Making the Employer Brand Obvious

Making the Employer Brand Obvious Ever wondered whether its a blessing or a challenge to be one of the worlds best-known consumer brands, especially when it comes to employer branding? Well, weve been speaking to the American wireless voice and data provider T-Mobile US. Tisha Leslie is the Director of Employer Brand at the company and gives us an insight just how tricky or easy her job actually is. Have a listen to the episode below, keep reading for a summary and be sure to subscribe to the  Employer Branding Podcast. Listen on  Apple Podcasts,  Stitcher Radio,  Google Play  or  Soundcloud. In this episode you’ll learn: Why their objective is to make their employer brand obvious What its really like to work at the company How she partners with lots of teams inside the business for activation Why research is key to their employer brand What #BeMagenta really means You can connect with Tisha on  LinkedIn.

How To Nail Your Cover Letter

How To Nail Your Cover Letter If you really want the job you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll need to put forth a little more effort. Most employers expect to see a cover letter with every submitted resume. They are no longer optional. Even if they were, why would you pass up an opportunity to explain why you’re perfect for the job? This is your chance to showcase your personality and convince the employer to call you as opposed to any other applicant. The last thing you want to do is lie on your resume or cover letter. Hiring managers want to hire you, not a representation of what you think they want. All lies will eventually come out. The cover letter is a chance to explain everything that wont fit on your resume and present  yourself as the perfect candidate.  Now that you realize how important it is, here are some tips to boost the quality of your cover letter and get your dream job! Address your letter to the right person This may take a little research on your part, but if it’s at all possible, address your cover letter to a specific person. “To Whom It May Concern” is not only overused, but it shows a lack of effort. It’s especially embarrassing if you use this and the name of the manager is in the job ad. It shows you just don’t care. That’s not the impression you want to give. Call the company and get the name of the person the application is going to. Taking this extra step will not only show that you are sincere about getting the job, but you respect the manager enough to find out his or her name. Doing your research also help avoid embarrassing mistakes such as addressing your letter to a Mr. Chris Smith, when Chris is actually a woman. Put emphasis on what you can do for them â€" not what they can do for you The cover letter is time for you to highlight your skills and what makes you the perfect candidate. The interview will be the time for more of an exchange and to convey your enthusiasm for the job. Right now, you’re trying to convince them of why they should call you in. If they get a feeling that you only want the job for superficial reasons (pay, prestige, etc.), they’ll think that you’re only trying to take. A good employee recognizes that to be successful, you have to give and take. The hiring manager wants to see what you can bring to the company to help them grow and succeed. It’s fine to show a little enthusiasm in your cover letter, but spin it to how it will benefit the company. Think something like, “I’ve been following your company since it’s start up and I’ve love to bring my skills to the team.” Then give some suggestions on how you can do that. Don’t just summarize your resume The hiring manager already has a copy of your resume. Don’t use your cover letter to rewrite your job history in paragraph form. Elaborate on certain jobs and emphasize what skills you used and achievements you made there. If you’re new to the employment field, use experiences from school. You can talk about how you’re always chosen to be the group leader in class and it gave you ample opportunity to develop management skills needed to bring to your future position. The cover letter is the place for you to talk about experiences that won’t fit on your resume. Customize your letter for every position you apply for Hiring managers can smell a stock letter from a mile away. Also, if you’re using the same letter and just changing small details such as the job title or the manager’s name, you’ll eventually slip up and send the wrong letter to a job. There’s no faster way to get your application in the trash. Every new application should have a new cover letter. It’s work to rewrite your cover letter, but it’ll pay out. It shows the hiring manager that you’ve done your research and you desire the position you’re applying for. Include a specific fact that only pertains to the company you’re applying for such as “I enjoyed the post on your company blog about…It helped me to…” Call  to action Now that you have some tips, take the time to research your dream job. Visit the company’s website and take some notes. Take key points from your resume and tell a story about them. Discuss your enthusiasm for the job, but put your emphasis on what you can bring to the company. It’s not hard to write a cover letter, just takes a little bit of thought! About the author:  Jim Raychrudhury is a passionate blogger and freelance writer, interested in careers and business.

Are You Looking for a Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Looking for a Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career At times, I am amazed at people in transition who approach the job search the way we used to in the past. Looking for a job nowadays puts job seekers into extremely tough competitions unlike those of the past, and job seekers who do not both understand and apply the rules of the game will be waiting a long time for anything good to happen to them. Everything starts with your résumé. The résumé is, however, only marketing collateral and not a legal document even though many still think it is the latter. The résumé is tantamount to an entry ticket. It rarely provides information about personality traits but, rather, contains a list of skills and accomplishments. Many people today still take responsibility for writing their own résumés, often receiving help from others who may be quasi qualified by virtue of being executives or being in the human resources field. What a mistake! In my opinion, producing an outstanding résuméâ€"one that really stands out, hands down, and that is attractive, appealing, and intriguing and has the right keywords for Internet queriesâ€"is not to be approached like a hobby. This is the job of a certified professional résumé writer with years of experience and expertise. Once that’s done, the résumé provides sufficient material to create an equally effective LinkedIn profile. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re one and the same. A résumé should be tailored and tweaked specifically for the particular position one is applying for; the LinkedIn profile is more generic and should have the right keywords so that the profile gets found. If your LinkedIn profile doesn’t get found, you are irrelevant and nonexistent to prospective employers and job recruiters. The computer software that does candidate searches is rigid, exacting, and unforgiving. So, once you’re armed with the right tools and the right knowledge to compete, you’ll notice that instead of your having to call people, they’ll start calling you! Be aware that for recruiters, job candidates are merely inventory to be sold. Recruiters are not typically open for chitchat, because time is money. They need to quickly evaluate your candidacy in light of the position they’re trying to fill. And your good communication and interviewing skills are essential at this point: Do you know what you’re selling? Can you clearly and succinctly recite success stories from your past? Can you convince the person at the other end of the telephone line or the other side of the interviewing desk that you’re the ideal candidate for the position that needs to be filled? Good! Keep practicing, because practice makes perfect. Good luck to you.

How Do You Negotiate a Pay Rise

How Do You Negotiate a Pay Rise If the thought of discussing your salary with your boss sends shivers down your spine, youre not alone. It can be up there with the most awkward / tense of all conversations. Still, it shouldnt deter you from addressing things if you feel like youre seriously being underpaid and undervalued. We called in our expert panel of career coaches to spill the beans on how best to broach the subject. Check out their top tip on negotiating a higher salary: Aimee Bateman Firstly, know what you want before you start. You don’t want to negotiate with yourself. Secondly, expect a ‘no’. Understand how to deal with rejection and position yourself in a way to take the negative answer professionally.  Have answers prepared beforehand to any objections you may face. If you’re prepared, you’re confident; so list out all your achievements. Also, if it is a ‘no’ then structure your argument in a way that creates a clear path to  progressing next  time. For instance, you could say ‘if I achieve X within 3 months, will it help show you how I am adding value?' @Aimee_Bateman  is the CEO founder of Careercake.com Rebecca Fraser Start with researching what the market is paying for existing roles. Then collect evidence on your successes and achievements, what you have delivered against your KPI’s and also what you have achieved beyond your role expectations. Use this evidence to analyse how much you have delivered and consider this against the market rate expectations for your role. The evidence and research will provide you a solid foundation to negotiate and will take the emotion out of such a discussion. However, remember that for many organisations budget negotiations are a set process so ensure you understand this process first. @RebeccaFraserCo is a career coach Jon Gregory Look elsewhere and then walk. Only ever negotiate from strength. NEVER accept counter-offers to stay unless they also include a promotion worth having. In the latter case, stay, even if the money is the same. If your current company doesnt have the brains to see your value, theyre not worth your time, since youre paying with your life. Apart from the money, a new job gives you a step up and strongly extends your experience, and therefore your future value. Looks like a win-win to me. @LetsFireWalk (aka Jon) is a job hunt coach at  Win-That-Job.com Farhan Raja Get an alternative job offer with a higher pay. Present it to your boss. State that you want to stay in the company however the additional money from the other company will have a big impact on your personal life. i.e. help pay the bills, take the family on holiday etc. If they really want to keep you, they’ll come back with a counter offer. If they don’t, you know that they see you as someone who is replaceable and it’s time to move on to a company that will value you more. @interviewology  (aka Farhan) is the founder, career communications coach at  jobinterviewology.com John Feldmann Demonstrate your value. An employer won’t give you a raise because you think you deserve one, or because you’ve worked at the company for years. They want to see how you’ve contributed to the bottom line. If you can provide concrete numbers, sales figures, dollar amounts and/or project results, your manager will see how invaluable your work is to the company and pay you accordingly. John Feldmann  is  writer, blogger and content developer for Insperity Recruiting Services James Nathan Be worth what you think you are. Many consultants believe they deserve a pay rise, but in reality we are only really worth what we deliver for our employers. If you genuinely believe you are worth more, then make sure you are right before you ask. Make yourself truly valuable and you will be rewarded. Turning up every day, and doing the bear minimum doesn’t make you worth anymore, no matter how long you have been with a business.   @JamesNathan  is the Managing Director at The James Nathan Experience Liz Sebag-Montefiore You have to justify your claim, and sell your skills and accomplishments. Think about what value youve added to the role already and where youve over-performed or taken on extra responsibilities and use that to justify your request. Get your timing right and be clear about your reasoning. Then present a business case outlining your achievements or successful projects using quantifiable data, show your track record and results that demonstrate your worth. Be clear with yourself on what you deserve and where you are prepared to settle and then prepare to negotiate. @LizSM10Eighty  is a career coach at 10Eighty Alison Cardy Do it! You never know what is available unless you ask. The conversation around asking for a raise is going to feel awkward and uncomfortable, but push through that momentary discomfort to get the potential reward of a raise. Also remember to ask for a bit more than you’re actually looking for, so that you have a better chance of getting what you really want. @CardyCareers  is a career coach and author of  Career Grease: How to Get Unstuck and Pivot Your Career Lysha Holmes Ask for an appraisal if there is not one booked already. Understand what the requirements are to achieve the pay rise and what the benchmarks arte to achieve that. Agree these objectives. Once these have been achieved, you are then in the best position to negotiate. Avoid using another job offer as a reason to get a higher pay! @LyshaHolmes is the owner of Qui Recruitment Ltd Caroline Stokes Before you go in to ‘battle’, do a quick 360 to understand what you’ve accomplished, how you’ve over delivered, what your areas of development are and this is the important bit in line with the company and various KPIs. You’ll do yourself a disservice if you cannot articulate your value and contribution well. However, even with the most eloquent and persuasive presentation of facts, be prepared for a ‘no’ if company performance and your performance means pay increases are on hold for the year. @theforwardco  (aka Caroline) is an executive headhunter coach at FORWARD

Resume Writing For the Learning Disabilities: Be an Extra-Curricular Hero

Resume Writing For the Learning Disabilities: Be an Extra-Curricular HeroWhat can the school offering formal courses in educational psychology do to get students excited about taking these courses so that they really want to be part of the program? One way is to include on their resumes what the student is doing outside of the classroom. Yes, some students with Learning Disabilities may find it difficult to communicate in classroom situations and may require additional supervision or practice as the students work their way through the curriculum. However, this does not mean that the student cannot participate fully in the curriculum outside of the classroom.What are some examples of this going on in your life? How can you share this on your resume? Do you take part in extra-curricular activities? Even if you are a caretaker to a disabled student, you can still take an active role in helping the student to understand the lessons in the curriculum. What about your participation in extr a-curricular activities, the hobbies you participate in, volunteer work you are doing or the sports you enjoy playing?The Learning Disabilities also requires extra supervision and understanding as the student learns to adapt to learning challenges. What about help with home repair or office assistance to help the student? These examples all help to illustrate how well-meaning and generous students with disabilities can help out their classmates and contribute to a more successful education.You can also tell employers or prospective employers that you volunteered to assist in a social setting with the group you most like. This can help your resume to reflect that you were willing to go above and beyond and add to the community and schools you are volunteering in. For example, volunteer to help raise money for a cause near your home or help with a charitable fund raising event for a non-profit organization near your home.Writing your resume is much like speaking to a crowd. Don't just describe your experience, but make your resume and cover letter for the Learning Disabilities a real picture of you.Think about what you are doing outside of your education that you can use to get a job or get into volunteer or extra-curricular activities. Volunteer your time to a non-profit that fits your interests and is a good fit for your education level. When you write your resume, include your interest and involvement in this extra-curricular activity as well as your regular course of study.Written materials are essential. When it comes to your resume, you should consider that you need a place for your biographical information. A short resume should begin with information about yourself such as your full name, age, employment, education and any other pertinent information. Include it in your resume and cover letter for the Learning Disabilities.Resume writing for the Learning Disabilities must include this information in order to be a success. You will get your dream job or b e volunteering for a worthy cause. What is important is that you have included these extra-curricular activities that will add to your resume and personal information as a way to improve your chances of getting hired.

The election may be over, but theres always political talk. Heres how to handle it in the office

The election may be over, but theres always political talk. Heres how to handle it in the office The election may be over, but there’s always going to be political talk in the office, and sometimes it can be difficult to keep political opinions to oneself in a professional setting. Colleagues who voice their political viewpoints â€" whether around the water cooler or via social media â€" could create discomfort in or voice unintended biases against coworkers above, below, or beside them in the reporting structure. The New York Times recently reported the results of a Social Science Research Network study demonstrating the substantial influence of a CEOs political preferences on employees and how they think about elections. Does an employee’s political view garner a similar response? The workplace is an obvious environment in which political opinions can arise, but making them known publicly can affect ones relationships at work. Best practices for sharing political opinions I interviewed Jane Trnka, SPHR and Executive Director of the Career Resource Center at Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business, to provide a few best practices for sharing political opinions at work and on social media. She recommends the following tips and advice to encourage a professional level of political discourse among co-workers as well as on social media platforms. In the work environment 1. Take the conversation outside or avoid it altogether If you find yourself in a political conversation and think it will be lengthy or has the possibility to get contentious, suggest moving the discussion after work hours. Your employer expects you to be productive at the office. Political discussions can disrupt your work as well as that of others in the office and can have the long-lasting effect of generating disharmony among colleagues. While in meetings and presentations, keep your political views to yourself. Should political comments come up, quickly shift the focus back to the meeting’s intent â€" the rest of the room will appreciate it. When politics get involved, a partnership that took years to build can crumble in seconds. 2. Question the relevancy If asked during an interview or business meeting about your political opinion, inquire how it relates to the role, company, or project. If it does not, politely suggest you return to the topic of conversation. Trnka further suggests, “If this happens during an interview and it negatively impacts your chance of being hired, reconsider whether the organization is the best fit for you anyway.” On social media 1. Watch your language Anything , “The language you use portrays your personality and impacts your credibility as well as that of those you associate with. Assume that everything you post will be seen by the world â€" because it can be.” Whether they admit it or not, hiring leaders review candidates’ Facebook and Twitter profiles for red flags. How much your online activity impacts the hiring decision depends on the nature of the job, but if it is down to you and another candidate who has a more professional online identity that won’t rub internal and external stakeholders the wrong way, who will they choose? Beyond evaluating your skill set, employers look for a cultural fit to see if you have staying power within the organization. 2. Consider a secondary profile If you insist on using social media to express your political opinions, create a separate social media handle using your middle name, for example, to separate these posts from your business persona and connect with personal and professional contacts through the appropriate handle. 3. Know your audience Consider how your current and potential business associates will react when they read your social media comments. Be aware of the “halo” and “horn” biases. These happen when we draw a general impression of an individual on the basis of a single characteristic, such as a political view. Sure, some may think you are wiser, but the negative consequences can far outweigh the good. Subconsciously or deliberately, you may be overlooked to work on a high profile project or not invited to brainstorm a new idea based on your political opinions. “In all cases, it is best to know your audience so you can engage in a constructive and respectful conversation,” says Trnka. “Be respectful of others’ opinions. Someone once suggested to me you have a right to your opinion, but it does not mean that your opinion is right, especially to the other party.” Expressing political views at work or on social media is a risk that can negatively impact your professional relationships. You may be trying to deepen your business connections, but those who disagree may also discount your business acumen and the valuable contributions you bring to your organization. If you want others to judge you and engage with you based on your professional qualifications, keep your election day activities between you and the voting booth. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class right now and immediately access the most comprehensive job search system currently available!

Making That Transition From Student To Employee - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Making That Transition From Student To Employee Many students these days actually work part-time jobs even as they earn their degree. If you are one of them, or you know people who have done this, then you will know that being a student does not necessarily mean that you are adverse to the world of work. Nonetheless, there is always going to be a huge difference between working on the side just to get by, and digging out a full-time career after you have left University. Once you’re out of the student life, it can be notoriously difficult to navigate the new terrain of work and careerism. But it is really the transition that takes its toll, not the work itself, and if you can learn how to manage that phase you will probably survive. With that in mind, let’s think about some of the things you can do to make the transition from student to employee a little easier. Prepare Yourself For The Difficulty Of Finding Work It is one of the first major challenges which any graduate needs to face, and it’s one which it often seems has no right or wrong answers. When you leave education for good, you will need to make sure that you have the abilities and the skills necessary to find the kind of work that you desire. Many students are surprised to discover that landing the dream job is actually much harder than it had originally appeared. It is helpful at this stage to think about some of the things that you can do to ensure that your chances of finding work are vastly improved. As it happens, there are a huge list of such actions you can possibly take, and it’s worth taking as many of them on board as you possibly can. Most recent graduates will be struck by the sheer difficulty of every stage of the job hunting process, whether it’s the interview or actually finding those vacancies in the first place. It’s also true that the majority of those people will find it much easier to use an agency to land their first job. If you are lucky, you might even get headhunted by the likes of Sanctuary Graduates. When that happens, it can be a dream come true, but even if it doesn’t then going for a standard agency will ensure that you are much more likely to find some decent work. As hard as it might be, there is no way around it you need to find work as soon as possible if you want to survive in this world. By taking a step back, however, and taking whatever professional and personal help there might be out there, you can dramatically improve your chances and the enjoyment of the whole process as well. Both of these will be much appreciated by any recent graduate out there. Wait For That Schedule To Be Filled There are a number of shocks awaiting the new employee in the world of work. We have already looked at the potential for recent graduates to be surprised by just how difficult it is to find quality work. Something else that usually takes hold is the sudden awareness that your schedule is much busier than it has been the past three or four years. This is true even from the moment you start to look for work, but it is definitely even truer once you have landed a job as well. Having a full-time job after living the relatively easygoing life of a student can be surprisingly tough, as you gradually try to get used to suddenly having no spare time at all. For many people, this is a great concern, and a major cause of the daily stress in their lives. However, that does not mean that it is not manageable at all. There are plenty of ways of coping with the sudden influx of actual working hours. First of all, try to bear in mind the truth of the fact that, no matter how busy you are, it is likely that you will get used to it pretty fast. You should also bear in mind that you can always reduce your own working hours if you really want to. No matter how strict a manager might seem or how important a job is to you, nobody can hold you hostage and you might be surprised at the actual minimum amount of hours you contractually need to work. It is worth taking a look at your contract, just to ensure that you are well-versed on exactly what kind of commitment is expected of you. That way, you know what to expect, and you can prepare yourself accordingly for the shock of sudden work. Time management soon becomes of particular pertinence when you are working full-time. If you find that you are struggling with it, you can make it much easier for yourself simply by investing in a decent diary or calendar. Before long, you might even find that these become some of your everyday prized possessions. Either way, it is well worth looking into if you want to keep your stress levels down as much as possible. Speaking of which… Dealing With Stress Let’s be honest: student life can be much more stressful than many people give it credit for. No matter what you are studying or where, trying to earn a degree is not exactly void of worry or complaint. But it is an altogether different kind of stress to the kind that you might experience when you are entering the world of work. As a student, your stress is probably fairly easy to manage. You can mostly choose your own hours, and this means that if you are feeling particularly overwhelmed you can simply give yourself the evening off. However, when it comes to forging a career this suddenly becomes much less easy or straightforward to do. What this ultimately amounts to is that you will need to find ways of dealing with stress which are much more head-on, and which deal with the problem more or less as it arises. Fortunately, there are a huge number of techniques which can help you to do just that. The first major importance is to try and be aware of what is happening in your mind and body at all times. This awareness, often referred to as mindfulness, enables you to keep a close eye on your stress, and to keep it to a low level pretty much all the time. Stress mostly becomes a huge problem when it is not truly recognised early, and it is left to grow and fester. So if you can build up the awareness in such a way that you can spot it immediately, you can also stop it from spreading and growing and becoming a major health problem in your daily life. But this isn’t the only way to deal with the stress of work. There are plenty of practical applications you can consider as well, and it is definitely worth thinking about them. For example, you might want to think about actively reducing your workload if it gets too much. It might be difficult to ask this, but just remember that a decent employer will at least be relatively sympathetic if you are genuinely struggling with a great deal of stress. Speak to them, and see if you can come to some sort of understanding. It is bound to help. The transition from student to employee can be tough, but it is a necessary one. It is a rite of passage, and for many it might be best seen as an opportunity to grow, learn and prove yourself. If you approach it in this positive light, there is no reason you can’t make the most of it and truly excel.