4 Ways to Find Passionate Talent

4 Ways to Find Passionate Talent In the movie  Serendipity, Dean says to Jonathan: “You know the Greeks didnt write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man dies: ‘Did he have passion?’” In my experience as a hiring manager, I look for individuals who possess passion for their work. This is crucial to help ensure a right match is not only made for the job but for the organization’s culture as well. Today, there are a number of avenues hiring managers can leverage to learn about and evaluate job seekers. When doing so, I look at four major areas for signs of passion: Resume History: I review the job candidate’s history to see what they’ve done and what they’re doing, looking for patterns of activity that indicate increasing roles and responsibilities. While these may not directly indicate passion, they reflect stability and a predictable career path. If the career path doesn’t look normal, I look for indications of why their occupation took a left turn. Activities: I look for activity outside of the office that support continuing education â€" specifically the pursuit of advanced degrees and certifications. Achievements: It’s important to look for awards and other achievements, indicating how they have excelled, specifically individual, leadership and industry-specific awards.   Social media Profile:  On social profiles that reflect an individual’s occupation, I look for indications of pride. For example, on LinkedIn I would look for awards, speaking engagements or promotions. Engagement: Passion can be seen in what they share about their vocation. Individuals who share information, articles and news that relate to their job stand out as potential experts in their field. Groups: Participating in  social media groups  affiliated with their field shows that theyre interested in learning and sharing knowledge with their peers. Online Activities: Blogging activities (whether they manage their own or participate in other occupational-related blogs) reflect a deeper connection to their chosen profession. The extra time spent by these individuals may demonstrate a dedication to their field. Interview Presentation: I look for a candidate who presents themselves in a  confident and energetic manner  â€" proud of their skills, experience and accomplishments. Involvement: Individuals who employ their skills outside of the office may reflect passion. Advancing their understanding through self-study, reading and hobbies, as well as utilizing their skills in volunteer or community activity may reflect that a job is more than just a paycheck. Reference checks Professional contacts: I listen to what former employers say about a candidate’s work product and work ethic for signs of passion and dedication. Personal contacts: Personal references can be valuable as they may offer a more candid look into a job candidate’s interests and background. Personal references have the ability to reveal a candidate’s passion from their everyday life outside of the office. While these areas are not absolute for finding passionate talent, they may narrow the field to those candidates who you should consider for the job. What do you look and listen for to judge a job seeker’s passion? Let us know in the comments below. Rich Weede  is responsible for Marketing at Kforce. Rich resides in Tampa, FL, where he enjoys all that the area has to offer, including rooting on the Bucs, Bolts and Rays. Connect with Rich on  LinkedIn.

How to Get Your Recruiter to Love You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Get Your Recruiter to Love You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Job seekers and recruiters may have a love/hate relationship but if it’s handled right, it can be fruitful for both sides. Entry level job candidates may not find using a recruiter that successful, but for more senior level people it can mean the difference between landing a dream job and an OK one. That’s not to say every great job is the result of a recruiter, but career experts say it can be a useful way to land your next gig as long as you don’t get black listed in the process. “Great recruiters have long-term relationships with hiring managers that involve a high degree of trust,” says Kathy Harris, managing director of recruiting firm Harris Allied. “They can help you to get an interview for a great job, prepare you to interview successfully, and negotiate your offer package.” While many people looking for work know a recruiter can be a helpful resource, often they make the mistake of not honing in on the right recruiter. According to Paul Slezak, co-founder of RecruitLoop.com, the recruitment website, job candidates have to find a specialist recruiter that works in the industry or field they want to be in instead of going with a generalist. One way to find the right person, says Slezak, is to do an Internet search for the type of job you are looking for and see what recruiter’s name keeps coming up for the roles on your level and the ones above you. “Don’t just apply online â€" or your inquiry will just end up in the vortex” when you find one, says Slezak. “Call the agency, ask to speak to that recruiter personally and make an appointment to meet with them. Offer to take the recruiter out for a coffee just to ‘pick their brains’ and to find out more about the state of the market. You have to be top of mind and not just a name on a database.” In addition to relying on the Internet to find a recruiter, career experts say to tap your network. Ask colleagues and networking connections from similar fields if they have any recruiters they can recommend, says Amanda Augustine, the job search expert for job website TheLadders, noting the Internet can yield a lot of names of recruiting firms and their contact information. “Don’t underestimate the power of a Google search,” says Augustine. “For instance, you can get a good list of results by searching for ‘financial services recruiters nyc.’” Finding a recruiter to work with is one thing, but making sure the relationship stays positive can be a delicate balancing act. Relationships between job seekers and recruiters often sour simply because the candidate wrongly assumes he or she is the customer and the recruiter is there to serve them. The recruiter gets paid by the employer, so his or her job is to find the best candidate for the company not find the ideal role for the job seeker. Job seekers who don’t get that can quickly get annoyed if the recruiter isn’t at their beck and call or doesn’t give them updates every day. “At the end of the day, the recruiter’s loyalty is to the person signing their paychecks â€" their employer or their agency’s client,” says Augustine. “If you can accept this reality, then you can learn how to make this relationship work for your search, rather than against it.” According to Slezak, a surefire way to get black listed by a recruiter is to be irritable, refuse to share feedback with the recruiter or turn down an offer at the last minute. Harassing the recruiter with daily phone calls and/or email is another quick way to become persona non grata, he says. “One thing recruiters hate is the ‘stalking’ job seeker who calls (often literally) every day to ‘see if anything’s come up,” says Slezak. “Job seekers should realize it’s the recruiter’s role to find an opportunity, so if they haven’t called, it’s probably because there isn’t anything suitable.” To prevent yourself from becoming a stalker, career experts say to set the ground rules with the recruiter during the first meeting. For instance ask them how they would like to be contacted and how often you can check in. If the recruiter says “don’t call me I’ll call you” then don’t. Trust that recruiter will contact you immediately if he or she finds a match. On the flip side if you do go on an interview, make sure to get in touch with the recruiter that same day to provide feedback on how you think things went. “Looking for a job is a full time job in itself. If you can be represented by a specialist recruiter who can speak to dozens of potential employers about you, surely that’s easier than attempting to connect with so many prospective employers yourself,” says Slezak. “But the only way the process works is if both parties treat each other with the level of respect they both deserve.” Author: Donna Fuscaldo is a freelance journalist hailing out of Long Island, New York. Donna writes for numerous online publications including FoxBusiness.com, Bankrate.com, AARP.com, Insurance.com and Houselogic.com. As a personal finance reporter for years, Donna provides invaluable advice on everything from saving money to landing that dream job. She also writes a weekly column for FoxBusiness.com focused on technology for small businesses. Previously, Donna was an equities reporter for Dow Jones Newswires and a special contributor to the Wall Street Journal. Through the Glassdoor Blog, Donna will provide tips on how to find a job and more importantly keep it.

Its Not Personal Just Business; Think Twice! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

It’s Not Personal Just Business; Think Twice! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Some people believe one needs to make decisions based upon the bottom line 100% of the time. If it benefits you, great, otherwise, discard the idea. Emotional decisions in business benefit no one. On the other hand, it is said, what you put out into the atmosphere will be received back many times over. After all, it is your business and friendship of which we are speaking, so what is it you wish to receive back? It just might be a good idea to stand back to reconsider which side of the line you are currently positioned. A balanced and fair approach to requested favors usually play out the best. Questions to consider the next time a friend asks for a business related favor: 1. How will a “no” decision affect your future relationship? Unfortunately, most people do take a “no” answer personally, particularly when they are asking a friend to buy from them. Therefore, listen carefully and ask insightful questions to get to the bottom of the proposed request. The better the understanding of what is being offered, the more informed you become. It enables you to deliver a more intelligent response as to why the proposed service might be or not be a good idea for you to pursue. 2. What will be a fair approach for all parties? After asking your questions and hearing explanations, ask where you may learn more. Usually a website is connected with the request. Research the website to the fullest detail. Compare this with other information online. Doing your homework prior to giving an absolute answer of “no” or “yes” will work to your favor. Even if you are inclined to say “no”, the knowledge gained will lend credibility to your decision. Explain your thought as to why you are negative about proceeding. Give your friend an opportunity to possibly correct a misinterpretation. If there was none, and assuming your friend is reasonable, your research and decision will be respected. Obviously you will be hailed as a great friend should you decide to move forward. 3. Further communicating your thought Jumping the gun, you may have been referred to another because it was assumed you would say yes. But, instead, you said no. Should you be called for a referral, tell the caller why it doesn’t fit your current circumstance but do not bad mouth the service or your friend. Instead, do your best to speak more to the credibility of your friend. Should you accept the service upon seeing the benefits, wait to experience the service for a couple of months to determine if it lives up to expectations. If expectations are met, then do your friend a favor by spreading the word. In summary, by remaining neutral on the subject and doing your due diligence about the service, you are proceeding in a highly professional manner with which no one can argue. Should you be able to spread good word, you encourage your friend to reciprocate. This is where putting out goodwill into the atmosphere is returned favorably. And this is also the igniter for the Smooth Sale!

Podcast #13 Personal Innovation, Passion Jobs Grant Cardone - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Podcast #13 Personal Innovation, Passion Jobs Grant Cardone - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Welcome to the 13th episode of the  Promote Yourself Podcast  (Subscribe on iTunes). It is a weekly show airing every Monday, giving you the best career advice, the latest workplace trends and access to todays brightest stars in business. You can also download the episode here. Sponsor:  Moo.com is an online printer offering premium business cards, MiniCards. stickers and more. For listeners of this podcast, if you go to  Moo.com/podcast  you will save 10% on your next order! Now its time for the show. This weeks show Segment #1: My top 3 workplace trends of the week Job hopping is the new norm. Your undergraduate degree isnt what it used to be. Be a giver, not a taker. Segment #2: QA This weeks question comes from Marianne OConnor. Shee asks: How do I find a position that speaks to my passion, supports my lifestyle, and takes advantage of my talent? To ask a question for a future show, send me a tweet at @DanSchawbel. Segment #3: Guest interview This week I speak to Grant Cardone, who is an International Sales Expert and author providing Motivation Sales Training Programs to Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, success-minded individuals and entrepreneurs. Cardone is an internationally recognized motivational speaker and is a New York Times bestselling author. He is regularly seen on Fox Business, NBC, MSNBC, and Business Insider. Cardone is the executive producer and star of Turnaround King, a TV program created around his motivating solution-oriented business coaching. He also hosts his own radio show, The Cardone Zone, where he entertains and educations listeners with tips and strategies to achieve greater success and break out of the Middle Class rut. In this interview, Grant talks about how to sell yourself, stand out, why we are all salespeople and how to develop sales skills based on his experiences. Author: Dan Schawbel  is the founder of the Personal Branding Blog and the author of the upcoming book, Promote Yoruself: The New Rules For Career Success. He is offering an online course called “Build Your Personal Brand in 4 Easy Steps.”

7 Easy Actions You Can Take to Be an Effective Speaker CareerMetis.com

7 Easy Actions You Can Take to Be an Effective Speaker â€" CareerMetis.com Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comYou can’t be a premier league speaker overnight, but here are 7 actions you can take that will launch you on an improvement track towards a fulfilling destination.1. Work on your formevalThe mechanics of your delivery are key.Practice varying your tone of voice and the cadence of your presentation.evalPresent your material to yourself and listen to how you come across.It’s not a speech; it’s a performance. Your job is to create a memorable experience for everyone in the room.People will likely forget most of what you say but will remember how you made them feel.2. Lose the comfort toolsTry it without a podium and notes to speak from.Your end goal is to be “au naturelle” on the stage.3. Live and breathe your materialYou’re not giving an academic treatise; if you are not emotionally connected with your stuffyou won’t be believable and no one will listen.4. Get and keep your energy upNo one enjoys listening to someone who drones on as if they wi ll die any moment.evalTake a deep breath before going on, say out loud “energy up!” 5. Study other speakersThis helps you determine how you can be different from the common crowd.The “boilerplate speaker” has no unique identity and is soon forgotten. The distinctive performers, on the other hand, earn return engagements.6. Treat yourself as a “subject matter expert” Act and work as if you happen to have amazing communications and engagement skills.evalYou are NOT a “public speaker”.7. Let your material “flow from your veins”Make this happen flawlessly and be one with you.If you achieve this state, you will be able to practice the actions mentioned above; if not, you will have to focus on your message content and to the expense of the audience experience.Speaking success is not just about perfecting the mechanics of the discipline.It’s about creating new rules of engagement where the prime objective is to connect with and dazzle every person in the audience.Ever y person you engage with expects two things from you: to learn and be entertained.

Get a Job on Facebook

Connect With CompaniesOf course, when it comes to networking, it doesn’t hurt to get your foot in the door by making connections early and often. Many companies have Facebook  Career Pages that boast active “talent communities” (groups of people from fans of the brand to potential candidates to applicants to employees) who get  together to interact with a company’s recruiting messages, learn about open jobs, attend recruiting events and more.Make sure that you’re not just becoming a fan of Company X, but also doing a search for and liking the page called “Company X Careers.” (And trust me,  there are a lot of them.) By joining the talent community, you are letting recruiters know that you want to be considered a part of the talent pool. (And  if you’ve completed step one and made the public parts of your Facebook profile into a standout digital resume, then you’re one step closer to the job of  your dreams.)If you are an employer, then you know social recruiting is becoming more important than ever for finding the best talent possible. There are even tool,  such as the Social Recruiting Score to help companies analyze and measure their ability to reach and  influence candidates through social networks, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as their potential for generating social referrals or reaching  mobile candidates through those networks.What Are You Waiting For?Are you ready to take the leap into a new career? Now more than ever, Facebook can help you get there. More companies spend more time there connecting with  more qualified candidates. You can turn yourself into one of those qualified candidates by making sure that recruiters can see that you’re interested and  friends can see that you’re willing to be referred.For more ways to turn your social networking into professional networking, check out the Work4 Jobseeker Guide.

How to Use Action Words When Writing Your Resume

How to Use Action Words When Writing Your ResumeThe first step in your guide to resume writing: action words are simple words you use that tell people about what you will do if they choose you for a job. You may want to spend some time analyzing your skills. However, that is not the end of the action words that you can use. These are important to show that you are looking for a job, as you are capable of doing it, and you will perform the duties.A good place to start is with the verbs, so if you are looking for an example that tells people how you're going to solve a problem, it is the words 'do'make'. These words contain the power to create a solution and they will match your attitude of being a problem solver. After these three words, you have the more specific words that are the same in order to get ideas.You may want to get started with the words that need to be followed by action and may help with helping others and meeting deadlines. This is the words 'to', 'help', 'consult', ' and'will'. These words may not be the words you used in the action words. These are what you need to explain how you will interact with others, help them in your situation, or meet your deadlines. After you have these words, you need to get more information about your skills.Jobs like nursing and teaching are easier for you to do than some other jobs because these jobs require less contact. In order to make this writing more effective, you need to try to provide detailed information about your qualifications, experience, and skills. After this, you have the jobs that are more specific.The action words that are more specific words like 'to', 'use', 'find', 'fillable skills', 'learn', 'explore', 'retain', 'work', 'speak', 'or', 'change'. These words can be used to show that you are the one to fill these positions or that you are someone who needs help in learning how to do it. This is how you show how you can contribute to the position. It is very important to make a choice to how you want to go forward with your writing, and action words can help you do that. If you are an expert in a certain field, you need to be specific in your action words and if you are specific in your resume, you are more likely to get an interview.Action words are very important when you are on a job search because they are very simple and easy to understand. When you are able to get an interview and you find one with a company that you like, the words you use for yourself will make you more desirable. When you use action words, you will be convincing people to hire you.These are the action words that will get you further into the job hunt and in the position that you need. So, when you go to your resume writing to get better results, make sure that you have the right words to answer the questions asked. Choose the action words that are sure to help you get the job and you can show to the employer how you can be of help to them.