8 Great Ways to Begin Q4 With a Bang

8 Great Ways to Begin Q4 With a Bang Well, well, well if it isnt Q4  sneaking up on us far  quicker than we ever thought possible! It feels like approximately one minute ago that I returned to work in Q1 following a couple of weeks  Christmas vacation albeit a lot heavier than I  am now, thanks  to  copious amounts of pudding and mulled wine mmm. I digress. A brand new quarter the final quarter is here and now is the time to make sure you finish the year with  a bang! Agency recruitment has its naturally hectic  and quieter periods, which generally coincide with the holiday seasons, so we know how important it is to make the next few busy months really count! Finishing the year on a bang means starting the quarter off  with a bang (Ill stop saying the word bang now). Here are my top 8 tips to getting the most out of the next few months to maximise cause for celebration come the festive season (which is just around the corner, yikes): 1.  Clean up your admin act Do you have million tasks well overdue and yet to be completed according to  your CRM? Is the reality actually that most of them were actioned months ago but you just never deleted the task in the system and updated your notes? If you know you are supposed to log  some not-critical-but-still-important information about a process, or update some client information just do it now. Set aside an hour or two to clean up your admin act. All  your admin shortcomings will clog up your brain space and slow down your productivity. Start Q4 on a new page. 2. Clean your desk space If your desk is cluttered and spewing papers, pens and crisp packets, its time to have a good old autumn clean as the saying goes. Get rid of all the old job specs, notes and bits and bobs that serve absolutely no purpose. Cleaning up your work bench will help you feel fresh; its like a physical representation of wiping the slate clean. Tip: grab a baby wipe and give your keyboard go-over. Youll be surprised / disgusted at the black grime that comes off. 3. Get new stationery Further to my above point, once youve done a bit of cleaning, reward yourself with a new notebook, fresh pens and a highlighter which doesnt stain 10 pages deep. Having some fresh tools at your desk space will again make you feel fresh and ready to go! 4. Get in early In sales, you only get out what you put in. Starting a little earlier each day and getting in before the rest of your colleagues to get ahead each day will make you feel super productive. Its amazing what you can get done when noone else is around no jokes to distract you, no laughter to interrupt your phonecalls, no last-minute meetings to wreck your momentum. 5. Analyse what went well what went wrong Analyse your last quarter in terms of statistics and KPIs. How many CVs were sent? How many meetings did you go on? How many calls / meetings were booked in? And the big one how much money did you make / candidates did you place?  Tallying up your output will gie you really good insights on your work and your pipeline, with respect to your performance. Idnetifying areas you need to improve on and put more work into will give you some direction. you can also take those stats to your manager and ask them for their input can they spot patterns in your activity which worked well/ didnt do so well? 6. Meet everyone you placed last quarter Often youll meet a candidate prior to placing them, then the rest of the process will be conducted over email and phone calls. Take a quick second to book in a meeting with your  placed candidates for a meeting at their new offices (if they have started). Even if you took them for a celebratory drink last quarter, it doesnt matter booking them in for a proper business meeting after theyve started their new role will be a great chance to ask them about other areas of the business for you to follow up on for job leads, and really cement this person as an ally for you in future! As they say, your candidates will ikely become your clients! 7. Go through all old jobs call every candidate you didnt place Once youve dealt with the candidates you did place, turn your attentions to the candidates you sent to jobs but didnt place. These candidates are obviously really good, if you were happy to represent them! Dont let them slip away into the abyss with a job lost or placed. Is there anywhere else you can send these candidates? Can you proactively make introductions with your other clients on their behalf? 8. Map out  25 top new clients Top  make sure your pipeline can stand the test of time and well, a million other odds, map out your market and create a list of new clients youre going to try open doors into! Chipping away at these target clients each week and trying to book meetings with key decision makers will make you feel like youve got some big ambitions for Q4 and will help you visualise the potential with your business! Happy  Q4!

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 7 Random (and Sorta Weird) Facts About Me

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 7 Random (and Sorta Weird) Facts About Me Right before the Thanksgiving holiday,Miriam Salpeter tagged me for this meme, but I was rushing out the door for time with family, so I'm just getting around to playing along. Here goes:1. I know firsthand the pain of layoffs. When I was a college senior, my Dad was laid off from a job he'd had for more than 20 years. The refinery employing more than 900 people closed, devastating my small town. I managed to piece together some scholarship money to finish the last year of school. My Dad, 10 months from retirement, lost his entire pension. For the next several years, he ran a gas station to make ends meet.2. I hate wooden spoons. And popsicle sticks. Just writing about them makes the hairs stand up on my arms.3. I had a '72 Cutlass when I was in high school. I now kick myself for getting rid of it whenever I watch those muscle car auctions on television. Who knew that today some fool would pay $7 million for it?4. I've never had writer's block. Go ahead, hate me.5. I never get tired of interviewing people. Being paid to be snoopy? Heaven.6. I once had a woman write me a letter about her miserable career, and say she wanted to kill herself. I immediately called the local authorities. I never did find out what happened, but I think of her often whenever I write workplace stories. I know that people often are truly in a lot of pain.7. I love turtles. During the summer, when they seem to want to cross the road all the time, I'll pull my car over, get out, pick up a turtle and carry it to the other side of the road so it doesn't get run over. I can tell you I don't do the same for armadillos or possums. They're on their own.Here are the people I'm tagging for this meme:Marsha KeefferRobyn McMasterIan TangVirginia BackaitisDan McCarthyDiane DanielsonLindsay OlsonHere are the rules for my fellow bloggers: Link your original tagger(s), and list these rules on your blog. Share seven facts about yourself in the post - some random, some weird. Tag seven people a t the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs. Let them know theyve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs and/or Twitter.

The 5 Elements of Success for Mompreneurs - Classy Career Girl

The 5 Elements of Success for Mompreneurs Motherhood is a lifelong commitment that requires continuous learning. A mother who wishes to develop her professional path faces extremely complex challenges. On the one hand, you have your beautiful home and inquisitive children, sleepless nights, homework, and diaper changes. On the other, you have business meetings, pitches to prep, a social media strategy to build, and a reputation to uphold. While different lifestyles call for different measures, there are some common rules that every mompreneur can implement in her life in order to achieve success. The 5 Elements of Success for Mompreneurs 1. Structure Up Luckily, the modern era provides almost everyone with a chance to find their place in the business universe. To you as a mom, these digital perks will come in handy for organizing your business from top to bottom. Outline your short-term and long-term goals, define your weekly schedule, and allocate an appropriate amount of time to every task at hand. Use your post-its and fridge magnets to place reminders and your phone alarm for your most important tasks. Limit distractions during your work hours by logging out of your personal social media and turning off your phone notifications, and plan your priorities. You can apply the same structure to your home life, such as meal prep, to save time. Having a solid system will be your strongest asset in times of crisis! 2. Share The Commitment Although you might be tempted to take care of everything between work and your children, unless you delegate some of the less crucial tasks, you will end up overwhelmed with challenges. Your partner (or, if youre single, a close friend can help too!) can pitch in to pick the kids up from daycare or school, and you can organize a rotating schedule of keeping up with home maintenance. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, on the contrary! If you recognize that moment when you need assistance, the best you can do for business and your mom-self is to ask for what you need. 3. Make Time For You-Time As rewarding as it is to be recognized as a valuable professional in your community and as a great mom by your family, self-care is an essential segment of savoring your professional journey to success. With so many intricacies involved in setting up a business while taking care of a family, it’s likely that you will start neglecting your own needs. Although it may seem benign at first, that can impede your progress on multiple levels. Set aside a few moments of solitude to clear your mind, schedule your weekly workouts, or design your personal home exercise plan, and never underestimate the power of an occasional date night with your loved one â€" all of these seemingly small choices can help you soar in your career. [RELATED: The Mompreneur: How Theyre Balancing Business and Family Life] 4. Embrace The Learning Curve Mistakes are a natural part of the process, but if you have a habit of criticizing yourself constantly, you will eventually drain all the pleasure from your efforts. When you come across a problem, or you step into the unknown business turf, mold your mindset to perceive it as an opportunity to grow, instead of as a setback. The same goes for being a mom â€" no one was born a brilliant parent, and as much as you wish to do what’s best for your little ones, it’s natural to err every now and then. As long as you gain something, there is no reason to doubt your worth. 5. Manage Your Expectations When you are driven by your aspirations, and you constantly invest energy into dreaming big, you might get lost in the realm of unrealistic expectations, especially if you’ve had a strong start with your entrepreneurial actions. Stay focused on your short-term milestones and motivate yourself with your step-by-step progress. Keep your enthusiasm alive, but steer clear of idealizations. Enjoy your ongoing advancement, but always think about ways to adapt and grow your business, instead of settling for your current situation, no matter how good it might seem. Go get ‘em! As you embark on your business journey, you will realize that building such a strong foundation for all your future endeavors will be worth your while â€" you will be a mom your kids will look up to and learn from with pride for years to come!

Analysing Different Personality Types in the Hiring Process

Analysing Different Personality Types in the Hiring Process Hiring managers aren’t always as good at identifying high potential as they think they are. A range of techniques seek to address this problem, but which is the most appropriate? The problem with intuition For any candidate, a good first impression is essential. But to what degree should a line manager trust their instinct on a potential hire? Turning down a candidate despite their obvious ability, could be considered egotistical or short-sighted, especially when others in the organisation aren’t asked for input. Businesses are increasingly recognising that it’s inappropriate for a single line manager to act as a gatekeeper to a business.   If talent is allowed to fall through the cracks at this early stage in the screening process, companies will continually miss huge opportunities. CVs offer a helpful window into a candidate’s immediate ambitions. However, they do not necessarily provide an accurate representation of a persons character.   Often identifying an individual’s potential within a workplace comes from understanding the motivations of existing staff, and hiring to match the ambitions of high achievers with a similar profile within the talent pool. Supporting new hires with people analytics If you haven’t heard of people analytics before, perhaps now’s the time to take note. The term broadly refers to companies’ use of data to better understand the potential of employees and candidates. With knowledge of individuals’ personality types, performance metrics and ambitions for the future, a company can more effectively place and grow them within their role. Ultimately, this helps keep employees engaged, reduce attrition and develop high-performing individuals within the business. By collecting data on individuals personalities, businesses can save time and money at the early stage of the hiring process. Initial screening of individuals’ attitudes and abilities can ensure that individuals meet requirements of a business’ culture, diversity quota, and can help predict their initial performance in the role. Without this information, businesses are more likely to mis-hire individuals, or passively take on candidates which suit the company’s short-term goals; all without considering their long-term role in the company. Quantitative or qualitative? Yet regardless of data’s ability to predict, measure and identify talent, more qualitative approaches to HR remain common, and for good reason. Lived experience is something we all share and relate to meaningfully, rather than numerical representations of ability. A hiring manager’s impression of a candidate’s personality may well be the best judge of an individual’s cultural fit within an organisation and an interview is often the most appropriate method of determining their competence. However, each organisation’s HR department comes unstuck at some stage, whether that’s attrition, a lack of skills or flagging motivation. Rather than replace the hiring manager, data equips them with the information required to address these flaws. After the contract is signed Increasingly, statistical tests are able to demonstrate candidates more complex characteristics, such as their attitude to teamwork, determination and level of creativity. Rather than simply identify whether a candidate is an appropriate fit for a role, these measures can identify how they will perform within the first months of their appointment, as well as the support they need to settle into their role. Soon the use of people analytics and other data-driven techniques will simply become a part of due diligence and an integral part of traditional recruitment techniques. Data will increasingly be used to send more fit candidates to pre-screening interviews, reducing the chance of a bad hire and helping companies support their employees’ growth within the business. About the author: James Grant  founded Weavee  in 2015 after identifying how businesses struggled to recognise high-potential talent in candidates and their own workforce. Weavee blends big data analysis with psychometric methods to provide businesses with the information they need to hire and grow individuals in line with their objectives.

How Do You Go About Improving Your Resume and Cover Letter Writing?

How Do You Go About Improving Your Resume and Cover Letter Writing?Have you ever wondered how do you go about improving your resume and cover letter writing? If you haven't, then this is the perfect time to do it.Resume and cover letters are the biggest influences on the decision making process. The reason for this is obvious - your resume and cover letter will be the first thing that they see. That's why you want to make sure that your information is correct and that you're being seen in a positive light.There are many types of letters out there. Some are informal and less formal than others. If you are a businessperson or an entrepreneur and you are looking for someone to help you out with the hiring process, you can hire a professional to write one for you. However, if you are just looking for a letter to get you a job interview, then there are many choices available to you.For example, if you are applying for a job as a copywriter, you should go with a resume that is very profess ional looking. A well written resume can turn you from a potential employee to a hired one in a short amount of time. When you have a well written cover letter, you'll be able to talk to a lot of different people, and once you get your first interview, you'll have the confidence to be able to talk to the employer more.One of the ways to improve your resume and cover letter is to use keywords correctly. Keywords are words or phrases that are most often used by the hiring company when reviewing resumes. You need to be able to use them correctly, so that you will stand out from the other applicants. Sometimes, the keywords in your resume and cover letter are spelled wrong, so having someone else proofread it is always a good idea.Another way to make your letter and resume more appealing is to incorporate graphics, if possible. This is especially true if you are hiring a writer to write the letter and they aren't going to do any typing but only edit the letters.One thing that you should always keep in mind is to not go over-emphasizing the content of your letter and resume. Make sure that the content you include in your letters and resumes are accurate and that you're being as concise as possible. Make sure that you can read the letters and apply what you've learned.An online resume and cover letter writing guide will help you get started on the right foot. Make sure that you research what other applicants have written, and find the best ones for yourself. By using this guide, you'll be able to improve your resume and cover letter quickly, and then be able to move up in the hiring process in no time.

IMA presentation - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

IMA presentation - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I would like to say a warm thank you to everyone who attended my presentation at the Indore Management Associations conference. It was an absolute pleasure. As I said, I do believe that India has a unique chance right now to become not only prosperous but happy and that means creating lots of happiness at work. I would love to hear your thoughts, comments and questions so please write a comment here. Click here to download my presentation. 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

50+ Best Websites For Job Search 2017

50+ Best Websites For Job Search 2017 Here is this years list of the 50+ best websites for job search. If you are just looking for a list of job boards, you have come to the wrong place. Job boards are only a very small part of  your job search strategy. In fact, less than 30% jobs  are filled through job boards or aggregators. Surveys  from Jobvite and CareerXroads and other sources, report that a referred candidate is more likely to be hired. Honestly, it is going to take more than applying to jobs online to land your job. Now, heres how I came up with this list. It is a compilation of resources Ive been recommended to job seekers.  My criteria for selecting these sites is based on three things: the sites provide quality content the author(s)/publisher show an understanding of modern  job search trends and methodologies the sites are relevant to your job search questions And while all these resources are free, most do  offer workshops, books, courses or paid services. You can conduct a successful job search without paying  a lot of money, however,  savvy job seekers and careerists know when they need to invest in themselves. 50+  Best Websites for Job Search 2017 LinkedIn LinkedIn is a category all in itself! Every working professional MUST BE using LinkedIn. It isnt just an online resume, it is a research tool, networking database, job board, source of industry news, salary calculator and more! Use their iOS or Android apps for your smart phone too!  RESEARCH RESOURCES GlassDoor Use Glassdoor to research what employees are anonymously saying about companies, get salary information and learn what questions theyve asked during interviews. Yes, they have job postings too! My Next Move   My Next Move helps assess your interests, research careers and begin developing a list of skills and keywords to use in marketing yourself.  This is essentially a database sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Training Administration, and developed by the National Center for O*NET Development. SmartBrief Industry News SmartBrief compiles the latest news by industry to help you keep on top of trends. Pick the industry you are interested in and subscribe to get daily news updates or use their app (iOS only) to view the top stories from trade publications and professional societies. Youll find summaries of news from education, finance, food and beverage, health are, marketing advertising, retail, tech, life sciences technology, telecom, infrastructure, energy chemicals, aviation aerospace, travel hospitality. SmartBrief also has top stories to help you manage your career.  SmartBrief  On Your Career SALARY RESEARCH These  salary calculators will  help determine your value in the market place.   Glassdoor.com Indeed Salary  Search NACE Salary Calculator (for new graduates) PayScale Salary.com RESUME CRAFTING (AND MORE) Writing a resume is not easy. These sites help you learn how  to craft resumes and LinkedIn profiles. AvidCareerist AvidCareerist is the work of Donna Svei. She writes LinkedIn profiles and resumes. Donna  delivers factual, informative articles and detailed research on topics impacting your job search. Career Trend Career Trend, by Jaqui Barrett-Poindexter, is an exquisitely written blog. Jacqui has a way with words! She is a master resume writer, and more accurately, a master storyteller. Chameleon Resumes Chameleon Resumes, by Lisa Rangel, offers executive level resumes and LinkedIn advice. Lisa is a LinkedIn Job Search Expert- she  was hired as a Group Moderator for LinkedIn’s Premium Job Seeker Group. Executive  Career Brand Executive Career Brand, by Meg Guiseppi, has some of the best articles on personal branding available. While she writes for her executive audience, the advice is relevant to anyone wanting to create a strong personal brand. Great Resumes Fast Great Resumes Fast, by Jessica Hernandez and her team, offer  sample resumes, articles to help you craft a better modern resume and more job search help. SAMPLES EXAMPLES Looking for sample cover letters, resume samples, scripting on what to say? You’ll find it on these sites. The Balance Job Searching The Balance-provides advice AND examples of resumes and cover letters. Alison Doyle is the Job Search Expert. LiveCareer  Letter Examples LiveCareer supplies resume and cover letter templates, articles, assessments and more! Quintessential Careers Quint Careers has so much more than sample cover letters. You’ll find articles on networking, interviewing and other job search trends. This is a go-to source for sample anything (cover letters, emails and resumes!) JOB SEARCH ADVICE Check these  websites for the best answers to your job search questions. Better yet, subscribe to them and get regular updates. Human Workplace Human Workplace, by Liz Ryan, provides  honest,  straightforward advice to help empower you. She is on  your side, not the employers. Job-Hunt.org Job-Hunt.org is THE authoritative  site for your job search! You will find everything you need, at any stage of your career! All aspects of job search are covered by carefully selected experts. Susan P. Joyce is the mastermind of this site. JobMob JobMob always has an interesting compilation of information to help with your job search. Jacob Share manages this site. The Muse Great articles and information youll want for all aspects of your professional life! It covers career advice, job search, career paths, management, and more! Bonus: every week you can see a list of featured companies with job openings. US News World Report’s On Careers US News World Report On Careers is written by career pros and covers everything job search related as well as career advice. Work It Daily This site used to be called CAREEREALISM. It has a new name with more help. You will find relevant job search and career advice provided by “trusted career experts.” SOCIAL MEDIA JOB SEARCH Career Sherpa In case you didnt realize it, I write about ways to use social media to help you stay competitive in todays job search! OVER 50 JOB SEARCH Job seekers over 50 face a specific set of challenges. You need to understand the issues, biases and how you can spin your experience into a valuable asset! AARP AARPs job expert, Kerry Hannon, covers issues that the older job seeker has to know in order to compete. Youll find all the issues you need to take into consideration while hunting down your next job as a more seasoned professional. Career Pivot Career Pivot by Marc Miller targets Baby Boomers who are in search of their next career. My Lifestyle Career My Lifestyle Career written by Nancy Collamer, offers advice for people over 50 on how to transition into a new career before retirement, often referred to as second-act careers..  Nancy also writes for Next Avenue  (PBS site for people over 50). NEW COLLEGE GRAD EARLY CAREER JOB SEARCH Campus To Career Campus To Career helps you connect the dots from your college experience to landing your first job. YouTern YouTern is the place to go for your job search! The Savvy Intern blog, with articles written by top experts, isn’t just for interns. Their advice ant tips apply to every job seeker! INTERVIEWING Ask The Headhunter Nick Corcodolis Nick provides interviewing and job search advice from a  recruiters perspective. He provides solid, straight-shooting advice. Nick answers job search questions most other recruiters won’t or don’t. Robin Ryan Robin Ryan, author of  60 Seconds And Your Hired, delivers job search advice you dont want to miss. You can subscribe to her newsletter on her site. You can also read her job search tips here. OTHER JOB SEARCH RESOURCES CareerOneStop CareerOneStop has information on starting your search, finding a career match, information on re-training, where to find local services if you are unemployed and more.  Sponsored by the Department of Labor. 6 TOP JOB BOARDS Searching the job boards is one of the least effective job search methods. But it makes you feel good. Job boards are a grood resource of information. You can develop a list of keywords by reviewing job postings and understand what skills, words, and terms employers use to describe what they are looking for. Ill admit, not all employers are good at writing job postings, but they are gettting better. These are the top job boards you should set alerts on:     Indeed.com SimplyHired Monster.com CareerBuilder And dont forget about CraigsList SPECIALTY JOB BOARDS Using specialty or niche job boards, depending on your industry or occupation, is a must. Some companies will only post opportunities within these sites that target only the specific talent they are seeking. Dice Dice is known as being a job board for technical candidates (IT, etc.)  Besides jobs, you will see news and advice to help with your job search. HigherEd Jobs HigherEd Jobs features job opportunities at colleges and universities. Idealist Idealist focuses on non-profit job postings, volunteer opportunities and internships. USA Jobs USA Jobs is the Federal Government’s official source for federal job listings  across hundreds of federal agencies and organizations. Internships.com Internships.com helps you find internships and  entry level jobs. This board is dedicated to recent college graduates. LinkUp LinkUp  aggregates its job listings from employer websites. This allows you to directly apply on the companys website. Freelancing/Gigs/Remote Work With the gig economy on the rise, and job security diminishing- you may want to start  freelancing for income security. You can check out these boards for a variety of freelancing opportunities.                 FlexJobs.com Guru.com UpWork.com Remote.com PODCASTS           CareerCloud Radio Macs List Find Your Dream Job Podcast The Voice of Job Seekers TOOLS Get  serious about your job search and long-term career success. Youll need to be find-able online. These tools make it very easy to develop a one page summary of your experience and improve search results for your name! About.me About.me makes it easy to create a single webpage highlighting you. List your other social media profiles, create lists, join a community of people who value  online visibility. BrandYourself BrandYourself walks you through the steps to improve how your name ranks in search results. JobScan Jobscan  will help you optimize your resume keywords  and get past resume screeners. Upload your resume and copy and paste the job description and Jobscan  compares the two to see how well you match the words used in the posting. JibberJobber JibberJobber is a web-based tool to organize and manage your job search! It goes far beyond a standard spreadsheet. It helps keep track of and manage relationships, job postings, target companies and more! More Great Professional Job Search Advice Here are more  people I know, like and trust. Please visit their sites too! (My  weekly Summary Sunday articles  feature the weeks best job search articles. When you find a source you like, add it to your list of job search resources!) Absolutely Abby,  Career Attraction,  Career Solvers,  Copeland Coaching, Executive Resume Expert,  HR Bartender,  Interview Success Formula,  Job Jenny, Keppie Careers,  Lea McLeod, The Resume Crusade,  TopResume, William Arruda (on Forbes),  WorkCoachCafe. (Recruiters who look out for job seekers Bulls Eye Recruiting,    Jim Stroud,  The Searchologist, Social-Hire) Job Search Apps If you want to make your job search more mobile, check out this list of 6 job search apps you should test drive. Twitter List of Experts Ive made it super simple for you to find news, articles and information for your job search.  Follow these pros  on Twitter for job search advice and guidance. The most recent list is  here.