.
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It is becoming more difficult to generate interest in job postings today, for a variety of reasons. As the hiring manager, it is your responsibility to get job candidates interested in your company, the job opening, and get them to apply. But, how can you do this with so many changes that have occurred in attracting the right candidate? Here are a few tips in creating interest in your job postings:
- No matter what type of hourly pay or salary you are offering, you must give the candidate something to look forward to. If the pay is not “stand out pay” then concentrate on some other benefits of the job that are exceptional and will stand out.
- People are visual creatures, and because so many of the millennial group like creative visuals, it is in your best interest to create ads that are visually appealing. This will grab their attention and draw them in.
- Use creative words and phrases that will show excitement for your positions, rather than the normal boring descriptions. Things that will catch a candidate’s eye today include: flexible scheduling, job sharing, no phone work, no set offices, interaction, ability to watch TV and listen to music while working, etc.
- Learn to showcase the positives of the company culture. Whether that is your relaxation room where they can get a massage whenever they want, or free breakfast in the breakroom, make sure it shows the “fun” side of working for your company.
As you can see, there are many ways you can “spice” up your job postings and attract great job candidates. The key is to make sure that you use some of these tips listed and make the job ad something that will catch everyone’s eye and make those interested read and respond.
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With more and more being done online, it only stands to reason that those searching for jobs online should also be aware of identity theft during the job hunt. Hackers and those looking to steal identity information have kicked it up a notch over the last several years, with many of them gathering information any place they can grab it from, including your online resume!
While you may not think that a hacker can do anything with your information posted during a job hunt, that is far from the truth. These thieves are incredibly patient and will collect all kinds of data about you, then will piece it all together to go in for the kill. You must take precautions to prevent your information from getting into the wrong hands. Here are a few tips to help you protect your personal information:
- It may seem like a great idea to post your entire resume online. Thinking that it will give potential hiring managers everything they need to hire you, when in fact, you are giving a potential hacker all of your detailed information about you and your life. Do not post your entire resume online, but instead use statements to showcase your skills. Only send your full resume via a secure connection with a potential employer.
- It is safer to apply directly through an employer’s website. While there is still a slight chance that their site has been compromised, it is still safer than putting all of your information on an unsecured site.
- Make sure that you are being smart about the security of anything you do online. When asked to create a user name and password, make sure that it is unique and not something that you “use for everything” just to remember it. Write down your information. This will give potential bad guys a harder time to hack your info.
- Never ever give out your social security number over the internet. Always give in person after the interview. There are many phishing schemes that prey on job seekers, asking for information that should never be given until you meet the employer face-to-face.
Be smart about how you conduct your online job search. You can prevent identity theft during your job hunt by following these simple guidelines.
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