Recruiters Dont Expect a Return on Investment from LinkedIn!

Recruiters Dont Expect a Return on Investment from LinkedIn! I am a massive fan of Return of Investment (ROI) when using social media, and I’m not talking about silly “like”, “follower”, ”share” metrics. I get why marketers think these are important (I know they are), but the majority of my agency recruitment clients want   £$€  stats. Do you know how much LinkedIn is worth to you? Now if you are a good boy / girl, you’ll know that what you find on social media in terms of leads needs to be recorded on your lovely CRM (no excuses, it’s your job!) If I came in to your business now and asked you for report on how many opportunities / leads / placements you’ve made from LinkedIn, would you be able to tell me? And would you know how many grade A candidates you’ve found on this platform?   Would you know how much £$€  you’d lose if the CEO of LinkedIn pulled the plug, or worse made your free license totally chargeable? Most of the recruiters I work with are working on that metric (phew), but many more out there are not. They see using LinkedIn as a given; they don’t measure its success apart from the “it just takes one placement…” (yawn… I’ve heard this mantra since the early 2000s when job boards were a massive expense to recruiters, and it didn’t wash with me then). Placement fees are down Cost of hire is up: I have a horrid feeling that just like placement fees have been going down in recent years, the cost of hire has gone up (or worse recruiters don’t know what their cost of hire is). This is not good when you consider that most users of social media are not even paying for the privilege. Worse, they are spreading themselves so thinly with more systems / processes / devices, and their leaders have low expectations of these things that it’s just a total mess and the risks are massive. Time wastage, data loss, brand erosion is common. So, I think that the average recruitment director lives in the following world: Your staff are simply “on” LinkedIn â€" zero strategy for what they need to be doing with it You have little idea what activities your staff are undertaking online You are not measuring these activities (input or output) You have a low expectation of their online activity Your CRM has no clue that LinkedIn exists Your risk is massive â€" lots of recruiters behaving like hair dressers renting chairs, zero visibility over the data they are collecting on your watch and an assumption that your contract covers this (rumour control: the data they collect belongs to LinkedIn, not your recruiters or you!) If this is you, how do you feel about this? Are you are happy or do you think you deserve better? What would you do if LinkedIn removed free licenses? Are you actually in a position to  constructively  evaluate the value of LinkedIn Recruiter license without  focusing  on the cost? (Rumour control: I’m totally impartial but am nagging all of my clients to review the LinkedIn Recruiter product so they are better educated and ready for the inevitable change that their business faces). Although I don’t think that recruiters will ever be forced to pay for LinkedIn, I do feel that you get what you pay for. After all, there’s a reason why many recruiters don’t rate free job boards! There are some pretty decent functions in the Recruiter system and they are giving many a recruiter a competitive edge. I think that the era of “free” social media is coming to an end. The time spent on using it needs quantifying (many recruiters measure phone calls, sendouts, in branches, placements). Recruitment directors need to raise their expectations and implement business-process-led activities which are visible, measurable and the output of which belongs to the business. This will not only help the progression of the business in the digital world, but will also help with business cases for the competitive use (not free use) of social tools. What do you think? Are you a recruitment director/manager/leader? Do you have social media nailed down in your business? Do you know its £$€ value? What are your expectations of it? Please share your thoughts and comments below.

Online course What INFJs need most (I know because Ive coached almost all of them)

Online course What INFJs need most (I know because Ive coached almost all of them) This course  includes four days of video sessions and email-based course materials about the issues INFJs face that no other type has to deal with. You can purchase this course for anytime, on-demand access.   Sign up now Melissa and I have a love/hate relationship with INFJs. We hate them because they are so judgy. And we are not judgy because we are too uncaring to be judgy. But actually we spend a lot of time being judgy about the INFJs for being so judgy. Two days ago I was pacing my living room coaching an INFJ and it went like many coaching sessions with INFJs. I said, To get started, whats your personality type and how old are you? The person answered, Im an INTJ and Im old. I said, Youre an INFJ. An INTJ wouldnt summarize their age like that. She told me about her divorce. And she was defensive and shut down and I said, We cant get anything done if you are defensive and shut down. Why are you like that on this call? She said she felt stupid for marrying someone like her husband and she hates having to tell people. She is having the classic INFJ problem:  she judges everyone else so she assumes they judge her. But I realized I  have the same problem as the INFJs. I shout all over the Internet about how there is no reason to get a divorce and people who get a divorce are lame, and Ive had two. I cant stop talking about how stupid I feel. But talking with an INFJ I realized that if I would be more sympathetic to other people then I could be more sympathetic to myself. The world doesnt want to deal with me feeling shame. Shame doesnt get people anywhere. This is a problem Ive been struggling with for years in therapy. And then I pretty much solved it just by talking with an INFJ.` Also, Melissa with INFJs: She has a business that hires personal assistants for startup founders and people who are so rich they run their life like a startup, and she gets tons of resumes from INFJs. INFJs cant really do the job though because INFJs get deeply offended if they have to do stuff that doesnt align with their values. Its not a good trait in an assistant. But sometimes Melissa gets attached to INFJs even though she cant place them. And then she hired one. Annie. And Melissa loved working with Annie so much that she ended up sort of adopting Annie. The way I adopted Melissa. Like, Melissa had to convince Annie that she should get married, just like I had to convince Melissa that she should get married. And I spent so much time showing Melissa the inevitability of kids, so it makes me happy to watch Melissa spend day after day showing Annie the same thing. When Melissa introduced me to Annie, she had a list of things she wanted, but it was hard to get her to tell me what was on the list. Because like all INFJs, Annie didnt want to admit that she wants things she might not get. But in the time that Ive known Annie, shes achieved those very hard things very quickly. Its fun to mentor someone who takes advice well. Annie not only takes advice well, but shes been writing down all the INFJ advice Melissa gives her and making lists to keep track of it. Annie sent the lists to me so I could share it with other INFJs.  Which made me realize that Annie needs a group. Melissa has a group. I like to think that living with my family was the best gift I ever gave to her, but in fact, the INTJ group is the best gift. At first it was just funny to see her curating conversation everyday and assiduously moderating her group. But I started to notice she wasnt moderating so much as kicking out the INFJs who mistyped themselves. Including Annie. But we love Annie, and we want her to have a group. Annie needs a group. And so do the thousands of other INFJs Ive talked to. (Note: INTJs who want to be in the group can do it via this course.) INFJs need to see other people like them. But INFJs are sparsely populated everywhere except school honor rolls and my blog. So its very lonely being an  INFJ. Not only are they the most rare type, but they are also not fond of exposing themselves to the world. Many INFJs can go through their life without ever interacting with someone like them. Which means its hard to even know what a successful  INFJ  looks like because you cant even find them. But INFJs are success oriented, so they are at high risk for using metrics that are irrelevant even toxic to them. The  INFJ  course Melissa and I did a few years ago is the most popular course weve ever done. So now Im going to do something special that Ive never done before: Im going to create an ongoing group. After this course is over, well continue to meet online every other week for six sessions to discuss  INFJ  issues. And of course, well include Annies lists. Because somehow, Annie has transformed Melissa. Melissa was the person who had to turn off her mic in the first INFJ course so she wouldnt offend people, and now shes the person giving Annie all the guidance and support she needs to find a spouse in time to have kids. Melissa and I are NTs and its hard to make an NT a better person; we are not really people who want to be better people. But an INFJ is the person who can do that theyve infiltrated our lives and made us better people despite ourselves. Now we will do the same for you. It takes a brave person to pick the personality type that is most difficult for them, but Melissa and I are brave. And we hope you will be, too. Because together you and us well be great. Sign up now

How to Start A Business With Smaller Capital

How to Start A Business With Smaller Capital Sure, the prospects of starting a new business are exciting. This is especially true if you are starting an offshore business in a bustling and exciting city abroad. Whether you are opening a brick and mortar shop in the area or you are considering an online business targeting the United States or elsewhere, you really can reap major benefits. That being said, starting a business is never an inexpensive or easy task. So, how can you start a business anywhere in the world, while expensing as little capital as possible? Avoid Credit Cards And Debt At All Costs  When most individuals look into starting a business they always consider a business loan or credit cards. While this is probably one of the go-to methods for providing capital to start-up companies, this is probably something that you want to avoid at all costs. You have to be extremely cautious about how you handle your credit, as it could be the potential downfall of your company. Instead of trying to buy all your office supplies right away on credit, you should consider trying to expense some of these charges through your revenue. When you eliminate the burdens and stress of going in debt it really makes your business much more likely to succeed. Plus, this method requires much less capital to get your doors open. Choose Something You Know  Lets suppose you wanted to start a local delivery business.    Whether you are just starting to learn about packaging supplies  or you already know everything there is to know about the packaging industry, you always want to base your business around something that you know. Not only does this make it much easier to succeed, but also it means that won’t require as much outside help, which will reduce your start-up capital. There will not be any need to bring in consultants of hire additional help, because you can probably handle everything on your own and you will have in depth insight into the industry. Plus, you might already have established relationships with local retailors and suppliers. Utilize The Internet To Spread The Word  Thanks to the Internet and technology there are now a variety of free ways that you can advertise your business. There is no longer the need to purchase news slots, TV commercials, or newspaper ads to spread the word about your business. You can simply hit up the local classifieds, social media, or even create your very own website. All of these Internet based marketing techniques won’t cost you a penny. However, in order to be successful with your online marketing campaign you might have to take the time to learn a little bit about SEO (search engine optimization). Don’t forget to spread the word to friends and family as well, because they can be paying customers. Or, at the very least they can help you spread the word to their connections. Whatever the situation is, there are a number of ways that you can start a business in pretty much any location without any capital. Just take your time and consider all of your options in advance.

Why You Should Take a 30 Day Booze Break

Why You Should Take a 30 Day Booze Break By January, many people are saturated with the parties, get-togethers, and drinking that comes with the holidays. Odds are at some point in the 2019 holiday season you had a bit of a hangover from too much champagne, egg nog, or cocktails. In comes the dry-January trend to help bring in the new year by putting a brake on alcohol for the whole month. We turned to neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez, for insight into the benefits of taking a month-long booze-free challenge for a fresh start to the new year. Research shows that a month-long respite from alcohol can significantly benefit one’s mental and physical health.  Here are some of the benefits Dr. Hafeez outlines. You Save Money On Alcohol. According to Fortune magazine in 2018, overall price averages for alcoholic beverages increased thanks to craft cocktail trends. The same can be expected for 2019. A survey by OnePoll last year estimated that Americans’ social spending around the holiday season more than doubles and alcohol is part of that spending. So if your wallet has felt the alcohol as much as you have this season, the math could be reason enough to pause the drinks and close your tab for a month. “Think of the stress you could take off your back by cutting back on the money you spend on alcohol during January,” says Dr. Hafeez. “An average person could hit the bar twice a week, spending about $30-$75 dollars depending on what drinks you are purchasing. Add tip, and your expenses for a night of drinking could reach or surpass $100 easily. Throughout a single month, this could cost you a good chunk of change.” Add more money saved if you’re also a weekend social drinker. Add way more money if you are inclined to purchase bottles in the VIP section for hundreds of dollars. In The Absence of Alcohol, Your Skin Rejuvenates. While alcohol consumption doesn’t directly cause acne, it destabilizes hormone levels and immune functions, which lead to dull skin, breakouts, flushed complexion, and puffiness. If you like to “rosé all day” or consume mixed drinks with more sugars, syrups, and other additives, you can start seeing the toll of these habits on the texture and tone of your skin. “A part of being successful when reducing alcohol intake is the compliments you receive, the energy you feel, and the changes you see in the mirror. These can all be fuel to help you live a healthier life in the new year,” says Dr. Hafeez. Get A Headstart on Your Weight Loss Resolution. Research in the Journal of Obesity says people who don’t drink, eat less, simply because alcohol heightens the senses and numbs reasoning. It makes the sauce and cheese on a pizza or those late-night tacos tastier. When you remove alcohol intake, it diminishes the calories you consume. Think about three beers or glasses of wine at about 150 calories each. Those calories add up. Dr. Hafeez explains that “any person seeking help with weight management has heard the advice ‘don’t drink your calories,’ alcoholic beverages are some of the drinks that most easily overwhelm your caloric consumption. Drinking less, or not at all for a month, will leave you with improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels and help optimize your organ function, which will help you be more active and in a better mental state.” More Energy, More Creativity, More Endurance The last thing you want is to be tired into the new year. “One great benefit of going alcohol-free is renewed energy. You will not be giving up your day to recover from last night’s drinking. Waking up earlier will help you establish better morning habits that prime your brain for productivity and creativity,” says Dr. Hafeez. “You will also see improved concentration and endurance as the day goes on because your energy level will not be in a deficit before the day even begins,” she says. Less Alcohol Can Lead to Improvement in Depression Depression is a mood disorder that can cause feelings of sadness, rage, grief, and emptiness. More than 16 million Americans suffer from Major Depression Disorder while anxiety disorders affect about 40 million adults according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American. “The problem comes when depression and anxiety, even at the mild levels, begin to be alleviated momentarily with alcohol. This can become dangerous because it will work in a negative cycle. Alcohol intake will get worse which will heighten the depression which will cause the person to drink more,” explains Dr. Hafeez. The NYC psychologist explains that alcohol is actually a depressant and it affects the neurotransmitters in the brain. “Seratonin is a neurotransmitter that helps us feel joyful and stabilizes our mood. Drinking alcohol can temporarily boost serotonin levels, therefore making you feel upbeat, but the long-term excessive consumption of alcohol can actually lower serotonin levels, and therefore either cause or worsen depression,” she says. Better Sleep Alcohol affects your sleep pattern by inhibiting your REM sleep and affects your circadian rhythm. “REM sleep is incredibly important to the quality of your rest. When blocked by alcohol, you could lose out on the most restorative part of your sleep, which can affect the way you think, concentrate, and process information the next day,” explains Dr. Hafeez. Another issue with alcohol is that it makes you wake up during the night to go to the bathroom. “Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning an agent that prompts the passing of urine. This means that at nighttime, instead of sleeping throughout the night, you may need to get up repeatedly to relieve yourself. This will make it even harder to get the rest you need. In the absence of alcohol, your sleep is more comfortable and energizing,” says Dr. Hafeez. Woman sleeping in bed. Woman sleeping isolated on white background. More Time for Yourself and New Friends “It is important to note that when our friendships and relationships rely on social drinking, a booze-free month can affect how those interactions happen. While we have more time and energy, we might need to invest it in ourselves or new friends.   This is not to say that you have to break up with your friends when you pause the alcohol, but it means you can try new activities and endeavors with new people and plant new friendships as well,” explains Dr. Hafeez. The NYC psychologist also talks about the opportunity to focus on you, explaining that “self-care is important yet often neglected over a good night out for drinks. Suddenly, happy hour is not an option, but a fitness class after work is, or a workshop on a topic that interests you. The time will add up, and you can use it to promote your self-confidence and personal development. A Cautionary Note From The Expert. “One thing to consider is that people who label themselves “social drinkers” may feel these improvements within days. Meanwhile, people who battle with alcoholism can often cause harm to themselves if they decide to stop drinking cold turkey. If you are a frequent/binge drinker, speak with your physician before abruptly ceasing alcohol consumption. Committing to going without alcohol may reveal there actually is a bigger issue going on. “If someone can’t last the week without alcohol and feels physical repercussions like nausea, headaches, night sweats, and tremors, or insomnia, consulting a doctor would be an important next step,” cautions Dr. Hafeez. About the Dr. Hafeez: Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is an NYC based licensed clinical psychologist.   She is a teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.  Connect with her via Instagram  @drsanamhafeez  or www.comprehendthemind.com

When Was The Last Time You Did What You Didnt Think You Could - Career Pivot

When Was The Last Time You Did What You Didn't Think You Could - Career Pivot When Was The Last Time You Did What You Didn’t Think You Could? Think back. Maybe you must go way, way back in that memory bank. Has it been since you were a child? For me, that’s when I did something I didn’t think I could â€" not for the LAST time but â€" for the FIRST time. Doubts Feel Like… When you were young did you have one of those extremely huge slides that twisted and curled all the way down to the ground at one of your neighborhood parks? Do you remember them? They were incredible (in my 8-year-old eyes). I can remember the fear I felt looking up to the top of that slide and watching the older kids come squealing down. Oh, how desperately I wanted to do the same. But, I was so afraid. I didn’t know what it was like up there. It looked so big. Deep down, I really didn’t think I could do it. It was safer to stay securely on the ground. Pushing Through Feels Like… After several days of watching and wishing I could do what the older kids were doing, I finally decided to leave the ground and attempt the huge beast. Listen to the most recent episode One step at a time, I climbed. There were a million steps. Each additional step I took told me there was less and less of a chance of ever going back. I continued taking the steps anyway. When I finally reached the top, I looked down both the stairs and the slide. I was trying to determine which would be easier for a retreat â€" to actually go down the slide or shrink down the steep path of stairs I had just climbed. By this point, it was clear that the best way down was on the actual slide. So, it was time. With every child in the neighborhood breathing down my neck waiting for their turn, I took the plunge! Sweaty and sticky, my decent was not nearly as fast as I thought it would be; but that was alright with me. I closed my eyes and waited for the ground to come into view. Victory Feels Like… And, then, I felt my feet on the dirt and my heart leaped! I had made it! I did what I didn’t think I could. It felt absolutely amazing! I loved the feeling of power and accomplishment that came afterward. I think of that slide challenge often â€" especially when I find myself faced with the inner doubt of whether I can do something. Not attempting what I don’t think I can do … normally feels much safer than trying it at all. But, just like with that slide, whenever there is something I don’t think I can do, deep down, I know that if I take just one step and then another step, eventually, I may find I can actually do it after all. Safely On The Ground… Believe me, it’s always “safer” to stay right where you are â€" in the ‘familiar.’ Especially if you’re “more mature” like me, being “safe” tries to keep you on the ground more often now than it might have as a child. Has the safety of “common and routine” become your mantra? It’s easy to do. Safety feels nice. But, What If… Wouldn’t it be wonderful to accomplish something this year that seemed out of reach just last year? To feel that strength, power, excitement, and accomplishment from truly overcoming that fear? For me, the most recent attempt at doing something I didn’t think I could do was leaving the 9 to 5 office and taking those skills to work as a Virtual Assistant instead. I now work while I travel or just from my home office. I choose the hours I work, the location I work, and choose only the work I love. And, I absolutely love every minute of it! I’m here to tell you that the feeling of strength and power is there once again. Just like when I was a child As an “older” person in the world, I love that it’s never too late to do what I didn’t think I could. And, I plan on doing it until I leave this earth. What about you? When was the last time for you? Has it been too long? Maybe this is the year for you to change all of that! Let’s do it! This post was written by Stephanie Brodt, owner of Virtual Executive Services. She left the corporate world after 20+ years of working as an Executive Assistant to Presidents and CEOs. She now teaches others how to take their skills from their 9 to 5 office and use them to work online from wherever they choose. You can find out more about Stephanie at stephaniebrodt.com. She can also be found onLinkedInandFacebook. Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

5 Ways To Mix Business And Philanthropy

5 Ways To Mix Business And Philanthropy It’s possible to make money and give something back at the same time. Philanthropy means ‘love of humanity’ and is all about making a difference to people’s lives. There are lots of ways in which you combine business and philanthropy â€" here are just a few options for those that want to mix the two. Start a business with a philanthropic cause The easiest way to mix business and philanthropy could be to start a business with a philanthropic cause. This could include starting a home care business or setting up your own dog shelter. When mixing the two it’s important to get the right balance between the two â€" you don’t want to feel as if you’re exploiting a cause, but neither do you want a negative cash flow from being too giving. Donate some of your profits to charity Another option could be to donate some of your company’s profits to charity. Many companies do this â€" it could be something you do with all purchases or simply a select few products. You could also start separate fundraising campaigns as a way of donating to charity. In the latter case, you’ll probably want to set up a charity account to separate charity earnings from business earnings and make it easier when bookkeeping. Make sure to choose a charity that you and your employees feel strongly about. Invest money in community projects It’s possible to also help out your community by investing money into projects such as local festivals, sports events, new buildings or new local businesses. On top of giving back to your community, this could help to build your reputation and spread awareness of your brand locally. Try to avoid controversial projects if possible as this could divide people and cause you to lose out on customers. Think green More businesses are adopting green methods, both as a way of saving money and saving the planet. Consumers are often more appreciative of businesses that are environmentally aware. Popular ways of being greener could include becoming paperless, recycling more waste and using sustainable energy such as solar power. Driving less often could also be a way of becoming greener by helping to lower your carbon footprint though lower fuel consumption. Think ethical The final way in which you can mix business and philanthropy is to adopt more ethical practices. This involves only sourcing materials and inventory from fair trade suppliers and potentially using less animal by-products, especially if harm was caused to the animal. Being labelled as ‘ethical’ can be a selling point in today’s society â€" more consumers than ever are taking concern in where there are products are sourced.

Graphic Resumes - Creates a Compelling Graphic Resume

Graphic Resumes - Creates a Compelling Graphic ResumeGraphic resumes are a great way to get the most out of your resume and stand out from the crowd. They allow you to create a personalized and professional design that will convey the message that you want your employer to know. And as a bonus, they are easy to understand and print and can be customized to match the style of the job you're applying for.Graphic resumes are also popular with other types of resumes such as for managers, officers, sales people, and even some recruiters. The reason for this is because they are a flexible, creative option for creating a quality resume. Most of the time, the graphics are on the top of the list of people's lists when it comes to what they're looking for when they are looking at resumes.The different options that you have available are truly amazing. You can get a portfolio that includes other people's resumes or you can simply design your own. It's up to you as far as the design is concerned because you have the option of selecting either 'portfolio'own design'.But if you really want to give yourself a leg up on other people, you should consider creating your own graphic resume. It's not nearly as difficult as it sounds. In fact, it's pretty easy, but you do need to make sure that you're making the right impression. Here are a few tips for doing just that.First, you want to think about how a memorable design will stand out among all the others. The best way to do this is to use color. If you want to get some attention, you should choose colors that will grab the attention of the reader. This means that you'll want to choose colors that are vibrant and stand out among the rest of the text on the page. Remember, it's all about the attention you can get so choose the colors that are attention-grabbing.Graphic resumes also work great if you're looking for a logo. They come in a variety of sizes and you should have no problem getting one that is appropriate for your company . You'll be able to put the logo on your graphic resume using your resume as your backdrop and then include some information about your company.There is also a good way to add some interactivity to your graphic resume. What this means is that you'll want to make sure that you're using the resume as the backdrop. This way, you'll be able to display your resume text on the background of the graphic, rather than on top of it.Overall, there are a lot of options that you have for using your graphic resume. Be sure to take advantage of them!