7 Tales from the Recruitment Crypt

7 Tales from the Recruitment Crypt Every profession has horror stories to tell. Why these tales exist beggars the belief of the majority of genuine professionals searching for roles or working in recruitment. However there will always be a small minority who feel permitted to behave in a completely unprofessional manner and as though the world owes them some kind of favour. So with Halloween just around the corner here are some of the gasp inducing stories our team have to tell or have been told. 1. Punchy interview techniques Back in the 1990s an engineer candidate attempted to attend an interview without mobile phones and sat navs. He hadnt factored in that the road the company was located was about 10 miles long and he ended up being about 40 mins late. The mild mannered MD interviewing him was very understanding at the start of the interview and then explained he would have to leave in 20 mins to collect his kids. The candidate then punched the client, yes really, for wasting his time! 2. Missing in action A candidate attending two second interviews, goes missing en route and he doesnt turn up for any of them. Hours later he calls to say he had been involved in a motorway pile up with his car written off. Somehow though, he manages to get to the interviews two days later miraculously arriving in the same car he had attended his initial interview in, this was the car that was apparently written off! 3. Mixing business with pleasure During an interview a candidate was asked about his greatest accomplishment, he replied that it was writing a short novel. When the interviewer said, ‘No, I mean something you did while at work,’ the candidate replied, ‘But I did write it while at work!’ The candidate was unsuccessful! 4. OCD client A fantastic candidate, lets call her Steph, was interviewing for a digital design job at a high profile digital marketing agency. During the interview, Steph moved something on the interviewer’s desk to make room for her portfolio. When I later asked the decision-maker why he was not looking to make an offer to an extremely well qualified candidate with extremely hard-to-find technical skills, he actually said to me “She touched my stuff!” 5. Unbeknown to the candidate A recruiter speculatively presented an employed candidate to four companies, the candidate knew nothing about it, one of the clients receiving the speculative CV was best friends with the candidates current manager. A quick forward of the speculative CV from one friend to another and the candidate finds herself pulled into a meeting being asked “why have I got your cv?!” ARGH! 6. Reincarnation Once had a temp who had called in sick because his mum had died. Two months later he called in sick because his mum had died, again!!! He did not get to be a permanent employee! 7. Rampant recruiting A talented gentleman on interview, his CV was great, the client was looking forward to meeting him, the interview was going well and the gentleman was doing a great job of selling himself. What could go wrong? All was going great until, he very proudly told the interviewer that he has only ever had one day off sick in five years and that was because he got a twisted testicle during some vigorous lovemaking! There is such a thing as too much information! Bonus: Temp desk troubles Busy Friday afternoons, multiple clients, candidates, jobs and tasking, occasionally things can go wrong. Like the time a chef arrived for a temporary booking at a warehouse requiring a manager and a forklift truck driver arrived at a hotel with a requirement for a head chef! Sometimes it just can all go wrong! Over many years of recruiting, we have many great successful stories to tell and comparatively few horror stories thankfully. No matter how thorough the processes in place are there will always be the unexpected and that is probably the most important lesson to be learned from these stories. Expect the unexpected, people will never fail to surprise, delight and disappoint. Whats your best recruitment tale from the crypt? Please share in the comments! Related: The 5 Worst  Interview  Howlers of All Time.

How to Transform a Millennial Employee into a Leader

How to Transform a Millennial Employee into a Leader Many employers often see employees of the millennial generation (those born post-1985) as unreliable, egocentric and in perpetual need of instant gratification. This is not necessarily the case, according to David D. Bernstein, author of the book Fast Future: How the Millennial Generation is Shaping our World. In his book, Bernstein says millennials are forging a revolution in the workplace, which will cause drastic changes to how businesses are run in the future. “Millennials are more global, more tolerant, more diverse, more educated, more connected, and bigger than any generation before them,” said Bernstein. “They embrace change. They are the only generation to come of age with one foot in the old world of pre-internet, pre-Facebook, pre-computer, doing their first research projects in libraries, and another foot in the digital era.” What is Leadership to a millennial? The millennial’s view of leadership is quite different from that of the older generations. Younger workers are part of a generation that’s moving away from traditional, structured leadership. They prefer a flatter business organisation where collaboration is key, rather than hierarchical management. This means that, over the next decade and more, the future of leadership within businesses will likely have to change in order to attract top millennial talent. Those employers looking to groom an up-start millennial for a leadership position, there are some very important qualities to consider before you take your eager apprentice under your wing: Commitment to the job We were all young once and it is not hard to recall the times early in our career when work came a distant second to the hedonistic qualities of the weekend or after-work drinks. While it is important to have a healthy work/life balance, future leaders will likely be those who you can see putting in the hard yards in their twenties. These candidates will generally seem eager to take on extra work and won’t mind working late to complete tasks. They also prefer to face challenges head on rather than run away from them. Controlling impulsive actions One of the main gripes employers have about the millennial generation is their short attention span and constant need for gratification, rewards and bonuses. They are not totally to blame for this attitude. Part of it is down to the world they have grown up in. Nowadays, all the answers to any question is in the palm of our hand, retail therapy is just a click away, and the ever pursuit of Facebook ‘likes’ is an addictive self-esteem boost for a needy generation. Such distractions cause young workers to have less emotional control and patience than older staff. When considering job candidates, look for those that have shown an ability to control impulsive actions and can hold their focus to the tasks at hand. Communication Communication is a quality that is important to every generation. You should never consider someone for a ‘leadership’ role if they cannot communicate effectively. As mentioned before, the perceived problem with millennials is their restlessness and impatience. This can sometimes be construed as selfish or arrogant behaviour, which can rub more seasoned employees the wrong way. Future leaders should have an ability to communicate well with all ages and across multiple platforms. They will even know how to inspire others with their passion and approachable manner. Leveraging and implementing new technology for the business As the Internet of Things and Digital Disruption weave themselves into every facet of business, it is the millennials who the older generations will turn too to spearhead the change. After all, millennials have the advantage of growing up in the new digital age and as such are ideally equipped to implement the latest technology for business. A millennial leader is a great candidate for businesses looking to embrace the digital revolution. They can leverage the benefits of technology to streamline and improve processes in the business. In turn, they can also improve the innovation and profitability of your business in the future. Author: Andrew Morris is the Director of Queensland and Western Australia at Robert Half, and is based in the firm’s Brisbane office. Andrew relocated from Hong Kong in July 2011, where he was Robert Half’s Director of Greater China.

10 Deadly Resume Mistakes to Avoid!

10 Deadly Resume Mistakes to Avoid! Photo Credit â€" techgyd.com6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 BOOM!! Your resume would now either be doomed to the trash can or would make its way to the ‘yes’ pile. Yes, you have got only 6 seconds to either impress your employer or earn his rejection.You are perceived how you portray yourself, and your resume is not only the heart of your career search but also your reflection. It is your first interaction with your prospective hirer make sure the spell you cast lasts long.A hastily written resume thins or completely kills your chances for the job. Remember there is a raft of applications and there isn’t much time to contemplate on one. Your fate is sealed in a matter of seconds so make sure your resume catches the eyes and lands on the accepted pile taking you to the next level of the hiring process.Photo Credit â€" stepitupresumes.comPhoto Credit â€" stepitupresumes.comevalHere are some of the most egregious resume mistakes that should be avoided so that you don’t fall into the pit and mi ss your chances for a job you might be best suited for.1. Packing it up with InformationevalNeither is there that much time nor is anyone interested in reading a 10 to 15 pages script in the name of a resume. Therefore, stacking up too much information would do you no good.Keep your length to a maximum of two pages which is the ideal requirement. Keep it simple and in line with the requirement of the job.Photo Credit â€" resume.naukri.com2. Getting Off TrackYour resume should be succinct, highlighting your accomplishments rather than your duties. Piling up information that might overshadow your skills required for the applied job would cost you the job since your worth and usefulness wouldn’t be visible to the recruiter. Also, the essence of the resume is lost, it will look more like a novel or a month’s grocery receipt.Add only things that might shed light on your skills and might also come in hand for the applied job. Otherwise cramming of a lot of additional job descriptions would only make you miss the shot.Photo Credit â€" naukrigulf.com3. Full of Speed BumpsMake sure you proofread your resume both while writing it and after you are done with it to come clean with grammars and typos since it will make you look careless and negligent of details. Otherwise, you might be handed over a dictionary instead of a job!evalYou could print it out to easily pick out the mistakes, or you could take some time to refresh yourself so that when you are on your resume, the chances of errors are minimal. Such mistakes act as speed breakers and are annoying for the reader.If emending is not your thing you can lend your work to someone who is finicky when it comes to work so that your final draft comes pristine.Photo Credit â€" Social-hire.com4. Playing the Blame GameIf you had bad past experiences with your bosses, DO NOT mention it in your resume or your cover letter as it will only define one person: you. It will mirror a person who is unable to deal with the authority anywhere and thus has a hard time settling in.Regardless of how intolerable or wrathful the current or previous boss is, never bad-mouth him. Do not bring your baggage along with you; it will only tarnish your reputation.Photo Credit â€" executivedrafts.com5. Fabricating ThingsevalevalBoasting about things or exaggerating would take you down, as nowadays cross-checking and references through social media could set you in your own trap. If once your image as a liar is established it leaves a mark on your integrity. It questions your character, and any chance for future consideration is eliminated.Photo Credit â€" franksonnenbergonline.com6. Displaying Artistic SkillsA resume is not the place to put a show of your creative and artistic skills. You don’t need crazy funky formatting and fonts to make your resume stand out, your qualifications and experiences are enough for that. Resorting to such techniques would make your resume to land in the unread pile since neat and clean resume s are preferred over such childish acts. So do not waste your coloured and perfumed papers and efforts on decorating them. Do not go for very ancient ones either; the point is to keep your resume sleek and classy and not going overboard either.Photo Credit â€" time.com7. Mentioning MoneyNever mention money unless this piece of information is required. It’s not only unethical but rude too. It sounds obnoxious and shows you are more on the job for money than to offer your service dutifully. Hold your horses until you are called for an interview and the subject comes up. Be more focused on what is required of you rather than your own needs.Photo Credit â€" pinsdaddy.com8. Side Tracking KeywordsThere is a specific language used in every organisation. Be mindful of the keywords since scanning software is sometimes used to sift out resumes eligible for the job. Do not use words that are known only by one company rather use the standard terms otherwise you might be excluded consideration for a job that you might be suitable for.Photo Credit â€" autumnbench.com9. Lengthy ParagraphsThe hiring managers have piles of resumes they don’t have the time nor the will to go through dense paragraphs. It doesn’t matter how qualified and suitable you are, the task seems enervating. It’s hard to struggle through the paragraphs and find the skills demanded by the job. Therefore, using bullets is best suited, since it catches the eyes quickly and is digestible.Photo Credit â€" thedependdesign.com10. Forgetting to Modify Your ResumeDifferent companies have different needs. Do not send the same version everywhere. Keep track of the requirement of each organisation and the job and make customise your resume accordingly before sending it out. Highlight only those areas and strengths which are relevant making it easy for the recruiters to pick you out. Mirror their language when speaking if your abilities, it shows you are fit for achieving the goals of the company.Once you manag e to avoid these mistakes, your resume is good to go!!

Whats Holding You Back Fear Number Four - Jane Jackson Career

Whats Holding You Back Fear Number Four - Jane Jackson Career The  Fear of Not Being Good EnoughHave you set yourself goals  â€" to get fit, lose weight, get that new job, relax more, smile more, have fun again   and found that you let them  slip within weeks?   Why is this?I wonder if the reason is connected not simply to our genuine desire to make a change but also to our self-esteem?Ask yourself, “Do I deserve to be trim, taut and terrific?   Do I deserve that new job?   Do I deserve to be relaxed, to be able to smile, to have fun?”   If you are hesitating, examine your self-esteem.   Be honest with yourself.Fear that is connected to your self-esteem can affect everything you do in life.You may settle for a job that you hate and doesn’t pay enough because you think that you aren’t clever enough or strong enough to handle more responsibility.   You may remain in a relationship that makes you unhappy because you think that you don’t deserve to be treated in such a way that makes you feel good about yourself.   You may not allow yours elf to let go and enjoy a new relationship because you are afraid to expect too much for yourself.You may avoid making the positive changes to improve your life.   If you don’t believe you deserve better life circumstances, you aren’t going to be able to create them.Think about this: You were born with rights.   You have the right to be the best you can be. You were born with the ability to make the best of whatever circumstances you may encounter.       You deserve to behave in such a way that will enable you to achieve all you can to command respect.   You deserve to be as good as anyone that you admire.   You can be who you want to be.Do you believe you deserve what you hope for?   You have a choice.   Choose to believe in yourself.   Then nothing will hold you back from being good enough to achieve your goals.For those who may still be hesitating, Id like to draw you to the presuppositions of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) which have been an inspiration and guide to me a t times when I have needed to put my own life and recent events into perspective:1. People respond to their experience, not to reality itselfWe do not know what reality is. Our senses, beliefs, and past experience give us a map of the world from which to operate. A map can never be exactly accurate; otherwise it would be the same as the ground it covers. We do not know the territory, so for us, the map is the territory.2. Having a choice is better than not having a choiceAlways try to have a map for yourself that gives you the widest and richest number of choices. Act always to increase choice. The more choices you have, the freer you are and the more influence you have.3. People make the best choice they can at the timeA person always makes the best choice they can, given their map of the world. The choice may be self-defeating, bizarre or evil, but for them, it seems the best way forward. Give them a better choice in their map of the world and they will take it.4. People work perf ectlyNo one is wrong or broken. They are carrying out their strategies perfectly, but the strategies may be poorly designed and ineffective. Find out how you and others do what they do so their strategy can be changed to something more useful and desirable.5. All actions have a purposeOur actions are not random; we are always trying to achieve something, although we may not be aware of what that is.6. Every behaviour has a positive intentionAll our actions have at least one purpose to achieve something that we value and benefits us. NLP separates the intention or purpose behind an action from the action itself. A person is not their behaviour. When a person has a better choice of behaviour that also achieves their positive intention, they will take it. 7. The unconscious mind balances the conscious; it is not maliciousThe unconscious is everything that is not in consciousness at the present moment. It contains all the resources we need to live in balance. 8. The meaning of the co mmunication is not simply what you intend, but also the response you getThis response may be different to the one you wanted. There are no failures in communication, only responses and feedback. If you are not getting the result you want, change what you are doing. Take responsibility for the communication.9. We already have all the resources we need, or we can create themThere are no unresourceful people, only unresourceful states of mind.10. Mind and body form a system. They are different expressions of the one personMind and body interact and mutually influence each other. It is not possible to make a change in one without the other being affected. When we think differently, our bodies change. When we act differently we change our thoughts and feelings.11. We process all information through our sensesDeveloping your senses so they become more acute gives you better information and helps you think more clearly.12. Modeling successful performance leads to excellence.If one person c an do something it is possible to model it and teach it to others. In this way everyone can learn to get better results in their own way, you do not become a clone of the model â€" you learn from them.13. If you want to understand ActThe learning is in the doing.Lets rid ourselves of Fear Number 4 the fear of not being good enough.   We can be all we want to be!   Id love to hear your stories too.Connect with me on LInkedIn No matter where you are in the world, if you need help, Im here for you via Zoom or Skype.   To book a complimentary exploratory conversation, click here   Be empowered to achieve your goals!

How to Create a Great Zety Cover Letter

How to Create a Great Zety Cover LetterWhen you have started applying for jobs, one of the things that you would want to do is check on your resume for any mistakes in it, and after that to check your Zety Cover Letter. The reason for this is that it needs to be fixed immediately. So, here are some tips that can help you with this process:o Ensure that you have not missed out any information on your resume. Check if there are errors or omissions in it. If you have any, then rewrite the resume in such a way that the errors will be fixed. Always remember that your resume must reflect your skills, experience and abilities.o Take into consideration the contents of your cover letter. It is true that there are many recruiters who read your cover letter for only one reason - to find out if you would be a good match for the job. So, you need to make sure that your cover letter is genuine.o You must include career activities in your cover letter. You can mention about your own achievements an d successes, and how you can really help the company in which you are applying. If you have not done so, then write an outline of your career activities that you can use as an example.o Write about your time management skills. You must highlight your time management skills and then work on some experiences that prove to be of your good traits. Work on building your resume so that you will not be disappointed with the responses. Try to get your resume to rank the same, but with this short paragraph of yours, and check if you have covered all the essential points of your resume.o Make some factual statements about yourself. If you are a secretary, you should mention about your working experience and then include the facts that prove to be truthful. Besides, make sure that you mention about your professional accomplishments, and choose some examples of things that you have done. Keep in mind that your cover letter will be read by many people.o Make sure that your cover letter is very c reative. Make sure that your letter has catchy phrases, and some creative headlines. While writing your letter, keep in mind that this letter must be read by many people.