Why Storytelling Matters in Recruitment

Why Storytelling Matters in Recruitment During my recruitment career, one thing I have noticed is how rarely I refer back to my notes taken from my meetings, whether that be candidates interviews or clients requirements. I may occasionally need to refer back if there is a query over billings or salary for candidates, or commission plans on behalf of clients. But on the whole, I have always been able to “package” up a profile or client spec as a mini “story” and tell it to the relevant party. I hadn’t thought about it until I read my cousin’s book “The Storytelling Book” about the art of storytelling that the impact of how we tell a story is what defines us as recruiters and I think it is part of the reason I have always been successful. I don’t mean telling porky pie stories, I mean the ability to recall information; to capture it in context, to make it a compelling case to the person listening. More than an “elevator pitch,” enticing the  person you are passionately telling this story to, to WANT to meet the person. Think of it in a social context: some of your most memorable nights out- you then go on to tell your friend who couldn’t make it about the person who did XY and Z. How it made you feel, the chronological order of events, what happened at the end. The same is the format for telling stories in recruitment- we start at the beginning of the story, why someone has reached this point to explain how you have got from A to B, we want to hear how that journey happened I referred to my cousin earlier- a prominent marketer with global recognition for his achievements and insights- allow him to advise us further, over to you Anthony Tasgal, author, trainer, speaker and strategist POV Marketing. The Power of Storytelling  Stories cut through “attention spam”: Our brain is designed to filter out most of what we throw at it (think of viewers watching ads, parents talking to kids, interviewers having to listen to 50 candidates.) We like to think what we are ‘saying’ goes into people’s attention inbox. But most of that material isn’t memorable, meaningful or emotional (it’s not a story); so, it goes into what I call “attention spam.” A story is the secret weapon to cut through attention spam. We are obsessed with telling people facts (I call this “in-fact-uation”). Stories wrap facts in emotion and empathy. Stories translate information into emotion Create memories are memorable Captivate hold us in their grip Draw you in what’s going to happen next?! All join up stories don’t have wastage Have a tone of voice-they are all about character/s, so they can express your character and make you stand out Stop you from just talking about facts and information .and then you learn something Storytelling makes us care; tell me a story about you and Im more likely to care about who you are Story works because it is universal It is all about trust and empathy: our lives and identities are written in the story. No tribe or culture on the planet doesn’t have storytelling. The same can’t be said for Excel or PowerPoint. Numbers Numb Us, Stories Stir Us Top Tips Construct a Golden Thread: a story needs a thread, a skeleton or structure. Plan yours so your audience doesn’t get lost in a fog of random facts. The rule of 3: try to remember and communicate no more than three ideas, words or images. It will help you remember and rehearse too, as “3 is the magic number.” Be emotional: story works because it translates information into emotion. Don’t rely on facts, information or “data” to create a connection in an interview situation. Create personality. Stories are based on characters, who have a personality. To be memorable (and stand out against other candidates) you need to build a convey a memorable personality; it goes without saying that it should be sincere, honest and based on who you are. Grab them early: stories work best when you have something distinctive and memorable to say, try to get into it right at the start: it will be more captivating and draw in your audience. End big. We filter a lot of our experiences through the lens of how they end (think of holidays you’ve had: TV series you’ve watched, books you’ve read). So, people will remember you by how you left them, the last impression you made. So, make it dramatic. And this is the point where you ask for their thoughts and feedback. Recruitment is all about people; it is all about knowledge; it is all about our networks. And for me, it is being to recall information which is locked into a person or company’s story. What do you think? Is this how you have become successful or am I merely spouting fairytales?

How to Get Over Allergies Fast so You Can Get Back to Work

How to Get Over Allergies Fast so You Can Get Back to Work Even though winter is widely regarded as the season of sickness, summer allergies can leave just as many people out of commission. The warm, wet weather of springtime encourages all sorts of flora to grow and bloom, leading to beautiful summer scenery â€" and a bevy of unbearable allergy symptoms, like watery eyes, runny nose, coughing, itching, and more. In fact, summer allergies tend to look just as bad as they feel, with sufferers displaying unsightly black eyes and facial creases. If you are suffering from summer allergies, you can be sure your boss and coworkers don’t want you coming into the office looking and feeling as run down as you do. Still, there is no reason to miss work due to a seasonal disorder. Here are some natural tips and tricks to make your allergies go away in no time. Take a Long, Steamy Shower As soon as you get home from work, before you do anything else, you should drop your clothes and take a shower. Outdoor summertime allergens tend to stick to clothing, skin, and hair, which means you are probably carrying around the source of your symptoms. Throughout allergy season, you should do everything possible to prevent those allergens from penetrating your home, which usually means washing them down the drain. Hot showers also help relieve allergy symptoms. Inhaling steam will soothe your irritated sinus tissues, which will help your body drain mucus so you can breathe through your nose. Additionally, showers tend to diminish stress by relaxing the muscles and calming the mind, and a composed, relaxed body is amply more capable of overcoming allergies fast. Stay Indoors Once you have scoured your body of any residue that may be causing an allergic reaction, you should sit tight. No matter how nice it is outside, you should close your doors and windows to prevent outdoor air from leaking into your home and causing more allergy symptoms. Outside air carries pollen and pollution, both of which can irritate the sinuses and cause allergies. The more time you can spend in an allergen-free zone, the longer your body has to recover to a symptom-free state.  Remember, whatever is affecting you, may also be affecting your children. Flush With Saltwater The point of mucus is to trap dust and dirt before they get into the respiratory tract and cause damage. The problem is that during allergy season, mucus lodges allergens in your delicate sinus membranes, which sends your immune system into a tizzy. Getting those allergens out of your sinuses is the only way to cease your symptoms; eventually the body will do it naturally with a deluge of mucus, but you can make the process go faster by flushing with saline solution. Undoubtedly, you have seen the Neti Pot in action: a small tea potâ€"shaped device that dramatically delivers saltwater straight to your sinuses. The Neti Pot certainly works, but there are other home-grown methods of achieving the same end: Mix a teaspoon of salt in a pint of warm water and add a pinch of baking soda, then use an eyedropper or spray bottle to administer the solution into your nostrils. Drink Tea Warm beverages have been mothers’ cure-alls for centuries, and in fact, the warmth and steam from hot drinks has much the same alleviating effect on the sinuses as a long shower or bath. Still, some beverages are better for lessening allergy symptoms than others: Tea, especially peppermint and nettle leaf, has well-known properties for easing allergy-related aches and pains. Elements of peppermint oil act as a decongestant and mild anti-inflammatory, which helps clear up the mucus in your respiratory tract, and refreshing nettle leaf tea is a mild anti-histamine packed with all sorts of vitamins and minerals to bolster your immune system. While you are out of the office overcoming your symptoms, you can curl up with a cup of tea and a good book â€" or your department’s latest earning reports. Adjust Your Diet Just as some drinks help combat your symptoms, some foods can help your body fight off allergies. One study found that those who enjoy a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids are less likely to endure allergy symptoms because the nutrient, found in cold-water fish and walnuts, fights inflammation from the start. Spicy foods, like horseradish, wasabi, and mustard, also can work as mild, temporary decongestants, which will keep your nasal passageways clear and allow you to breathe. With the right diet throughout allergy season, you may even be able to prevent leaving work to begin with.

Power Words for Your Resume

Power Words for Your Resume Resumes always run the risk of looking like boring carbon copies of every other resume out there. The most effective words to use in a resume help you get the attention of the hiring manager. If you are looking for some power words for your resume, see what we offer below. For more information on how to use resume keywords when applying for jobs, click here.“Leader of the Pack” ResumeThese are power words for your resume if you are a leader of teams and employees:Executed Headed Operated Orchestrated Oversaw Produced“Builders” ResumeIf you are a builder who loves to create, develop and build whatever you think people should be using, these are the most effective words to use in a resume. You’re not the upfront leader, but you are definitely a necessity to the company that wants to grow:Designed Engineered Instituted Launched Pioneered“Cost-Effective Operations” ResumeGreat words to use in a CV or resume for the person who can help a company save money on operating costs include the following:Consolidated Decreased Deducted Reduced Yielded“Rainmaker” ResumeIf you know how to get your company money, you definitely deserve some power words for your resume! You are resourceful and all of your work leads to financial growth for the business. So, try these effective words for your resume:Acquired Navigated Negotiated Secured“Great Regulator” ResumeThe very nature of your career demands power words for your resume. When you have the power to enforce company protocol, manage requests, and decide what stays or goes, these words are for you:Authorized Delegated Dispatched Enforced Inspected Screened VerifiedFinally: “Achievement” ResumeThese are perhaps the most effective words to use in a resume. Why? It is easy to tell someone what you do, but the true test of whether your efforts are in vain or not comes in the results. If you have great achievements for your resume, these power words are for you and are also great words for your CV:Awarded C ompleted Demonstrated Earned Exceeded Succeeded SurpassedGreat achievements are great words for your CV. Why? When people read your resume, you will be very easy to remember! A powerful resume with achievements stands out and makes you look like a trustworthy interesting person to hire! Learn more on how to use resume keywordswhen applying for jobs.

Breaking Into The Business Of Weddings

Breaking Into The Business Of Weddings As a career minded woman you’re always looking for ways to take your business farther. And you may be looking for ways you can help other women in the process. While many may look to the fields of health and wellness for a career that helps others, there are other options. One other option is working to help women create their dream weddings. There are plenty of people out there that are in the business of weddings.  You could be one of them if that’s your dream. There are many things that go into planning  a wedding.  Most brides get overwhelmed if they try to do it all themselves. That’s where you come in. Work On Your Contacts Whether you want to plan weddings from beginning to end or you just want to help the bride find everything she needs in order to feel like a princess on her wedding day, you need to have the right contacts in order to make dreams come true. That starts with knowing the best venues to cater to dream weddings.  And, you might want to look into ones that have it all. A venue that can host the wedding and the reception, and make it easier on your and the bridal party, can be a dream come true for all of you. You also want to have a good relationship with dress shops, hair dressers, a makeup artist, photographers, and more. There is a lot that goes into creating the perfect wedding. What’s Your Niche You can do it all, as a wedding planner, but you may want to do something special that no one else does, like themed weddings only. Or, you may simply want to decorate reception halls or take wedding photos. Once you have your niche you can start getting experience and become a pro in your field in the wedding industry. You should visit wedding expos and other events to get ideas and to see what options there are out there. This is a great way to collect information and make contacts. Many brides-to-be attend these shows as well  So once you are somewhat established it can be well worth it to rent a space. Create A Portfolio As you begin your career in the wedding industry don’t forget to document the work that you do. Ask brides and grooms to write a short recommendation, of sorts, for you that you can use on your website and in your portfolio. This will show other people that your past clients liked the work you did for them. Always be sure to take photos as well, even if you aren’t a wedding photographer. Take photos of the work you have done, like table decorations or simply the finished product of the wedding with the happy family posing together. Pictures tell a story, and you want them to tell potential clients that your work makes happy marriages! Images.  Wedding Collage

4 Leadership Methods for Empowering Employees and Building Strong Teams CareerMetis.com

4 Leadership Methods for Empowering Employees and Building Strong Teams Leadership used to motivate and empower employees can build strong teams. Here are four methods to produce such a team in any workplace environment:1) Workplace CultureThe quality of a leader can be, judged with the standards set by, and for them, which encourage others to follow, and this indicates to initializing the process of great culture in the workplace. The pampering of employees or providing the facilities that other companies introduce may or may not suit the business you commence. Build a culture that complies with your business needs and keeps the employees involved in creating and maintaining it.evalWork Ethics, Values, Individual and Team Goals, Employee Involvement and Engagement, and emphasis on Employee Wellness together create a work culture of an organization.Satisfied employees deliver more than their job descriptions and have strong profiles, that draw business and increases the market sustainability of the company.Work culture should be such that every single da y people want to come to the office and enjoy doing their jobs.2) Powerful CommunicationConcepts of communication from a leader’s angle should set an outlook for performance and not power or position. Conveying the right message with the right attitude can win over hearts and minds. Powerful communication is the one that drives others to flock to a cause. Principally correct ways of communicating can produce no results unless the leader’s intention, objectives, and goals are clear.Leaders use two way and multi-channel communication, unlike managers who use one-way communication and thrust the rules and regulations without need.Attending to problems professionally and listening to personal issues is a sign of a true leader, one who encourages and pushes team members to find ways to deal with situations. Motivate employees to share with you their concerns and wonderful experiences of being on your team.Building an environment where team leaders and members learn from each other ha s a powerful impact on training sessions and development. It bolsters each person’s desire to acquire particular skills and knowledge for the sake of the team. But these skills can be exchanged effectively only if proper communication occurs within the team. Possessing the ability to secure this kind of environment is a vitalskill foreffective leadership.evalIn most circumstances, communication should be firm but need not be harsh. Express your opinions don’t try to impress. If you consider a human being as a possibility, they can create wonders. You have the vision for the company and intention to serve the employee with a dual responsibility to adhere you can introduce the power of positive communication.3) Expulse MicromanagingBelieving in people and teams strengthens the sense of reliability and responsibility. Micromanaging is for infants not adults who we select for the jobs they deserve and qualify to contribute. Manager’s job often thumps to exercise authority resultin g in over- interference, exhibiting distrust, flaunting the power and revealing unnecessary attributes of your personality.Fair policies and unbiased pay packages have essential roles in employee retention, and all those benefits feel like a burden with a micromanaging team lead around us. Employees tend to be in a company where they are respected, for their work and have managers who, provide freedom to work experiment and innovate. Job security and new opportunities to explore is the main attraction for the employee.Managers have expectations for team members and companies have expectations for managers. However, it is important to remember that teams have expectations for their managers too. Companies want managers to keep control, and even though that’s inevitable, the behavior can be controlled and act only when required.evalKeeping an eye on people and having an eye for details are two different qualities misinterpreted by the managers and the organizations. At times, the pr esence and availability of managers eliminate the need for micromanagement. Reporting myth has to change from it as a right of the manager instead team members should feel comfortable and motivated to inform about the progress.4) Enable Decision MakersGenuine leaders encourage and empower team members to be decision-makers. Decision power helps people shoulder responsibility and remain committed to the work. However, leaving decisions to employees and blaming them for failures is not the game. Guiding training and fine-tuning abilities that can turn an employee into an efficient decision-maker is.The leader maintaining transparency in decision making certainly builds an environment of trust and people follow the processes because they believe in them and not as if they are compelled to do so.Strategies for the growth of the business, and employees, not only keeps them well engaged but also defines to bring forth the purpose of their existence in the workplace. Involve employees in t he company’s vision, and the mission will gain momentum.Building Strong Teams:Every manager’s dream is to have a strong team.What does it take to build a strong team?Provide Clarity and Equal OpportunitiesBe Approachable and do Hand HoldingIdentify the critical qualities of team members beforedelegationInspire, demonstrate Integrity, Trust and RespectContinuous Improvement and InnovationAnalyze Training NeedEvaluate Team PerformanceGive Honest Feedback but remain PositiveAward the ContributorsThank the TeamThe efforts of a leader to build the team and make it stronger to perform and deliver extraordinary results are clubbed and enclosed with the pure intentions to provide equal opportunities to all team members and identifying the supreme qualities before the delegation of work and responsibilities.Making the team accountable is not easy unless the task and role clarity is available from the leader and is approachable, open to discuss and most importantly listen and guide or coa ch the members.Usually, we find feedback sessions attached either to appraisals or after the occurrence of unpleasant events. A leader is supposed to facilitate constructive and positive discussion. Specific and to-the-point feedback helps in evaluating a team member’s performance and identifying their needs. By positive feedback here, I do not mean a leader should sugarcoat anything.evalYou have to be encouraging enough to inspire the employee to look for the areas of development proactively. This can go a long way to forge a desire for self-improvement that the role, tasks, and the company will benefit from.Nowadays, companies have budgets for training and employee development. Despite this, many managers tend to look at it as a sign of weakness in employees and an unnecessary expense to the company. In reality, training provides an opportunity for ideas and new methods of implementation.IN CONCLUSIONInspiration, Trust and Respect towards the team members invite innovation. A le ader should, of course, have ideas, but those developments may require support. They may even necessitate counter-arguments to actually translate into reality. Challenges to a plan aren’t always unproductive and should be genuinely heard out during the ideation phase of project development.Likewise, appreciation in the form of awards and valuing contributions is critical. It not only raises competition among the members. But it also encourages the individual to perform better and keep improving. A leader who can appreciate and thank the team for the support will never have to worry about the quality of the team’s performance. Each member will take responsibility for themselves and each other.The aforementioned Leadership Methods can function appropriately in any business or sector. To nurture the teams and make them strong you as a leader need to love your job and respect people.eval

Career Changers Success Story Job Shadowing Before Jumping - Hire Imaging

Career Changer’s Success Story Job Shadowing Before Jumping - Hire Imaging A client I’ll call Mary had been a medical device salesperson for 12 years. This past spring, she asked me to help her transition to a new opportunity. She was refocusing on her young family, and wanted to move away from sales into a healthcare career allowing her to work more “9-to-5” hours with no travel. After a couple of coaching sessions around career exploration, she thought that Radiology Technologist might be a good fit for her. However, although fascinated by what she had read and heard about the field, she still was a bit leery of investing time and money in new training. She said to me, “What if I find that the day-to-day job is not what I wanted after all?” Well, of course there are no magic jobs; every position has its pros and cons. So, Mary decided to pursue job shadowing. Here’s what she did to view the job from the inside: Contacted the American Society of Radiologic Technologists through their website. They referred her to chapter in her state. From there, she connected with a specialist to watch her work for three hours each on four scheduled days. The work site was less than 25 miles from her home. Note: most professions have one or more professional associations. Connected with an accredited brick-and-mortar school offering a two-year Associated of Applied Science program in Radiology Technology. She was granted permission to sit in on several classroom and lab classes, including observation of a major student group project. Visited her local library to do further research on job prospects in this field. Through this research, she was able to set up three informational interviews with radiology technologists in her area. Mary was able to view a firsthand picture of the work life of a Radiology Technologist. She was armed with questions to ask. Here are a few that can be used for any job shadowing experience: What type of work is performed daily? Weekly? Monthly? What types of experience do employers seek? Are there ways to obtain this experience prior to working in the field? What are the typical settings people in this field can expect? What are the key personal characteristics for success in this field? What opportunities for advancement exist? What demands and frustrations typically accompany this type of work? What types of technology are used in this field? Would you offer any advice or suggestions for someone considering going into the field given what you know now? What are the satisfying and/or rewarding aspects of working in this field? Can you suggest others who may be valuable sources of information? Mary listened carefully to those in the role and to their journeys to get there. She reflected on the parts of the roles that excited her; and whether her strengths truthfully aligned with the job. She pictured adjustments that she would need regarding the transition from Medical Device Sales Professional to Radiology Technologist. She carefully worked out finances around training and typical salaries for the role. Throughout the job shadowing process, she took notes and tracked every single lead and contact. She pushed away her fear and asked for help. Mary was able to observe specialists in their work. Job shadowing enabled her to be a fly on the wall watching from the background; but also to interact as appropriate, ask questions, and learn. She decided to start training, and was comfortable with her decision to pursue this new career path. It would allow her to continue in a high-tech healthcare field using her strong customer service and relationship management talents, as well as her passion for medical technology. Through her experience, she connected with a decision-maker at one of the regional hospitals near her home. The employer was impressed with her due diligence gleaned through the job shadowing. He arranged for Mary to do administrative support work in the Radiology Labâ€"while completing her two-year Associate’s Degree. She was also given an offer of employment two years’ out! Job sharing can be one of your greatest opportunities to differentiate yourself from other candidates. It can set you apart as a go-getter. It can give you critical on-the-job information that helps you in your job search. It can answer the question, “How do you see yourself in this job?” Might this be a strategy to give you an edge in your job search campaign?

How to Write a Resume Experience Section

How to Write a Resume Experience SectionResume Experience sections make the first impression of a candidate for a job. To do this successfully, one needs to use this section effectively and carefully. There are many things to consider when writing a resume experience section. The best way to write this section is to first identify the main reasons for which the applicant wishes to pursue a particular career path.Applying for a job will be a lot easier if you highlight your strengths. The best way to do this is to create a short list of strengths. Make sure that these strengths are at least three of the main reasons why an employer would hire you. Each of the strength will need a short paragraph describing it briefly. In order to make the section relevant, write these paragraphs as though you were giving a good interview.Another way to write a resume experience section is to narrow down the most relevant strengths by presenting them in the order of how important they are. This can be a little difficult to do since each strength can be listed separately.The strengths can also be classified as medium to high priority. A resume writing service should be able to help in classifying each strength according to its importance. Based on this, it will be easier to decide on the length of the career section of a resume.Another consideration is how many of the strengths are specific. For example, if you are an accountant, you will probably want to write a career section for you as a financial expert. While this might be a good option, many employers will only look for candidates who are equipped with the skills they need.Writing a resume experience section also requires the writer to consider how the career reflects his or her personality. The best approach is to write a section that emphasizes how the person fits into the company's culture. This section can also include a summary of the applicant's achievements.Some resumes require the applicant to list what their employe r's objectives are. The best way to write a resume experience section is to write an objective in the same way that an interviewer would.When writing a resume experience section, it is important to take note of the fact that the reader is looking for something specific. When writing a resume experience section, it is important to have a general objective but to find the time to highlight how the applicant will meet the specified objectives. Writing a resume experience section is more about highlighting the applicant's potential than it is about outlining the candidate's skills.