How to Attract Top Talent by Creating Excellent Candidate Experiences

How to Attract Top Talent by Creating Excellent Candidate Experiences Its the go-to broadcaster in the UK for sports and movie fans but as an employer, they are much more than that. You dont have to be a media-luvvy to work there as theyve got a lot of fingers in a lot of pies. We speak with the broadcasting media company Sky which has recently gone through an EVP strategy refresh. Sophie Holmes is the Interim Head of Employer Brand Attraction at Sky UK. Have a listen to the episode below, keep reading for a summary and be sure to subscribe to the  Employer Branding Podcast. Listen on  Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Stitcher  or  Soundcloud. In this episode you’ll learn: Who they actually are when it comes to an employer Why its reputation can sometimes put potential employees off and how they combat that What A job you love to talk about means and why pride is the key Why its employees are encouraged to use #lifeatsky on all social media platforms Find out why diversity and inclusion is high on its agenda You can connect with Sophie here.

6 Simple Ways to Turn a Job Into a Dream Career

6 Simple Ways to Turn a Job Into a Dream Career In the frenzy and chaotic world today, it’s so easy to get lost in the bluster of living from one day and lose sight of your end goals. While beating deadlines is enough to get you from week to week, building relationships and nurturing your reputation can get you further in the long term. Below are six simple ways that you can establish you career path and become a leader and expert in your chosen field, right from where you are. Own your contact list Most of the people that deal with you in your official capacity know you as a representative of your place of work, but you need to make those contacts yours. Business is first and foremost driven by relationships, as is everything else. Should you leave your current job, then the networks and relationships you established will be your most prized possession, especially if you intend to go and start your own thing. Don’t just create professional acquaintances, delve deeper and put effort into building personal friendly relationships with your professional connections. You can do this by checking in with them in-between business to ask how they are doing with their life things, take them out for drinks or lunch, attend events together or play mutual sports. Meeting outside the work environment can help you transition the relationship from professional to personal. Of course, ensure you give them the best possible service to improve your referral customer base. Collect business cards (and offer yours), scan them onto your Google Contacts list and connect with them through LinkedIn and other networks. The bottom-line is to have a system that works for you to ensure that you do not forget any of your contacts. Define yourself outside the job Don’t let people think of your just in terms of what you do for a certain company they conduct business with from time to time. Your job/role definition is important, sure, but that should not be your ultimate definition. Make yourself real to your contacts, be yourself, let your personality shine through outside of your job and people will remember you. Professional circumstances are continuously changing. If you don’t give yourself a more steadfast identity in your profession, the people who used to hang on to your every word will totally snub you when you change jobs or switch roles. However, if they know you as you, you can carry on your relationships to your new roles. Uphold integrity Reputation is one of those things that lasts a lifetime. It doesn’t matter if you’re changing jobs, or countries; if one person has something bad to say about you, eventually that word will find you where you are. You probably want to be careful how you treat people â€" do not be dishonest with a client just to win over a single contract. Don’t steal from them, don’t take shortcuts, give substandard work or just generally be jerky towards clients. Don’t criticize them and make them look bad in front of others, even if what you’re saying is true. Treat your professional contacts the same way you would family or friends. Strong reputations will outlast any obstacle that you face. Soiled reputations, on the other hand, can ruin any good opportunity that you land, even decades after. Be proactive and responsive The importance of responsiveness when dealing with professional contacts cannot be overemphasized. It’s the easiest way to build relationships and establish your reputation as a reliable person. Always call back when you miss calls, and send prompt replies to emails or text messages. Even when you don’t know or have an answer to their question, or don’t have time to attend to them presently, send a response to say just that. Take it a step further and recommend someone who you think might help, or tell them when you will be available for them. Let them know you are working on their query, and when you think youll have a solid response for them. If you are working on a project that takes a while to complete, periodically call in or send an email to let them know you’re still working on it and the progress so far. If someone does you a favor, follow it up by sending a thank-you email. Don’t only respond if you have something to benefit from it yourself. Doing this will hurt your reputation â€" clients will know that they can only count on you if you stand to gain, and pretty soon you will be shut out. Develop character and personality It’s important to keep a healthy work-life balance. If all you are to others is what you do at work, it’ll be very easy to forget you. Develop interests outside work and cultivate them just as seriously. Use these interests to make yourself real within your professional life: invite a client to one of your events, or to playing sports with you. When somebody asks “So, what’s new with you? Ensure you have an answer that has nothing to do with last quarter’s sales performance. Talk about your progress in your hobbies or interests; talk about your family if you have one; anything but your job. Open up a blog, take a cooking class. Remember that life is more than just your job. Jobs are fleeting, because nobody is irreplaceable. Invest in others Everybody is worth your time. So give as much of yourself as you can to others. Listen when they talk to you, go out of your way for them, create alliances, showing genuine interest in your colleagues, peers and clients, attend events they invite you for and mentor your subordinates to be better at their jobs. You are never too busy to help others, especially when you stand to gain nothing from it. Take meetings that have no foreseeable benefit for you. That’s where the best opportunities will come from. Volunteer for community projects. Connect people who need help with those you know can offer it, and not because you expect the same. Be a guest speaker at a student’s fair and share your experience with up-coming generations. You never know where the next big opportunity will come from. Author Bio The author is a professional credit consultant and financial advisor with more than a decade’s experience in the field. He has written countless articles relating to personal development, debt relief and credit management. To know more visit his site.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Working Closely Can Have a Downside

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Working Closely Can Have a Downside Airlines are not the only ones cramming us together like a can of sardines these days. Chances are, your company also is squeezing your personal space as youre plopped right next to everyone else in an effort to promote teamwork. Certainly, it seems like a good idea. People who are positioned closer together will make it easier to share solutions and problems, and bosses no longer sit behind closed doors, aloof and unattainable. But the unpleasant reality is that often it also means that you hear every word the person next to you is saying to someone else, you get a front row seat to a co-worker smacking gum, snorting into a tissue, belching the spicy food devoured for lunch and clipping fingernails while on the telephone. Suddenly, teamwork doesnt seem like such a hot idea. But it can be if everyone just takes a few minutes to consider how less physical space means we all need to give one another a little more mental or spiritual space. For example, think about your own pet peeves at work. Do you get angry when someone pilfers your stapler? If you do, then dont go swiping someone elses pen or message pad. Or, if you cannot stand someone popping gum, then you shouldnt go sucking on a throat lozenge like its the last one on earth. The point is: being a good neighbor at work takes some awareness of those around you, some compromises that offer respect and good manners to those other sardines you work with every day. Here are some issues to be aware of when you work in close proximity with others. Keep your voice down. Its amazing how far technology has come. That means you dont have to yell into a telephone to be heard by the other person. Keep you voice well modulated, and question others whether you need to tone it down a bit. Watch what you say. Theres nothing quite like being on the phone to an important customer when a nearby worker yells an obscenity. Dont turn the air blue at work with bad language; its bad business. At the same time, keep the crude talk for the pub later a nearby worker may have a client visiting. Mind your own business. Its a fact of life that many workers have to have private telephone conversations at work. Kids coming home from school, scheduling a doctors appointment, and checking in with a spouse are all pretty routine stuff. You may not be able to help overhearing these talks, but it doesnt mean you have the right to question a co-worker later about what was said. At the same time, keep private conversations to a minimum at work. Nobody wants to hear a 30-minute discourse on your bad bunions. Walk away. When you enter someones space and its clear that this person is having a bad moment, walk away. Let them gather their thoughts, then return. Do you want someone is your face when youve just lost a big account or had a spat with the boss? Sniff. Take a good smell around you. Is that a leftover chili cheese dog in your wastebasket? Maybe you should have showered after you worked out for an hour at the gym, hu h? Remember that in smaller spaces, not only does sound travel, but so does smell. So leave the strong perfume or aftershave at home, and keep your personal space free of strong odors. No personal grooming. Brushing hair, applying makeup, clipping fingernails, flossing teeth, using nose spray and shaving at your desk is not okay. In an office with your door closed you might get by with this behavior, but nobody should have to witness your grooming habits unless its your mother. Honor mental space. Working in tight confines means that people try to find ways to tune everyone and everything out. So when its clear someone else is concentrating, perhaps on a deadline, simply drop a note on the desk that says call me. Just because you can butt into their lives doesnt mean you should. del.icio.us

5 Tips To Keep Millennials Engaged In Todays Workplace

5 Tips To Keep Millennials Engaged In Today's Workplace Whether you like it or not, millennials are already the largest segment in the workplace.According to a recent study by MRI, millennials will make up 50% of the workforce by 2020.Even more shocking, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2030, that number will increase to 75%.Learning how to keep millennials engaged in today’s workplace can be a challenge.But don’t worry. Below we will share five key tips to keep millennials engaged.1. Encourage Employee SocializationEmployee socialization is key for millennials in today’s workplace.Millennials are social beings. Have you heard of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.?According to a survey by MarketingSherpa, 95% of 18-34 year old’s use social media.While the point is not to encourage the use of social media in the workplace, these stats should exhibit the social nature of millennials.Encouraging employee socialization means fostering a work environment that people actually want to be at.Some easy ways to do this include:Team lunches. Whenever a new employee is hired on your team, take the entire team out to lunch. Team meetings. In addition to 1-on-1 meetings, meet with the entire team to brainstorm ideas, share wins/losses, etc. Not only will this encourage socialization, but it will give your team members a designated time to have their voices heard by management. Team exercises. Are you creating contests/SPIFFs where team members are required to work together? The prize can be something as small as a $25 Amazon gift card but the bonding your team members will experience will be priceless.2. Promote Work-Life BalanceI’m sure you have heard of work-life balance before. But what does it really mean?Work-life balance is defined by BusinessDictionary as “a comfortable state of equilibrium achieved between an employee’s primary priorities of their employment position and their private lifestyle.”That’s a fairly broad definition. But it’s important to note that a healthy wo rk-life balance does not come with a one-size-fits-all solution.If you want to know how to promote work-life balance with millennial employees at your organization, here’s a tip…Ask your employees!Everybody will have a different definition of work-life balance. Here are some possibilities of work-life balance that your employees may enjoy:Flexibility to work from home when needed. Whether a kid is sick, a service professional is needed at the house, or driving conditions are poor, giving your employee some flexibility to work from home can go a long way. Ability to take vacation time without feeling guilty. Did you know that some companies will actually pay their employees to take vacations? CEO Mark Douglas of SteelHouse pays each employee $2,000 a year to go anywhere in the world. He says it pays for itself because his employees come back more productive than ever. True 40-hour work weeks (or less). Many companies expect 50, 60, even 80-hour work weeks from their employees. Mi llennials are all about efficiency. If they can get the same amount of work done in 30 hours that their manager expected them to complete in 40+ hours, why should they stay at the office? Providing specific daily/weekly goals for your employees and allowing them the flexibility to complete these goals on their timeframe will display trust and encourage a healthy work-life balance.3. Provide A Sense Of PurposeWhile this stands true for just about any generation (not just millennials), work without a sense of purpose can lack fulfillment.You don’t have to be a “green” company to get millennials on board.You don’t have to donate a pair of shoes for every pair of shoes you sell.Any company no matter what product or service you provide can promote a sense of purpose for their millennial employees.Often times this can be done simply by explaining how the employee’s particular role impacts the organization.Without sales, there is no business. Without the finance team crunching nu mbers, the bills won’t get paid and the lights won’t stay on.Each team member plays a unique role in growing the business.Acknowledge them for the work they do, and the impact they are making, even if they are just one fish in a giant ocean.4. Constantly Coach/MentorMillennials believe in constant learning and improvement.A great manager with is constantly training and coaching his/her employees will improve retention and build loyalty.Be careful not to mistake coaching with micromanaging.Millennials more than any generation do not want to be micromanaged.Here’s the difference between coaching and micromanaging in a nutshell.-Training involves assigning a task based on the employee’s skill set, providing them with the proper tools and advice to succeed, and then backing off â€" providing autonomy for your employee to do the work.-Micromanaging involves assigning a task based on the employee’s skill set, providing them with the proper tools and advice to succeed, and then s tanding over their shoulders, pointing out each and every mistake they make.Nobody appreciates a micromanager. But everyone can appreciate a true mentor.5. Foster A Fun Office EnvironmentYou’ve probably seen it before.The image of a Bay Area startup with the ping-pong tables, fully stocked kitchen, video games, and bouncy balls for chairs.While these shouldn’t be the primary reasons someone comes to work, it sure can make getting out of bed in the morning easier.Fostering a fun office environment encourages your staff to stay creative, socialize with coworkers, and adds to the overall culture.Employees feel appreciated when their company is willing to go the extra-mile on office perks.Wrapping UpIn short, millennials are not all that different from other generations.Millennials enjoy personal relationships with the people they spend time with. Millennials enjoy life outside of work and prefer a company that enables this. Millennials want to do good and make a positive impact on their company. Millennials prefer constant growth. If they feel unchallenged, they may leave. Millennials believe work can be fun andsomething to look forward to.(For more tips on working with millennials, check out Preparing for a Millennial Work Environment.)

11 reasons why freshers should join university societies - Debut

11 reasons why freshers should join university societies - Debut Youve probably heard all of this advice before.  Of course freshers should join university societies! Joining a bucket-load of weird and wacky societies is part and parcel of the overall fresher experience. Besides the obvious, there are plenty of fantastic reasons why you should make societies a big part of your new uni life. Here are just a few of the good ones. 1. You get to try things youve never even considered trying I mean, Dumbledores Army would have never thought they could produce a Patronus charm until they banded together to form an anti-Umbridge society. 2. Learn new, practical skills Most of your lectures and seminars are geared towards your academic education, but life needs so much more than that. Societies teach you things like cooking, photography, journalism, knitting and more, depending on which one you go for. 3. Perhaps more importantly, earn soft skills You may be wondering what soft skills are. Theyre basically the skills that make up emotional intelligence, for example, how easy it is for you to fit in with a group. Societies are a great testing ground for developing those skills, and soon youll probably have a secret handshake with a fellow member in no time at all. 4. You get  to try your hand at leadership Who runs societies? Exec committees run societies. Running for an exec position is a great experience, even if you dont get the position. And if you do, you will learn so much about being a leader, which is a great thing to talk about in future job interviews. Disclaimer: we recommend  not running a campaign like Kanye would, just sayin. 5. Not to mention the networking opportunities Academic societies (like the ones tied to your course, for example), regularly run events where you get to meet potential employers. Those are the perfect way to introduce yourself and mingle with your potential new colleagues. The more events you go to, the more likely theyll remember you. 6.  There may be opportunities to travel Society veterans know: in between the second and third terms will come the much-anticipated society tour. Weve heard of societies heading to Amsterdam, Paris, and even Prague for their society tours. 7. Keep fit and active through the increased activity Work on yo fitness with societies like Salsa Dancing, Muay Thai, or even Pole Dancing. University societies are a great way to keep healthy, especially after heavy nights at the student union. 8. Meet people with similar interests to yourself University societies are the best place to meet new people on campus, yes, even better than halls or lectures. Why? Well, youre guaranteed to have at least one thing in common, so starting up conversations should be a breeze. 9. Gain access to exciting events run by the society Were talking things like speed-dating, training sessions, and society balls. Trust us when we say you wont get a chance to dress up in ball gowns much when you graduate our glad rags are now sitting forlornly at the back of our closets, lamenting the fact we didnt take advantage of society events when we were students. 10.  Being in societies teaches you about work/life balance Being a member of a few university societies may be a little overwhelming at first. But once you have your routine  down, youll have people wondering how you can balance lectures, Glee Club and the Doctor Who Appreciation Society whilst keeping a 2.1 average. 11. Best of all, youll make friends for life Societies arent just about the skills you learn or the events you go to. Theyre about the great people you meet. Cheesy as it is, they will likely be the people you remember long after you leave university. If that reason isnt good enough to get you joining a society this term, we dont know what is. Feature Image ©  Warner Bros Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Brenda on Twitter @brendaisarebel Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

Theres No Magic Bullet for Finding a Job

Theres No Magic Bullet for Finding a Job Job Search is a process that requires discipline, persistence and hard work. There is no single magic solution to finding a job. Engaging in a series of productive activities is your best bet. My hunch is that people thinkbeing onTwitter, LinkedIn or Facebook will net them a job. These tools alone wont land you a job. I just read thata huge number of people quit Twittering after a month. Why? It doesnt result in a job? It takes weeks to break and develop a habit. Create a new habit of pro-actively promoting your talents. Discipline for job search: Commit to spending at least 35 hours (but not more than 50 hours) a week in these activities: Applying for jobs on-line Developing relationships with recruiters Directly approaching employers from your target list Networking Persistence is Required: Not only is it important to follow-up with each job posting and contact you make, it is also critical that you maintain your momentum in the above-listed activities. In the world of sales, there is a ramp up time, usually three months. So, you probably arent going to see immediate results from your Twittering, or other activities. Maybe recalibrating what you are expecting will make this easier. Dont give up. Hard Work: Hard work means developing a strategy for how you will consistently and constantly get your name out there. If you already had a huge and active network, job search wouldnt be as hard. You see, if you knew a lot of people and they knew you, it would be easy to pick up the phone and start calling your network who would begin spreading thenews of your availability. Even those people with a large network are having a hard time of it today. Cultivating and nurturing your network is one of the most important career management principles. Never stop, especially after you land a job.

Introducing...The Declaration of Ukes!

Introducing...The Declaration of Ukes! Well.the inevitable has happened. I bought a pink uke, and then Jess Swift bought a yellow uke, and then Jess came to visit and wed knew wed have a day and a half together. So, knowing we needed to do some planning for the upcoming Declaration of You e-course, we decided towrite a song. And record a music video. And then release said song, music video, and the bloopers that went along with em to the world in, oh, less than a weeks time. Ladies and gentlemen, Im pleased as punched to introduce to youThe Declaration of Ukes! Yup. Theres gonna be a new bloopers video tomorrow Wed, and then the World Premiere of The Story of Pierre on Thursday, Aug 11th. You can keep your eyes on Pierre François Frédérics  Vimeo page or who are we kiddin Ill be tweetin Facebookin em as they get released. As the one who co-wrote the song and co-directed the videos, I can assure you that theyre freakin hilarious. Yes, I do enjoy laughing at my own expense ?? Hope you do, too!