The Trials and Tribulations of a Candidate Market

The Trials and Tribulations of a Candidate Market What can employers do to secure their perfect candidate? You have been searching for the perfect candidate for 6 months and finally you have found him/her. You have put an offer together, only to find that the candidate has accepted another position! Back to the drawing board? Yes, because you probably have little choice. But can you increase your chances of securing the perfect employee? A “candidate market” is a scenario where there is a high volume of jobs in a given market and not enough suitable candidates to fill them. The resulting effect is that “high quality” candidates are in demand and employers need to compete to secure them. A “market” for the purpose of this article is defined as a job sector â€" e.g. secretarial, banking and IT are three different recruitment markets. It is important to note that a candidate market can occur in one, or a few, sectors only and may be present in one location, but not another. The PA/secretarial recruitment market in central London is entering into candidate market conditions, but outside of London, only certain regions are experiencing this phenomenon. At the outset Before you advertise your vacancy, make sure you do your research on the salary and package levels your competitors are offering. If you want a high quality response then you will need to pay accordingly. Spend time when writing the job spec and advert. Make the job sound sexy! You don’t need to embellish the job for the sake of doing so, but there is no harm in accentuating certain aspects. Good quality candidates tend to be ambitious and want to grow and take on more responsibility as they get to grips with the job! If you have a clear path of progression that this person could take, articulate this. It could make all the difference. Agency Vs.  Direct Clearly there are pluses and minuses with both options. If you advertise the role directly, then spread the net as wide as you can. Don’t just rely on advertising the role in one paper or on one job site. Put the advert out on your social networking sites, send it to your Linkedin contacts. If it is a junior role, speak to the Universities and see if you can advertise it on their intranet. Think about where you can advertise the job, where your competitors won’t be. In other words, steal a march! If you choose the agency route, then do your research and don’t brief more than 2 agencies. But make sure you have chosen the right ones! Agencies become less incentivised if they know the job has been put out to a number of agencies. They will know, because they will be running the job past a candidate, who has already heard about the role through someone else! Also, don’t negotiate too heavily on fees. If an agency has a candidate at final stages with two companies (including yours) and you have bashed them on fees, then they are clearly more incentivised to sell the other position more. In both cases, have clear timelines. In a candidate market, an agile recruitment process is critical. Once you have started your search, you should aim to complete the process within 2-4 weeks. Once you have conducted first interview, you/your agency needs to know exactly where the candidate is interviewing, what stage they are at elsewhere and how quickly the other processes are moving. Assuming the feedback from the candidate is positive, then you should have an agreement that they will let you know immediately they have been offered another role BEFORE they accept. My advice is don’t leave it to chance and expedite every recruitment process from the very beginning. The offer Ideally, at final interview stage, you should know where else the candidate is interviewing and the packages of those positions. You’ll know what the candidate is looking for salary wise and be able to combine this with your initial research. In a competitive market, a candidate will always want a salary increase. In the current PA/Secretarial market, this is typically 5-10% at the time of writing with the average close to 8%. It is critical that your offer is very competitive. Don’t try and get a bargain in a candidate market, because more often than not, you will lose out on your preferred option. Remember that package is as important as base salary. Candidates want to make sure they are getting a good holiday allowance, the opportunity to earn a bonus, health cover and a decent pension. If your company contributes above the statutory, then disclose the percentage. You would be amazed how many candidates want this information before accepting an offer. Please note that a candidate’s salary expectations may change from the start to the end of the process. This is common in a candidate market, although is usually met with disdain by the employer. The reason is simple supply and demand. If the candidate is extremely well qualified and is looking for a new job at a time when there is a shortage of quality candidates on the market, then the salary levels of roles he/she is interviewing for will increase, sometimes in a relatively short period of time. So be flexible and if you end up paying more for a candidate than you expected to, then don’t be put off. If you are, then you will be paying more for an average candidate in 3 months’ time! Paperwork You have a verbal acceptance to your job offer. Don’t open the champagne yet, whatever you do! In a candidate market, counter offers and gazumping are common-place. It is good practice to send an offer letter and contract out the same day as the verbal offer has been accepted. Ask for the paperwork to be sent back to you within a given timeframe. Some employers will write a clause into their offer letter stating that the offer is only valid if paperwork is sent back within 5 working days. Ask the candidate for references and collect these promptly. Psychologically, once a candidate has provided references, they are less likely to withdraw their acceptance to an offer. Agree to a start date and remain in contact with the candidate before they start. Inviting your chosen candidate for a drink with the team is a great way to cement an offer. Author: David Morel  is Managing Director of Tiger Recruitment, a leading recruitment company in the secretarial/administrational arena.

Resume Writing - Add Retirement Date to Your Resumes

Resume Writing - Add Retirement Date to Your ResumesResume writing that is professional and well organized, can be accomplished quickly if you take the time to add retirement date to your resumes. Many people who get a job in the first place are nervous about doing so. Most of the time, these individuals are able to leave their work in place when they retire.The best time to add retirement date to a resume is during the initial stages of resume writing. The fact is that many people do not like to ask for a promotion or transfer to a different position or section of the organization. They are more likely to wait until after they have retired to put in their application.This means that you need to find a way to get your resume written before retirement. The best method is to make use of the internet. You can either do the whole thing yourself, or you can choose to get a professional to do it for you.The next thing to remember is to keep your person's educational history and awards curr ent throughout the career. You can use bullet points in order to make this easier to do. For example, you may have been a member of the National Honor Society as a high school student. Your curriculum vitae should mention your achievements from high school to give readers an idea of what to expect in the area of your future career.You may also need to tell readers of your CV about any extra curricular activities you have attended in the past that relate to your career goals. If you have some professional coaching or mentoring activities from which you can take advantage, you can give them a mention in your resume. These types of skills will be useful to your future employer.Another final point of reference to add to your resume is family background. It is true that many people who get a job, leave it after a few years of employment. What this means is that there is no need to include this in your resume. This information is held privately by each family member.If there is anything t hat you feel is appropriate to include, tell the interviewer about it; but, do not over do it and add additional information to your resume. The employee will then be surprised by your lack of details, thus, giving you the opportunity to add more details and make it a better document.The final point of reference to add to your resume is education. If you have attended college or any other post secondary institution, make sure to list it on your resume.

How to Leave a Job Without Burning Bridges

How to Leave a Job Without Burning Bridges When gainfully employed individuals accept a job offer, whether based on seeking a change or an offer that came unexpectedly, they have decided that leaving their current employer is the right move. This begins a new chapter of their career, and the way it’s handled will determine the nature of the relationship with their current (but soon-to-be former) manager and coworkers. Unless employees work in an extremely toxic work environment, it’s always wise to maintain good relations with former employers. Even after leaving the company, it becomes part of their work history and will most likely be taken into consideration by potential employers in future job interviews. As the saying goes, honey attracts more flies than vinegar, and praise from former employers doesn’t hurt, even if the employee never interacts with them again. Here are some ways to leave a job in good standing, and avoid burning any bridges. Give Proper Notice In most industries, two weeks’ notice is the standard amount of time employees give to their employers when leaving a job; however, one month is more appropriate in professional fields. This gives the employer ample time to hire a replacement, get him or her up to speed on the job responsibilities, and allows the departing employee to assist with a smooth transition. Failing to provide proper notice before quitting could put managers and coworkers in a difficult situation and may leave them struggling to backfill the open position, while also covering the responsibilities associated with the job. One never knows when a recommendation from a former employer may be needed, or the opportunity to work together again in some capacity may arise. Providing adequate notice before leaving demonstrates courtesy and respect to employers that should be reciprocated when employees transition out of the company. There are rare exceptions to providing advance notice, such as if the employee works in a toxic environment or has an unscrupulous boss. If a manager has threatened to sabotage an employee’s career or derail his or her future plans based on leaving the company, or if the job is negatively affecting the employee’s health, it’s best to leave as soon as possible. Offer to Train Others While employees may be moving to greener pastures, they shouldn’t treat their final days at the company with an “I’m outta here!” attitude. Remember that a departing employee’s soon-to-be former employer will remain their manager’s and coworkers’ current employer for the foreseeable future, and they want these people on their side when they leave. Employees should let managers and coworkers know that they’re willing to help. There will be plenty of work to be done before leaving, from training others on their role in transferring their assignments, emails, and files. When employees are willing to assist with their transition out of the company, they leave a positive lasting impression, which may prove valuable in case they need assistance from their former employer at some point in the future. Continue to Serve as a Resource After beginning a new job, if there’s not a conflict of interest, it’s important that former employees continue to serve as a resource for previous employers for a brief period of time. Questions may arise after employees leave involving accounts, clients, misplaced files, processes, procedures or a number of other issues. A willingness to help even after they’re no longer on the payroll will go a long way toward showing former employers that they’re still a team player. Though former employees are not obligated to do so, letting previous managers and coworkers know that they can rely on them to keep things running smoothly will certainly make them more willing to return the favor should the opportunity arise. Stay in Touch Changing jobs doesn’t have to mean losing contact with former coworkers. Today, staying in touch is easier than ever before with social media, texts, emails, and smartphones. While life tends to get busy (especially when starting a new job), employees should make an effort to update their former coworkers on what they’re doing, as well as keeping up with the others’ activities. If at some point in the future an employee needs to turn to former coworkers for referrals, business leads or any type of advice, the former coworkers will be less inclined to help if the only time they hear from the employee is when he or she needs something. Also, nearly 15 percent of employees who leave a company end up returning as “boomerang rehires.” Obviously, when a candidate accepts a new job, he or she expects the outcome to be successful. But not everything goes according to plan, and in the event the new venture doesn’t work out, staying in touch will increase the chances of a former employer welcoming the individual back, or providing a positive reference should he or she decide to go elsewhere. Leaving one job and starting another is never an easy process. Transitioning out of one company, then learning a new role at another, all while balancing financial and family responsibilities, can make the process stressful. However, disregarding former employers and coworkers can leave them with a bad impression, which can then affect relationships negatively should a former employee need to rely on them for future business. Employees should always look ahead in their career; however, those who neglect their past may regret it if their career comes full circle.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Take note iWerkz Bluetooth Keyboard Makes Typing Easy!

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Take note iWerkz Bluetooth Keyboard Makes Typing Easy! a Rafflecopter giveaway iWerkz foldable Bluetooth keyboard ideal for students, travelers, career-minded customers Laptops are great yet sometimes you  do not  have the space or the energy to tote them to and fro. Enter the iWerkz foldable Bluetooth keyboard, a compact accessory for all of your non-laptop devices that’s ideal for students, travelers, and career-minded customers. Enclosed in a protective case that fits easily into your purse or shoulder bag, this keyboard is great for texting, emailing, or taking notes in classes/meetings. The night before a conference, I received the product. I charged it using my Macbook Air. The next day I followed the set-up instructions and once the Bluetooth was connected, I placed my iPhone in the adjustable stand and used it by our vendor table. Guests were intrigued and stopped by to try  the product. They  were impressed with how quickly it was to send themselves an email or text. One law student  commented that this keyboard would be helpful to take with him to class to use when taking notes on his iPad. Pros: Clear instructions on how to set up: charge and connect via Bluetooth. Lightweight, sleek design ideal for travel and portability to meetings, classes, events. Vibrant color choices including purple, pink, red, and blue, in addition to black and white. Dual functioning case: protective and acts as a stand to tilt your device at the optimal angle. Compatible with iOS and Android devices. Includes a rechargeable lithium battery and charging cable. Affordable ($32-$35) Cons: The Goldilocks of keypads; it’s certainly an upgrade from texting/emailing from your handheld device yet not quite as large as a full size keyboard, to which it can take some time to acclimate. View this product on Amazon Columnist Archive a Rafflecopter giveaway

Resume Writing Services: How to Determine Which Services Will Work Best For You

Resume Writing Services: How to Determine Which Services Will Work Best For YouWhen looking for resume writing services, what makes a good resume? It's not just a resume, of course, but there are a number of elements that help a resume stand out. Whether you are writing a resume to get a job, or to apply for your current job, here are a few guidelines to consider when looking for resume writing services:Make sure the person you are writing the resume for has all the qualifications and experience you're looking for. Most professionals should have their work samples available for you to look at when it comes time to write your resume. If they don't, chances are your company won't have seen their work samples, and you'll be disappointed in the quality of their resumes.Write about your most relevant work experience. This is the best way to list your work history and qualifications on your resume. Don't overdo it, but put a little thought into it.Include as much detail as possible on your resume. If you don't know the most important thing about you, you won't be able to convince potential employers to hire you. Look for testimonials from your current employer, but don't include everything; focus on those details that will give them an idea of who you are.Give examples of your past work experience. It may be easier to show past work experience than it is to explain it. You could also write in a somewhat practical manner about things you did in college.Summary your work experiences, including any awards or other recognition you've received. Be sure to include all pertinent details to show a prospective employer what you can do. Take care to include this information on your resume for all positions.Use your keywords correctly - be sure to make it sound professional on your resume, even if the position you're applying for isn't for certain jobs. The grammar is important, as well. If you don't know how to use specific keywords correctly, hire a professional, and follow t heir recommendations.On top of doing research for your resume, remember to bring a portfolio along with you when you go to the hiring manager. There may be times when you feel very confident, then something happens and your confidence falters. A well-written resume can overcome a shaky start.

Resume Writing Companies

Resume Writing CompaniesResume writing companies are the names that you need to be cautious about. Most of them will offer you great results, but at the same time, you should also be aware of the pitfalls that they might throw at you. Only a few of these reputable companies will give you the sort of results that you really want and be honest about what they are doing.The first thing you have to watch out for is the fact that they may appear on the first page of a search engine's result for your name. Even if their name appears there, it doesn't necessarily mean that they have good work. If they do not receive a good number of requests for work and you sign up for an account, you will be paying for someone else's services. This might be a bad idea, especially if you are already working.A credible resume writer is worth his or her weight in gold. He or she must be honest about the quality of work he or she does and present his or her skills in the right way. He or she should not try to convince you that his or her methods are the best. You should instead just accept the fact that they are doing their best to create a good resume for you. They must also be willing to listen to your needs and learn about your career goals.Search engines will help you by showing you what people are saying about particular companies, but they can only show you so much about them. If you really want to get the very best results from resume writing companies, you should keep trying them out as soon as possible. You should also try to talk to some people who work for them. You will soon be able to tell who is going to be the best for you.They should give you all the important information about their work. They should tell you if they can produce the kind of work that you want and then deliver exactly what you asked for. Remember that they should only be producing resumes that you truly need and not wasting your time on something that has no value.When you choose a resume writing company , you should look into their background and see if they have any awards that you might find of interest. If they have even one award that could prove useful to you, you should take a look at it. You should also ask for information about their clients. If they have some winners to their credit, this can only add to your confidence in them.It is extremely important that you sign up with a reputable resume writer. They should have been around for a while and they should have testimonials from previous clients. You should be aware of the terms of their contracts and you should know how long they have been in business. This is the only way that you can ensure that you will be happy with them and that they will be trustworthy.Resume writing companies are a necessity in today's world. The competition for work is getting harder every day and many people are having trouble getting the kind of work that they really want. If you go online and start looking for reputable resume writing companie s, you will be able to get your work done much faster and at a better price.

Why Engineering Careers Are Constantly in Demand - CareerAlley

Why Engineering Careers Are Constantly in Demand - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. No matter where you live in the United States, it is likely that you will be able to find employment if you have a degree in engineering. This is largely because engineering careers can be applied to all types of different social needs: while the price of oil will fluctuate, we will still need to use billions of gallons each day, making petroleum engineering invaluable. Likewise, though the automotive industry has ups and downs, someone is needed to design the cars themselves, so mechanical engineers can always be hired. There are a few certain reasons that engineers are rarely found in unemployment lines. The Deck Is Stacked in Their Favor With only one in twenty college students choosing to go into an engineering field, those that do come out with a degree are often able to name their own career and salary. The number of students who choose the physical sciences has dropped severely in the past few decades and does not appear to be going in reverse any time soon. While some European nations have a more favorable balance of engineering students than America (Germany, for instance, has nearly one in three graduating students hold an engineering degree), it appears that American engineers will continue to be in high demand. The World Is Their Workspace The demand for new technology transcends barriers and nations. A large corporation like General Electric will hire hundreds (if not thousands) of engineers for their various projects, ranging from building a better light bulb to constructing the cooling devices on jumbo jets. The number of countries that supply the products that need to be imported so that these projects will succeed is vast, and engineers will have to either interact directly with overseas markets or their employer will need to hire someone who will. Engineers often travel to foreign countries to get the raw resources of their trade, whether it is oil or minerals, because of the huge amount of money that goes into production of their inventions. Demand Never Ceases We may think of an automobile or a computer as a purchase that only takes place once every few years. If this were all that engineers produced, their career paths would likely be in less demand. Since much of their productions, however, require daily consumption, there is never a void. Chemical engineers, for instance, will be employed in agricultural productions in order to ensure that crops are grown without pests, that livestock are raised to be big and healthy, and that the transportation of food from farm to supermarket aisle takes place safely. Each day the necessities of our lives, from the meals we eat to the clothing on our backs, must be replenished. In order to do so, engineering disciplines must constantly train new students to fill the void. Not only does the demand for engineers never cease, it can also fluctuate drastically in relation to unforeseen circumstances. Event such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, and blizzards can call for the expertise of engineers, and it is clear that there is an importance of civil engineers in natural disasters. Their Skills Are More Than a Specialization Though it is a running joke amongst many engineers that their career choices leaves little to creativity, the training that they go through creates a worker that any company is glad to hire. Since almost all engineers work in groups, they have to be efficient at communicating amongst other partners and cooperating in a group to get a project done. They learn leadership skills from the on-the-job training and co-op that leads to their career, making them excellent choices for management positions. Finally, they are excellent at objective analysis, whether it is a company or an electrical grid, so that they can be taskmasters and problem solvers outside of their field of specialization, acting as consultants or supervisors when it is necessary for a company to get fresh eyes on a topic. Author Bio William Stevens is a writer who creates informative articles relating to the field of engineering. In this article he explains why this type of career is in demand and aims to encourage further study with a Masters in Civil Engineering. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook

The Bigger Game Returns to Atlanta - Hallie Crawford

The Bigger Game Returns to Atlanta If youre in Hotlanta, or know someone who is, I highly recommend attending this program Nov 10 11. It will change your life and the price is very reasonable. Only $200 if you register before Oct 31. Are you ready to go for more? Last year hundreds of people blasted through the limits of imagination to create a bigger vision for business and their personal lives at a breakthrough introduction in Atlanta. Now the full Bigger Game workshop is here dont miss it! Step up to a powerful experience linking your individual meaning and effectiveness. In this workshop you and your team will clarify your values, purpose, role and vision in a way that makes it not only more natural to identify and step into your leadership opportunities, but to actually create them. A program that ignites and calls forth courage The Bigger Game model makes inspired leadership immediately possible and accessible. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the non-profit Ron Clark Academy. For more details visit www.biggergame.com. The Bigger Game Returns to Atlanta If youre in Hotlanta, or know someone who is, I highly recommend attending this program Nov 10 11. It will change your life and the price is very reasonable. Are you ready to go for more? Last year hundreds of people blasted through the limits of imagination to create a bigger vision for business and their personal lives at a breakthrough introduction in Atlanta. Now the full Bigger Game workshop is here dont miss it! Step up to a powerful experience linking your individual meaning and effectiveness. In this workshop you and your team will clarify your values, purpose, role and vision in a way that makes it not only more natural to identify and step into your leadership opportunities, but to actually create them. A program that ignites and calls forth courage The Bigger Game model makes inspired leadership immediately possible and accessible. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the non-profit Ron Clark Academy. For more details visit www.biggergame.com.