Memes Tell Lies and So Do Job Ads

Memes Tell Lies and So Do Job Ads Ive been a little busy lately (for busy read writers block). While  thinking about what to write next, it hit me out of the blue! Or should I say, Richard Branson told me Let me explain. On LinkedIn (a recruiting gem) there are countless memes flying about (for the less hip recruiters out there, a meme tends to be a picture coupled with a profound or hilarious quote, often  by somebody of note). Actually the  word meme was coined by renowned biologist Richard Dawkins in 1973, so there you go. Where was I? Oh yes! Richard Branson was telling me all about how if somebody offers me a job I don’t know how to do, just accept the offer anyway and then learn how to do it. There was a meme flying about that stated just that.  (Heart surgeons and pilots need not apply). Anyway,  it got me thinking. How many of these so called quotes attributed to people on memes were actually  uttered by them? We have all seen (skimmed past) these quotes; reading some and ignoring others. My question; did Churchill really say: Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. I will answer for you. No, he apparently he  didn’t. Google it. However, many people think he did, possibly because  its  plastered across a picture of him in a meme and posted online for all to see. If Richard Branson did indeed utter every last one of the life altering quotes printed across pictures of his face, surely he  wouldn’t have had anytime whatsoever to kite surf at Necker Island whilst simultaneously running airlines, trains, media and record companies. What I am trying to get at, I suppose, is that you shouldnt simply believe everything you read (drum roll) and that goes for  some of the more fantastic sounding job ads out there (see what I did there, seamless)! Some job ads really are too good to be true. Fancy an example? Take a sales role advertised with the tagline OTE £120k. A lot of the time, this is written when the sales role on offer involves relentless cold calling, no basic salary and paid on  commission-only basis. The £120k cited is usually a figure that was once reached by the owner of the company and thus used as a barometer for all new starters. I frequently see this  kind of ad full of blown out figures  used  to entice recruiting newbies to various organisations. In actual fact, this exaggerated recruiting bait is undercut by getting no  basic salary, under that 50% commission on every placement made. In reality, the successful applicant  is then  likely to be thrust into a saturated market, trying your hardest to pick up scraps and make one huge placement every month simply to carry on living. Is it any wonder so  many new  recruiters fall by the wayside? Now, I cannot in all seriousness write a blog without mentioning Widget Firtling, Sprocket Noodlers or an obscure reference to a place in Lancashire, so here is my slightly tongue-in-cheek, too-good-to-be-true job ad. Watch out for anything even slightly reminiscent of this: *Senior Sprocket Noodler â€" Turn Village* This is the chance of a lifetime to work with an  industry-leading sprocket noodling company. There is an unparalleled package on offer with a salary that cannot be matched, even by  everything you  have ever wanted in your whole life and more.   Remember the wise words of Aristotle: “The Internet is many things, truthful sometimes isn’t one.” Did he even say that? Who knows. Widgets are still superior in Lancashire.   Turn Village is generously called Village; it should really be called Turn Post Office.

What to Avoid When Writing a Resume

What to Avoid When Writing a ResumeWhen you are preparing a resume, you need to look at what to avoid when writing a resume. It might seem obvious, but many people overlook this. Here is what to avoid when writing a resume.First, avoid including filler and fluff on your resume. If you don't have time to really focus on a particular skill that will be on your resume, then omit it. This could be something like 'Employed at the organization'took on a leadership role.' All of these things will detract from your resume. You can also use bullet points to list what is relevant.Second, avoid using format and formatting that don't support your resume. A resume format doesn't have to be complicated, and can be simple or difficult. Avoid using tables and bullets. Also, use a resume template as a guide so that you can learn the correct formatting for a resume.Another common mistake is creating a resume with all the correct information in an attempt to get an unfair advantage over others. It can be tempting to try to impress a potential employer with extra skills or knowledge, but this isn't what will help you land a job. You want to focus on your experience, skills, and work history, not on getting someone to take you seriously. Focus on your accomplishments and achievements.The final tip is to write your resume in a professional manner. Don't add spelling or grammar mistakes, and ensure that your resume is error free. When you have completed all of the important information on your resume, make sure that you proofread and clean up all of the spelling and grammar errors that you have made. This will help your resume stand out and make you appear to be a professional.Lastly, don't forget to consider a cover letter with your resume. Many employers only ask for a resume, so they aren't likely to ask for a cover letter with your resume. Make sure that you include this element, and make sure that you cover all of the bases on your cover letter.So, now that you know what to avoi d when writing a resume, you can make sure that your resume is as professional as possible. Remember to proofread all of the information you have included in your resume. Make sure that you proofread before printing.It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of having written a resume. However, the easiest way to avoid any potential mistakes is to make sure that you can proofread your resume before it is printed.

Using DISC Assessment As A Hiring Tool

Using DISC Assessment As A Hiring Tool These days, it’s quite common to hire new employees based on word-of-mouth recommendations, internal promotion and or based on a great interpersonal interview. However, there are other tools you can use in your pre-hire process that will help you to ensure you are hiring the right kind of person for the job. The DISC assessment tool from discprofileusa.com can help you to gain insight into how a prospective employee will behave in certain situations or how they will respond to a certain environment. It can be used during the recruiting or interviewing process, or as a human resources planning tool. DISC Assessment DISC refers to a system of assessment that examines behaviours of individuals and how they react to and within certain situations or environments. By analyzing four different aspects, the DISC assessment tool could determine a person’s likelihood to tend towards dominance/assertiveness, influence in social situations, steadiness in terms of persistence and patience, and compliance as it relates to the structure and organization of a situation. By taking all four of these variables together, the DISC tool helps to give a complete picture of behaviour styles and preferences. When hiring new team members, there is a certain understanding that there will almost always be a period of adjustment as the new member joins the team. DISC can be very useful in determining the kind of person who will be best suited for a certain position or team within the company.  That makes it a very valuable tool during the screening process. Using The Assessment Once you understand what kind of person would best be suited for each position, you can then use the tool to find candidates that meet those requirements. DISC not only helps to select the right candidates during the pre-hire process, it can also “weed out” people who don’t fit the criteria. And that can cut own on the amount of time and resources spent on interviewing candidates who aren’t likely right for the job. DISC assessment can be used to determine what kind of person would best be suited for a particular job, and then used as a screening tool to help human resources to find the right candidate for that position. DISC assessment offers a proven way to understand how an individual will approach the work and interact with other members of the team. It will also offer insight into how certain candidates will fit into a company’s corporate culture as a whole. By utilizing DISC assessment as part of your pre-hire screening and hiring process, you’ll save time and resources that would have otherwise been wasted on inviting in unsuitable candidates for an interview. By using DISC, you can focus your energies on interviewing only those candidates who are likely to fit into the job, the team, and the company at large.

What does your handshake say about you - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What does your handshake say about you - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Theres a lot that goes into forming how people perceive your personal brand.   Google results, blog posts, what kind of photo you use, and even how you tweet.   But, I bet theres one part of your personal branding efforts you havent thought much about: how you shake hands. My senior year of high school, I was accepted into a mentorship program that only selected a few students from each local high school.   It was very hard to get into, so we were all incredibly excited on the first day.   We couldnt wait to begin learning important things that would help us be successful in our future careers. So, when Jeannie (the program coordinator) asked us to form a line to learn the most important lesson of the program, we jumped to our feet and rushed to be at the front.   Imagine our disappointment when we were asked to come up to her one-by-one to shake her hand! As Jeanie explained to us, how people shake hands forms a huge part of a first impression. And it was incredibly important to her that we represented the program well when we met our mentors.   In fact, it was so important that we had to stand in front of the entire class shaking hands with her until we got it right!   (As you can imagine, we learned fast!) As a matter of fact, she was right about the importance of shaking hands correctly.   A recent study showed that people who have good, firm handshakes fare better in job interviews.   This is because the warm feeling of a handshake releases chemicals that inspire trust and thus set the tone for the rest of a persons interactions with another.   Another study found a link between a firm handshake and extroversion/openness. So if youre trying to influence how people perceive your personal brand when you meet them, its really important to know how to shake hands correctly. What should you be thinking about when you shake hands? First, do no harm. The best way to completely ruin a first impression is to physically harm the person with whom youre shaking hands.   Some people shake hands with so much pressure that it feels like theyre attacking the other person. If youve ever been on the receiving end of one of those handshakes, you know what I mean.   If you dont, you might want to check your grip. Also, try not to wear dangerous accessories when you think you might be shaking hands. Some rings have sharp edges that can really hurt.   Keep that in mind.   And, under no circumstances should you wear your familys heirloom poison ring.   Thats just bad form! Second, remember that shaking hands is a big deal Another common mistake people make when shaking hands is to treat their handshakes as an afterthought.   They either reach out with a limp hand and let the other person make all the effort, or they pay so little attention to the handshake that they mistakenly grab a few fingers instead of the whole hand.   Both of those leave the other person feeling slightly off-kilter. Networking events also have plenty of missed opportunities for good handshakes.   People are caught by surprise when theyre holding a drink with their right hand (resulting in an attempt to salvage the situation with a left hand shake) or they run into someone they desperately want to meet right after washing their hands (resulting in the dreaded wet-hand shake!) Finally, be confident and practice. To shake hands correctly, extend your hand with the thumb up, keeping your wrist straight.   Grasp the other persons hand firmly, look them in the eye, shake once or twice, and then release. Dont be afraid to be the first person to extend your hand, and if theres some reason you cant shake (e.g. youre sick), let the other person know that youre not rejecting them. If you dont know if youre shaking hands correctly, practice! Ask your friends for help and make them tell you how your handshake feels to them. It might seem strange to practice handshaking, but its a part of personal branding thats often overlooked.   Since a bad handshake can have such a negative effect on how people view you, however, its worth making sure youre doing it right. Author: Katie Konrath writes about “ideas so fresh… they should be slapped” at getFreshMinds.com, a top innovation blog.

A Resume Writing Builder Can Help You Save Time and Money

A Resume Writing Builder Can Help You Save Time and MoneyWriting a resume is easy enough once you've taken the time to learn about writing it correctly, but some people have trouble remembering their past employment details and won't even be able to send out their resumes without problems. So what can they do? Using a resume writing builder is your best option.You see, we write a lot of resumes in the right manner, and we submit them. It is an easier process than it used to be. And for those who don't know, it used to be a rather lengthy process to compile and fill out a professional-looking resume. That's why most resume writers were employed in corporations or other businesses that needed one.Nowadays, with more job opportunities being advertised in the news, the need to write in the original manner has increased exponentially. The same goes for job seekers, as there are so many job listings available, so many different industries to fit your skills and needs, and so much competiti on that you'll need to not only be updated on your career but also search for new jobs to stay competitive.This is why the internet is the perfect way to take advantage of the learning curve you'll experience by utilizing the self-service that is available to you to help you get your message across. You can set up your resume so it looks good, but if it doesn't convey a strong message, you can easily revise your resume at any time.Then, you can have a copy of your resume saved on your computer so you can easily print it out when you need to send it out. If you're the type who likes to send out your resumes without looking at them first, you can do this easily. The online resume writing builder will let you know exactly how many times your resume should be printed out, and you can easily print out multiple copies for yourself and the other people you want to send out your resume to.Now, just like any other piece of information, you'll need to build a solid relationship with your pros pect. Whether you have a boss that you want to hire, a new career opening that you're hoping to land, or a resume writing service to back you up, you'll need to become a trusted source of information.No matter where you're from, you need to speak clearly to your prospective employer, and if you're using an online professional resume writing service, you'll need to be able to properly communicate your ideas and make clear statements. This is where resume writing software can come in handy.If you use an online service, they can actually put together a good resume and send it to your prospective employer. This is important, because it will enable you to tell your prospective employer how you can help them in whatever field you're currently working in, which is all part of the process of helping your employer find a new job for you.

How to Write a Good Resume Objective For SolidWorks

How to Write a Good Resume Objective For SolidWorksWriting a good resume objective for SolidWorks is not that hard. If you do not have an objective on your SolidWorks MS Office document, you might want to take a look at this article for tips on how to write a good resume objective for your resume. You should be able to write one that is tailored to your specific qualifications and the needs of the company that you are applying for.Since writing a resume can seem like a daunting task, it is important to remember that it doesn't work in the same way as a business plan. The objective is the objective. What you write down is what you get in return.When you are writing a resume, don't expect your writer to just give you a proposal. In fact, many SolidWorks MS Office templates make the assumption that your resume is already written. It may seem easy enough to have someone else write a resume for you, but the fact is that you are the one that knows how to write a good resume.Your objective for writing a good resume will be a summary of the purpose of your job. If you are going to be applying for a job that requires working with chemicals, then the objective should be a reference to the many responsibilities you have and how these duties relate to working with chemicals. If you are going to be applying for a job as a contractor, then the objective should focus on your experience. Again, make sure that you include a clear description of the responsibilities and the skills you possess that will translate well to the work environment.It may seem simple enough to include your previous jobs in the objective, but it is a good idea to leave it off unless the position you are applying for does not require previous work experience. If it does, then it should be included in the summary of responsibility to make sure that the reader has a complete picture of the job.The objective for writing a good resume should not be written in a vacuum. The objective should be complemented by a resume that includes your current skills and the responsibilities you hold in your current position. Using a SolidWorks template in order to write your resume will ensure that your resume is completed exactly the way you want it to be.The resume objective for writing a good resume is a great tool in getting a job when the search for employment seems to be difficult. If you have many skills and a solid understanding of the organization you are applying for, you may be able to get the job. Even if you only have a few years of experience, a resume objective for writing a good resume will allow you to get the interview.If you don't have a resume template that you can use to write your resume objective, then you may want to consider using one of the many SolidWorks MS Office templates available. These will allow you to focus on the types of skills that you possess, as well as the responsibilities that you are assigned. This will help you stand out from the other applicants who do not k now the specific requirements that are involved in the position they are applying for.

Paying employees to get healthy is a bad idea - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Paying employees to get healthy is a bad idea - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I just discovered this brilliant whitepaper on employee wellness. It looks at a new worrying trend which has companies paying their employees to participate in wellness programmes. This is of course an incredibly bad idea for many reasons, including these: Financial rewards undermine autonomy Employees who aren?t ready or willing to change? won?t Financial incentives aren?t enough to change complex behaviors Its really, really time for companies to understand that financial rewards have several serious limitations as a tool to change employee behavior. Related posts Why pizza doesnt motivate How leaders motivate or not High CEO pay = low performance 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

Take the time - Hallie Crawford

Take the time I love the sound of leaves crackling beneath my feet. Fall is here and with it Thanksgiving, when we give thanks for everything we have in our lives and the great things that have happened so far this year. I find that for many of us when we accomplish something we typically take just the briefest moment to relish in it before quickly moving on to the next thing. While I believe forward movement and growth is important (it is one of my values), I also like to remind myself and my clients to consider where they’ve been, what they’ve accomplished and really celebrate what they’ve achieved so far this year. My Food for Thought article in my ezine this month with the inspirational quote relates to this idea you can read it here. What about you â€" do you take the time to truly savor your success? As you’re giving thanks this holiday season, I suggest you resist the temptation to rush through your “Holiday To Do List” and be sure to take some time to really celebrate what you have accomplished this year and the good things that are going on in your life. Remember…what you focus your attention on expands more ideas coming in the next ezine. (If you want to sign up for my ezine, simply fill in the link to the right and youre good to go!) To those readers in the U.S., have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this week. Hallie