How to Recruit on LinkedIn - 15 Practical Tips

How to Recruit on LinkedIn - 15 Practical Tips LinkedIn has the potential to be a great recruitment tool for sourcing and marketing your brand, but its important that you make the most of the platform to optimum results. Here are  15 useful tips for recruiters already using LinkedIn. 1. Make sure your LinkedIn profile has these 4 essentials: A  picture      should look professional and reflect your brand, people like dealing with faces as opposed to just text â€" studies show you get 30% more clicks in search results when you have a picture. And you are 7 times more likely to come up in search if you have a photo. As a recruitment professional you want to be approachable and a profile picture is an absolute must. A headline   (along with your name and picture) is what comes up in search results and based on this the user will decide whether to click on you or the competitor. Make sure the headline talks about what you do and not who you are, i.e. “Recruiting Java Developers to Top Tier Consultancies in Manchester” instead of Consultant or Recruiter at Agency X â€" which means very little. You have 120 characters at your disposal, make sure you make the most of these. Your summary   (the bio section) is where people go to see what you are all about and what your track record in the industry is. If you get someone to take their time to check this out you will want them to read 2-3 paragraphs about what you have done, what you can do for them and something memorable. Remember to add your contact details at the end of this section if you want new people to get in touch. Keywords Finally, you have to get the right keywords on your profile or you will not come up in any searches. Yes you might come up in searches for your name but let’s face it if someone already knows your name you already have a foot in the door. It’s better to come up in the search for “Java recruiter Manchester”. Just remember that there is a fine balance between spraying keywords across your profile and staying professional. 2. Customize your public profile URL: You can make your personal profile look more professional by customizing  your LinkedIn public profile URL. When you sign up LinkedIn will automatically assign you a URL with a long number to identify your profile, but this can be changed to your name, company etc. in order to look tidier and make you profile easier to find. 3. Create a showcase page for your company: Whether your company is large or small, creating a Showcase Page is fairly simple and makes it much easier for people to keep up with company news and also to expand your reach to new people who were previously unaware of the business. Make sure you add a summary about who you are and what the company does on your page and you can also use your showcase page to to share updates and interact with potential clients/candidates. 4. Boost your LinkedIn SEO: LinkedIn users run thousands of searches every day, typically to find someone that can help them in their niche or location. The good news is that you can influence your own search rankings fairly easily.  To get better ranking make sure to insert relevant keywords in your headline, in your job title and in your summary. Use keywords such as industry, location, company names (if that’s allowed), and even names of people. 5. Alter your privacy settings: Most users on LinkedIn have realised that every update they do on LinkedIn will be visible to their network. As a result some people prefer not to connect, join groups, update their profile as they want to stay under the radar for whatever reason. There are however ways of hiding your activity and other bits on LinkedIn, all on the settings page: Activity broadcast â€" If you want to make lots of changes to your profile but not notify your network, turn the broadcasts off and you can operate under the radar. This is of course very useful for candidates you headhunt, as the candidate may not want the world to know they are connecting to a recruiter and improving their profile, getting recommendations etc. Who’s visited your profile â€" Unlike Facebook or Twitter, on LinkedIn you can actually see that other users have looked at your profile. How much you can see depends on your own settings, if you allow others to see your name, you’ll be able to see theirs. Hide connections on your profile â€" Some candidates complain that ‘recruiters only connect with me so they can have a look at my network’. Well, these people don’t realise that you can hide your connections from being browsed on your profile. 6. How to connect with new people: There are of course lots of ways of connecting with people you’d like to get in touch with. If you have their email you can tick the friend option. Or if you are stuck you can ask a common connection to introduce you, the trouble with that is that it takes time â€" the other person has to go in and manually forward your message. A good way to do it is through the group short cut. Have a look at that person’s profile, scroll down and sew what groups they are a member of. If you happen to be in the same group, great. If you’re not, you can always join a group they are in as you are allowed to connect direct with people in the same group. You are also able to send messages to users who you are not connected to but you’re in the same group. 5. LinkedIn is all about connections, the more you have the better visibility your profile will have and more people you will be able to search for. But it’s also about quality connections, it’s worth identifying the so called ‘super connectors’ in your field and start connecting with them â€" if they have 1,000 relevant connections that will save you a lot of leg work. 7. Who to connect with: LinkedIn is all about connections, the more you have the better visibility your profile will have and more people you will be able to search for. But it’s also about quality connections, it’s worth identifying the so called ‘super connectors’ in your field and start connecting with them â€" if they have 1,000 relevant connections that will save you a lot of leg work. 8. Connecting etiquette: The best way to connect with new people is not revolutionary; it’s just actually taking an interest in the other person. Personalise your invite where possible, have a look at the profile and try to find some common denominators. Are you a member of the same group (a very useful way), did you notice they are connected with someone you know, did you go to the same school or do you share a passion for trainspotting? Whatever it is, put it into your invite message and I can guarantee the person won’t mark you as a spammer. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you or politely reply that they only connect with people they have met. 9.  Engage with  your connections: Once you have built a network of connections it is important that you engage with them. You can do this by starting conversations, liking their updates, sharing your own updates that are likely to provoke discussion, but be sure to stay industry relevant. 10. Join groups or start your own: By joining groups for your industry and interests you can get involved with discussion with other like minded users and expand your network. You can use these to share content that has taken your interest or blog posts that you have written yourself. If you cant find the group youre looking for,  why not start your own based around specific interests? It’s a great way of getting people talking, at the same time as promoting your business or brand. 11. Post status updates: Posting status updates is a great way to build engagement with your connections and get your brand seen, as anyone who likes or comment will then automatically share it to their newsfeed. Heres what you could share:   Sharing valuable information that educates, inspires or entertains your audience, such as relevant industry articles, general business hacks and occasionally something light like ‘How Darth Vader was the best project manager ever’. Share a vacancy every now and then but do it in the right way. Instead of just pushing out a link to a job specification on your site, describe the opportunity and what makes it unique if you can. ‘ Share events you are going to is always useful, if someone in your network is thinking of going they will get in touch. And it shows that you’re out and about amongst your clients and candidates. If your company hosts events, these should definitely be shared as well in status updates (and listed in the events section). 12. Publish on LinkedIn: LinkedIn has recently introduced their own publishing platform,  so users can now publish long-form posts about professional topics. If you’re an expert in your and fancy yourself a bit of a writer, then make the most of this feature to share your knowledge and get yourself seen. Consider it an opportunity to position yourself as a ‘thought leader’, showing your clients that you’re at the forefront of your industry. These posts become part of your professional story when people visit your profile. 13. Advertise jobs: Anyone can advertise a job on I but it comes at a price. When you set up a pay-per-click campaign you can target segments on I such as CFOs and FDs based in Manchester in the Pharmaceutical industry. This will narrow down your audience to a few hundred people and only they will see your ad. The smaller the target group, the less clicks, but when you do get clicks you know they are right. So it’s better to get one relevant click per week than ten tyre kickers. One way of doing ads for free is of course your status update; another way is to post it into groups (job discussions). These are in theory good ways but the trouble is that most people see those updates as adverts and tend to ignore them. 14. LinkedIn activities to get involved in: Check your homefeed, this may sound very basic but very few recruiters actually keep an eye on the homepage of LinkedIn. This is where you see what’s happening in real time and it’s your chance to tell members of your network that you are there and that you care. Do at least one status update per day and make it count. It’s better to go for one quality update that gets attention from your network (and beyond) than a number of updates that nobody outside your team will care about. Be active in one or two groups, not more. It’s very hard to keep track of ten discussions happening in as many groups so again, go for a quality discussion in a useful group. 15. Check your analytics LinkedIn offer analytics that give you an insight into who are reading your posts and your companys performance on LinkedIn You can  view the data by using LinkedIn’s analytics page, where it tells you who is  engaging your individual posts are and  understand more about your follower demographics. This information will help you to target the right audience with your content.

Time Wasters that Kill Your Productivity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Time Wasters that Kill Your Productivity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career There is only a certain amount of time during the day to finish tasks but no matter what we do, it seems that time is never enough. Sometimes at the end of the day, we accomplish nothing and feel unproductive. But maybe, the reason of it is not the time. It is because we are using our time inefficiently. Therefore, in order to spend the  day more meaningfully and achieve goals, stay away from below. Social Media: Social media can kill your productivity at work, unless you are responsible running your company’s social media accounts. Social media is very useful if you want to network, connect with old friends or follow the recent trends but if you don’t have a purpose and just want some gossip about the people you know, then social media is a big time waster. If you want to look at your personal social media accounts, do it on your coffee or lunch break or on your commute  with public transportation. Meetings: Last minute meetings or meetings without agendas can be big time wasters and prevent you doing your real work. Think about the meetings you have attended during the week. How many of them were really necessary? Probably only a few. Therefore, you need to learn to say “No” to unnecessary meetings and focus on your real tasks that need to be finished. Also, you can solve some of the problems with a quick phone call or group chat; you don’t need a meeting for every single problem. Emails: The email message that is popping up on your computer screen can create urgency for many to check their inboxes constantly. Checking your emails frequently can make you waste your time, since you need to refocus on the task that you have been working on. Unless you are truly waiting for an important email, you should schedule specific times to check your emails such as at the morning, after lunch and in the afternoon. The same holds for your smart phone messages and voicemail as well. Multitasking: Interesting but yes, multitasking kills productivity. Let’s look at the situation with an example. If you are working on your emails at the same time you are working on your real work, then it will take you more time to complete both of them compared to working on them one-by-one. As a result, you will waste your time. The reason of this is that multi-tasking divides your attention between tasks and since each task gets less attention, you need more time to finish them. Work on one task at a time and move on to the next one when you are done.

How to Lay the Brand Foundation for a Consulting Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Lay the Brand Foundation for a Consulting Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Reader question I have recently gone solo and started a consulting business (with a handful of employees) from a social networking branding perspective (i.e. twitter, blog etc.) should I concentrate on building myself or my company brand.  I know the answer is both, but which one first and foremost would you recommend, for example should my blog, facebook page, twitter names be me or my company.  What would you suggest? Joe Newbert My analysis General branding thoughts When it comes to consulting, your customers want to deal directly with an individual that they must know, like and trust.   They are paying to work with a company, whose reputation is attached to each individual.   This means that, depending on how the consulting business is laid out, youll need each consultant to have the necessary skills (and/or complimentary skills if there are group projects) in order to provide value for each customer.   Hopefully, youll be able to over-deliver and get repeat business.   With consulting, you are offering up your expertise, as well as the consultants you hire, and they become your best salespeople for your corporate brand. Brand strategy recommendations There are two main things you need to know.   First, you want to protect your personal brand, your corporate brand and the brands of everyone who is working for your consulting company.   Second, you want to focus on personal brands over the corporate brand because, in consulting, transactions and relationships are 100% between people.   Below are some strategies that will help you achieve both of these: Reserve your name, all of your consultants names and your corporate name on Twitter. Ensure that everyone you work with has a Facebook page and a LinkedIn profile. Purchase your corporate domain name, as well as your personal domain name (yourname.com) and tell your team to purchase their own as well. Start a team blog under your corporate domain name, while positioning yourself as the top contributor because you are the CEO.   Allow each of your fellow consultants to blog on behalf of your company, while giving them the freedom to start developing their own blogs for individual use. Get a camera and film personal introductions with you and your fellow consultants.   Use these video intros to send to potential clients.   You can even do a holiday greeting video as well! Splatter your pictures across all social media sites and make sure to list your corporate brand name and the area of expertise you/they have. Verdict A personal brand is more important than the corporate brand in consulting businesses.   Since your company has more than one personal brand, you have to ensure that each consultant you hire aligns with your corporate brand in order to be successful.   From a social media branding perspective, you should demand that each consultant establishes themself using the tools mentioned above (including you), while tying everything together into a cohesive and impactful website. How would you handle this situation? Now is your chance to respond to Joes question.   Do you think he should start with the corporate brand first and then work on his personal brand? Are we connected? Follow me on Twitter Friend me on Facebook Contact me on LinkedIn Subscribe to this blog Subscribe to my YouTube channel

6 Reasons to consider work as a graduate intern

6 Reasons to consider work as a graduate intern For a long time now, there has been a negative connotation around graduate internships. After working hard for 3+ years at universities, most graduates are looking at graduate jobs to start their careers. I asked  Matt Arnerich, Content Writer, at Inspiring Interns, why graduates might want to think about internships. Heres what he told me: New research by High Fliers has shown that almost half of employers from the Times Top 100 graduate employers  say that someone with no work experience is unlikely to be appointed. So, what are your options if you want to get out into the world of work and you haven’t secured those all important work placements during university? It might be time to consider an internship. What is a graduate internship? Essentially its an opportunity to learn more about a certain role or sector and gain valuable experience in it. While  internships often come in the form of fixed, limited periods of employment, these can range from a few weeks to a number of years indeed to something  that looks a lot like  a traditional graduate scheme. Many companies use internships as a probation period,  having every intention of hiring the graduate  full-time if they are impressed. Will I get paid? In the current climate, the answer is probably. According to UK minimum wage law, companies must offer graduates at least National Minimum Wage unless what they are doing is considered ‘work-shadowing’ or the company is a registered charity. In these cases Lunch and Travel Expenses need to be offered. Many people can’t afford to work in a city like London on lunch and travel, and the government  is tightening the  definition of work-shadowing. Essentially, if you are part of the commercial operation, then you are entitled to pay. Work-shadowing is just as it sounds, shadowing an employee to learn from them, and you’re not allowed to add any benefit to the company. At the larger companies looking to hire a graduate, these internships can actually be fairly competitive and lucrative. If you want to find out more about internship pay, this is what the law says. So now you know a bit more about  internships amount, why should you consider them? 1. Youll learn new skills Of course, the main  point of undertaking an internship is the opportunity to learn certain key skills  in a particular industry or sector. These can range from specialist skills in software or infrastructure â€" companies will often offer training courses to interns â€" to more general soft skills such as communication, problem-solving or teamwork. Often during internships you’ll be given access to a senior mentor, as well as working under someone more junior. The opportunity to pick the brains of an experienced professional is a huge advantage in a graduate internship; make sure you use the opportunity to take as much know-how as you can. 2. Youll improve your business understanding One of the key soft skills employers now look for from graduates is an understanding of business in one way or another. They realise that fresh graduates won’t necessarily have any experience of working in a professional environment. Any chance you can get to show that you’ve had this experience can be hugely useful, even if it’s in a different industry. From simple things, like email etiquette, or how to deal with office politics, to understanding certain systems of work and various business models, an internship will give you an understanding that can stand you in great stead for securing a job. 3. You can try before you buy Another advantage of an internship is the chance to learn about exactly what a working day is like in a specific industry or job, at both junior level and for a job you may aspire to be doing at a more senior level. While the emphasis is often on the employer’s ability to trial candidates, it is just as much an opportunity for you to see if it is the right business for you. At worst, the internship will tell you categorically that the sector is not for you. At best you’ve found your dream career path. 4. You get to network If your intention is to move on after the internship, or if you know the internship is only temporary, make sure you use it to build a list of contacts. Network like crazy, at work and at company  socials. Try to meet as many people as you can. As a fresh graduate, these kind of contacts can be invaluable. If you move onto a new company, the contacts you’ve made can be used for business advice, references and building new B2B contacts in your new role, particularly if you’re working in marketing, sales or HR. If you decide you want to freelance or start your own company down the line, a full book of contacts is always the most valuable tool you can have. If you can form a lasting impression during your internship, all the more chance that they’ll be willing to help you in the future. 5. You might get the full time job prize The same High Fliers research mentioned earlier has shown that 31% of top employers expect to fill their entry level positions with graduates who have already worked for them, either during or after university.   If your internship is for an extended period of time and not based on a temporary project, then its in the interests of the company to take you on full- time provided you have impressed. If you are one of a number of interns,  the chances are that the employer is looking to hire at least some of you; they’ve already trained you in how the business works and you’re a safe bet as you’ve proved you can benefit the company. Why would they chose to hire someone entirely new? 6. You develop your confidence Not all internships are tea and coffee jobs. The new skills you’ll learn and the opportunity to work with a senior figure who you can learn from, can be incredibly good for your confidence. It might give a real kickstart to both your career and self-confidence If you’re concerned about how you might be treated, consider using companies such as Glassdoor, which allows employees to confidentially review their company. Particularly for bigger companies, you’ll be able to see how they treat their employees at all levels, and whether interns can expect to learn and be properly mentored. If you’re interested in looking at graduate jobs or internships, check out Inspiring Interns’ job listings for graduate jobs in London, or graduate jobs in Manchester.

12 Benefits of Taking a Business Course CareerMetis.com

12 Benefits of Taking a Business Course You’re thinking about taking a business course, but you don’t know how to start or if you should take the chance. You definitely should. Dive in, ask others for help and whatever you do, don’t give up on your dream.You’ll step into a land of opportunity when you grasp your future with both hands. Many people don’t further their education because of costs and a perceived lack of benefits. The right course can offer you more than you can imagine, though â€" and online classes are often available at affordable rates.evalDon’t underestimate the advantage of a diploma when job hunting or building a business â€" it can take you far.In case you’re still not convinced, here are 12 benefits taking a business course can provide.Personal BenefitsAnyone can guess that getting an education enhances your career, but what about the personal benefits? How are you changed after seeking knowledge, and how does it add convenience to your life outside of better job prospects? If you believ e a business course doesn’t bring enough personal advantages to be worth it, consider these points:1) Convenience and FlexibilityevalMany people choose business courses because a lot of them are online-based and can be done from anywhere in the world. You may have a family to raise or job obligations in between classes, and commuting every day adds to the stress. With an online course, you only need to log in to start learning. Adapt your class time to your schedule and begin whenever you want, as long as you complete assignments.Full-time students are pressured to graduate in four years or pay extra for additional semesters, but online courses give you freedom. Take classes at your own pace and avoid the stress of trying to finish in a set time.2) Critical ThinkingYou’ll learn to value critical thinking in yourself and others. People tackle the same idea from a variety of perspectives, and you can discover things you never considered before.You’ll likely be in a course with s tudents from all over the country or spread around the world, so you’ll experience a range of new ideas. Learn from them as they learn from you â€" it’s an equal exchange that betters everyone in the end. Take this lesson into your job by giving colleagues room to express their thoughts and opinions. Challenge yourself to understand their mindsets before reacting, and think about why people hold certain ideas.3) Reasonable CostsevalOnline courses don’t hit you with the same expenses and hidden fees on-campus students receive. Classes come on an as-you-need-them basis, and you can avoid emptying your wallet on a bunch at once. You can also dodge out-of-state tuition costs â€" many students end up paying $5,000 to $10,000 more. When you have rent, bills and car loans to pay for, you know how crucial it is to save where you can.You’ll save money on gas or ride-share services since you won’t need to commute. Put this money toward textbooks and supplies you’ll need to prosper in your classes.Skill DevelopmentEvery job requires at least a few skills, and the business sector is no different.Hard and soft skills work togetherto move you up in the world â€" one can’t thrive without the other. You undoubtedly have some valuable ones already, but how can you expand on them? Learning never stops, and you can always sharpen something within yourself.4) Leadership SkillsevalYou likely want more business knowledge to do better at a current job or start a company. Leadership is a different ballpark from membership, and you’ll have to prepare yourself to make the switch. If you’ve never experienced business leadership firsthand, it helps to absorb knowledge and seek a mentor. Ask your mentor for advice on issues. Don’t hesitate to get hands-on when problem-solving â€" executing a fix can teach you more than watching it.No one is perfect when they start leading others, but you grow in the position through active communication. Check up on your employees andl et them know of your genuine interestin their work. Trust your colleagues to perform at their best. Let them explore their creativity on the job. Individuals who feel underappreciated by their bosses don’t stay for long â€" always treat your fellow humans with kindness and respect.eval5) Collaborative SkillsBeing a leader isn’t all about telling others what to do. It also means listening and learning from colleagues as necessary. Balancingthe art of collaborative leadershipdoesn’t come naturally to everyone, which is where the business course comes in to save the day.A good businessperson merely hears their employees’ needs, while an excellent one listens and evaluates. They ask themselves how they can better serve their employees and make work enjoyable for them. The improvements they make are reasonable and practical. Pizza parties every day may be far-fetched, but it’s not impossible to allow longer lunch breaks. Creating an awards program gives your workers a chance to shine and be more productive.Your employees may desire more feedback or respect concerning their ideas. Whatever the company need is, you’ll learn how to address it for everyone’s workplace wellness.6) Financial SkillsFinance serves as the backbone of your business. You may be satisfied with hiring out that work, but it pays to know something about accounting in case of any incidents. Business math is integral to any good course, and you’ll get your money’s worth by sticking with these classes. Theseare real-world skillsyou’ll need on the job and when managing your money.You’ll have an easier time running a business when you understand product pricing, operating costs and profitability. Avoid running over your available expenses by implementing a budget and managing your spending habits. Ordering an abundance of unprofitable merchandise will cause you to lose money. Thoroughly consider your financial moves before making them.Career BenefitsThese advantages directly conc ern establishing your name and reputation. People will be more likely to do business with you when they know you’re organized, well-connected and authoritative â€" but not commandeering. Be credible in the sense that they can trust what you say and put stock into your business decisions.7) Improved Office WorkflowevalIncrease your productivity and efficiency in the office by staying flexible yet organized. Learn how to stay focused on tasks and accomplish them effectively. If you know you’re not the greatest at time management, a business class will teach you all aboutmaximizing your workflowand taking job assignments in stride. Your professors can open you up to previously unknown resources and tools for improving productivity.Some of these tools include project management systems like Monday or Slack. These resources keep everyone on track while offering them a place to collaborate, share documents and check off tasks as they finish them.8) Networking OpportunitiesEveryone kno ws it â€" you, your best friend and your dog all understandthe value of networking. How do you do it when you don’t know the proper avenues? Thankfully, the right course will teach you and even provide chances for it right at your fingertips.Work with classmates to achieve common goals and get to know each other in the process. Some of your peers may work in industries markedly different from yours, and this offers a window into other sectors. What if you want to make a career change to entertainment and have no clue how to break into the profession? Remember that film editor you met from your business course? You’ll be surprised at how significant these connections can be down the road.9) Heightened CredibilityWhen you finish your course, your diploma will impart a level of credibility you didn’t have before. Other professionals will regard you as someone with knowledge â€" they can visit you when they need advice. You’ll have a smoother journey establishing your business a nd requesting financing. Investors and banks will know you’re serious about this endeavor and be more willing to fund your efforts.evalBy connecting with other professionals, you share authority even if you’re in separate industries. When clients of a trusted source see them interacting with your company, they’ll assume you’re also trustworthy. Then, they’ll check out your company and spread the word about your services.Career OptionsA business diploma can be a pot of gold for many. Entry-level graduatesstart with higher salariesand enjoy a broader range of possibilities than many of their peers. If you decide not towork for someone else, you can kickstart a company. Who doesn’t love that kind of flexibility when job hunting?10) Opportunities in Various IndustriesAs practically every company needs a management team, you have a host of jobs across countless industries to pick from. Use the knowledge and skills you gain from a business course to put yourself out there and sell your abilities to interested employers. You will inevitably learn about marketing, but this information doesn’t just apply to big corporations. Use it in your job hunt to make yourself into the perfect candidate.Choose a concentration program if you want to work in a specific industry. Hospitality business management is booming, while nonprofit management allows you to do what you love while making a difference.11) Higher PositionsWhen potential employers see you have experience and a business diploma to back it up, they’ll choose you over other candidates. This factor gets truer the higher up the ladder you go. Managerial positions usually require MBAs, while executive positions call for executive MBAs. You can still get excellent jobs with a bachelor’s degree, however, and earning additional certification is merely a matter of managing your time and expenses.Owning that extra insight gives you a competitive edge, which most people will admit they desire. After all, bein g dubbed the hardest, smartest or fastest worker is proof of your dedication.12) Starting Your Own BusinessOne of the most common career moves after completing a course isstarting your own business. If your goal is to own a company someday, educating yourself on the ins and outs of ownership provides the tools to accomplish it.Entrepreneurship requires experience, skill and a willingness to work with others. Even when you aren’t reporting to a boss, you still have to treat clients and employees with respect. Individuals who ignore these three qualities in favor of fast cash struggle to succeed. You must have a passion for it, and taking a business course proves how much you’re willing to invest. Get closer to your dream by upholding these characteristics and seeking knowledge.Create a Bright Future With a Business DiplomaNow that you know the numerous advantages of taking a business course, give it a spin. The ROI is well worth the time and money because it lasts for a lifetime. Your education is one thing no one can take away â€" use it to propel yourself to greater heights.

My piece for BusinessWeek.com is live. Join the debate on performance reviews! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

My piece for BusinessWeek.com is live. Join the debate on performance reviews! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog My mini-piece for BusinessWeek.com on why performance reviews are a waste of time just went live along with a counter-piece arguing for them by Bob Rogers. I first blogged about this back in 2008 listing the top 10 reasons why formal annual performance reviews are actively damaging to motivation and happiness at work, including: Everyone hates them They become an excuse for not talking the rest of the year They focus too much on the quantifiable I argue that formal review meetings are just a crutch for bad managers who cant figure out how to give their people regular timely constructive feedback on their performance. What do you think? Do you see performance reviews as an essential tool? Or are they just another annoyance keeping you from doing your job? Join the debate at businessweek.com. 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

Writing a Resume to Get Business Funding

Writing a Resume to Get Business FundingThe first rule is that you must do all the writing yourself. Once you have a solid idea for your resume, it is time to organize your thoughts and take your suggestions into a writing form. You will want to decide what type of business you have, and you can write the qualifications and experiences required. This is often the easiest part of the process, as you are free to write in whatever language you wish.Once you have a solid outline, you will want to make sure you go over it with a fine tooth comb. There may be mistakes, and this is where you need to consult someone who can help you to spot and fix any issues. Also, your resume needs to be professional looking.Your resume will include the basic information such as when you graduated from college, and what your major was. It may also have details on your work experience, including job titles and positions held. You will also want to include other details such as the types of industries you ha ve worked in and the qualifications you have obtained in these fields.The most important information, however, should be your academic records. This is where you will see if you have received high grades and how many times you were allowed to take advanced courses. In addition, you will need to show how well you have prepared for your future career, by providing a copy of your transcripts.The next section of your resume will give basic information about your abilities and experience. Again, this will include the basics, such as your first jobs, positions you held, and degrees you have received.After this, you will want to take a look at your experience and add your education to the list of skills and knowledge you have. This section will provide you with some information on how well you have handled situations and handled failures, as well as good and bad ideas.The last section of your resume is your personal information, such as where you have worked and what you have done to attra ct business financing. You may also want to include a cover letter.Once you have written your resume, you will want to add your cover letter to the end of the document. This will let potential business investors know how well you are able to relate to them.