How to Develop Your Social Recruiting Strategy

How to Develop Your Social Recruiting Strategy Thinking about how to recruit using social media? You already know the main benefits of Social Recruiting. Takeaways: Connects you to the largest pool of active and passive job seekers Encourages your employees to refer to their own networks Sends authentic and multimedia messaging to your target audience Lowers the cost of sourcing Thats all well and good but how do you actually do it?  In this guide from our friends at Jobvite youll find a good outline of a social recruiting strategy. Related:  How Your Company Can Start Recruiting Using Social Media.

How a Public Speaking Course Could Transform Your Whole Business

How a Public Speaking Course Could Transform Your Whole Business Many people are afraid of public speaking. This affects us both personally and professionally, but the latter can often create greater issues. Regardless of the career you are in, at one point or another, you will be required to give some kind of oral presentation. One of the key skills that employers look for as they recruit new employees is the ability to communicate effectively. Taking a public speaking course can have numerous benefits, and effective communication is just one of them. Below are a few ways that taking a public speaking course can transform your career and business. You become a better listener Communication is two way, you do not just have to speak and voice your own views, but you must listen to others too. Sadly, listening is a lost art among the society today. By taking a public speaking class you will learn how to listen actively. The main benefit associated with good listening is relational. You will be in a position to develop more meaningful relations if people you work with feel heard. Listening is a vital part of effective communication, but it is the one that is least taught. Build confidence People that invest in a course register improved levels of confidence by the time they are finished. In business, self-confidence is a key part of success. Having faith in yourself can be a major boost to the business. You learn to trust your abilities to handle any unexpected events that you might encounter. You also have control of your goals and that of the business. And you will  strive to reach certain goals that once seemed so far from your reach before the course begun. With confidence, you’ll have greater determination and be less inclined to give up, this will contribute to your success. Networking From the course, you will also learn how to clearly express your ideas to form a personal connection with your peers. You want to attract like-minded individuals and maintain a strong relationship with them. Doing this is a great way to build contacts and in turn, bring in more business. Employees should be in a position to relay more detailed information about the business to others, whilst still being able to ask for clarifications when there is need. This means that they will build better connections with their business partners. Improved communication skills Work and social interactions require individuals to communicate their ideas effectively and efficiently to other people in a clear manner. By taking a public speaking course, employees will learn to refute an opposing view in a calm manner.  If conflict arises they can defend and justify their views. Being able to justify your points will also mean that the message passed will have greater clarity, and there will be very little misunderstanding. This streamlines processes and eliminates the need for third party intervention, as employees will be able to resolve issues themselves as opposed to someone else assessing it for them. Identifying personal weaknesses and strength When employees take a public speaking course, they will develop a greater ability to reflect on themselves and identify their strengths and their weaknesses. So, how is this beneficial to the business? When the employee is aware of their weaker areas, they will ask for help and assistance from others, instead of just pushing it to the side. They will also work on their areas of strength and increase their individual productivity. By fully understanding themselves, they will be better positioned to handle criticisms from their co-workers. The course will teach them how to handle negative opinions from others appropriately. Making effective presentations In any line of business, employees will be required to make some kind of presentation, either to the managers or to their business partners. From the course, they are taught the importance of using visual aids such as projectors, slide shows and flip boards to make their presentation more appealing to their audience. If they are making a presentation to potential clients, with what they have learnt in the course (including effective communication coupled up with the visual aids) they will most probably spark an interest from the client and drive in more business. Going into a negotiation in business is a lot like giving a public speech. It is normal to be nervous.  But it is also important that you do not let the pressure and tension get to you. With the skills you’ll gain from training, you will be in a position to effectively give your ideas.  And also listen actively to the concerns of others and have them addressed accordingly. Going into the course is a big investment that will pay off in the end by bringing in more sales and more connections. Images via pixabay.

How To Get Onto An English Literature Degree Course

How To Get Onto An English Literature Degree Course As the number of undergraduates increases, the ever-popular course of English Literature finds itself increasingly over-subscribed. How can you make sure you are the ideal candidate? Image by Columbia Admissions In recent years, universities have seen a huge boom in terms of the number of annual applicants, especially for the ever-popular course of English Literature (Durham University reports that in 2008-2009 there were 2100 applications for just 103 places). With the huge increase in fees, many young people want to attend the best university they can to make the most of their expenditure. An interest in literature is an evident prerequisite for an English Literature degree, but how else can you make sure you stand the best chance of securing a place? Choose your A levels wisely An A level involving English Literature is obviously essential for getting onto a degree course in the same subject. Gaining grounding in how to analyse and critique texts, as well as knowing how to write essays, are essential skills for university level study. Consider, however, choosing a combined course including aspects of language study â€" it will give you an appreciation of linguistics and a chance to turn your hand to text-production. Aside from English, potential English Literature students can apply to university with a variety of A level combinations but most do have a focus on the Arts. Popular accompanying subjects include History, Religion or Philosophy (whose theories and ideas more often than not appear in literature), and classical languages such as Latin, which can help you better understand the basic functions and workings of the English Language. NB: Bear in mind that a lot of universities will not accept General Studies as one of your 3 A levels. [ALSO READ:  How to Get Onto a Photography Degree Course] Grade requirements As expected, grade requirements vary depending on the ranking of the university â€" check on their website for individual stipulations. With more than 2500 courses across the UK, however, offers tend to be high for the best-ranked universities (particularly the well-respected ‘Russell Group’). AAB/ABB seems to be a pretty average benchmark but institutions such as Oxford, Durham and UCL all ask for at least 3As â€" with Durham even requiring at least one of the newly introduced A*s. That perfect Personal Statement Applying for a place on an English course means you have to demonstrate a ‘unique style’, right? Wrong. Don’t be tempted to do something ‘out-there’ and write your personal statement in poetry form or something equally eccentric â€" admissions tutors admit that this is a pet hate. Another trap to avoid is making blanket statements such as ‘I have a big passion for literature’ â€" who doesn’t when applying for an English Literature degree course? Instead, show what particular areas you prefer and why you find them so fascinating (top tip: include some lesser known author references!). Above all, make sure it is well written with absolutely no grammar and spelling mistakes. Such errors will not put you in a good position for getting an offer on a course revolving around essay writing… Get a friend or a family member to read it through for you; they may pick up on a mistake you missed. [ALSO READ:  How to Get Onto a Graphic Design Degree Course] Impressive extra-curricular activities Showing that you read and write a lot in your spare time is, of course, a bonus when applying for an English course, but equally relevant is a passion for theatre or film â€" this not only shows an appreciation for other forms of culture but also hints at an interest in how books can be adapted into media. Activities such as debating clubs or an active role in local politics further demonstrate valuable powers of discussion and reasoning â€" a great essay writing skill. Lastly, volunteering or working with children (maybe helping them to learn to read or tutoring them in English) always looks impressive; not to mention showing that you want to spread your passion for literature to the next generation! Applying to university can be stressful but follow these tips and you should be in with the best possible chance of gaining a place. If you can find the time, having writing work experience is always going to impress, so find a website or local paper and see if you can get involved! Best of luck and enjoy your student experience! Are you a current student of English Literature? What advice could you pass on? Share your comments below!

Trial and Error Leads to Improved Path - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Trial and Error Leads to Improved Path   - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career We are now closing in on year-end and fast approaching the New Year.  Take time to seriously ponder and discover the best lessons learned over the past year. Questions for consideration: Which lessons have you learned this year that have made a significant change in your business? Which strategies proved most successful that you might develop content and share with others to help them improve, too? How may you capitalize on your best discoveries? By focusing on the tough road blocks and how you were able to surpass them, you will gain excellent insight for what to tackle next.  You might also consider how to leverage the best of what you learned.  The ability to take one successful strategy, and expand to the power of 10, will exponentially work to your benefit. Briefly, offering one service provides a 50-50 chance of hearing “Sold!” But taking that one idea and expanding into 10 provides the exponential result of over 3.6 million possibilities, as many combinations between ten services exist. As you can imagine, leveraging strengthens your personal brand and serves to build prominence of your business brand. Working strategically empowers all you do and becomes an underlying marketing communication effort that will attract much larger audiences. Using the remainder of 2014, to seriously contemplate all that you have accomplished to date, and the struggles encountered to get to this point in time, will enable you to fast track 2015. Commit to a minimum of an hour per week reviewing all projects tackled and achieved. Questions to Ask of Yourself What was your biggest struggle and was it worth it? If your answer is “No”, what should be done differently; if “Yes”, what was derived from the experience? Where did you find greatest satisfaction and reward and are these areas you may leverage? Begin developing your plan today! Once you have thoroughly quizzed yourself, you are ready to advance to the next level of inquiry â€" that of your trusted peers. Advancing Quickly Insights * Ask trusted others how they handle specific difficult situations * Eliminate a rush to judgment in order to be open to new ideas * Experiment on occasion to test waters and be open to learning * Adapt the ideas consistent with your values and priorities to keep your personal brand in tact * Should a new venture not work out correctly, apologize to those involved and brainstorm a better system together * Instead of being embarrassed something didnt work well; be proud you tried! * Quarterly, try a new venture seemingly above your experience level. * Keep abreast of business news and new ideas * Listen to your intuition * Form a group dedicated to similar principles for collaborative business and in complementary endeavors * Spend a portion of time sharing what you have learned as community service When we each reach out to help at least one other person to succeed, we easily find the Smooth Sale! Read Additional Sales Strategies: Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results,  Sourcebooks HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews,  Career Press

Using Resume Builder Software

Using Resume Builder SoftwareA resume builder software will make it much easier for you to get through the process of creating your own resume. It will allow you to include the necessary details without having to worry about formatting and making the language clear. Instead, the resume builder software will take care of all of the work for you and will make sure that you write a strong resume without having to deal with the other factors that can be obstacles when it comes to making a convincing and appealing resume.Before you can even begin to think about using a resume builder software, you must first know what it is and how it works. First of all, you must understand that most software programs are designed to do one thing only: create resumes. This means that most of the time, you will have to manually input information into the software by hand. However, there are times when a software program will let you enter data automatically, which is called autofill mode.The resume builde r software will work by taking the information you input into it and then will insert it into a template, which is what makes it easy for you to format your resume. Most programs will require you to enter some basic information like your name, where you are currently living, and how long you have been employed in your current position. It will also ask you for pertinent information like your current employer, education, and your current salary.After you have entered all of this information, the software will format your resume automatically for you. This includes the font type, font size, the color scheme, and the outline. You will not have to worry about formatting any of this yourself since the software can automatically make all of this for you.Once it has done this, it will display the template on the screen, which is the reason why it is called resume builder software. After you are done inserting the information you have entered, you can preview the completed job resume. You c an simply click the delete button, and the resume will automatically disappear.Once you have created your resume, you will then be ready to submit it to the company you are interested in working for, or to anyone else who wants to see it. All you have to do is submit it to the online form that you have set up with the software, and that is the best part. No matter how many resumes you submit, they will all be read within 24 hours.It is important to note that the resume builder software works just as well if you are a student, a single parent, or a stay at home mom. This means that you can use it to create a resume for just about anybody. This software will help you see what you are looking for, and then you can simply go from there.Whether you are looking for a new job or trying to land that dream job, a resume builder software will be your best friend. You will be able to organize your thoughts on resumes and see if the ones you already have are exactly what you are looking for. Wi th the right software, you will find that you can quickly find the right job and make that dream job a reality.

Book review Smart Love - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Book review Smart Love - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I try to gather input for the Happy At Work Project from many sources. Web sites, books, movies, magazines whatever may give me some new angle on what makes people happy at work. So please dont read too much into it when I tell you, that I just finished reading a book called Smart Love: The Compassionate Alternative to Discipline That Will Make You a Better Parent Your Child a Better Person by Martha and William Pieper :o) I saw the title, and thought that any alternative to discipline might be a nice thing to know about, in the search for ways to create better work environments. Indeed, much of what is says CAN be transplanted from the world of bringing up children to that of working together on the job. The obvious notion NOT to take with you, is the one where managers take on the roles of parents and employees become the children. Where knowledge, authority and responsibility is seen to lie only with some people (those who happen to be leaders) and employees are expected to do as theyre told. Fortunately this mindset is slowly disappearing. So back to the children: The books most important claim is that you should never punish children. This seems like a really strange notion at first, and my first thought was, that without punishment, how can you direct a childs behaviour away from that which is undesired, wrong or dangerous? But heres their argument: 1: If you want your child to grow up happy and succesful, what the child needs more than anything else is an unshakeable inner happiness, a happiness that comes from knowing that it has the unconditional love. 2: When you punish children, they feel bad. Since all children beleive that their parents are all-powerful, they conclude that the parents must want them to feel bad. 3: Children then come to unconsciously seek situations where they feel bad, for instance by repeating behavious that gets them into trouble. 4: Much of the problem behaviour that parents want to correct in children is perfectly age-appropriate and will stop on its own. For instance, a 2-year old who cries every time the parents leave the room is perfectly normal, and punishing this will the child feel bad, and may even prolong this behaviour. 5: Whats important is to understand a childs needs, and to act from those, not from some idealized picture of how a well-behaved child should act. The book DOES NOT argue, that you should let children do anything. This is not the permissiveness of child raising in the 70s. Rather, if a child needs to be steered away from some behaviour, you should use what the the authors call loving regulations, ie. making the child stop the behaviour in a way that does not punish the child or make it feel bad. Interestingly, they also suggest that you dont reward children for good behaviour, since this will make the child focus more on the reward than on its own reasons for the good behaviour. This a case of extrinsic versus intrinsic motivation. In my opinion, the Smart Love approach strikes an excellent balance between permissivenes and the tough love schoold of disciplining children, neither of which seem to work very well, and I am convinced that, the authors are on to something very important. Their arguments are backed up throughout with lots of stories from their many years of counseling parents and children. So, what can that approach teach us about working together? Well, I think that the idea of a workplace without punishment is wonderful. A workplace where you could make a mistake, and not be the subject of either explicit or implicit punishment. A workplace based on and understanding of employees individual needs, and how those can be met. A workplace focused more on intrinsic motivations than on bonuses or other external rewards. And ironically, I think this would result in a workplace where employees are NOT treated as children. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Radical thinking - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Radical thinking - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Pat May just started a blog called Radical Thinking and it looks great already. Check it out, especially his recent post on the habit of getting ideas, which includes this choice Steinbeck quote: Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple, learn how to look after them, and pretty soon you have a dozen. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related