Does Social Recruiting Really Matter

Does Social Recruiting Really Matter I’ve seen a number of posts speculating about the importance of social recruiting and to be  honest, I don’t think the critics have managed to convince themselves, let alone their readers. They have said social recruiting doesn’t matter or that “it’s a waste of time”, despite the fact  there are many others saying otherwise and many benefits your company stands to take  advantage of. Having read around the subject, I’m now tempted to agree and thought I’d write  my own post for why there’s absolutely no reason you should use social recruiting. If it works, use it forever. If there’s one thing you learn in the recruiting industry, it’s that once you find a method that  works, you should stick with it forever, because trends don’t change. What worked once, will  always work, right? It’s why scientists never try to repeat the results of experiments and it’s why  you should stick to the recruiting methods of 20 years ago. Ignore the decline of newspapers  classified ads in favor of Ebay. Keep posting all of your jobs for your big company in  newspapers. And whilst you are at it, make sure you’re constantly cold-calling people about  jobs, too. Why would you need something new like social recruiting, when you have the good old  newspapers to keep your hiring efforts bringing elite talent to your door from now until the end of  time? No one else is using it. Let’s face it. “Social recruiting” is a marketing term cooked up by “recruiting departments” in  order to sell “recruiters” on “products.” No one really uses it. Especially not 92% of businesses. It’s just another keyword that won’t sell because it offers no advantage over other recruiting  methods. And if no one’s using it, then clearly it’s not any good, right? We can safely ignore its  rise in usage over the last several years and continue our current method of recruiting: yelling at  people on the street (or in the pub!), asking if they’re looking for a job and have a degree in the  field you’re looking for. That’s what we all do. There are no benefits to social media. For the sake of argument, let’s assume a few things. First, let’s assume walking into people’s  places of work and asking them if they wouldn’t be better off working somewhere else isn’t the  only viable recruitment strategy. Second, let’s assume this whole “social media” thing actually  existed. Even if those two things were true, there’s no way social recruiting could improve any of  the following aspects of recruiting by the respective amounts: Quality of candidates 44% Quantity of candidates 44% Time-to-hire 34% Employee referrals 30% So as you can see, social recruiting doesn’t matter at all. We should continue to use the same  recruiting methods we have been for years, social recruiting will never help you because no  one’s on it when they check their phones all day, and it doesn’t have any noticeable benefits. Okay, let’s drop the charade. Clearly, social recruiting is one of the best ways for recruiting  to fill jobs for the exact opposite reasons as the one’s I’ve outlined here. It totally does matter  and anyone who thinks otherwise is really missing out.

The Art of Writing a Resume

The Art of Writing a ResumeIt's often said that the art of writing a resume is the hardest thing in the world. You have to think like a future employer and focus on the right things. If you can do it, the job will land in your lap. In this article I want to discuss the art of writing a resume and how to achieve success.The key is to start off with a resume that is specifically tailored to the job you are applying for. Many people make the mistake of just tossing together a generic resume. They forget that this is the first impression that a potential employer is going to get when they take a good look at your resume. You need to focus on this and make sure that the information is precise and needs to be true.This also means that you need to avoid giving yourself any advice about a general type of job you want. Instead, focus on the type of work you want and write about what you do for that specific job. It's important to find out what the specific requirements are of the job.Always e mphasize on the qualities of the position you are applying for so that the employer knows exactly what you are talking about. You can tell when someone is just not talking about the job, but instead is describing the 'opportunity' that they have been offered. Make sure that you answer each question you encounter correctly and completely. Have a spreadsheet handy to list the different steps and the points you need to make.As with everything else, make sure that you don't end up spending more time on answering questions than you spent developing your resume. Also, you should spend some time thinking about the things you would like to include in your resume and creating them. There are several ways to accomplish this, including using templates or examples or using Microsoft Word to customize your resume. You can also check out a free resume builder that will allow you to make a resume online that you can print out and use at your office.The next thing you want to focus on is your cover letter, make sure it addresses what you want to accomplish. It should be addressed to the person who is reviewing your resume, not to a supervisor or manager. It is meant to give an introduction to the person and get them interested in you. It is also a chance to show the employer why you are the best candidate for the job.Callbacks are always a result of communicating with the hiring manager. Make sure that you keep your responses to the hiring manager short and to the point. But make sure that you get them back and that they are sure to respond to you quickly.Finally, don't make the mistake of following a formal system of writing that makes no sense or has no craft way of doing it. Many people believe that a person writing resumes needs to follow a traditional format, but that's usually not the case. There are a variety of different methods that are effective and allow you to express yourself more freely.

Seven Ways to Rise Above the Negativity in Social Media, Politics...and Your Own Head

Seven Ways to Rise Above the Negativity in Social Media, Politics...and Your Own Head The following is a guest post by Jon Gordon.  His bio follows. Is the cultural tsunami of negativity wearing down your ability to stay hopeful and optimistic? Here, I explain how to overpower these voices, change your circumstances for the better, and become a positive leader and influencer to those around you. Youve probably noticed: Negativity has pervaded our culture and daily lives. Whether you love or hate the current political climate, its hard to deny that our nation has ever been as divided, fearful, and vocal as it is today. Add in the avalanche of complaining that dominates social media and its not easy to be positive or happy right now. There is a solution. You absolutely can rise above the negativity all around you. Its not easy but it can be done. Throughout history, there have been times of extreme negativity, pessimism, and fear. Those who rose above it were able to change their circumstances for the better instead of allowing their circumstances to change them for the worse. It turns out that positivity doesnt just make you feel better in the moment; it makes you more successful too. Research conducted by Manju Puri and David Robinson, business professors at Duke University, shows that optimistic people work harder, get paid more, are elected to office more often, and win at sports more regularly (1. Puri, M. Robinson, D. (2007). Optimism and economic choice. Journal of Financial Economics, 86, 71-99.). They also have stronger relationships. And not surprisingly, when positive energy is shared in the workplace, teams perform better.           Being positive doesnt just make you better. It makes everyone around you better. Former Ford CEO Alan Mulally is a shining example of a positive leader who rose above negativity to create a better world. When he stepped into the CEO role in 2006, Ford had just suffered an annual loss of $12.7 billion and was on the verge of bankruptcy. But he managed to put Ford back in the black in just a few short years, and then the Great Recession hit. In these dire circumstances, it seemed like his efforts had been in vainâ€"and plenty of people doubted his ability to save the struggling company. But Mulally proceeded with optimism and saved Ford and thousands of jobs in the process, while positively impacting the American economy and country as a whole. You may not be a leader on the level of Mulally, or have leader in your job title at all. That doesnt matter. Were all leaders in our own lives and can be a positive influence on those around us. But first we have to rise above our own negativity and reset our belief system. Heres how: Realize you have the power to distort reality. We often think that reality is objective, but thats not true. If you take a look at how leaders of positivity have changed the world throughout history, it becomes clear that we can define reality and distort it in a positive way. Before there was an iPhone, iCloud, or Apple Watch, there was Steve Jobs, a man with vision, positive ideas, and a reality distortion field. Jobs repeatedly convinced Apple employees that they could meet deadlines everyone thought were impossible. Time after time they would tell Steve he was being unrealistic and there was no way they could create software or hardware in the amount of time he was expecting. And yet, they did accomplish the impossible. Jobss team said he distorted their reality from pessimism to optimism. Their newfound optimism ultimately helped them succeed. Take an inside-out approach to success. Its important to understand that we dont create our world and success outside-in. We create it inside-out. This means that your circumstances and the events that happen outside you in the world are not meant to define you. You are meant to define your circumstances. The power is not in the circumstance. Its in your state of mind and the love, passion, soul, purpose, and perspective that you lead and create with. Coach Donna Orender is a great example. When she served as commissioner of the WNBA, she saw a lot of negativity amongst those in the corporate offices. There was a feeling that no one cared about womens basketball and a lack of belief that the organization could be successful. But Orender saw the passion and optimism in the coaches and players, and she believed in them and in the future of the WNBA. She began building an optimistic belief system and inspired her colleagues to believe in the WNBAs future as well. By focusing on one success at a time, she helped create a new reality for herself and changed the organization from the inside-out. Choose people over politics. People have unfriended longtime Facebook friends because of political views. This phenomenon is not limited to the virtual world: Some real-world friendships have ended because of politics as well. Even siblings have stopped talking to each other because of who they voted for in the presidential election. This is why I advise you to make relationshipsâ€"not politicsâ€"your priority. Focus on your connection with other people rather than the politics of the day. Research shows that one of the key factors in success, happiness, and longevity is not your political opinions but your relationships and connections with others. Focusing on politics divides. Focusing on relationships unites and creates a better future for you. Control what you can control. A person with an internal locus of control believes they can influence the events and outcomes of their lives by how they think and act. A person with an external locus of control blames outside events for how they feel and believes they are a victim of circumstance. During the Great Recession, those who had an internal locus of control were more likely to embrace the change, take action, and thrive. The truth is you cant control what decisions the White House makes. You cant control what other people are going to say or do. You cant control the negativity that exists around you. But you can control whether you look for the good or bad in the world. You can control what you read and write on social media. You can control the actions you take each day to make your life better and the lives around you better. Instead of looking at your phone and getting angry at the world around you, look up. Take a quiet walk and decide what actions you will take to create your positive future. You cant change the whole world, but you can change the world around you, and thats a great place to start. Implement a no complaining rule. Its a simple rule with a powerful impact. The rule says you arent allowed to complain unless you offer one or two possible solutions. When we complain we focus on whats wrong and feel disempowered. But when we focus on solutions, we feel empowered and empower others to make positive changes. As I share in my new book The Power of Positive Leadership: If you are complaining, youre not leading. If you are complaining, you are not showing your team the way forward. Complaining causes you and your team to focus on everything but being your best. It causes you to be stuck where you are instead of moving forward to where you want to be. Choose faith over fear. Fear and faith both believe in a future that hasnt happened yet. Fear believes in a negative future. Faith believes in a positive future. If neither has happened yet, why not believe in the positive future? Ultimately, being a positive leader is all about leading with faith in a world filled with cynicism, negativity, and fear. The ultimate battle we face every day is the battle between faith and fear. The people around you are facing this battle daily. They are filled with fear, doubt, and uncertainty, and its your job to inspire them with faith. If you dont have it, you cant share it. Now, share your newfound positivity with the world. For example, some people are turning away from social media because of the negativity. Instead, use it to spread positivity. Change the perspective and conversation. Even if it doesnt feel like it in the moment, every single effort you make to be positive will create an effect in the world. Your wordsâ€"typed or spokenâ€"your intentions, and your actions matter, so use them to make the world a more positive and hopeful place. When you make the decision to rise above negativity, you can finally become the leader of your own life. Leadership is not just about what you can do but what you can inspire, encourage, and empower others to do. Your commitment to a positive mindset will show the people in your life once and for all that theyâ€"not outside forcesâ€"shape their own lives. When you feel better about yourself and your actions, you feel better and you help the people around you feel better. In this way you help others become all that they are meant to beâ€"and ultimately, change the world for the better. About the Author: Jon Gordons newest book is The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World. His best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL, NBA, and MLB coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits.