Candidate Experience How to Get it Right

Candidate Experience How to Get it Right With the first ever CandEs UK Awards Ceremony having just been celebrated recently in February, the issue of candidate experience continues to be a hot topic of discussion across the industry. The awards recognise companies that set high standards for how they treat candidates and is open to organisations that recruit in the British employment markets. Organisations were judged on their understanding of the realm of recruiting and the way in which candidates find and apply for jobs. Three companies walked away with distinctions: Avanade, GE Capital and RMS. Here are some interesting stats (from Recruitment Buzz) that also came to light from the awards: 50% of candidates surveyed said they had a neutral overall experience that was neither negative nor positive. 39% said they had a positive experience. 49% of candidates claimed some relationship with the company they applied to including nearly 1 in 5 being an existing customer and 12% had family and friends working there. 73% of candidates surveyed would definitely tell their inner circle about a positive experience (62% would share a negative experience) and 28% would share a positive experience on Social Media (17% would share if it was negative.) A number of candidates were frustrated by the “black hole”, with 30% citing receiving a “do not reply” automated response and 31% receiving no response at all. For me, determining whether you are offering a good candidate experience or not comes down to understanding exactly what candidates expect. You need to be empathetic in these situations, think about it from a more human perspective and think about how you would like to be treated if you were the job seeker. Too often I see daunting job application processes appear on job sites. It’s surprising to see that in 2013 we still aren’t collectively recognising that this is a far less than ideal first impression we are leaving on our poor candidates.  This is not even mentioning the possibility of  the damaging effects it could have on the website, recruiter or company reputation. Our perfect candidates are constantly being deterred and put off by bad experiences with recruiters and line managers. Sure, not every candidate is right for the roles they apply for, but that’s not to say that they won’t be the perfect candidate for another role down the track leave a bad impression on them, and you won’t see them coming back to your pool of talent any time soon. With all that said, here are few basic fundamentals I believe will help increase your candidate experience: Communication is Key Feedback from candidates who have had negative experiences on various job boards show that one of the main issues is communication. Often candidates will feel that they are being ignored and will even question whether a job role actually exists, or if the recruiter is just posting a phony role to find talent. We all know how busy recruiters are, and our job requires a lot of prioritising, but finding the time to keep each of your candidates updated and informed is only going to benefit you in the long run. Yes this will mean that you have to be honest in your approach as well. Candidates will often tend to think that they are right for a role that you already know they aren’t. Approaching this discussion gracefully is key to ensuring they go away with nothing but a positive impression. Always Give Feedback The hiring manager has told you that a  candidate didn’t get the job, so that’s the end of that, right? Wrong. Your candidate is part of your pool and if you thought they were going to be good for this role, then of course they are going to be good for roles you may have in the future. Make sure you tell them why they didn’t get the job, what their weaknesses were and what that can do better or work towards for next time. Again, this comes under the communication realm, thus only working in your favour. Always Get Feedback on Candidates Experience This is where two-way communication comes into play. You can learn just as much from your candidate as they can learn from you. Make sure you ask them how they felt about the experience, from start to finish, whether they got the job or not. Sometimes you will have candidates become bitter about not getting the role, of course this is one of the worst things they can do from your perspective. But if you’re able to take a step back, accept that to some people, this is a natural reaction, then all you need to do is be completely upfront with them â€" tell them how this is reflecting on your impression of them. An open and honest relationship with your candidates is the only way that you will ever know what type of candidate or person they really are. Addressing the situation will also allow you to see if they hold the key attribute of being able to learn from mistakes. Analyse Your Feedback Using Tools So you are now doing everything you can to ensure that your candidates are getting the best experience possible. How do you actually know for sure that they are? Consider using a research and analysis tool like Mystery Applicant. It’s “an innovative candidate research tool that analyses applicant feedback throughout the recruitment process”. It works like many digital analytical tools out there today, taking large volumes of complicated data and turning it into meaningful and accessible information. Using a tool like this will help you take that information and turn it into a strategic action plan. Churning and burning candidates is an unsustainable, short-term strategy. You must always treat your candidates with the same level of respect that you would treat your clients. For me, it’s not just business; it’s human decency, respect and pure common sense.

4 Interview Mistakes That Can Decrease Your Chances of Getting the Job

4 Interview Mistakes That Can Decrease Your Chances of Getting the Job You just got the call you’ve been waiting for and managed to score an interview for the job you’ve been dreaming about. As you run to the closet to pick out your best outfit, you play an interview scenario in your head coming up with possible questions and answers that you think the employer might ask.You’ve got a 60-second speech prepared for the hiring manager if they ask you “Tell me about yourself?” and have a short-list of weaknesses that are actually relevant to the job.evalYou’re calm, confident, and ready to nail this job interview in hopes of getting a job offer the very next day. Easy peasy, right?Not so fast.Even if yourresume is attention-grabbingand has everything the employer’s asking for, there’s still a chance you can blow the interview just by saying the wrong thing, despite looking the part and playing out scenarios in your head.In fact, the most skilled job seekers can sometimes make mistakes that can cost them the job offer.Knowing what these inter view mistakes are ahead of time â€" and coming up with ways to avoid them â€" can keep you on the employer’s list of potential candidates.So be sure to keep these tips in mind when going into an interview. That way, you can avoid kicking yourself later on, wondering “Why did I give that answer?” when heading out the building.1. Being Rude to the Support StaffWhen you go in for a job interview, make sure you’re nice to everyone and present yourself in a respectful manner. Although you might think the person interviewing you determines whether or not you get the job, the truth is, you never know who makes that decision.evalAccording to Jobvite, perhaps the worst thing an interviewee can do is be rude to the person working at the front desk. As a matter of fact, 86 percent of hiring managers agreed that being rude to the receptionist and other supporting staff members is a deal breaker.If being rude is the best attitude you have to offer to the receptionist, then the company ca n be in some serious trouble if they decide to hire you and put you under stress with work demands.Remember, when you’re searching for a job,all of your interactions are subject to evaluation, from the time you applied for the job to when you walk in the door for an interview. In the end, it’s just not worth the hassle.2. Complaining Making DemandsA job interview isn’t a place to vent and go on a rant about your previous employer and co-workers.evalIf you left a job because you were fired ordisagreed with a company’s policy, for example, there are logical ways to explain your departure without sabotaging the interview and trash talking the employer.On the other hand, if you walk into an interview just to simply make a laundry list of unnecessary demands, expect to get the same results.A hiring manager’s job isn’t just filling a position, it’s to see if the applicant will match the company’s requirements for a particular position. So making demands before even being offered the opening position will only raise red flags for what’s to come later on if they hire you.The best thing to do in this case is to just let your employer know about any other outside obligations that might conflict with your schedule â€" whether it’s the kids, the commute to work, or school.That way, if they hire you, they’ll know ahead of time that your time is split between work and other commitments. Whatever you do, don’t make your demands the focal point of the discussion.3. Interrupting the InterviewerInterrupting someone in the middle of a sentence is rude, to begin with, but doing it during an interview could cost you the job. Although this might seem like a minor offense, the employer might find it distracting.That’s because normally when people consistently cut others off during a conversation it’s a sign that they’re not a good listener and that they value their opinion over others. Some of your potential co-workers might find it difficult to work w ith you on specific tasks or projects and you don’t want that.Communication and patience are the secret ingredients here.4. Unable to Recall Lessons from Past ProjectsBelieve it or not, depending on the job position, potential employers want to know about the times you accomplishments and failures. In most cases, they want you to tell them how you failed, why you failed, and what was done differently moving forward. Don’t worry, this isn’t the employer’s way of being noisy.evalInstead, it’s a tactic managers use to help them determine whether or not you’re fitfor their company’s cultural values. It also helps them determine your mindset: are you someone who gives up easily and blames everyone else for your mistakes, or someone who buckles down and takes on the challenge?What type of job wants to know these things?One job, in particular, that relies on this method a lot are coaching jobs. If you’ve ever been interviewed for a coaching position â€" or interviewed someo ne else â€" for instance, then you’d know that the number one thing employers focus on is the candidate’s conflict and resolution abilities.Again, they want to hear about those challenging moments you’ve had to overcome with a player and the steps you took towards defusing the situation. This is how employers decide if you’rean ideal candidate for a coaching positionin the world of sports.Job interviews are without a doubt stressful, but they’re a necessary part of life. So be sure to keep these points in mind, and do your best to make a good impression. Then you can tell your future co-workers about some of the interesting jobs you’ve worked in the past.evalThanks for the read! Did I miss anything super important? What are some other things candidates should avoid during an interview when trying to land their dream job?Feel free to leave a comment.

Making the Break from Brick and Mortar to E Commerce

Making the Break from Brick and Mortar to E Commerce In the past, when you decided to set up a “business”, commercial property was bound to be involved. You’d have to establish some sort of store or office space in order to provide customers with a space in which they could engage with your brand, purchase your products, or book your services. While this type of business model does still exist today (after all, the majority of us do still carry out a portion of our shopping on the high street), increasing numbers of small business owners are making the move from brick and mortar to E Commerce stores. Either that, or they are maintaining their brick and mortar business and operating online at the same time. The reasons for switching to E Commerce are varied. It tends to be cheaper to run an online business. You can operate around the clock. You can also easily reach out to a national or even international audience. But if you are considering making the break from brick and mortar to online retail, you’re going to have to do your research. People tend to shop in a different manner when they shop online. You need to familiarise yourself with these trends in order to maximise your sales and profits! The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to fork out a fortune on market research in order to achieve this. There’s existing, published research out there that will help you to better get to grips with consumer habits in various areas of the market. Just take a look at the infographic by Trade Vitality below! Infographic Design By Trade Vitality

The Best Resume Writing Services in DC NJ

The Best Resume Writing Services in DC NJMany individuals across the country use resume writing services to help create a workable resume that can be used by the person applying for a position at their current or new company. While this is definitely a great option, there are many who wonder if they should look into these services.The answer to this question is yes, you can hire a professional resume writer to do the job for you. However, it is important to understand that not all individuals that use resume writing services to create a potential new position candidate's resume are actually as qualified or experienced as those who use the services of an individual professional. In fact, some who use resume writing services may not be as well qualified as others who do it themselves.It is certainly true that when an individual has been assigned the task of creating a potential resume, they should always be prepared to use their creativity and their judgment to ensure that they create a quality product that meets the needs of the job that they are seeking. However, a lot of companies and candidates are not aware of how much experience and skill is required to produce a quality resume that is as complete and as professional as it can be. Those who are inexperienced often do not know what they should be looking for in a resume, which can often lead to producing a resume that is not that effective or professional in nature.One major mistake that a candidate can make with regards to their resume is the inclusion of irrelevant information. Some candidates are so familiar with the job description for a particular job that they will include information that they have personally gathered about the job in their resume. In other cases, they will include information that has been gleaned from other companies that they may have worked with or in the past that might not necessarily be accurate or valuable to the employers that have hired them. If the resume is not specific en ough, it will be hard for an employer to make a positive decision about the candidate after reviewing it, especially when they find themselves being charged a high price for their services.Resume writing services should include specific information about the client when they are completing the work. The main point of contact that a company provides to an individual seeking a job opportunity is the writer. The writer should also be allowed to provide feedback about how they may have handled a particular situation or problem with another applicant. The most experienced professionals who work on resumes always keep the expectations of the clients clear.If a candidate requires assistance to create a resume, they should understand that this service is only one of many different factors that they need to consider. When using resume writing services, they should always keep in mind that it will take some time for the writer to get all of the necessary information on the work completed. Whi le it is possible to create a resume in a matter of minutes, this will only happen if the person knows exactly what they want, what information they need, and how they should be included in the work.If a potential candidate is unsure about whether or not the services of resume writing services would be beneficial to them, they should always do their research first before hiring anyone. The best way to ensure that the services of resume writing services will not be an effective option for them is to try contacting several different people for advice before making any final decisions. Remember, the best way to find out if a person is the right fit for a certain resume is to spend some time talking to the person, rather than choosing based on any previous experience with the individual.Resume writing services can be a very helpful tool when used properly. However, anyone that uses the services of these professionals should always make sure that they are working with someone who is expe rienced and qualified to handle the job. Even a novice who uses resume writing services to create a resume needs to ensure that their information is accurate and as useful as possible.

Avoid Writing a Resume Like a Memo

Avoid Writing a Resume Like a MemoWhen writing a resume, sometimes I tend to refer to myself in the first person such as 'Mark, The Director of Marketing', but I am not writing a resume for myself. You will see many resumes in your job search, at the first glance they may seem professional and impressive but they do not mention your name or in the case of some companies, they refer to you by something other than your name. And of course it makes no sense to write a resume to look impressive and to impress someone, unless you can give them a reason to hire you and that is not something you want to give them.The key thing to remember when writing a resume is that you need to think about the objective of the person reading it. Do you want to make the reader aware of a career you have and an organization they might be interested in? Or maybe your career objective is just to have a job opening, which is fine, but would it really be helpful if you included in your resume a great deal of in formation about yourself? In short, if you are looking for a job you might as well include information about yourself.Many of the job seekers nowadays are very aware of what a resume should contain. Most of these are also aware of how important it is to include a picture. They also understand the importance of writing a resume in such a way that it can be read even if you don't have a clue on what you are talking about. They have this mindset that goes along with the rest of the world and the beauty of it is that even with this mindset, they still find it beneficial to add information about themselves.If you have a career objective in mind, then why not include in your resume what your specific objectives are. It is an interesting fact that more than eighty percent of the people who fill out a resume actually provide some additional information about themselves while filling out the resume.While writing a resume, it is still important to take a creative approach when filling it out. Don't go for a monotonous, monotone, boring resume, rather make your resume interesting and fun to read, fill it with a lot of details about your experiences, work experiences, achievements, accomplishments, experiences, and do your best to add some personal experiences in there.The best resume writers are those who know what they are doing when writing a resume, they know the exact purpose of the resume and all the appropriate words that are used. If you feel you can get away with a not so creative resume that is certainly what you should do.In summary, when writing a resume it is important to follow the above mentioned points and not try to write it in a way that is boring and repetitive. Instead, find some creative words and phrases that are relevant to your career objective and put it all together to form a resume that is interesting and capable of being read. Use this resume when you submit it and you should be able to get more jobs than if you did not use a resume at all.

Unknown Facts About Writing a Forestry Resume Uncovered by Industry Leaders

Unknown Facts About Writing a Forestry Resume Uncovered by Industry Leaders Want to Know More About Writing a Forestry Resume? One of the hazards of a resume objective is that you're able to focus too much on what you would like in your career, and not enough on how you are going to add value to the firm. Include examples of ways in which you could add value or even enhance the business. You are also able to get a feeling of the internal language used within a specific industry or company. The Birth of Writing a Forestry Resume Finding a testimonial is often as simple as asking a colleague, teacher or previous employer to compose some sentences about you. Another frequent mistake which should not be made is the usage of personal articles and pronouns. The work description for any specific position gives you a clue as to what's important to the employer. A resume is a synopsis of what you need to give an employer for a specific job. There are various emphases in every sin gle discipline, and a very good CV is one which emphasizes the points that are thought to be most important in your discipline and conforms to standard conventions inside your discipline. When you're crafting your resume objective, you should concentrate on particular abilities and experiences which are directly linked to the job. It is often as easy as stating your preferred job title, or it may show where you've been, and where you aspire to go in your career. Lots of people don't like their existing job or career. On any one you observe, you shouldn't locate an objective that's too vague. In the end, stating an objective is optional, but it might help convince employers that you understand what you need and know the business. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job you're applying for. What's Actually Going on with Writing a Forestry Resume A resume summary statement is comparable to an objective statement in that it's a quick way for a work seeker to catch a hiring manager's attention by summarizing critical information at the peak of your resume in a simple to read format. You can also locate another example here. Now imagine whether that SAME resume had had a summary statement on top clearly outlining why you're an ideal candidate. Writing a Forestry Resume - Is it a Scam? If you have begun researching forestry resumes, you probably be aware that the experience section is just one of the most essential pieces. Other crucial areas in your work experience will likewise be explored to highlight your credentials and make a stand-out resume. Learn about the three kinds of skills it's possible to highlight and the way it is possible to incorporate them into your resume. Don't forget that your resume needs to communicate you can do the job quickly and effectively while detailing your work history and techniques. A testimonial is another very good approach to show your skill and experience is what the employer is searching for. You also need to tailor your resume to demonstrate the way your work experience specifically meets the requirements of the job which you're applying for. If selected for additional evaluation, you'll be contacted via email. Taking the opportunity to work on your resume is critical. Want to Know More About Writing a Forestry Resume? Be aware that there might be circumstances when including some of these information proves that you're a superior fit for the job. You should have access to a computer and the web, and be an authority in Microsoft Word. With our specialized therapy, you're going to be in a place to tap the complete potential of your professional network and make sure your profile on social networking channels matches the caliber of your resume.

Your Personal Values Are Your Career Success Foundation - Work It Daily

Your Personal Values Are Your Career Success Foundation - Work It Daily Success Tweet: Your personal values are things you hold near and dear; things on which you absolutely will not compromise. Kevin Eikenberry is a friend of mine, and a leadership expert. I subscribe to his blog. The other day he did a post in which he talked about the importance of a firm and steady foundation. He used the bible parable about the wise man who built his house upon the rock, and the careless man who built his house on sand. When the rains and winds came, the wise man’s house stayed strong; the other man’s was washed away. Kevin went on to say… “The story speaks to building on a firm and steady foundation. The parallel for us as leaders is to build our leadership habits, values and beliefs on solid unshakable principles. It is easy to read a book or article and be excited about a new technique, approach or method. Most of these are sound and valuable. But ultimately they will hold the greatest value for you when they are integrated into the foundation of your leadership house â€" and the techniques, methods and approaches are understood based on their underlying and unassailable principles.” Your personal values are your career success foundation. As Kevin says, they should be solid, unshakable principals, things that guide your life and your decision making. They should be fad proof; ideas on which you can rely in the long run. A couple of days ago, I did a post in which I identified my personal values: common sense, simplicity, optimism, human potential, value, trust, individuality, hard work, the power of one. These values are the foundation on which I have built my life and career. They guide my decision making. I turn to them when I need help figuring out what to do. They have served me well. And, I will not compromise on them. Let me give you an example. Back in December I was approached by an HR executive at one of my corporate clients. He asked if I would be willing to provide some coaching for one of the leaders at the operation for which he is responsible. Of course, I said yes. I submitted a proposal outlining how I would approach this specific coaching project. Then, over the next few months, I answered a lot of questions about my approach to the coaching, how much it would cost etc. I sent the HR exec several of my books gratis. I really thought I had the gig sown up. Last week he called me to tell me while he would have preferred to use my services, his HR boss at corporate headquarters instructed him to use another coach who was doing some work in another part of the company. If you’ve ever worked hard to make a sale and then lose it due to something completely out of your control, you know how I felt â€" frustrated. I was discussing this situation with a colleague. She said she would have been very angry about this situation. I wasn’t angry, stuff happens in business. I was a little frustrated, but I chose to let it go. I value optimism. The Optimist Creed guides my behavior. Point 1 of The Optimist Creed says, “Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.” Point 4 says, “Promise yourself to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.” As I truly value optimism and this advice, I had to let go of the frustrating situation. Holding on to it would have created negative energy that would have impacted my work. I don’t have time for negative energy. I’m an optimist. As Point 10 of The Optimist Creed says, I am “too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.” I value optimism. Therefore, I let go of the situation and moved on. By the way, I have created a frameable .PDF of The Optimist Creed. If you would like a FREE copy to frame and hang in your workspace, go here to download it. I have given away over 1,000 copies of it to readers of my blog and my career success coach clients. Here’s another example. I value trust. I am a trustworthy person, and I assume that on the part of other people. That’s why most often I do business on a handshake. I will sign a contract if it’s absolutely necessary, some companies won’t hire me without a signed contract. But I prefer my working relationships to be less formal. Some people say this is naïve. I think it is trusting. I’m not trying to convince you to do business on a handshake. I bring it up here to show you how my personal value of trust impacts my work every day. I value hard work. It’s in my genes. I am skeptical of and turned off by internet offers to set up a business that requires little to no work. My belief is that the dictionary is only place success comes before work. This doesn’t mean that I am inefficient about what I do. That’s not the case. I outsource a lot of my technical work because I’m not good at it. I don’t want to become an HTML expert. On the other hand, I use my time to do the things I’m good at â€" like writing books and writing on my blog, appearing as a guest on internet and broadcast radio interviews, working with my career success coach clients. I work hard at doing the things that help me advance my business and career success. I believe the old adage, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” The common sense point here is simple. Successful people use their personal values as a foundation. They will listen to new ideas, but don’t change on a whim. They heed the advice in Tweet 19 in Success Tweets, “Your personal values are things you hold near and dear; that on which you absolutely will not compromise.” This means you should think long and hard about your values. They should come from deep inside you. Once you clarify them, live them. Be true to yourself and your personal values. You’ll find your personal values are a foundation that will serve you well when things get tough and frustrating. Bud Bilanich is a motivational speaker, author and blogger who will help you create the life and career success you want and deserve. Read more » articles by this approved career expert | Click here » if you’re a career expert Photo credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!