The employee experience, whether positive or negative, has a profound effect on your business performance. You need the help of your employees in every aspect of your business â from production to customer service. Ultimately, how your employees feel about working in your company will impact how they work. As such, having a positive employee […]
The post <strong>Importance of Positive Employee Experience in a Successful Recruitment Process</strong> appeared first on Jobacle.com.
It has always been instilled in us that the field of Nursing tolerates no errors; that flawless execution is crucial because we’re handling the most precious thing: HUMAN LIFE. Yet, it’s important to remember that nurses, regardless of their rational thought process and actions, are simply humans. They are susceptible to making occasional mistakes. Here […]
The post 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Nursing Career appeared first on Jobacle.com.
With the rise of online education, itâs more within reach now than itâs ever been. Online education is the perfect way to balance work, family, and personal responsibilities while furthering your education. However, just because you can hypothetically get your degree in your pajamas doesnât mean you have to put in any less effort. This […]
The post The Complete Guide to Earning Your Pharmaceutical Degree Online appeared first on Jobacle.com.
Not sure of the right way to send your cover letter to employers? There are some critical things you should keep in mind.
You already understand how important it is to write a disruptive cover letter for each position. But how do you send your cover letter to employers without making a mistake?
Here are three tips for successfully sending your cover letter to employers.
Always send your cover letter as a PDF so your formatting doesn't get screwed up, unless you're instructed differently by the employer. Why? Because your attachments can be sent to multiple people within the company and you don't want your amazing cover letter to get lost at the bottom of an email chain.
So, let's make things easy. Saving and sending your cover letter as a PDF should be the default. There will be less confusion on their end and you can be sure that your cover letter is being viewed in the correct format and won't take away from the appeal of your entire job application.
Proofread your cover letter at least three times. If you think you've proofread it enough, do it once more. This is one of your first impressions. Make it a good one! Don't let typos or grammatical errors hurt your brand.
It also doesn't hurt to have another set of eyes review your cover letter before you send it to an employer. Ask a trusted friend or colleague to proofread your cover letter and give any feedback they may have on formatting, sentence structure, or clarity. Does the story you tell in your cover letter convey everything you want to say effectively, without spelling and grammatical errors?
Don't put the email address in until you're 100% sure your message is perfect. You don't want to accidentally send in your job application without attaching your cover letter or reviewing its contents one more time.
Bonus tip: Your email message should be your cover letter unless the employer specifically says to attach your cover letter to the email.
Writing and sending cover letters to employers can be tricky. Follow these three tips to ensure your cover letter makes a great first impression.
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Social networking (using social media to interact and share information) isn’t just about finding posted jobs…it is about building relationships. Your job search requires you to do more than just apply for jobs online. Learning how to use social networking sites will help your long-term strategy – by creating new relationships to open doors now […]
The post Add Social Networking to Your Job Searching Portfolio appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Did you ever leave a job interview feeling like it didn't go so well? Self-doubt can creep in as soon as you walk out the door. Little things nag at you like your posture, tone, and the answers you gave.
You can turn these negative experiences into positive ones and become better at interviews.
Every setback in life is an opportunity to learn, and there are multiple things that you can learn from a bad job interview that could lead to success in the next one.
Here's what you need to do to recover from your mistakes and put yourself in a position to ace your next job interview.
After the interview is over, take a step back and think about the interview.
Write what you feel may have gone wrong. Putting your thoughts on paper after the interview gives them the most validity. This is when raw emotions come out and your thoughts are true. After a couple of days, revisit what you wrote. Look at your entries completed in the heat of the moment. Reflecting on these thoughts with a clear head can help you focus on how to develop your interviewing skills.
It also may be helpful to talk to a friend or professional acquaintance about your poor interview experience and get their feedback.
The job interview can be a crucible. It is a source of stress for most job seekers. The thought of saying something wrong or not presenting yourself correctly can be taxing in an already nerve-wracking job search. However, stress and adversity can make you stronger going forward in any job interview process.
Think about what you did that went well. Did you explain situations you were in through solid storytelling? Reflect on what parts of interviews you were most comfortable in. Think about your approach and mindset in these areas. Develop an interview strategy with this as your foundation.
Many great figures in sports set up a routine before every game. Whether it's because they are superstitious or not, there is a level of comfort in doing something familiar. It eases their minds and gets them into the flow of the game. Develop your own routine for yourself with job interviews.
Set up a consistent practice routine where you dedicate a certain amount of time on a daily basis to preparing for the interview. Try to do at least one mock interview with a trusted friend or colleague.
The morning of an interview, go for a run, read, or do something you enjoy that gets your mind off the interview. Develop a routine and set your own flow, and you will improve in the job interview.
You should not only send a brief thank-you note after the interview thanking the company for the opportunity to interview for the job, but you should also send a brief thank-you note after receiving a job rejection.
A job rejection can be an opportunity to get some feedbackâjust don't be too pushy about it.
In responding to the rejection, once again thank them for the opportunity to interview, express disappointment for not getting the job, but congratulate them on finding the right candidate. You can then ask them if there's anything that you can do to improve as a candidate and stay on their radar for future opportunities.
If they respond, it's free feedback! If not, just let it go and move one.
Everyone has made mistakes in job interviews. The important thing is to learn from them and focus your efforts on improving. Follow the tips above to recover from a bad job interview and ensure success in your next one.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
The latest AI advancements enable easier expression of individuality by harnessing our unique knowledge and experiences. With AI, harnessing our distinct knowledge and experiences becomes easier. These advancements empower us to amplify our uniqueness, fostering a world where each person's distinctiveness is celebrated and utilized to its fullest potential.
How we interact with computers has changed over time. We went from punchcards to command line interfaces to graphical user interfaces. Each iteration has expanded the accessibility of computers to a broader audience.
The first commercial computer, UNIVAC I, was purchased to help with the US Census data in the 1950s. It weighed over 7 tons and needed an army of people to operate using punchcards. By the 80s, kids at home played Oregon Trail on IBM PC at home via command line interfaces on MS-DOS. Now, people interact with computers in their pockets graphically with their fingers as they walk.
The latest advancement in AI, known as LLM (large language model), unlocks two key superpowers: programming via natural language and learning from user preference for more personalized experiences (Yingqiang Ge, et al, 2023). These two key superpowers will enable more people to program computers using everyday language and tailor their interactions to suit their preferences. These breakthroughs will empower users to shape computer behavior according to their unique desires, making technology more accessible and personalized for all.
Personalized experience means tailoring things to suit my unique preferences and interests. I love traveling. I am all about discovering unique and a little obscure experiences over taking Instagram-perfect pictures. I follow Mitra (@travelbymitra) because she's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to off-the-beaten-path destinations like Galleria Sciarra, tucked away near the Trevi Fountain.
Letâs imagine Mitra has her own AI travel agent packed with all that insider info. With AI, she could create a personalized itinerary just for me. I'd simply tell my own AI agent to team up with hers, and voilaâa customized travel plan tailored to my tastes. Plus, thanks to AI's adaptability, we could tweak the itinerary on the fly, adjusting for things like traffic or those last-minute restaurant finds on day two of the trip. It's like having a travel buddy who knows exactly what I like, helping me make the most of every adventure.
In the previous evolution of human-computer interfaces, we standardized and trained people to interact with computers in specific ways: cntr+alt+del to restart, click this button to send an email, pinch-and-zoom to enlarge a picture, etc. These actions became routine because software developers determined them to offer the best user experience, and users were trained to follow suit. Essentially, we fit users into predetermined steps in order to interact with the computers.
Exciting new possibilities emerge with the latest AI advancements. Individuals now have novel avenues to train computers to behave according to their preferences, embracing the unique characteristics of each person. This shift opens the door to a future where technology enriches the lives of individuals in meaningful ways, and I'm eager to see what lies ahead.
Every day, millions of job seekers find themselves struggling to understand one big question: What does it take to actually get a job offer? Interviews come and go but no job offers. What gives?
The whole job search process has changed so much in the past few years. But at the end of the day, there is one thing that has not changed at all: You can only get a job offer as a result of your performance in a job interview. However, if you don't have a fundamental understanding of who actually gets job offers, it doesn't really make a difference if you land five or 50 job interviews. It'll be tough to land a job.
Here's a little insight on how hiring managers make decisions...
When hiring managers sit down together to decide which candidate gets a job offer, the decision is not likely going to be made based on any one candidate's education, qualifications, work experience, or hard skills. Occasionally, one or more of those could play a part in breaking a tie between two great candidates, but that doesn't happen all that often.
Here's the truth: Some people who are clearly less qualified than you are get the job offer.
In an attempt to be the most impressive candidate, many job seekers search online for the most common interview questions and then spend time compiling their best stories so they can give great answers that show they have the skills to do the job. But by the time you get past the phone interview (and especially when you get to the second interview and beyond), it's not really about whether or not you meet the requirements set forth in the job posting anymore. It's already been determined that you are qualified enough.
Pulling out your best stories is a good idea, but it skips over a key component. Hiring managers don't just want to know what you did in previous jobs. They are also looking very closely at how you did it. Hiring managers are very interested in knowing who you are as a personâyour work ethic, your attitude, your work style, your people skills, and whether or not you will fit into the workplace culture and be a big asset to it.
If two managers are trying to make a hiring decision, the following is a representation of a typical conversation:
Manager 1: "Wow! Mike has 10 years of experience and a master's degree, but I was more impressed with Jeff. Wasn't that a great interview? He doesn't have the experience but he has the passion, a great attitude, and the drive that we need around here. And he has a lot of great ideas! His enthusiasm was contagious! I sensed that Mike sees this job as more of a way to just collect a paycheck. I also get the feeling he might be resistant to our way of doing things. Didn't he seem pretty set in his ways? I think he might be burnt out or something. I think I can get Jeff up to speed in no time. Staci was good too, but I say we go with Jeff."
Manager 2: "I agree. I admit, I am a little concerned that Jeff has only three years of experience since we decided we needed someone with at least five years. But he seems to really know his stuff so I think I am okay there. I love how he talked about how important his own personal development isâhe's the type who will probably train himself. You are right on with Mike. I didn't sense that in the first interview but I did in this one. He seems like the guy who wouldn't do much outside of his job description. And while he could step right in and do the job, we definitely need more positive energy around here. I liked Staci too. What are your thoughts on her?"
Manager 1: "I like Staci and she could be the right person, but having Jeff and Staci's interview back to back really showed some of Staci's deficiencies. She could easily do the job. She didn't say anything that was overly concerning, but she just doesn't have that energyâthe enthusiasmâthat Jeff has. He seems to have a lot more ambition than she does. It just doesn't seem like this job excites her as much. Jeff seems excited about what we do here and has a personal interest in it and that's important. Also, I am not certain she'll fit in. Remember when she talked about that project she worked on with four others but then said she did 90% of the work? She had a reasonable explanation but I don't know if I buy it. Plus, she did seem focused on questions about work hours and flex time. I just feel like Jeff will really run with this job and turn it into something great. I would like to extend an offer to him."
Manager 2: "You'll be his manager, so if you are certain, I will support that."
That is a key question to ask yourself. Do you express your positive attitude, enthusiasm, excitement, and stellar work habits? How will hiring managers describe you, as a person, after you leave?
Soft skills are critical and it's not enough to say you have them. Most people say they are a positive person and will work very hard to get the job done right. That does nothing for you if you don't prove it.
If you want to impress, hiring managers must be able to feel those words and see how you displayed those characteristics in the past. Show enthusiasm in your toneâraise it up a few levels! Be expressive and show excitement. Show you care about the work by giving examples. Show how you always put forth your best effort in everything you do by giving clear examples of excellence in past jobs (quantify your accomplishments). Show ways you went above and beyond and express why excellence is important to you.
However, there is one critical question that plays the biggest part in making this work for you: Are you that person?
Most people know they should present themselves in this way but many just say who they are and don't show it. Some are people who don't even have positive attitudes. And many of these people go into interviews and try to fake it. Some people are really good at it. Many others are not so good. But for the most part, a lot of hiring managers can see right through it.
By far, the most effective way to express positivity, enthusiasm, and excellence is having it in you to expressâit has to be real to have a significant impact. And that only happens when you truly feel connected to the company and its mission. (What companies are on your interview bucket list?) If that's what hiring managers want to see in you, then it should go without saying that they also expect it from you on the job. If those words don't describe you, taking some time to work on your own personal development in this area should be a top priority on your to-do list.
When it's all said and done, hiring managers need to be wowed by you! While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order). If you want to stand out and get job offers, then show up at the interview and give them your best self so that when you leave, they already know they want you to come back.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Do you know what evidence-based hiring is? Well, it's going to directly impact how you get a job in the future. If you want to understand evidence-based hiring so that you can make sure you're standing out to employers, continue reading...
Evidence-based hiring is a result of the broken hiring system that we have today. Right now, we send a text-based resume and cover letter and fill out a text-based application online, and all of that goes to a recruiter who, for example, is getting anywhere from 100 to 500 to even a thousand applicants for one job opening.
Recently, I talked to a recruiter who got 500 applicants and had to sort through them all and then rank them based on the criteria the hiring manager gave them. Then, they took the top 10 resumes and passed them on to the hiring manager. The hiring manager started calling these people and interviewing them. All 10 of them didn't move on in the hiring process. All 10 of them weren't qualified (or a good match) for the role. The resumes they sent in were so overdone. They weren't authentic and they didn't talk about their true skill level.
People are now using ChatGPT and other AI tools to write their resumes. When the candidates' true skills and experience don't match the resumes they sent in, the hiring manager and recruiter have to start the whole hiring process over again. This is a broken system, and this scenario is exactly why companies are shifting to evidence-based hiring.
Companies are now asking themselves, "What can we do upfront to get the evidence to authenticate that every candidate is who they say they are?"
ChatGPT has sped up the death of the resume. So many people are using it to fake their qualifications profiles and it's frustrating the heck out of hiring managers. In response to this, companies are moving to asynchronous video interviewsâthey send you a link, you click on it, and you record videos answering specific questions that will authenticate you and prove with evidence that you know what you're talking about. Then, hiring managers will evaluate those videos instead of a resume, and then you may move forward in the interview process.
Video in the hiring process is here to stay. Companies have to be able to authenticate talent when there's a sea of text-based applications that all look the same.
If you want to stand out in the evidence-based hiring process, you need to get proactive with video, and the way you do that is by using tools like McCoy. It's a free phone app that you can download that will let you choose what you want to share in 60-second reels. You record a video and then you get a URL that you can send off to a hiring manager to introduce yourself or include at the top of your resume or put it in other places so they can open it up and watch you and know that you are who you say you are and can do what you say you can do.
Evidence-based hiring is here to stay, and the sooner you lean into this and authenticate yourself, the better off you're going to be. You can prolong it for as long as you want, but evidence-based hiring is the new normal because the system has been broken for too long. So, however you choose to do it, you are going to need to have more evidence because a text-based profile or resume or application isn't going to cut it anymore. If you want to take control of your job search, you're better off downloading a phone app like McCoy and using it so that you can control your first impression and your messaging. It'll be the best decision you make in your job search.
And, as always, I'm here if you need help with your job search. Become a Work It DAILY member today (FREE for 7 days!).
Good luck, and go get 'em!
Summary Sunday is a collection of curated posts by well-respected experts. Most of these articles I’ve either found on social or through newsletters. I’ve highlighted my weekly favorites for you. It can feel like there are different views and opinions when it comes to job search advice but if you are doing the right thing […]
The post Summary Sunday: Issue 547 appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Thinking about returning to the workforce? Whether you took some time off to see the world, care for a family member, or raise your kids, you're probably feeling a little rusty at the whole job search thing.
You might also have a few questions: Where do I start? How can I make myself relevant again? How do I deal with my resume gaps?
Not to worry. You're not the only one in this situation.
People have to leave and return to the workforce every day. Life happens! If you want to get back to work as soon as possible though, you need to build a strong job search strategy. Otherwise, you will have a hard time marketing yourself to employers.
Here are some tips from Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume, that you can use to get back on the job after being MIA for several years.
It's important to be crystal clear on your job goals before you jump into your job search. It will save you a ton of time, energy, and frustration if you have a target to work toward. If you just try to "wing it," you'll have a hard time marketing yourself to employers. Moreover, it will be hard to nail down an opportunity that's truly satisfying for you.
"Before you launch into your job search," says Augustine, "do a little soul-searching and clarify your job goals. You may find that a corporate job may no longer hold its appeal or that you're extremely passionate about your recent volunteer work and would like to pursue a career in that area instead."
"Remember, just because you haven't received a paycheck in a while doesn't mean you haven't gained skills worth bragging about," says Augustine. Think about what you bring to the table. What skills do you have to offer? What are you good at? What have you done in the past?
Think about your skills and make a list. This will help you get a sense of where you stand in terms of qualifications. Plus, it will help you brand/market yourself more effectively.
After you've taken an inventory of your skills and clearly understand what you have to offer, it's time to look at areas where you could improve. "Invest in your career by seeking opportunities to bolster the skill sets your target employers care most about," says Augustine. "This is also a great way to brush up on skills you haven't had to use in a while or familiarize yourself with a new technology that's now commonplace in your industry."
Look at the industry and job postings to get an idea of where you need to upskill in order to be a qualified candidate. If you've been out of the workforce for a few years, it's likely there are a few areas you need to upskill in. Are there any new technologies you should learn? Are there any new skills you need? Identify weak areas of your personal brand so you can strengthen them and stand out to employers.
When you've been out of the game for a while, it's crucial to have people on your team who are willing to help you out. You need people in your corner who know what you can do and can advocate for you. Having those third-party testimonials or recommendations can really reinforce your potential to employers. This is especially important when you have resume gaps or have been out of a job for a long time.
"Make a concerted effort to reconnect with former colleagues, clients, vendors, and alumni from your alma mater who work in your industry," says Augustine. And don't just focus on your professional connections to help you out. Your family and friends can also be great resources for you, according to Augustine.
"Don't discount your personal connections during the job hunt," says Augustine. "Whether you're cheering in the stands at your son's baseball game or leading your daughter's Girl Scout troop, family activities are networking goldmines. Use these opportunities to get to get to know the other parents. You'll be amazed at who you could meet at your child's dance recital or karate lesson."
As someone who's coming back into his or her field after being out for a while, it's very important that you brush up on industry news and trends. You don't want to appear clueless during interviews because you didn't hear about that super important thing that affected the company to which you're applying.
Augustine suggests subscribing to relevant online publications and setting up Google News Alerts on the major players in your field and other industry terms. That way, you can get automatic updates on the news and trends in your industry.
Returning to the workforce can be scary and stressful. Make your life a little easier by building a plan of attack that will get you back on the bike as soon as possible.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Before getting into what should or shouldn't be in your cover letter, let's just get out of the way that a cover letter is a must. Why? Well, the answer is pretty simple.
The cover letter gives you the chance to express that you're a professional and that you have the skills, expertise, and passion the employer is seeking in an ideal job candidate. When you don't send a cover letter with your resume, it can be interpreted as you're not that serious about the jobâthat it's not even worth your time and effort to include a greeting that will put your information in context to the employer's needs.
Writing a cover letter is particularly important if your resume raises red flags when reviewed on its own. Things like a lengthy period of unemployment, smaller job gaps, or no specialized training for a job that requires it needs some explaining to alleviate concern.
So, here's what you need to be watchful of in your cover letter so that it works effectively with your resume.
Like the resume, your cover letter needs to be customized and speak directly to the employer's needs. It shouldn't simply say, "I'm interested in the job, and here's my resume for review." If you're going to do that, then it's the same as not sending a cover letter at all.
The best way to customize your cover letter is to go all in and write a disruptive cover. Speak of your knowledge in the business, what you know about that employer, why you're passionate about their mission, products, or services, and how your experience and skills can help the employer reach their goals. Provide highlights from your resume and how you can apply what you learned in past positions to the job you're looking to land at their organization.
Basically, if the employer can feel your excitement through the cover letter, and is impressed by the story you tell, you'll be one of the first job candidates they contact to learn more.
There are some things on your resume that may raise a red flag, and if they go unexplained, the hiring manager will not take a chance on you. They'll just move on to the next candidate.
Consider things like periods of unemployment, lack of degree or certification, frequent job changes, or a change in career direction that may require more information. The point is not to over-explain, but to touch on the subject in short to offer a reason that will alleviate potential concerns. For example, you may have taken a year off from work to care for a newborn or sick parent. Tell that story in your disruptive cover letter.
Also, your disruptive cover letter should begin to answer some of the questions the employer will want to find out for sure if you come in for a job interview. Some of those questions include:
Your cover letter is a reflection of your professionalism. If it's filled with misspellings or poor grammar, the employer will be left to believe you are carelessâa direct reflection of how you may perform on the job.
Let's be honest: If you really care about getting the job you're applying for, you'll proofread your cover letter and resume multiple times. If you don't seem inclined to proofread all of your career materials before sending in your application, the job probably isn't the right one for you.
Nevertheless, make sure you proofread your cover letter. When in doubt, have a trusted friend look it over too!
Many employers will leave specific directions in the job posting for applicants to follow. It can be as simple as including XYZ in the subject line when your email message is serving as the cover letter, including your salary requirement, or providing an answer to a question.
Since many employers get more applicants than they need, any applicant who fails to follow directions is an automatic strikeout.
While writing your cover letter, follow any directions the employer has on the job posting. The same goes for when you send it out. Even if your cover letter is amazing, not following the directions can hurt your chances of landing an interview!
Your cover letter is the best opportunity for you to stand out to employers early on in the hiring process, so take the time to write one that is polished and speaks directly to the employer's needs. Whatever you do, avoid the red flags above!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
