Why Foursquare is Great for Employer Branding

Why Foursquare is Great for Employer Branding Foursquare is a firm favourite here at the Undercover Recruiter. Ive already shown you how to use Foursquare for recruitment, and I wanted to fight in  defence  of the app after recent criticisms. Takeaways Gamification: Foursquare is a great example of  gamification with points and mayorships. Safe: Foursquare is not stalkerish and is safe as you cant see a users check-in history. Employer Branding: Employers can create Foursquare pages (such as the Link Humans page), own venues and can create Events through the website, making check-ins interactive and full of detail. RELATED: How to Use Foursquare for Recruitment

December is for getting things done, January is for BS

December is for getting things done, January is for BS I try to never do New Years resolutions. Statistically speaking theyre the path to failure. If you are committed to  doing something big, youll do it now.  Also, in December people have a sense that time is running out, so they do things carefully and methodically. In January people have a sense that its a new year and there are twelve fresh months and I think that leads to delusional BS about how much we can get done. Which is why I like looking at what people do in December. Those are the people getting stuff done. They are not waiting. I first noticed this when I was at the bottom of the corporate ladder, and I had to be in the office between Christmas and New Years. I noticed that tons gets done during that time, its just not the stuff youd expect to get done. Like, its a great time to take over parts of your bosss job, since shes not there, and then you can show everyone how capable you are. So each year I keep an eye out for whats going on in December. Heres what Ive noticed this year, and once you read these examples, I bet youll think of even more reasons to watch people in December for inspiration. 1. Flights to nowhere to gain status. Do you wonder what Melissa is doing right now? She is traveling to make sure she maintains flight status on American. If you want to know the long-term impact is of traveling for work, here it is: you cant stand to lose your flight status. For most people, its like a drug:  once you feel the benefits you cant imagine flying without them. You dont wait in lines, you get rebooked fast, you get upgraded a lot. My friend Rachel Zemser is a food scientist and she flies all over the place helping startup founders get the right ingredients for their food products. (Little known employment secret: there is huge, unmet demand for food scientists in the US because food companies dont like advertising that they need to hire them.) What I love about people who take these nutty flights is that they are finishers. So many people get halfway done with something and stop. If you do that it doesnt matter how close you came. People who take crazy flights to nowhere are people who are good at cost-benefit analysis and they finish what they start. 2. Hiring binges while everyone is at the office party. The other thing Melissa is doing is running a recruiting business. Did you know that more people are hired in December and January than any other months? Job hunters like to think that December is a dead month because job hunting is hard, and everyone wants to take a break now and then. But really, you should take your break in August. And maybe June. But not December. You think everyone is dressing up for their new girlfriends overly swank office party. But really, everyones thinking of getting those last drips from this years hiring budget before it gets taken away on January 1. So right now Melissa is busy with her recruiting business. I think it started because she knows so many people, so its easy for her to match them. But also, Melissa has had a million jobs  and she is better at getting jobs than keeping jobs, so it makes sense that she would be a professional at helping other people get jobs. Of course Melissas clients are not the candidates but the hiring manager, and it turns out that most people dont know what they are hiring for, and they create job descriptions that say nothing and its Melissas job to help people understand what they want so she can find the right match. Which means Melissa has become an ace at reading between the lines of job descriptions, and heres her take on what companies are actually after: MBA required. We hate that we paid for graduate school, so you have to also. Proven ability to leverage the future of social media tools. We have no idea how to use social media. Please help us. Salary requirements are a must. We are looking for someone we can get extra cheap. Bring passion and dedication. You will be expected to care more about your work than your life. Has unshakeable optimism and energy. Will not get discouraged by our dismal workplace and your crappy position. 3. Schedules with nothing on them to get more done. I actually think you could deconstruct the insipid productivity industry in the same way Melissa deconstructs job ads. For example, When personal development guru Steve Pavlina says get the courage to live consciously, he really means you get more done if you abandon your kids. That said, December  is still a great time to try new time management tactics because the pace of work slows down (unless youre in retail, of course).  My own focus this month is on tactics for productivity that dont piss me off. I am looking for strategies that assume I have relationships that matter in my life  that cannot be cut off due to my productivity demands. The Harvard Business Review suggests having good boundaries instead of good balance. This makes sense to me but I am not sure which boundaries to start with. Then I saw that  successful people have empty schedules. And I decided that this is good place for me to practice boundaries. And while I was making a plan, I realized that having an empty schedule makes sense for everyone. Heres why: The world breaks up into two types of people: those who to go the meeting to plan and those who start doing the work after the plans are made. (Want to understand which one you are and why? Take this course.)  So if you are getting work done then you need a clear, open space in your day to think and focus. And if you are managing things then you need to be available to people because your job is to make sure everyone is able to work at their optimum pace without being held up by managerial BS. (Wendy Clark, SVP of marketing at Coca-Cola, does a great job of explaining the importance of managers being available.) I used to think that Im a doer when Im writing my blog and Im a manager for my new startup, so its understandable that Id have a packed schedule. But Ive found in the last few weeks that when I purposely cleared everything from my calendar I felt more capable of doing everything. Now I have to figure out what to put back, of course. But it only takes three weeks for a habit to take hold, and December has 31 days, so Ive got time.

Your Friends Dont Help You Get Jobs

Your Friends Dont Help You Get Jobs But your acquaintances do. I’m re-reading Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, and enjoying his discussion of Connectors all over again. For those of you who may not be familiar with his work,  Malcolm Gladwell, in his groundbreaking book The Tipping Point, calls some people “Connectors.”   He says that there really are a few people who seem to “know everybody.”   These people tend to meet and connect to more people than the average person, and they seem to take pleasure in connecting others as well.   One of the things Gladwell  says is characteristic of Connectors is that they touch many different worlds.   By that, he means that Connectors don’t limit themselves to their jobs or personal lives to create and expand their networks.   They set foot in many different worlds.   It’s part of what Gladwell describes as their “combination of curiosity, self-confidence, sociability and energy.” Here’s what he means by “worlds.”   Let’s say you work in a mid-size public accounting firm in Jacksonville.   You’ve been employed there for eight years. We’ll call this your primary professional “world.” Presumably, you are  well-connected in this world; your network of peers, clients and professional connections should be strong and vibrant. You work on the south side of Jacksonville, so you also know people in your office park, the restaurants and stores around your office, and others who live and work in that geographic location. You also live in St. Johns County, so you have connections throughout St. Augustine.   You volunteer at your son’s school, so you know staff and parents from that world. You are an avid film buff, so you’re also connected to the local film scene and many people in film production here in Northeast Florida. You also attend evening classes at UNF, so you know students, professors and staff there.   You begin to see how many “worlds” you actually live in every week. Why is that important?   Networking is about deep connections, but it’s also about wide ones.   Gladwell estimates that most of the benefit you get from your network does not come from strong connections (former bosses, personal friends, etc.) but from what he terms “weak ties.” Your friends, after all, he argues, “usually occupy the same world you do.   How much, then, will they know that you won’t?”   Your acquaintances often occupy different worlds.  They may not be close enough â€" geographically or in temperament â€" to become friends, but they are almost sure to know things and have connections you don’t. All you have to do is figure out what you want to know.   Whether it’s ”someone who works in marketing at ABC company” or “how soon the south office of XYZ company will open up” or even “where can I get a great interview suit at a bargain price,” if you can articulate what you want, one of your “weak ties” can help you find it. How many worlds do you have a foot in?   Who could help you ?

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why it Pays to Be More Popular at Work

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why it Pays to Be More Popular at Work Does any of this sound familiar? You have to introduce yourself to the security guard every day to gain entrance to your office, and youve worked at the company for three years. At last years holiday gathering, the office manager mistakenly thought you were the Federal Express driver and handed you two packages instead of a glass of wine. You were out sick for nearly a week before anyone noticed you were gone. Such treatment may frustrate you, or you may care less. But unless youve been wearing Harry Potters cloak of invisibility, you need to be concerned with such a lack of popularity. While being unpopular in school may not have mattered to you,being unpopular at workcan mean you earn less money, arent considered for promotions and may be thought of only when the company is putting together a layoff list. Toiling in obscurity may seem ideal to you, but it can be devastating to your career. It also can lead to less satisfaction at work, as research shows that strong social connections on the job canimprove productivity, make you more passionate about what you do and less likely to quit your job. A Gallup Organization survey found that having close friendships at work can boost employee satisfaction by as much as 50%. So how do you boost your popularity at work? Think about: Listening better.When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who wasnt tapping away on a smartphone, glancing at email or appearing distracted? If you offer your undivided attention to someone, you convey the message that you think theyre important. If you become a good sounding board, others are more likely to seek you out more often. Using good manners.Teenager Maya Van Wagenen was new to her Brownsville, Texas , school and wanted to be more popular. So using a 1950s etiquette book called Betty Cornells Teen-Age Popularity Guide, Van Wagenen began to follow advice such as being yourself, not putting on airs and treating everyone with the same kindness. The advice not only helped the teen become more popular, but the chronicling of her efforts garnered her a $300,000 book deal. DreamWorks has optioned movie rights to the book. Ifbeing nice and politecan make a teenager popular and successful, why not you? Offering compliments. Compliments are a great way to make others feel good about themselves, and that can help them feel good about you. Just be careful of what you choose to compliment. For example, You look sexy in that sweaterisnt(read more here)

Meet the graduates who founded their own startup at university - Debut

Meet the graduates who founded their own startup at university - Debut This post was written by an external contributor.  Natalie Leal interviewed some inspirational  students who have created a startup whilst studying.   Being a student is often associated with being poor â€" three years of eating baked beans on toast, drinking cheap beer at the uni bar, and paying back a huge loan once you graduate. But what if you could use your time at university to make money rather than struggle with it? Research by Santander earlier this year found that more than a quarter of current students are doing just that; setting up or planning their own enterprise alongside their studies.  And many are doing pretty well too, with an average turnover of £11,408! Two recent graduates Jenny Evans, founder of Jenny Kate Ltd, and Peter Donoghue, director of The Retro Store both set up their own businesses as undergraduates and are now reaping the rewards since graduating. Here, they tell Debut how they did it and offer advice for anyone inspired to do the same (spoiler alert DO IT). Hitting on an idea If you’re a budding entrepreneur  the first thing you need is a winning idea. Some ideas can arrive in a eureka moment. However, others are a slow burn, evolving over time. If your mind’s gone blank right now don’t worry. Jenny Evans who runs Jenny Kate Ltd, a luxury homeware design company, says she stumbled across her business idea at the beginning of her course: “I actually set up my business by accident! I had signed up to do a textiles degree and then realised I  didn’t know how to sew. The first piece I did as a practice, my mum wanted for her birthday. We took it to a gallery to be framed and the owner asked me to make more work for his gallery that was the beginning of my journey.” Mine your skills It’s worth thinking over the skills and experience you already have that could be put to good use. Peter Donoghune who runs The Retro Store, an online subscription box service, used skills he’d gained as a young teenager when he helped his dad with an e-commerce business. “My Dad had started a site selling gadgets and gizmos from China. I learned a lot then about how it all works, and how I like to work”. He tapped into this experience when setting up his online subscription box service selling retro items such as vinyl, cassettes, comics and video games. His business, The Retro Store, now has hundreds of subscribers. Funding I know what you’re probably thinking â€" how am I supposed to fund the startup costs of a business when I can barely afford my weekly food shop? Luckily, there are sources of support out there for entrepreneurial students. Jenny got her business off the ground with a Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Award worth £25,000! She used this alongside the profits she made to grow her enterprise while studying. “At university, your student loan means you have the ability to experiment and scale and I wanted to take full advantage of that freedom while I could. It’s meant that 2 months after graduating, I’ve been able to start hiring staff.” Juggling So, you’ve got an idea and you’ve thought of some untapped skills you could use, but … time management?! How do you fit it all in around essays, exams and a well-rounded social life? The good news is with some careful planning it can be done. Peter says he became an expert juggler during his degree in Computer Science at Strathclyde. “I learned when to prioritise studies, and when to allow time to spend on the side hustle. When I knew nothing? Well, The Retro could wait. When I had the majority of marks and my peers were trying to figure out how to get the ‘bonus marks’ lecturers had given? Thats when I could get to work on the eCom”. Jenny found it incredibly hard to juggle all her priorities putting in an astonishing 90 hours a week sometimes! She says focussing on her dream business at the end got her through. “Also ordering 48 creme eggs on Amazon for 24/7 access to sugar was vital for my energy in the last few months (super healthy, I know).” Words of wisdom So, think being your own boss is right for you? Jenny’s advice to any student contemplating a business is: “Just start. You have nothing to lose while trying and everything to gain.” Peter also thinks being at university is the prime time to create your own business empire: “When youre working 9-5 and have rent due youll realise the amount of time you have right now is staggering, if you manage it right. Dont sacrifice your studies or nights out, find a balance that works for you and build a solid foundation to grow on. Oh, and you dont need to be a business student to start one!” Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Dont Just Ask for a Favor

Dont Just Ask for a Favor One thing I know from speaking with people in job search is that many are frustrated and discouraged because they cant get meetings with people.   Theyve heard the best route to finding a job   is through the hidden job market and they are trying to ask for informational meetings and striking out, big time. Why do you suppose someone wouldnt want to meet with you? They dont know you They dont have time They dont know how they can help you They generally dont understand or believe in networking You havent given them a reason to WANT to meet with you These are not real reasons, they are excuses for their underlying fears.   Are you going to ask them for a job?   Do you have some other hidden agenda?   Fear of the unknown value or outcome of the meeting? None of these objections are insurmountable. On Jason Albas JibberJobber blog, he shared a slide deck (by Sheila Scarborough) cautioning consultants and entrepreneurs not to meet with people who want to pick their brains.   Why?   Because these meetings typically take away from the income generating opportunities the business owner should be working on. I am sharing Jasons post containing the slides with you so that you can understand the objections as to why someone isnt willing to meet with you.   It doesnt mean they wont.   It means that you have to be more convincing or offer to solve some problem of theirs for it to be worth their precious, billable time. The more you understand these reasons and the more you understand the way employers are thinking, the better you will be and circumventing their objections.   That means you can secure more meetings! The ultimate lesson is Be genuine and authentic Offer something in return for their time What benefit is it to them to meet with you Be courteous and sincere No guarantees, but at least you understand, right?

Keys to Successful Resume Writing

Keys to Successful Resume WritingLearning how to write a good resume and how to write a great resume can make all the difference in your career. You'll be able to get the job you want when you need it the most.Resume writing is the most important part of your job search because it is what you will be presenting to any employers who are trying to get to know you better. Many people simply try to put their best foot forward and hope that they will get a good job by doing so.As a matter of fact, writing a good resume can make all the difference in getting the job you want. It will make the difference between getting a job or not. It can make the difference between getting a job that you are qualified for or not.Not only is it important to be able to write a resume well, but it is equally important to understand how to write a resume that makes a lasting impression on the employer. While it is true that you may get some interviews with a resume that is well written, you can't expect an e mployer to hire you on the spot just because you have a good resume. Of course, if you get the interview and you turn it down because you weren't prepared, then that's a tragedy in itself.What you need to be able to do is to take advantage of the career services of someone like me who has a lot of experience and has given it all up to help others achieve their goals. You can learn a lot from someone who has had this experience, and by helping other people, you are more likely to succeed yourself.Be prepared before you start writing a resume because it's not enough to write a resume. You need to write a great resume. If you don't think you can write a great resume, then I recommend that you look at a resume template instead.They are incredibly useful tools because they are easy to use and they will let you know what needs to be done and what needs to be avoided. They allow you to focus your attention on the things that really matter, and there's nothing wrong with that.Good career se rvices will help you reach your goals and make sure that you are on the right track. Learn how to write a great resume today!