Don’t just Think it; Speak it. (Appropriately)

As time prevails, social media is becoming more than just a form of advertisement and source of information. Social media can actually be a smart way to voice your opinion about certain issues or topics. However, speaking up does not mean being vulgar about the matter, but simply expressing your thoughts in an appropriate way. When a popular subject comes up, especially in the business world, many people tend to keep their thoughts to themselves and agree with the majority.  Instead, speak up.

Recently in the news, Taylor Swift voiced her outlook about Apple’s new streaming service on Tumblr. She claimed that she spoke up about the issue not for herself, but for other fellow musicians who were not getting paid by Apple. Taylor Swift’s post was seen by Apple and it did make a difference. Apple replied to her post and agreed to pay the artists for streaming even during the free trial period. Even though Taylor Swift is a celebrity, this is still a good example of just how influential social media can be.

Use social media to your advantage, but always make sure your posts don’t personally offend anyone. If you have a personal issue with a colleague or your boss at work, this would be the type of problem to solve in person. There are certain situations when it’s appropriate to use social media, and other situations when it’s not. Social media can be a very powerful tool; know how to use it, don’t abuse it.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information

Tips and Tricks for Skype Interviews

Skype interviews are becoming more and more prevalent as of recently. They are halfway between a face to face interview and a phone interview, so it’s understandable to have questions about them. Many often wonder how they should dress or if they should look at the interviewer on the screen or the camera that is recording them to give the impression of eye contact.

Don’t try to get too comfortable just because you are in your own home. Since the Interviewer can actually see you during the interview, you should dress as you would for a face to face interview. You still want to present yourself as professionally as possible.

Make sure you are mindful of your background. The focus of the interview should be on you, so having things like a television on or children running around can be distracting for the interview. Remember to also make sure the interviewer can see you, if you have a bright light or a window in the background, you end up looking like a dark blob.

In a normal interview, eye contact is very important, so it is important to give the interviewer the impression of eye contact. This means looking at the camera rather than the screen. It may seem awkward, but the interviewer won’t be able to tell the difference.

Electronic interviews are rapidly becoming the standard for first time interviews.  Polishing up your presence on camera not only helps you land that job, but also gives you confidence in making presentations.  These skills are highly desirable, regardless of if you are working in a lab or customer facing. 

If you have any questions, or want more information regarding electronic interviews, please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions.

www.connorcaitlin.com

Curious about Culture

Lately, there has been a plethora of information on company culture, and why it is important to attracting that so desired top talent.  Company culture would best be described as the beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company's employees interact and handle business communications.

There are several different ways you can learn about a company’s culture, even just by observing. When you take a tour of a company, look around; listen to conversations between employees, glance at the accessories in peoples’ offices, and make sure to ask questions.

It’s a smart idea to ask about your starting role in the company and how you will be evaluated. It’s very significant that the company understands your needs. Also, ask about how the company got started and what their personal values are all together.

          

There is no better insight than talking to the employees about their role in the company and the social aspect of it. Does everyone tend to get along?  Do you enjoy the working environment?  A new job is also a learning experience, which is why you should also discuss new skills you might learn or knowledge you’ll be acquiring.

Aside from asking questions and observing, make sure you do your research on the company. You can find reviews on Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Facebook for more information. Culture is a vital part of a company, which is why it’s smart to take the time to learn about it before you take the next step. 

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information on company culture, and the importance of attracting top talent.

What to ask the Newbie

Effectively hiring a new employee is important for any company. How is this successfully achieved? The faster you get your new hire up-to-speed with things the more productive they can be.

It’s vital to get to know your new employee personally so they feel more comfortable at work. For example, take them out to lunch one day or to get a cup of coffee. Be sure to ask them questions in order to gauge how they are adjusting to their new job and work environment. See if their job has been what they expected so far and if it meets all of their standards. Make it very clear that honesty is critical with your new employee and they should be open with you. In order to get them more involved make sure they aren’t confused about their role in the company and that nothing is unclear.

As the manager, offer your new employee actions that could possibly make their transition easier. This will prove your commitment to them when it comes to improving their performance. Discuss what they are enjoying the most about their role, this way you are bringing up a positive topic. This is a clever way to bring up their strengths if you haven’t already.

Teamwork is one of the most important aspects in today’s business world. Make an effort to introduce your new employee to their colleagues. Start by inviting them to a group discussion or even set up lunches with people you think they would get along with.

The first few months at a new job can be quite difficult and sometimes uncomfortable to adjust to. By having occasional meetings with your new hire and asking them these questions, you will see them adapt much quicker to their new job.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information on successful on-boarding practices. 

What’s your best practice?

The phrase “best practice” is tossed around all the time, especially in human resources and recruiting. What does it really mean though?

A company begins to call a procedure a “best practice” after it is proven to provide results. Companies love hearing about “best practices,” sharing theirs with others, and learning new “best practices” from others. When just thinking about it on the surface, that makes a lot of sense. However, if the surface of the idea is scraped just a tiny bit, the idea begins to fall apart.

If there is one thing that is constant in the world it is change. Change is necessary for progress and progress is vital to continual success. If these ideas are held true, then the idea of “best practices” is almost a laughable one. How can one expect to change and progress while using the same procedures over and over again?

The other vital piece to consider is that all businesses and people are different. What works best for one may be a catastrophic failure to another. Learning from others is a great practice and can lead to miraculous innovation, but only if done while still considering differences. 

All of this is not to say that you should throw all procedures and practices out the window. Some consistency and much organization are both also key factors of success. However, it is important to regularly examine everything being done to insure no updates or improvements can be made.

Contact Connor | Caitlin to talk about “best practices” and continuous improvement by emailing info@connorcaitlin.com