Dear Santa, All I Want for Christmas Is...

Dear Santa, All I Want for Christmas Is... Ho ho ho! It is that time of year again where blogs all over are being written to reflect the seasonal mood out there.  Lots of reflections over the year, in fact, this blog almost became a look back over 2013 how it compared to what I had planned back on Jan 1st 2013 and what I had achieved versus those goals. But then I thought, actually, as much as we should reflect on our set goals, I prefer to look ahead and plan what I can do in the future. Therefore, I thought I would take this chance to write an open letter to Santa (other mythical or religious figures are also available but he seemed the most obvious one to ask at this time of year!) to ask him what I could wish for over the forthcoming 12 months. I am not greedy I only have a few requests! Honesty: Yes, that old chestnut (I love my own puns, sorry, naff I know!). I want YOU, my customer whether you are an existing client, live candidate, a potential candidate, reader of blog, advocate of my business, referrer or just acquaintance to please just tell the truth. Don’t withhold vital information from me. Don’t play me off against your current employer. Don’t misguide me during an interview process so my candidate is at a disadvantage by harbouring doubts. I am super honest (diplomatically and otherwise) and I ask for, nay, demand the same in return. Candour equals better results for all parties, I promise. Respect: Respect for a process; respect that I also have a job to do; respect the discretion that I may impart to you, my client by proxy for my candidate. Life can be hard enough without blatant disrespect for the etiquette rules we have as Best Practise guidelines. So please, don’t cancel an interview an hour before. please turn up when you say you are going to.please don’t lie to me about your situation.please don’t secretly ask Bob in the other division what he thinks of my confidential candidate before you have offered them.. get it? Less media gossip: My husband and I are resolute about what news channels/newpapers we allow into our house. Dependent upon which political sway of the said media, will influence whether you believe we are still in a recession (slit your wrists time) or whether, we are in recovery and the jobs market is actually looking very healthy (hooray, crack open the Moet or Real Ale in our house..) We had a blackout of news for a while and we missed nothing major thanks to Twitter (I am not joking). And we stayed very focused and upbeat and optimistic all by ourselves. And drank lots of real ale well, my hubbie is a brewer (really) Failure for the cowboys: Boo hiss! We hate our competitors. Well, as you all know, I don’t actually and with some (other good guys), I have formed collaborations (those who are located elsewhere in UK and abroad). However, I wish the cowboys who create so much bad publicity and experiences for customers could fail abysmally and be forced to close down and have to go and do something else for a living (I don’t want to insult any other professions, but selling your granny off a market stall?) I have had enough of poor R2Rs spreading shame and misery across the sector and recruiters generally who leave such a sour impression upon our wonderful and privileged industry. Old-skool mentality: What’s wrong with being a little old fashioned in your approach? Yes, I do embrace social media as a means to promote my business and hopefully get the message out of what I do and whom I am looking to assist. But NOTHING replaces good honest meeting and speaking to people in person. So I would wish for an emphasis on quality over quantity- why make 100 calls a day when 10 fab calls may result in success; meet just 1 great candidate and place them rather than 10 shoddy ones; have just 20 clients on your portfolio who are all exclusive rather than 200 who can’t remember your name- make sense? And finally Time: I would like some TIME please. Yes, time. As much as what I profess is urgency (it is even one of the abbreviations in my company name), don’t rush me. Don’t panic me, Mr Client, otherwise I may fear that you just want a bum on a seat; Ms candidate- I do share your burden that you hate it where you are, but if we panic, you will not make the right judgement. Oh and I would like some time just to reflect (and write blogs LOL) too. is that such a bad thing? We don’t need to be 100 miles an hour for 12 hours a day do we? Thank you, Santa. (My other letter asks you to grant world peace, an end to poverty, imagine all the people. Oh, and maybe another diamond wouldn’t go amiss!) Merry Christmas to you all and thanks for reading and sharing my blogs this year. Let me know what YOU wish for from Santa (or whoever!) and I look forward to writing for you all again in 2014. Lysha RELATED:  Recruiters: How to Survive the Holidays

Marketing in the IT Industry - 5 Trends to Consider in 2020 -

Marketing in the IT Industry - 5 Trends to Consider in 2020 - Have you ever heard of David Ogilvy? If you are passionate about marketing and advertising, you probably know who he is.    But if you belong to the group that isnt enthusiastic about marketing, you have probably never come across this name. So who is he? David Ogilvy is the father of modern advertising who totally overhauled the traditional way of marketing. He once attributed his success to collecting customer habits intel and customizing his marketing campaigns to meet their needs. His strategy played out so well that he was able to score some of the biggest companies of the time including Rolls Royce and Shell. All this happened despite him being the head of a small company competing against established marketing companies in the 70s. Fast-forward to today, most of his marketing strategies are still relevant. However, with the emergence of new technology compounded by changing customer needs, companies are looking for better ways to market their goods and services. In this article, we are going to look at the trends making headlines in the IT industry and also how they can help a business improve the bottom line. Definition of Marketing Simply put, marketing refers to the process of attracting customers towards a business with the sole purpose of selling them products or services. It starts with conducting market research, analyzing, and understanding what interest your customers. Unlike other isolated business components, marketing touches every aspect of a business right from product development up to when the product reaches the customer. With the ever-changing consumer habits, it is important for marketers to have their firm finger on the consumers persona pulse through continuous analysis of shopping habits and the prevailing trends in the ecosystem. For this to happen, it means that businesses need to explore different methods to optimize their marketing including the use of marketing automation software. What is Marketing Automation? If you work in the marketing department, you may be familiar with repetitive tasks such as sending emails or posting on social media platforms. Marketing automation is a software application that helps in automating these repetitive tasks or any other marketing actions. Marketing automation benefits include allowing companies to nurture prospective customers with useful, highly personalized content hence converting them into actual customers. Good examples of free marketing automation tools include Hubspot, Drip, MailChimp, and Zoho Campaigns. Find here how you can create custom software to help in automating your marketing. Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s important to mention that the type of marketing you choose is largely influenced by the business niche and the platforms your customers prefer to use. For instance, it would be counterproductive to focus your marketing efforts using print media if your customers spend most of their time online. To avoid this mismatch, ensure you collect intel on customer behavior to ensure you come up with the right marketing tools mix that actually reaches your customers. Common types of marketing that a business can pursue. .Internet marketing Internet marketing is by far the largest and commonly used form of marketing. It operates under the basis of establishing an online presence which essentially exposes a business to customers. Search Engine Optimization Commonly abbreviated as SEO, it entails optimizing the content placed on a business website. As a result, the content helps this content to rank on the search engine once customers search for the products or services that fall in a particular category. Blog Marketing Gone are the days when blogs were exclusive to the individual writers. Businesses now are able to publish content touching their industry which essentially gathers interest from potential customers browse the internet looking for information. Social Media Marketing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms have also emerged as the new kids on the block where businesses target their customers. Print Marketing Print marketing is one of the marketing methods that have stood the test of time. Newspapers and magazines have perfected the art of understanding their customer’s interests giving businesses a platform where they can place photography, sponsored articles, and similar content for customers to read. Video Marketing A few years back, no one would have believed that video marketing would match or even transcend commercials. The current video marketing trends have seen an increase in investment to create and publish educative videos to reach their core customers. 5 Marketing Trends in the IT Industry to Look Out For in 2020 AI Marketing will Continue to Grow Artificial intelligence marketing entails leveraging customer data to map out customer’s behaviors, anticipate their next move, and make improvements to make this journey easier. Over the past few years, the marketing space has seen a rise in AI marketing mainly in the area of improving the customer-business relationship. Armed with these big data insights, marketers are able to greatly boost the performance of their marketing campaigns at the same time improve their ROI. Chatbots will Become More Mainstream Customer service can make or break a business. However, a good number of customers dont feel dont have the time to wait on the phone with a customer care rep discussing their problems or even drafting an email over the same. With chatbots, its super-convenient to solve some of these minor problems and it shouldnt come as a surprise they will become major players in the marketing space. These little but equally helpful AI concierges will continue to be integrated into websites to answer to customer queries and fulfill their requests in a record-breaking time without sacrificing personality. According to a recent report by Grand View Research,   it is estimated that the global chatbot market will hit $1.25 billion by 2025. During the same period, the market will see an annual growth rate of 24.3% which goes to show how bright the future is for the bots. In fact, the same report has found out that 45% of customers prefer dealing with chatbots for customer service as opposed to dealing with a real human being. So, if you havent considered these little programs, you could lose the allegiance of customers who prefer interacting with the chatbots. Voice Search Will Dominate the Airwaves According to a research by Search Engine Land, the total commercial sales from voice-based platforms is projected to clock $40 billion by the year 2022. This growing trend means 2020 is the year of getting ahead of the pack for businesses looking to be pioneers on this front. After all, which customer wouldnt appreciate the thought of ordering their favorite product through voice command? Not only will voice search make the process of finding information online easier but it will also help reduce screen time. Use of Videos Will Continue Rising According to a 2018 survey, more than 73% of Americans interact with YouTube. That loosely translates to half of the entire American population watching videos, some of which are in the digital marketing ecosystem. As a result, more and more businesses will continue to embrace YouTube as one of the many digital platforms to market their products and services. With that said, even if YouTube is one of the most popular video consumption platforms, it doesnt mean that you should discount other avenues like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This multidimensional video approach offers the best of both worlds. It helps archive your businesss marketing strategy and at the same time help you get valuable and incredibly accurate user metrics making continuous marketing easier. Higher Appreciation for Micro-Influencers Influencer-tracking technologies have continued to grow over the last 5 years or so. Going into 2020, we are going to see more and better-equipped brands cropping up with all the necessary technology to field and manage large networks of low-following and high-engagement. This largely untapped space will see companies significantly shift from engaging mid- to high-level influencers to more relatable influencer marketing. Final Thoughts Every industry is looking for innovative ways to use technology in reducing marketing costs, improving efficiency, and reducing the time spent on marketing. And while it may hard to feel the impact of these technologies in the short-term, their potential into the future is tremendous. If you are operating in the IT industry, the above tips will help you lay the foundation for the future marketing strategy of your business.

A Womans Guide to Protecting Herself in A Workplace Environment

A Womans Guide to Protecting Herself in A Workplace Environment In too many ways, its still a mans world out there.   There is no place that makes this fact more evident than the business world. Though things have begun to turn around in recent years, the ratio of men to women in high business positions is pathetic to say the least. Men hold 88% of the world’s board seats in companies. That leaves women with a whopping 12 percent  of the  ruling power. In addition to this, women only get paid an average of 77% of what men earn in the world. When everyone is doing the same job, to discriminate against somebody because of their sex is more than ridiculous. The workplace is not a safe or fair environment for a woman by any means. Though things need to change and are slowly on their way, the rate at which things are changing is not fast enough. This means women have to take matter into their own hands. If you’re a woman in the workplace who feels at risk and feels like you’re treated unfairly, here’s a guide for protecting yourself and getting the treatment you deserve: Don’t Take Crap When you get hired onto a firm or company and wages are being discussed, go in knowing what your coworkers are making on average. If your employer tries to lowball you, you’ll know and you’ll be able to come back at them with a counter offer. If you’re entering into a new position, it is a fragile situation to be in.  But if you’re afraid you might not get the job because you’re trying to be treated as equal with your male counterparts, you probably don’t want to be part of that business anyway. Go in with an attitude that you’re not going to take any less than what you deserve. When you act with confidence, often  you’ll find an establishment that will honor that. Focus On Your Own Security It’s a dog eat dog world out there and nobody is watching your back, so it’s up to you to defend and protect yourself. This is true in many different aspects, including your work on the computer and online. Business can require that classified information not get let out. If you’re handling the information and you’re passing it from internet server to server, your job security could be at risk. Know what steps you have to take to ensure you’re not the one dealing with a security breach. Every company has security protocol.  From your first day at work, be sure you are familiar with the company procedures for information security.  Dont mix personal and business activity.  Whether intentional or accidental, you dont want to find yourself at the center of an internal investigation of breached security. Workplace Equality And Security Are Your Rights All of this may sound like youre at risk at every turn in the business world.  In reality, its just about being smart as you advance your career.  On the one hand you perform and deliver your best.  On the other hand, its only prudent to make sure youre not vulnerable and that you protect your most valuable asset.  And that most valuable asset it you. Images: Interrnet Security  Olli Henze   Main  Randy Kashka

UKIERI Work Placement Programme University of Manchester Careers Blog

UKIERI Work Placement Programme University of Manchester Careers Blog If you’re sick of the cold here is a great opportunity to get away from it all and more importantly get some great work experience. The UKIERI Work Placement Programme run in association with the University of Dundee re-opened on the on the 18th March 2013, offering recent UK graduates (within the last 2 years) the opportunity to take a 6 month paid internship with a multinational company in India. As part of the programme you will also work towards the Global Internship Graduate Certificate India (GIGCI) The Internship Internships will be matched so that they relate to your degree and/or you career aspirations.   You’ll have the chance to undertake a project with an organisation in India which will be mutually beneficial helping then to achieve their business aims and helping you develop and make use of the skills, knowledge and experiences. Throughout the internship you will be given support from workplace supervisors and university tutors.   To cover the costs of accommodation and travel to work training allowances are provided but please note that not all costs associated with the programme may be free. Global Internship Graduate Certificate India The programme consists of two credit bearing modules: 1. Preparation and Planning (20 credits)   Taken prior to the internship this module aims to develop your self-awareness and career management skills, as well as giving you an insight into UK and international working cultures. 2. Internship and development (40 credits)   Combines the internship with the development of the career planning skills you will need to search for you next job and manage you career in the future. Application Process To be eligible to apply to this opportunity you must: Hold a UK passport Have a good Honours degree or equivalent from a recognised institution Graduated within the last   2 years from either a Undergraduate or Postgraduate qualification Be able to gain a Indian Entry Visa All applications need to be made through UKPASS. Along with the application form you will also need to attach an up to date CV including a CV aim and an indication of the internship/area you are interested in. You will also need to provide a copy of all Higher Education Certificates (contact Student Service Centre if you need help with documentation) Only 20 places are available on a first come first served basis so get   you applications in ASAP! For more information please see the University of Dundee site or contact them on gigc-i@dundee.ac.uk All Graduate Internships work experience

How to Write a Resume With Action and Results Oriented Content

How to Write a Resume With Action and Results Oriented ContentWhen starting to write a resume, the challenge is not to write the resume, but how to ensure that you are doing so with action and results oriented content. The goal is to outline your experience, then motivate yourself to list accomplishments as well as skills and knowledge that you have acquired.The more you know about the position you are applying for, the more effective your resume will be. A few minutes of research can give you a good starting point for writing a resume. You should also note that there are several factors that are associated with making your resume unique from the rest.Specific Skills As the writer, you should be able to determine the exact skills and knowledge that you possess that will help the person who is hiring you to hire you. It is important to list all the skills and knowledge that you possess so that it makes sense for the potential employer to hire you.Experience - In the resume, you should list what you have done in the past. Include any other relevant experience that can help the reader understand what kind of person you are.Education - It is important to list your educational background so that you can gain the confidence of your interviewer. Ensure that you also list any internships that you have had while applying for the job. The best way to learn how to write a resume is to read through sample resumes that other people have written.Professional Associations - Do not list all the professional associations that you are a member of. This could be confusing and could confuse the reader.Experience - Experience must be properly included in the resume so that your reader can see that you have a lot of knowledge and experience in your field. Ifyou have the experience and knowledge that you are looking for, then it will not matter how much experience you have, because employers will see it as an asset.In order to write an effective resume, take some time to research, br ainstorm, and compile the information that you need before you even start to write. You will soon be able to see that it takes skill and attention to detail to come up with the best resume.

Are Video Resumes the Way to Go - CareerEnlightenment.com

Are Video Resumes the Way to Go The job search is probably the ultimate place where, as the saying goes, “everybody is standing, but you need to stand out.” For increasing numbers of job seekers, the way to stand out is with a video resume.A video resume is a short digital video that serves as a companion or complement to the full resume (but is not a substitute for it). Job seekers post their video resume online and link it from their resume or cover letter. If the resume or cover letter sparks an interest in the candidate, employers may click on the link to access the video resume.A good resume â€" one that you build from scratch, or with the help of a resume builder â€" should always leave employers wanting more. A video resume can be that “more” â€" enough so that the hiring team can’t wait to meet the person in the video.Successful video resumes range in length from 60-90 seconds but can be as long as 2-3 minutes. Typically, they demonstrate specific skills included in resumes and provide a work sam ple illustrating how those skills might apply in a particular role. Video resumes can preemptively address questions often asked in the screening process, and accelerate getting qualified candidates cleared for the interview phase.What are the essential ingredients?A video resume must be highly professional, both in content and production quality. That requires a significant investment of time, effort, and resources. If you have limited experience creating videos for business use, you should probably obtain assistance from someone who has.Those producing their own video resumes will need a high-quality video camera and a tripod. The video resume is no place for cinéma vérité no jitter, weird framing, dizzying angles, or out-of-focus effects. A professional-looking location is also necessary.It must also have a highly focused script, using the language you normally use in your professional life. A good script will make you come across as natural and confident, not stilted or awkw ard. Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Where most video resumes falter is in lighting and sound. Household floor lamps and built-in microphones are almost always inadequate. Dark images, grainy footage, tinny sound, or ambient noise will make even the best candidate look cringingly unprofessional.Finally, you will need solid video editing tools. For straightforward editing, free software such as Windows MovieMaker or Apple iMovie is usually sufficient. For those wanting to include animations or sophisticated cuts, a more advanced package such as Adobe Premiere or CyberLink PowerDirector will probably be necessary.For what kinds of job seekers do video resumes work best? The fundamental purpose of a video resume is to add value to your regular resume, o that you stand out as a candidate. In the past, a video resume could not deliver on that for most candidates.But in the age of digital business, there are several situations where a video resume can benefit job seekers. Video resumes are a unique opportunity to show work samples to a potential employer, using delivery methods that would actually be used on the job. Examples include roles in digital media, content marketing, content production, product management, UX/UI, and promotions.Video resumes also provide a rich opportunity to demonstrate strong presentation skills for roles where they are absolutely essential. Examples include sales representatives, training professionals, instructors, financial managers, field marketers, health educators, attorneys, and journalists. Broader examples include candidates expected to be thought leaders or industry influencers.Finally, video resumes are finding a niche for new college graduates, particularly applicants to high-volume types of openings, where multiple candidates are hired having a similar profile.Are video resumes just a fad, or are they here to stay?Video resumes have been around in some form since the 1980s. But only recently have they piqued the interest of recruiters and hiring managers outside of a small niche. According to research conducted by The Vault, 89 percent of employers stated that they would view a video resume, even though only 17 percent have actually viewed one previously. Their number one reason for wanting to view a video resume? To evaluate professional presence and presentation skills.Only time will tell whether video resumes are just another glitzy fad. But what’s not going away is the digital job search. It is changing the ways job seekers stand out. Digitization of work is not going away either. For many digital workers, proficiency in digital media is just as important as a job skill as it is a job seeking skill.

Be Social Media Savvy in Your Job Search What every jobseeker should remember about Facebook and Twitter - Sterling Career Concepts

Be Social Media Savvy in Your Job Search What every jobseeker should remember about Facebook and Twitter Be Social Media Savvy in Your Job Search: What every jobseeker should remember about Facebook and Twitter Today, employers are reviewing your online presence. Google yourself. If old posts or out-of-date information comes up, see if you can take it down or update it. If you can’t remove outdated info about yourself, create new content (Twitter account, LinkedIn profile, articles, etc.) to try to “bury” the old information, and keep in mind the following specifics for Facebook and Twitter: Facebook • Clean up your “digital dirt.” Tech-savvy employers are going to start by Googling you and looking you up on Facebook. Remove questionable material from your profile. • In a job search, lock down your social media profile privacy settings. Also remove any unprofessional photos you have on your Facebook account. • When job searching, make sure you change your Facebook timeline cover photo to something presentable, since it’s visible to everyone. • You can use Facebook for professional and business networking, not just for social purposes. But be aware of the type and volume of personal information you’re sharing. • Tag your friends in status updates to thank them for help with your job search â€" that way, their friends and contacts will also see the message. Twitter • Be sure to have your photo or a professional avatar for your Twitter profile. The default blue “Twitter egg” is not compelling. • Many companies are looking at candidates on Twitter these days. Make sure your content includes keywords or phrases your target employer may be searching for. • Make it easy for your potential employer to find out more about you when they come across your Twitter profile by including a link to your LinkedIn profile. • Check out www.TwitJobSearch.com, a job search engine for Twitter. Social media is a very important element in job search today. It is a leading resource for recruiters and hiring managers. If social media networks are still a challenge for you when it comes to job search and professional online profiles, give us a call. We can help! Be Social Media Savvy in Your Job Search What every jobseeker should remember about Facebook and Twitter Be Social Media Savvy in Your Job Search: What every jobseeker should remember about Facebook and Twitter Today, employers are reviewing your online presence. Google yourself. If old posts or out-of-date information comes up, see if you can take it down or update it. If you can’t remove outdated info about yourself, create new content (Twitter account, LinkedIn profile, articles, etc.) to try to “bury” the old information, and keep in mind the following specifics for Facebook and Twitter: Facebook • Clean up your “digital dirt.” Tech-savvy employers are going to start by Googling you and looking you up on Facebook. Remove questionable material from your profile. • In a job search, lock down your social media profile privacy settings. Also remove any unprofessional photos you have on your Facebook account. • When job searching, make sure you change your Facebook timeline cover photo to something presentable, since it’s visible to everyone. • You can use Facebook for professional and business networking, not just for social purposes. But be aware of the type and volume of personal information you’re sharing. • Tag your friends in status updates to thank them for help with your job search â€" that way, their friends and contacts will also see the message. Twitter • Be sure to have your photo or a professional avatar for your Twitter profile. The default blue “Twitter egg” is not compelling. • Many companies are looking at candidates on Twitter these days. Make sure your content includes keywords or phrases your target employer may be searching for. • Make it easy for your potential employer to find out more about you when they come across your Twitter profile by including a link to your LinkedIn profile. • Check out www.TwitJobSearch.com, a job search engine for Twitter. Social media is a very important element in job search today. It is a leading resource for recruiters and hiring managers. If social media networks are still a challenge for you when it comes to job search and professional online profiles, give us a call. We can help!