7 Reasons Why Hiring Faster is Completely Essential

7 Reasons Why Hiring Faster is Completely Essential “Hire slow, fire fast” We’ve been told it so many times we pretty much accept it as conventional wisdom â€" hire slow, fire fast. It makes sense right? Hiring is the most important thing we do, we should take time over it. The last job I applied for had 7 interview stages! Slowly but surely I worked through them, meeting the entire, 45-strong, team along the way. Fortunately, before I reached the grand finale I got an offer to join Beamery and the ordeal was over   thank god! It pays to be thorough when you’re evaluating a candidate, but you should be aware that the longer you deliberate, the higher the chance that you might lose the candidate to a competitor. We all seem to be taking our time â€" the average time-to-fill in the US has been on the rise over the last few years. John Zappe reports that the national average is now roughly 25 days, the highest it has been since 2001. There’s a major problem with this the best candidates are off the market within 10 days! To get the best talent companies need to work faster and recruit in a more agile way. Here are 7 (huge) reasons that you need to start hiring faster: Why should you hire faster? The very best candidates are in high demand and are likely to receive multiple offers. If you’re not prepared to be decisive you may lose out to your competitors! Recruiting faster doesn’t mean you have to abandon your hiring standards, but it does mean you have to move fast.  This might mean you have to re-evaluate your process. Here’s why it’s worth the extra work: 1) Saved money and resources Think of the cost of recruiter time, the cost of continually taking your managers out of work for interviews, and the cost of unfilled positions. You’d be shocked how much this all costs! You might be wasting as much as $12,570.75 every year (per recruiter!) Hiring faster lets you eliminate (or at least minimize) a lot of this! 2) High quality hires Moving fast means that you won’t miss out on top talent. There’s no real correlation between evaluation time and quality of hire (providing you can get your major stakeholders involved in the process.) Everything might be moving faster, but you’ll still need to show candidates exactly how awesome your company is though! 3) Better  candidate experience Being decisive with your hiring process helps you differentiate yourself from competitors and improve your candidate experience. You’re not forcing applicants to continually return for interviews and wait patiently for feedback. 4) Better response rates A faster hiring process will generate far higher response rates. Candidates will be thrilled that you’re getting back to them quicker it’s a great way to keep them tied in and avoid losing talent from your hiring funnel. Analyzing our data at Beamery has shown us that prompt follow ups dramatically enhance response rates and speed up the hiring process ( it’s part of the reason that our software is helping recruiters achieve 400% industry response rates!) 5) Great acceptance rates Reducing the time from interview to offer gives candidates less time to reconsider your proposition. It also gives them less time to interview elsewhere or listen to counteroffers from their current managers â€" there’s less chance they will get poached by someone else. 6) Your recruiters will like it Whereas a long hiring process requires a good slice of recruiter time (to schedule interviews and calls), hiring quickly helps them close requisitions, hit targets and stay happy. As we all know, a happy recruiter is a productive recruiter! 7) Your hiring managers like it Short recruitment cycles give hiring managers the talent they need immediately. It also helps them understand if they are causing delays in the hiring process â€" correcting these can dramatically improve efficiency and turn your organisation into a hiring machine! Conclusion There are clear benefits to hiring faster, it will help you attract, convert and hire better talent, and it should save you significant resources in the process.

Your Dream Job Formula Patience + Drive

Your Dream Job Formula Patience + Drive We toss around the term “dream job” casually, and most people seem to think they understand what it means.   Your Dream Job is one that uses the skills you have worked hard to acquire and enjoy using the most.   Your Dream Job is one that makes people perk up with interest or raise their eyebrows in admiration when you tell them what you do. “Really?   That sounds…  like fun / so interesting / so challenging.”   Your Dream Job makes a difference (in whatever way you choose to express it, whether it’s making a difference in the world or helping someone look and feel their best.) And it’s one that pays well (or at least well enough) without requiring a huge sacrifice of other things you value. That’s what makes the concept so interesting and individual.   I may think that someone’s job sounds glamorous and thrilling, but am I willing to get up at 4:00 every morning or work out or study three hours a day or learn a foreign language to do it?   Or be paid half what I am in my ordinary and fairly dull day job?   Those are the questions that can only be answered by you   after much soul searching. Having said that, I think the idea of pursuing a dream job is something every worker should aspire to.   You should enjoy your work, use your strongest skills, and be paid well. Even in this recession, it’s possible to pursue and find your dream job; it just may take a little longer. So here are the steps you might take to find your dream job eventually.     I’ll be writing posts about each of them in turn over the next few weeks. Decide what elements make up your dream job: what you do, when and where you do it, who you work with and for, and what your typical day at work looks like. Research the possibilities.   There are usually several variations and possibilities in any career path. Figure out where you stand in the market for this job; what do you need to do to compete and succeed in the field? Create long and short-term plans for getting to where you want to be. Make sure you continue to work toward the goal, whatever your current situation may be. Recognize your dream job when you see it â€" and be ready to take the leap when you have the chance.  Here’s a link to a great Wall Street Journal article by a writer who finally landed his dream job.

Its Wise To Choose A Career Thats In High Demand

Its Wise To Choose A Career Thats In High Demand Life is this crazy journey where every single decision alters your future in some way or another. Should you have a bacon sandwich for breakfast or a salmon and cream cheese bagel? What name should you gift to your new pet rabbit? Which dish do you choose from this gorgeously presented menu that is packed with delicious options? What career should you choose? As you can tell by the latter, some questions hold more oomph, importance, and permanence than others. This can be an immensely daunting thing to get your head around when you’re in one of those massively important times in your life. We’re talking about that time between school and deciding what major to go with, or when you’ve finished college and faced with that almighty buffet of careers to munch on. You want to do something that you are passionate about, but you also want to do something that is currently hot property because, well, stepping into a stagnant job market isn’t exactly wise, even if you do like it. That’s why we have come up with a list of some  careers that are seriously hot right now and only getting hotter. Some of these you may be qualified for, while others could stop your compass from spinning wildly and give you a direction in which to move. Either way, the careers on this list could spark an interest you never knew you had. Mental Health Counselor After years of silent suffering and stigma, mental health is finally becoming accepted as a serious topic that demands to be taken seriously. Those suffering from anxiety, depression, bipolar, alcoholism, addiction or anything else that falls within this bell curve have finally been given the chance to seek help and to do so without repercussion in whatever form that arrives. The benefits of a career like this are as close to endless as any, not least of all, you will have the chance to make a real difference to those with difficult life issues. By going down this career path, you will be getting paid to enter an industry where demand is on the rise and job satisfaction is almost unparalleled. Surely that makes it worth a look. Computer Software Engineer Reading that title may well have made you yawn (it did us), but there is so much variety to be had within this field and you don’t even need a degree if you’re smart about it. This is the technology sector we are talking about, an industry that thrives off innovation and creativity and collaboration, not to mention a career choice that is pretty much absolutely future-proof. While the title may be as dull as dishwater, the chance to combine creativity with mathematical skills to develop the very programs that make our tech so awesome to use is incredible. It’s like being a modern day, Alan Turing. What’s even better than getting to live out this fantasy is the fact the current median pay is just over $90,000, which will surely go up with the amazing rates of demand we’re currently seeing. Registered Nurse It is one of the most commonly cited careers people wish they had pursued. Sure, it is about as far from easy as the Enigma Code (another Alan Turing reference there), but that is made up by the stimulation and reward it offers. Seriously, it is one of the most amazing career choices you can explore and make a reality by becoming a Master of Nursing online. The job is exciting. No day is ever that boring. The opportunities are endless. And the room for advancement is infinite. In terms of salary, the median pay is $68,500 for a registered nurse. More amazing yet, the more qualified and experienced you become the more that monthly pay packet will rise… and it’s not like we will ever stop needing nurses either, is it? Veterinarian This is one of those jobs that about 93% of children say they want to have, and too right. Vets get to work directly with animals on a daily basis and play that all-important role of making sick animals as good as new again. It’s all about spotting diseases and disorders and administering the right treatment to make them smile again. It is one of the few jobs where your passion can lead to a very generous salary too. It is top dollar and, by top dollar, we’re talking well into the $80,000 mark. What’s more, the growth rate is staggering, with opportunities broadening like never before and the chance to develop projected to boom yet again. Home Care It is one of those sectors that, like nursing, can be as tough to handle some days, but that is balanced out by the rewards you get to reap. You are helping people who are no longer able to help themselves. Yes, you are there in a professional capacity, but you will quickly find you become their most trusted friend as well. You are like an added extension of their family. If you are unsure of what this actual job role requires, a care aide assists those that can’t look after themselves, and you provide this service within the comfort of their own home. The bittersweet truth of it is, however, that it is an area of growing demand. Thanks to the improvements in technology and medicine, people are living longer and that means the elderly population is growing year on year. In terms of pay, you can become a carer and start making near enough $20,000. You can’t put a price on the intrinsic rewards, though. Remember to Look Both Ways Of course, choosing your career isn’t all about knowing which jobs are on the up and up. It is also knowing about which careers are in decline. Sure, they may still be existing in amazingly large numbers, but it is worth knowing that their days are numbered. Even if you are immeasurably passionate about one of these fields, it could be worth taking a new approach and finding out whether there is a similar career path available (one that doesn’t have the same bleak future). The kind of careers we are talking about include: Careers with the postal service, a sector that is becoming increasingly automated and digital. Telemarketing is another one you’ll be happy to know is on the decline, meaning fewer phone calls while you’re trying to eat your dinner. Carpentry is another one that is feeling the effects of mass-manufacturing at the moment. Prefabrication has taken the furniture market by storm. Companies like Ikea and Target having hit the carpentry market by 21%. . Image credit.  

Are Cover Letters Redundant

Are Cover Letters Redundant Not too long ago cover letters were considered an essential component in the job application process, giving individuals the opportunity to highlight and elaborate on their relevant skills and experience in a more tailored way than on your resumé. Though in recent years, there has been a significant shift to online application systems and cover letters are becoming less and less of a necessity. Obviously if a company specifies that they would like you to include a cover letter, it wouldnt reflect particularly well on you if you werent to supply them with one and of course you should write it to the best of your ability. However, if there is no reference to a cover letter requirement, it may not actually be worth your time writing one, as it is likely that they assess candidates in alternative ways and your cover letter wont be considered. Recruiters dont have the time: Recruiters will receive hundreds, even thousands of resumés in a working week and frankly, they just dont have the time to sift their way through all of them, let alone hundreds of cover letters that accompany them. A large part of the  time a cover letter just consists of a  more elaborately worded version of your resumé anyway, so youre probably better off just making sure that all the important information is on your resume,  as all in all its got a much larger chance of being acknowledged. Automated online systems have taken over: Rather than writing a tailored letter to an employer like you may  have in the past, when expressing interest in potential  employment, companies now have specific websites, forms and fields to fill out regarding the job openings and your suitability. The systems will identify exactly which job you would like to apply for and will ask specific questions regarding your qualifications, skills and aptitude, cutting straight to the point and it is likely that this is the only information that recruiters will read, rendering cover letters obsolete. Focus on whats important: Its your resumé that does most of the talking when applying for a job and the way that you present yourself on here  will determine whether you are invited for an interview or not, so its probably best to focus your energy on making it as strong and streamlined as possible. Centre your attention  on customising your resumé, making useful connections, or building a portfolio of  your work to exhibit your abilities, as these will put you in better stead of being considered for the job than dedicating your time to writing cover letters that may not be read. All things considered, cover letters have most likely lost the significance  that they once had. Time is valuable when you are on the job hunt and rather than wasting it writing letters that are likely the be discarded without a glance, focus  on producing a polished resumé highlighting your strengths and career achievements, that will represent you in your best light. What do you reckon? Is the cover letter passé or do you think  there is still a place for them? Let us know. [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out in the City of Binghamton

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out in the City of BinghamtonIf you are new to resume writing, you are going to want to learn more about the City of Binghamton, New York. The city is one of the most diverse, with opportunities for you to make a living from any of the many businesses that are there.One way that you can truly make a living in the city of Binghamton is as a journalist. The biggest paper, the News-Times, is based out of Binghamton. The newspaper's reporters cover all sorts of different stories throughout the year, including special events and entertainment, so if you can break a story about something and turn it into a feature article for the paper, you will have a story that is perfect for the employer to hire you for.In addition to that, the largest business in the city of Binghamton is the State Capitol building. There is an incredible view of the Capitol building that you will love. You can also get good rates on a room there if you want to go to the Capitol. If you ha ve the time and desire to travel to the Capitol, you will find many jobs there too.Many people find that the best opportunity in the city of Binghamton is at the Old War Horse Museum. Many things are on display at the museum, but the 'things' include items that are from the times of the Civil War. The antique furniture from that time period is extremely valuable. This is a chance to really make your resume stand out as one that someone from Binghamton can use.For a little bit of help in making your resume more appealing, you should consider learning how to play the violin. If you take a few lessons, you will be able to play the violin at some events. That is an opportunity that many musicians have, so if you are interested in it, you should take advantage of it.You might also want to think about taking some dancing classes in the city of Binghamton. This is a great chance to put yourself in front of people that would like to dance. You can also take classes at other places, such as the Baldwin Hall Ballroom. If you take these classes, you will be able to take your dancing skills to the next level.This is just a few ideas that you can use to help you in making your resume shine. For instance, if you have writing skills, try writing a few articles. People appreciate this and you will be able to make a good living. You can even write articles for the newspaper.In addition to that, there are many jobs in the city of Binghamton that you can do. You should check them out and find out what opportunities you can take advantage of.

Should you leave your current job...

Should you leave your current job... Should you leave your current job? Should you leave your current job? December 30, 2010 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas 2 Comments Being in a passion-less job is a career killer. Managers, clients, peers, and potential employers will see you as someone who lacks desire, drive, and enthusiasm. If youre craving a career that inspires you, then you need to step up and take action. As your Career Coach, I encourage you to ask yourself three (3) questions to help you decide whether you should leave your current job The first question you need to ask yourself is, What do I really want in my career? What is it that will give you the feeling of being happy and fulfilled in your job? Is it status? Prestige? Fame? Respect from your peers? Credibility within the industry? Money? Less stress? An easier lifestyle? Stop a minute and think about it. You need to define the specific things or “gets” that you want to ultimately achieve in your career. You should be able to narrow it down to one or two very specific objectives. Once you are able to identify your ultimate career objectives, then the next thing you need to do is take stock of your current career and where you are today. The second question you need to ask yourself is, What are the “gives and gets” in my current situation? This means taking a quick inventory of what you are currently giving to your manager, company or clients, and what you are getting in return. Let’s first look at the “gives” of your job. Write down the value that you are providing to your employer by being in your current job role. For example, do you have knowledge, experience and skills that are valued by your manager or clients? Are you an expert in your job and providing work that is valued? Are you consistently delivering high quality projects that are on time and on budget? Are your clients thrilled with your work? Does your manager think of you as a valued contributor? Do you have the most relevant training and certification to do the job effectively? Are you adding to the bottom line by bringing in new business and maximizing opportunities, or saving costs by streamlining processes or bringing in advanced technologies? Are you leading projects and initiatives? Are you training and mentoring team members and peers? Are you providing some kind of unique expertise and viewed as the “go to” person for that knowledge or skill? I encourage my career coaching clients to also identify another kind of “get. Those are the negative “gets” in your current position. Every job has a certain amount of frustration and stress, but does your job give you an excessive amount? Does it make you feel inferior? Incompetent? Overwhelmed? Undervalued? Underutilized? These negative “gets” should also be identified. Think about any negative gets that you have in your current situation and write them down. Now it’s time to review all of your “gives”, “positive gets” and “negative gets”. Are the gets that you are receiving the gets that you really need to feel valued and inspired? If not, then you may want to consider making a career change. The 3rd question is, Before I leave, is there anything else I can glean from my current situation? There are times in everyone’s career when you hit a roadblock, and it’s best to simply move on. But before you disconnect completely from your situation, I encourage you to glean anything else you can from your current employer or client. Are there any projects you could join or lead that would allow you to gain knowledge or experience in a new area? Could you strengthen your leadership skills or boost your credibility by leading a project? Is there a project you could create that would challenge you and help you grow professionally? Also, is there anyone in your current environment who could guide you, mentor you, or teach you about a product, technology, or the industry? Is there anyone else you could work with who could give your career a boost just by saying that you worked together? And finally If you’re ready to make a career change, and want a partner who can give you the roadmap on how to reach your goal, then check out our personal career coaching services and packages with a variety of services and budgets available. Also, hear what other professionals and executives (just like you!) are saying how they reinvented their career!

Are You Using Raw Leads In Your Job Search - Hire Imaging

Are You Using Raw Leads In Your Job Search - Hire Imaging Job search at its best is an orchestrated campaign, sprinkled with sales, marketing, and relationship management. Clients who work with me are not limiting their search to applying for advertised openings. They are using targeted research to find the roles and places aligned with what they’ve pegged to be their wants. Savvy job seekers use raw leads as the cornerstone material of their job search. They systematically build and work their leads, to find those opportunities not advertised â€" sometimes opportunities still being tossed about in the minds of decision-makers. Observe and grasp raw leads daily. A job lead is an uncle, a friend, a friend of a friend, a promising online posting, a newspaper articleâ€"anything that will help you build lead lists aligned with what you want. Sometimes “raw” job leads are vague. It might be a light-bulb moment sparked by a coffee shop conversation. To simplify it all, you can obtain all job leads from three categories: people, organizations, and ideas. 1. People Build lists of every person who could help you in your job search. Don’t limit your list to those with power to hire you, nor to those who might be well connected, high-profile folks. It is often the third, fourth and fifth degree contacts who end up being your most valuable leads. Every single person who could possibly help you should be on your list, from the custodian at church, to Aunt Nellie’s brother-in-law! 2. Organizations As a job seeker building lists with raw leads, “organizations” is defined as potential employers. You want to make lists of every potential employer relevant to your job targeted research. The role, the industry, the geography, the culture, the impact, the money â€" any place that might have the opportunities aligned with what you want. Again, this is not limited to advertised openings. 3. Ideas Ideas can absolutely be the spark of raw leads. “I wonder if I can earn a living with my hobby making dog clothes?” or “I’ve noticed more families with children moving into my neighbor. Is there potential for a daycare business?” or “My town has experienced a boom of new small businesses in our area, according to Jan at the Chamber of Commerce. They might need janitorial services; I could be very competitive with the larger custodial services in the area.” or Widget Company just signed a big lease for an industrial site. I’ll try to get a list of other companies that have signed manufacturing leases in our area. There must be growth if that’s the case. Maybe there’s room for my Six Sigma and management skills.” Ideas are intriguing raw leads, because they can quickly create a trail to lists of organizations and people. Your challenge is to be working 75 leads at all times. Whenever you find your raw leads to be below this number, try tapping some of these great sources of leads: Your current job targets Once you know the type of job you are targeting, you can make lists of companies that have that type of job. Your job search is then driven by the idea of the job you want to be hired for. If you do not have an idea of what you want, step back to figure it out. Job postings The best use of job postings is not to apply for them, but to use them to generate ideas of jobs you might like. If you find a job posting for a fitness instructor with an assisted living facility, you can make a list of all senior centers or communities in your geographic area; and add to them health clubs or fitness centers that might have Silver Sneakers or similar programs for active older adults. Business news Business news is chock full of raw leads. Companies launch, expand and relocate. Pay attention to anything they’re doing that’s interesting to you: an acquisition, reorganization or restructuring, a new product release, or drama surrounding top leadership. Any of these activities can signal opportunity for you. Small talk Hopefully, you are staying in touch with a steady stream of folks via email, text, phone calls and meetings. This is the essence of networking. You connect, listen, converse and track. You are going to hear ideas from these people. Some will be silly or ambiguous. Take them all seriously at first. Who’s to say that working as a counselor for a homeless shelter, serving as a manufacturer’s candle sniffer in RD, or becoming a horse exerciser in the equine industry won’t turn out to be great gigs? Internet excursions Whenever you feel your raw lead pipeline to be low, go online and search ideas that come to mind. Play with keyword combinations that align with what you’re interested in; or just to find out what’s going on that might turn into a lead. You have rich resources at your fingertips, such as blogs, websites and news articles. Then follow up on your findings. Some examples for searches: “new company” PLUS name of your town “was promoted” PLUS name of your town “newly hired” PLUS name of your town “new jobs” PLUS name of your town “fast-growing company” PLUS name of your town “economic growth” PLUS name of your town Anytime your job-search ideas are turning stale, revisit these types of searches. Add any similar search terms that you believe may lead to opportunities. Be persistent. Keep your lists going and your pipeline full. This gives you control and continual realms of possibilities. What are some of the ways you create and tap raw leads? I’d love to hear from you!   Photo: paurian