Cashing in on the Real Value of a Recruiter

Cashing in on the Real Value of a Recruiter In an ideal world, recruiters wouldn’t exist. Every business would have a steady stream of experienced, driven future employees, all queuing up outside the Managing Director’s door, ready to get to work. All companies would have fabulous career paths that their employees would never want to leave. In fact, they’d probably all be like a family at the end of it. They’d all spend Christmas and summer holidays together. Magic! And you, Mr or Mrs Managing Director, would operate like a smooth MI5 agent. You’d know every step the competition makes, and every direction the markets are heading in. You’d have a market research team, focused with dagger-like precision on getting you the relevant information â€" because after all, knowledge is power, right? Now time to wake up… It would be nice if it was really like that, wouldn’t it? Sadly, it’s not. The reality is that people leave their jobs all the time. Businesses often struggle to recruit the right staff. And Managing Directors, such as yourself, find themselves bashing their heads against the nearest wall, wondering just when they’ll find the time to sort the situation out. This is why a great recruiter is so invaluable. It’s their job to save you time and money. They’re also a dab hand at limiting risk â€" the dreaded risk of a dud hire. As you know, hiring the wrong candidate is distinctly bad for business, but sadly it’s all too easy to do without the right expert help. So why do so many decision-makers, hiring managers and Managing Directors struggle to see the value that a recruiter can bring? After all, you’re not a recruiter and it’s probably not your area of specialist expertise. That’s not your business, and it’s unlikely, in all honesty, that you’re much good at it (and why should you be?) The appeal of a specialist recruiter A specialist recruiter is right in the thick of your industry. They operate in your circles, they associate with your people, they reside in the same business world. Specialist recruiters spend more time talking to your competition than you ever will. They know the salaries, the employees, the products, the services. They know why people stay and why people leave. Most importantly, they have a deep understanding of what your company does and how the market perceives it. They know what the market is saying about your company, your people and what you’ve got to offer. Simply put, recruiters are your eyes and ears. They’re your top spies in the field. They undertake valuable daily market research that money simply cannot buy. And best of all, this market research is hot-off-the-press and bang up to date, and it doesn’t cost you a penny. Your recruiter has all of this tucked up his or her sleeve, and if you work with them, you can have it too. Understanding candidates Even better, recruiters, like sheriffs in a Wild West movie, know the difference between the good, the bad and the downright ugly. They can spot the perfect candidate for your job a mile off, because they know your industry and its requirements inside out. They know exactly why the bad guys get fired, and they have an eagle-eye for a CV that’s shot through with holes. They’ve also got the inside story. They know why a particular candidate is now looking for a job. How do they know? Because they’re the ones asking the questions. They’re in a perfect position to pose the all-important questions. What do you want? Why? No really, why? How much? No really, how much? They’re a bit like a free career guidance counsellor, in fact. Good recruiters get to the heart of everything. Indeed, the have to if they value their reputation because their career depends upon their outstanding performance. That’s not to say they’re flawless â€" sadly, in real life, no-one is. But it does mean that a good specialist recruiter will leave no stone unturned, and will ask the questions that you can’t. The inside scoop from your recruiter By now, you’ve probably got a pretty good idea of just how much a recruiter has their finger on the pulse and this has other advantages too. They can know what’s going on in your business before you do. They know when your good guys are being poached or headhunted by other companies. They know if your favourite employees are starting to get restless and are looking to hop out of the nest and into another one. Now they can’t tell you this kind of information as it’s just not cricket, but if you listen carefully to what’s happening, you may find there are signals… Crusading for your company In addition to keeping you up-to-date, policing candidates and giving you valuable insider knowledge, recruiters are also amazing brand ambassadors. Get them on side, and they’ll ride out into the market place, armed with techniques to overcome any negative objections the market has about your business. They’ll battle poor press, combat negative news that terrible hire is spreading, and they’ll do it all in a really neutral, unbiased way. They operate as a natural extension of your HR department, spreading the love and sharing your success stories. They’ll be singing your praises, and they’ll make sure that potential future candidates hear it. Selecting the right recruiter A good recruiter offers a lot more than just a simple introduction to some good candidates â€" and the question to ask is: can your company afford not to have a really good recruiter relationship? After all, they probably know as much about your business as you do, and they’re more likely to know just how happy your staff are too. However, it’s important to take the time to sniff out the great recruiters, the ones that’ll add real value to your company. Here’s how. 1) Do your research. You’ll get called by young, enthusiastic recruiters all the time. Our advice? You can’t really benefit much from them. Tell them (kindly) to call back when they’ve had a chance to build up a few years of valuable experience. When you get called by someone who sounds like they know what they’re doing, jump on to LinkedIn and check them out. If they operate in your industry and have done for some time, they’ll have a good network â€" your future network. Also â€" don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations from your peers, particularly if they’re doing well! 2) Get prepared. When your recruiter calls, make sure you’re able to take it and give the call the time it deserves. If they don’t call, remember that you can call them instead! Planning ahead is music to a recruiter’s ears. Of course, you’re busy… aren’t we all! However, I assure you, recruiters have no interest in wasting your time. Schedule some time to speak properly, preferably when you’re relaxed and can speak openly. In the car on the way to work is a good time, or when you’re sitting on the train. Recruiters never sleep, so don’t worry about anti-social hours, chances are they’ll take your call. 3) Ask questions. It doesn’t need to be the Spanish Inquisition, but a few good questions are certainly advisable. Find out why they recruit, why they operate in your space and how long they’ve been doing it. Ask if they attend industry exhibitions, how they go about filling difficult roles, how quickly they get results and which companies they work with. You’ll swiftly build up a picture â€" and you’ll soon get a ‘feeling’ whether or not you can work with them. 4)  Put them to work! Now, I’d like to emphasise here that whipping your recruiter for better results isn’t generally a good idea. However, it’s important to give them a clear well-defined role. Provide them with a deadline, and give them a reason to work for you. Don’t play hardball on fees â€" they’ve got a set fee in mind, and it’s probably justifiable, given the amount of work involved. Give them exclusivity and the chance to deliver. Remember, a good recruiter will want to prove they’re a valuable and trusted business contact. They want to build a long-term relationship. They want to be the only recruiter you ever ring when you need help. You win, they win. It’s as simple as that. 5) Build a long-term relationship. I’m not necessarily saying you need to be best buddies with your recruiter and invite them to all future family events, unless of course, you want to. However, what I am saying is that it’s worth building up a strong business relationship with them. This means that when you call them, they already know you. They know your business. They know exactly what you’re looking for. This saves you a lot of time and hassle in the long-run. Think of your recruiter as a tomato plant. Regular watering and a bit of TLC here and there, and you’ll yield a great crop â€" in this case, of exciting, qualified candidates. Neglect it, and you’ll find it tricky to get more than a few uninspiring CVs without a lot of hard work getting things back on track. Pick a good recruiter and spend time talking to them. Keep them in the loop. Tell them all about your business. Explain about the sort of people you hire, your company ethos and what you look for in a good candidate. This will help them to be constantly on the look-out for future stars, which they’ll immediately let you know about whether you’re recruiting or not. Who knows, they might just call you with a little gem right when you need it. Is it time for you get a specialist recruiter on speed dial? At the very least, it’s worth getting a good one on your Christmas card list!

Social Media Can Be the Difference Between Hired and Fired [Infographic]

Social Media Can Be the Difference Between Hired and Fired [Infographic] There is no denying the fact that social media is at the forefront of any research done on a candidate by a recruiter or employers. In the infographic below you can find some of the facts and figures laid out. The infographic has been developed by Jobvite. 26

Positive Esteem Starts With Losing The Negatives

Positive Esteem Starts With Losing The Negatives The following is a guest post by Kristi K Hoffman.  Her bio follows. Are you exhausted from trying to keep up with the negative comments that keep swirling through your mind? Possibly they came from nasty co-workers, old classmates, teammates, random people at social situations, family members, negative childhood memories. Maybe they came at you in the form of gossip, mean tweets or posts, nasty texts.   Comments like: “Youre fat.” “Youll never be good enough.” “You don’t deserve that job/promotion.” “You are so ugly you should just go kill yourself.” Focus on Your Positive Attributes Theres no use battling negativity.   It is a losing proposition.  Because in doing so, you perpetuate a negative mindset.   And you will always be playing catch up.   Constantly on defense. Instead, focus on your own positive self-esteem and self-worth â€" the amazing, Total Package Girl in you! To break the negativity cycle and enhance your self-worth and esteem, here are ten secret weapons you can use right now.   They will help erase that negative mindset that keeps creeping back in, and get you back to the positive inner you, full of positive self-esteem, worth and the potential for limitless success. How to Respond to Negativity Get back to offense, no more playing defense. Know your value and your worth. Recite your positive attributes. Stick up for yourself and use your voice when negative comments come your way. Remember your awesomeness in terms of your core values: trustworthy, hard-working,             compassionate, courageous, fun-loving. Keep a list near you for reference, in case you forget how amazing you are. Be you â€" let the words that come out of your mouth and the actions you take reflect the real inner you, not who you think everyone wants you to be. Repel negativity like a magnet. Ignore or reject every derogatory comment or incessantly negative person you encounter, using all of your might and energy.   Do not let them invade your psyche. Visualize a power shield you are holding out in front of you, protecting you from nasty comments, criticism, mean girls and ill-intentioned co-workers. Seek out and surround yourself with one or two loyal TruBlue friends who will not intentionally throw you under the bus. Stay near those who support you and know the difference between those who don’t.   Talk about your feelings with these TruBlue friends. Love you some more. When you look in the mirror, have regular mantras ready to recite.   Say three positive things about that beautiful person you see staring back at you. Believe in and respect the power of you. Learn to live the Total Package Lifestyle. This means developing a master plan for success in three areas:   your Body, your Brain, and your Spirit.   Eat, sleep, play in a healthy, fit, and fun way. Move your body â€" exercise, dance, ride a bike. Keep active no matter what.   Make it a part of your routine.   Research shows time and again that exercise helps ward off depression and anxiety.   You will be shocked at how quickly your attitude and personal esteem turns around when movement becomes a part of your life.   (How about tracking 150 minutes of movement per week for starters?) Know your Total Package Lifestyle path. That means set two to three personal goals for this week, month, and year.   Don’t let anything derail your progress.   If you do get off track, no self-criticism.   Jump back on your path.  It will lead you in a positive direction that is absolutely perfect for you. These  actions are pillars for your esteem and will strip the negative right out of your world.   Focus on getting back to a fit, healthy, enjoyable Total Package Life! About Kristi K. Hoffman Kristi K. Hoffman, M.S., is an award-winning television host and producer, past PBS-TV media personality, author, businesswoman and keynote speaker. As CEO and Founder of Total Package Global, a leading professional and personal development corporation, Kristi develops success tools for pre-teen and teenaged girls and boys, young professionals, as well as seasoned executives to assist them in reaching their life and business goals. Her Amazon best-selling teen and social issues book, Total Package Girl: Discover the Ultimate You for Life, and the Total Package Girl curriculum for junior high and high school girls provide girls with the intelligence, skills, and tools they need to navigate today’s digitally-focused life. Total Package Girl acknowledges that each girl is unique, and that her talents and skills are to be celebrated. Images: Main     Jamie             Self  Kiran Foster

The 7 Best Recruiter Staffing Agencies in Jacksonville, FL

The 7 Best Recruiter Staffing Agencies in Jacksonville, FL Looking for the best staffing agencies in Jacksonville, FL?You’ve come to the right place.Whether you reside in Jacksonville for the beaches, golf courses, or the museums, there’s no doubt this city has a lot to offer.But how do you go about finding work in such a competitive job market?The answer…reach out to the local staffing agencies.Rather than having you filter through dozens of Jacksonville staffing agencies, we’ve done all the heavy lifting to bring you only the best of the best.The Best Jacksonville Staffing AgenciesIf you are in a hurry and don’t have time to read our detailed reviews below, here are the names of the 7best staffing agencies in Jacksonville:Metrix Staffing Agency Capital Staffing Solutions Optimum Personnel Services (OPS) Stafforce FastTrack Staffing, Inc. I-TECH Personnel SkiltrekBefore reaching out to any companies on this list, we recommend that you review your resume to make sure it is in tip-top shape. If you’d like professional help with yo ur resume, contact the pros at Find My Profession.And now for the detailed reviews…1. Metrix Staffing AgencyMetrix Staffing Agency, a division of Total Distribution, Inc. is a warehouse staffing agency in Jacksonville, Florida. The goal of Metrix Staffing is tp provide an alternative to traditional employment agencies for their clients by hiring proven staff, offering flexible solutions, and providing measurable results.Job Types: Metrix Staffing focuses on warehouse jobs in Jacksonville which include forklift operator, light assembly packaging, loaders unloaders, order pickers, warehouse RF scanners, machine operators, and other general warehouse positions.Pros: Metrix Staffing allows their candidates to work first in their own facilities to ensure that they are properly trained prior to having them work at the client’s location. With a thorough vetting process which includes drug tests, background checks, and more, you can rest easy knowing Metrix Staffing talent is fit for the job.Local Office: 600 N. Ellis Road, Jacksonville, 32254Contact:904-783-26462. Capital Staffing SolutionsCapital Staffing Solutions is a business built on long-lasting relationships. Since 2000, Capital Staffing Solutions has nurtured great connections across the U.S. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and serving all 50 states, they offer the flexibility to customize their recruiting model to fit any client’s needs.Job Types: Capital Staffing Solutions focuses on a few main areas of specialization including corporate, professional services, information technology, healthcare, insurance, scientific, engineering, and industrial. Unfortunately, we were unable to find any jobs listed on their website.Pros: Capital Staffing Solutions received the 50 Fastest Growing Private Sector Companies in Northeast Florida award by the Jacksonville Business Journal. They also have some excellent case studies featured on their website.Local Office:4336 Pablo Oaks Court,Jacksonville,32224Co ntact:800-205-49233. Optimum Personnel Services (OPS)Optimum Personnel Services (OPS) is a great choice when it comes to providing top-quality candidates for your permanent, temp-to-perm, seasonal, or one-day staffing needs. With locations in Jacksonville, FL and Savannah, GA, Optimum Personnel Services is committed to providing the highest level of service in the industry.Job Types: Optimum Personnel Services handles a variety of positions in warehousing, transportation, medical, human resources, customer service, hospitality, landscaping, manufacturing, construction, retail, sales, janitorial, and more.Pros: Optimum Personnel Services offers competitive rates, on-time workers, and 24-hour availability to their clients. For job seekers, OPS has some of the best online reviews from employees who seem to have had a ton of success finding work through OPS.Local Office:5800 Beach Blvd, STE-111, Jacksonville, 32207Contact:904-738-82624. StafforceStafforce was founded in 1998 by a Genera l Contractor who was fed up with the poor quality of help he would receive from typical “day-labor” companies. Their core staff has over 50 years of combined experience in temporary staffing and they pride themselves on employing the best workforce in Jacksonville.Job Types: Stafforce employs individuals who are looking for work as a laborer, electrician, concrete worker, carpenter, drywall finisher, house cleaner, painter, or mason. They also have a trucking division for CDL truck drivers who are looking for full time or part time work.Pros: Stafforce has some great reviews on Google from happy clients. Also, unlike some other companies on this list, Stafforce has one location which is in Jacksonville Florida. With more than 20 years of experience focusing on one market, it’s fair to assume Stafforce has some solid connections.Local Office:7000 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville,32211Contact: 904-726-56615. FastTrack Staffing, Inc.FastTrack Staffing has been a strong leader in qual ity staffing and employment services since 1981. As a workers compensation risk certified staffing agency, FastTrack Staffing has been recognized for practicing the best in class risk management to reduce workplace injuries.Job Types: FastTrack Staffing places people in Jacksonville jobs such as forklift operator, warehouse associate, assembler, customer service representative, retail sales associate, irrigation tech, diesel mechanic, construction manager, landscaping estimator, and more.Pros: FastTrack Staffing provides a guarantee which states that if a situation does not meet your satisfaction, temporary employees are replaced immediately and direct hire replacements are guaranteed for 30-90 days.Local Office:3728 Phillips Hwy, Suite 10, Jacksonville,32207Contact:904-647-26066. I-TECH PersonnelI-TECH was founded in the year 1998 by an entrepreneur with a vision to provide top quality employees that are dedicated, reliable and hardworking. As a specialized niche, I-TECH offers unp aralleled staffing services and has established a market that would link bilingual job seekers and local companies found within the Jacksonville Metropolitan area.Job Types: I-TECH focuses on multilingual jobs including janitorial, outdoor laborer, production, inside sales, maintenance helper, sheet metal fabricator, quality control technician, logistics rep, facilities attendant, program manager, and more.Pros: I-TECH is certified by quite a few businesses including the U.S. Small Business Administration, FMSDC, Office of Supplier Diversity, Florida Department of Administration, and more.Local Office:5627 Atlantic Blvd, Unit 1, Jacksonville,32207Contact:904-381-1911 orinfo@itechpersonnel.com7. SkiltrekSkiltrek’s roots stem from the Information Technology sector, which allows them to address the Enterprise Application needs of large and mid-size corporations, as well as clients in the Public Sector. Some of their key clients include ATT, General Electric, Florida Blue, U.S. Depart ment of Treasury, and other government agencies.Job Types: Skiltrek focuses on IT jobs in Jacksonville node JS developer, IT developer, business systems analyst, Hadoop developer, systems engineer, scrum master, salesforce developer, interface developer, project manager, QA specialist, and more.Pros: Skiltrek is headquartered in Jacksonville but has offices in Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington DC, and Chicago. A local company with a national presence could be useful for anyone who is open to relocation.Local Office:320 North First Street, Suite 603, Jacksonville, 32250Contact:904-584-9766This List Serves The Following Areas Near Jacksonville, Florida:Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Macclenny, St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Palatka, Hawthorne, Gainesville, Alachua, High Springs, Starke, Lake City, Jasper, Fernandina Beach, Lake Butler, High Springs, Jacksonville Beach, Fernandina Beach, Lake City, Starke, Tallahassee, Blountstown, Pensacola, Crestview, Panama City, Perry, and more.Quick Tipsfor Jacksonville Job SeekersNot all the Jacksonville staffing agencies on this list are going to have jobs posted on their websites that are a perfect match for you.Here’s what we recommend:Browse the website to see if you can find a job that you are interested in. Whether you find a job or not, give the staffing agency a call. Provide information about yourself and the type of work you are looking for. If you did find a relevant job on their website, now is the time to mention it. The agency will take down your information and reach out if they find a relevant position.You are better off having as many staffing agencies as possible aware of your search. It’s simply more eyes and ears out there helping with your job search.Last, but definitely not least…Before you reach out to these Jacksonvillestaffing agencies, make sure you have a professional-looking resume.The worst thing you could do is provide a below-average resume to each of the companies on this list.Check out our list of the 10 Best Resume Services in Jacksonville.Or if you are an executive, check out the 9 Best Executive Resume Services in America.For the budget-conscious, check out the Best Resume Services Under $300.Additional Resources for Jacksonville Job SeekersBelow we have included a few additional resources that we felt might be helpful to your job search.10 Best Free Resume Review Sites12 Best Job Search Sites for All Career Levels10 Best Executive Job Search Sites50 Top Job Interview Questions and AnswersLocal Resume Writing Services (500+ Cities)

10 Must-Have Business Management Skills for a Successful Career - CareerMetis.com

10 Must-Have Business Management Skills for a Successful Career Source : Pexels.comStruggling to mark a successful career in the corporate world?In such a competitive era, every business professional aims to reach the heights. You have to polish your business management skills to outperform your counterparts. Gone are the easier days when setting up a business was not a herculean task. This era has brought itself with challenges, competition and a royal battle amongst the talented youth. The theory by Herbert Spencer ‘Survival of the fittest’ is applicable here. Who fits better in what role may turn the ball in his court.evalLearning business management skills is not rocket science. With a little more practice and effort, you can get on the beam with essential management skills. Thereby, getting an upper hand in the corporate world.1) Be A LeaderevalPortray as a role model for your followers. If you are well acquainted with your organizational objectives, only then can you convey the right message to your followers? If you are a quick decisio n-maker, a risk-taker, and a motivation almsgiver, you truly possess those necessary leadership qualities significant to be a successful leader. Being a leader, you can exercise the choice of distributing roles amongst the team. Flawless guidance can keep the team united and fetch positive outputs.2) Address the GrievancesConfronting problems and hunting for solutions is one of the keys to having a successful career path. No one likes to crib about the problems. Cultivate a solution-oriented approach. At every point of time in business, you will come across employee’s anxiety and client’s grievances. Understanding their problems and rendering out the best possible solutions is what is expected out of a wise and intelligent entrepreneur. Neither can you let go of your distressed employees nor can you be oblivious to your clients. This is another business management skill that you need to specialize in.3) Manage Your Time WiselyIf you have mastered the time management skills, you have achieved a grand slam in your career. This particular skill enables you to schedule your tasks timely and accomplish in a stipulated time.eval Lack of this skill will not only bring you in a chaotic position but also scales you down to the path of failure.4) Develop Good Communication SkillsBeing good at other business management skills while lacking in communication brings you back to square one. A successful businessman must be able to communicate the goals, objectives, tasks, and decisions confidently to all the levels of management. Having strong communication skills will enable you to strike deals with your vendors on good terms. Meeting new clients, taking one on one interview, video conferencing; all require you to be good at your communications.eval5) Be A Multi-TaskerMultitasking has taken a significant spot in this competitive generation. You will have to train your brain to perform multiple tasks at a time. On the contrary, there are few struggling professionals who find Multitasking as a myth. evalBut only a successful entrepreneur can turn this myth into a reality. Integrating this skill into your nerves will prepare you to walk the ladder towards your destination.6) Be A VisionaryKeep your vision focused on achieving long-term goals. Be clear about your organizational objectives. A person who frames strategies in present and can execute the same in the future is supposed to be called a visionary. You can eye your future prospects by having a visionary eye. A successful business entrepreneur must be speculative and unrealistic about achieving his goals.7) Develop Risk Taking SkillsNot everyone can deal with the risks involved in a business. Not everyone has the eye to visualize the consequences in the future as a result of the risks taken at present. Nevertheless, a smart and successful career does require you to develop the risk-taking factor in you. The more you are scared to take the risks; the far is your ability to achieve success.8) Be A MotivatorYet another important business management skill is to be a good motivator. More often, there come the chances when employees are stressed or dissatisfied with their jobs. This generally results in labor absenteeism that is a loss for the company. This is the situation when your Motivation skills will play its role. Directing their minds towards the achievement of their company goals, personal goals and setting appraisals on the performance can boost their confidence remarkably.9)Quick Decision MakingLiving in this fast-driven world, you will have to match your pace with it. A delayed and ignorant approach will not work in this era. Especially when everyone is taking part in the business race. For a business entrepreneur, it is essential to take a quick initiative with respect to his business ambition and get going. Your delay will allow your counterpart to outrun you in the same field.eval10) PositivityLast but not least, have a positive attitude in business and make your own directions. It is significantly noted that the ones carrying positive outlook are better planners, negotiators, and entrepreneurs than the ones leading a negative approach. With a positive and happy mind, you can crack any deal, impress any client and bridge the gap between success and you.Brush up your business management skills to write a good business plan assignment if at all you aim to achieve success in your career. Ask yourself are you fit to become a successful entrepreneur? If it’s a no then try to identify your weak areas and take an initiative to make strides. evalThe above-mentioned skills are prerequisites for any successful business entrepreneur. If incorporated seriously, you can reach the sky else you are very much on the ground now also.Have a deep study and let us know your views on the business management article. Your suggestions are welcomed.

Career Tips for New Grads - CareerAlley

Career Tips for New Grads - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. According to The Wall Street Journal, 284,000 students graduated into minimum wage jobs in 2012. Furthermore, 39 percent of college graduates live with their parents and roughly two-thirds have debt that carries on into their careers. Even more disturbing is that only 2.1 percent more graduates will be hired in a year by companies than were hired in 2012. If youre a new graduate, its important to seek ways to stay informed on ways to build a successful career. CollegeOnline.org, for example, offers a wide variety of guides and more information about educating yourself to reach your goals and land your dream job. The following tips will help guide you through the new-grad hurdles and into a brighter future. Match a Mentor to Your Goals Many graduates accept any mentor and feel fortunate to have one at all. However, a better method is to find a mentor who is currently in your desired industry, and if possible, living the type of lifestyle you wish to lead. By doing so, the mentor can give you specific advice on how to achieve that particular lifestyle. By having a mentor in your industry and keeping regular meetings with that person, you may ultimately decide that a career as a financial analyst, for instance, is not really the best match for you in the end. Travel to Learn Dont just vacation, but rather travel for the sole purpose of learning new languages and about new cultures. Because we live in a global marketplace, employers are looking for the most well-rounded individuals to serve this new marketplace. Traveling and experiencing new cultures helps put you at a distinct advantage, especially if you can manage to pick up a new language or two. Employers find it difficult to find candidates fluent in several languages, so you become more marketable if you have both global experience and an extra language on your resume. Outcomes are the Key When creating your resume, rather than list menial tasks dressed up to look important, choose to continually measure your work through its numeric impact on the company. Did you decrease costs? Have you managed to increase revenue? Keep track of all these results by logging this information, possibly creating charts, so that when youre up for a promotion, or just asking for one, you can show your employers why you deserve it. Look at examples of competitive resumes online and find ways to set yours apart from the competition in your industry. Taking Risks = Career Success Not taking risks is risky in this economy, as odd as that may seem. Whether you succeed or fail, you are putting yourself in a position to learn when you take risks. Additionally, youre demonstrating to your employers, and potential employers that you are willing to put success ahead of yourself, as well as your reputation. Our society is becoming increasingly entrepreneurial, which is the very definition of career risk. Taking risks is the only way to keep pace. Byline: Kelli Robinson is retired teacher from Maine who blogs about the current state of education. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif

Revisiting LinkedIn - new features for job seekers and networkers -

Revisiting LinkedIn - new features for job seekers and networkers - When is the last time you spent time in LinkedIn? I know, its not *fun* like Facebook, and it doesnt provide the instantaneous thrill of Twitter sending out a message and immediately receiving a reply. But, Ive been doing some research for my book (yes I am under contract to write a book on using social media for job seekers!) and so I have been clicking around in LinkedIn a lot more than usual. When I first launched Keppie Careers online, I spent a lot of time in LinkedIn. That was before I was really involved on Twitter. I remember enjoying answering questions and meeting new people there. Somehow, I got out of the habit once I became a power Twitter user. Asking and answering questions on LinkedIn didnt appeal to me as much. So, I am here to say its time to check out LinkedIn if you have not already! They have a lot of new features if you havent been there in awhile. For example: LinkedIn Groups have a totally redesigned landing page. Once you are in your group, it is a much more engaging online experience than before. The inBox is being redesigned. You can find and follow your LinkedIn friends on Twitter. Easily update your network using the People You May Know tool. (It is amazing that it knows the people I knowIts a combination of feeling like big brother is watching and thinking how cool it is to be able to easily connect because LinkedIn suggested it!) You can even share videos on LinkedIn along with your Slideshare presentations! So, if you havent been on LinkedIn for awhile, take a look. Theres a lot more there than you might have realized! And if you have a great LinkedIn success story especially about finding an opportunity via a stranger or using Groups for great networking, please contact me if you are interested in sharing it for the book. Id also love to hear from any recruiters who have stories to share about LinkedIn successes. I am all ears! Photo by Coletivo Mambembe