Do LinkedIn Recommendations Really Add Value

Do LinkedIn Recommendations Really Add Value By now we have probably all seen the new LinkedIn  endorsements which allow you to easily click endorse your connections.  As lovely as this is and everyone likes to be endorsed, from a recruiter’s point of view, nothing beats a written LinkedIn recommendation. This has always been the most beneficial element to the LinkedIn profile in my own opinion. When I am checking out a profile from someone who has sent me their CV (and when they haven’t) I go straight to the recommendations first. Fake recommendations Most recruiters realise that people’s friends or family write many recommendations on LinkedIn and do you know what, good luck to them. Just be aware that an interviewer may print off your recommendations and ask you in your interview how you know ‘Aimee Bateman’ and when did you work together? Talk to me about that?  If you don’t give a genuine answer then it may be clear that you are ‘blagging’ a little. I personally have never done this at interview, but I do know interviewers who have. Recommendations that DON’T stand out So many recommendations are vague and full of buzzwords that they often sound the same. Aimee was a pleasure to work with and always gave 100%. She got on with the team and got the job done. I would recommend her in the future I think we can all agree that this is a great recommendation and I would of course be grateful to receive anything of this nature.  The problem is, it is similar to thousands of other recommendations and when we hear the same thing repeatedly, it loses its impact. We can all think of a song that we loved, but it lost its impact after we played it for the one-hundredth time. I know that we can’t control what people write in their recommendations. I also know that when you get sent a recommendation the last thing you want to do is send it back and ask them to delete the buzzwords.  What we can do however is ensure that we improve the quality of recommendations we provide for people and if you have asked for one, then you could give that person some guidelines. Recommendations that DO stand out Ask them to think about the following: What is your key strength (include example) What did they enjoy about working with you the most (include example) What word would they use to describe you and why (include example) One problem that they had, which you helped them overcome and how (include example, their feelings and your action points) I worked with a lady called Janette a few years ago, who hadn’t had a sick day in ten years. Her previous manager talked about her work ethic and included this example. We asked him to include that in his recommendation and the feedback she got from potential employers was amazing. This is the reason she was invited to an interview with a client of mine, but maybe that’s another blog post. Did you help with a cost saving project, due to your impressive negotiation skills? Or are you so skilled at dealing with conflict situations, that you were the person they sent in whenever their was a problem anywhere. Were you so committed to the business that you even answered a work call on your wedding day? (I don’t think this is cool, but you can see what I’m trying to do here!)  Don’t forget to do the same when writing recommendations for others that are truly going to benefit them in their job search. I hope this article doesn’t sound ungrateful in anyway and I know that it is wonderful to receive a genuine recommendation. I am so thankful for each and every one of mine. I just think in this crowded job market, everything you can do to stress your benefits and the value you bring, is worth doing. RELATED: How Recruiters Can Make Use of LinkedIn Recommendations

Professional Resume Writing Services

Professional Resume Writing ServicesTuckahoe is one of the leading firms in New York that provides professional resume writing services to clients all over the world. They offer great services at competitive rates. They also have over a hundred thousand people who are employed with them.The way they have implemented their method for recruiting staffs is by having a customer service department that handles the queries that they receive from customers on a daily basis. One can find many different services available, such as resume and cover letter writing, professional consultation, custom business writing etc. Tuckahoe has also set up the training facilities so that you can become an expert on this business.The career professionals in this company are trained to provide services that are most sought after by the job seeker. The services that are offered here will help you to manage your career as well as professional development.The customer service representatives are trained in tech nical skills, ethical behavior and other managerial skills that are necessary for the employment of people. There are many people who were offered services by Tuckahoe who end up quitting due to the lack of satisfaction.The problem is that they did not know that they could get the services of a company who offers technological support with the required technical expertise to fix the problems in the job search processes. This will help you in getting the best out of these professional resume writing services, which can make your life much easier.The problem that they have faced is that the technical support does not come with the package as there is no separate subscription charge for technical support. This is why they continue to depend on the companies who they hire.These companies offer their services for free as a part of their services. This can prove to be a great benefit as the service providers are reputed and will know how to resolve any kind of problem or queries that they might get.The Company has many products that they have developed on their own. This is because they have gained experience as a result of the continuous use of these services.

Why Gen Y outperforms everyone at work

Why Gen Y outperforms everyone at work Maybe the reason that young people are optimistic in the face of a poor job market is that young people can probably do your job better than older people can. The truth is, non-gen-y-workers have a bunch of shortcomings when it comes to competing with todays workforce. Management consultant Stephen Denning has a great little history of management in his new book, The Leaders Guide to Radical Management. He points out that managers of the 20th century were trained to supervise people to get them to do stuff, to perform tasks. But now that most people are knowledge workers and not semi-skilled workers, we need managers who inspire, motivate, and encourage collaboration-managers, even, who care about the well-being of their employees and strive to make the workplace meaningful. And thats not a corporate world where the older set is generally comfortable. Yup, Im arguing that Gen Y that age-group that gets dumped on for acting all entitled can teach everyone something about making it in the modern workforce. A lot, actually, because Gen Y is more prepared and has an advantage over older folks with far more experience. Here are areas where Gen Y can run circles around everyone at work: 1. Productivity Young people can find information faster and sort information faster than older people. For example, young people are more likely to use the best tool at the best time: They collaborate on wiki-type tools with ease. They crowdsource. Theyre aces with downloading software onto the company laptop to become more productive and efficient. Think about it: Younger people dont utter the phrase information overload because they dont feel it; they benefit from the plasticity of the brain, which has adapted, over their Internet-based lives to process information faster. 2. Communication Its popular to worry that Gen Y cant write and talk face-to-face, but thats nonsense. It turns out that  young people are better communicators than everyone else. A large and long-term  study at Stanford  shows that the process of writing online, for a large audience, throughout childhood, is a terrific way to learn to write effectively far more so than the process of writing for a single reader (i.e., the classroom teacher). And while most generations wrote only for school assignments, Gen Y-ers have been writing constantly ever since they could type, which means since they were little kids. The Stanford study concludes that living online makes Gen Ys communication skills sharper and more effective than those of older generations. 3. Career mobility Here are some sectors that are getting absolutely killed right now: Banking, manufacturing, real estate, and construction. Sure, young people are in those fields-and others, for that matter, that have been hard hit-but these sectors are crowded with Baby Boomers. And Baby Boomers just arent as comfortable as their younger colleagues when it comes to job-hopping. I realize its generally easier to job-hop when youre younger, for all the obvious reasons, but I older people just have to lower their salary expectations, be open to the idea of changing fields, and realize that the in-demand jobs now require skills where years of experience dont matter: techcommunications analysts,  self-enrichment educators, are  occupations that are booming  right now. 4. Career resilience. Young people  use entrepreneurship as a career safety net. And when they dont earn enough money, they are likely to move back in with their parents,  which is probably not a bad thing for them to do  (Parents: comments below please). This means that when young people cant find a job they like, they make their own, and that makes it easier for them to ride out a lousy economy. Even better, young people are  starting companies in their parents basement  instead of taking entry-level jobs. They are  choosing temp jobs over full-time jobs  and they care more about where they live and what they learn in their careers than they do about titles and salaries. The ability to live where you want has never been greater, and  new resources are popping up  to help people achieve this flexibility. So what can you do if youre feeling nervous about job security? Congratulate yourself for being realistic. There is no job security anymore; and we all know that age discrimination against baby boomers is rampant (sorry, but its true). But heres the key: No matter how old you are, you can learn Gen Y skills. Learn to communicate as they do, and learn to collaborate as they do. Stop worrying that the younger crowd is getting the jobs you want, and start thinking more like a Gen-y-er. And if you want to know what generation you a really fall into,  take this test.

Are You Your Own Bully

Are You Your Own Bully When I was much younger, I was sort of bullied. I say “sort of” because there was no physical harm done and there was nothing I would consider verbal abuse. Being a darker-skinned person was the cause for much of the ridicule. Being an African, your parents recourse comes in two forms. One is asking you: “Are words going to kill you?” The other is, “Well, you will be a stronger person because of it.” I don’t mean to make my parents sound harsh but African culture expects certain toughness when it comes to things like this, and besides they were right; I did become a stronger person because of it. Still, it wasn’t until my late teens, that I truly became comfortable in my own skin, literally. When the movie, “Dark Girls” came out it was interesting to see that I wasn’t the only one who had struggled with it. Women of all age ranges, even women in their 50s still had painful memories of their ridicule.  It was heart-breaking to watch, but I think it made me realize that it had been a blessing for me to intentionally “get over it” at a young age. Have you ever had anything people made fun of you for? When most people meet me, they recognize a confidence that I have and for the most part it’s true. I am confident in my intelligence, personality, and values. Still, it wasn’t until something my senior year college roommate said that made me realize I was insecure about how attractive I thought others thought I was.  We were talking about my inability (which is really my unwillingness) to approach guys. She said, “I think you automatically assume that guys you‘re attracted to won’t be attracted to you….and that’s silly” Those words rang in my ear â€" it was like a secret about me that I wasn’t aware of until she pointed it out. Then I was watching a Lifetime movie that centered on the same theme and this girl told her brother that he was already ruling himself out without even giving himself a chance. He was being his own bully. Are you your own bully? Do you sometimes think that you’re not good-looking enough or smart enough or generally good enough for something (or someone) that you don’t even try to go after what you want? I know that up until recently and after talking with a new friend who is very into the psychology of women and the way we think, I had been my own bully when it came to that area of my life. I did feel like guys that I was attracted to would not go for me. The same way some of my friends thought they weren’t smart enough for certain classes or majors or jobs. The same way people I know believe they aren’t good enough to be at certain restaurants or places or around certain people. I had to change the way I saw myself. For someone who feels so confident in many things, to be insecure about an area like this is, well, a little ridiculous. I had to have a serious conversation with myself and to STOP being my own bully. Looks, intelligence, values, etc. â€" they’re all touchy subjects .They are also things that can make us feel insecure at one time or another because there will always be someone who seemingly is prettier, smarter, funnier and “better.” Still, it’s high-time many of us start believing that we DESERVE what we want. Whether it’s the guy you’re attracted to at your gym (cough, cough), the job you seek, the lifestyle you want and even the person you want to be. YOU DESERVE IT. So I ask again: Are you your own bully? If so, about what? Moreover, what are you going to do about it TODAY?

Why Hire Online Professional Resume Writing Services?

Why Hire Online Professional Resume Writing Services?Professional resume writing services are the most reliable and cost effective means of presenting a potential employer with your best qualifications. They are able to present you as a valued and highly qualified employee. When you hire a professional resume writer to work with you, you will benefit from a resume that is clear, concise, and interesting.Online professional resume writing services are skilled in producing professionally written resumes in a timely manner. Some require that your work history is included, but others do not. In addition, many online professional resume writing services offer sample resumes for you to use. This allows you to get an idea of what to expect.A growing number of companies are using online professional resume writing services because they are more cost effective than going through an agency. Using an agency requires more than just a resume. These service providers also include a cover letter th at is required by many employers.The top reason to choose online resume writing services is the cost. They are often much less expensive than the average agency, and they often allow you to customize your resume to the specifications of the employer. Once you have hired a professional resume writer, you can rest assured that your resume will be delivered quickly, thus maximizing your time for other business related tasks.An online resume service may also customize your resume to the job you are applying for. A resume has to be completely unique to the position you are applying for. Without the assistance of a professional writer, it is very difficult to achieve a perfect resume. However, when the resume is customized, it becomes easy to meet the requirements of the employer.The wording on your resume can also be customized. Even though the company or employer may be the same, the requirements for completing the task at hand are often different. A resume should reflect the requiremen ts of the specific job you are seeking. Your resume must be understandable and be in writing format that is easy to read. Some online professional resume writing services also offer the option of an electronic application that will help your potential employer to make a decision about whether or not to hire you.Another great advantage of hiring a resume writer is that the writer can address any questions you may have. Most people like the idea of writing a resume, but do not understand why it has to be so wordy. The typical resume is over three hundred pages long. Since so many applicants have to be rejected, many employers and recruiters do not have the time to go through the resume. An online professional resume writer can fill in the blanks and provide you with an outline of your career goals.Once you have found an online resume writing services that you trust, you can sit back and relax. You can let them do the legwork for you and let them do the work of creating the perfect res ume. You can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Is That Hiring Company Ghosting You

Is That Hiring Company Ghosting You Can  you imagine a world where companies devote  as much  energy and resources to the  job  candidate experience as they do to the customer experience?  Nice dream, eh?   Unfortunately,  reality  is not so pleasant; it’s actually  trending in the  opposite  direction. According to a recent  Manpower Group Solutions survey, 58  percent  of  job seekers  say that a negative  candidate  experience makes them less likely to buy a company’s products or services.     During my three decades  as  a  hiring manager  and  a  job-seeker,  and  now  as a  coach  of  thousands of  candidates, the  level of  candidate frustration has gotten worse.  Not  one job-seeker    at any age  and  with any background    has said to me,  â€œWow, even though I didn’t get the job, that company was so respectful that I like them more now than before I applied!”       Per Manpower, the following are the top most impactful negative candidate experiences:   61% Lack of transparency on salary or job description   60% Negative interview experience   56% No employer follow-up after initial interview   55% No response to a submitted job application   48% Response to a job application 6-8 weeks after submittal   This negative trend is shocking to me  for two reasons:   1 Technology  can enable candidate  respect.   Most companies have access to technology called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which has the functionality to send customized messages to candidates on every  step of the recruiting  and hiring  process:     After a candidate applies on a company website (or via any job board).   After a first round interview or screen via phone, video or live.   After a second or third round interview.   Notifying  the candidate  that they  will  or will  not proceed to the next step of the hiring process.     Unfortunately,  even  with  this technology,  the “black hole” of online applications has become a sink hole.  Even  when a candidate has the benefit of an  internal employee referral, introduction to a hiring manager, or  good internal  networking, the  corporate  silence is deafening.     2 Marketing  principles  recognizing  the  long-term  value of a  customer  are ignored with  job  candidates.   The massive impact of customer loyalty is critical to every company, small, medium or large, and carefully measured and tracked. Companies budget huge marketing dollars to attract  and retain  customers  and  build loyalty.  Customer loyalty is  a  critical  element  to generate repeat business,  to  cross-sell or up-sell  products and services,  to establish  competitive differentiation,  and  to generate  word-of-mouth marketing.     Imagine  that  for every position there are 100 applicants, 4 final candidates,  and 1  new hire. What an opportunity to create  â€œraving fans”  rather than  frustrated customers. It’s no wonder sites such as Glassdoor.com are filled with complaints  instead of compliments  about the hiring process.     There are  several  probable causes for this decline in candidate care;  I have two theories.     Employee compensation is not tied to  candidate  satisfaction.   There are two major parties tied to a single hiring process:  recruitment  â€" typically managed by  human resources,  and  the hiring manager. Yet neither are measured or compensated  on  the  post-process  impact on job applicants and candidates.  Candidates try to follow up with e-mails, phone calls,  and LinkedIn messages, yet they are mostly ignored.   Hiring executives are abdicating  to Recruiting and Human Resources.   When I was  a senior  sales team  hiring manager  at Microsoft there were no standard rules or  processes  to notify applicants of their status,  even if they  had  interviewed and  were  in  â€œwait mode.”     However, I was empowered to do what I felt was the right thing; so, my recruiter and I agreed that every applicant would receive a note  of acknowledgement and appreciation. Then,  after  an informational interview or formal interview, each candidate would receive an update.  I sent the finalists a personal e-mail  and my  recruiter sent  e-mails to the others.   I believe that hiring managers  should be responsible for  the brand impact  of their hiring process  and  should  continue to  ask,  â€œWhat  can we do  to improve every candidate’s impression?”   Beyond simple  courtesy notes and  prompt  responses to inquiries, there is so much more that  a company  can do to turn a candidate’s miserable job search  experience  into a “wow factor.”     With small inexpensive actions, a company can stand out as a kind considerate organization. And a great brand. Join Dana  Manciagli’s  Job Search Master Class  now  and get the most comprehensive job search system available! #JSMC #careeradvice  #jobsearch  #jobcandidateexperience  #hiringprocess

Guide for Choosing the Right SEO Package

Guide for Choosing the Right SEO Package Photo credit: ImNotQuiteJack via Foter.com / CC BY-SA How do you get business? Referrals?   Paid traffic through Google or Facebook?   What about the free traffic that comes from good search engine optimization (SEO)? Most business owners barely find time to keep their business running and their website relatively up to date.   But if youre relying on your website to bring you leads, it could be letting you down. It isnt your fault.   Youre not a full time SEO consultant who lives and breathes SEO.   And if you did youd be in a different business entirely. But you do need your site to bring customers and convert them. With studies showing that more than 90% of online experiences begin on a search engine, search engine optimization or SEO is more important than ever. Most users searching for a particular product or service on the Internet do not look beyond the first page of search results, which means that if you want potential customers to find your website or online store over your rivals, you need SEO to rank right up there in the top positions. Moreover, good SEO practices will not only boost your search engine rankings, enhance web presence and drive more targeted traffic, they will also make your website faster and more user-friendly. And that where an SEO consultant comes in.   You dont have the time or expertise to do it yourself.   So the SEO consultant is key to getting it done and quickly. But how do you choose an SEO vendor when they know all the buzzwords and you dont? It is like going into the car repair shop with a knocking sound in your engine and having no clue whether what the mechanic diagnoses is accurate or not and if the price he gives to fix it makes sense.   It is the same way here.   You need a guide. So find out all you need to know about SEO vendors and the best packages for your business requirements in this latest infographic from  WL Media.