What Do Recruiters Think of LinkedIn Recommendations

What Do Recruiters Think of LinkedIn Recommendations Many recruiters find LinkedIn invaluable. According to data collected in 2013, 89% of recruiters have used the professional network to fill a position. One of the things that recruiters look at on LinkedIn is the recommendations section of a prospective job candidate. Unlike the one-click skills endorsements on LinkedIn, a recommendation is a written statement of recommendation from a connection. From a recruiter’s point of view, this written statement could provide valuable insight on a job candidate’s abilities. However, not all recommendations are created equal. Fake recommendations: As the saying goes, you can’t trust everything you read on the internet and for this reason, most recruiters understand that they can’t trust all LinkedIn recommendations. They realize that some recommendations are written by “helpful” friends and family and are likely to do a little investigation into where the recommendation has come from and how legitimate it really is. Most recruiters can spot a fake recommendation pretty easily. Sometimes they may ask a job candidate about the suspicious recommendations during the interview, while other times they may just pass over that candidate. So creating fakes really arent worth the time or effort at the end of the day. Vague recommendations: Some LinkedIn recommendations are great, however others can be  a bit  too vague. For example,  â€œJohn was a pleasure to work with and got the job done.” This is a very positive recommendation, but it sounds like thousands of other recommendations and in the end, it loses its impact. It doesn’t tell the recruiter much about the job candidate’s abilities except that he “got the job done”, which is generally the minimum expectation of an employee. Recommendations that highlight specific achievements or how the individual has helped the organisation/other people holds a lot more value and gives prospective employers an idea of what the candidate would potentially be able to do for them.   Excellent recommendations: What most recruiters look for on LinkedIn are unique and detailed recommendations. For example, recommendations that talk about a job candidate’s strengths, how the job candidate got along with other co-workers, how the job candidate overcame problems at work, etc. Recommendations with examples are even better. For example, “John boosted sales by 47% in one year” is much more powerful than “John increased sales.” While the quality of LinkedIn recommendations matters, who they are from is equally important. Having five specific recommendations from actual clients are worth more than 20 general recommendations from acquaintances. It’s unlikely that LinkedIn recommendations are replacing reference-checking any time soon. However, they do provide recruiters with a more holistic view of a job candidate. Therefore, you should always ask people you have worked with for recommendations. You can be strategic about it and suggest particular experiences or skills that you would like them to highlight. Ask them to quantify their recommendations by including specific examples because specific measurable examples are more attention getting than some bland and generic statements. Image Credit: Shutterstock

A new year with new opportunities - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

A new year with new opportunities - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Summary: After some initial research, it seems like the job market is further developing for 2007. If you are a graduating senior, there will be ample opportunity to acquire a desired position. The salary range for certain majors, has broadened from 2006 and expect growth for 2007. The demand for certain majors, such as IT and auditing are ever increasing, while majors such as engineering remain constant. Entry-level sales positions will have increased salaries and higher commissions. Suggestions: Although there are new opportunities and wages have increased, competition has also increased at an even higher rate. Saying this, it is still necessary to put in that extra effort to get yourself ahead of the curve. I would suggest meeting with a career adviser, preparing your resume ahead of time, engage in practice interviews and plan your strategy accordingly. Your adversaries for your desired jobs will be taking the same kind of initiative, so you must position yourself with more experience and skills. Those that will pull the higher salaries in each range, are the ones that work the hardest, establish the key relationships and interview properly. Overall, 52 percent of employers responding to the Job Outlook 2007 Fall Preview Survey reported that they expect to hire more new college graduates in 2006-07 than they hired in 2005-06. While that number is down from the 66.5 percent of employers that planned to increase hiring last year, the number of employers that expect to decrease hiring this year is just 5.4 percent compared to 18.2 percent last year. The remaining 42.6 percent plan to maintain their hiring numbers, making an impressive jump from 15.3 percent in the Job Outlook 2006 Fall Preview Survey. Source: http://www.jobweb.com/joboutlook/2007/fall_outlook.htm Salaries by title (entry-level) Marketing associate: 30,000 50,000 IT Associate: 40,000 60,000 Financial Analyst: 48,000 58,000 Accountant: 42,000 60,000 Sales Consultant 40,000 50,000

5 Signs You Belong in a Different Job

5 Signs You Belong in a Different Job It’s called work for a reason. It’s usually not easy, and it’s not always enjoyable.That said, you don’t have to dread going to work every day. There is hope for a brighter future.If you are miserable at work, it will be difficult to find true success and happiness in any part of your life.Consider the Idea That You Can Enjoy Your JobMost days should end with a feeling that you are in the right place and with a sense of accomplishment.Maybe your biggest passion in life does not align with your employment options.You love woodworking but you have a Masters in Marketing. That’s ok.If your career isn't your passion, it should at least provide what you needto build the life you want. You deserve better.Somewhere along the way you had passion and drive. If you’re not feeling that excitement at your current job, it’s time to ask yourself why.Here Are 5 Signs Pointing to a New DirectionDo any of these signs look or sound familiar to you?1. The Snooze Button Is Your New Best Fr iendDo you find that you hit the snooze button more often than you check your email? When did you lose the pep in your step to get up for work? Was it ever there in the first place?Most of us enjoy a few extra minutes of sleep, especially on Monday morning. But if this has become your norm, it might be the first sign that change is needed.2.The Stress of Your Job Is Making You SickThe research is out there. Stress suppresses the immune system, which makes it easier for you to get sick. It becomes harder for you to fight off infections.Are you in a toxic working environment? Do you have unreasonable expectations coming from your boss? Are you working too hard for too little?When these stressors pile up, you can become overwhelmed and unable to function at your best. What is knocking you down at work? Is there room for change, or is it time to make a move?3. The Management Style Is One of Ridicule Rather Than EncouragementYou put your best foot forward every day and give 100% to your job. You’re going in early and staying late. Still, the numbers are down and the team is not doing well overall.Your dedication meets threats and attacks rather than constructive criticism and encouragement. You don’t have clear guidelines to follow for improvement. You feel defeated and hopeless.This style of management is hard to undo, there are better options for you.4. You Feel Like You’re Fighting an Uphill BattleYou are an agent of change. You crave growth and constant improvement. Bad news, the motto at the office is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.You know it can be better, but your suggestions get shot down, ignored, or flat out criticized. If you’ve done your best to communicate your ideas to no avail, then don’t feel guilty for wanting to move on. There are companies that will appreciate your drive and ingenuity.5. The Company Is Operating in a State of ChaosEvery day is filled with confusion and inefficiency. The team lacks focus and direction. Your j ob feels impossible. Everyone is scurrying to pick up the pieces from the last round of miscommunication.The mission fades and morale becomes nonexistent. Can you fix it? Can you untangle all the mixed-up lines of communication? Probably not.Good news, there is something better for you out there. You just have to want it and then take the steps to find it.Here’s the Bottom LineSometimes a few slight adjustments on your part will get you back to enjoying your job. Other times you're met with dysfunction beyond your control that will have you running for the door.Which is it for you?If it’s the latter, then use this opportunity to start the process of finding the job that brings you back to center.

The IQ Fallacy Smart ? Successful

The IQ Fallacy Smart ? Successful What do you get when you cross an elite club for the mentally gifted and an online matchmaking service? This is not a bad joke, but a real initiative between Mensa and Match.com, aiming to allow people with an IQ of 130+ to exclusively date other brainboxes. The reasoning, according to Mensa, is that high-IQ people “see things very, very different and… interact differently”. This idea that our IQ level is a significant indicator of our character and ability is not limited to sapiosexuals. Both educational institutions and employers frequently utilise IQ testing as part of their selection criteria. At first glance, this seems fair. Society generally accepts the notion that higher intelligence should earmark you for more important positions, in the same way that only those with superior physical finesse can become top athletes. Assuming, of course, that IQ tests are an accurate measure of a person’s intelligence. But what if they’re not? IQ Tests May Not Measure Intelligence A study published in the science journal Neuron is one of several that have criticised of the effectiveness of IQ tests. The study, which examined over 100,000 people, argues that intelligence is not one single testable thing, and therefore that existing IQ tests do not do enough to sufficiently capture it. The study highlighted three key types of intelligence: short-term memory, reasoning, and verbal skills. Each uses a different section of the brain, and people can be vastly better at one area than another. Trying to amalgamate their scores into one “IQ” gives a misleading impression of their intellectual abilities. Consequently, employers who are particularly keen on hiring people with a specific type of intelligence are probably poorly served by IQ tests, which reward intellectual generalists over specialists. It’s like requiring a 100m runner and picking a triathlete over Usain Bolt because you’re only looking at overall sporting ability. IQ Results Change According to Your Lifestyle We tend to think of our intelligence level as something innate and immutable, but research suggests that’s not really the case. Playing computer games, for example, seems to make you score higher on tests regarding reasoning and short-term memory. Conversely, smoking correlates with lower scores on short-term memory and vocab tests. Personality traits can also impact performance: people with social anxiety score lower IQs, for example. This matters because it suggests that the IQ test you give a candidate at the start of the hiring process may not be an accurate assessment of their long-term potential. If intellects can be shaped by video games, they can also be shaped by dedicated workplace training. Moreover, making a hiring decision on something that could be overturned by the new hire taking up smoking seems illogical. IQ Tests Devalue Alternative Types of Intelligence In discussions of IQ, the figure of Albert Einstein often looms large. (His own IQ was said to be 160). So it is interesting that he is often attributed a quotation that aligns with one of the most scathing criticisms of IQ testing: Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. Prominent psychologists have been among those calling for greater recognition of “multiple intelligences”, in which they list such attributes as “spatial abilities, musical talents, body movement (as found in dancers), the ability to deal with others and the ability to know ones self”. It is therefore problematic that IQ tests hone in on one particular type of talent, because the subsequent emphasis people and employers place on this specific ability snubs those people with skills that fall outside these academic confines. Employers in particular should be careful to distinguish between testing job applicants for competence in those skills which are crucial to the role, and falling foul of the ill-defined notion that “smart” employees will automatically be better. IQ Tests Compound Prejudice Perhaps the most damaging aspect of IQ tests is that they can be used to create and compound prejudice. As long as IQ tests are seen as unquestionably valid, bigoted individuals and organisations will use them to spread hate against races, genders, and social classes. Arthur Jensen, a Berkeley psychologist, raked up such problems by claiming that the mean IQ differences seen between races were caused by hereditary rather than environmental factors. Essentially, this argument declared that white people were intrinsically smarter than black people. Jensen was widely criticised, including by his fellow Berkley professor John Ogbu, who pointed out that the IQ difference between black and white Americans was identical to the gap seen between advantaged and disadvantaged social groups throughout the world. IQ Tests Are Deterministic It is therefore clear that IQ tests have problems. But they are still routinely used to make decisions that affect people’s lives, and that causes harm. Schoolchildren’s IQ results are used to determine which classes they take, what work is assigned to them, and which careers they are prepped for. Adults are selected for jobs, projects and promotions based on an unreliable measure of their competence. And people who buy into the notion that their average or below-average IQ will negatively impact their future risk becoming self-fulfilling prophecies. A World Without IQ Tests It is true that kids who score highly on an IQ test do go on to be more successful. They get better academics, earn more money, are healthier and live longer. But research shows that both their original IQ score and their subsequent success was significantly impacted by how motivated they were as individuals. Similarly, offering adults a monetary reward for doing well on an IQ test raised their score by a staggering 10 IQ points. The obvious conclusion is that rather than bothering with IQ tests, employers should seek out motivated, dedicated individuals and compensate them well for their work. This is doubly true because few career superstars are geniuses: most successful people, regardless of industry, have only average IQs. Beth Leslie is a career and lifestyle writer. She is the editor of the Inspiring Interns blog, which provides career starters with advice on how to excel at their  internships  and  graduate jobs. For more insights into IQ and how it might work in your life, check out this video. Image credit:  IQ  Curve  

Who You Meet May Surprise You

Who You Meet May Surprise YouYou should always be able to find out what others think about your accomplishments and comments. The best way to do this is to have a conversation with the person who has spoken to you, no matter how brief it may be.The best way to accomplish this is to get a journal or notebook, take down the accomplishments and add a date, and then record the comments of the person who talked to you. Many people find it is more effective to put an asterisk next to their comment and write a short description of the accomplishment and comment. That will make it easier to remember what the comment was. Just keep the comments to a minimum, no need to name-drop.Here's a great trick to discover accomplishments. Go to a local library and browse through a book that has an index. Most of these books have columns on the front that are supposed to list the author and the year the book was published. Most, if not all, will list the author and the year in which the book was publishe d as well.On the right page, look for the column titled: 'Academic Achievement' and see if any of the accomplishments are there. If so, chances are good that some of the accomplishments are from you, even if they didn't say so in the person's initial email.Another method to uncover your accomplishments is to ask someone who has met you ask them what their thoughts are about your accomplishments. This method works best when you start a conversation when you meet the person. It is also recommended that you only use this method when they are familiar with you. Using this method you can find out what other people think about your accomplishments.Another great place to find achievements is online. Most websites will allow you to search by achievements. This allows you to find any achievement that someone else may have gotten involved with and talk about it with someone else.Another good thing about doing this is that you can share your accomplishments with others. You can find out about what others think of your accomplishments as well as if you can help anyone else. If you can't then the world of public service will come into play.These are just a few places to find your own accomplishments. Whatever avenue you decide to go with, make sure you know what your accomplishments are, that way you can begin to achieve what you desire.

Unusual Career Changes for a Change of Pace - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Unusual Career Changes for a Change of Pace Considering changing careers so you can enjoy a more rewarding, less stressful life? You’re certainly not alone. According to The Guardian newspaper, these days around half a million Brits suffer from work-related stress, a huge percentage of which end up hitting burnout. Unable to cope with the huge demands of their busy careers, they often decide to quit and start looking for a new direction. They look for something that won’t be as stressful, will allow them to follow their passions, allow them to learn new things and help them grow as people. If this sounds familiar, then you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve created a list of the five more unusual jobs you should consider. They will all help you achieve a calmer and simpler life whilst keeping the pennies coming in. Tour guide Becoming a tour guide is a great way to break out of the office and do something you love, perhaps even in the sun. You’ll put many of your skills to use, you’ll be meeting lots of interesting new people and you’ll be able to take different workshops and classes that can help you expand your knowledge and bring new opportunities your way. There are a variety of job openings within the tourism industry that could suit your needs and personality. You could consider: Becoming a coach tour guide Working on cruise ships Becoming a package holiday rep Working as a local museum guide Offering historical town or city tours If this sounds interesting, consider whether you’d like to travel or stay put in the UK, what responsibilities you might like and what working environment you’d prefer before making your choice. Teaching Switching to a career in teaching is a great way to escape the rat race whilst making a difference in the world. By following what you’re truly passionate about, this career allows you to combine your skills, experience and expertise and share them with another person. Depending on which age group you choose to teach, you can also enjoy significant flexibility with your schedule. You don’t need to become a full-time school teacher either. You can become a supply teacher, focus on teaching adults or even give private lessons in the field of your choice. This is perfect if you have a particular passion such as art, craft, music, science, dance or languages that is in demand. Depending on the type of teaching you’d like to do, there are plenty of opportunities and even funding available to help you train as a teacher if you meet certain criteria. House sitter pet sitter If you’ve always loved animals, you have plenty of energy and you’re a patient person, pet-sitting can be a fantastic choice for a career change. It’s much calmer than other careers and you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time outside, walking in the fresh air and meeting new friendly people. It also offers a varied schedule that works well if you have other obligations such as school pick up to attend to and can often be shaped according to your needs. There are even opportunities to house sit abroad, which is great if you often get itchy feet! Your responsibilities are likely to include walking dogs, feeding pets, brushing pets, changing litter trays, giving certain types of medication and taking animals to and from the vets. Entrepreneur Build your schedule to your needs by starting your own business doing something that you love. Thanks to ecommerce, social media and digital marketing, this is easier to do now than ever before. Yes, becoming your own boss can have its challenges, and you do need to be self-disciplined when it comes to time, but the payoff is well worth it. Consider what you love and think about how you could turn it into a thriving business. Perhaps you could sell handmade jewellery? Teach salsa? Become a freelance writer? Start a cake making business? Become a yoga teacher? Find what you truly want to do then start bringing your dreams to life. Life coach or mentor No matter your age, you have a huge amount of skills, life experience and work experience that you could share with the world. Become a life coach or a mentor and you can and turn this into a sustainable income. Whether you’d like to become a business coach, leadership coach, or career coach, or you’d prefer something more holistic and psychology-based such as a student mentor or life coach, there are plenty of opportunities available. This career change works especially well if you have a strong background in a particular sector or you have trained in a niche field as it helps improve your credibility and skills and allows you to charge more. No matter where you are in life, there’s a huge range of exciting career opportunities out there ready for the picking. They’ll help you break free of the rat race, improve your work-life balance and make your future much more rewarding. Consider what you’re really looking for, be brave and then make the leap.

Career Reinvention 5-Step Action Plan for Changing Job Roles, Industries or Professional Goals

Career Reinvention 5-Step Action Plan for Changing Job Roles, Industries or Professional Goals Career Reinvention: 5-Step Action Plan for Changing Job Roles, Industries or Professional Goals Career Reinvention: 5-Step Action Plan for Changing Job Roles, Industries or Professional Goals May 28, 2010 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment Prefer to listen to the podcast version of this post? Subscribe to our Career Coaching 360 podcast RSS feed. Career Coaching 360 podcasts are also available on iTunes. There are times in everyones career that you feel like running away and starting all over again, and Im here to say that you can do it! Ive successfully reinvented my own career four times including being in radio, television, professional sports, high tech, and now a successful entrepreneur and business owner. Now one of the things I get asked most often is, Can I reinvent my career without taking a step down in salary? Every time Ive reinvented my career, Ive received between 20 to 45% increase in my salary. So you can move into a NEW career AND INCREASE your salary. So let me share with you my five step action plan for reinventing your career AND getting a salary increase Find your passion. What gets you excited? What gets you jazzed? The first step in reinventing your career is to identifying where you want to go. In which industry would you like to work? Advertising? Finance? Health Care? When I wanted to stop being a disc jockey, I knew that I wanted to go into television. And after a successful career in television, I then set my sights on getting into Corporate America. I wasnt sure what kind of job role I wanted (or could get!), but the first step was determining the industry where I wanted to work. If youre not sure where you want to go then start reading trade magazines, industry publications, on-line job sites, even classified ads in your local newspaper. The key is to figure out what lights your fire and inspires you. Identify your transferable skills. These are skills that transition from industry to industry or from job role to job role. Examples include: managing projects, teams, clients or budgets, as well as negotiating contracts, or proposing and implementing ideas that generate money, save money, or help the company be more competitive. Other transferable skills include personal characteristics such as demonstrating leadership or risk taking, training or mentoring team members, being goal driven, results oriented, a problem solver, or having the ability to influence senior managers. These are great skills to have, and they transfer from industry to industry. All kinds of industries and companies value employees with these types of skills and characteristics. Matching your transferable skills to job roles. Read job descriptions posted on CareerJournal.com, CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com, as well as the classified ads in industry magazines, trade journals, and local newspapers. If you want to work for a specific company then check out their websites on-line job postings. Learn the skills and qualifications required for various job roles. Match your transferable skills to those jobs you want to go after. If theres a gap between the required skills and the skills that you currently have, then look for ways to gain that experience such as taking on an extended assignment in your current job, freelancing, consulting, or even volunteering. Also, attend industry conferences, trade shows, business networking events and association meetings. Talk to people who work in the industry to learn about their career path, responsibilities, and advice for how to break into the business. Blow up your resume. The first thing I always did before I transitioned into a new career was blow up my resume. Trying to piece together a resume that highlighted the skills I used to get my last job with the skills I need to land my next job is like trying to weld together Lexus parts on a BMW. It doesnt work. You need a brand new resume. Showcase only those jobs, responsibilities and successes that relate to the job you want. The hiring manager doesnt care about every job youve ever had. They just want to know if you can do their job. You may also want to get a professional resume critique to help you customize your resume and identify your transferable skills. Attitude is the key ingredient! Ive found that getting a new job really boils down to two things: confidence and passion. Ive never walked into an interview having met all of the job requirements. In fact, for the television interview, I lacked the two biggest requirements which were a minimum of two years experience in television, and a tape to show my TV work. To compensate, I focused on my transferable skills which were being highly creative and a solid copywriter. That got my foot in the door for the interview. But to get the job offer and beat out the other 4 job candidates, I was passionate about the company and the job! I also told the hiring manager that I absolutely knew that I could do the job! Theres a kind of quiet confidence that we all have down deep inside. A confidence that comes from knowing what were capable of doing. When you transition into a new job role or a new company, you need to show the hiring manager that you have confidence in yourself and know that youll be successful in the job. When it comes to reinventing your career, its not just your talent but your attitude that counts!