Wendy Weber on Executive Recruiting

Chris Erickson wrote an article in this week’s New York Post called Unemployed:  The Scarlet U.  It talks about the frustrating experience many unemployed job seekers have of being eliminated from consideration for job opportunities because they are currently unemployed.  One posting actually read, “Must provide proof of current W-2 income.”

There is a certain mentality that “if it’s such a buyer’s market, why would you go to somebody who’s been terminated?”  Please let’s not punish the victim!

Given the cutbacks in recent years and the state of the job market.  many talented people are out of work.

The one concern that I give credence to is that someone who is jobless may take a job, any job, to get back among the ranks of the employed, and move on when something better comes along.  Someone who gave up another job in order to accept employment would be less likely to move on quickly.

Overall, I agree with a recruiter who was quoted as saying, “If you neglect someone for the simple reason that they got laid off, you’re being very narrow in your perspective.  The last cycle of layoffs hit some extremely talented people.  A lot of really good people got caught.”

Employers, please do yourself as well as prospective employees a favor.  Review resumes with an open mind and a measure of compassion.  If you see the work history of someone who has never been with an employer for more than a year and a half, you have no reason to think they will stay with you any longer with you.  But if you see the story of an employee that has stayed at previous jobs long enough to make significant contributions, receive promotions, and flourish professionally in the past, I think you would be making a big mistake to take a pass just because their current status is “looking for my next career move”.

I am a big user of social media sites for networking.  In fact, I utilize them on a daily basis.

They are great way for recruiters to identify, and reach out to,  candidates that they would not otherwise be aware of.

But I encourage direct marketers…in fact all working people, to do a better job of simply staying in touch with others in their field.  A phone call to stay in touch.  A lunch “for no reason”.  Passing along information that a colleague may find to be of interest.  People are simply more predisposed to respond well when they don’t feel that you are meeting with them to see what they can do for you.  In any case, it’s more fun meeting with someone before you need something from them.

I have a friend who has run his own business for 10 years.  He does a good job of staying in touch with others in his industry.  In the course of a friendly lunch last week he was surprised to be approached about a job opportunity.  Although it was unexpected and he has enjoyed self-employment, he is flattered and interested in exploring the possibility.

Before I was a recruiter I had a career in magazine circulation.  Over the course of my career I held 3 jobs, each of which I became aware of through personal relationships.  When I went to an industry function, I didn’t sit at lunch with my co-workers; I met new people, and exchanged business cards.  It was a little awkward at times, but important.  When someone I met at a DMA function called me months later about what turned out to be my second job, I was truly surprised.  She was savvy; I was just learning the power of creating a network.

I heavily use LinkedIn.  By and large, when I reach out to my network I have something to offer; a career opportunity.  My contact may not always be well received, but at least I am offering something that is potentially of value.  I have passed along my share of LinkedIn “introductions” on behalf of others.  I guess it’s a step warmer than a cold call, but really, not much.  In the name of networking, someone is requesting that I endorse them to my contact.  Think about how you would receive such a contact.  Would you welcome it?  More like tolerate it.  Done best, networking creates a valuable matrix of people communicating with people…an exchange of information, opportunities and knowledge.  More frequently, networking really means “asking for a favor”.

People respond well to people they know.  Please don’t be “too busy” to stay in touch with the people who have impressed you, or to be an available mentor to those who admire you professionally.  You will enrich your  network, and you may also expand your professional horizons.

Just when I thought I had seen it all, resume wise, I received a resume with a QR Code.

I didn’t have a clue as to what to do with it.  I learned that although initially QR codes were used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, they are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (known as mobile tagging).

QR Codes storing addresses and URLs may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, or just about any object that users might need information about.

Beside the code were the words “Scan code with your smart-phone camera to get more info.”  Before I could do that I had to download a free app so that I could scan the code. I chose ScanLife Barcode Reader.  Once I took a picture of the QR code, all sorts of interesting information was transmitted about the candidate.

There was a mini-resume complete with a  photograph of the candidate, and a 2-page Question and Answer session.  The final page contained some personal information about the candidate, intended to humanize him.

The wave of the future?  I don’t know.  It was fun, and easy enough to access the information once I downloaded the app.

What makes it so hard for a new site to rise to the top of SEO rankings, and what allows some sites to get away with more unnatural behavior than others.

One of the most misunderstood SEO and link building factors is authority. What makes it so hard for a new site to score and what makes some sites get away with more unnatural behavior than others? Let’s explore domain authority and how to use it to your own benefit.

Nice piece by Peter van der Graaf of Search Engine Watch:  http://searchenginewatch.com/3640671