Reciprocity - Making a Difference, Adding Value, and Giving Back

One of the biggest problems facing our firms today is employee retention, and it is likely this will continue well into our future.

Employers must get up-to-speed and become more focused on employee equity in terms of how they treat their staff at all levels throughout their organization.

Since the problems associated with employee retention are usually handled through the firm’s HR division, I like to call this the ’three R’s’ of HR, ‘Recognize, Reward, Retain.’

As you can see in my graphic above, I spell out RETAIN by using associated words such as: “Recognize, Engage, Trust, Acknowledge, Inspire, and Nurture.”

Firms that provide this type of atmosphere for their employees will benefit over the longer term, as the likelihood of an employee leaving this type of environment is slight, if not non-existent.

Unfortunately, quite often firms, particularly those that are large, enjoy displaying their ‘Core Values’ at every opportunity. However, it is most difficult to find a firm that actually upholds their stated core values, and the implicit policies of equality, trust and integrity, respect, learning and growth, support, and advancement, throughout their organization.

When firms fully acknowledge that their ‘core values’ and ‘code of  ethics’ play major roles in drawing candidates to them, as well as in retaining their talent, and they embrace and adhere to their own core values and ethics, the problems associated with employee retention will naturally dissipate, to the benefit of us all.

• Tweet This Post
 

First of all, you should not supply your references to a prospective employer until they are requested of you. Secondly, be sure the ’separate’ document is in the ’same font and format’ as your resume and cover letter, this brings ‘consistency’ to your overall presentation. In addition, your reference list should form part of your ‘portfolio,’ so be sure to add your reference list to both your hard and soft copies.

Depending on your background and experience, you should have three to seven (3-7) solid business references that you feel confident in using for your job search.

It is also advisable and important to keep in touch with these people, and keep them informed of your career aspirations; which firms you are interviewing with, what the job level is, what prerequisites are required for the positions, etc.

If you feel any hesitation whatsoever in using a reference, use a reference checking service, or have a business acquaintance check your references for you to learn what is actually being said about your skill level and personality profile.

When compiling your list, be sure to include the full name, position title, complete address, direct phone number, cell number if possible, and the email address of the contact. You want to make it as easy as possible for the potential employer to reach this reference successfully, therefore, the more information you can provide, the better.

Perhaps there was a significant special project you worked on with one or two of your ex-bosses or managers. If that is the case, and you received recognition for your contributions, write a short paragraph under each of the references, providing the ‘highlights’ of the related projects.

By sharing this type of information with your prospective new employer, you are simultaneously highlighting your dedication and skill set, as well as providing an excellent introduction for the individual conducting the telephone reference checks.

By providing ‘direct’ reference contacts, versus just a company name and phone number, you also make the reference checking procedure easier for your prospective new employer by saving them considerable time and energy, in order for them to collect the required information they are seeking.

Additionally, it would be a very nice touch, and most appreciated, if you were to send a ‘thank you’ card to your references when you successfully land a position and feel secure in your new role. Naturally, you have already contacted them via telephone to share your good news! If it is financially practical, you might consider including a gift certificate with your thank you card for lunch at one of their favourite restaurants.

It is important that you remember that the individuals on your reference list have gone out of their way, and taken their valuable time to support you, and provide your new employer with helpful information on your skills and abilities, while encouraging them to bring you on board.

• Tweet This Post
 

Over the past several years, due to our economic conditions and dissatisfaction with the ‘typical 9-5 job,’ many individuals have chosen to explore their entrepreneurial spirits by going it alone, and opening some kind of small business operation.

We all know that marketing is an integral, strategic function of any business, and this is particularly so for the independent business operator, and/or, brand new business venture.

I am assuming that you currently own a website (your own domain name) or a blog that markets your products and services. A well-designed website with consistent and up-to-date product and services content will assist you in:

• Building your ‘brand’;
• Creating global ‘awareness’;
• Creating powerful email marketing tools, such as Aweber;
• Encouraging a ‘referral’ network;
• Better serving your current clients/customers;
• Generating online traffic, and therefore, potential paying clients/customers;
• Learning new strategies that will increase your website/blog effectiveness; and
• Keeping you up-to-date and informed of your ‘competition.’

Naturally, the most effective advertising any business can utilize is their clients and/or customer’s feedback and referral networks. Word of mouth is still the best and most efficient way of establishing a credible business presence within your market niche. This is just part of the reason that ‘networking’ is so important and imperative in order for you to meet with success.

The following suggestions will hopefully get the juices flowing, and encourage you to ponder your own marketing strategies in our current economy for your new enterprise.

• Press Release – services are cost-effective, some free of charge; effectively promote your business
• Networking – sign up with ‘knowledge sites’ in your market niche;
• Social Media Sites – LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc., leverage this ‘free’ advertising;
• Smaller News Publications – some offer ‘free’ advertising in ‘print’;
• E-Newspapers – encourage write-ups of your services and products;
• Articles Sites – check out free article submission sites and get your message across;
• Brochures, Marketing materials distribution – inexpensive ‘bulk’ mail services; and
• Video – Create a marketing video for your business on You Tube and other Video sites, free of charge. 

One of the local businesses in my neighbourhood here in Vancouver did not have a website until very recently. This was in large part due to the owner’s belief that a website would be a very expensive endeavour, and not prove to be cost-effective.

I am very pleased to tell you that, following my discussions with one of the partners of the business, they moved forward and developed a site, which of course has gained the shop’s popularity and undeniably increased their sales.

Any business today, new or established, must leverage the opportunities that an Internet presence can bring. The Internet is the most powerful marketing tool we have at our disposal.

With the substantial decline in standard newspaper advertising methods, the Internet affords our businesses the luxury of having the most cost-effective method of ‘e-commerce’, and the enviable advantage of achieving a ‘global reach,’ when compared to those that do not take full advantage of this marvelous marketing tool.

• Tweet This Post
 

Whether you are working in Vista or XP, Word 2003 or 2007, there are actions that you should take prior to sending your document out electronically. Some of these tips will be obvious to you; however, you would be amazed at how many people do not take these final actions in documentation preparation prior to transmittal.

Following, are some simple tips for you to follow in order to avoid any embarrassing moments that may otherwise arise, particularly in the case of your electronic ’Resume’ submissions: (click to enlarge graphics)

Spell check - be sure you are checking both ‘Grammar & Style’: these settings in Word 2007 can be changed from your ‘home’ tab, and selecting ‘Word Options’ from the drop down menu that pops up, highlight and click ‘Proofing’ to adjust  your settings as necessary, ensuring that all elements above the spelling box are checked, and click on recheck document. This will now prompt a ‘readability’ statistics box to appear when you complete your revised spell check. You will be able to see the ‘grade level’, ‘reading ease, number of ‘passive’ sentences, word count, etc.

Check the ‘Document Properties’: if someone else has created the original template you may be using, or worked on your resume or document for you, it is likely that properties such as their name, document name, keywords, etc., would have been captured, or, once you are in control of the document, your information will be automatically generated. To eliminate this problem, do the following, and please note that this step is crucial.

Also keep in mind that the steps above should be followed ‘prior to converting the document to PDF’.’ An advanced user in Adobe could easily see private information and document properties that are not necessary, and could potentially cause embarrassment or loss of a client. For instance, say your firm created a proposal in 2007, modified it slightly, then saved it as a 2010 document, but, people such as myself can easily determine ‘when’ that document was originally created. Therefore, a client or individual receiving a document that is supposedly newly created, and prepared specifically for them, is understandably not going to be too impressed! So follow the guidelines above and ‘lock’ the PDF down once you are completely satisfied. 

‘Compatibility Mode’ - not all documents are created equal! When you are saving your documents, be sure to put them into compatibility mode by saving them as a Word 97-2003.doc. The default setting in Word 2007 is to save as docx.  When you are saving your documents you can ‘auto’ save to the correct format by going to the ‘tools’ menu below the ’save as’ dialogue box in Windows Explorer as indicated in the graphic below.

Following the steps above will give you confidence in knowing you have properly checked your documents and removed any personal or document property information that you would prefer not to be revealed. Saving your documents in the correct compatibility mode will also alleviate any issues on the recipient’s end as well, and ensure your intended audience is receiving a professional, clean copy.

• Tweet This Post
 

With our job markets slowly beginning to pick up pace, we need to divert our energies away from the job search on occasion to refuel and recharge. Perhaps reconnect with some of your closer ex co-workers, or old friends and relatives you have not seen for quite some time. Give yourself the gift of a well-deserved break.

We all know that looking for work is a full-time job in and of itself. That said I have a few suggestions that may trigger feelings of excitement within you. I believe what I am about to suggest is something you will look forward to, learn from, will assist you in your networking efforts, and therefore your job search, and in some cases, is free of charge! Are you trying to guess what I am getting at?

I will not keep you in suspense for too much longer. You already know that as part of your ‘job search toolkit,’ networking is very close to the top of the list. It is important that you let everyone you know, and even those you do not, that you are looking for a new career opportunity. Be sure to let people know what it is you are looking for, and what your target industry is, particularly if you are changing your career focus.

I am referring to using your ‘time off’ wisely by taking some courses in your field to keep up-to-speed, particularly with computer programs, changes and new challenges in your own industry, and of course, learning more about your desired ‘new’ industry.

Here is the ‘free’ part: Google ‘free distance learning’ for your area. For example, if you are in San Mateo, California, type in ‘free distance learning, San Mateo, USA.’ Use your city and country in your search parameters and you will be amazed at the number of hits your search returns!

As an example, some career colleges and trade schools will provide training sessions, either free, or for a minimal charge, which will reward you with a Certificate upon successful completion. Obviously, this would be a nice feather in your cap to add to your job search arsenal.

If courses do not appeal to you, or perhaps present too much of a time commitment for you, particularly if you have children to care for, I would suggest you take free webinars in your areas of professional or personal interest.

Webinars are usually 1-2 hours in length, and I have found them to be a rewarding experience. In some cases, you will just watch and learn, while in others, you will participate with the facilitators and others in the session. These sessions are definitely worthy of your time, and provide participants with a smart and efficient learning tool.

When you are considering what avenue would work best for you in terms of your learning tools, keep in mind that being educationally active will reflect well on your character to any prospective new employer. Have Fun Learning!

• Tweet This Post
 

Regardless of the position level you have achieved over the course of your career, you will want to prepare a well thought out list of intelligent questions to ask your perspective new employer during the interview process.

If the firm has informed you that their common practice is to conduct consecutive interviews in their hiring process, I would suggest asking only a few questions during round one, and leave the more complex and in-depth questions for the second session, typically held for ’short-listed’ candidates. Use your own discretion in this situation and deliver your questions accordingly, however; it is imperative that you have a list of valid and applicable questions to put forward.

If you represent yourself well in an interview situation and have a calm, quiet professional confidence about you, it is likely you will be asked to attend a second interview. If you feel you need work in this area, practice with a mentor or other interested party, and/or videotape yourself until you feel comfortable and confident.

In a corporate setting, this second interview would likely be conducted via a ‘panel’ interview setting. Normal procedure dictates that following this session; the final hiring decisions are determined, followed by the preparation of an Offer Letter to be sent out to the selected candidate.

Appropriate Questions

1. What precipitated this staff opening? Is this a ‘new’ position, or are you replacing an employee?
2. What made my predecessor ’successful’ in this role? (if applicable)
3. What would you like to see handled differently by the next person in this role? (if applicable)
4. What competencies and requirements are crucial to achieve success in this role?
5. Do you feel that there is a high learning curve for this role?
6. What are your key priorities for the candidate chosen for this role?
7. Are there any additional skills that are now expected for this role?
8. What are your expectations of me within the first 6-12 months with your firm?
9. What challenges or possible obstacles do you foresee that I may have to overcome?
10. What are the objectives I would be expected to meet within the XXX division?
11. What are some of your long-term objectives for the XXX division, and your firm overall?
12. Who are the key people I will interface with, and how can I assist them?
13. How would you describe the culture of the company?
14. Does the XXX department have a training plan in place for new employees?

Inappropriate Questions

1. What is the salary for this role?
2. How often are raises given? Bonus Structure?
3. What does your firm offer in the way of a benefits package, what is included?
4. Is overtime a requirement for this role, and if so, how often and how much?
5. What can I do to be promoted within the XXX division or company?
6. Are there any expansion plans for the XXX division?
7. Do you offer free educational training?
8. Will I have to share my office or work station?
9. What is the personality of the boss in the XXX division?
10. How long have you been with the company?
11. What do you like about this company? Dislike?
12. What is the company turnover ratio?
13. What are the company plans for improving your financial position?

Also, be sure to take extra copies of your resume and portfolio with you as well as a note pad and pen. As I have previously stated in my articles on interviewing, ask if you may take notes, and do so comfortably. If you are declined, be sure to jot down some notes as soon as you are out of the interview, when everything is still fresh in your mind.

• Tweet This Post
 

In follow-up to my previous article, Landing the Interview, Getting Noticed!, I have been asked to elaborate on, and emphasize just how important your ‘Cover Letter’ is in the successful conclusion of being contacted for the all-important interview.

While many will profess that the resume is one of the most important documents you will prepare during your life time, which is absolutely correct, the Cover Letter is actually what will prompt a potential employer to read your attached resume, and determine if an interview would be appropriate.

If, for example, you are at cross-roads in your career, and have decided to investigate new avenues, such as an individual from a commercial banking background, crossing over to human resources, do NOT disclose this fact in your cover letter! Doing so will immediately send a ‘red flag’ to the reader that you do not actually have any experience in the HR field, and/or may not be clearly focused on your desired career direction.

If you do not have ‘practical’ experience in the new arena you wish to join for the balance of your career, focus on your personality profile, and the skills that you do possess that are called for in the job description. Accentuate the business experience that you have, and how those skills can ‘transfer’, and ’sell’ your personality and excellent communications style, service excellence, and other talents during the course of the interview.

In this example, I would suggest you learn as much as possible about the firm in question, as well as the HR industry overall. Find out what changes have come into effect, perhaps attend a free or inexpensive luncheon meeting to learn more, and network with potential peers in the industry.

An alternative is to contact a well-known and respected firm and request an ‘informational’ interview to learn more about your chosen industry. Write out your questions carefully, and be prepared to illustrate your knowledge of the industry through the research you have conducted prior to the meeting.

As stated in my earlier article, be sure to close your cover letter stating that ‘you will follow-up’ with the contact person in an appropriate time frame to learn where they are at in the interview/hiring process, and make sure you make the call. This little tip will serve you well throughout your career if you are just starting out.

Take control, own your value and your experience in the trenches; show the firms you apply to that you can ‘add value’ to the role, as well as the firm overall, if given the opportunity.

• Tweet This Post
 

This is an excellent opportunity that you should seriously consider taking advantage of NOW so I want to share it with YOU. 

There are only two type of affiliate marketers - the Ninja Affiliates, and everyone else. It’s no secret that 95% of all bloggers out there make pennies from affiliate marketing, while a select few who are privileged enough to be in the “inner circle” make thousands of dollars effortlessly.

A lot of secrets are highly guarded in the blogging “inner circle” - and Ninja Affiliate is at the top of that list!

Ninja Affiliate is WordPress plugin developed to imbue lethal marketing powers into your WordPress blog and instantly double or triple your affiliate marketing commissions with almost no effort on your part.

Using Ninja Affiliate, you can automatically convert any keyword in your blog to an affiliate link instantly. You can also cloak your affiliate links, track them and manage them right from your WordPress text editor.

Here’s what Ninja Affiliate can do for you: 

1. Easy Affiliate Link Management - You can easily give each affiliate link an easy-to-remember name..
2. Flexible Link Management - Accepts every affiliate link format out there, so you don’t have to waste time with various affiliate marketing tools..
3. Create Professional Redirect Links - Use professional looking redirect links that let your prospects know you’re a pro marketer..
4. Manage Links by Groups - Too many affiliate links? Ninja Affiliate allows you to easily create different groups to manage your links..
5. Prevent “Affiliate Theft” - Cloak your affiliate links to prevent link theft and affiliate sabotage. No one will ever steal your hard-earned commissions again..
6. Insert Affiliate Links Directly - Add your affiliate links directly for your Wordpress blog editor - you’ll never have to hunt for links again..
7. Transform Keywords to Links - Automatically turn keywords in your blog to affiliate links. You can set a limit too, so your posts don’t look like a spam blog!
8. Advanced Display Options - Ninja Affiliate allows you to display any text you want in your web browser’s status bar..
9. Use “No-Follow” Links - Control your link juice and escape punishment from Big Daddy Google with ninja precision. In fact, you can control your links any way you want to..AND SO MUCH MORE!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO GET YOUR DISCOUNT NOW!

• Tweet This Post
 

First of all, let me state clearly that I believe job boards serve a very useful and valuable service to both candidates and employers. I have used a number of job boards throughout my career and have found them to be very useful resource tools.

Having said that, I was recently surprised to learn just how much background information employers are able to obtain on potential candidates for their current and future career opportunities. The data they collect can be saved and used in future search parameters, and therefore referenced when and if the need arises.

Part and parcel of any job search, regardless of seniority level, is the provision of professional references to support your personal and professional contributions in your previous roles. This is a natural and anticipated part of any job search, and should not represent a challenge for those seeking gainful employment. The same holds true for the provision of educational ‘certifications’, which of course are also checked in the standard reference checking process.

I would suggest that job seekers provide potential employers with direct telephone numbers for their references, rather than providing letters of reference. The fact is that if the employer does not conduct a reference check themselves, an outsourced service, such as a job board, will make the necessary arrangements, either in-house, or through an affiliate, to contact the previous employers and collect all of the supporting information.

Following is a summary of the detail available to employers should they elect the option:  (NB: Some boards include these services in their fees, while others post an additional charge, depending on how ‘in-depth’ the background check is to be)

• Employment References
• Criminal Record Check
• Address History
• Education Verification
• Salary Details

In some cases, an advantage to the employers posting their positions on these boards is a fairly handsome commission, which begins at approximately15% ‘per referral’ if they participate in the ‘affiliate’ program, which anyone can join free of charge. Naturally, the ‘referral’ the employer introduces must place an ad or request access to the job board database in order to earn any commission.

Therefore, depending on the hiring needs of the employers using these services, and the size of their own professional network, this affiliation could lead to numerous ‘referrals’, which would easily cover the costs incurred in posting positions in a relatively short period of time. In this case, their commission earnings would also increase by a small percentage.

I have provided this information for the benefit of the unemployed who are actively seeking employment and utilizing a number of job boards, as well as various social networking sites in their job search efforts.

While we all recognize that social networking sites expose us to the disclosure of our personal information, I thought I should bring this topic to light to inform you of just how much of your personal information is out there and available to any prospective employer using these types of services.

• Tweet This Post
 

In today’s job market, it is once again time to get creative in your approach to the job search and e-job applications, in order to receive that all-important phone call requesting an interview.

In previous tough job markets, job seekers would submit resumes on various colours of paper stock and use graphics, hopeful that in doing so, they would have a better chance of standing out and being contacted for an interview. For some firms, this methodology worked, for the majority however, the ‘old school’ way of doing things was the accepted norm.

I believe in today’s job market, we need to find creative ways of getting noticed to capture the opportunity of a face-to-face meeting with the prospective employer. I will reiterate some of the ideas I have previously shared with you with respect to conducting an effective job search.

The Cover Letter

Research the Human Resource Manager or hiring manager’s name if it is not provided in the Ad or on their website. Speaking to the Receptionist at the firm will usually provide you with this information if you state you have a business matter to discuss with the individual in question, or simply state that you are applying for a position and want to ensure your correspondence is directed to the correct hiring individual.

The cover letter should address the skills and personal attributes the firm is looking for from the detail provided in the job posting or advertisement. Researching the firm via the Internet will also provide you with some insight as to what the firm values are, the work atmosphere, goals, financial data, etc.

Be sure your last paragraph requests a meeting to discuss your background and what you feel you can bring to the role and the firm overall. Also, be bold and provide a follow-up date when you will be contacting them to determine where they are at in the interviewing/hiring process.

Make sure to stick to your stated date for follow-up and make the phone call. This way you are maintaining some control in the interviewing/hiring process. In addition, by contacting the hiring manager by telephone you are establishing a ‘vocal’ and ‘personal’ connection with them, regardless of what their response to you is.

The Resume

While I certainly would not support the use of lime green or hot pink paper, I do think that the following options for your resume paper stock would be suitable for our job market today:

• Use an odd size paper (such as A5 or A4) that is just off of normal letter size
• Use a pale coloured paper such as green vs. the standard grey, cream, white, etc.
• Do NOT use graphics or photos on the resume
• If available, attach a personalized Business Card
• If possible and practical, hand deliver your resume
• If mailing your resume, use an unusual envelope size rather than 9×11

Depending on the level and seniority of the role you are pursuing in your niche industry, you may also want to consider using the clear page protectors with the sliding closures on the left side, which were very common back in the 70’s and 80’s. This ‘packaging’ would also make your resume stand out more so than others.

By using an odd size paper stock, your resume will ‘stick out’ from the pile. Selecting a different colour of paper stock will also ensure that your resume is prominent within the stack to be reviewed. Unless it is requested, photos and graphics are generally not considered valuable add-ons for a professional resume.

The use of a personalized business card is impressive, as I have mentioned previously. They are also very cost-effective and will not put a dent in your wallet, but will certainly have a positive impact.

If it is possible and practical for you to hand deliver your resumes, this provides a perfect opportunity for you to get a view of the office, observe the dress code, and also gives you a ‘feel’ of the atmosphere you may be working in.

• Tweet This Post