5 Signs Your New Recruiter is Destined to Fail

5 Signs Your New Recruiter is Destined to Fail Just about every recruitment business that I am associated with, as well as those I consult to, are finding it difficult to hire great recruiters. In Australia there is such a shortage of experienced recruiters that one ‘Rec to Rec’ recruiter told me she has over 1200 vacant orders in Sydney alone! In the UK, we find that there is strong competition to hire recruiters, and Asia is much the same. So inevitability, recruitment firms (and corporates too, I imagine) will relax their criteria, maybe train more newbies into the industry, and that is no bad thing. But… The biggest cost to every recruitment firm is salaries, and the primary destroyer of profits is under-performing or failed recruiters. That is a fact. So as the recruitment industry gains momentum, we all have to make sure we hire people who can bill consistently, who can learn, and who fit our culture. The irony is that our industry is notorious for making bad hires. We don’t train that well either as a rule, and our own staff turnover is often a disgrace. Yet there is another problem, which might at first seem counter-intuitive. When we make a bad hire, often we are slow to put it right. We hold on to under-performing people for too long. Now please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t believe in ‘Hire and Fire’. But even so, there are sometimes early signs you have made a wrong hire and it’s not going to work. I am not suggesting you let someone go if one or even all of these signs emerge, but it should set off alarms and trigger action. Because doing nothing is the one thing you should not do. Slow learners  Intelligence is a much underestimated trait when it comes to recruiting. I always look for it when hiring. A newbie who is slow to learn, repeats mistakes and just does not ‘get things’ is a potential disaster. Proceed with caution. Unwilling learners  â€œCoachability “ is a key recruiter requirement in my opinion. Poor listeners, know-it-alls, and those who just can’t focus on learning different ways in their new environment, are likely to fail long-term. Social misfits  Seriously, sometimes in the first day I know I have made a bad hire. Not because they can’t recruit. But because they can’t fit in. Inappropriate jokes, over-familiarity, too loud or too quiet. Of course you have to take into account new-starter nerves, and often people settle in over time. But sometimes, you just KNOW…this is wrong! Late and lazy  I always see a red light flashing when the new recruiter starts coming in late in the first week, misses meetings, or does not follow up on simple, basic tasks you have given them. If that’s their “honeymoon” effort, just wait till a few months down the track! Lack of courage  Sounds strange talking about courage in a desk job. But, in fact, you do need to be brave in recruitment. Make that cold call. Tell that candidate they are not right for a job they really covet. Negotiate a fee. Lead a client meeting with your new boss in the room. I have noticed that new recruiters show their “courage colours” early. Don’t throw a raw newbie in the deep-end. That’s not right and unlikely to help. But they do need to be given little tasks, which involve doing tricky things. How they tackle those is a strong signal of their long term success. Please use my tips with care. Every new recruiter will show some of these faults. But on the other hand if you see them in a rookie, hone in on it. Examine it. Test it. Counsel them on it. And look for rapid improvement. If improvement is not forthcoming, you may have a serious issue.

Be As Nice As You Want, Just Dont Be Rude

Be As Nice As You Want, Just Dont Be Rude Jeremy in accounts is extremely  annoying to talk to and most probably hiding something no one is that  friendly. Ask him one question and commit to 20 minutes of sickly-sweet small talk. Send him an email and he replies within the minute, wishing you a good morning, afternoon or evening. Hes always got time for everyone. Hes just too nice. And then theres Sarah who sits on the board and hasnt got one nice bone in her body. She hasnt got much time for anyone really; her emails are short, sharp and completely lacking warmth. She wont join in on an office  Happy Birthday singalong and replies good thanks to your how are you this morning? without ever returning the question. She  keeps her distance and  doesnt care for niceties. Dealing with  extremes The office is a  breeding ground for conflicting personality types. Most people tend to sit  comfortably in the  middle ground between too nice and not nice enough; friendly and personable with a side of straight talking. However, wherever people are involved, there are always going to be extremes and consequences. and contradictory messages! There are so many conflicting messages around about how nice we should be in the workplace.  As  kids were told to play nicely, then as we move through our  adult years  were frequently warned that the nice guys finish last. In order to be successful, weve got to cut the fluff and do away with niceties, but weve also got to build strong relationships  and get people to like us. So then, whats  worse; being too nice or not nice enough? Too  nice While you  might  think being nice to absolutely everyone all the time is an automatic people-pleaser,  theres a lot of talk about how it can be damaging. Some say being too nice might  make you seem  boring, encourage people to  advantage of you and put your motives up for questioning. Needless to say, these  perceptions could all be detrimental to your reputation, undermining your ability to form meaningful  relationships with other professionals. or not nice enough? On the other hand, being perceived as not nice enough  also has the ability to turn people against you. Theres evidence to suggest being really nice to people can actually make you feel  happier, less stressed and ultimately more successful so what does that say about people who dont even try to be nice?  Those who are  extremely  direct  and impersonal  might get things done quicker and demand respect across the company, but at what cost? Do what you want It all boils down to the fact that people are naturally going to fall one way or the other; either theyll err on the side of being too nice or become accustomed to being not nice enough. And thats fine; at the end of the day theres no exact science as to  how nice you  should or shouldnt be in order to get further ahead in your career.  Its  definitely not black and white, but  there is one thing that is non-disputed. Regardless of how nice or not nice enough you choose to be, there is absolutely no reason to be rude. but dont be rude! Be direct; be stern if you like.  Do away with small talk if you need to. But dont try to justify to  yourself that rudeness is okay, because its not. Showing no remorse for messing someones schedule around, being late for meetings or making people wait is unacceptable. Speaking to people  in a patronising,  aggressive or bitterly sarcastic tone is not okay. Ignoring people or belittling them in front of others or behind closed doors for that matter could be considered bullying and can have serious repercussions for you.  Completely disregarding the effect of your actions and tone of voice on those around you is extremely careless and something to be ashamed of. Regardless of whether youre great at your job,  if you make other people feel miserable and continually alienate yourself,  at the end of the day, no one wins. You dont have to be friends with your colleagues  (or  even want them on your side), but no one is above common courtesy and everyone deserves to be treated with a certain level of respect.  What impact is your rudeness having on those around you? Treat people how you wish to be treated Its amazing  the effect one person can have on  others. Regardless of whether you fall into the too nice or not nice enough categories, or somewhere in between,  assess whether youd be happy to  be on the receiving end of your emails, words or actions. Be as nice as you want, just dont be rude.

Wine and weight loss Yes, please!

Wine and weight loss Yes, please! For many of us working women trying to do and have it “most” since we have become painfully aware that “all” is not available, Wine O’Clock is a sacred time each night. Whether a bold red or a crisp white, each glass delivers the same promise: that we may now take a moment to power down the laptop, silence the cell phone, unwind our bodies, let go in our minds, savor a meal and enjoy the ones we love. But our nightly glass of “Career Girl’s Helper” isn’t without its perils. Wine is an injection of energy in the form of pure sugar at a time when we don’t really need any extra because we’re slowing down activity-wise for the day and we’re also about to eat dinner. (And then snack in front of Netflix but that’s another subject!) Even just a one glass of wine per night habit can easily pack on 5 extra pounds a year. Multiply that by year after year and it’s easy to see how you can quickly lose yourself under a layer of extra energy that you have no time to burn. Luckily, I have a solution. And even better is that I’m in no way about to tell you to give up wine in favor of celery juice and meditation. (Seriously, life is hard enough.) All you need to do is take literally 60 seconds to get to know your own wine glasses.   Here’s how to do wine and weight loss: Pour yourself a glass of wine just like you would on an average day in the wine glass you choose most often. Get a second glass exactly like the one you use for your wine, and using a liquid measuring cup, fill that glass with exactly 8 oz. of water. Compare the glasses. Most likely you have poured more than 8 oz. (When I figured this out for myself, I was shocked to discover that a glass of wine for me was 10 oz.!) Examine the glass with the water in it, finding a characteristic on the glass to help you remember what 8 oz. of liquid looks like in that glass. This will be your new pouring goal! Now here’s the really fun part â€" incentivization. Pour your wine into the empty measuring cup to learn how much you’ve been overpouring from your new 8 oz. goal. Rounding a bit, wine is essentially 25 calories per ounce. So if you’ve been overpouring by 2 ounces, you will now be   saving yourself 50 calories per night. If you are having two glasses per night, that’s 100 calories. As you can see, the math on this gets inspiring pretty fast. Whatever your usual pour, I guarantee you that you will not miss the 2 ounces. For one week, adjust your pour and you will take in 50 calories less per glass of wine. It’s a big deal if you have one or two glasses of wine per night, you will be saving yourself 350-700 calories per week without adjusting a single food you eat or putting in one minute at the gym! Given that a pound of body fat is roughly equal to 3500 calories, it’s easy to see how, if you are consistent, you can absolutely drop between five and ten pounds in the upcoming year with this simple tweak to your daily life. How’s that for a winning strategy? For bonus points (and pounds off), do what I did and head to some cute little antique shop and find some wine glasses that make you think of an Italian café on the Amalfi coast. Old school glasses like that appear ¾ full with only 6 ounces of wine â€" a simple switch which, for me, meant a savings of about 100 calories per glass of wine! Fitness, even for the most time-challenged and exhausted amongst us, is totally doable if it begins with small tweaks injected into the life you actually live so that you can be consistent. Striving first to make an immediate difference in how you FEEL â€" in this case, the confidence that comes from taking a positive step every day through portion awareness will allow over time for the huge results you are dying to SEE. For more doable weight loss and fitness strategies like this one, check out Andrea Marcellus’ book The Way In: 5 Winning Strategies to Lose Weight, Get Strong and Lift Your Life (available wherever books are sold), and her fitness app, AND/life, available in iTunes and the Google Playstore. This guest post was authored by Andrea Marcellus Andrea Marcellus is a Los Angeles based fitness expert and life strategist with more than 20 years experience. She brings a holistic approach to the challenges of losing weight and becoming healthier. Andrea is the author of  The Way In: 5 Winning Strategies to Lose Weight, Get Strong and Lift Your Life (available wherever books are sold) and has a fitness app, AND/life, available in iTunes and the Google Playstore.

Pathways The programme and the panellists University of Manchester Careers Blog

Pathways The programme and the panellists University of Manchester Careers Blog Were now close enough to Pathways: Career Options for Doctoral Researchers to give you advance info on the programme, panels and panellists. Were always wary of doing this beforehand because things change daily. Therefore, they come with a health warning that you can never absolutely predict who will turn up on the day! So, heres what to expect (all being well): What: Pathways: Career Options for Doctoral Researchers (or see previous blog posts) Where: Renold Building, North Campus, University of Manchester Who can attend: Any University of Manchester doctoral researcher or member of research staff registration strongly recommended (otherwise we might not have enough food!) When: 8.30-9.00am registration; 9-9.30am Introduction; 9.30-10am Choose your sessions; Panel sessions at 10am, 11am, 12noon, 2pm and 3pm; 4pm Close All attendees will get a pack of information on the day, but if youd like to look at the pdfs beforehand and plan your time, here they are: What are the sessions about? Programme timetable Profiles of panellists Panellists by areas of work covered Heres a taster of what well cover, in case youd rather not open a pdf: Academic roles for….. Our panels comprise those who’ve pursued their careers within an academic context including those who have research roles and teaching positions, at all stages of progression. Broadening your horizons working overseas Panellists will talk about their experiences of pursuing careers in different countries, working cultures/environments and the advantages and disadvantages in comparison with working in the UK. Relevant to all disciplines Commercialising research, entrepreneurship or starting a business If you already have a business idea or simply an entrepreneurial spirit and want to find out more, this panel will discuss the processes and advantages of turning your research into something profitable. Relevant to Engineering Physical Sciences; Medical Human Sciences Going solo â€" consultancy, self employment working freelance If you like the sound of being your own boss or more flexibility about the work you do, this session is for you.   Our panellists have taken the brave step of going it alone and have lived to tell the tale. Relevant to all disciplines I’ve been a postdoc â€" here’s my story Our panel will talk about their experiences of working in Postdoctoral roles â€" the highs and the lows. Relevant to all disciplines I’ve done things that aren’t related to my PhD â€" so can you! Whether they planned to or simply have found themselves taking a ‘scenic’ career path, our panellists will talk about the positions they have held which are not related to their specific discipline of study.   A session for anyone who wants to change direction or simply wishes to find out what’s possible with any PhD. Relevant to all disciplines It’s OK to change your mind! Very few people have a job for life these days. Moving between organisations, roles and sectors, are increasingly common. It is possible to change your mind no matter where you are on your career journey. If you’re feeling trapped, confused about where to go next or just want to see what’s possible, come and listen to the positive stories our panel has to share about trying new things. Relevant to all disciplines Marketing yourself and your PhD to employers How do you articulate the benefits of having studied for your PhD and convince employers that you have the skills they are looking for?   Our panel will draw on their own experiences and through providing skills training to PhD students to discuss how you can ensure you give yourself the edge over other applicants. Relevant to all disciplines Should I stay or should I go? Options for international students who wish to work in the UK after their studies Our panellists have all chosen to remain in the UK since finishing their PhDs. They will talk about the challenges, the opportunities and compare what working in the UK is really like. Relevant to all disciplines What can I do with a PhD in Humanities/Engineering Physical, Human, Life or Medical Sciences? More things you can do with a PhD in Humanities/Engineering Physical Sciences… We’ve brought together panellists who are connected by discipline area (EPS/Humanities/MHS/LS) but who’ve followed a range of different career pathways to give you just a flavour of the options available to you.   We’re sure you’ll be inspired by the wide range of pathways you could follow. What do employers look for in PhD applicants? From CVs and applications through to job interviews, what are recruiters looking for when they are assessing PhD candidates?   We have invited panellists with lots of collective experience of hiring PhDs who can give honest insights and share their tips and advice on how you can stand out from other applicants. Relevant to all disciplines Which is better industry or academia? Our panels will compare and contrast their experiences of working inside and outside Universities. Which have they enjoyed more? What are the benefits that each can offer? How have they moved between the two areas? Relevant to all disciplines You don’t have to be an academic to work in a university Enjoy being part of a University environment but not sure you want to pursue an academic, research or teaching career?   Have you ever thought about the wide range of non-academic jobs within universities?   Come along and find out more. Relevant to all disciplines You don’t just have to work in academia to be a researcher What are the opportunities to continue a research career outside Universities?   How do these roles differ? Where do you find them and how do you get them? Relevant to all disciplines 360+ doctoral researchers have already registered look forward to seeing you all there. All Postgraduate academia employability job market Options

9 easy ways to improve your self-care at university

9 easy ways to improve your self-care at university This post was written by a member of the Debut Student Publisher Network. Here Beth rounds up her top tips for self-care whilst youre at uni:   Starting university can come as a slight shock to the system. You are suddenly surrounded by strangers, after years of stability, being looked after and having someone around to make you some soup when you’re sick. I’m sorry to break it to you, but the only way you’re getting any Heinz Chicken Noodle now is if you use your own money (gasp) and walk to the shop (double gasp) to buy it then cook it yourself (faints due to exhaustion). Looking after yourself takes more than just having a full fridge. Self-care is a practice that includes any actions to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Sometimes it can be challenging just to motivate yourself to get out of bed in the morning, but that’s OK. It’s fine to look at these as things to praise yourself for. So what if you haven’t managed to read your books this week? At least you made a nice healthy lunch and went for a run this morning, go you! Here is your ultimate self-care checklist to make sure youre looking after yourself in every possible way. Sleep First, you’ve got to cover the basics. Sleep is a massive one. If you’re not sleeping well, think about why and if you can change it. Or, if you’re being a bit reckless and have got into a bad routine, kick start a better one by going to bed early, or getting up early. When in doubt nap. The benefits are numerous, including increased creativity, alertness, and productivity. Plus the release of growth hormone provides the antidote to cortisol (the stress hormone) which  means less anxiety, and an improved mood. Im seeing no downsides here. Re-fuel Next step is to give yourself energy by eating enough, regularly, and well. If you don’t have time to shop, then a supermarket delivery is great, and lets you stock up on anything you need without having to lug it back from the shop. Think about what’s healthy, and quick (I’m a big fan of Joe Wick’s Instagram for tasty, speedy and nutritious food) and try to make sure you eat it. Suggest a group meal in your flat, that way you share the effort and the cost, and get to spend some time with the people around you. Hydrate Finally, drink water. Lots of it. There are no down sides, as it gives you more energy, helps concentration, and will keep you hydrated. Plus it’s an easy and free way to feel good. Managed 3 litres today? Good for you! Especially if your fresher lifestyle involves a lot of alcohol, the only way to get over a hangover is to hydrate. Exercise There are absolutely loads of ways that exercise can benefit your mental health and general mood. Not only does it keep your body fit, but it also promotes changes in the brain, and releases endorphins that energise you. Even if you’re not athletic, there are so many sports clubs for non-sporty people that you can join at university! Exercise can be a great distraction, and make you concentrate on achieving goals/targets/making it home without collapsing so you forget other stresses in your life. Speaking of stress… Relieve tension Stress is the enemy of self-care, as it is detrimental to all areas of your health. How you deal with this is completely specific to you. Whether that means having a relaxing bath (if your student bathroom isn’t too disgusting), a Netflix session, knitting, cooking, or playing video games, remember to take a break from work and devote some time to yourself. You can even practice anchoring which involves using a physical queue, such as pressing your thumb and finger together, in situations where you feel calm. Your brain starts to associate that feeling with the motion, and you can use it to anchor yourself if you feel out of control. Halt wintertime blues This is especially relevant at this time of year, as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can mean you may feel in a low mood or lethargic as the days become shorter. In the run up to Christmas, self-care by keeping yourself warm, looking after your skin (a nice moisturiser can help hands dried out by the cold) or even consider getting a light box if necessary, to simulate exposure to sunlight, and thrive in the winter months. Cook a big flat roast to celebrate surviving the term. Mindfulness There are some amazing websites and apps out there that can help you on your self-care journey. My personal favourite is Headspace which makes meditation simple, by breaking it into 10 minute chunks. Their free Take Ten sessions concentrate on making you aware of your body, clearing your mind and accepting how you feel emotionally. Talk about it One of the biggest hurdles that mental health has to face is the fact that discussing it openly is still taboo. It’s getting better, but there’s certainly a long way to go. The hashtag #TalkingAboutIt was created by Sammy Nickalls, who began tweeting about mental health to normalise it, in the way that people take to twitter to complain about having a cough or cold. As her website says, “we all have mental health. So why are we keeping ours a secret?” Prioritise self-care everyday Make your mental health a priority in your life, alongside your degree. It won’t take effect all at once, but if you start really considering self-care as a part of your daily routine, then slowly you’ll see the difference. Start by following @tinycarebot on twitter, for reminder such as “3: remember to take some time to ask your friends for help if you need it please” to brighten up your day. These tweets say it’s OK to slow down, and just take a moment to tell yourself it’s all going to be alright. Treat yourself well every single day, and take care, Debutants. Feature image via  Pexels Download the Debut app and  get Talent-Spotted by amazing graduate employers! Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

3 Job Seeker Resolutions for the New Year

3 Job Seeker Resolutions for the New Year 1.  Use The Phone More 8 Flares 8 Flares 1.  Use The Phone More Social Media is still the talk of the town, but we cant forget about the phone.  Ive made some really incredible friends through my social networks, but Im 100% closer with the folks that Ive talked to on the phone or have met in person.  In your job search strategies and goal setting sessions, reach for 3-4 phone conversations per week with new network connections or people youve known for a while but havent talked to. 2.  Make Job Search a Full Time Job Some people claim job searching should be a 9-5 job.  I dont know about all of that, but I do know that spending 3-4 hours per day on your job search will product results.  How do you break d own the 3-4 hours per day?  That part is completely up to the job seeker, but there are several main areas to focus on: Social Networking Connect with influencers on Twitter, FB, Linkedin, or other social networking sites Browsing Job Boards They arent dead.  Check out the major job boards, but also spend time on niche sites targeted towards your profession. Searching for Networking Events Spend some time per week looking for events coming to your area. Phone Calls With Connections Look up to #1 above .  Reach out to influential or interesting people in your network and set up a quick phone call. Writing Thank You Notes Following-up Reach out to employers that youve already interviewed with or submitted an application to.  Give them a week or so between each contact. PRACTICE Practice everything.  Write out popular interview questions and answer them.  KNOW your resume like it is the back of your hand.  Do you remember studying for history tests in high school?  It was ALL memorization.  Memorizing your career history will help you big time. 3.  Stop Waiting Ive done it and maybe youve done it too.  I remember once I found a company that I really wanted to work for.  I never heard back after my interview, even though it just felt right.  I didnt apply anywhere else, because I KNEW the job was mine.  As it turns out, I didnt know shit.  The company hired someone else, but they took 12 weeks to let me know that.  I waited so long because I was already employed, but was looking for the way out.  Eventually I found another job that I absolutely loved.  It was a wonderful 2 years at that company that I wouldnt trade for anything. What happened to the other company?  They were bought out by CitiBank shortly after I found out I didnt get the job, and my guess is that all of HR was let go.  Its funny how things work sometimes. Moral of the story is to stop waiting around.  Stop blaming companies for not getting back to you.  Move on and youll be happy you did.

Your Job Resume Experience Writes

Your Job Resume Experience WritesThe requirements for obtaining employment are becoming increasingly rigid, as the individual with the appropriate qualifications for the job position is required to write the exact kind of resume that the potential employer will be looking for. At the same time, companies also want to have the advantage of finding the right candidate for the position.Resumes should appear professional but concise. The information that you should be writing on your resume is the same information that would be found in an email. It should outline all the important elements of your resume to ensure that it is what will make the potential employer choose you over other candidates.On a person's resume, they are listing their achievements and accomplishments. This section could be categorized into five basic sections - education, work experience, personal qualities, references and other skills. It is important to make sure that you include the education section of the resum e. In this section, you should be listed your educational background and present your degree in a concise manner.When you are reviewing the work experience section of your resume, make sure that you list all the jobs that you have held. Use this section to describe your experience in the specific job that you hold. If there are additional duties that you performed, then include those as well.The next section that you should include is your personal qualities. These personal qualities will include aspects of your personality such as your leadership ability, creativity, honesty, teamwork and patience. You should be very specific about how you were able to perform each of these qualities in your job.The last section of your resume that you should have is the references section. This section is very important. The references section should include any previous employers that you have worked with. List the names and titles of these past employers in order of most recent to least. The fin al section of your resume that you should have is the skills section. This section should discuss your skills in areas such as the following: communication, problem solving, communication skills, organizational skills, decision making, time management, data entry, marketing, technical skills, etc.When you are reviewing your resume, always include the specific sections that describe the experiences that you have had. Your resume experience writing should take the reader away from the 'information overload' and provide them with information that allows them to better understand what kind of person you are.