5 Reasons Why Active Candidates Are Perfect for Startups

5 Reasons Why Active Candidates Are Perfect for Startups Employers and recruiters tend to prefer passive candidates because they have the right skill sets, have the right qualifications and have a history of good employment. But for a startup working environment, could active candidates be the ideal  employee? When it comes down to it, what you want to hire is the right person with the rights skills at the right level. But when you enter the market with your  startup, the budget is often an issue. So hiring the ideal employee isnt always possible. So Im going to make a case for active candidates, and why they are exactly what a start-up needs. 1. Active candidates are more hungry Because an active candidate is out there in the market looking for their next role, hiring them would mean you would be getting an individual ready to go. The Polling Company finds that 70% of talent acquisition leaders believe that active candidates have better motivational drive than passive candidates. When a candidate has a genuine  interest in a job, then you have hit the jackpot. As long as they have the right skills and ambition, they really dont have to have the wealth of experience you think they need. 2. Active candidates are receptive to change Activate candidates are generally found to be much more motivated to make a change in their lives, hence the reason for actively seeking out a new role. The business direction in start-ups, or even SMEs, can change quite often. One day you might be a content marketing agency, the other your a recruitment marketing agency. So you need candidates who not only are open to change, but are driven by it. 3. The hiring process can drag out with passive candidates When hiring passive candidates, you will need to be doing a lot of persuading and enticing. Active candidates make themselves easier to find and easier to get in contact with. More so, activate candidates would be ready to ready to go right now, For a startup, it would be ideal to hire people who can start quickly because of the speed at which the business is operating in. 4. Passive candidates can be more expensive Furthermore, while the process of hiring a passive candidate, who I agree would have better  job experience than the active candidate your considering, is dragging out. You will more often than not find yourself having to offer a higher salary than expected because the passive candidate will know they are a wanted commodity. 5. Being passive doesnt mean youre a superstar Forbes report that some managers and CEOs are biased against unemployed candidates because they believe that only bad employees get laid off or fired. But honestly, it takes a lot of guts to look for a new role and new challenge. Employers and recruiters, in my opinion, favor passive candidates because they dont want to take the risk. Hiring a passive candidate is the easy way out. You could say that the very best employees are already employed. But as John Feldmann says in his article Active vs. Passive Candidate: Recruiting on Baseless Merit, There are few employees who are lucky enough to retire without ever having experienced a day of unemployment. So as a recruiter or employer, I implore you to  consider active candidates when it comes hiring for startups. The hunger and flexibility an active candidate would bring could be the catalyst your startup needs!

Writing a Mail With Resume Attached

Writing a Mail With Resume AttachedFor many people the process of writing an email with resume attached is one of the most common forms of writing a response to a job advertisement. This process is an important part of filling out job applications as it allows an employer to decide whether or not to proceed with the hiring process. It is important to remember, however, that your resume should be used as a tool to assist you in being a good applicant and not as a crutch that you use to help yourself get through an interview. The following article will discuss some tips for writing a mail to a job posting.Before you start writing a mail to a job posting the first thing you want to do is get organized. You need to think about your skills and then think about what type of skills will benefit the company. The company is looking for someone who can be effective within the organization but also able to work independently as well.By having a clear understanding of the skills you have that ar e necessary for the job you are applying for you can use the mail you write to be more effective. You will find that when you can identify exactly what type of skills the company needs that you can begin writing a more effective email. After you identify what the company needs you can begin writing your mail by outlining each of your strengths.It is important to make sure that you identify all of the areas in which you will benefit the company and why those areas are important. Remember that there are many things that you can do within the company that are beneficial to the organization but will not be considered critical by others.Use the mail you write to outline your strong points. Make sure you focus on how you can use these strengths to benefit the company. Also, be sure to identify the areas that will allow you to separate yourself from other applicants.Once you have outlined your strong points be sure to highlight the parts of your resume that highlight your strengths. You wa nt to emphasize any talents or skills that will create a distinct advantage over other applicants.Do not focus on the skills you have that the company already knows about the skills that you have that are different. Be sure to highlight any new skills or talents that are unique to you. By highlighting your skills and talents the company can tell that you are serious about getting the job.By using this information and using effective methods you can ensure that you use the information in the mail to benefit the company. The mail that you write can help a company determine if you are the right person for the job. You should be careful about making this decision but by writing a mail with resume attached you can ensure that the skills and abilities you have been very effective.

Is RV Life Right For You

Is RV Life Right For You There are a lot of stories and blogs about people who have decided to give up their traditional life in favor of something seemingly simpler but also more adventurous: RV living. One such story about making the transition to RV life came from the founders of the site Outdoorsy. Two professionals left their careers and city living and opted to buy an Airstream and also to start a site where people could rent RVs using a peer-to-peer model. However, for all the success stories of making a lifestyle change, it’s not for everyone. Whether you’re a Millennial who wants to launch an online business from an RV, or you’re approaching retirement, the following are some things to consider as you decide whether or not living in an RV is right for you. Do You Like Variety? There are some people who enjoy routine. They like knowing what to expect every day, but then there are those people who hate having their days be the same. They become bored easily, and they like the idea of waking up not sure what the day will bring. If you’re in the second group, RV living might be for you. You’re not limited by much of anything with RV life, but this isn’t the right choice for everyone. Can You Live with Less? There’s a trend right now of people who want to move toward living with less. Living with less can mean downsizing your home, your “things” or just your overall lifestyle. Does this interest you? If so, you might consider RV life. Even if you opt for a big, luxury RV, you’re going to have to eliminate some of the non-necessities from your life. This could include clothes, home décor, electronics and more. If you ask yourself if you’re willing to do this and the answer is yes, you might be a great fit for the RV lifestyle. Often before people opt for an RV life, they’ll sell most of their items such as furniture and clothes, but if you’re unsure you can always put your things in storage and try RV life with an RV rental   before making a big leap. Can You Work From Anywhere? If you’re planning to retire and enjoy RV life then work isn’t an issue, but if not you’ll have to think about your career. If you currently have a full-time job are you ready to leave it? Do you run a business can you operate it from the road? If neither of these applies to you are you ready to invest the time and work it would take to build a business you could operate from anywhere? If you’re going to be working and RVing you’ll also have to think about logistics like Wi-Fi and the possibility that Internet access won’t always be reliable. Finally, can you deal with not having a lot of space? If you’re on your own or you don’t have kids, an RV may provide plenty of space. If you have kids space might be a major logistical consideration to keep in mind as you decide whether or not this could be the lifestyle choice for you.

How Do You Talk to Recruiters at a Career Fair

How Do You Talk to Recruiters at a Career Fair A career fair is an event for employers and recruiters to meet with prospective job seekers, many of whom are students or new college/university graduates. At a career fair, you get to meet with employers and recruiters in an informal setting, and learn more about internship and job opportunities offered by their companies. It is a goldmine of networking opportunities. However, as a student or new graduate, you may be overwhelmed and nervous, and not sure how to start a conversation with these  recruiters. The good news is that you are not alone! Here’s a quick guide on how to talk to recruiters: 1. Introduce yourself A good way to break the ice is by introducing yourself to a recruiter. Start with a firm handshake and tell them your name, what you are studying, and year in school. Tell them you are glad to have the opportunity to talk with them about your career interests, and how your experience might fit in with their companies. 2. Get down to the nitty gritty Now that the recruiter knows a bit about you, it is time to get down to the nitty gritty. Tell them what you know about their company and why you are interested in working there. Of course, you have to be prepared and learn about these companies before you set foot at a career fair. Look up information on company websites and their social media channels so that you have some knowledge before hand.   Once you have demonstrated to a recruiter that you have done your homework, talk about your academic and work experiences in more detail. You should highlight your skills and make it clear about what you are interested in and why. Most recruiters don’t carry the conversation initially so you will have to play an active role in marketing yourself. Tell them what you are interested in and not what you think they want to hear. In other words, be confident and be yourself. 3. Keep in touch When it’s time to wrap up your conversation, don’t forget to thank the recruiters for their time. If you have any final questions, ask them now. In addition, ask them how you should move forward with the application process and what the best way for you to stay in touch with them is. Some of them will refer you to their company websites if they have an online application process while others may ask for a paper copy of your resume so bring a few copies. If you have your own business card, don’t forget to hand some out. 4. Be confident No matter what happens during your conversations, be confident. First impressions always count and it is a great thing to show that you believe in yourself and what you can achieve! Realise the employer is not up your street? Heres how to politely end that conversation.

How to Write Jobs Ask For a Resume That Gets YouInterviewed

How to Write Jobs Ask For a Resume That Gets YouInterviewedWhen writing jobs ask for a resume, the last thing you want to do is to forget something important on your resume. You can overlook some very basic facts that can have major consequences on your career path. In addition, you should know that there are a few areas on your resume that you can control. These tips will help you get the job you really want and give you a head start on that new position.When it comes to skills, you should include these essentials in your resume: what you do, where you work, why you are valuable to a particular company, your technical ability, and your previous work experience. You need to be sure to tell the interviewer exactly what it is that makes you a good fit for the position. What would this position require of a certain type of employee? What are some things that make you an ideal candidate? When writing jobs ask for a resume, be sure to include these types of information.There are specific skills that are required for every industry and that is what you should focus on when writing jobs ask for a resume. You should be able to provide specific examples and explain in detail what each one of them entails. For example, a dentist needs to be able to write an accurate medical office policy; a marine biologist needs to be able to answer the question of 'what will you be doing if you are not working for a marine biologist'?There are several areas that you don't fall short in and when you explain how much of an asset you are, they will realize that you are in a position to contribute more than they were expecting. Instead of saying you have no experience, they may find that you have excellent experience with a specific field. They may even consider hiring you because of your experience rather than your education or your specialized training.Another area that you should be able to quantify is your skills and abilities. If you can offer examples and describe how they will benef it the company, your resume will be much more useful. Rather than having to try to explain why you are going to help the company, you will have information that they can use to develop their skills for new positions. When writing jobs ask for a resume, this type of information is extremely important.When you write a resume, you need to think about specific goals and objectives. In order to ensure that you have goals for your future and identify the direction you want to go in the process, you should also have objectives that are a good fit for the jobs you apply for. When writing jobs ask for a resume, you should be able to tell the interviewer what you hope to accomplish in your career, what is next for you, and how this will help the company.When you are interviewing for a new position, you want to ensure that your appearance is professional. While you want to impress, you should be as unassuming as possible. While you are looking at your future, you don't want to seem overly conf ident or overbearing. When writing jobs ask for a resume, you need to stay calm and relaxed, but still be able to convey a positive message.When writing resumes, you should strive to impress. If you aren't going to come across as an arrogant or overbearing person, you will be able to present yourself professionally, but at the same time you won't appear arrogant. When you offer your specific strengths, explain how those qualities will help the company, and describe exactly what you can bring to the table that will make you a good candidate. When writing jobs ask for a resume, you should be able to go into a job interview and confidently tell the interviewer, 'I'm qualified, I know what I'm talking about, and I'm going to add value to the company.'

2010 Top 10 Executive Personal Branding and Job Search Trends - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

2010 Top 10 Executive Personal Branding and Job Search Trends Things have changed in the world of work and executive job search. Tried and true methods still apply, but the impact of the Internet and our recovering job market require building a different kind of job search strategy and becoming much more proactive. In a nutshell, what you need to do along with real-life networking, is embrace and leverage personal branding, social networking at sites like and Twitter, and social media, while building a strong, brand-evident online presence . . . or get left behind. Your peers who finesse the new tactics already have a competitive advantage over people who don’t. They’re strategically positioned to accelerate their job searches. Here’s how things are stacking up for executive job search in 2010 â€" some new rules, some old rules: 1. Be flexible. Dont assume that your next job will be a full-time position with one company. Temp to perm and portfolio careers (a mix of part-time employment, temporary jobs, freelancing, interim consulting, self-employment), especially for boomer executives, have become viable strategies. Creating income security, instead of job security, is the new wave. 2. Get clear on what job you seek and target the companies where you’ll find it. Frame your entire job search strategy around your target audience so that everything you put out there will resonate with them. Realize that in job search, youre in the middle of a sales and marketing campaign for your company (i.e., YOU) in which you’re pitching your value proposition. Keep an eye on market trends and opportunities. Dig into targeted industry and company research for due diligence, market intelligence, and to position yourself as an informed, engaged candidate in interviews. Compile a list of at least 10 companies that will fulfill your needs and the key decision makers within each one. Google the decision makers’ names to find out where they hang out online and offline and how you can connect with them. Here’s your chance to circumvent the gatekeepers by identifying and connecting directly with top decision makers and tap into the hidden job market of unadvertised positions and possible newly created opportunities tailor-made for you. In your research, learn about the culture of each company, and determine what their issues and problems are so you can develop your pitch around their needs. Set up Google Alerts to have Google email you up-to-the-minute news on your industry plus companies, people, and relevant keywords of your choice. See my Job-Hunt article, Power Your Personal Brand Using Google Alerts. More details in my post How to Target and Network into Hidden C-Level Executive Jobs. 3. Define your personal brand and amplify it in your personal marketing communications. Personal branding is all about defining the unique set of strengths, personal attributes, passions, and drivers that differentiate you from your peers, aligned to resonate with your target audience. Branding generates chemistry and makes it easier for recruiters and hiring decision makers to visualize you at work making things happen. It helps them determine whether you’re a good fit for their organization and whether to hire you or do business with you. And because the brand development process identifies your vision, purpose, values and passions, it also helps invigorate you and gain a keener understanding of what kind of work is a best fit for you. Branding helps you position yourself to move toward career fulfillment and to work your passion. Expect the process of defining your executive brand to take some time, so get started on it. For more specifics, see my post The Executive Personal Brand Worksheet: 10 Steps to an Authentic, Magnetic Personal Brand. And to dispel the misinformation you may be hearing and reading about personal branding, read my post What Personal Branding is NOT. Once you’ve defined your brand, design your paper/digital executive resume, career biography and other personal marketing documents to resonate with your target audience. Just as the executive job search landscape has changed, so have these documents. They don’t read and look the way they used to, based in large part on the fact that more and more hiring professionals will be reviewing your digital documents on their PDAs or netbooks (think tiny screens). Make their job easier and entice them to scroll down through the whole document by writing concise statements of value (no more than 3 or 4 lines) surrounded by enough white space for each one to stand out. Tightly packed dense information doesnt attract the reader well. Pay special attention to what lands above the fold or on the top of the screen. This prime real estate can make or break your chance to be considered. Since many hiring professionals have limited time and may read no further, assume that this part of your resume should stand on its own to showcase your value proposition. Remember that these are marketing documents, not career histories. Include just enough information to capture attention and compel people to contact you. Precision writing and strategy are key â€" everything in these documents should align with what your target audience will be looking for in them â€" nothing included should be arbitrary. See samples of executive resumes, career bios and other documents I’ve created for actual clients, to get an idea of how they should look and read. 4. Create a fully-fleshed out and searchable profile and develop a strategy. Did you know that recruiters and hiring decision makers use special applications to search for viable candidates? Use your executive resume and some of your career bio as the foundation for your profile. As always, capture attention with what lands above the fold (in this case, whatever lands at the top of the screen). Pack searchability and a powerful brand punch into your professional headline. Make inroads connecting with your list of key decision makers within your companies of interest. Check their profiles and join the LI Groups they belong to. You may be sitting on a lead right now that you havent leveraged. Make a list of everyone you know at work and in your personal life. See if theyre on LI and connect with them. Let them know what kind of job you want and who your target employers are. Download my free e-book for more details, Executive Branding and Your Profile: How to Transform Your Executive Brand, Resume, and Career Biography Into a Winning Profile. 5. Get visible elsewhere online. Build a strong e-brand and brand equity. Surveys show that the majority of recruiters and hiring decision makers search online when they’re sourcing and assessing top talent. See my post, Does Your Online Identity Scream “Hire Me”? Design a far-reaching personal marketing strategy to consistently communicate your unique promise of value across multiple channels, online and offline. Position yourself directly in front of your target key decision makers: Establish presence where they’re hanging out online searching for people like you. Get published online to showcase your subject matter expertise. Make sure you have plenty of brand-supporting search results on the first several pages of results when you Google your name and that absolutely no digital dirt exists related to your name. If it does, start building up positive results to push the bad ones further down. It takes time to become sticky and build credibility and visibility online. If you have little or no brand-reinforcing presence online when you’re job-hunting, you’ll have a hard time catching up with your competition who have already worked on establishing themselves online. Here are a few places to build presence online and increase the number of positive search results associated with you: Create a VisualCV to house your portfolio of your personal marketing documents. Create a Google Profile. Clean up your ZoomInfo profile, if one exists. Otherwise create a fully fleshed out one. Blog in some way â€" your own blog and/or guest blog and comment on other relevant blogs. Keep building up keyword-rich content so you’re more likely to be found when people search relevant topics. See my post, Executive Job Search and Blogging: Perfect Together. Create a key word-rich profile on

Six Style Tips for Interview Success - CareerAlley

Six Style Tips for Interview Success - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Job interview success is not just about your ability to answer questions correctly and show up with an impressive resume. You can also improve your chances by creating the perfect first impression. In order to do that, you need to have your style sorted out. Here are six style tips for interview success. Tip #1: Suit up, always! There are only a handful of occasions when you shouldnt show up to your job interview in a suit. If youve been handed a specific dress code request, you, of course, follow it. But in most other situations, a suit is your best option. Dont even think about other combinations a suit shows respect and it looks professional. A suit is a great option for both men and women. A pantsuit is currently fashionable choice for women, but you could also opt for the traditional skirt and suit jacket combination as well. Tip #2: Black is the new black If you dont have a lot of money to create a suit collection right now, then trust in the power of black. Pick a black suit from an affordable high-street retailer like marksandspencer.com. Forget about the fashionable and trendy suits you want something timeless. By having a black suit in the wardrobe, you always have something to wear for interviews, formal events and so on. Black is a versatile color and you still have plenty of opportunities to personalize and style your suit. You can opt for patterned and colorful ties, shirts and shoes. Tip #3: Polish your shoes Dont put all your attention on the suit; your attention should also be on the small details. Shoes are especially important to get right because your interviewer will notice them and make judgments about your character. You should definitely invest in a good pair of dress shoes. For men, Oxford-style shoes are a great pick in either black or brown leather. You can, of course, be more playful with the color as well just make sure it fits all of your accessories. Women should pick court shoes in black, white or another color with a moccasin or a leather finish. Schuh is an affordable place to find shoes. Even if you cant spend money on new shoes, pick the most suitable pair you have and give them a good polish before the interview. You want them to look pristine and looked-after. Tip #4: Go with current, not trendy When you are creating your style, picking out accessories or shopping for interview clothes, keep in mind another tip: you want the style to be current, not trendy. Trendy outfits tend to draw a lot more attention they are bold and they are fun. But youre not looking to be fun and bold in your job interview. Every item you pick should be something thats current and in style. However, it shouldnt necessarily be the trendiest item on the shelf. The same applies to things like your haircut and makeup. You dont need to necessarily change your hair color just for the interview, but dont go for the craziest styling option. Modern style that slightly falls into the conservative side will work the best. Tip #5: Focus on comfort Although you want to ensure your clothes are stylish and professional, you shouldnt forget about an important part of a stylish look: comfort and confidence. Have you ever worn clothes that didnt fit? Youve probably worn a shirt that seemed too tight or a jumper that made you itch. You dont want this with your interview clothes if you feel comfortable in them, you dont stress about them. In a job interview, you already have enough other things on your mind so dont make your clothes one. Try your outfit, sit, and walk around in it before to interview to ensure you feel confident in it. Tip #6: Make it fit Above all, ensure your clothing is the right fit. If you can, stretch your interview budget to allow a tailor to spruce up the suit. The perfect fit will boost your confidence and create a polished and professional look. Aside from ensuring the suit fits, you also need to make sure the accessories and colors you use match the look. So, ensure you know what are your best color options and pair your items with jewelry that fits the style dont go overboard with accessories. Think of your interview style like another part of your resume. It should tell a story about you and your ability to succeed in this role. Make sure your suit, shirt, accessories and even things like the haircut and makeup fit the narrative. If that black skull necklace is drawing too much attention in your toned down look, then you should remove it. The above six tips guarantee you focus on the right elements in your look and show up at the interview looking professional. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to nail the interview and get hired. 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Tough (Question) Tuesday Whats the catalyst for your productivity - When I Grow Up

Tough (Question) Tuesday Whats the catalyst for your productivity - When I Grow Up Having an external deadline (like walking 40 miles in 2 days on October 20th). Collaborating with someone amazeballs whos as excited about what were collaborating on as I am, and keeps moving forward along with me. Knowing its up to me to make it work (and never have to work for anyone else ever again!). Delegating the unfun/unknown stuff to someone I trust to the nth degree. The intention that whatever it is Im working on (coaching, writing, speaking, etc) helps other creatives through their career transitions. I love being a part of that. Breaking down my time in my Google Cal and my project in Basecamp. Whats the catalyst for *your* productivity? Here are my Clubhousers with their answers! (Click on their pics to be taken to their blogs/businesses/sites!) Whats the catalyst for *your* productivity? Cant wait to read about it in the comments!