December 2009 Blog Posts (185)

Office Holiday Party Poopers

Don’t Do This At The Office Holiday Party

Holiday Party Poopers

by

Lisa Collins, JD SPHR

www.theCubicleCoach.com

#1 Don't Get Drunk: Unless you work for Jim Beam then getting sauced at your company party is one of the worst things you can do to ruin your image. Companies are starting to limit drink tickets to two per person. There is a good reason why. If an employee gets intoxicated and drives home and causes some… Continue

Added by Lisa Collins on December 6, 2009 at 8:49pm — No Comments

Hold the Vision and Trust the Process...

I’m hearing from more and more from people I meet with and interview how difficult it is out there. Particularly during the holidays when you are reminded about a holiday bonus, giving gifts and sharing good times with friends and family. You may not be in much of a mood to celebrate, but you have to show up, put a smile on your face, and pretend anyway. It’s not that you can’t be a good actor but why do you have to try so hard? It’s times like these where you have to hold onto the vision and… Continue

Added by Lisa Kaye on December 6, 2009 at 7:37pm — No Comments

On Time for India: Slowly I turned…Inch by inch…foot by foot, yard by yard

2 hours to takeoff. Leaving 8:45pm from Newark tonight and landing 9:30PM in New Delhi….Monday (would be 9PM but they are 10 and a half hours ahead. 14 hours in the air.

Safely ensconsed at the moment in Continental’s Int’l Club.

Passport and visa. Check

Money. Check

Intinerary and Emergency #s. Check

Extra reading material for when I get bored studying India and tune in to the latest Patterson thriller. Check.

Tech Equip. Check.

Headphones w whitenoise.… Continue

Added by Gerry Crispin on December 6, 2009 at 7:20pm — No Comments

Social Media: From Online to Offline

I have been busy, busy, busy this week! Now I’m back working 5 days a week it’s a real change of pace. It’s actually a bit alarming how quickly you get used to enjoying a 4 day weekend… [Note to self: Challenge for the new year is to get Mr J into a top notch job so that I can laze around more and he can keep me in the manner to which I’ve always wanted to become accustomed!] So anyway, my social media play time has fallen by the wayside somewhat and I’ve really missed it. But actually not… Continue

Added by Wendy Jacob on December 6, 2009 at 5:16pm — No Comments

Why I don't believe in making 2010 predictions

Ok, call me “snarky,” but I don’t believe in making predictions. Why? Because A) I’m not Kreskin B) I’m not an HR Wizard C) Most predictions don’t come true. Before you call me the “bah hum bug” of HR, think again. How many times have you read year-end predictions, or recaps and thought, “Yeah, so what?”

While I love reading year-end recaps, and predictions for the coming year, I rarely take stock in them. With that said, a few of my colleagues have stepped up to the plate and… Continue

Added by Margo Rose on December 6, 2009 at 2:02pm — 2 Comments

Unemployment - What Do The Numbers Mean?

I heard a news report this morning when the unemployment numbers came out. The report basically said that unemployment is slowing, but the problem is that while the numbers show that companies are not laying off as many workers they aren’t hiring new workers fast enough either. So what do the numbers mean to us? I believe this is just the next step in the process, but an indication that we are getting there. I’ve mentioned before that I don’t like to get lost in the big picture and in big… Continue

Added by Todd Kmiec on December 4, 2009 at 10:08pm — No Comments

I'm still a pessimistic optimist on this job market

The unemployment rate dropped from 10.2% to 10% for November. Economist thought that the rate would maintain 10.2% for November so the news I’m reading is overly positive about the .2% drop. Most of these same economist however thought the unemployment rate would peak at 10.2% in February of 2010 but we saw that number 4 months earlier in October of this year. So forgive me if I am cautiously optimistic.

According to the New York Times, Allen L. Sinai, the founder of the research… Continue

Added by Darin Manis on December 4, 2009 at 3:19pm — No Comments

The Job Seeker Competition Principle

The Competition Principle is a formal title I gave to what I believe to be a fundamental truth. The Competition Principle simply states, “There are others more qualified or talented than you who want what you want.” To make this principle specific to jobseekers I have defined the tenet as the Jobseeker Competition Principle. The Jobseeker Competition Principle states: “There are others more qualified or talented than you who want the same job you… Continue

Added by Darin Manis on December 4, 2009 at 3:17pm — No Comments

Job Search Frustrations During The Holidays?

Okay, I admit I took a little time off during Thanksgiving, which is why I didn’t post last week. But mostly because I didn’t think I’d be alone in that and that gave me the idea for this posting.

As we move into the holiday season, or I suppose we’ve already done that with Thanksgiving – the recruitment process for both the recruiter and candidate can become increasingly frustrating. Let’s be honest, recruiters are people and they can become increasingly busy this time of year with… Continue

Added by James Seetoo on December 4, 2009 at 1:16pm — No Comments

Cell Phones: The Essential Non-Essential

Not too long ago cell phones were seen as an accessory. Most people carried them around for security or status. Kids of all ages longed for a cell phone to play games or download ring tones on, or to text friends. Over the past few years, the need for cell phones arose due to technological advances, as well as the social media phenomena of today.

When social media began its takeover on our world, many companies began to panic for they saw the potential repercussions on their… Continue

Added by Heather Schuyler on December 4, 2009 at 8:59am — 1 Comment

Christmas crowdsourcing time please:) Can you provide me with just one idea, for the ultimate (fun) Christmas Gift List for HR and Recruiters?

For the last two years I have written two christmas posts that have been very popular with all of you. The posts were of a similar title; The Top 10 Christmas Gifts for a Recruiter. (Check out…

Continue

Added by Andy Headworth on December 4, 2009 at 8:51am — 5 Comments

Dear Santa. All I want for Christmas are some Team Leaders

It's that time of the year again where recruiters try to come up with the most creative, witty and funny job advert titles. This week, the award goes to The Warehouse in New Zealand with "Dear Santa. All I want for Christmas are some Team Leaders, please."

Runners up...

* Sales and Support Specialist Get your new job wrapped up for Christmas!

* Christmas Is Coming...Get Temping Now!!

* A NEW JOB… Continue

Added by Thomas Shaw on December 3, 2009 at 6:54pm — No Comments

Don't be a sell-out Crush It

Recently I read Crush it and was so inspired.

During times of transition and change, one has the opportunity to think about their personal and professional path.

I’ve made an executive decision. If I’m not on fire about what I’m doing-I’m not doing it-period.

Life is too short to dabble in things that bring on despair. I say, bring on the joy, hop into happiness, pursue your passion, and never-ever-ever-sell out.

Tonight, I’ll be listening to HR Happy Hour… Continue

Added by Margo Rose on December 3, 2009 at 6:09pm — No Comments

Can you find the red balloons?

This is not a sourcecon challenge, it is a DARPA contest. Join my team to win $$$ for finding red balloons this weekend & sending in the Lat/Long coordinates. There are 10 scattered across the US.

Why? Because I think it is about time that the rest of the world figure out that recruiters and sourcers are better than anyone else. We know how to network nationwide and share information at the speed of light. I think it would be a… Continue

Added by Julia Stone on December 3, 2009 at 5:34pm — 1 Comment

A Linkedin mistake none of us should allow ourselves to make.

Yesterday I received the following Linkedin message from the President of an executive search firm based on the East Coast:

"Bill:

I saw your profile on LinkedIn and wanted to be connected with you on LinkedIn.

Please add my profile to your LinkedIn contacts.

My profile is: www.linkedin.com

If by chance, LinkedIn asks you for my email when adding me to your contacts, please use:… Continue

Added by Bill Ward on December 3, 2009 at 5:21pm — 35 Comments

Recruiters need to get smart to win the Generation Game

There’s been a lot of debate recently about the future recruitment landscape, and how current events and technological advances will transform the way companies recruit. I took part in at least 2 separate discussions about this at London Unconference.

Certainly we 3rd party recruiters have many challenges ahead, and one the biggest, I believe, will come from the generational shift in decision makers from Baby Boomers to Generation X.

Over the last 20 years or so agencies… Continue

Added by Mervyn Dinnen on December 3, 2009 at 4:17pm — 1 Comment

What exactly are ‘communication skills'?

It has to be one of the most clichéd lines in job descriptions and hence, recruitment advertising - the request for ‘excellent communication skills'.

It is omnipresent in today's recruitment lexicon. Alternatively, substitute your favourite synonym such as ‘excellent', ‘good', ‘outstanding', ‘exceptional', ‘superior' or ‘high level'.

Unfortunately these phrases are of no help whatsoever to candidates, or recruiters.

Why?

To make an accurate assessment… Continue

Added by Ross Clennett on December 3, 2009 at 3:15pm — No Comments

Is your client seeing the whole picture?

The role of a recruiter and how the recruiter effectively contributes to the production of the enterprise is often taken for granted. That is what compelled me to write the allegory below. Please take a few minutes to read it, or re-read it if you already have, my own thoughts follow.

Once upon a time there was a man who needed a hole dug, but he did not have the means or the tools to do it. As he stood there looking at the spot where he wanted his hole dug a recruiter happened by.… Continue

Added by Randy Levinson on December 3, 2009 at 2:58pm — No Comments

Google Wave CVs?

My personal description of Google Wave: A bit like Facebook messaging in that you can follow the conversation from the top down and embed photos, videos and links. The difference is that it’s in real-time and you can also attach documents, gadgets, maps and so on. You can also add and remove people from the wave as it goes along, make it public or private, and people can contribute and edit as they see fit.

Clearly it’s a lot more advanced than that, but you get the… Continue

Added by Wendy Jacob on December 3, 2009 at 2:11pm — No Comments

Job Boards RIP v2.0 - From jobs to communities...

All the traditional channels of recruitment seem to be in for a kicking right now and the job boards seem to be the latest victim! The recruitment agency model reached middle age before its viability was questioned but the job boards are merely teenagers. One wonders if social media will make it out of nappies at this rate, particularly with all the fuss being made about 'ROI'. Since when did recruiters ever care about that?!

Anyway, job boards are definitely coming under significant… Continue

Added by Gareth Jones on December 3, 2009 at 1:32pm — 1 Comment