Is Social Media the Solution to Company Culture Fit

Is Social Media the Solution to Company Culture Fit Today, employers, recruiters, and staffing pros are increasingly concerned about the skills gap. It makes sense, since a recent CareerBuilder survey found 38 percent of employers have open positions they just cannot find the skilled candidates to fill. Yet the answer to the skills gap might be in a different direction entirely. While skills are necessary to get the job done, company culture fit might just be the best way to ensure employee retention, develop a positive work environment, and create a workforce with the ability to grow and thrive. The importance of cultural fit While skills are still the bread and butter of any position, even the most skilled candidate is unlikely to stick around for the long haul if they’re not a good fit with the organization. In 2012, among the 50 most common questions asked in interviews were questions about favorite movies, favorite websites, and the last book a candidate had read. Why? Because cultural fit can determine staying power, and a bad hire can be incredibly expensive. Some figures peg the cost of a bad hire at $50,000 or more, and turnover can cost anywhere from 16 to 21 percent of an employee’s annual salary. The importance of cultural fit isn’t a new phenomenon, either. Back in the 1970s, researcher John Morse conducted a study on the impact of congruence on employee performance. He split employees into two groups: one placed in positions the old-fashioned way, and the other based on their personality and psychometric testing. What he found was the group placed in positions based on personality (and cultural fit) reported feeling more productive. Higher self-esteem in a position can lead to happiness, and happiness at work can lead to greater productivity. A social solution Social media just might be the solution to finding the right candidates who will fit into the company culture with ease. After all, the Pew Center for Research found 74 percent of online adults already use at least one form of social media. Social recruiting makes it easier to connect with candidates, while also making it simple for candidates to show off their passion, skills, and enthusiasm. Here are just a few easy ways to use social media as a cultural fit solution: Turn your culture into your brand Understanding the organization’s company culture is the first step to ensuring all new hires will fit and flourish in the company. Take some time to think about the culture, and then turn this culture into your brand on social media. Are you a fun-loving environment where co-workers are friends? Put up pictures of your latest company picnic or karaoke night. Is your company focused on innovation? Share information about your latest brainstorming retreat. Does your company offer great benefits for family-focused candidates and those looking to continue their professional growth? Show off your childcare options and continuing education benefits. Speak with one voice and put your company culture front and center in all of your recruiting efforts. Given enough information about the culture, candidates can self-select whether it will be a good match for their needs. By sharing your story, you’ll be attracting the right talent to your company brand. Connect personally Social media brings down geographic barriers, and makes it easy to populate your talent pipeline with a wide variety of smart and enthusiastic candidates. It also makes it easy to get a personal feel for candidates more quickly, so you can avoid those who would be all wrong for the company culture. For instance, a negative blog post shared by a candidate on social media can tell you something about their potential fit. Additionally, a one-way video interview, in which candidates answer your questions with short video answers, can help you see if the candidate will be a good fit. Social media doesnt just help you connect, it also helps you avoid wasting your time on the wrong people during the recruitment process. Look for passion Genuine passion, whether for the job, industry, or company, is essential for making a good cultural fit hire. The candidates spending their time on social media writing, tweeting, and posting up a storm about industry-related topics will most likely bring that same level of passion to your organization. Become a member of industry discussion groups and chats, in addition to building your own active talent community. The candidates who are the most active in these forums are the people thinking about common challenges and dreaming up new innovations. They’re the people with real and sincere passion, and the exact people your company needs. Social media gives you a way to connect with these passionate people, including passive candidates, and convince them your company is the right place for their unbridled enthusiasm. As company culture fit becomes more important in finding and retaining the right people, so too will social media. It’s a great tool for connecting with interested candidates in a more personal way than ever before. With the high price tag associated with a badly fitting candidate, you can’t really afford to ignore cultural fit anymore. What do you think? How do you use social media to attract the right cultural fit candidates? Share in the comments! Author: Josh Tolan is the CEO of Spark Hire.  

Annoucing Ms. Career Girls Job Search Boot Camp!

Annoucing Ms. Career Girls Job Search Boot Camp! You may have noticed that I have something exciting cooking. Im writing a pretty cool job search guide  for college seniors and recent graduates.   It all started because of your emails and tweets. Many of you share the same fears.   Many of you make the same mistakes when it comes to executing your job search.   These mistakes are driven by your fears.   Ive also identified the #1 problem among entry-level job seekers and will show you how to overcome it. No need to shoot yourself in the foot any longer. Youve spent way too much money and time on your degree to waste it sitting on the couch.   The economy is not friendly to mediocre candidates, mediocre resumes, or  mediocre personal brands.   Therefore, you need to rise above the rest.   Your archaic career services  office probably isnt going to help you do that. Im providing a lot of info that has never been seen here on the blog.      Youll see real strategies that work. Youll  get real templates.   Im even including  real emails that you guys have sent me.   Not all of my  feedback is positive.   Most importantly, I promise not  to waste your time with a bunch of fluffy bullshit.   Youll also get to learn a little bit  more about my story- stuff I wouldnt  share here on the blog. heres how you can be part of the movement: If you think your resume is at rock star status, email it to me.   If you think your resume sucks, email it to me.   Be prepared for me to rip it apart in the name of serious improvement. If you have questions you want answered in this guide, email them to me. If you have a job search story to tell, tell it. Ill be handpicking only the  BEST examples to be part of the book- real name optional. Hopefully you know my email address by now: [emailprotected] Job Search Boot Camp will be out in April.   Until then, stay tuned for lots of previews, a  few giveaways  and some great case studies!

You Wouldnt Ignore a Customer, So Why a Candidate

You Wouldnt Ignore a Customer, So Why a Candidate In 2015 marketers were due to spend $514 billion worldwide advertising their companies products and services. All this money is spent to attract more customers and to generate more sales. The engagement of customers is top priority for businesses, and if done right, it will create new and return customers. So would you ignore a customer…of course not! This brings me to my pet hate. All too often in the recruitment industry, both in-house and agency recruiters, ignore their candidates. This happens in a number of ways, the most common are: Candidate emails are not replied to. Job applications are not replied to. Phone calls and voicemails from candidates are avoided. Throughout my career in the recruitment industry, I have been passionate about the service that recruiters provide to candidates and I believe we should treat candidates like customers. After all, there is a good chance that in the future, some of todays candidates will be customers. Imagine you see an advert and decide to buy the product advertised, but the company ignores you. Would you ever consider buying from that company again? No, I didn’t think so! One of the most common complaints from recruiters is that there just isn’t enough time, so here are some time saving tips to help you communicate with candidates: Job adverts: Make sure you include a call to action on all job adverts. I know it sounds obvious, but adding “Apply now” or “Apply here” will encourage the candidate to do so, rather than spending time finding you on social media or emailing you. You could also include a sentence like: At #Company Name#  we receive many applications every day and use an applicant tracking system to help us make sure we hire the best candidates possible. By applying for a job using our careers site, you can be assured your application will be received and you will be kept up to date with its progress. Emails: I wouldn’t recommend going as far as an auto reply, but there are other ways to speed up replying to the applications you received overnight. If you use outlook you can use the auto text “Quick Parts” feature. Try using something like: Hi, Thank you for your CV. The best way to apply for jobs is to visit our careers site  here. We receive many applications every day and use an applicant tracking system to help us make sure we hire the best candidates possible. By applying for a job using our  careers  site you can be assured your application will be received and you will be kept up to date with its progress. I have added your CV to our applicant tracking system and you should receive updates from this email address ATS.email@domain.com Best Regards, Name Phone calls: If you are going to be a recruiter, you need to accept that your job is to work with people and you are going to need to speak to people on the phone. In fact, I enjoy this part of the job. Sometimes as recruiters, we are busy and the only way to complete our daily tasks is to bury our head and ignore all distractions. If you need to do this then set up your voicemail. Try using something like this: Hi, you have reached the voicemail of #Iain Hamilton#. Thank you for your call, unfortunately I am unavailable at the moment. If  you would like to apply for one of our open vacancies you can do so by visiting #www.company.com/careers_site# where all our current vacancies are listed. ATS: This is the main tool in the application process and if set up correctly can help you communicate with candidates, ensuring they know what is happening with their application throughout the process. Most ATS systems have the ability to send notifications to candidates when their status is updated on the system. Here are some ideas of how notifications could be used: Job Application: Hi #name#, Thank you for applying for the position of #job title#. We are currently reviewing all job applications and you will hear from us within 7 days on the status of your application. All our jobs are listed on www.company.com/jobs and we encourage you to search and apply for any jobs which fit your profile. Regards, Recruitment Team Company Name Rejection: Hi #name#, Thank you for applying for the position of #job title#. We regularly receive a large number of  applications for each job and unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion. All our jobs are listed on www.company.com/jobs and we encourage you to search and apply for any jobs which fit your profile. Regards, Recruitment Team Company Name Summary None of the advice above is ground breaking but many recruiters and companies get it wrong. Remember the next time you think about hitting the delete button without replying, the candidate may just be a customer in the future. If your systems are set up to automate some of these emails, it doesnt even need to be time consuming!

5+ Best Dean Of Students Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co

5+ Best Dean Of Students Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co If you are looking for Dean of Students interview questions and answers, look no further. We’ve compiled the absolute best questions and answers to help you with your upcoming interview as a potential Dean of Students. What is the role of dean of students The role of Dean of Students is to oversee the strategic direction and academic guidance of the college and university level educational programs. They oversee most of the operations within this level of education, including the review of proposals, budgeting, reporting, student duties, staffing, and much more. Dean of students interview questions & answers 1. Why do you want to be a dean? I am passionate about being a dean because I have spent a number of years in the lower levels of education leadership and feel as though I am ready to lead a university. I’m passionate about leading our youth through their final years of education and onto their career paths. 2. How do you handle budgeting? Budgeting should be handled on a quarterly and annual basis. A collection of all budget requests should be made before the next fiscal year and should have plenty of time to be reviewed by myself and any of the board. Once reviewed, we want to make sure budgeting is getting as much of an even balance as possible for the most optimal experience for our students. 3. How long does it take to hire a professor? The time it takes to hire a professor can vary but generally speaking the time it takes to interview a variety of candidates and make them job offers is on average around 40 - 60 days. And this is because there is a lot of diligence that we must perform for all of our academic professors. 4. What are student advisors? This is a role that we offer to our students who are apart of the program. These individuals help students create the most optimal class setups that apply to their credit needs for their majors. As well as provide them information on how to better achieve their student goals throughout their tenure with us. 5. What makes you most qualified for this university? I’m familiar with the university on a very personal level, I’ve been here many times and experienced what it’s like to be both a visitor and a student. Because of that, I respect the level of quality we offer as an institution and I want to continue that. Related Hiring Resources Dean of Students Job Description

5 essential things to consider before applying for a Masters degree - Debut

5 essential things to consider before applying for a Masters degree - Debut This post was written by a member of the Debut Contributor Network. Applying for a Masters? George Caulton lists some considerations you should bear in mind. Postgraduate life is extremely different to being an undergraduate; funding is limited, it is much more demanding than at undergraduate level, and it is extremely difficult to balance work load, a part time job and a great social life. Many students embark on to an MA for better career prospects, for another year of university life or to elongate the three-year long party. There are many reasons why graduates may choose to stay on, but based on my experiences, here are 5 essential things that undergraduates should really consider before applying for a master’s programme. Don’t do a postgraduate degree because you don’t know what else to do. Being a postgraduate student is nothing like your past life as an undergrad. The workload increases, contact hours become much more intense, deadlines are constant, and it is actually compulsory to attend those 9am lectures. If you are unsure about a particular career path that you want to follow, a gap year or some time for reflection can often be just as rewarding as continuing your academic venture. Many companies do not require you to have a postgraduate degree, so rather than accelerating full speed ahead to a PhD to avoid life outside the university bubble, a short period away from education to do a few internships can really help you steer in the direction that bests suits your needs. Funding is tricky to get your hands on. Even though UK students are lucky enough to receive a government loan (up to £10,280), you need to take all finances and outgoings into account. Though funding is a dull topic and may seem obvious, mapping out your funds before you start an MA is one of the most important pieces of advice that I can offer. Make sure that you take tuition fees, accommodation and general living costs into account, not forgetting the additional money for a social life. With most postgraduate courses costing between £7-12,000 per year, and costs of accommodation consistently rising, it is essential to make sure that you have saved money or take up some form of part-time work to subsidise your year of study. Do you actually need a master’s degree to get to the next stage in your career? For most humanities jobs, most employers don’t require a master’s degree. Throughout most applications, specifically in careers such as journalism and marketing, experience generally trumps additional degrees. For most medical and science based professions however, postgraduate degrees are commonly highly regarded and sought after. The workload doubles. It’s practically a full-time job. Based on my own experience, the number of deadlines came as a real shock to the system. Having had a part-time job and being heavily involved in a lot of societies throughout my undergraduate degree, I have found it much harder to balance a part-time job alongside the demands of my MA. Though it is possible to work on weekends, many universities don’t advise it. Be prepared to spend the majority of your week days in lectures, workshops and seminars. It’s intense, but extremely rewarding. Stay at the same university for the right reasons, not the wrong. Staying at the same university as your undergraduate degree has its pros and cons. If you find yourself applying to the same university, then make sure it’s because the course suits you and will genuinely help your progress. Staying at a university for ease or because your undergraduate friends are staying there will do your future self no favours. Before applying to universities for an MA, see which course is the best for you. Don’t be afraid to move away from what you know. You’ve done it before, so why not do it again? Masters degrees are extremely rewarding, but make sure that you are doing one for the right, rather than the wrong, reasons. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

How to do self-promotion and still respect yourself

How to do self-promotion and still respect yourself The more senior you get, and if you're aspiring to even more senior positions, the more important it is to be able to share with people what you do and what you know and the value you bring. Ideally, you'd have people see you in action, but that's not always possible. So no matter what we're doing, we are going to have to engage in some form of self promotion. For some people, they're naturals. Lucky them, right? For most of us, this is something that's hard. In fact, sometimes it can feel embarrassing or unseemly. I even have one client who tells me he thinks of it as these people swanning around. How unattractive is that, right? But you know what? It doesn't have to be that way. It's all about the how, two kinds of how: How you think about it, which is what I call “how you frame it”, and then How do you actually do it. Let's talk about both of those things. So first, three ideas for how you can frame it in a more energising way. How to think about self-promotion The first way is think about it as you are advertising your team. It's your responsibility, in fact, to help your team be successful and look good, and your team can't always do this themselves because they don't travel in the same senior circles that you do. So think of it not as yourself but it's for your team. The second way to frame it is to think about as you're simply keeping others informed. Unless you're working with mind readers, you've got to tell them what's going on and why that's valuable. In fact, think of it as you're really being helpful to them because they can take this information and probably either do their jobs better or feel inspired that someone, your group has achieved this success and maybe they can actually do that too. Or maybe it's about just giving them information that will help them look smart in front of their clients, but you're helping them by sharing that information. And you might want to set some triggers for yourself so that you actually do that. So triggers such as every time you finish a project, that might be a trigger to say, “Ah, who can I help by keeping them informed about this?” Or your trigger might be every time that you discover a shortcut or a better way to do something or bring in a piece of business. You get the idea. The third way to reframe is to think about it as you're just helping your boss to look good. You're sharing some nuggets with your boss that they can pass on to their senior management. You're arming your boss with proof points and I know that, when I was in senior positions, it was really useful for me to hear these kinds of nuggets from my direct reports so that I can demonstrate the success of our whole unit and also show momentum. So go out there and share some of those nuggets. So now let's move into the other how. How do you actually do it? How to do self-promotion Here are three quick thoughts. Keep it factual. That's the best way to feel like you're not boasting and you're not bragging, but rather you're just giving them the facts. So let's use the example of somebody on your team, let's call him Jerome, who has just done something really successful with a project and it's based on a new strategy that you started at the beginning of the year. So your keeping it factual might sound something like, and this is talking to your boss, “Hey, Jerome and his team just completed project XYZ and that delivered P&L of A.” Then the second part of how is to put it into context. Give them the takeaways and the why it's important. So you might say, “You know what, that's the third win we've had using this new strategy and it's also put us ahead of budget. By the way, you might want to go and congratulate Jerome. I know it would mean a lot to him coming from you.” Then the third part of the how is just keep it quick. Remember, you're delivering a nugget, a proof point. And if your boss, or whoever else wants to hear more, they will ask you. But in the meantime, you want to keep it quick, easy, so that it becomes part of your normal repertoire of behaviours. So get out there, share what you know and what you've done and start helping people by: Advertising your team Keeping others informed, and Making your boss look good. I'm going to leave you with this question: What are your best strategies for self promotion in a way that feels comfortable to you? And then come check out our new Facebook page and share some of your thoughts there.

Resume Writing Services Offered by Dee Moores

Resume Writing Services Offered by Dee MooresFor employers seeking someone to fill a position in their office, resume writing services from Des Moines, Iowa based companies can provide a great first impression that will surely boost a person's career. Resume writing companies are able to provide customized resumes for each job opening as well as customized cover letters for the job applicant.When seeking out an expert resume writer, it is important to find a company that offers not only writing services but also professional assistance to assist in the hiring process. Successful resume writing services will ensure a strong professional impression for your resume, making you an excellent candidate for the position of your choice.One of the top-rated companies in the industry today is Des Moines, Iowa based company called, 'Dee Moores'. Dee Moores is one of the oldest resume writing services available today. They have been providing professionally written resumes and cover letters for many years.Aside from being one of the leading companies in the industry, Dee Moores also offers high quality resume writing services for both the new and experienced job seeker. As they have received national recognition from various sources, the Des Moines, Iowa based Dee Moores has been recognized by The Association of Certified Resume Writers. This organization helps people learn about various resume writing methods and techniques for achieving a successful job search.Being one of the best resume writing companies on the market, their solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of each job seeker. Many of the talented resume writers at Dee Moores are former students of the company, now having a direct connection with the general public, so they can give the general public a firsthand view of how to make a resume.At Dee Moores, they utilize both the written and verbal skills of the job seeker. They make sure to tailor each job seeker's resume to their strengths as well as job duties, which in turn will help the person achieve a higher level of success in the job market.A good resume requires professional presentation. It does not matter if it is a resume for the sales position or for a president of a company, the resume must be organized and complete. A person seeking a job with a Fortune 500 company would need to work hard to get the most detailed resume possible.Professional writing services are a great asset to any organization, especially if it is looking to hire a larger number of employees. A professional resume is a major selling point for any company.