Are Hairdressers Putting Your Recruitment Business at Risk

Are Hairdressers Putting Your Recruitment Business at Risk Many recruitment leaders I work with want their recruitment CRM to generate fees, but often recruiters are all too happy to jump back into spreadsheets, LinkedIn, notebooks and “going by memory” rather than use their CRM system properly. The above results in a nightmare for recruitment leaders who are looking to grow their business, become “GDPR-proof” and become more profitable in 2018. It also results in a problem I call “Hairdresser Syndrome”, a term I’ve used for many years to describe a recruitment business that needs to get a grip on its processes and data to see real growth and ROI. Do you have a recruitment firm, or an office full of desks for rent?  I have been with my hairdresser for 8 years. He knows my taste in magazines, some of my secrets and all of my roots.A few years ago he was based in a large salon in the city, where he rented a chair. The rest of the salon staff barely knew I was there, and I didn’t really notice them either â€" zero interaction. Perhaps if I was lucky my hair would be washed by one of the juniors. I’d pay the girl at the till on the way out, but my hairdresser was my only real contact at the salon. One day he very quietly commented that he was opening his own salon, and would I like to move with him? I bit his hand off why wouldn’t I? I had no relationship with the salon. They kept no details on me, perhaps they didn’t even know I existed. Would they miss my business? For me, he was the salon. Are Your Recruiters Hairdressers? Can you see any similarities between your recruitment business and my hair salon? They have exclusive relationships with the clients. Are you simply the “girl” taking my money at the till? Do they use stuff in your business, such as hair washers, tea makers, reception (IT, HR, Finance, Admin) that their fees contribute to, but that I am totally oblivious to? Are your consultants simply logging data at the point of sale to get the cash in but the juicy stuff which is about me, what I like, how I buy is in his/her head? If they left and took “clients” with them, would you know? And don’t forget you’ll only know what data they’ve taken and who’s migrated with them if they told you about these relationships in the first place. Even if you had the data on the client, would it be enough for you to continue the relationship going forward? Are your clients engaging with your business or the consultant? Are their loyalties to the brand or their perceived face of the brand, the consultant (the hairdresser)? I’m still seeing “30-second recruiters” who enter a candidate in the CRM just to place them and board the invoice. Recruitment consultants are tempted to brush off GDPR as a flash in the pan, carry on as usual and keep billing how they’ve always billed. That may work for them in the short term, but they’re missing out on opportunities to be more effective and profitable whilst putting the business at risk. CRMFirst and GDPR: Hairdresser Prevention For Recruitment Leaders This year is about CRMFirst and GDPR (getting your candidates, clients and consultants addicted to your systems), but it also needs to be about data hygiene, recruiters building effective, retained relationships and recruitment firms focusing on growth, not just legislation. GDPR and a CRMFirst culture can create a valuable pool of great data that will put you ahead of your competition and create a hidden asset that your clients (and prospective clients!) want access to. Your recruitment CRM should be a USP â€" a unique selling point. Your recruitment software can be an addiction for your recruiters, your clients, candidates, and investors. All of which does the one job you bought it for â€" to make you more money. Swap the Salon Culture for CRMFirst Culture… Instilling a culture of data quality is challenging, but highly rewarding. Define the strategy, instill this into your culture and reduce the risk of bad data impacting the recruitment business. Get your recruitment consultants engaged with your system and train them on best practice so they understand why great recruitment process is profitable for them, as well as your business. Stop them from simply renting a desk. Once they can see and feel the benefits of following your processes (improving performance, profit, and ROI for themselves as well as the business) then your CRM can become a business growth tool, rather than an expensive data dump and potential GDPR risk. So, are you guilty of simply renting a chair to your consultants to allow them to grow a lovely portable client base, or do you do more to grow/protect your brand, relationships, and market share?

Does Certification Help You Get a Better Job

Does Certification Help You Get a Better Job As a new professional looking for your first job experience straight after graduation, you’ve probably heard that earning certain certifications can help you get a job. However, these tests are costly and time-consuming, and some people report that the certification did nothing to help them land the job of their dreams. Is it worth it for you? Necessary vs. unnecessary certifications In answering that question, you must first define whether or not the certification is necessary. For example, if you’re applying to be a truck driver and will be driving a semi-truck, you must have your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). There’s no way you can get the job without this license. Likewise, an entry-level nurse must pass the NCLEX exam, an accountant must get a CPA certification, and realtors must pass an exam to get their license in order to practice. However, other certifications are more of recommendations than necessities for certain jobs. For instance, if you’re a web designer applying for a senior position at a design firm, you may consider getting your HTML Developer Certificate from the World Wide Web Consortium (WC3). It’s not absolutely necessary for the job, but you may prove yourself a more viable candidate with this certification under your belt. Other times, employers won’t care what certifications you have, and they’ll only be interested in your portfolio. When it comes to unnecessary, but recommended certifications, you have to weigh the time and financial costs of getting them and decide if it’s worthwhile. Certifications aren’t created equally You should also understand that certifications carry different weight. Obviously, any necessary certifications will be most important. Other certifications should be weighed according to their value. In most cases, you can tell that a certification will mean more to an employer based on the credibility of the institution. Certifications from a well-respected university will be far more valuable than those from unknown community colleges, and the cost and time it takes to complete them will reflect that. Typically, the most valued certifications are the higher-level, industry/position specific.  In the IT field, for example, Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certifications rank much higher than A+ certifications. That’s not to say that the lower tests should be dismissed, as they can be valuable in entry-level positions. Just know that employers will always be more impressed with advanced work. Also, consider the value of the certification to you. When you’re required to study up on new tools, learn a hard skill, and demonstrate the knowledge you learned in order to pass, you’ll get more out of the experience than from those where you simply study and take a test. Even if this certification is not necessary, you may find that what you learned makes it entirely worth it, despite the cost and time commitment. Consider the desired position The need for certifications will largely depend on the position you’re applying for. Research the industry in-depth, looking at the available certifications and how to earn them. Oftentimes, you can see what industry leaders expect from their applicants by simply reading through the job posting. They’ll say if they want you to be certified in Excel, general contracting, automotive service, or whatever your job calls for. They’ll also specify whether the certification is necessary or simply recommended. You might also talk with industry professionals who can give you first-hand advice on the usefulness of such qualifications. They work in this market daily and will know better than anyone if it’s worth the time and money. Certifications evolve rapidly One vital consideration to make is the rapidity in which software and tech evolves. Oftentimes, certifications are only good for about five years because the fundamentals of the industry change as software advances. By the time you get the job, the knowledge gained from your certification may have already become outdated. In some cases, you may simply retake a certification every five years to learn the new tech and ideas. Nurses, for example, have no choice but to get re-certified every five years to brush up on the latest in medical practices. In others, the entire focus of the exam will be old hat within 10 years. In IT, for example, almost every skill has an expiration date. At one point, IT professionals were required to be certified in Thicknet and Thinnet Ethernet, something entry-level IT pros today have likely never heard of. Such a certification wouldn’t be worthwhile in the end. Conclusion: Certifications can help if you’re wise The bottom line is that certifications can help you get a job. They showcase a certain skill level that can beat out the biggest competition. They also help you build valuable skills that will prove the claims stated on your resume. However, be smart about it. Don’t take a test just for the sake of an official piece of paper. Make sure it will actually advance your career, and it will be worth the time and money paid at the time. Consider your job carefully, and take industry recommendations as you decide. About the author:  Larry Alton is an independent business consultant specializing in social media trends, business, and entrepreneurship. Follow him on  Twitter  and  LinkedIn.

Thinking About Changing Your Career Consider Modifying Before Leaving - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Thinking About Changing Your Career Consider Modifying Before Leaving - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career There are many good reasons for considering a career change but sometimes change doesn’t have to be as radical as you think to improve your situation.  I met with a highly intelligent woman who had been selling real-estate for many years and was successful even when the market was down.   The pressure of managing her real estate business along with running a home with two young grade school boys mounted and pushed her to the point of near collapse.  Each month she worried so much about paying her bills that she couldn’t turn off the switch from work to family and found herself constantly checking e-mails, texting clients, receiving calls at all hours of the day and night and throughout weekends. She recognized that all of her discussion at home was strictly focused on her work as her young children repeatedly begged her to stop talking about work. My client confided that she knew her situation was spinning out of control when her 8-year-old screeched, stop talking about real-estate! when she mentioned while driving her children home from school that a neighbors roof needed repair. The day she notified her boss that she had it with all the pressure and was leaving the firm, she felt a huge relief and noticed her back pain that had mounted over the last few years subsided. It seemed clear to her and to anyone she would speak to that changing careers was imperative. Her schedule was too demanding, pressure of a commission based job was pushing her too hard to work 7 days per week and there was no alternative other than quitting. Here’s where I found that some perspective was needed.   On one hand, my client clearly needed a break to distance herself from her situation and reassess her life and her work and what had gone wrong.   She was a high producer but everything else in her personal life was falling apart.   I suggested she take a step back from her situation and consider some other pursuits that could offer her more autonomy and a better work-home life. Through investigating some other options she realized that making a change would be as disruptive as staying put in her current position.   She would need to refresh her skills and that would mean returning to school and taking on a part-time job while compromising her income. Pursuing a career change at some point later in her life could be a great long-term goal but in truth, making any change now would actually add more stress to her busy life. What my client  ultimately learned was that even though her work situation was imperfect, some of it had to do with how she had failed to set boundaries for herself and with her work at home. She recognized that there was lots of benefits to knowing her business and having solid name recognition and in light of the market being up it may not be the best time to leave real-estate job and take on a new career that would require refreshing her skills, going back to school and still bringing in some income. After weighing out the pros and cons on a piece of paper we identified the areas she could affect change;   She carefully reviewed her priorities in life and we even discussed her greater legacy to put her work in perspective.   She then was ready to address how she could set healthy boundaries so her work would not constantly bleed into her family life. First off, she agreed to take on fewer clients even though she realized that this would mean bringing in a reduced commission.   She also committed herself to rejecting clients who she could identify as particularly high maintenance or difficult in order to reduce her stress level.   She set her sights on increasing her work load in the future when her kids no longer needed her attention as much as they do now. She decided that creating a schedule where she would carve out time at home that she would not compromise could help her restrict some of her obsessiveness about continuing her work while she was home.   Some time every day would be strictly focused on her children and husband and once per week they would set aside a regular time for a family activity that would prioritize creating a joyful family bond.   For instance, playing a board game with the whole family on a weeknight, reading a special story during the breakfast hour, cooking together on a Sunday night were some ideas for substituting her old behavior with a new one.   She decided to bring into her schedule some spiritual pursuits that were appropriate for her children as well so she could switch her conversation to share something meaningful that could allow for a family discussion in place of discussing business. The end result was that my client didn’t need to leave her career entirely at this point but rather implement some parameters that would reduce her stress level and allow her time to refresh and recharge her battery.   The lesson here is to avoid making rash decisions when it comes to making a career change.   Although there are times when leaving a career and starting over makes perfect sense it’s not always going to reduce your stress level. Be mindful to weigh all the variables;  see if you can set boundaries that may enable you to be effective at work and happy at home before you drop everything you know and start anew. Author: Beth  is Founder and President of Get Hired, LLC.   She advises students on how to bridge the gap from school to career.  Beth is the co-author of  From Diploma to Dream Job: Five Overlooked Steps to a Successful Career.  Her coaching assists students and career changers to successfully match their needs, interests, passions, skills, and personal goals with the needs of a sustainable industry in a sustainable location.  She is a resource for print and online media and offers workshops for University Career Service Departments, Executive Recruiters, Outplacement Services, College Guidance Counselors and College Alumni Associations. See website for more details about Beth’s services  www.fromdiploma2dreamjob.com.  Beth’s Webinar was sponsored by George Washington University’s Career Services Dept. for their worldwide alumni association:  Leverage Your College Diploma.  You can follow Beth on twitter @BethKuhel

Education Needed for a Nonprofit Career in Seattle - VocationVillage

Education Needed for a Nonprofit Career in Seattle - VocationVillage Dear VocationVillage.com, I am interested in possibly starting my own organization, could be nonprofit, but Im not necessarily sure at this point what to classify it as. Im wondering as far as a degree is concerned what type of schooling you would recommend. For example if there are certain courses or a degree that could be attainable.Signed, Patricia Seattle, WADear Patricia, In some cases, the optimal degree would depend on the type of nonprofit you are starting. For instance, some nonprofit executives have told me that their degree in social work or public health was helpful because of the relevance for the mission of their organization. But in general, degrees in management or nonprofit management specifically are usually considered optimal because nonprofits are increasingly run like businesses but with a different emphasis (donors instead of investors, for example).Although not everyone agrees, many people believe that a graduate degree gives you a competitive edge in the nonprofit world because there is such an emphasis on marketing and fund-raising. Because you live near Seattle, you may also want to explore the Certificate in Nonprofit Management offered by the University of Washington. This program may give you the foundational knowledge that you need and may take less time than would a full masters degree program. To investigate the value of any such program, I recommend talking to their alumni to discover whether they are glad that they invested in this particular certificate program.If the thought of all this formal education depresses you rather than excites you, you can follow the advice of people who believe that experience and connections are the most important assets in a nonprofit career and you can attain these without a graduate degree. This would mean that working in the nonprofit sector and building your network of colleagues and donors are your most important first steps to learning what you would need to know to start your own nonprofit organization eventually. One of the best websites for searching for a job in the nonprofit sector is Idealist.org.And because many great nonprofit careers are launched by starting as a volunteer, I highly recommend doing some reality testing by volunteering for organizations similar to the one you may launch on your own. By volunteering, you can get an insider view of what wor ks and what doesnt and you will meet nonprofit professionals who can guide and mentor you. My favorite Web site to search for volunteer opportunities is VolunteerMatch.org, but many nonprofit organizations have sections on their Web site explaining their application criteria and participation guidelines if you would like to volunteer for them. Here is a list of Seattle nonprofit organizations.Hope this helps!

How Volunteerism Can Help Your Company

How Volunteerism Can Help Your Company As a Business Owner or an Employer you are a member of the community, you have a responsibility to have a presence within your community. You rely on the members of your community to support your business, and it’s important to give back when you can. An easy way to show you care is by volunteering.Photo Credit â€" charity.lovetoknow.comNot only will volunteering make you “look better” as an employer, but it will benefit your company more ways than you can imagine. Here are some ways that getting involved in your community can help your company:1. Reduce Employee TurnoverAs an employer, you know that without your employees you would cease to exist. Unfortunately, one of the biggest challenges that businesses, large and small, face is high turnover rates.evalWhile there are many reasons you may be losing some of your employees, many leave a company because they feel like the work they do is pointless or they don’t see how it plays a positive role in the community. Getting your employees involved in volunteering can help them see the good in your company.2. Boost Employee MoraleAnother main reason that good employees leave is because despite loving certain aspects of the job, they become unhappy and unfulfilled. Volunteering can boost employee morale and make your employees feel happier in general. Feeling like they have a purpose and are contributing, may make many of your employees excited to come to work.If your employees are happier they are likely to be productive and care about the product or service they are making, selling, or offering. Volunteering with your employees will also give them a sense of camaraderie within your organization that benefits you both.3. Networking and Making ConnectionsAs an employer and a business owner, making connections with other businesses can be beneficial. Even though other companies may be your biggest competitors, partnering or connecting with other businesses can help increase your visibility in the community.A great way to network with other business owners, community leaders, or prospective clients, is to volunteer. You have shared interests and the ability to be more personable. When you do good things in and for the community, others remember.4. Free AdvertisingVolunteering and getting involved in the community is a great way to get exposure for your company. While free advertising is not Your volunteering experiences can be life changing and can make you rethink the way you run your company and improve your relationships with the community.

12 Days of Christmas Networking

12 Days of Christmas Networking Despite popular belief, the holiday season is a great time to continue your job search efforts to accelerate potential activity in December and the New Year. Here are 12 networking tips for the holiday season.Attend holiday parties.  Many professional associations host holiday parties. This is a great way to meet others in your field that may be able to make meaningful introductions for you.Throw your own party.  Have an intimate dinner party or a bigger bash at your home or nearby restaurant. This is a great way to practice your pitch, and reconnect with people who may be able to assist you in your search.Ask for informational interviews.  The last two weeks of December are traditionally slow for most businesses. You may find that some of the decision makers you need to get in front of   are in the office during those last two weeks and it may be a lot easier to get in front of them during this time of year.Keep looking. Many job seekers take a break during the holiday season, assum ing no one is hiring. But many companies do hire in December to make good use of their current hiring budgets or shore up talent in the new year. When other job seekers lay low during December, you may have a better chance to be found.Volunteer.  Tis the season…volunteer to do something meaningful in your personal or professional communities during December. Doing so can increase your visibility and jump start some conversations with people who may be able to help you in the New Year.Do a favor for someone. Maybe you can watch your friends children while she does her Christmas shopping, or assist a friend who needs help with a computer problem or home improvement project. Your goodwill will not be forgotten and is likely to be reciprocated with help for your in the future.Take a vacation.  What better way to meet new decision makers? It doesn’t need to be extravagant…just find new people to have conversations with. Let them know what you do and ask for their suggestions for ex panding your brand’s reach in a very informational, non-threatening way. You may just pick up a lead or two.Reconnect with friends of “Christmas Past”.  Check out LinkedIn and Facebook and search for old friends. What better time to reconnect than the holiday season? Get over the fact that it’s been awhile since you last spoke and take the first step. You may be pleasantly surprised by the response you get.Endorse or recommend colleagues you respect who do good work. If you have just reconnected with someone, the next step might be to endorse or recommend them on LinkedIn, like their Facebook status, or +1 their Google posts. These simple displays of acknowledgement go a long way towards building solid relationships.Send holiday cards.  Holiday cards  provide a natural “touch point” or opportunity to reconnect with friends, family, and colleagues. Reach out to your network now with some “best wishes” and holiday cheer and you will have a natural entrée into a job-re lated conversation in the New Year.Schedule a lunch or coffee with a colleague or friend. Your contacts may have more time to give during this season and schedules may be more flexible. Take advantage of the lull and get back in touch with people who can serve as advocates in the new year.Join a professional association. Professional associations offer excellent opportunities for beefing up your skills and building your network of contacts. Plus, many offer end-of-year membership discounts as an incentive for joining.

Writing Resume Tips for Australia

Writing Resume Tips for AustraliaWhen it comes to career advancement in Australia, there are many things you should know about to ensure that you get your job interviews and landing a job done the right way. Being prepared is important in order to make the most of your efforts when you seek employment as well as the opportunities that are available in the job market.There are many courses being offered across the country that can help you get started on your journey to a great number of jobs, especially in the medical field. These courses help you get the tools you need to excel at your job and also to obtain the skills you need to be successful. If you are looking for information regarding the health care industry, you should take advantage of these free programs.If you are a job seeker, make sure you have done all that you can to find the best jobs available. The internet is a very powerful tool when it comes to finding the best in the various places. There are many job directories online that offer this service and this is where you should begin your search. It will also help you have a good idea of the types of positions that are out there as well as the types of employment that are available.You should also have some resume writing tips in place in order to create a good impression with your future employer. There are many resume writing tips that are offered online. This is to assist job seekers to make their resumes stand out. By taking advantage of these tips, you will be able to impress any employer who gets to see it.When creating your resume, you should always include your educational achievements and experience with other employers who might be interested in hiring you. If you have had a few jobs before, you can use them to include those relevant things that are highlighted in your resume. Your resume should never contain information that you would not be willing to tell to your employer.You should not be afraid to review resume writing tips and fin d out what they mean for you. You can use the information in this guide to make the most of your chances of landing a job that suits your skill set and ambitions. There are also many blogs and other sources you can use to make sure you are doing everything you can to improve your chances.The job search in Australia is always interesting. There are many tips and advice available for people to use, whether it is for resume writing tips or if you are seeking employment in the medical field.