Why Hiring Managers Screen Your Calls

Why Hiring Managers Screen Your Calls **Disclaimer: this post is probably an unfair mass generalisation of all hiring managers, based on one or two isolated and extremely annoying experiences.** Considering agency recruiters  have been  brought in to fill their urgent roles  as quick as  yesterday, hiring managers can make doing your job  particularly difficult at times. They cancel interviews last minute, go on leave without notice, erratically change their minds and feedback less  than an acoustic guitar. Most annoyingly, they screen your calls. You might get lucky with the odd email reply, but they just wont pick up their darn  phone. I guess its worth remembering  that hiring managers are normal  people who have day jobs to crack on with and bosses to answer to. They probably die inside when they hear their alarm clock in the morning. They have annoying colleagues, are  frustrated by unrealistic deadlines  and occasionally think about quitting just like the rest of us. Sure,  they  might  somehow inherit the hiring manager title by default, but it doesnt automatically mean they get what it will take  to  secure them new  talent. Is it only them with a major commitment issue? Perhaps not maybe theres something youre doing thats annoying them?  Instead of banging your head against the wall screamingWhat the hell?? when they bump your call, perhaps its worth hazarding a guess as to  why they dont want  to talk. Youre one of  a million Your mum and maybe even your boss will tell you youre one in a million,  but when it comes to  recruitment as a competitive industry, youre often one of a huge bunch. Their phone is constantly ringing off its hook (doesnt havent the same effect given cordless technology) and they just need to focus on their day jobs. HR is on their case Especially in large, heavily regulated organisations, the HR function is supposed to be the middle man between agencies and the business. That means keeping hiring managers and recruiters at arms length from each other. Fearful of losing their headcount or getting a slap on the wrist for giving away too much information, hiring managers will often refer all correspondence to HR to be on the safe side. Its likely  theyve been burnt before You keep asking the same thing For whatever reason, they think they know what youre calling about and dont want to deal with it.  It could be for a number of reasons, but  either they have the information you are looking for and cant/dont want to tell you, or they actually dont have an update for you and theyre sick of saying it. Theres only so many times they can say the same thing, even when youve got a candidate waiting on them to make a decision. You take too long to get to your point Hiring managers know that when you  get on the phone, you spend way too long going through the niceties and small talk,  delaying  asking the questions you really want to know the answer to. They know youre trying to be their friend, but not because you actually want to be their friend, but because being their friend will benefit  your business. They might just prefer to keep business as business. Theyre too busy They bump everyones calls,  not just yours. It might help your self esteem knowing they dont just hate you and only you,  but it doesnt make it any less frustrating. Some people just like working over emails. They  need to have  something  in writing in order to  drag  it into their to do folder before actioning it. You call at the wrong time Every time you call, theyre either running to a meeting, in a meeting or planning for one. Or theyre  on lunch, about to pack up for the day or busy responding to morning deadlines. Hiring managers do have full on jobs to do, and their calendars dont always stop for recruitment. Where to now? To overcome a hiring manager who bumps your calls, try using short, friendly and to-the-point emails. If that doesnt work, re-route through your HR contacts and keep trying its all you can do! Image: Shutterstock

How to think like the next generation

How to think like the next generation No one wants to seem old and outdated. The key to avoiding this is learning how to think like the next generation. So recognize what you care about that younger people dont care about. Not like a house and mortgage that stuff is dependent on what stage of life youre in. Im talking about things that are not dependent on stage of life  values and your outlook, which tend to be more generational. When it comes to Generation Z, the most jarring shift  is that theyll be obsessed with the bolstering of public institutions.  This is a generation that cares about consensus-building and sticking with the systems that bind us together. And in order to rebuild after crisis, the generation will stress conformity because noncomformity is a guilty-pleasure of a generation with no crises (like the Baby Boomers growing up in the 50s). Generation Z will focus on being part of the whole rather than differentiating themselves as special. Given what we know about Generation Z here are four things you can stop caring about. 1. Linguistics gymnastics for gender-specific pronouns. If you came of age in the seventies, you have an annoying tic of using the unexpected pronoun. For example, “If your child wants a Barbie, be sure to get him the latest one.” Generation X, being more aware of the debaucheries of feminist tyranny, are more easy-going about foisting Barbie dolls on girls, but still, Generation X will periodically throw in a they in annoying situations. For example, If a bully finds a willing victim, they will go after that victim. Generation Y has come up with nothing new, because theyre the non-innovative generation. Generation Z is saving us all from plural pronoun problems with yo, As in Hey, Yo, meet met at 10pm. The word yo means you dont have to specify if the group is male or female which would, of course, mean you would need to stress over the problem of calling women you guys. And this is just the beginning of the language of inclusiveness from a generation that will promote the greater good with every tool they have, even linguistics. 2. Whiz-bang technology. Generation Z is over the idea that we can get technology to do anything. The Pew Institute reports that theyll choose their devices based on battery life.  Its clear to me after watching four seasons of  Regular Show that Generation Zs appreciation for the over-the-top, very expensive, self-involved animation of Dreamworks and Electronic Arts is zero. And when I tried to explain why our BMW stereo is better than the iPhone, my son fired back to me, “it doesnt matter how good the stereo is, I can control the iPhone from the backseat.” When people come to our house to visit and ask what my kids do for homeschool all day, my kids show everyone Minecraft. You would think everyones first reaction would be, “You play video games all day?” But, in fact, their first reaction is, This is 1980s animation! And its true. But my kids dont care. So its becoming old-school to be impressed with new-fangled technologies. Generation X and Y use technology to differentiate themselves. Generation Z realizes that they have better things to do. So you might as well realize that too. 3) Retirement. ? The word retirement will be like the word typewriter.  The only difference is, there are still typewriters around that you can buy for $300, but by the time Generation Z comes around, there will be zero retirement funds. There will be nothing to reminisce about. The biggest reason for there being no retirement fund is that there is no money. Generation Z will look a lot like the people who gave all their money to War Bonds  self-sacrifice for the greater good will come naturally, so their lack of retirement wont bother them. But separately, and fortunately, there is also no need for retirement. We have a new understanding of what work is, and work is something that you do in tandem with your life, and they support each other intellectually and emotionally. Work is something you do to make your life full and engaging. Generation Z will change careers on average five times in their lives. They will drop out of the workforce twice to take care of family. And they will be more comfortable than any generation in history with a major ego-crushing salary cut. After all that, the difference between what Baby Boomers are calling retirement  and what Generation Y is calling work is nothing, so there will be no need to for retire in the future. 4) Shelf space.? If we did a graph of the importance of shelf space throughout the last hundred years, we would start with the Baby Boomers, who constructed McMansions  with disgustingly dated built-in shelves, and filled them with all of their possessions. Generation X would have wanted that, but they didnt have any money. So they rented out rooms and filled the shelves with books and CDs and DVDs. I had friends in small apartments who used to stack their trade paperbacks three deep, in the same way that people park cars three deep in NYC; You have to have a map to know how to find your stuff. Generation X is the only generation who had to store three types of media for music: records, cassettes, and CDs. (Side note: As an homage to this moment in shelf space history, Starbucks issued a CD called My Last Mix Tape. I looked at the barista and said Wow, this is the best title ever for a CD. And the barista looked back at me with a blank stare.) In the history of shelf space, Generation Y will be known as the itinerant generation. Raised to search endlessly for happiness, (“Do what you love! Live your best life! Follow your dreams!) Generation Y searches endlessly for something that doesnt exist, which means they tote all of their belongings around in something that ranges from a backpack to trunk space. When Generation Y finally does buy a house, its always small, because Generation Y needs to save their money to do fun things, so they can post the pictures on Facebook about how fun their lives are. Their small houses are decorated in shelf space-fetish-ization: wallpaper that has books, books that are color-coded, and turning things that used to consume shelf space into shelf space. Generation Z needs no shelf space. Everything is digital. And all of their expectations of owning a shelf large enough to put anything on have been squashed. Generation Z will be focused on accumulating patriotism, national spirit, and a badge of global citizenship. The new shelf space is in our hearts and minds.

Does Your Brand Need to Invest in Paid Website Traffic - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Does Your Brand Need to Invest in Paid Website Traffic - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A solid content strategy is an important part of building your personal brand online organically. Adding advertising dollars to the mix will help maximize your fullest potential and visibility. In order to attract a large audience to your website you can not only tap into the tradition Google AdWords solution, but also invest in social advertising on places like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Advertising can help take your business to the next level. The right keywords from target market research are just the beginning to a winning strategy along with a clear game plan. Here are several ways your brand can add paid advertising to your marketing strategy: Get to know conversations Because social media and blogs are personal in nature your brand can learn a lot just by engaging with your audience and tracking their conversations online. QA websites and social groups are two top resources that will help you discover your communitys needs and desires. Decide your outcome first Do you want more subscribers to your website? Or is the end result more leads from your social networks? Set a clear goal first before creating your message. It is important to stand out from the rest with a focused ad that does not include a lot of text, but rather a clear headline and visual. You can use images or video to grab the attention of your prospects that will entice them to want to know more. Stick with a reasonable budget Once your personal brand gets set up with an ad system you will have several options to choose from. This all depends on your campaign, marketing goals, and operating fund. Most platforms allow you to set a budget according to the target market and how many days you would like your ad(s) to run. Choose what works best for your business, and start slow in order to measure your response rate. Dont leave out organic marketing If your brand is only using paid methods to reach your audience you are missing out on valuable networking opportunities. By engaging with your community and sharing tweets and posts they will love you are also building trusted relationships that go beyond ads and leads directly into word-of-mouth advertising, which is free! Use advertising tools in addition to your blogging and marketing plan to bring more sales to your personal brand as well as increasing your website subscribers. Its important to check your analytics, and make adjustments with each campaign. This is one of the best ways where your brand can attract more sales and build a strong fan base.

Four Ways To Save Time Cleaning Your House

Four Ways To Save Time Cleaning Your House There are a few of us who actually enjoy cleaning house.   To them, I say Ive got fresh coffee and a mop ready for you, come on over! For most of us, though, house cleaning is a necessary evil.   We hate the crud more than we hate the cleaning. So why not do your cleaning as efficiently as possible?   Garnered from my own years of personal experience, heres four ways to save time cleaning. Use The Best Cleaner That doesnt mean the most expensive.   Nor does it mean the most popular.   Get the cleaning aids that are designed for the job, but dont rely on manufacturer claims or advertising.   Windex is the perfect example here. Windex is the number one window and glass cleaner in the U.S.   With no apologies to manufacturer S.C. Johnson, dont use Windex.   Almost all varieties contain ammonia, and ammonia leaves a film behind that is very soon quite visible. My personal favorite is Sprayway Glass Cleaner, which works great and actually smells good, too.   Or, just use a solution of vinegar and water. Filters Get Them and Use Them If your vacuum doesnt have a built in HEPA filter, its time to upgrade.   While the main part of the vacuum does catch and filter out a lot of material, the HEPA filter catches and filters out much more.   And then remember to change or clean the HEPA filter regularly, because its separate from the primary vacuum filter and is easy to overlook. And on the topic of filters, be sure to regularly change or clean your HVAC system filters.   If youre not following these two practices, it means all that dust is flying through the air, on its way to a safe landing on your furniture and floors.   And that means more cleaning. Use a Steam Mop I used to regularly use a floor cleaner product that was advertised to leave a shine after it cleaned your floor.   But what I noticed was that over time, whatever it was that was shining my floor was also building up.   Soap, dirt residue, and other chemical buildup is what makes your floor look darker and dingier the more times you clean.   Yes, read that again.   The more you clean the dirtier your floor gets. Some years ago, I was introduced to a steam mop.   Not being a fan of harsh chemicals anyway, I was impressed that it cleaned using only water.   And whats more, steam mops clean extremely well.   In fact, steam is the method of choice to clean grout, one of the most difficult cleaning chores. Cleaning House Made Easy While cleaning house may not be your favorite thing in the world, you can make it easier.   In addition to the above essentials, heres some quick tips to consider: Keep a squeegee in the shower.   Every time you shower, take 40 seconds and squeegee the walls and shower door.   The shower always looks clean and theres no more shower scum. Use strategically placed throw rugs.   They dont have to be the eye-assaulting ones your grandma used.   Todays version is part of the decor.   When soiled, simply toss in the washing machine instead of cleaning those carpet traffic uglies. Consider losing the shoes at the door.   You have no idea what youve stepped on and collected on your shoes throughout the day.   Why track all that into your house?   Besides, barefoot is beautiful! Keep a schedule.   Not everything has to be cleaned with the same frequency.   Keep a schedule or at least note the items that need attention only three or four times a year. Who said cleaning house has to be a dreaded chore?

The Three FSs Of Resume Writing

The Three FSs Of Resume WritingThree Factors Of Resume Writing -- Finding the right words and format. Resume writing is a serious endeavor and should not be taken lightly. We need to approach the job with clarity and professionalism.Time Management - Relies on what you know and what you are capable of at this point in your career. Know the qualifications you have and make sure you work around them to create a well structured resume.Apply Yourself - Take the opportunity to take advantage of a free trial or two. It gives you an opportunity to see if this is something you can do. Use it as an opportunity to learn. As you progress and begin to apply yourself you will feel confident about your skills and abilities.Speaking with industry experts - Learn the key differences between these two and how they differ from one industry to another. Get the scoop on what the new wave of candidates are doing and why. Even if you don't think you have what it takes, you may just be pleasantly surprised .The Profile Builder - After you have your skills down, we now move onto making a profile. Your resume is your resume and your profile is who you are. Use this opportunity to write a professional looking resume that has all the information on it that is important.Never Do it Alone - Use a professional to edit your resume. There is nothing worse than sitting down to read through hundreds of resumes for just one job.Rely, on an Expert - This goes the same for when applying for a resume. Look for a professional resume writer that can help you hone in on what you really want in a resume. They can also help you to refine the word choices that are necessary.In closing, three FSs are the most important things in writing resumes. You need to find the best way to write a professional resume for the job. You also need to consider the industry you are applying for and find a person that can help you find the right words.

So Many Things to Fix, So Little Time

So Many Things to Fix, So Little Time Are you thinking?   Do you wonder?   I constantly find myself trying to solve problems that are beyond my control- or are they?   I get so discouraged when I hear people say But it has always been this way or It is too big to change or Politics, Its Politics. Here are some things I think about: Healthcare options that are affordable Lower tax rates in New York State Teaching our youth to be problem-solvers and innovators Increased membership in my church Plowing the sidewalks in my town so people can walk and enjoy the outdoors Moving away from fossil fuel A better way to inform our workforce of trends impacting their jobs Inspiring financial responsibility or smarter spending (Need vs. Want) Teaching youth how to network and diversify their portfolio beyond sports This is a short list.   I know I dont have the time or energy to tackle them all today, but I do hope to impact change in many of them before my time is out. When I go back over this list, I realize, I do know people who could help make changes.   I could inspire them or collaborate with them. I want this world to be a better place.   Dont you?   So, do you wonder?   Are you thinking?   Can you make a short list of things you would like to fix or make better?   Maybe you can. Oh, by the way, I am still reading Seth Godins Linchpin.   Fascinating.   Inspiring.   Please read it!   It makes me think and I bet it will make you   think too.

Becoming Abundantly Successful What Does It Take - Kathy Caprino

Becoming Abundantly Successful â€" What Does It Take As you know, I’ve embarked on a national research study on Women Succeeding Abundantly, in order to learn first-hand the essential ingredients in thinking, beliefs, choices, and behaviors that create and maintain “knock- your-socks-off success” in women.   I want to learn all this from women who can raise their hands today and say, “Yes! I feel tremendously successful on my terms, and am able to live life joyfully and with great gusto.” Why do I want to study this topic?   Because from where I sit there are precious few people on earth today who achieve a continual state of “feeling” successful, who know down to their toes that they are successful and don’t need external measures to validate that. And there are even fewer people  who see their lives as a fantastic adventure in success rather than in failure. I’m drawn to learn as much as I can from these women who say “Yes I Am” abundantly successful, because I believe that when we feel successful in terms that are personal, meaningful, and self-defined, then we’re living a grand life of passion, power, and purpose, and having a ball.   We’re following the dictates of our own values, beliefs and priorities, and we’re shaping our destinies as want them, not as our prior conditioning, training and cultural influences taught us are “right.”   I’m also drawn to conducting this study for a deeply personal reason â€" because my own relationship with abundant success over my adulthood has been spotty at best.   My experience of abundant success can characterized as this: 1) I believe in the inherent right and capability of EVERY human being to live an abundantly successful life 2) I feel abundantly successful, but only SOMETIMES 3) I’ve glimpsed at achieving financial abundance, and want more of it (It’s awesome!) 4) I continue to be challenged in achieving that beautiful equilibrium between setting heart-aligned goals and going for them with everything I’ve got, but not being crushed when they don’t come to pass 5) While the “Secret” and the Law of Attraction have been helpful to me and others, the ways in which they are being taught are incomplete at best, misguided and incorrect at worst. 6) I want to teach myself, and in turn, thousands of other women, new and exciting ways to createâ€" and sustainâ€" an experience of internal and external abundance and success The first step I’m taking is to immerse myself in new learning.   The second step is to reshape what I hear into a model that makes sense for me, and fits what I know to be true.   What I know to be true right now is that financial abundance is not the only way through which one can feel abundantly successful.   However, in our society which is immersed in the energy of money, if you want financial abundance and have not been successful achieving it, then an internal feeling of success is virtually impossible, unless you intentionally create a shift within you that, in turn, allows for greater success. So I’ve started there, looking at women’s relationships with money, success, achievement, recognition â€" the outer stuff.   I’m then peeling the layers down to look at the inner experiences and practices that abundantly successful women embrace and nurture to access their own power and success.   What I’ve learned so far… Without a consistent nurturing of your own internal feelings of success, the external measures of success won’t come to you (or if they do, they’ll be fleeting and come with struggle, strain, and challenge). So let’s start now by getting in closer touch with our own internal barometers of success.   How do you personally define abundant success?   Do you want it, and  do you have it?   If not, what keeps you from wanting it or feeling it?   What can you do today to begin to “feel” more successful, before the outer signs of it appear? I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts about your experiences with abundant success, and what you know to be true about you and success.   Please share your insights â€" teach us! Thank you for sharing, and here’s to our many breakthroughs to abundant success!