Career Questionnaire: How Tests Can Help You Find A Career
A career test reveals aspects of your personality and helps you narrow down your career choices, and sometimes a career questionnaire will be called a career or job aptitude test. Luckily, this isn't the kind of test you can fail. By taking a career test, you can find out how you work with others, what kind of work activities best suit you, what sort of work environment is best for your...
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Choosing a Career Path
There are a great number of factors that can go into choosing a career path. For some individuals the decision is already laid out for them in the form of a several generation old family business or by way of some undeniable talent that simply can't be ignored. For others choosing a career path is a much more difficult and time consuming process that can feel overwhelming or even downright...
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Characteristics of a Successful Marketing VP
Consumers' spending habits change over time, mostly due to the state of the economy and according to their own financial goals and objectives. Businesses that want to increase their profit margin have to change their habits as well if they want more lead-to-sale conversions. A successful marketing VP not only keeps up with the marketing trends, but also buying trends of consumers. Nowadays...
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Seven Bad Habits IT Managers Should Avoid
An IT manager's work is never done. From developing and implementing information systems to supervising server maintenance to researching methods to ensure the security of information that passes through the information server, a workday in the life of an IT manager is seldom a dull one. Even the best IT manager is guilty of a few management bad habits, however, and these habits could prove...
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Hobby Analysis
The serious information conveyed by what applicants do for fun "Hobbies of any kind are boring except to people who have the same hobby. This is also true of religion, although you will not find me saying so in print."—Dave Barry, syndicated columnist, author and humorist It's speculation, but it stands to reason that a hobby is always more than just that—especially...
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Linkedin Today Industry News for Recruiters
Linkedin recently announced a news feature that should be very useful to recruiters. Linkedin Today, which was announced last week, highlights the most shared and talked about news stories from around the web. The interesting part about the new feature is that it is divided up by industry, which is quite relevant to recruiters. If you recruit for the energy industry, for example, you can...
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How to Make a Recruit Quit
—a 2-factor model of setting up for failure "Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul."—General Douglas MacArthur Almost everybody thinks about quittingat least once during a lifetime of employment. I don't know everybody, but I would bet on it. It's an even safer bet that the most likely reasons are the most obvious: low pay, poor advancement prospects,...
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U.S. Manufacturing Industry in a Global Context
The manufacturing industry is one of the focal points in regenerating the American economy. What does it mean to create these types of jobs in this country? Recruiters may want to know that when they investigate a new industry that creates goods, the costs to compensate these hard-working people is pretty high. In the United States, the hourly compensation for the average manufacturing...
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Private Hazards Made Public
Have you ever wanted to know more about the companies that you work with? You might know all the ins and outs of a company's promotional material, but determining whether consumers are satisfied can be elusive information. In this alleged Information Age, lobbyist organizations such as Public Citizen worked hard to make information about products more readily accessible for the regular...
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Demand for Health Information Technology Sweeps Across All Kinds of Practices
Two hurricanes struck. Then, a fire. These natural disasters didn't leave much intact on the Gulf Coast, including careful records of patients' health histories. For Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, M.D., the decision became clear: the switch to electronic health records from paper was worth the time it took. Dr. Benjamin states, "My own personal experience in switching my practice from...
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Career Recruiting
Recruiters are not career counselors. They are not career advisors, job mentors, resume writers, personal brand advocates, interview coaches, nor personal success advocates. A recruiter's primary mission is to identify and place talent, not to develop and nurture candidates' careers. Career recruiting, for most, means a recruiter who doesn't make very many placements... It is therefore...
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Emergency Recruiter TSP Networking: "Life-Webs"
A prudent enhancement of your networking capabilities It is unlikely that anyone reading this is unaware of the cataclysmic earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear reactor disasters that have rocked Japan since the most massive earthquake in recorded Japanese history struck Sendai, northeast of Tokyo, around 3 pm, Friday, March 11, Tokyo time. Recently upgraded to a 9.1 magnitude...
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Confident Customers
On Sunday night, a family sat on the train to Brooklyn with four fancy bags at their feet, bags boasting prominent name brands of designer shoes. Sightings of self-satisfied, worn-out shoppers have been rare, but recent figures suggest that shoppers have been more willing to shell out on new purchases lately. This acceleration in sales might impact recruiters as they anticipate a continuation...
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i6 Green Challenge Is On
How much does it cost to promote new technology? How much will it cost for the U.S. to lower its carbon footprint? The U.S. seems to be determined to practice spending more money on green technology in the hopes that the investments will lead to positive, environmental breakthroughs in the future. As if innovators have fond memories of science fairs from their days of yore, the government is...
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Where Winter Meant New Work
"Comparison is a death knell to sibling harmony," writes Elizabeth Fishel. As soon as comparisons are made, one walks away feeling a bit more superior than another. In the case of this country, state residents sometimes can't help but to engage in a little sibling-like rivalry. Every state wants to be recognized for generating new jobs and demonstrating how economic recovery can begin at...
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Play 20 Questions to Develop a Successful Mentoring Program
Training and Development. Why do some organizations achieve great success in rolling out a mentoring program, while others achieve only a modicum of success? We believe that the companies that are most successful view corporate mentoring as an organic process, meaning that they understand that mentoring programs evolve and grow. Our experience demonstrates that the difference between...
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Unfiring: Re-Recruitment Models
—Are IBM, the IRS and your local high school fire-rehire trailblazers? "Suicide is man's way of telling God, 'You can't fire me – I quit.'" –Bill Maher What is a recruiter supposed to do if a candidate she placed is fired? Specifically, and in addition to any expressions of regret, acts of contrition and patches to be put on the client relationship, what about the...
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Modern Survey Announces New Solution
Modern Survey, a human capital management technology and consulting firm, has announced a new solution for leadership development and feedback. Modern Survey's 360-degree leadership feedback solution helps organizations gather accurate and actionable data around their leaders' strengths and development opportunities. What sets m/360 apart from the pack is the usability from all ends. ...
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Holistically-Minded Help for Veterans
When you prep a job candidate for an interview, do you ever mention that they should dress a certain way? For a lot of people, preparing for a job interview requires hurdling not only psychological but also physical barriers. Not everyone can simply "clean up nicely" without a lot of support. The U.S. Department of Labor is attempting to address the challenges facing homeless veterans while...
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Reasonable Cause for Jealousy
When you've got a plane ticket in your fist, better hope that you're working for the state. When your tonsils need to come out, working for the state beats out being a local government worker. When you're leaving the HR department and you want to be exiting with the knowledge that your blood thinners will be paid for, better hope that you're working for the state. The Bureau of Labor...
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Take Charge of Conflict
The drama that often accompanies conflict is what gives conflict its bad name. Most of us veer away from screaming matches, stand offs and personal attacks. But, conflict does have redeeming value ... especially for those of us over 50. According to Barbara Strauch, author of The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain, we need to present our brains with things that make it wake up, pay attention,...
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The Art of Networking
Networking is an art, and like any artist, you need to constantly practice, refine and critique your work. Networking makes a huge contribution to your life and career, and it's a skill that anyone can acquire. These networking tips can help you get started: Be open. Be open to new ideas, opportunities and people. Be prepared. Success in networking is when preparedness...
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Pending Patent Harmonization
"Rose is a rose is a rose," wrote Gertrude Stein. Invention is invention is invention wherever, however. But-- this said, the definition of something new changes across continents. A confusing issue that is facing global markets is the issue of patents. Currently, there is no standard about what a patent is. This has led to a lot of problems for people claiming intellectual property. A...
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February Felt Familiar to Jobless Americans
"No news is good news!" The idiom is often accompanied by a pat on the back, reminding people that bad news is the worst. That said, no change can be plenty bad news-- particularly when you have been unemployed for over six months and it seems like everyone you know anticipates a sour fiscal future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics concluded that in February, six million Americans have been out...
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White House Report Celebrates Women's Achievements and Exposes Continued Sexism
Recruiters of all sexes may be able to help women live the changes that they wish to see. For instance, women depend on recruiters to communicate clearly with employers as their salaries are negotiated in the early stages of employment. Women must also depend on recruiters to advocate that they will be compensated for their advanced degrees. The White House has released a new report called,...
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The Recruiter as Stand-Up Comedian
"A consultant is someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time."—old joke The concept of a stand-up recruiter comedian sounds frivolous at first. You know at least one recruiter who is a "stand-up", stand-out guy, but none who is a stand-up, stand-out comedian. However, when you think about it, you, as a recruiter, may find some useful tips and parallels if you consider how...
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Some New Tech at Recruiter.com
We're excited today to launch what we think is a very important new technology for Recruiter.com. We've redesigned the core of our architecture (and perhaps Ashley's sleep schedule) to build upon common social networking logins like Facebook and Linkedin. To go along with this new release, we've also added two new sections for user contributed articles. With your existing social logins, you...
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Recruiting Seen Through the Lens of Charlie Sheen
"As kids we're not taught how to deal with success; we're taught how to deal with failure. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. If at first you succeed, then what?" –Charlie Sheen What was your immediate response to seeing Charlie Sheen's name just now? While most of the denizens, hangers-on and analysts of pop culture are focused and/or fixated on what is making Charlie...
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Make the Most of Your Mentoring Relationships
Mentoring is one of the best ways to learn, to get feedback, and to take your career to the next level. Here are ten tips for making the most of your mentoring relationships. Tip #1 Self-assess. Ask yourself, "What skills do I need to get where I want to go?" Tip #2 Identify your learning goals. Put them in writing. Tip #3 Decide together how the mentoring relationship will work...
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The Naked Truth About Public Speaking
When I was in high school, given the choice between giving an oral report and a written one, I always choose the written report. In college, I did the same thing. My reason: fear. I was terrified of public speaking. When I graduated from college, my father gave me some advice. He said, "If you want to succeed in the business world, you will need excellent presentation skills. Take a job that...
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Are You Willing to Pay the Price of Success?
It's a new year, and there is resolution in the air. With a new year comes a fresh start, and new opportunities. Many people will set lofty personal and professional goals in these first weeks of 2011 in hopes of changing their lives and careers in significant ways. Unfortunately, very few of us will actually manage to achieve these goals, or to even remember what goals were set come March...
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Car Culture Demands Better Roads and Bridges
It seems that Americans are increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of extracting and burning fossil fuels. Meanwhile, drivers everywhere gasp at the prices to pay for gasoline. Yet despite these grim realities, Americans are unwilling to curb their driving. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Americans drove three trillion miles in 2010, the most vehicle miles...
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Bacteria Births New Industry
When cheese becomes moldy, do you wonder about the steps that it takes to turn mold into penicillin? Now there is a new scientific discovery to ponder. We all know that bacteria is powerful. But researchers have recently discovered that its power might be used to fuel engines. The Department's BioEnergy Science Center achieved an advance in the drive toward next generation biofuels: using...
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Trade Grounded in North America
Are you noticing more trucks on the streets? Although it may seem like no one is buying anything right now, there is still a lot of trade going on between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Where it's happening is on the surface. As a recruiter, you may already stay abreast of international trade, but it may be worth paying attention to what's happening on the...
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Insuring Your Success in 2011
I've never been more excited about a new year as I have this one. After a long, challenging 2009 and 2010, we can finally begin shaking off past difficulties, and lay the foundation for a bigger, brighter, happier, more rewarding 2011. This is the best time of year for a guy like me. Every get together is a chance to meet new people and discover what makes them tick, what motivates them....
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LinkedIn Lessons: How to Stand Out and Level the Playing Field
I love LinkedIn. It's one of the best networking tools out there to help you expand your reach. It's "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" for the business world. But it can be a big, foreign maze. To stand out in the LinkedIn crowd, here are ten quick tips: To increase your Google search rankings, make your LinkedIn profile 100% complete Brand yourself by using a professional headshot...
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Universal Truths of Recruiting and Staffing
There are a few things you can count on in this world. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west. What goes up must come down. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The funniest guy at the bar on your office party will regret it Monday morning. In recruiting, as in life, there are absolutes. Unshakeable truths that simply aren't negotiable. In our industry, they are the...
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How to Write a Job Description
Think of a job description as a "snapshot" of a job. The job description needs to communicate clearly and concisely what responsibilities and tasks the job entails and to indicate, as well, the key qualifications of the job – the basic requirements (specific credentials or skills) – and, if possible, the attributes that underlie superior performance. Following is a quick look at the...
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Rebranding Yourself as a Career Recruiter
In today's job market, enticing potential clients to work with your firm can be challenging at best. With unemployment levels at consistently high levels, candidates are flocking to companies with openings. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we focus on branding ourselves as something new. Rebranding has worked for soda companies, clothing designers, retail chains and just about every...
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Ignoring Sexual Harassment Is Expensive: 5 Tips To Prevent Lawsuits
In the 1980s, after a $1 million dollar sexual harassment lawsuit against the government, I developed and conducted the first-ever training for federal employees. Fast forward thirty years and the workplace is still rampant with sexual harassment claims and lawsuits. In 2006, the largest sexual harassment lawsuit ever, at $1 billion dollars, was filed. The complaint cites lewd behavior and...
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What do You Mean My Organization Is a Stepping Stone?
I remember the moment I swore that I would always value my employees. It was the late 90s, I was the head of sales and my boss was sitting across the table. "Sales people are a dime a dozen," he said. "I could replace anyone working here tomorrow and not miss a beat." That told me everything I needed to know about my value to the organization and it didn't take long before I left and...
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Your Biggest Challenge In Recruiting and in Life
Recruiters are saddled with many challenges. If it's not a jobless recovery to worry about it's the potential for a double dip recession. Many of us are searching for magical formula in these tumultuous times in hopes of getting through to better times. If there were such and thing – and that simple, someone would find it, bottle it (or put it on the net), sell it and we would all...
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The Uncovered Secrets of Million-Dollar Billers
In the world of executive recruiting, success is ours for the taking. So why do some people achieve superstardom and others quit in frustration? What does it really take to become a multi-million dollar biller? Obviously, it's not going to happen for everyone. Only the top half of one percent of all recruiters bill over a million dollars a year. Most people are unable or unwilling to climb...
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Ten Reasons to Move Your Training Online
In today's knowledge based economy, business skills and knowledge are the pillars of career success. In order for businesses and individuals to stay afloat it is vital that professionals continuously update these skills. However, finding the time and the resources necessary to do so can be challenging. Not sure if online learning is right for you? Here are the top ten reasons why...
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The Pepsi Challenge Approach to Recruiting
"More than 50% of Coke drinkers prefer Pepsi to Coke" — Pepsi's trumpeted results of the now-classic "Pepsi Challenge" What if one of the most successful soft-drink marketing campaigns of all time could be replicated in the realm of recruiting to promote clients, recruiting firms, individual candidates or recruiters? The well-known, long-running "Pepsi Challenge" to...
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Recruiting Employees with Disabilities
"All too often, people with disabilities are pressured to feel gratitude for things that are their basic human rights – subsidized housing, support services, inclusion in the community, basic acceptance and respect," writes the poet and activist Laura Hershey in "The Good and Bad of Gratitude." Among the 'basic acceptance and respect' must be the opportunity to work. "We can't succumb to...
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Drilling Deeper
How do you gauge when a society has moved out of one mindset and into another? One way might be to look at what generates public outcry and what is quietly accepted. The public interest research group, Public Citizen, announced that change is afoot. According to Public Citizen's press release by Tyson Slocum, for the first time since 2010's oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the Department...
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Employment Rises in February
Do you remember February? Only 28 days, and yet a lot seemed to happen! Maybe you are only just getting around to understanding what happening in Egypt and Wisconsin because you've been busy trying to place people in the right positions for them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it seems that employment was significantly up in February. Are recruiters noticing this upswing in...
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