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Archive for February, 2010

Social media and your job search – help or hindrance?

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

There is no doubt that today’s digital world is both a help and a hindrance to a job search. On one hand, there is a world of opportunities at your finger tips. You can research specific companies, look at industry trends or visit a wealth of job sites all from the comfort of your own home, instead of pounding the pavement like the “old days”.

 

Yet potential employers can also learn more about you than ever before – and perhaps more than you would like them to! A simple Google search can be revealing and anything posted on the Internet is essentially public domain. When you post information online, be it through Twitter, Facebook, Linked In or on a blog, you are sharing personal info that perhaps would be better kept private. Make sure that you are aware of the privacy settings on these social media sites, and if you are in a job search, perhaps you need to edit your content and postings in the event that potential employers do their on research on you.

Here are a couple links that offer a bit more information on privacy, job searches and social media:

 

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchblogs/a/privacy.htm

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchblogs/a/jobsearchblog.htm

 

The bottom line is, when in doubt, don’t post. In today’s tough job market, it is better to err on the side of caution and be a strong candidate for that coveted job, instead of risking it all with photos and a recap of what you did on the weekend!

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Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities, Work / Life Balance | 1 Comment »

The value of Outsourced HR

Friday, February 19th, 2010

A bad hire can cost companies a lot of money. However, for small- to medium-sized businesses, it is often difficult to manage the expense of a fulltime HR professional. Outsourcing Human Resources duties can make a lot of sense, both financially and from a staff resources perspective.

 

Outsourced HR can include services like pre-employment screening, reference checking, education verification, background checks and recruitment support. Whether it’s retaining the workforce you have, or building for the future, Outsourced HR can fill in the gaps with a company’s current HR team, or offer specific expertise for small companies without a designated HR person. Now that is good business!

 

It’s always important to understand the business you are in.  Employing, managing and supporting our people is essential but it may not be critical that these expertise are held in-house.  Do you need a compensation expert as part of your staff or only during salary reviews?  More and more companies are looking for alternate solutions to manage costs and resources.  As we consider demographic realities one might argue how we staff and currently see HR will likely have to change as we have so many retiring from the HR community and so few with similar expertise to replace them.  Outsourcing may be a big part of a future solution.  To get a sense of the quality of HR consultants in the market see our group of affiliates at HR Works.

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Posted in Career building tips, Economy, HR Management | 1 Comment »

Making the transition back to the workforce

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

I am often asked by stay-at-home parents re-entering the workforce how to begin looking for a job, especially if they’ve been at home for a number of years with small children. First of all, I must say that for anyone who thinks that staying at home with young kids is “not working” is dead wrong! As a mother of two active young girls, I know how much energy, resourcefulness and wisdom is required to be at home with children. Stay-at-home parents are amazing (as are working parents who are also doing a juggling act)!

 

Here are a few tips that can help get you started:

 

  • Try to reconnect with former colleagues. They can become your new network.
  • Join a professional association related to your career so that you make new contacts and get on top of industry trends and issues.
  • Update your resume! Don’t forget to look at the volunteer work you may have been doing and how these skills can transfer to valuable experience.
  • Register with an agency like BOWEN and talk to a recruiter about any additional training you may require to be current in your field.
  • Frequently search online. There are a wealth of job postings on-line. Target companies that you are interested in, check out professional associations and job boards too.
  • Tell people you are looking for a job because you just don’t know who might know someone who is looking to hire.

 

Most of all, believe in yourself and what you have to offer.  Don’t apologize for taking time off to raise a family. Be proud of this accomplishment and be honest about why you are going back to work.

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Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities, Work / Life Balance | No Comments »

Where is your blue sky?

Friday, February 5th, 2010

I firmly believe that with every dark cloud there is a silver lining, and as we begin another year, many will use this time to think of their goals for the future. Regardless of your current reality – and even more importantly if you are in a difficult situation – it’s important to do some “blue sky” thinking.

 

Wiktionary.org defines blue sky thinking as “thinking that is not grounded or in touch in the realities of the present; open-minded thinking (i.e., as wide and clear as the blue sky)”.

 

Are you where you want to be in your career? If not, what can you do to get yourself moving in the direction of your dreams? Do you need to join a networking or professional group? Go back to school? Start looking at other opportunities? Find a mentor?

 

You are the person who can change your circumstances. It may not happen overnight but by taking those first steps in a new direction, you can create a different path.

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Posted in Career building tips, Economy, Work / Life Balance | No Comments »