Are your best candidates not applying - Your Career Intel

Are yur best candidates elend applying - Your Career IntelSix steps for writing a job description that works.Companies often come to me when they arent having success hiring on their own. While there are many reasons that could be the case, you might be surprised that the problem is often the job description. People who might be a great fit for the role self-select out of applying because the job description has led them to believe they would not be a good fit or they are not interested in the role itself.How do you avoid this trap? Follow my step-by-step guideStep 1 Reverse engineer your job criteriaWhen writing a job description, consider the real need. Ask yourself, What does our team accomplish for the business? What tasks does this person need to be able to accomplish to help our team fulfill its role? What skills do those tasks require?Then think about the dynamic of your team and what qualities suit that dynamic. If other people have been in that role, make two lists one of w hat characteristics made people successful in that role and one of what characteristics were counterproductive.You should see a profile of your ideal candidate start to emerge.Step 2 SizzleStart writing with what I like to call the sizzle. The sizzle is what makes your company an exciting organization to be a part of. Hiring great talent is a two-way street. What makes people want to work there? Keep it tight. You just need to pique their interest and they will go to the company website to learn more.Step 3 Capture the candidates attentionFollow the sizzle with 3 to 5 sentences about what youre looking for. I like to structure the first sentence like this We are looking for an ADJECTIVE TITLE to CALL TO ACTION. For example, We are looking for a creative Mobile Applications Developer to collaboratively create new and enhance existing applications. plek an adjective that speaks to a key trait the job requires but is general enough that many candidates will feel it applies to them. The call to action should use a strong, active verb and demonstrate the impact they can expect to have in the role. Use the following sentences to expand upon that.Step 4 Fire up the candidatePeople that are truly game changers for organizations buy into the big purpose of the organization and the team. They will run through a wall in their day-to-day work to get the job done. In your next paragraph, get prospective candidates fired up by painting a picture of what success in the role looks like.Step 5 Keep the criteria tightNow move onto your bulleted list of criteria. One of the biggest mistakes I see is a bloated list of required skills. In IT, the industry I work in, you see some organizations list every possible piece of technology that exists in their landscape in an effort to be broad. What you end up with is a watered down message that Ive seen deter over 50% of qualified candidates while increasing the number of unqualified candidates that apply. They recognize one or two item s and think, I can do thatA required skill is one that you cant be successful in the role without. A preferred skill is one that could contribute to success in the role. Take the list of criteria you developed during your initial brainstorm and carefully separate them. Finally, take a look at your preferred list and consider whether each item would really influence your hiring decision. If not, take them off the list entirely. You can ask a candidate with your required skills about bonus skills in an interview. You cannot ask them if they do not apply.Step 6 Edit, edit, editEdit out jargon and overused terms like out-of-the-box thinker that have yperit some of their impact through common use. Replace these things with thoughtful language that speaks to the role in more genuine terms. Get multiple eyes on it to make sure you havent missed anything.Finally, make sure it passes the ultimate test. Ask yourself how you would respond as a potential candidate.Need help? Email me at jmackey lucasgroup.com.

Im a Single Mom Here are 5 Hacks I Use to Balance My Family and My Financial Future

Im a Single Mom Here are 5 Hacks I Use to Balance My Family and My Financial Future Whether youre newly divorced or you have been flying solo in this mom thing all along, trying to find the balance between family life while also supporting your financial needs can be a struggle for single moms. Without having a partner to share the load of the important responsibilities you take on when you have kids, life can get overwhelming. Its hard to walk away from work to devote hours to your kids (and your kids alone) when you know that the existence of the tiny people living under your roof depends on you and your career. You are the sole provider, which means the pressure lies solely on you to get things done.But there are things you can do to alleviate some of that pressure so that you can enjoy both your work and your family without feeling guilty that one is being neglected for the other. Here are five little ways I balance my familys financial needs with the quality time I spend with t hem (and the quality time I spend on myself).1. Include your kids in your at-home responsibilities.Obviously, you cant pack them up and send them out the door to work, but you can give them some age-appropriate tasks to complete that will help you around the house during your time off (or at the very least, help get them out of your hair for a little bit so YOU can get things done).Giving your kids duties to complete allows them some responsibility, shows them that taking care of the home actually takes work, and gives them a sense of pride for being able to help and be useful. My kids love when I ask them for help. Ive noticed if I tell my kids to go clean up their toys or their room, Im hit with much more disdain and pushback than if I were to ask if them something like, hey, can you do me a favor? I could really use some HELP cleaning up behauptung toys They jump all over that2. Make a list of everything you need to do today and actually stick to it.Having to juggle kids and clie nts, work schedules and sports schedules, important meetings and doctors appointments can seem impossible at times. Without keeping track of all of these things on a regular basis, I find myself forgetting important events.Each night, I sit down andwrite out my list for the following day. I go through my planner and write down every important assignment, activity, and errand I need to run the next day. It might sound silly, but doing this has saved me many times from coming all the way home only to remember I had meant to stop for a gallon of milk en route and I forgot. It takes at most ten minutes of my day to plan for tomorrow, but it saves me MUCH MORE in time and frustration the following day.3. Meal plan.People who love meal planning will tell you so. And those who dont, love to hate it. Personally, I have an on again, off again relationship with meal planning. Some weeks, I am on point scheduling meals like a pro. Others, I find myself rolling through a drive-thru or calling i n pizza delivery more times than I would like to admit.However, on the weeks I am on my game with meal planning, I find it really helps me to balance my day and limit my stress. Less food goes to waste and I waste less time at the store because I know exactly what Im shopping for. If Im REALLY on top of things, I even throw a meal in the crockpot before I leave the house. One less thing I then have to worry about for the rest of the day4. Schedule self care (its especially effective after the kids go to sleep).Being a mom is a tough and selfless job. We often (intentionally) take a backseat to our children in many ways. Whether it be health, diet, or exercise, many moms would be ashamed if they gave as little attention to their childrens physical and emotional needs as they do to their own. As a single mom, its even harder to find the time, but there are ways you can accomplish little acts of self care that will do you and your self worth loads of good.Make time to SCHEDULE self car e. Even if its just a hot bath on Tuesday nights after the kids go to bed. Moms tend to carry guilt over taking time for themselves, but taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your family and work responsibilities. Schedule yourself a massage, pencil in an hour to read or give yourself a manicure. Whatever it is that makes you tick and helps you recharge to start the grind all over again do that. And make sure not to find excuses to skip it, its important.5. Ask for help.There is no shame in admitting when you need a hand or a break. No one expects you to be supermom. And believe it or not, your kids already think you are supermom, even if most days you wonder how you manage to get it all done. If youre like me, you have this pesky thing called pride tugging on your conscience. You feel like admitting to needing help would be admitting failure. But, in reality, those who can admit when they need their village are the ones others admire. Having the self-awaren ess to know youre at your limit is an art form. Its one I havent quite managed to master. But I am on my way, because I know that having a helping hand here or there makes for a much smoother day or week or month for me, and ultimately, a happier home life for my kids.Being a single mom with a career and a family, a home, a pet, an endless load of dishes, and a list of clients to maintain really puts your multitasking skills to the test. But by taking some simple steps to compartmentalize your day or week, you will find it much easier to maintain the balance. It just takes a little planning, a little help, and a lot of love for both your kids and yourself.--Nicole is a Realtor, divorced mom of three, and ally to the transgender community. As a mom who achieved her graduate degree alongside growing her family, she understands the importance of finding a work/life balance. Follow her onher blogwhere she focuses on family, parenting, divorce, and experiences of raising a young transgen der child.

The Number One Article on International Student Resume Writing

The Number One Article on International Student Resume Writing Using resume filtering software may give your company a tremendous boost. Including an objectives section at the commencement of your resume provides a concise introduction to the function of the resume, highlighting your career objectives and the kind of job you are searching for. The Basics of International Student Resume Writing Writing a winning college student career objective is a fairly effortless approach to bolster your application for this internship or job youve got in sight. Although your own internship experience might not be as whimsical, it may be necessary for your success. Everyone has desirable abilities and experiences to provide employers including you A crystal clear statement about how youll utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3. You should titelblatt the letter to an individuals name (requires research). If you wish to find out more about writing resumes that get interviews, go to a site such as Top Career Resumes where you will discover various articles and ideas. Every fantastic writer knows that you have to connect to your audience by employing the very best language. Every resume writer has her or his own list. My experience also has methodical administration to deadlines and the application of contemporary leadership procedures. As stated previously will have to choose skills that have some relevance to the job that youre applying for. The computerized applicant tracking programs employed by the majority of companies enable the recruiter or hiring manager to personalize her or his list for each work opening, so its an evolving process. While Canadian resumes are available in many unique formats, they share some standards that you ought to know about. Educational qualifications Its very important to speak about your education and schooling in your resume. Sure, you know t hat youre a great teacher. A students resume is extremely important. Since youll discover, even in the event that you dont have any prior professional experiences, its possible to totenstill draw on your school experiences. An excellent approach to start on your resume as a high school student is to take a look at examples of resumes and read tips about what to include and the way to format your resume. 1 way international students may write wonderful resumes is by being professional. If youre a worldwide student, youll need to learn about the best way to format a US standard resume. How to Find International Student Resume Writing on the Web For others, you might need a totally new resume. Likewise use key words from the job posting to prove that youre the very best fit for their demands. Keep in mind, your resume is only an enticer, a means to acquire your foot in the door. You dont have to have work experience to get skills. Additionally, obtaining a resume on-hand is quite useful if youre at an event and meet someone who may supply you with a summer job or an internship. It is crucial that you tailor your resume for every single job application to rise the fit between you, the job and the employer. To begin with, examine the job description to see whether it indicates the sort of skills the provider is seeking.