Categories
Timebound Workplace

Craiglist and Indeed are the Best Places to Find Jobs

Today we had a chat with Heather Sanford, who is a jobseeker based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The reason I wanted to pick her brains on job hunting is that she is very prolific online and seems to know her way around social media better than most of us. If you think you can help…

Categories
Timebound Workplace

Hate Your Job? He’ll be the Judge of That!

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Today, I spoke to Vincenzo Migliore, who is a Manchester (England) based recruitment veteran and founder/director of the website
Judge the Job.
 
Tell us Vincenzo, what is Judge the Job all about?
 
Judge the Job is an anonymous employee review site that allows users to discover the real best companies to work for.
 
How does it help people out there?
 
We all know how difficult it can be to make a career move or decide whether or not to join a particular company, so the aim of Judge the Job is not to replace, but to provide another trusted and unbiased source of information, that helps in this process. Actually it’s a little bit like therapy, helping you put things into perspective by encouraging you to take time out, to think about all the elements good and bad that make up your job. And actually after leaving a review… Well, it’s kind of satisfying.
 
How many reviews are listed?
 
We currently have almost 100 live reviews for a range companies from Lloyds TSB, British Airways, BT Group and more.
 
What do companies think about being listed?
 
Aah yes, interesting one! It really varies, some feel a little uncomfortable with the loss of control and concerned about what people will say, now that we are giving them the chance, whereas other companies, believe it or not, have actively asked their employees to visit the site and get involved, which is great!
 
Does it cost anything?
 
No, it’s completely free to use and I quote, “we will never charge users to access reviews”. In fact all we ask is that you submit a quick anonymous review in return for 12 months full access to the site.
 
Reasons you started it up?
 
Having worked in the recruitment industry I was becoming a little skeptical of so many companies offering so called ‘great opportunities’, and I realized it would be helpful if there was somewhere people could actually read first hand experiences for themselves.
 
I also noticed how much time people seemed to be spending reading/writing reviews about holidays, restaurants, and even smaller purchases such as books and CDs…. Yet there seemed very few places for people to review one of the biggest parts of their lives, their jobs.
 
So I set about creating Judge the Job; allowing users to anonymously discuss their experiences of working at particular companies.
 
Is Judge the Job just for people to complain about their company?
 
Well some might think so, but this something we work hard to avoid, we’re aiming for balanced reviews of the workplace. Ok we understand people like to moan about work but on JudgetheJob, companies deserve a fair trial which is why we insist people put the good and bad points before completing their review – no company deserves 0%. After all there’s always something good about your job – even if it’s just the people you work with.
 
Admittedly it is up to the users to make this work, the more information they share the more useful it will become as a career tool. But judgethejob.com isn’t about anonymous ‘revenge’; it’s about honest, open reviews and sharing of that information. All reviews are personally read and approved before they go live on the site. We’ve also put some pretty strict guidelines in place to make sure people treat the community and members with respect.
 
Where are you taking your site next?
 
The natural step for us is to include vacancies, something we are looking to introduce fairly soon. We’re also constantly exploring new ways of developing and improving the site and in fact have something very special planned for the coming months….so watch this space!
 
Give me 3 reasons why people should go to your site right now?
 
You can access all reviews free of charge, you can read inside information on the companies you want to work for and finally you can get that much needed career therapy!
 
Grazie mille for your time Vincenzo.
 
Vincenzo Migliore is the founder of Judge the Job, a site that allows employees to anonymously read/write impartial reviews about their place of work.
 
You can reach him via

Categories
Talent Acquisition Timebound

Employers want Jason Bourne, not Jason Alexander

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Hello Mark, can you please tell us what you recruit for and what geography you cover?
 
Wyatt & Jaffe works worldwide… Having done searches in Sweden, United Kingdom, India, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. And the US.
 
Functionally, just about everything…with an emphasis on high-impact and C-level roles. Industry-wise: Technology, Financial Services, Consumer and Retail.
 
Notable clients?
 
Historically: Bank of America, GE Commercial Finance, Gateway, Ricoh, WaMu, Maxtor, First Data, CB Richard Ellis, Philips Semiconductor, Seagate.
 
What has been the key to your success?
 
Direct and honest communication. Trust created by saying and doing the truly difficult things, not just what gives everyone immediate pleasure. Understanding client needs and expanding on, rather than simply meeting, their stated objectives.
 
Why are some recruiters failing in this market?
 
Partly because they expect their clients to direct them. It’s like a physician asking the patient what drug to prescribe. Most search firms wind up behaving simply like vendors, not advisors.
 
And more importantly because, in my humble opinion, they take a sales approach to what is and should remain fundamentally a consulting business. Selling is advocating for me. Consulting is advocating for the client.
 
What are the trends you have spotted in your field?
 
In a troubled economy like this one, the best efforts of almost every search firm have been focused primarily on business development, marketing, packaging and promotion of their services. How would you like it if your attorney was too busy promoting his practice to give you reliable and expert representation?
 
Like anyone else in the profession, I’m also concerned about the commoditization of search. Treating the selection of key human capital as a mere business transaction doesn’t just damage our industry. It ultimately impacts the performance of corporations and the long-term effectiveness of their leaders.
 
Disintermediation is rampant now. Both CEOs and their HR chiefs would do well to “spare the consultant and spoil the executive team” by working with search principals directly, rather than through lower-level intermediaries. This is not simply a matter of personal taste or preference; it is critical to corporate health.
 
How much do you use social media to find clients and candidates?
 
We have also used a wide variety of digital and social media tools (in the old days it was called “research”) as a part of our overall process. But we have always believed, as we do now, that identifying candidates can only be done meaningfully within the context of a deep understanding of the client’s specific needs. There is no magic formula. Bottom line: If you’re the right person for one of our searches, we’ll find you whether you’re on LinkedIn or not.
 
How important are resumes and cover letters?
 
Resumes are terribly important. I can’t imagine a time when they won’t be.
 
Cover letters should be three things: short, concise and short (so important I mention it twice).
 
What are your best tips to jobseekers in a tough market?
 
Remember that it’s not you, it’s the economy. Try to stay calm. Take a deep breath and relax. Hyperventilating is never pretty, particularly during an interview. Prospective employers want Jason Bourne – not Jason Alexander. Show them you’re capable, confident and cool. No sobbing!
 
Work your contacts, but don’t work them over. Your network is a precious resource and should be treated as such. Now is the time to use it…but gently. Ask for a reference, not a job. When you don’t put your friends on the spot, they’re more inclined to help you.
 
Keep your wallet in your pocket. If someone offers to craft you a “killer resume”, put you in touch with the “hidden job market” or coach you to become a newer, more marketable you…just say “No.” Whether they’re asking for $3,000 or $300, it’s overpriced. Don’t take candy from strangers, either.
 
Are career coaches of any use to jobseekers?
 
Some people may benefit from the hand-holding, but I think that the fees they charge are outrageous and generally a very poor return on investment. When times get tough, the tough get pitched a bunch of crap.
 
Any other pearls of wisdom you would like to share?

Haven’t I already said too much?

Yes that is true. Thanks for your time Mark.
 
A 25-year veteran of executive search, Mark Jaffe has a reputation for seeing beyond the package and posture of highly accomplished business leaders. He is uncompromisingly direct and focused on his task – finding the perfect match for his client. Mark is one of the most frequently quoted talent brokers of the new economy and was named by BusinessWeek as one of the World’s 100 Most Influential Headhunters.
 
Wyatt & Jaffe, recognized as one of the 50 Leading Retained Search Firms in North America (Executive Recruiter News) and short-listed by the International Association of Corporate and Professional Recruitment (IACPR) as one of the top ten, is known for engaging high-impact executive talent that the marketplace perceives as unattainable. Wyatt & Jaffe works with a select list of financial services, high technology and consumer companies worldwide. The firm was founded in 1988. More information about Wyatt & Jaffe can be found at: www.wyattjaffe.com  

Categories
Timebound Workplace

Desperate People Don’t Get New Jobs, Try This Approach Instead

Just like in the world of dating, looking desperate is not going to get you anywhere in your job search. When someone sees the glint of desperation in your eye, they question your motives and you lose credibility in an instant. Sure, there is a correlation of number of job applications and number of interviews…

Categories
Timebound

Google Profiles: What’s the Buzz all About?

UPDATE: Google Profiles are now part of Google+. — With the big announcement of Google Buzz, your Google profile has suddenly become very important. I know what you’re thinking: “What, another profile?” Yes my friends, another profile indeed. And a profile you cannot afford to ignore as it’s from Google itself. Having a properly filled out Google…