The Rec 2 Rec Octagon

The Rec 2 Rec Octagon I used to be an agency recruiter. I met my budgets and enjoyed the odd bonus as well as the big  nights out. I truly enjoyed the feeling that we were all in a trench together. I remember silly hat  sales days, the compulsory ‘take a buddy’ client visits and of course, the dress code. I’ve learned to  spot an agent at a glance as well; black A4 folder (the juniors usually carry these versions), suit,  haunted gaze, ridiculously well-polished shoes. The odd thing is that I’ve seen this multiple times no  matter which country I’m in. It may be a blazing 40 degree day in Singapore, but you’ll still see them  emerge from buildings and walk in sync to a waiting taxi. Expectation I didn’t plan to take this route in my career. I’d read about headhunters in fortune magazine during  my years at university and the thought of being the silent guide in people’s careers appealed. I  imagined a phone that would ring from a global CEO asking my opinion on talent in the market,  whereupon I would dispense my knowledge and expertise leaving him enraptured by my contacts and insight into human beings. The transaction would be swift and efficient. A call here and there; a  handshake; a contract. I would then send off a ridiculously high priced invoice personally signed  with a witty and personal note appealing to their interests. Something like ‘Talent is fleeting, so  keep cycling â€" Sincerely, your talent partner’. Reality Reality was a bit of a slap to the face, particularly in the industrial sector. In my first week at a global  branded consultancy, I was verbally abused and had a wrench thrown at me across a workshop  floor. I reacted like a cat and rolled to my right. Had the IPhone been invented it would have likely  hit 100,000 views on youtube. The sector is also usually also a family affair so you’re never just  dealing with the candidate. I learned to ignore the derisive looks I’d get from the banking and  financial consultants when I arrived in reception to find polished candidates having to patiently wait  standing because every seat was taken by the family of a tradesman. If you can survive in the  industrial space, you’ll do well anywhere. You learned to think fast, field weekend calls from a range  of people in tears because they don’t have money and need an extra shift. You learned to carry  around files to dinner parties with lists of available candidates because laptops and database access  were a new concept. It was also unforgiving when you made a mistake. Workshop floor managers  are no strangers to a ‘tough’ conversation, so your skin quickly grew thick enough to take the blows. The professional space presented its own challenges. Things such ‘your word’ and a handshake  mattered in the industrial sector, but to a wily financial controller you needed more. They knew the  game and knew precisely how to play you to get what they wanted. I’ve spent many countless hours  negotiating with candidates and once even drove through a rush-hour in London to meet a  candidate in pouring rain to convince them that this life choice was the best thing for them, only to  have the client pull the job the next day as they’d filled it internally. Oh, the heartache. Turning tables I truly  despised the sales calls. I now know what I would have sounded like and it makes me cringe but also  respect those rare, wonderful human beings that can get it right. Currently, as the go-to person for  recruitment across our region in a global corporate, I am used to receiving at least 4 agency sales  calls a day and through silence have managed to reduce that to around 1 per fortnight. Having  known what it feels like on the ‘other side’, I am polite but firm. Recently, consultant X presented  his case, side-stepped my initial rejection with ease and thrust his sales pitch at me. I paused and  realised that I was enjoying the call. We were fundamentally both recruiters and for the first time in a  while a sense of camaraderie emerged. It dawned on me afterwards that this feeling was all-to-  often fleeting and weighed down by terms and conditions, ill-perceived intentions and the battle  for recognition from the hiring manager. The golden ticket The golden ticket in agency recruitment is access to the decision maker. If you can build their trust  quickly, you’ve set the groundwork for what can often be multi-year lucrative relationship. Not that  its all about money. It’s the fulfilling sense of a job well done. Or is it? Regardless, the reason  relationships likely fail in this space is simply due to unnecessary and often overlapping priorities.  On one hand, the passionate corporate recruiter wants to see a role filled by the right person with  the right skill set within a defined period of time that meets his or her service level agreements and  if at all possible, a well done from the hiring manager. On the other side, the typical permanent and  temporary contingency agency recruiter is faced with a budget to achieve to sustain their salary, a  directive and sometimes will to work long hours, impossible roles to fill in short timeframes and  competing priorities from the range of other customers they dare not let dow n. All of this (and much  more) leads us merrily back to where I hung up the phone with a defined meeting time set aside  with consultant X. He appeared on time in reception. A great start. I received the call from our receptionist who is  adept at picking odd visitors and mentioned that there were three well presented individuals in  reception. “Three?”, I asked. “Yes three”, she replied. This was irritating because I knew precisely where this was headed. I would talk with Consultant X, be interrupted by Consultant Y who would  work with Consultant Z to head off any progress outside of Consultant X’s scope, which is what  happened. Consultant X’s handshake lingered a touch longer than it should have and I sensed from  his apologetic smile that he had very little input into who joined him. Disaster The conversation went  predictably bad. They spoke over each other and I offered a wan smile watching the branches of a  large tree through the window move with the wind. I briefly pictured myself leaping through the  window swinging gracefully through the branches and landing on the street below. What a story for  the office it would have been for them. I outsourced the single role my budget could handle this  quarter and reiterated the importance of it. Was I certain that there was nothing in the admin space for Consultant Y? Yes. What about Engineering for Consultant Z? No, nothing; lovely to meet you.  Watch yourself crossing the road; the end. To describe at length the angst that followed would be waste of your time, so I’ll skip to the juicy  parts. Consultant X worked hard. Profiles were provided within 3 days meeting his own defined  timeline. I reviewed and passed them on to the hiring manager. In the meantime, I beavered away  at my own portfolio. Sarah, the hiring manager went on leave. Consultant X called me requesting  feedback. Sarah returned from leave and realised that she may actually be able to develop someone  in her team for the role. I of course, calmly reminded her that the role was open for 6 weeks before  we engaged an agency. Sarah said  she understood  and promised to review the candidates. Too late Consultant X called and emailed,  and called again reminding me of the criticality of securing the  candidates. Sarah eventually obliged after all candidates were printed out and taped to her  computer monitor. Its worth noting at this juncture that having achieved managerial status at the  organisation, Sarah was supposedly a ‘professional’. This again should have implied  competence, however we  all know that this is rare. Consultant X started calling me after hours. He had lost one of the  candidates. There was an edge to his voice that I couldnt  mistake. He wished me all the best (dead)  with my meeting with Sarah tomorrow to lock in times. Sarah finally confirmed interview times,  missed the first interview and arrived late for the second. Her performance was  noted and passed on  to her leader who shrugged and asked me why we haven’t hired that person in her team yet? No  wonder she was  stressed. Mutual frustration A small part of my brain had collapsed by this point, and I thanked him for the feedback followed  by a suggestion that she should make  more of an effort. The moment however, had passed.  The relationship between Consultant X and I was doomed from the start and not because of what  you may think was just another ‘agency’ issue. It was ours. Without control and trust from the hiring  manager, talent acquisition was disregarded and not given priority. Without an internal champion,  Consultant X was never going to have his case pushed to the point of a hire opening the door to the  decision maker. Truth be told, for this to have worked I needed to get out of the way and merely  facilitate the meeting with the hiring manager and not attempt to take on the role of ‘hiring  manager’. Mutual benefits Yet despite all these lessons, corporate recruiters repeatedly make the same errors.  Despite claims that agencies were going to collapse a decade ago from the growth of internal  recruitment functions and increase in sourcing competencies, they are still going strong, which is evidence enough that they still have value. All good recruitment strategies incorporate suppliers.  Portion off the work you know your team will struggle with delivering on, and ensure that relationships are in place with hiring managers prior to them needing to be engaged. Ultimately, your business will win  from the arrangement. Ideally a  partnership will form within that  pseudo no-man’s land between  external and internal recruiters. Author: The ‘Acquirer’ â€"  No small dose of healthy HR skepticism. A career in Talent Acquisition leadership in global companies from the heat of the Asia Pacific to the crisp air of Europe.   Pragmatic, strategic, and every now and again… serious. Image: Shutterstock

Tips For Writing a Beginners Resume

Tips For Writing a Beginners ResumeWriting beginners resume is a great way to get the ball rolling on your professional career. However, there are many things you should take into consideration before you get started. These tips will help you put together a resume that will impress your employer.One of the most important things you should consider is the information that you will include on your resume. Most employers base their decisions about your worthiness on the information that you include. If you want to avoid the dreaded employer rejections, make sure to use only the correct information. Many people overlook this and waste their time looking for additional information to put on their resume.Once you have decided what information you would like to include on your resume, you must decide whether you want to put the information in an organized manner or whether you want to put it in a different skill level. If you are a stay at home mom, you don't need to include your profession al accomplishments at all. In fact, it is best that you leave out the professional portion of your resume. The information about your work experience and training will be enough to prove that you have the experience and skills required for the position.This does not mean that you have to choose a certain type of job just because of the type of experience you have. There are many different types of jobs available for people with various types of education. When you write your information, you should decide if you want to be clear about the job title or if you want to have more detail about what the job is. If you do want to have more information about the job, include a little bit of everything. You may not be able to go into details about the job, but you should be able to describe the job as you see it.It is easy to put your information into categories and to list them as some of the different things you have done. However, it is much better to use a bullet point format. When you w rite the information, take care to describe the tasks in one paragraph and then use a bullet point format to put the information into categories. Write down three or four bullet points describing each task that you have completed. Your employer will appreciate this information and will be able to go back and look at the categories of each task and know what you have accomplished.Once you have decided what your information is, you should include contact information for each of the companies that you have worked for. Many employers will look at a person's job history and look at how long they have been employed by each company and decide if they should hire you. By including your contact information on your resume, you are letting the potential employer know that you have been to a number of different places that you are qualified for and that you would be a good fit for the job. It is also an opportunity to tell the employer about the roles that you may have had and the opportunities that you would be able to take advantage of.The last thing that you should take into consideration is the location that you are applying for and the availability of the job. When you write your information, you should remember to add the location, date, and number of hours that you worked that day. If you had a shift that was off because of inclement weather, this information should be included on your beginner's resume. Your employer may use these numbers to help them determine if you were a good fit for the job.Following these important tips will help you put together a resume that is both professional and relevant. The longer you take to put together your information, the less chance there is that the information will be used. Quality beginners resume will stand out from the rest and will be useful to your future employer.

How to Hire Culturally Without Missing Out on Technical Ability

How to Hire Culturally Without Missing Out on Technical Ability Businesses of all shapes and sizes are dependent on their workforce. Simply put, the stronger your team, the brighter your future will be. A culture within a business can be hard to put your finger on, but when someone doesn’t match up, you can certainly tell that it’s missing. Culture embodies everything from the way people get on, to the core values that your business was founded on. If the personality and culture of a new employee matches the rest of the business, then it is more likely that they will perform better, experience a greater feeling of job satisfaction and may be more likely to stay with the same company for longer. People who are actively looking for roles are starting to prioritise culture as highly as other factors such as salary and benefits. Will Craig, Managing Director at Digital Impact, says that the importance of culture in the modern workplace should not be underestimated: The single toughest challenge to a business’ culture is staffing. Recruit the right people and you’ll find your workplace stronger than ever; recruit the wrong people and you risk poisoning the well. However, as anyone who’s ever had to hire for a position knows, picking the diamonds from the rough is far from easy.  While you should never compromise on the quality of your hires, there’s one small tweak you can make to help find the gems out there: prioritise passion, culture and talent over experience. It’s really easy to chase people who are already equipped to do the job right now. Picking up someone super experienced might help you now, but if they aren’t right for the company it’ll come to harm you later. Ignoring a bad personality and hiring for their experience risks tainting the rest of your staff and disrupting the culture you’ve worked to create.  The simple version is this: make sure you pick the right person, not just the right CV. Home grown talent Many agencies in particular are now choosing to focus on producing their own “home grown” talent. This may be through hiring someone who fits culturally, ticks plenty of boxes but is perhaps a little rough around the edges skills wise, and then providing them with ample time to self-develop. This can be through reading the latest articles online, sending them to industry conferences and hosting internal training sessions. Those who are able to educate themselves about a little known industry are incredibly valuable, and they’ll appreciate the chance to learn and grow. Think outside your area How often have you missed out on a candidate with a great application just because they lived a little too far away? If you’re looking to secure the very best, those in competitive industries cannot afford to be too picky. Jeff Ellman, co-founder of UrbanBound, commented on the importance of not being restricted by geography: A company’s best talent can’t always be found in its backyard. Recruiters are currently faced with the challenge of finding talent with specialised skills and experience. That’s why today, more and more companies are taking on a global mindset when it comes to recruiting and hiring to cast the widest net possible. To help hone in on these perfect candidates and convince them to accept job offers, recruiters are relying on strong relocation strategies. A strong relocating benefit allows recruiters to search for talent outside of their region and ‘tips the scale’ for candidates who may have previously been wary about the headache of moving. Strong relocation strategies are a win-win for both recruiters and employees. Companies are able to acquire the best talent and provide employees with the support to execute a seamless move. A company’s relocation benefit can make or break a signing deal, so it’s important for companies to have all the tools necessary to know they can snag top talent to fill their open positions. Look at your own networks Our social and professional networks are filled with people who are educated and skilled, but for some reason they never cross our minds. Rachel Carrell, CEO of Koru Kids, is a strong advocate of looking close to home before expanding your search: Almost without exception the best people came via my own social networks. They weren’t friends that can be risky but rather friends of acquaintances or vice versa. It didn’t take long to find them; just a few emails and messages on Facebook, which I use for recruiting a lot. Plus, of course, using your own social networks to recruit is free! That’s especially important when you’re a startup. About the author:  Steve Thompson, is the Managing Director of digital marketing recruitment specialists Forward Role Recruitment.

What Are The Best Nutrisystem MealsÂ

What Are The Best Nutrisystem Meals   Losing weight is a primary resolution for most people at the beginning of the year. There are hundreds of dietary plans out there that can help you lose the extra pounds, including the Nutrisystem meal plan. Before signing up for the Nutrisystem weight loss diet, you need to look at the new pricing options for prepackaged meal deliveries every month.   Vegetable Frittata The vegetable frittata is one of the latest additions in the meal plans but is already attracting positive reviews. This fluffy frittata has spinach, bell peppers, and zucchini. The savoury blend of cheeses used is one of the reasons this meal is popular. The vegetable frittata is perfect for vegetarians and people with diabetes. It is a low-calorie diet, with only 120 calories. It is delivered frozen, and you only need to place it in the microwave when you are ready to eat. It is currently available as a lunch option. You only need to add a protein to have a balanced meal. Cinnamon Roll The cinnamon roll is one of the best-rated breakfast meals of Nutrisystem. Breakfast is a favourite meal for most people, especially those who expect to have a long day. The Cinnamon roll is filling, tasty, and has an excellent flavour to kickstart your day. The thick cream cheese frosting topping is one of the best features of this morning treat. Once you receive this cinnamon roll, all you need to do is remove the outer cover, place it in a safe dish, and microwave it. This meal is so good, you will feel like you are cheating, yet it only has 180 calories! This meal is great for vegetarians and is diabetes-friendly.     Double Chocolate Caramel Bar Do you wish you could have a chocolate bar, especially when on a strict diet? Well, now you can. This lunch bar is made up of rich chocolate crispies, with a layer of gooey milk caramel and has a coating of semi-sweet chocolate. This meal is ideal if you hardly have time to take a break for lunch. When on the move, it is easy to deviate from your weight loss meal plan. Carrying this lunch bar ensures you keep track of your progress even when you are not at home. This meal has 180 calories.   Italian Sausage and Turkey Pepperoni Pizza Pizza lovers also get to enjoy a meal that fits their diet plan. This meal comes ready to bake. It is a high protein and high fibre meal that will leave you satisfied. It is the ultimate diet-friendly pizza! The thick crust has mouthwatering toppings, which include turkey pepperoni, Italian sausage, zesty tomato sauce, and cheese. This pizza has 260 calories and is an excellent option for dinner. Ice Cream Sandwich This ice cream sandwich is an all-time favourite snack for many people. When you are craving a sweet snack, this vanilla-flavoured ice cream sandwich is the perfect diet-friendly choice. The icecream is between two chocolate flavoured wafers. Each serving has 130 calories. This snack comes frozen, ready to eat. Nutrisystem has made dieting fun with meals you would ordinarily need to forego to lose weight. You have a range of meals to choose from, depending on your diet plan and personal preference. Fortunately, whatever your meal plan, you will find a meal you will undoubtedly enjoy.  

Online Professional Resume Writing Services in Maryland

Online Professional Resume Writing Services in MarylandOnline professional resume writing services have made it easier than ever to get your foot in the door when it comes to a good job. The economy is still fragile, and it is important to make sure that you are providing yourself with every opportunity possible to land that perfect job that you have always dreamed of.Getting into the company that is hiring the right person for the job is the ultimate goal. You want the hiring manager to get to know you, to recognize your strengths and qualifications. With the right resume, you can get the job.It is also very important to have formal skills on hand as well. There are many positions where you will be required to know how to perform certain functions or learn new ones. You don't want to have to go out of your way to get any such expertise, however. You want to leave the right credentials on hand, so that you are ready should the situation arise that requires you to do so.Resume writing services Maryland can help you get your foot in the door for that perfect job. From there, it is up to you to use your qualifications, abilities, and experiences to your advantage. With proper written samples, you can leverage your skills and strengths to get the job that you want.Online professional resume writing services in Maryland have been in business for many years, providing you with the best selection of resumes, cover letters, and training documents. The Internet allows them to provide you with the resumes and cover letters you need in a matter of minutes, saving you the time it takes to go through the job posting process in person.Many companies now place great importance on the ability to conduct business via the Internet. In order to keep your business afloat, they have set aside a section for online resumes and have specially tailored training materials and documentation for your use.Online professional resume writing services in Maryland are staffed by qualified prof essionals with years of experience in this field. They understand how to handle your job applications and can easily be able to build the best resumes, based on the needs of your company. Because they are hired for their expertise, they are able to bring your CV and cover letter up to date, ensuring that you get exactly what you need to get the job you want.No one wants to hire the wrong person for the job, but if you take the time to write your application properly, you will not only increase your chances of getting the job, but you will also save a lot of time that could be spent hiring other people to do the job. With a resume, you can ensure that you do everything that is required of you, all without having to waste time going through the entire hiring process.

Try These Awesome Part-Time Businesses to Fit Your Current Lifestyle - CareerMetis.com

Try These Awesome Part-Time Businesses to Fit Your Current Lifestyle There aren’t many of us in the world that can say we have enough money. If you own your own home, you may need quite a lot just to keep your house in good order. And if you have bright kids, the thought of the fees from the best Universities may be keeping you up at night!Earning more money would be great if it was possible to do without making major life changes. Fortunately, there are several ways you can earn a little extra and still have the security of your nine-to-five.When most people start a new business, they find they can’t give up their old jobs straight away. Others are quite happy in employment but want to earn a little more by monetizing a hobby they love.evalThese are the people that manage to fit a part-time business into their current lifestyles. Sure, they may have very little spare time for anything else. But if you’re doing something you love, then you might not feel like you’re losing anything.1. Start a BlogevalCreativity is as important as entrepreneurs hip. If you’re not creating anything that someone else will pay you for, then you probably don’t have a winning business. If you’re a good writer, you could easily monetize this valued skill.It costs next to nothing to secure a WordPress website. Infact, this particular website â€" CareerMetis.com is a WordPress blog. I started off by writing small articles. Over time, now it has grown to over 50+ Guest authors and close to 400 Published Articles. This hobby has become a business that I manage.2. Become an AuthorThen add a few articles a week on your favorite topics. Why not finish that book you always spoke of? You can self-publish on Amazon to earn money from it. Or you may be lucky enough to get the attention of an agent or publisher.Many of the Guest Authors on this blog are published authors. They initially started off by writing articles on LinkedIn or their blog. Over time, they had collected enough stories and posts. Then they turned them into a published book. And sin ce, they usually have a following of subscribers, it was not hard for them to find customers for their books.3. Teach MusicIf you’ve always enjoyed music, you could pass that joy onto others. Teaching a musical instrument doesn’t require any qualifications when you teach privately. All you need is some enthusiasm and a good level of understanding about your instrument. Of course, you might choose to take a few more lessons yourself to improve your skills.No matter how many Pokemon Games come out, people still want to learn music. For proof, check the wide range of YouTube videos showing people learning to play an instrument.5. First-Aid InstructorevalIf you’re teaching minors, it could be a good idea to take a couple of courses in child protection and paediatric First Aid too. Pick an hourly fee that represents your own expertize. There are many organizations such as the Red Cross, that will help you get trained and certified.6. Freelance PhotographerevalIf you’re quite crea tive with a camera, you could earn a few bucks from portrait or wedding photography. If you have the equipment already, this will prove quite handy. Studio work can be achieved in the client’s own home if you have a small mobile kit with backdrops. Of course, you will need extra insurance to protect you and your equipment. Develop your own brand. Pick your hours and your choice of projects.Recently I interviewed a Guest on our Podcast. He loved Photography, and he decided to turn his passion into a career. He started out part-time, and over time he built a clientele and reputation. Now he is a full-time Photographer.7. Health PractitionerPeople will always need help with ailments and injuries. As a healer, you could be the one to improve their health. You can visit the client in their own home and offer them a range of alternative healthcare treatments. Why not learn reiki with Jade Rose or take an acupuncture course? You could, over time, build up your qualifications to offer a f ull range of services to your clients.evalA past colleague of mine did just that. While working full-time, she started getting here Reiki certification. And she slowly built her business part-time. After a few months, one day she walked into the office and just quit to launch her business full-time.Finding the right business for you could be as simple as picking from one of the above. It should be something that allows you to continue working. Best of all, it could be that one thing you’ve always had a passion for.

Good Ol Work Ethic

Good Ol Work Ethic I am listening to Big Russ and Me as I commute to and from work. It is narrated by Tim Russert and it is a wonderful story of his life and the impact his father had on it. It is so enjoyable. Tim talks about how his father worked two jobs his entire life. One in sanitation, the other delivering newspapers. His father never complained about being tired or having to work these two jobs. He did it in order to support their family of six. They lived in a small house with one bathroom and had only one car. His mother stayed home and managed the family. Big Russ, Tims father, was a veteran. Hewas also Catholic. Big Russ was about doing the right thing. Tim credits his father for the lessons he learned and the person he became. I know people today who are barely able to hold down one full time job without complaining.We need to re-arrange our priorities. We need to do the right thing. If that means compromising our long-range plans, then ok, just dont lose the dream and dont complain. I also know Dan, who hastaken a direct care job with the developmentally disabled. He worksa terrible shift, beingthe newbie, but he isnt complaining. This job provides health insurance and money to pay for the food and house he needs. Dan has a unique gift in finding the lessons learned in every job he has. He looks for little wayshecan use histalents and from this, gets some jobsatisfaction. My Popremindsme what his hard-working, entrepreneurial father told him. Work is hard, it is time consuming, it is not fun. But, having said that, it can be fulfilling, rewarding and challenging, if you arelucky.

Are You Thinking Of Quitting Your Job

Are You Thinking Of Quitting Your Job Everybody thinks about quitting occasionally and sometimes, quitting your job might be the best decision you make. But theres some real downsides to quitting unprofessionally, and you need to be careful to avoid them because they will haunt your future career. These are bad ideas: breaking an employment contract venting your anger online in public forums raging at your boss in a final dramatic recount of all your frustration stealing to make up for the way they treated you leaving suddenly without preparing the person taking over your job not having money to live on while you look for another position I sure hope you see why these are bad ideas! Its easy to talk yourself into thinking they are good ideas, though, because your emotions get in the way when work conditions become intolerable. Every single idea has future consequences, and thinking about those consequences is a good idea. Future employers will look at your past jobs and contact past employers about your behavior. They look at what you say online. Theft is a crime and you will get caught. Howd you like to take over someones job who left it like you did? And money is important for bills and groceries, am I right? Here are some good ideas: start saving so you have at least a month or more of financial cushion start looking for a job without tipping off your current boss  if you know it will cause problems start doing your current job with an eye on making it easier for your replacement (organize, write job descriptions, etc) update your resume with your current responsibilities and accomplishments (you figured those out in the last idea) acquaint yourself with your employment contract maintain a professional attitude on the job and off There truly are bad situations where quitting a job is necessary. But dont make a bad situation worse by your behavior.