7 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring New Graduates

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring New Graduates Graduates They’re a picky bunch, aren’t they? They have shorter attention spans than goldfish, yet have all these incredible ideas that are changing the way the corporate world works. They are turning down jobs that dont meet their needs nowadays, so to help you hire the right graduate for your workforce we put together the 7 mistakes to avoid in the process: 1. Strict work arrangements Nine to five work days just dont work anymore. Graduates want to know they are trusted and more importantly have the autonomy and flexibility to come into work ‘whenever’ they want. Telling them they can come into work anytime before 10 can go a long way. PWC report that for modern millennials and graduates, work/life balance is more important than financial reward. Which leads us on to our second mistake to avoid. 2. Throwing cash at them Nowadays, graduates are far more committed to their personal learning and development, rather than the amount of money they can make. They know that they will make more money as they grow older and progress professionally. So when hiring someone fresh out of university dont just focus on the payment package you can offer them, but the development and career progression that you have on offer at your company as well. Dont take this the wrong way though, you still have to pay them! 3. Hiring for a grad position but you need 3 years experience Stop asking graduates for too much experience. A lot of businesses nowadays tend to hire grads based on their CV, rather than focusing on the eagerness and inquisitiveness of a candidate. Experience is an important aspect when hiring, but its not everything. You will get the best results from hiring a graduate when they have a real interest in the position, a standout work ethic and an eagerness to improve. 4. Rarely challenging them I’ll be honest I’m a recent graduate, and I want to be challenged. There’s a self-fulfilling aspect to it that I can’t explain. If the job I’m in fails to challenge me, whether that be my problem-solving skills or my communication abilities, then my interest in the job will eventually fizzle out. Give us tasks that take us out of our comfort zone, and give us projects that we can lead ourselves. Continuously challenge us so that we want to stay and build a future with you. 5. Overly complicated job descriptions Most of us have read through a job description, and after reading for a good five minutes sometimes you still have no idea what the job really is. Businesses tend to include complex verbiage to define the purpose of the role and make the role itself stand out with fancy mumbo-jumbo. This can be a huge turn off for a young professional who is unable to understand your requirements. Be quick, concise and clear when describing the role you have on offer. We’re looking for an International Asset Financial Analyst… Just say Accountant for god’s sake. 6. Sticking to the same hiring style You wont hire a graduate the same way you hired a baby boomer. Stop posting in newspaper classifieds, and start utilizing the online space to its full capacity. 45% of people browse for jobs on their mobile, so get mobile-friendly and maybe even use social media to advertise the role you have on offer. Get creative with it. Check out 5 Great Creative Ways to Tweet A Job Vacancy and Get Noticed. 7. Assuming they always want to leave Listen, there’s a lot of truth to the fact that graduates and even older millennials enjoy change, especially when it comes to employment. They want to try out different things and see what interests them the most. But a lot of organizations assume that this is fact and think that you can’t employ a graduate for the long-run. Did you ever think it’s because, as we mentioned before, you’re not challenging them enough or offering them constant development? Don’t just assume graduates are short-term employees, if you want them to stay then try to avoid the simple mistakes I’ve listed in this article and build a future for the very best young talent in your company.

Writing About Sociology in a Resume

Writing About Sociology in a ResumeWhat does writing about sociology have to do with writing about resume writing? What's the difference between the two? You will come across many applicants who get this wrong, that's why I've written this article to help you understand the difference between writing about schoolboy and writing about resume. I hope that it will serve as your guide in choosing the right topic for your resume.Psychology is a field of study related to human mind and behavior. It involves conducting research on various aspects of human psychology. This field is very important for a lot of people who would like to gain job opportunities in various departments of the society. This field can be applied to various fields of psychology like neuro-science, child psychology, counselling, psychiatry, etc.Resume writing is very much similar to that of writing about psychology. There are many aspects to be considered while writing a resume. If you want to land a job in a very repu ted company, you must do well by writing a resume that is very persuasive. This is because resume writing has to show your best points. When you send out a resume to a company that has a reputation of hiring the best experts and professionals then it's more likely that you will be called for an interview.Resume writing should not be a difficult task. All you need to do is take note of some of the most important things about you. This includes your skills, capabilities, interests, talents, etc. There should be a clear explanation about these things in your resume.An important aspect to mention here is that these things can be easily gathered from the Internet. They include information on your educational background, job history, professional affiliations, volunteer work, etc. Some companies even ask for the qualifications and experience you had in the past. While reading a resume, make sure that the information given about you is totally accurate.Now, if you want to write a resume th at will stand out from the rest then you should do well by including all these things into the resume. There are few other things that should also be mentioned in the resume. Your highest qualification in the past should be mentioned in the resume along with your recent achievements. Try and give a detailed description of your skills and abilities.Also, highlight your achievements in your current position. Try and list all the clients you have served in the past. Describe your job responsibilities clearly and discuss the projects you have completed so far. Lastly, include all your accomplishments in education that can be applied for the resume.The most obvious factor that should be included in your resume is the professional experience you have gained. This includes your academic degrees, post-graduate degrees, diplomas, certificates, etc.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese What Dogs Can Teach Us About Careers -- and Life

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese What Dogs Can Teach Us About Careers -- and Life It's been about a year since my beloved dog, Annie, went to doggie heaven. She was a constant companion while I worked every day, and recently I came across this post I wrote about her several years ago. In honor of a great friend, here's a repeat of the post. Valuable career advice can be gleaned from a variety of sources, including Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Apple founder Steve Jobs and evenMonty Python. I recently sat down my dog, Annie, to find out why dogs seem to be just so darn happy with whatever job theyre asked to do in life. AB: Thanks for agreeing to chat today. I have to be honest that I never thought Id be asking you for career advice. Annie: Ill bet you never thought Id find that ball you hid the other day so you could stop playing fetch, either, did you? Did you honestly think Iwouldntfind it under that chair cushion? AB: Uh, OK. You caught me there. Actually, that brings up a good question that readers may find helpful. How do you stay so tenacious in getting what you want? How come you never seem to give up? Annie: Dogs dont worry about the future. We live in the here and now. Were not worried about what anyone else thinks of our actions we want what we want.Why get bothered with distractionswhen they dont really matter? AB: Youre telling me that you never get distracted? What if a squirrel ran right by you? Annie:Squirrel?!? Where? Where? AB: That was just an example. Can you focus, please? Annie: Theres another lesson for you.You humans get cranky over the dumbest things. Theres no reason to get your back up. A simple growl is enough. AB: Are you saying humans arent good communicators? Annie: Honestly? You humans are the worst.Simple directions are the best. You go on for 10 minutes about how I need to behave on a walk, when all I really want is to pee on that mailbox and sniff the dog next door. I end up forgetting what you told me to do, and thenImthe one who gets the bad dog look. AB: Yeah, about that sniffing. What career lesson are you trying to teach withthatone? Annie: Look, there are some things humans will never understand, OK? Next question. AB: I get your point about staying focused on your goals and keeping communication simple and direct, but what exactly am I supposed to learn from dogs when it comes to peeing on mailboxes or trees? Annie: Look, we dogs know that if you want to stay ahead in the packyouvegot tomake sure others knowyourearound. We mark our territory not to be mean, but to say Im here. Whats up? AB: Sounds a lot like networking among humans. Annie: Yeah, thats sort of it. But without the expensive drinks and lousy cheese puffs. AB: I think what a lot of people want to know is why you dogs are so happy with whatyouvegot going on. I mean, we humans stress over our careers, over balancing our work and family demands even over missed emails. Whats your secret? Annie: As I said, dogs focus on the here and now. Ifweretired, we take a nap. Ifwerehungry, we eat. If we want to play, we try to find someone to throw a ball. We focus on what we need to do to be content or happy or relaxed in that moment. When you take that approach,you never know what great thing will come along without you even worrying about it. AB: You mean like a squirrel? Annie: Squirrel?!? Where? Where? Image:https://animalso.com/breeds/golden-retriever/

Using Your Personal Brand Name to Brand Products or a Company - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Using Your Personal Brand Name to Brand Products or a Company - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Ive been thinking about how we brand ourselves, in combination with a product or company for a while now.  Geoff Livingston and Ari Herzog both sent me notes to inspire todays post.  Many times, you will see authors (such as David Allen), speakers (Tom Peters and Anthony Robbins) and consultants use their personal brand name for their companys, while many web-based startup companies will use a distinct name for what they are selling, leaving their founder and CEO seperated from their core brand strategy.  There are pros and cons to each approach, so that will be the focus today conversation. Paul Newmans legacy Paul Newman, for any of you who dont know, was an Academy Award-winning and seven-time Academy Award-nominated actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian and auto racing enthusiast.  Among his many achievements and the legacy that he built was Newmans Own, a food company which Newman donated all post-tax profits and royalties to charity.   Paul died on September 26th this year, yet Newmans Own lives on or does it?  Without Pauls smile on your salad dressing, would you still purchase it and pay the premium price?  If the bottle just said Light Balsamic Vinaigrette would you buy it?  I would say you wouldnt.  People purchased Newmans Own because of Paul Newmans brand and what he represents (philanthropy, success, etc). My prediction is that they will discontinue this company and line of products after a few years, when the new generation becomes the majority buyer of salad dressing and the name Newman is irrelevant to them.  In this situation the company and products die with the personal brand. The pros and cons of using your name Pros:  When you use your name on your products and company, there is much more visiblity for your brand name.  People are going to remember you more if wherever they go, they see your name.  You can build the company history and story based on a person.  A person is easier to acknowledge then a corporate brand name because you can reach out and touch it. Cons:  Its much harder to build a larger company around one persons name, not just because their brand dies when they die, but also because there are more people in the company.  If you use your name it might be seen as selfish, especially if you hire other people that will have the badge your name, title, your CEOs name.  The biggest brands in the world arent using their founders name. For example, Apple, GE and IBM.   Recommendations 1)  What is your main business objective.  Are you trying to be a solotrepreneur or do you want to build a business, hiring people along the way?  If in the foreseable future you want to have a thousand emloyees, you might want to use a creative name instead of your own. 2)  Choose a career path before you put your brand on anything.  Do you want to start a company, work for a company or go back to school?  The entrepreneur path is typically the one that makes sense for branding yourself as your company. 3)  Do you want to pass your business down to your family?  A business with your name can be passed down to your child if they accept it or run by someone else in your family.   4)  For legal reasons, if you use your name as your companies name and your company gets sued, you go down with it. Im leaving this conversation open, so if you have any ideas, suggestions or experiences to share, be my guest.

How to Properly Format a Resume

How to Properly Format a ResumeIf you have been applying for jobs for some time, then you are probably aware of the need to write a good resume. After all, a good resume is one of the first things that hiring managers and human resource professionals look at when they are considering a job candidate. You do not want to leave yourself without a job because you did not have the knowledge or expertise to properly put together a great resume.Writing a resume can be difficult because there are so many different types of resumes and it is difficult to know what information is important to include. It's also hard to determine how your resume will look in comparison to others in the pool of resumes. And, the most common problem is when someone uses the wrong formatting guidelines.So, how do you know which format or template to use? If you are going to find a resume template that will fit your specific needs, you should learn as much as you can about the basics of resume writing templates bef ore you purchase one. After all, most templates are designed by people who are experts in their field, so if you find one that you like, you should be able to use it and not feel that you are wasting your money.Your first goal in writing a professional resume is to put together the best resume possible. That means making sure that you are including all of the information necessary to give a hiring manager or recruiter the reasons that they should hire you. You want to make sure that your resume is organized and keyword-rich, so it will be easy for your potential employer to read and comprehend. As with any other document, a resume should be formatted correctly and should include all of the information that you need to convince a hiring manager that you are qualified for the position.There are a few places that you can find quality resume writing templates. One place is the internet. There area number of online websites that will give you a number of free templates and offer tips on how to write a professional resume.Another great place to find resume writing templates is from your local library. Libraries have computerized databases of information for a number of different job positions, including resume writing. You can learn more about how to write a resume by visiting your local library, and you can also take advantage of the resources that they have available to them, such as complimentary resume writing.Finally, if you cannot find a decent resume writing template for you would like to purchase one, there are many online sites that offer professionally designed templates that are tailored to meet the needs of specific job positions. Some of these websites offer templates for entry level positions, mid-level positions, and even supervisory and management positions. The website may also offer a free sample resume, which gives you a good idea of what a professional template will look like.Resume writing templates are essential to the process of creating a gre at resume. Once you know how to properly format a resume, you can go on to the important and difficult step of getting a good job interview.

8 Strategies to Turn Your Resume into an Employer Magnet

8 Strategies to Turn Your Resume into an Employer Magnet If you are wanting to grab the attention of employers there are 8 strategies you can use to update your resume.Your resume is one in thousands eagerly awaiting the employer’s eye. Think of it as a fish hook, lying in wait for the big catch. But how do you get the employer to notice your resume and for the right reasons.evalWhile neon paper and poor spelling are sure to grab their attention it’s not the attention you want. Wow your potential employer for the right reasons. Show them that you are the perfect fit for them. ?The following strategies will help you stand out for all the right reasons.1. Stand Out in the InboxevalMost jobs have the option of uploading your resume online or sending it by email. Instead of attaching a “Resume.doc,” like every other candidate has, give your resume a name. Try Your Name, Branding Statement.doc.?An example for a non-profit management position would be “Erica Turner, 20 plus years mentoring volunteers and staff.doc”Or perhaps you are seeking a position in customer service,“Joe Smith, wowing customers and saving accounts.doc.”Give your potential employer an idea of who you are and stand out from the thousands of other attachments.2. Keywords Will Get You NoticedBefore you begin writing your resume, get to know the job description.? What key words stand out? Chances are high those are the same keywords they are scanning for in potential employee resumes.evalWith the pile of resumes on their desk an employer is going to find a way to eliminate the masses quickly. HR and/or electronic scanners are used to pick out pre-defined words and phrases. The best way to make sure you are not eliminated during this process is to have your resume full of the phrases listed in the job posting.?Become familiar with the company’s website, the industry lingo, and put the thesaurus down. Do not force the key words but use them naturally in describing your skills and experience.?For a more in-depth look into figuring out what k eywords to useproper keywordsto enhance your resume’s effectiveness.3. Begin with a Professional Summary Illustrating Your Career FocusBegin your resume by highlighting why you are the perfect fit for the job. Start by doing a little research and finding out your employer’s needs. Based on what you’ve discovered what are your qualifications, skills, and accomplishments. This is a wonderful place to throw in a few relevant keywords.eval?Be sure to sell them on you. This is where you show your future employer the benefit they will receive from hiring you. What value will you add to the company?4. Grab Attention Fast by Leading with Your BestManagers and hiring agents want to know who you are and how you are better than every other prospective in front of them. Don’t wait till the second page to show them. Lead with the main benefits of hiring you. What is it that you have accomplished that makes you worth taking a chance on?If your education is top notch, lead with that. If yo u lack in the education department but have a great deal of experience, lead with that.Design the layout of your resume to showcase your best features first. There are severaldifferent types of resume formatsthat you can choose from.5. Highlight AccomplishmentsevalOne way to grab attention fast is by highlighting accomplishments in a bulleted format at the top of your resume. Have you recently won an award? Put it at the top of your resume. Have you recently met and/or exceeded a sales goal??Lead with hands on success. Have you been working on a certification or continued education that enhances your qualifications for this job? Highlight your accomplishments at the top of your resume.Lead with your best and catch the attention of the employer so that they will continue to read.6. Customize Your Resume for Each JobYou don’t want to receive a form rejection and your employer doesn’t want to have to sift through another boring non-relevant resume.?Don’t make the hiring managers do the work, do it for them. By customizing your resume, you are better able to include keywords, stand out as the right fit for the culture of the company, and give the appearance that this is the only job you are after.eval?Everyone wants to be first pick, including the employer.7. Include a Slogan and Mission Statement in Your Cover LetterDon’t forget the cover letter. This is your chance to showcase personality, writing skills, competence, and fill in any gaps in your resume. By including a slogan and mission statement you are letting the employer know that you are confident and clear in your career path.?You know where you are headed and that you want to be at their company. If you’re unsure of how to write a mission statement, readThe Career Mission Statementfor a clear how to.8. EditEdit, edit, edit! Misspellings and grammatical mistakes are glaring red flags that you are not who the company is looking for. They send the message that you are not detail oriented or careful with your work. A well-crafted error free resume sends the message that you are, at the very least, interested enough in the job to be polished and professional.?Consider using aresume writing service. The best resume services will make sure you have a perfectly polished, attention grabbing, keyword full resume. They custom build your resume for your job goals.evalNow You KnowWith these 8 strategies, you are sure to catch the attention of your next employer!It’s time to start researching your next dream job. The first step is learning who they are looking for and knowing if you are the right fit.?With the right keywords, highlighting your accomplishments, customizing your resume to the job, clearly stating who you are and what you value, leading with your best, and careful edits the interviews are just around the corner.?A carefully constructed resume will get results. Show your future employer that you are the one they are looking for.Remember you are marketing yourself. Lead wi th your best and you will catch that job in no time.

5 top tips for women executives trying to break the glass ceiling

5 top tips for women executives trying to break the glass ceiling 5 top tips for women executives trying to break the glass ceiling Getting promoted and moving up the corporate ladder is no easy task. But for women, it may be even more difficult. According to a new study conducted by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey Co, women are 15 percent less likely to score a promotion at work. To take control of your career and beat the odds, pay attention to these lessons from fearless CEO Gigi Stetler. She has become a successful female entrepreneur and a game-changing businesswoman in the male-dominated industry of RV sales. Like many other women in the world of work, Stetler has been faced with incredible challenges and obstacles. During her first corporate meeting, she was told to “go home and bake cookies.” Instead, she went home and made millions. Here, she offers her key advice for shattering the dreaded glass ceiling. 1. Be prepared to change course, but don’t give up on success This may seem simple, but Stetler credits her relentless attitude for her current success. After taking over four RV dealerships in the 1980s, her thriving business came to a screeching halt in 2008. In the midst of the recession, banks tightened their lending practices, creating a trickledown effect that had a devastating impact on the RV trade. Rather than declaring bankruptcy, Stetler came up with a new plan of action. She re-established successful RV dealership business by reinventing it and expanding into new profit centers. Today, despite the economic recessions enduring impact on the RV industry, her company is growing yet again. In a corporate environment, you may be forced to veer off track, but that doesn’t mean you cannot achieve your goals. 2. Get over fear of failure If you’re afraid to fail, you are creating a debilitating hurdle that can hinder success. According to Stetler, there is a correlation between fear of failure and laziness. Fear is sometimes an excuse to simply not work hard â€" which she defines as lazy. Identify what’s holding you back and be honest. Then get on with it. 3. Focus on the impending outcome rather than the original tragedy For Stetler, that has been her true grit in life. Early on in her career, her trusted father-figure mentor betrayed her, and on top of that, she was attacked, stabbed and left for dead in her own apartment. Not only did Stetler live to tell the tale, but she also carved out a niche as a successful female entrepreneur. She may not have been able to trust others, but she knew she could always trust in herself. 4. Don’t work to earn, work to learn Passion is a key element when it comes to succeeding in business. While making money is important, your mentality should always be to focus on growth and development. Stetler may have failed at some business ventures financially, but she learned the inner-workings of the industry and was able to move forward to achieve ultimate success. 5. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone If you want to continue to grow professionally, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Whether you are searching for untapped areas of opportunity or taking on a new role at work, it is essential for true success. For example, instead of relying solely on RV sales, Stetler began examining new sources of revenue, including an RV rental business, in-house interior design team, and customized RVs for every industry â€" including mobile hair salons, boutiques, and even chiropractors offices. Her business competitors refused to leave their comfort zones, and she achieved market dominance. Stetler has had a tumultuous journey, but she has learned that it doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down; it just matters that you are prepared to get back up. She says the only thing separating success from failure is the ability to dust yourself off and keep going. When people suffer personal tragedies or lose their jobs or businesses, they often feel defeated and want to quit on their dreams. But this is the wrong approach to take. Dont give up, dont give in â€" just get back up and start rebuilding your life as quickly as possible.

Characteristics of the Best Team Players - Career Advice Blog for Millennials

Characteristics of the Best Team Players - Career Advice Blog for Millennials The thing I hated most about college was group projects. As a high-achieving, independent student, there was nothing scarier than putting my academic future into the hands of someone I didn’t know. While it’s not any different in the corporate world, I will say that working as a team is essential to a thriving work environment. Often times, the work you do is part of a larger campaign and failure to collaborate could cost you your job. Look at it this way, the faster you work, the faster you can go home, which won’t happen if no one wants to work with you. Here are some of the best characteristics of team players: 1.  Flexibility. In the office, things can change at the drop of hat. You need to be able to figure out the best way you can contribute to the situation at hand. Rather than complaining and overreacting to new directions, flexibility during times of struggle provides a foundation for better work and raises the morale of the entire office. Flexibility is demonstrated on an interpersonal level as well as corporately. When dealing with a work conflict, the flexible team member can act as a mediator between two opposing parties to reach a resolution. A good team player sticks to his values, but is open to the suggestions of others. 2. Commitment. Teams are strengthened when lasting relationships are created between members. A key principle in any relationship is commitment; team players arrive promptly for work and are ready to do their jobs. These individuals show their commitment by putting in an effort to create the best product possible. Most importantly, team players expect the same level of commitment from other members of the team; lazy members will be called to perform at their best. 3. Cooperation. You don’t have to like your coworkers, but you do have to work with them. Regardless of your opinions of another employee, your jobs are to make the company more money. Good team players put aside personal quarrels and work to find common ground. Cooperation also means helping others finish a task faster. 4. Support and Respect. Even though it may be difficult to see a team as anything but a means to an end, remember that teams are comprised of people, each one with their own issues and personal struggles. Sometimes, it is better for the whole team to take a break and have fun once in a while. In large group settings, there is usually an unofficial leader of the group. If that person is you, treat your partners as you would want to be treated. Team players care about the end result; in doing so, every individual part must be the best it can be, which means providing advice and support for others when they need it most. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be outspoken to be helpful; small gestures and genuine compassion are enough to motivate individuals. 5. Communication. This is especially important in large teams. As the work begins to pile up, it is easy to lose sight of other team members’ progress. During those times, team players work even harder to ensure that there is an open dialogue among every team member, in order to avoid confusion. Similarly, make sure you’re approachable enough that people don’t mind asking for your help. 6. Step up. This doesn’t necessarily mean lead â€" even though it can. Team players are willing to rise to the occasion and complete difficult tasks. Stepping up also includes helping and listening to others, offering suggests and contributing to group discussions. These people also go the extra mile and volunteer their time. 7. Stay Sharp. Sharpness takes many forms. In this instance it’s about being well versed in the task at hand and having the skills to do the job. Sharing new information that will benefit the group is also an essential part of being at your best. Remember, this is not a competition, a victory for one; this is a victory for all. Have more tips for being a great team player? Share ‘em in the comments!