Walk!

Walk! Many of you know I have a goal to walk 500 miles this year.  Its not going as good as I like (Im at about 300, which means a lot of walking between now and Dec 31!) but I want to talk about someone else in this post: Marc Wolfsfield. Heres what Marc recently put up on Facebook: How outstanding is that? Congrats Marc! I dont know what its done for his health but Im guessing he has toned a muscle here and there, just by WALKING! My own walking has had tremendous health benefits that I didnt count on. Im not sure if what I want to tell you is to walk regularly, like Ive tried to do. Or if I really want to tell you to set a goal and work towards it AND ACCOMPLISH IT. Or if I want to tell you that in a job search you have time to do something like this (I give you permission to take time out of your job search to exercise regularly, especially if you neglected it when you were employed). Maybe Im just bragging that Ive walked 300 miles so far this year, which is about 298 miles more than I walked last year. Or maybe Im just saying MARC, YOU ARE AWESOME GREAT JOB! Walk! Many of you know I have a goal to walk 500 miles this year.  Its not going as good as I like (Im at about 300, which means a lot of walking between now and Dec 31!) but I want to talk about someone else in this post: Marc Wolfsfield. Heres what Marc recently put up on Facebook: How outstanding is that? Congrats Marc! I dont know what its done for his health but Im guessing he has toned a muscle here and there, just by WALKING! My own walking has had tremendous health benefits that I didnt count on. Im not sure if what I want to tell you is to walk regularly, like Ive tried to do. Or if I really want to tell you to set a goal and work towards it AND ACCOMPLISH IT. Or if I want to tell you that in a job search you have time to do something like this (I give you permission to take time out of your job search to exercise regularly, especially if you neglected it when you were employed). Maybe Im just bragging that Ive walked 300 miles so far this year, which is about 298 miles more than I walked last year. Or maybe Im just saying MARC, YOU ARE AWESOME GREAT JOB!

The Evolution of Social Recruitment

The Evolution of Social Recruitment Everybody knows that the biggest advancements made in recruiting in the last decade have been those related to social media. Online platforms â€" most notably LinkedIn â€" have played huge roles in the way we communicate with and attract our candidates, and sometimes clients too. There has been a complete role reversal between recruiters and candidates what was once a game of candidates fighting for the attention of recruiters, has now turned into one where recruiters are rounding up candidates into online communities so they can engage and socialise (more commonly known as “building a social network”). With 65% of adults using social media on a regular basis (Pew’s 2011), and an increasing amount of candidates actively searching for jobs using their social media contacts, it’s no surprise that this is where recruiters are hanging out too. Let’s recap on some of recruitment’s most valued social media sites to date. It is astonishing to consider how much influence they have on the industry now, when most didn’t even exist ten years ago: 1995:  First Internet Forums 2002: LinkedIn â€" a social networking website for people in professional occupations 2004: Facebook â€" an online social networking service 2006:  Twitter â€" an online social networking service and microblogging service 2008: Jobvite   a social recruiting and applicant tracking service 2010:  Branchout â€" a Facebook application designed for finding jobs, networking and recruiting But it’s not just social media that has shaped where the industry is today. In the last five years we have seen big transformations in recruiting thanks to changes in the economy and technology as well. Social Media and the Economy: When the economy slowed down in 2008, most companies took measures to cut down costs by laying off their employees. The big question on everyone’s minds at the time was whether recruitment agencies were going to be the biggest hit in the industry. But there was a twist organisations begun to seek highly qualified candidates who would add value to their resources (or give them more bang for their buck, if you will). And while the pool of unemployed people grew, recruiters were the only ones keeping updated records and maintaining relationships, particularly online and in the social media space. This gave them a good stance in the industry there was never a moment where they couldn’t find the right person for the job. Social Media and Technology: Technology is just the gift that keeps on giving isn’t it? Thanks to technology and its continuous growth and adaptions, social media has been integrated into every division of recruiting. It’s allowed us access to insightful data and knowledge about what worked and what didn’t. Our strategies have become stronger and ultimately helped us to help our clients reduce costs in hires, streamline processes and of course increase the numbers of quality candidates. Here are three social technologies that have taken social recruiting on a turn in the past few years: Network Development (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook):  We can literally spend all day scouring these sites for candidates and come out with nothing. But it’s the strategy behind our engagement and our knowledge of how to leverage the sites that really displays results. Public Ranking and Rating (Yelp, Netflix, Amazon, Glassdoor):  These platforms have allowed us to learn about the importance of candidate experience, in turn giving us opportunities to engage more. And they’re not only for us as recruiters, but for our clients and their employer branding schemes as well. Long gone are the days of getting away with treating a candidate badly. Everything and anyone online can come back to bite you. Mobile Platforms (tablets, smartphones):  Not that recruiters ever stopped working before, but these technologies allow us to literally never stop. We are in contact with our candidates and clients 24/7. There is no escaping it. And this can only be enhanced business. Social Media and Your Network “A survey by Ventanta Research found 93% of surveyed organisations are already actively using social media to recruit new employees. Social media allows us to connect with our candidates in different ways to how we ever have before. Your social network gives you a whole new level of interaction with candidates, often before you even have a job for them. Social networks allow you to get yourself out there too. People will start to know you and trust you. The more candidates you have in your network, the more you will organically gain. People are your most powerful advertising medium. If you can impress one candidate, you could potentially gain ten more via that one’s social network. We aren’t recruiters anymore, we are marketers and social recruitment has veered recruitment into the world of content marketing, with your social network being your target audience. And the fact is that most of the time the candidates who are right for the jobs we have to offer aren’t actually the one’s looking for a job. So we need to have these people in our networks. But we need to proactively probe for this talent. Sadly, they won’t just come to us. According to John Sumser, we are amidst the evolution of social recruiting and the adoption of social recruiting is much slower than the original web ever was. And as a social recruiter myself, I can only work to increase awareness around the benefits in hope of speeding it up a little. There are so many opportunities being missed, and it needs to change. Social media is a source of influence, a great power in our industry. It’s the simple fact that recruiters who are using social media can do better. For those of us who are already on board, it is an exciting time. We are dabbling in this and testing out that. We are working towards a future that will show us a clear emphasis on workflow and measurable results. We are now at a time where we are confident to do away with the constant search for lead information and the waste-of-time-interviews, because now we can spend more time on social media, focusing on building and developing relationships. I certainly know what I prefer doing.

3 reasons to attend the Graduate Recruitment Fair University of Manchester Careers Blog

3 reasons to attend the Graduate Recruitment Fair University of Manchester Careers Blog Youve probably heard or seen quite a bit about The Graduate Recruitment Fair happening this month. Its one of The Universitys biggest Careers Fairs and this year there will be over 140 exhibitors attending, offering local and national graduate jobs, further study courses and other opportunities for students graduating in 2016. Now your exams are over (or almost over) and you can see a long, deadline-free summer stretching out before you, you might be wondering why on Earth you would want to give up two glorious days in June to go and speak to employers. (Especially when one of those days happens to be the day England play Wales in the Euros.) However, as someone who attended the Grad Fair only last year, Im going to give you three reasons why its worth putting in an appearance on at least one of the two days of the Fair. 1. The Fair provides an opportunity to explore whats out there. After years and years in education, you may feel that youve been quite sheltered from the outside real world. A lot of the time students arent sure what they want to do after University simply because theyre not aware of what is out there to do. There will be a wide range of employers attending the Grad Fair some small, some large working in a variety of sectors, from Finance and IT to Education, HR and Retail. Wandering around will offer a chance to get exposed to the world of work the companies and industries out there and what they really do and the range of options open to you. If youve already got an idea of what sort of industry you want to work in or which companies you want to work for, you can find out more about the roles available within these fields or companies and see what the job would involve day-to-day. There are also a number of Universities attending both days of the Fair, so you will be able to explore postgraduate study options too and find out if this could be the right next step for you. 2. Speaking to employer representatives face-to-face can improve your applications. Imagine youre really interested in a Management position with Abercrombie Fitch. By chatting to one of their representatives at the Graduate Fair, you can find out what qualities a good Manager at Abercrombie Fitch has and what activities and responsibilities the job encompasses. With this knowledge, you can tailor your application so that your CV and cover letter clearly demonstrate how the skills and experience you have make you the perfect fit for this Management role. Get the name of the employee you spoke to and reference this conversation in your cover letter (e.g. After speaking to xxx at The Graduate Recruitment Fair in Manchester, I was really inspired by xxx about the role/company). This will reinforce your enthusiasm for the job and the company. Not only that, but approaching employers can help you with your interview technique. To make a lasting impression during your conversations with company representatives, you need to succinctly summarise your previous experience of relevance to the role on offer and explain why youre interested in this particular job/company. Before attending the Fair, make sure youre aware of your strengths and the skills and experience you have to offer employers. (Worried youve not done enough? Part-time jobs, societies, volunteering and your degree are all CV-worthy. Give this blog post a read.) Rehearsing how you will introduce yourself, your experience and your motivations to company reps at the Fair will increase your self-awareness, providing a good foundation that you can build on when preparing for interviews. 3. You can get practical advice and support, whatever stage youre at. Along with a host of interesting and inspiring exhibitors, you will also find The Careers Service at the Graduate Fair. Chat through your options, ideas and worries with us and get practical advice on steps you can take next, whether youve got a clear career goal in mind or are still unsure about what you want to do after University. If youve never been in touch with The Careers Service before, use this opportunity to get connected now, as you can access our services, support and events throughout the summer and for up to two years after graduating. The Manchester Graduate Programme will be another feature of the Fair at Stand 58. This programme is exclusively for University of Manchester students and sources paid graduate-level roles based in Manchester. We advertise a variety of different roles with a range of organisations, from start-ups to multi-national firms, as well as positions within The University itself. If you want to stay in Manchester, are looking to gain some experience in a particular field, or would just like to give something a try, MGP could be the right next step for you. The Graduate Recruitment Fair is next week on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 June, 10.30am-4.00pm at The Armitage Centre in Fallowfield. Some exhibitors are only appearing on one day of the Fair, so attending both will ensure youre exposed to everything on offer. You dont need to stay for the full day (but you can if you want to). Register for your free tickets in advance here for faster entry on the day. All Events and fairs Graduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted career planning Careers fair Careers Service Getting started graduate fair Graduate jobs Graduates job hunting manchester graduate programme networking Options summer fair

You Dont Have to Be a People Person to Make It Online - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

You Dont Have to Be a People Person to Make It Online - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Who wants to deal with the hustle and bustle of a 9 to 5? Waking up at the crack of dawn, rushing to your morning commute, bumping into a bunch of strangers along the way, and drowning in client meetings for 8 hours. Doesnt sound like too much fun, does it? The internet has become home to many introverted entrepreneurs. These are people who want to make a change and earn a handsome living; all while in the comfort of their own domain. Here are a few benefits the digital world offers to those of us  who prefer the quiet  indoors. In the digital world, you can do things on your own time. You can pre-record webinars. You can write your email ascension series weeks  prior to a launch. Although you may be working with your own personal deadlines, the online world doesnt operate on a stop watch. Work at your own pace. Develop content as you please. Keep in mind, the best digital players understand the importance of consistent content creation, but that doesnt mean they cant record a video or design an infographic at 11:30 on a Friday night in their pajamas. When it comes to virtual meetings, you have options. You can video chat on Skype. You can hop into a Google Hangout. You can dial in to a free conference call. You can simply stick to email. If youre looking for something a bit less face to face, you can work with your team in a shared Google doc. The virtual world caters to your social skills; or lack thereof. This allows you to work within your comfort zone, and therefore;  produce high quality deliverables. When introverted entrepreneurs are forced to work in an extroverted environment, it can damage their creativity and production. You can  be anyone you want to be. No, Im not telling you to go all Craigslist killer. Im also not suggesting you catfish, or mislead your target audience. Instead, the digital world offers you a place to start fresh. Its like having a clean slate. Take advantage of this opportunity, and brand yourself correctly. For the most part, you can easily control your digital reputation; and even reinvent yourself at the drop of a hat. The freedom of the internet has helped  many internet mavens  work from home, set their own schedules, and ultimately; be the most productive.

Things to remember if youre moving into a student house - Debut

Things to remember if youre moving into a student house - Debut This article was written by an external contributor. Jacob Phillips has some advice for any students who are making the transition from halls to a house share.   Moving out of student halls and into a private rented house can be a very daunting experience. However, it doesnt need to be! If youve already lived in student halls  then you are already well on your way to becoming a “proper adult.” However, living in a student house comes with many needless housing obstacles that can add unnecessary stress to your university experience. Dodgy landlords, unpleasant housemates, unwanted vermin and damp are all stuff of student nightmares. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Here are five things to take into account when looking to move out of halls to help you find your perfect student home. Don’t rush in and buy the first house you visit There is no need to panic buy. Often first year students believe that they have to find a house as soon as they go on the market. This is not the case. You do not need to book your house in October or November. There will still be plenty of nice housing left in second term. This means that you have lots of time to decide who you want to live with and whereabouts you want to live. It’s likely that this house will be where you call home for the next two years, so it’s worth investing time and energy to make sure youre not moving into somewhere thats either unnecessarily expensive, or generally not a homely environment. Be certain about who you want to live with The first thing to do is to establish who exactly you want to live with. Telling someone you dont want to live with them can be a very awkward and difficult experience. However, its important to not sacrifice your own university experience to avoid an awkward conversation. Make sure that you take time getting to know those who you want to live with, and remember that you dont have to live with the people you are closest with. However, make sure that youre on the same page with your housemates. If you hate mess more than anything else in the world, ensure that those around you have the same mentality and aren’t planning on hoarding dirty plates in their room. Be honest When figuring out who you want to live with, it’s important that you are honest with one another. Think about what you want from your university experience and what you want to prioritise. Do you want to live in the centre of town near lots of trendy cafes and bars, or would you rather live right next to campus so you can roll straight out of bed into your lectures? Are you planning on going out on several socials a week, or do you prefer to relax in the evenings? The more honest you are with your potential housemates, the more likely you are to get the experience you want. Don’t live with too many people   Deciding who you want to live with in your second and third year should not be taken lightly, and sometimes living with too many people can lead to an unpleasant living environment. Be prepared for miscellaneous dirty dishes and someone constantly in the shower. Plus , it will be a rare occasion for all your housemates to be in one room at the same time. You’ll be shocked at how the state of your student home will  change. To avoid this I would strongly recommend not living with more than five people. It’s important to remember that just because you don’t live with someone does not mean your friendship has come to an end. Youll still be able to socialise with people you dont live after your first year. Plus, you may really enjoy hosting your friends at your house, and giving them the tour of your brand new  room. Watch out for shady estate agents Some estate agents take advantage of student groups who are new to the housing market. There are often various hidden sign up costs and hefty deposits which you not get paid back. It’s important that you do your research. One way to avoid this is by checking with your student union which agencies are best to sign up with, they often hold housing events so that students can find a trustworthy agency. This could save you lots of money as well as time and energy. Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Volunteering has its advantages

Volunteering has its advantages Organizations of all kinds are starving for volunteers. Especiallyright now, when their funding is being cut and monetary support from membersis down. If you are out of work, volunteering is a wonderful excuse to get out of the house. I regularly hear from job seekers how fulfilling it is to volunteer. The top cited reasons they go it: It feels good to have someone need you to do something (recognition) It is an opportunity to use skills or talents not being used (development) The organization is grateful and expresses their thanks (valued) It makes you realize that your problems arent as big as they seem (perspective) They might just offer you a job if you perform exceptionally (employment) It is an opportunity to meet new people (networking) I know lots of people who volunteer their professional skills. For example: a graphic designer provides website development help to an organization that is very meaningful to her. Look at the big picture of what is important to you (not necessarily work or career, but maybe). Find an organization that is meaningful to you. This is really important. You want to donate your time to something that you will enjoy. You could volunteer through a professional organization, your church, your town/city, anywhere. They all need you. Be specific in stating the time you can donate- dont over-extend yourself. Let them know how you can help or what you can do.Most organizations will gladly create an opportunity for you to help if they can. Ask!

Writing a Graphic Design Resume - Writing A Graphic Design Resumes Is Easy!

Writing a Graphic Design Resume - Writing A Graphic Design Resumes Is Easy!Many designers make the mistake of putting up the wrong graphics when they are writing a graphic design resume. While this doesn't always indicate poor craftsmanship, it does represent an opportunity to showcase your skills in a number of different ways. In other words, there are going to be plenty of ways for you to showcase your abilities.For starters, you should never write a resume that is too formal. This means you shouldn't put a ton of corporate jargon on your resume or write in all-caps for no reason. More importantly, though, you should understand that you are in the business of selling yourself. You shouldn't expect to just take anyone's resume and claim to be the next big thing, especially if you are not in a position to think of yourself as a big deal.The best way to write a graphic design resume is to stay away from jargon and get straight to the point. When you are speaking to a potential employe r, you should be able to quickly explain what your strengths are and why the company should hire you. Don't try to sell yourself with creative sentences and fancy titles; instead, focus on what you can do for the company.Speaking of which, you should also consider making sure that your graphic design resume is one that includes a list of the skills you have developed over the years. For example, you may have written some freelance articles on the side and may be familiar with editing and proofreading. However, don't list these skills on your resume because you think that these skills are enough to land you a job.Also, make sure that your resume has references to previous work. While it may seem obvious, you can never be too careful when it comes to finding references. Make sure you have a long list of previous clients listed so that a potential employer can get a sense of the type of work you will be doing once you are hired.Finally, don't forget to consider the length of the resume . While you may be able to take someone's word for it that your resume is an accurate representation of your skills, you should always remember that people are bombarded with resumes every day. Therefore, you should be sure that your graphic design resume is brief but concise. This is especially true when you are taking the time to include your work history in addition to your references.There are a number of things you should do to ensure that your graphic design resume is as compelling as possible. For example, you should pay attention to the information that you include on your cover letter and work history section. If you are going to write a graphic design resume, it is important that you make the most of your experience and knowledge. You can use these sections to get past your potential employer and land the job before he/she has a chance to move on to the next candidate.It is absolutely critical that you take the time to write a graphic design resume that is effective. If yo u take the time to build a good resume, you can save yourself a lot of time and money by securing a job before you need to. Take this advice and you can be assured that you will be able to land that job you are after.