Saturday, May 30, 2020

7 Rules for Giving Feedback to Interview Candidates

7 Rules for Giving Feedback to Interview Candidates Offering feedback to candidates is vital, especially for students and younger professionals. There has been widespread encouragement towards the British government to make feedback after face-to-face interviews mandatory among all employers in order to improve the  application process for job seekers. In research done by Debut, 77% of over 70,000 18-23-year-olds agreed that feedback should be a legal requirement, and four in five candidates claimed to never have received feedback after interviews. This is a problem because feedback is vital in order to motivate job seekers and speed up the recruitment process. It can be extremely frustrating for candidates to be told no without being told why. How can a candidate learn from the experience or improve themselves so that they are better equipped for the next time? So if you needed a reminder, here at the 7 principles to offering quality feedback so that you can create a better candidate experience for all. 1. Manage Expectations Proactively set and manage all candidates’ expectations by being transparent and clearly explaining your recruitment and selection procedure on your company’s website. This information should include interview stages, timings, what feedback they will receive, and how. Include this information on each new advert and state if the process deviates from the norm if required. 2. Provide Feedback Always proactively share feedback as a matter of course after a face-to-face interview, in place of only offering feedback if the candidate requests it. 3. Type of Feedback Consider and share objective feedback about the candidates’ competencies in relation to the job role/person specification as a minimum, but do try to share subjective feedback where possible on the candidates’ performance during the interview. 4. Feedback Medium If possible, establish how the candidate would prefer to receive feedback â€" this could be stipulated during the application process. Do consider the benefits of verbal feedback, as it enables the candidate to ask questions and enables a healthy two-way conversation, which may help you to shape your recruitment process. 5. Constructive and Positive Feedback is designed to help individuals improve â€" deliver feedback in a positive way by identifying what a candidate did well, and ways in which they can be more successful next time. 6. Person Responsible Candidates benefit most from receiving feedback directly from the person that interviewed them â€" avoid watering down feedback by involving too many parties in the feedback process. 7. Time Investment Invest and dedicate a minimum of 15 minutes when preparing and sharing feedback with a candidate. Aim to send the feedback back to the candidate within three working days of the hiring decision being made. The strive for feedback is a crucial step towards change that will make life easier for employers in the future â€" especially as recruitment will be impacted by the aging population and the uncertainty caused by Brexit. About the author: Charlie Taylor, is the CEO and Founder of Debut, the worlds first careers app dedicated to students and graduates.  Debut is used by some of the UK’s leading student employers, including EY, Microsoft Vodafone.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Resume Rule - Never Ask Questions During An Interview

Resume Rule - Never Ask Questions During An InterviewThere is a resume rule that I use all the time. What I am talking about is the problem of 'preference'. A lot of applicants that I interview seem to forget this rule and never get it straight.When I am interviewing a job seeker, I like to make sure they know that I am hiring for a job, not a date. When you are interviewing someone, make sure that they understand that you are hiring for a job, not just for a date. By doing this, the interview is more relaxed and enjoyable for both the applicant and me.The first thing I tell the job seeker is that I want to make sure that they remember that we are hiring, not just for a date. The interview is for a job and not just for a date. Make sure that your resume is clearly stating this. For example, make sure that you don't have a line that says 'For more information, please contact the Human Resources Department'. If your resume mentions this, it will probably make your interview worse becau se you may not have anything to tell me after your resume is read.The second thing I make sure I do in my interviews is to make sure that they think before they speak. When someone wants to speak, they usually say something and then stop. I ask them if they can say another thought or two. This also helps me because I have a chance to check what they are really thinking before they open their mouths.They are an important part of the process, so don't underestimate them. Your interviewer will try to use you, but you have to treat them with respect. By doing this, they will treat you with respect and remember your name for other jobs.Finally, never ask questions during the interview. If someone asks a question, they usually don't have anything to say, but then they are interrupted by a coworker. I make sure that the interviewer is making eye contact with me when he/she asks a question.This method is easier to remember and makes the job seeker feel like they are getting a fair shake. No one likes interruptions or having a lot of interrupting. It is also rude to the person that was interrupted.Keep in mind that there is a rule that I am using in interviews, 'Hire the candidate who answers every question honestly'. I always interview the best candidates first and then move down the list. That way, I am doing the most important work first and then getting the candidate who fits the description.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

What would happen if you were blind to your weakness

What would happen if you were blind to your weakness I have a disorder called prosopagnosia, more commonly called face blindness. It means that I have a hard time seeing faces. It took me about a month to know what each of my babies looked like. I remember thinking how its a miracle that the human race survived when it is so difficult to remember what your baby looks like. And it took me three months of dating my husband before I could imagine what he looked like when I wasnt with him. In the beginning, each time we had another date, I would think, I sure hope Im attracted to him. I think I am. I was the last time. When I played professional volleyball, I knew if I was playing someone with a tough serve, or a hard cut shot. I recognized opponents during a match. But away from the beach, many times I didnt recognize those same players. They were always surprised. And I always said, I dont recognize you with clothes on. What I meant was, I keep track of people by how their bodies move, and its easiest for me if you are wearing a bikini. I thought everyone kept track this way. I thought I was just stating the obvious. I thought I was normal. But now that I know its a deficit, I spend a lot of time thinking about it. I play games with myself can I recall someone one minute later? One hour later? Can I recall someone I had two lunches with? It used to be incredible to me that anyone remembered a face. Now its incredible to me that I have walked around with this disorder my whole life and not known. Today, I read a lot about catering to our strengths. The research instructs us to focus on using our natural strengths and not worry about our weaknesses. Its tough advice to follow, though. Because once we know our weaknesses, they become a source of embarrassment and we want to fix them. A weakness, after all, is a potential vulnerability, and we feel like we will appear stronger if we make sure to hide our weaknesses. Its one reason why people are shocked when I blog about getting fired, or not being able to contain my own jealousy. But to me, its a relief to show the weakness because then I dont need to spend energy hiding it. And the faceblindness is such a good example of how to ignore a weakness. I am very in tune with bodiesI can identify people by how they walk and how they carry themselves. I never stopped to think about how weird I am in the world because I cant remember facesbecause I didnt know. Instead, all those years, I practiced remembering everyones voice and gait, instead of stewing over the fact that I couldnt remember their faces. Its a great model for how to operate with any weakness. Its an extreme example of not focusing on fixing a weakness but compensating with strengths. If you say, Im disappointed that I have this weakness. I wish I were born differently, then theres nothing you can do to see things more optimistically. But if you say, There are pluses and minuses to this situation, and I do get to have a different perspective on the world that is interesting, then there is room not to live with such regret. Focusing on how to overcome a problem, instead of focusing on the problem itself, is a healthy thing to do, of course, but its nice to know that theres research to back this up. Thinking about how I compensated for faceblindness gives me confidence that I could do that for other skills where I am aware of a weakness.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Did You Notice How Quickly Summer Is Going By

Did You Notice How Quickly Summer Is Going By August already? Wasnt it just yesterday we were longing for Summers arrival? Maybe its just me, but it seems that the hours on my clock and the days on my calendar are clicking off faster and faster every year. So the key words in my question are did you notice?  Because its so easy to get caught up in the hurriedness of life that sometimes we miss its passing. The last couple years, Ive been paying a lot more attention to such things.  Paying attention to more of the moments of life as they go by. What awakened my awareness was my Mom having a sudden and severe stroke.  As she lay in the hospital bed, I held her hand, and realized it might be the last time. She fought a valiant fight to recover, but ultimately lost the battle.  It was the afternoon of July 18 that I had one of those unexplainable feelings that her time was up.  So gratefully I took the opportunity to, again, hold her hand.  For the last time.  She passed away very early the next morning. This has been a vivid reminder to stay conscious of much more of the passing moments of life.  Its increased the value of each moment immensely. So, whats happened in your life so far this summer? What plans lay ahead?  How many of the precious moments of your life have you taken note of?  And, did you catch any of those last times that went ever so quietly by? Living in the present moment is much more than a silly cliche.  It truly is a way of being alive in a whole new way.  And realizing that, because of the unique rarity of each moment, it is priceless. So, how about it?  How about catching some of your lifes last times as August drifts by?  You wont regret it.  And youll have treasures of the heart more valuable than you can imagine.  Treasures that no one can ever take away. And to my Mom . . . Rest in peace.  I love you.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Resume Fill In Services - How Can You Get A Reliable Resume Fill In Service?

Resume Fill In Services - How Can You Get A Reliable Resume Fill In Service?If you have been searching for resume fill in the last year, you may have noticed how many job seekers are competing for a limited number of openings, or how some companies seem to have a difficult time finding employees to fill open positions. As a result, many people are now relying on resume fill in services to help them produce their resumes.Resume fill in services are a great way to gain the attention of prospective employers. By creating a professionally-formatted resume, you are able to stand out from the crowd and grab the attention of the hiring manager. By setting your goals carefully, you can ensure that you get hired in the most competent and qualified manner possible.So, how do you go about getting your resume filled in? The process is simple and easy. First, your resume needs to be targeted towards a particular company. This way, if the position you are seeking is one for which your resume was s uccessfully filled in, the resume will be more targeted towards that particular company.Next, you will need to give your resume to a resume fill in service. Then, the company will create your resume for you. Once completed, you will need to pay a fee to have your resume sent out to the specific company where you are applying.On completion of your resume, it is important to keep it current. If you recently graduated, then you should make sure to include that in your resume. If you have experience at a certain company, but have not worked there for more than a year, then provide this information in your resume as well.Finally, as with any type of resume, your resume should be properly addressed to the specific hiring manager who is going to be hiring you. Many times, employers will be using multiple companies to research on potential employees. By ensuring that your resume is properly addressed to the right company, this can improve your chances of getting hired.The process of filling in your resume is an easy and inexpensive way to get your resume to the front of the line when a vacancy occurs. However, be careful when choosing a service to fill in your resume. Take your time and do some research to ensure that you are getting the best service available to fit your specific needs.Finalize the deal with a few companies before deciding on which company you want to work with. Ask each company the same question - 'Are you currently offering resume fill in services?' Most companies will gladly tell you this information before signing you up for a service.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Are Career Coaches a Waste of Money - CareerEnlightenment.com

Take Her for a SpinTake your prospective job coach or job seeking program for a test drive. Try one out per week. And if you notice that your emails are getting returned more frequently, that your resume is higher leverage or that overall, your results are starting to pile up faster than before, you can pretty much assume that their advice is working.For example, people who work with me tell me that they get 50% more call backs when asking for info interviews.The average time for a job search is between 6-8 months.50% response rate improvements means you may have a job in 3-4 months instead.Therefore, 3-4 months of not loosing $4,000 per month equals $12,000 $16,000 back in your pocket for an investment of between $200- $1,000.Im not a business genius, but I can see that this is a no-brainer.What Questions Should I Ask?When deciding on a career coach or job seeking program, you only really need to know one thing: How many months can they shave off my search. So ask them:What is the average number of months your clients take to get a job?How many job interviews do you think you can help me get per week?What is your success rate?Where to StartIf you dont know what you want to me when you grow up, you really need to see a full on career coach. Someone who can help you with self-assessments and personality matching.My friend Sean Harry is excellent at that. If you are interested, you can learn about his programs here: Career Management Solutions.If you happen to like my advice and think that I can shave some months off of your job search, consider taking my Job Seekers Guide to Social Media video elearning course.But whatever you do, make sure you test out your investment first. There are a lot of wanna-bes who simply cant find jobs themselves and so they pretend to help others get jobs.Remember, never think of a consultant, coach or training program as a cost. Think of it as an investment. Calculate the benefits of that investment intelligently. And you could be back to work sooner that you think..

Friday, May 8, 2020

The Magic Sauce To Having A Successful Career - Pathfinder

The Magic Sauce To Having A Successful Career - Pathfinder The Magic Sauce To A Successful Career Career managers take note: I’ll be the first to admit it:  â€œMy name is Dawn Rasmussen, and I am a recovering career control freak.” In my 20s, I had set ideas and goals that I was going to achieve by the time I hit 30. I came very close to achieving them, so of course, like most people, I set new, even more aggressive career objectives. ((Cue “Highway to Hell” music… )) Then life happened. Sometimes, I am convinced, that despite our better intentions, life throws us that curve ball that is a game-changer.   Maybe life has a different plan for us… after all. And sometimes, when we stick to what WE plan to do, it turns out that we end up chaining ourselves to something we didnt want to begin with. Photo courtesy of By Curtis Lovell II (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsNo, I am not going to get all “woo-woo” in this post about fate and other things unscientific, but I am going to share an observation that I’ve verified time and again ever since I started to let go of the proverbial steering wheel. And therein lies the nugget: You’ve gotta let go of the steering wheel.  That’s where the fun begins! We all need to get onto the highway that gets us pointed in the right career direction, but the more you try to furiously speed towards your destination, the less control you actually have because you are so focused on the final end point, you are missing some very interesting side trips along the way that could flip your map upside down. Not that we all need to spend our work life puttering down back roads, but the more you can relax and enjoy the ride… the more you will get out of the journey. And isn’t this what it is all about, anyway??? Let’s face it: Who we are now is not who we were before, and just like us, opportunities shift and change in a kaleidoscope of door openings and closings.   Timing, of course, is everything. But if you at least get yourself on the right trajectory, you can find yourself in the right place at the right time… if you let it.   Being rigid has quite the adverse effect because the more control you strive to have, the less things turn out the way you wanted them to. Another thing that I have found is that if you allow it, life will provide you with the right opportunities at the right time.   And the right people. My point with this post is that you do need to have some career destinations in mind, but where the magic sauce really happens is when you stop trying to be in such total control to drive the end results, and let life take over for a while.  The most amazing things can happen if you are open and receptive to them. And if you let go once in awhile, I’ll bet that you’ll be pleasantly surprised.