LinkedIn no-no's during a search

I often see comparisons between LinkedIn and Facebook when reviewing candidate and company feeds for relevant updates.  We have all seen those images of LinkedIn not equaling Facebook.  Which I agree with, but today I am only going to focus on the LinkedIn part of your social media marketing plan as a candidate especially.

In our era of quick-clicks, "likes", and "now following", it is easier than ever to fall into the trap of being reactionary when you see something you like or dislike online.  One of the worst things you can do, however, is "like" the wrong thing.  Some are obvious, some are not so obvious.  Take, for instance, someone "liking" an article or a feed about PPACA (i.e. Obamacare).  This is a lightning rod issue and most people fall on one side of the spectrum regarding their thoughts and reactions.  So if you are out "liking" posts, articles, or even funny pictures about this topic you in theory have a 50/50 chance of offending someone that may see that on your own feed.

Or how about that individual you know that crosses the line and uses LinkedIn to post all kinds of stories about their favorite sports' team.  While not completely egregious in any manner, again remember that you are likely to upset someone with that.  I wouldn't say to completely go away from this, but there are particular groups where your topics can be discussed among fellow fans.  Alumni groups, team pages, and like-minded groups are where you might get bang for the buck.

Social topics are a big trap on LinkedIn.  Local, regional, and national news while intriguing and even possibly important are not going to serve you well in your search if you are talking about them on your LinkedIn feed.  Opinions can vary widely on controversial issues in the news, and employers or hiring managers could be quickly turned off if you are spouting opinions about something that has nothing to do with your ability to be a good employee.

Lastly be sure to make anything you follow, like, re-post or share is more professional than personal.  Employers certainly want to get to know you through the interview process, but they are most interested in your work product and abilities rather than where you had supper last weekend.  Save that for interviews when you can lighten the mood, perhaps put on Facebook, or even share through a tweet.

Remember that what you are doing on LinkedIn is public forum and can be tracked.  In the past few weeks I have seen some unbelievable stuff which has led me to dis-connect from some people.  While wanting my network to be as big as possible I don't ever want to be associated with someone who is completely mindless to decorum with LinkedIn.  You should remember the same when you are in an active search or feel you might be in the future.

Any other no-no's you have seen on your LinkedIn feeds that would be helpful for others to know about?

2015 recruiting trends

I don’t know about you, but the older I get the more reflective I become.  Looking back at last year to see what worked and what didn't played a big role in me determining goals for this year.  At the end of 2013 I predicted three trends for 2014 – 1) increased M&A or lift-out activity, 2) the rise of the passive candidate, and 3) addition of unique one-off types of roles.  We saw success in all three areas, and I believe it will continue into 2015.

This year I believe we will see some new trends that are already transforming the way we do business here at Capstone and could likely impact your organization as well.

The rise of social media.  Okay, this may seem like a “sure bet” if I were a Vegas odds-maker, but it is for more than the old reasons we have known for the past couple of years.  We all know that candidates oftentimes have LinkedIn profiles, Facebook pages, and even a few have a blog.  The bigger change we have seen is how companies embrace this when trying to brand their company’s recruitment philosophy.  See this article for some confirmation of this -   http://blog.accuchex.com/top-four-recruiting-and-hiring-trends-for-2015

Paying more for the right candidate.  I have seen this firsthand recently regarding some offer negotiations with candidates in the fourth quarter.  I was pleasantly surprised by how often my clients were seeking the “enthusiastic yes” from candidates by providing a competitive offer right out of the gates.  More base salary, more vacation, and sign-on bonuses were witnessed more than I have seen since pre-2008 hiring levels.  Along with my prediction last year of seeing more qualified passive candidates, this may come into play if you really want to send a strong message that you are looking to procure the best talent available.

Making more opportunity hires.  This is when someone comes along that is too good to pass up, but you don’t have a place on the bench for them.  More and more companies are creating that capacity and sometimes even re-structuring to ensure the role is challenging enough for the candidate.  As the market continues to become more competitive and sway a little bit back to the low supply/high demand end of the curve employers will be forced to adjust or lose out on that top talent.  Your competitors are all doing this, so it may be time to pay more attention to this growing trend.

The final trend is more of an observation than anything, but has proved invaluable to our process in the past few months.  That idea is transparency.  Don’t be afraid to unapologetically wear your heart on your sleeve when seeking new talent.  The candidates will embrace that, we have appreciated that immensely from our perspective, and the branding you create will have a ripple effect that you may never even know its full power.  Our best call is from a referral from a candidate that we did NOT place.  They say that this individual had such a good experience (again, despite not being placed for employment through our firm) that we were highly recommended to guide them through their search too.  That is high praise and something we work for every day.

What trends did you see last year?  And what trends do you see for the coming year?  We hope to be a part of that strategy directly or indirectly.  As always, please feel free to see what we’re up to on our social media platforms and our website – www.csgrecruiting.com.

I wish you a very happy and prosperous 2015!

Interesting advice from Google about your resume

Over the years I have had many requests from candidates to help spruce up or revise their resume to be noticed.  There are obviously all kinds of tricks and trades with key words, accomplishments, and even font that can help you get noticed.  But who would have thought getting rid of that old Hotmail or AOL account would be one of them?

I have heard from a couple of candidates recently that they found a recommendation online to get a Gmail account to be more accessible through their social media and optimize SEO on an individual basis.  I thought for sure that was another brilliant marketing idea from Google.  Which I am guessing still may play some small role.  The broader point is that updating everything on your social media, your resume, and your personal email shows your ability to change with the times.  It could also help integrate everything when it comes to gathering responses and building your network.

If you are going to do this I would also add some tips to really get the most bang for the buck:

1)  Create a Google Plus account.  You may not use it much, and you might be reticent to be added to "circles" from people you don't know well, but it is all part of the experience.  Google does a great job of promoting all things Google, and this helps you get noticed more.  Which is a good thing if you are about to embark upon a job search or an interview process.

2)  Link everything to this new Gmail account - Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, your resume, and anything else you can think of.  Use this email account for your smartphone, your home email, and begin to leave your old email address behind.

3)  While you are at it, you might as well be sure to have a Skype account.  For those of you that have all of the usual excuses - I don't have a camera for my computer, I don't want to download anything, I don't know how to use it - those are not valid any more.  If you own a smart phone you can set this up in less than thirty minutes.  Again, be sure this is attached to this new Gmail account.

4)  Be professional with your email address.  Many old Hotmail and AOL accounts had nicknames, numbers, birthdays, and even some inappropriate names.  Ditch those and if at all possible go with firstname.lastname@Gmail.com.  This will show a more updated and professional profile than SuperCoolDad1989@hotmail.com.

I want to make a caveat here that I am NOT advertising for Google or saying this is the only way to go.  The broader message is that keeping up with the changes in a new year will help propel you to the top of some lists as you begin considering interviews and new opportunities.  Many others are doing this already, and you're a step behind if you don't try to stay ahead of the curve.

Inspirational tips for your job search in 2015 #BooYah

Every year during the holidays I take time to reflect on the year that was and the year that is to come.  Then I set goals for the new year to improve upon the good from the year past, eliminate the bad, and try to take small daily steps to accomplish those goals.  I know my clients and candidates do the same, so I thought I would offer up some simple ideas going into 2015.

If you do not know the person in the image I selected for today's blog, simply Google the name Stuart Scott and you will have plenty of options to choose from.  Eulogies, tributes, reflections, pictures, and much more from some very influential people will appear in your feed.  Sadly he lost his battle with cancer yesterday morning after more than twenty years as a sports' anchor for ESPN.  The way he lived his life, and not just during his battle with cancer, serves us with plenty of good reminders about how we could apply certain concepts to a job search.

1)  Every day I fight.  In his infamous acceptance speech of an award last year at the ESPYs Stuart eloquently outlined that he was not "losing" his battle with cancer.  Instead he chose to live every day knowing it could be his last.  That enjoyment and joy was evident to all around him.  Similarly you can apply this to your job search.  Whether you are in initial phases and wading around in online ads, or trying to re-connect with everyone in your network, or maybe even in the final stages of an interview, always choose to fight.  By fighting I mean striving to make a good impression, using good communication skills, being honest with yourself and others, and working toward the ultimate goal of getting that new job or being happy with the one you have.

2)  Boo-Yow!  This was one of many phrases that Stuart was the first to use on-air and has been used over and over again by many others.  Many people thought it was Boo-Yah, but he wanted it to be even more unique and those around him knew it was in his notes as Boo Yow.  The lesson here is to celebrate the achievements during your job search.  If you made it past the first phone screen with HR, be jubilant.  If you received the offer, regardless of whether you accept or not, pat yourself on the back.  If as a hiring manager you source an unbelievable candidate for your opening, tell others about it and plan a strategy to ultimately hire that person.  Put on your recruiting hat and make the hire happen!

3)  Have a purpose.  Stuart lived for his daughters, and in his words "fought like hell" to beat cancer so that he could one day walk them down the aisle at their respective weddings.  Your purpose doesn't have to be grand, but it is good to write it down and make it formal.  Perhaps it is more money to provide for your family.  Or more flexible hours to spend more time outside of the office.  Maybe you desire to be in management and no longer an individual contribute.  It is time to make that leap to sales from client service and you need to adjust your spending habits with an income that may fluctuate in the near future.  If all you are doing is "fishing" around to see if there might be something better out there you will never be fully prepared for the interview process.

4)  Know you can't control everything.  It is said that Stuart Scott never wanted to know what stage his cancer was in at any given time.  He was afraid that if he found it was in final stages that he wouldn't want to fight any longer.  He accepted that fate and decided to show up every day and give 110%.  There were times during his fight where those around him saw him fading away.  But the minute the cameras came on he was a consummate professional and was always on top of his game.  Many viewers had no idea how bad his cancer really was because he always seemed to be the same on air.  The same with a job search can apply - if you don't know where things stand with an interview you know you have to keep giving 110%.  You never know what turn may come to swing things in your favor, even when things are looking gloomy.

I could go on and on as stories are popping up everywhere regarding Stuart's great past as a successful sportscaster and good human being.  But I'll allow you to search the stories on your own and learn from his example.  I will, however, leave you with one last quote from Stuart, "You beat cancer by HOW you live, WHY you live, and in the manner by which you live."  Great life lesson for all of us.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2015!