Mark Babbitt's Posts - RecruitingBlogs2024-03-28T09:33:26ZMark Babbitthttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MarkBabbitthttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1526962903?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=37yhz05mygeaj&xn_auth=no7 Words I Never Want to See on Your Resumetag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-11-22:502551:BlogPost:14708362011-11-22T15:02:40.000ZMark Babbitthttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MarkBabbitt
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557497522?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557497522?profile=original" width="182"></img></a> Recently, I came across a post I highly recommend: “<a href="http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/8-words-i-never-want-see-your-blog-posts/">7 Words I Never Want to See in Your Blog Posts</a>”.</p>
<p>That inspired me to think about the words that – for recruiters and team builders – can create a terrible first impression. Not words like “dependable” and “detail oriented” –…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557497522?profile=original"><img class="align-right" width="182" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557497522?profile=original"/></a>Recently, I came across a post I highly recommend: “<a href="http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/8-words-i-never-want-see-your-blog-posts/">7 Words I Never Want to See in Your Blog Posts</a>”.</p>
<p>That inspired me to think about the words that – for recruiters and team builders – can create a terrible first impression. Not words like “dependable” and “detail oriented” – those have been blogged about ad nauseam (and I don’t blame people for using words that old-school experts have espoused for decades). I also don’t mean the clichés that rear their ugly heads far too often during an interview or follow-up like “<a href="http://www.youtern.com/thesavvyintern/index.php/2011/11/08/index.php/2011/11/06/it-is-not-%e2%80%9cit-is-what-it-is%e2%80%9d/">It is what it is…</a>”</p>
<p>I’m referring to the words that show me a lack of effort, leadership or confidence – and make me want to disqualify the applicant from consideration whenever I see them.</p>
<p>Without further delay, here are the seven words I never want to see on a resume:</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2>1. Approximately</h2>
<p>You have to approximate? You don’t know what you did? Or you do know, but creating a good first impression wasn’t a big priority for you when the resume was sent to me. If you don’t know – find out. If you do know – show some confidence, and tell me down to the tenth percentile what you accomplished. <em>That</em> is impressive!</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2>2. Assisted</h2>
<p>Unless you work in a dental office or are a point guard, I don’t want to hear about your “assists”. We hire leaders here, so I want to know that <em>you were the one</em> <em>being assisted</em>. In a humble way, tell me what you did, how you did it, and how many you lead in the process.</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2>3. Attempted</h2>
<p>Never, ever tell me what you wanted to do. Tell me what you did in an emphatic tone, including a quantitative statement, Good examples: “Increased customer satisfaction by 115%” and “Exceeded quota by an average of 31.2% every quarter”</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2>4. Team player</h2>
<p>We like team players; we do. However, can’t we find a creative way to demonstrate that you are, indeed, a team player? For instance, you could say that you take great pride in being a mentor; that 9 of your 12 team members went on to receive promotions. Or, you can tell me that your organization held a 76.5% retention rate. Anything… but “team player”.</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2>5. Implemented</h2>
<p>Implemented – like “followed” and “applied”; even “executed” – is a “monkey” word. As in, “any monkey could do that job.” We don’t hire monkeys, or followers, or implementers. We hire people who think for themselves and can improve existing processes while getting the job done. The ONE exception to this rule: if "implemented" is preceded by "planned and...".</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2>6. Professional</h2>
<p>Is anyone going to admit they were less-than-professional during their previous jobs? In your career, isn’t “professional” in the same obvious realm as “I breathe air”? Can’t we come up with a better word to describe how we conducted ourselves? Yes, we can. And I’d like to see a little more imagination.</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<h2>7. Hopefully</h2>
<p>Especially in today’s economy, we’re seeing way too much of this. I don’t get angry, because I understand that people are hungry for work – and are just hoping for a chance to show what they can do. I get it. Do yourself a favor, however: remove this word! There is no hope, at least from me, when you use “hopefully”.</p>
<p>Candidates: go take a look at your resume, cover letter and online presence. Do any of these words show up? If yes… get a little creative. Have a little fun. And then see if maybe you don’t get a few more interviews.</p>
<p>Recruiters: what resume words hit you like a brain freeze? Let us know, and we’ll help the job seekers out there by compiling a definitive list of words <em>not to use</em> during their job search.</p>
<p> </p>Is it Time for a Candidate Bill of Rights?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-08-21:502551:BlogPost:13455112011-08-21T22:58:07.000ZMark Babbitthttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MarkBabbitt
Fairly recently, influentials such as ERE and Monster were working to build momentum regarding the creation of a “Bill of Rights” for job seekers; specifically, to greatly improve the candidate experience. Due to the enormous amount of talk at the recent #truBoston event and on Twitter chats regarding employer branding and applicant black holes, I’ve been thinking about this issue again.<br />
<br />
With recruiter transparency and forced accountability through social media, organizations clearly…
Fairly recently, influentials such as ERE and Monster were working to build momentum regarding the creation of a “Bill of Rights” for job seekers; specifically, to greatly improve the candidate experience. Due to the enormous amount of talk at the recent #truBoston event and on Twitter chats regarding employer branding and applicant black holes, I’ve been thinking about this issue again.<br />
<br />
With recruiter transparency and forced accountability through social media, organizations clearly understand their brand as an employer is just as important as their consumer brand. Equally apparent is the growing dissatisfaction felt by job seekers. At a time when the most compassion is warranted, employers are seemingly ignoring basic human communication. Worse yet, far too many employers blame that failure on the “overwhelming” volume of resumes received (which at times seems akin to the owner of a restaurant complaining that the line of diners outside his door is too long).<br />
<br />
Perhaps this entire matter comes down a matter of setting – and meeting – “consumer” expectations: candidates expect human communication from those in human resources.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, I’d like to suggest a Candidate Bill of Rights – a “manifesto” if you will – to be adopted by:<br />
<br />
- Employers who sincerely care about providing superior customer service to candidates<br />
- Candidates with experience that closely matches the qualifications specified by the employer<br />
<br />
This Bill of Rights would certainly be situational to industry, and perhaps the recruiting/branding goals of the companies, but may look something like this:<br />
<br />
XYZ Company Candidate Bill of Rights<br />
<br />
1) Throughout our talent acquisition efforts, you have the right to expect our internal processes, technologies and recruiters to treat you and your application with respect and dignity.<br />
<br />
2) You have the right to expect the job description and/or career opportunity to be honestly and accurately described, including the right to know if internal candidates are scheduled to receive preference as candidates.<br />
<br />
3) You have the right to expect acknowledgment/receipt of your application to include properly set expectations (“Only those whose qualifications meet our stated requirements will be contacted…” and/or “if you meet those requirements, you will be contacted by ).<br />
<br />
4) You have the right to expect complete privacy and confidentiality.<br />
<br />
5) You have the right to be assessed as a candidate, only on your ability to do the job; specifically, we will not discriminate against you for being unemployed at the time of your application.<br />
<br />
6) If scheduled for an interview, you have the right to expect us to respect your time and meet our agreed upon commitments.<br />
<br />
7) During the interview, you will be told of the internal decision-making process, including projected timelines.<br />
<br />
8) Also during the interview, you have the right to expect us to answer all of your questions accurately.<br />
<br />
9) After the interview, you will receive personal communication from a member of our recruiting team notifying you of status as a candidate and describing next steps, if any.<br />
<br />
10) After the interview, you have the right to know your status as a candidate.<br />
<br />
11) If another candidate has been chosen, you have the right to expect written or verbal notification within 5 business days of the acceptance of the offer.<br />
<br />
12) After the hiring decision has been made, should you ask for feedback you have the right to expect us to provide such feedback whenever possible (even if the response takes the simple form of “another candidate was chosen based on her qualifications and experience set”).<br />
<br />
Of course, a Candidate Bill of Rights would not (and should not) be regulated and enforced by some acronym-labeled agency – and as such would require a top-down approach to self-compliance to be taken seriously by the consumer/job seeker.<br />
<br />
I would argue, however, that a company that deliberately follows this course of action will need to spend far less time developing and talking about their “employer” brand – their reputation will speak for them, loud and clear. In the meantime, their competition will remain stuck in ATS purgatory supported by demons in the form of recruiters who fail to treat candidates with respect.<br />
<br />
What are your thoughts? Is it time for a Candidate Bill of Rights? What rights would you add?50 Reasons to be Inspired as an Interntag:recruitingblogs.com,2010-11-18:502551:BlogPost:11113452010-11-18T23:52:16.000ZMark Babbitthttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MarkBabbitt
<img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557486771?profile=original" style="float: right;"></img> Sometimes life as an Intern is hard.<br></br><br></br>
<p>However, as we approach Thanksgiving it seems like a good time to write down a few ideas on why interns – a growing percentage of the<br></br> workforce – could be thankful for as they dutifully fulfill their intern<br></br>
responsibilities.</p>
<p><br></br></p>
<p>From the intern perspective (and with tongue firmly in cheek) <a href="http://youtern.com">YouTern</a> presents…</p>
<p><br></br></p>
<p><strong>50 Reasons to Be Inspired as an…</strong></p>
<img style="float: right;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557486771?profile=original"/>Sometimes life as an Intern is hard.<br/><br/>
<p>However, as we approach Thanksgiving it seems like a good time to write down a few ideas on why interns – a growing percentage of the<br/>
workforce – could be thankful for as they dutifully fulfill their intern<br/>
responsibilities.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>From the intern perspective (and with tongue firmly in cheek) <a href="http://youtern.com">YouTern</a> presents…</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p><strong>50 Reasons to Be Inspired as an Intern</strong></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p><em><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Entertainment</span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br/></span></em></p>
<ol>
<li>Not needing an excuse to watch “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuPA9Nrnz7U" target="_blank">The World’s Most Interesting Intern</a>” videos</li>
<li>Filling out your fantasy football team while doing “marketing research”</li>
<li>Watching the boss do a spit-take as he sees you’ve used “f^*k” in a blog</li>
<li>Watching the clown-intern walk down the hallway just behind the boss, doing a perfect impression of the boss</li>
<li>Watching the Boomers give you the “I-don’t-get-it” look when you assume a martial arts pose and say “Qwid Pro Qwoh Motha F…”<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Respect and Recognition</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Where everyone knows your name… (“Hey, Intern!”)</li>
<li>The opportunity to surpass “Hey, Intern” with instant name recognition (if you’re Monica Lewinsky or Stephanie Birkitt)</li>
<li>Celebrity status when leadership introduces the interns at the quarterly staff meeting (and others offer suck-up applause)</li>
<li>Genuine rock star status when your office mates fall in love with games on your iPhone (which they may have never seen before)</li>
<li>Becoming the default office IT guy; “Hey, Intern… get in here, you ‘get’ all this stuff!”<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Managing Up</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Learning early in your career how to manage up, because your intern-boss is a doof</li>
<li>Your teaching skills are accelerated because you need to teach the “more experienced” staff Microsoft Office basics (or the computer in<br/>
general)</li>
<li>Coming up with the <em>best</em> idea in a brainstorming session (mentor taking full credit)</li>
<li>Witnessing effective corporate brown-nosing by other interns (laughing at bad jokes, volunteering for coffee runs, and much more)</li>
<li>Keeping your composure when the $150 per hour consultant gives a 2-hour “Introduction to Social Media” presentation (that you would have<br/>
done in 30 minutes for a burger ‘n fries)<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Reverse Mentorship</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Explaining terms like “Web 2.0”, “Freemium”, Tweeps” and “Hashtag” with a straight face</li>
<li>Fake laughing every time your Boomer co-worker from the 60’s cracks up at the term “<em>Hash</em>tag”</li>
<li>Explaining “h-t-t-p-colon-backslash-no, <em>back</em>slash-another backslash, yes, one more…”</li>
<li>Googling “The Jetson’s” to find out why the old folks keep saying Skype is “…just like the Jetson’s”</li>
<li>“Yes, my friends on Facebook <em>are</em> real friends, and yes, I have 1,512 of them”<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Perks, Compensation and Benefits</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Getting <em>your</em> coffee, while getting <em>their</em> coffee</li>
<li>For the third time this week, “forgetting” to give change back to the coffee buyer (gas money!)</li>
<li>After company meetings are over, everyone tells you to take home the leftover pizza, wings & soda (free food!)</li>
<li>A hot date (I mean, um, business lunch) with the other hot girl/guy intern who doesn’t know the city too well</li>
<li>Guilt-ridden for the lack of pay, the office manager urges you to take pens, a notebook, stapler and printer paper as compensation (free<br/>
back to school supplies!)</li>
<li>Internship comes with a workout (hiking to the office from the farthest possible parking spot)</li>
<li>You get an extra long lunch every day (because your boss and everyone else is “at a meeting”)</li>
<li>You enjoy your Ramen as your boss walks in from that $100 Sushi and Saki lunch “meeting”</li>
<li>Mid-day naps are tolerated because the “virtual office” (aka your dorm room) comes with a bed</li>
<li>Invoking sarcasm when you explain to your mentor that you assumed the work was as “virtual” as the paycheck, so… no, the work is not done<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Diversity and Tolerance</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Repeat after me: “No, the tattoo didn’t hurt”</li>
<li>Repeat after me: “The piercing, well, I don’t remember…”</li>
<li>Coming up with a politically correct answer to “Why do you all think you’re entitled?”</li>
<li>The constant reminder of how “lucky” you are because the Boomers in your office “didn’t have all this technology – we had to work!”</li>
<li>Smiling when asked: “You closed that deal by… <em>texting</em>??”<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Family and Friends</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Explaining to your parents that you’ve taken your hard earned degree, and are working – for free</li>
<li>Explaining to your parents that you’ve taken your hard earned degree, and are working in something called “Social Media” – for free</li>
<li>Making fun of your friends who are flipping burgers and delivering pizzas, while you work for a “real company” – for free</li>
<li>Explaining to your grandparents that your online friends are not called “TwitterFaces”</li>
<li>Explaining the benefits of a long-term unpaid internship to your landlord, who still doesn’t tolerate unpaid rent<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Soft Skills</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Working without supervision, because your “mentor” is late (again) or, if virtual, because your “mentor” forgot you existed (again)</li>
<li>Learning how to overcome writers block after being asked to blog about your experience</li>
<li>Learning time management (when your boss gives you his “next day” project 15 minutes before you leave for the day)</li>
<li>Learning stress management (when you play Kinect until 2AM – and still need to get your intern assignment done)</li>
<li>Learning vintage technology, and saving minutes on your cell phone, by using the office landline<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em>Motivation and Passion</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><em><br/></em></span></p>
</li>
<li>Development of a fallback career (if your fallback is Admin or a Domestic God/Goddess, as you have certainly learned to take care of and<br/>
clean up after others)</li>
<li>Motivation to buy a reliable car (the free bus and train passes are cool, until you find yourself an hour late for work every day)</li>
<li>Having something to live for as you plot the death of the “intern broker” that took $7,000, then sent you to Shanghai for 10 weeks</li>
<li>School credit! (that costs you up to $1,000 per credit)</li>
<li>They’re going to hire you after these 10 hell weeks are over… right?</li>
</ol>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Please let us know what we missed via Twitter: @YouTern</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Happy Thanksgiving!</p>Job Interview... or First Date?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2010-08-28:502551:BlogPost:10623502010-08-28T21:30:00.000ZMark Babbitthttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MarkBabbitt
<font size="2"><img src="http://thesavvyintern.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/couple_waiter_1365754c.jpg?w=300&h=187" style="float: right;"></img></font> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: italic;">Author: Franco Fernando at <a href="http://thesavvyintern.com">TheSavvyIntern</a>.</span><br></br><br></br>Coy looks. Stolen glances. Awkward conversation.<br></br><br></br>If you’re lucky… undeniable chemistry.<br></br><br></br>We’ve all been on that first date. And we all experience the same
feelings: excitement, anticipation, hope and sometimes disappointment.<br></br><br></br>I’ve had my share of first dates, and observed many more from a…</font>
<font size="2"><img style="float: right;" src="http://thesavvyintern.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/couple_waiter_1365754c.jpg?w=300&h=187"/></font><font size="2"><span style="font-style: italic;">Author: Franco Fernando at <a href="http://thesavvyintern.com">TheSavvyIntern</a>.</span><br/><br/>Coy looks. Stolen glances. Awkward conversation.<br/><br/>If you’re lucky… undeniable chemistry.<br/><br/>We’ve all been on that first date. And we all experience the same
feelings: excitement, anticipation, hope and sometimes disappointment.<br/><br/>I’ve had my share of first dates, and observed many more from a third person perspective. The more I see, the clearer it becomes that the way we think during a job interview is comparable to how we think during a first date.<br/><br/>Here are my tips to make your next interview – and maybe your next first date – a success:<br/><br/><b>Don’t be Late…but Don’t be Too Early</b><br/><br/>Arriving on time for an interview (or date) is a given. However, you <em>can</em> be too early.<br/><br/>Arriving too early can send a message: “I’m too anxious, or even desperate.” Not a good first impression.<br/><br/>Don’t be the guy waiting downstairs while your date is scrambling to finish getting ready. Same with an interview: Don’t make the hiring decision-maker feel she needs to accommodate you because you’re pretending to read the magazines in the lobby.<br/><br/>Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. If you arrive even earlier, wait in your car. Before entering the building, give yourself a pep talk; get a little fired up!<br/><br/><strong>Don’t Try too Hard</strong><br/><br/>During your first meeting, don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to convince anyone that you belong there; they already think that, or you wouldn’t be meeting.<br/><br/>Just like the date who has already decided that they’re attracted to you and wants to get to know you further, the hiring manager already knows you’re qualified based on your resume, online presence, and phone interview.<br/><br/>Your job now: Don’t mess it up.<br/><br/>Be yourself, be confident. Be a good listener. Show a willingness to learn. And turn the iPhone <em>off!</em><br/><br/><strong>Looks matter, in the first 5 seconds</strong><br/><br/>For the person sitting on the other side of the table – date or hiring manager — looks matter, at least until you’re five seconds into the conversation.<br/><br/>Dress appropriately, and professionally. Groom conservatively. Wait until your second date… then show a little more of your wild side.<br/><br/>Some would argue that in the first five seconds, the hiring manager
has already decided whether she wants to hire you. Same with a date, perhaps. In the next 30 minutes, you’ll convince her she’s made the right decision – or prove her wrong.<br/><br/><strong>Know What to Say…</strong><br/><br/>You’re enjoying each other’s company; you’re hilarious and charming, and she’s laughing. Then comes the inevitable few seconds that feel like an eternity: the awkward silence.<br/><br/>Perhaps you ran out of things to say, or an uncomfortable topic came up. Whatever the case, these moments seem to slow time to a crawl.<br/><br/>What do you do next? How do you survive “conversation creep”?<br/><br/><em>Ask questions!</em><br/><br/>One of the single most important aspects when preparing for an interview/date: <strong>Have a list of questions to ask the interviewer</strong>.<br/><br/>And don’t save these questions until the very end when the interviewer asks you, “Do you have any questions for me?” Constantly engage the interviewer/date, asking sincere, relevant questions to show your interest in the opportunity, and next steps.<br/><br/><strong>…And When to Shut Up</strong><br/><br/>Conversation going well… she still thinks you're hilarious; a winner.<br/><br/>Confident and enthusiastic, you can’t wait to share things with her that you wouldn’t normally tell others.<br/><br/>At this point, slow down just a bit. Wait a bit to talk about the new tattoo, or that moment when the tequila won. Wait few months before that Vegas weekend and that unusually tall girl with suspiciously manly hands comes up. And, set aside your “World of Warcraft” paraphernalia until she deems it a cute, if quirky, hobby.<br/><br/>Similarly, you want the hiring manager to become enamored before you
reveal your idiosyncrasies. Be honest of course; companies can run background checks to verify employment record, education, and credit history. However, now is not the time to reveal your negatives. Sure, you get distracted easily. Facebook is the devil. My weakest point? …how much time do you have?<br/><br/>No need to reveal any of that during the first “date”. Again…be honest, but don’t be too honest – yet.<br/><br/>By now, I’m sure you agree: First interviews and first dates <em>are</em> very similar.<br/><br/>How else are these two necessary and perhaps nerve-wracking aspects of life similar? Tell us your thoughts and tips, and we’ll post them on our <a href="http://thesavvyintern.com/">blog</a>. Leave a comment below or tweet us your thoughts via <a href="http://twitter.com/YouTern">@YouTern</a><br/><br/>Franco Fernando is a Marketing Associate at <a href="http://youtern.com">YouTern</a>. You can reach him directly at <a href="mailto:%20franco@youtern.com">franco@youtern.com</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://twitter.com/YouTern"></a></font><p></p>YouTern... connecting emerging talent with start-ups and entrepreneur-driven companies, through internshipstag:recruitingblogs.com,2010-07-31:502551:BlogPost:10259792010-07-31T18:24:16.000ZMark Babbitthttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MarkBabbitt
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557486736?profile=original" style="float: right;"></img> Hi, I’m Mark Babbitt, the CEO of eJobbz, the company that brings you <a href="http://www.youtern.com" target="_blank">YouTern</a>. I want to tell you about YouTern, and provide a little background on why we’ve created an online community that connects college students and graduates with entrepreneurial-driven companies through internships.</p>
<p><br></br></p>
<p>In addition to my company role, I am the proud parent of five children. From the oldest to now the…</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img style="float: right;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557486736?profile=original"/>Hi, I’m Mark Babbitt, the CEO of eJobbz, the company that brings you <a href="http://www.youtern.com" target="_blank">YouTern</a>. I want to tell you about YouTern, and provide a little background on why we’ve created an online community that connects college students and graduates with entrepreneurial-driven companies through internships.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>In addition to my company role, I am the proud parent of five children. From the oldest to now the youngest, I’ve told them the same thing my parents told me, and maybe what your parents told you: study hard, play hard, get good grades and excel at whatever you choose to be – and a job would be waiting for you.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Our new economy has broken this promise – presenting a challenge to young talent not seen in decades.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>The rules have changed.</p>
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<p>Jobs are <i>not</i> just waiting for you. You now have to <i>earn</i> your opportunities. You must carefully <i>plan</i> each step in your career path.</p>
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<p>And you will, by recognizing how some of these rule changes benefit you:</p>
<ul>
<li>Those entering the workforce no longer have to start at the “bottom” – corporate ladders aren’t mandatory</li>
<li>More than ever, your input and passion will be highly regarded by an employer – you are “Gen Y”</li>
<li>In this new economy, <i>you</i> set <i>your</i> career path – you have a choice</li>
</ul>
<p>My colleagues and I developed YouTern with these new rules in mind.</p>
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<p>YouTern provides students, graduates, employers and career centers a choice when setting career paths. Rather than that summer-long coffee and copies dash prevalent under the “old” rules, you can choose the<br/>
YouTern opportunity: making a difference while working directly with entrepreneurial leaders in today’s inspired start-ups.</p>
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<p>More than any other, a YouTern internship leads to a sense of contribution, confidence, and employment. Can an internship help you?</p>
<p></p>
<ul>
<li>90% of direct-from-college hires will go to those with internship experience on their resume</li>
<li>Employers extend job offers to approximately 70% of their interns</li>
<li>Just 14% of 2009 college seniors who hadn't been interns had jobs waiting for them at graduation<br/></li>
</ul>
The rules <i>have</i> changed.<p><br/></p>
<p>YouTern helps you understand the new rules, adapt to the new economy, and gain a much-needed edge. Combined with our matching technologies, the in-depth profiles, and the easy-to-use Web 2.0 interface – leading edge features I haven’t seen in my ten years in the online recruiting industry – YouTern serves as the foundation of <i>your</i> imminent success.</p>
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<p>I want to personally welcome you to <a href="http://www.YouTern.com">YouTern</a>. Take a look around. When you have the chance, take a moment to send an email to me to tell me what most interests you; what you like. And most certainly, let me know what you don’t like. We’ll use your input to constantly improve YouTern and make our site more valuable, to you.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557486825?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Mark Babbitt</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">CEO & Founder</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Twitter: @YouTernMark</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Email: mark@youtern.com<br/></p>