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Julie Jakubiec
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over 6 months ago

It’s the question that can make your palms sweat when filling out a job application. Does it have to be so hard to answer? Maybe, maybe not depending on the situation, but you should be prepared for this question as it ALWAYS comes up. And while you might have had an issue at a present or past employer that may or may not have been your fault in your own opinion, you unfortunately still have to take ownership for it. Just keep in mind that while defamation is illegal, it’s not actually defamation if they’re being honest. But if you’re finding that a former or present employer is intentionally lying, then you may have the opportunity to look into taking legal steps. But here is how you can check “No” in an acceptable manner! It’s ok to check “No” as long as there is a space for explanation. Your explanation could easily be “Still currently employed”, or even “Currently employed, please check with me first”. And if there is no space for explanation, check “Yes” but have a reference other than your direct line manager that can give a credible reference for you. At the end of the day,checking “No” without an explanation could raise a major red flag that you want to avoid altogether.

I’d definitely like to hear some of your stories around this so please feel free to share (let’s keep it as positive as possible)!

#recruitersadvice #trendingtopics

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Julie Jakubiec
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over 6 months ago

One of the most common themes I see here is around background checks and the amount of time it takes for them to be completed. And regardless of whether you have a background or not, there is always some anxiety when this happens! So while some background checks can take 2-4 days to complete, some can take upwards of even a month at times due to the following factors: -Holiday backlogs: The holidays pose a problem as courts may be closed thus delaying the information being verified -Potential court mandates that research needs to be completed by one of their own clerks, running into the risk of vacations, out of office, etc. therefore delaying their ability to immediately verify the necessary information -International background or experience outside of the US -Past employers may not respond to the request in a timely manner -Some states require that requests for verification be sent via mail, as opposed to electronically -Incomplete information: Make sure that you’re filling out the background check forms completely and accurately so that you don’t run the risk of being held up by having to provide additional information. Typing a wrong number on something as simple as your birthday or SSN could be the difference between your background check coming back in a few days vs. a few weeks.

I hope this helps and gives you a little piece of mind when you’re facing these delays! But you can also always reach out to the company running the check to see if they know what exactly the issue is.

#recruitersadvice #trendingtopics

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Julie Jakubiec
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over 6 months ago

No one is perfect and we all make mistakes when it comes to our social media presence. We can fall into the trap of getting too comfortable, and run the risk of oversharing. Today more and more employers are using social media as a recruiting tool to look at potential employees, even using it as a way to decide whether or not to interview an applicant. The fix is easy, and here are a few best practices to take into consideration when posting to all of your social media profiles: Do not post anything you would not want a potential employer to see/read. Always be sure to check spelling, grammar, and use proper punctuation before hitting the “post” button. (I’ve included a few links to resources to help with writing skills below) Keep the negativity to a minimum or leave it out altogether. Employers want to hire people that are positive, can adapt to change or pivot when necessary, are open to new ideas, and are willing to pitch in wherever needed, etc. When picking your profile picture, don’t post anything your grandmother wouldn’t be proud of. If you prefer to not have your profile (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) viewable to potential employers, just keep your profile(s) private. When it comes to Jobcase, remember that your profile is the first impression you’re making with employers, and keep all of your info up to date! Keep the rants to a minimum. Jobcase is here to help each other talk through challenges. But there is a difference between ranting vs. calling to attention a challenge that multiple members may be coming up against, and working towards a solution together. Keep any references to alcohol or drug usage off of your profiles. Try to stay away from getting “too personal” resulting in oversharing And lastly, do not use profanity on your profile.

As promised, here a few links to resources to help in your writing and to assist in grammar, spelling, etc.! https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/06/50-free-resources-that-will-improve-your-writing-skills/ http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Proper-Punctuation https://www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources/ https://interestingliterature.com/2015/02/02/10-free-online-resources-to-improve-your-writing/

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Marijoy Bertolini
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over 6 months ago

My friend recently told me she got hired as a ‘permanent’ employee after working as a temp and when I asked her how, she gave me these tips: - Stay flexible – she did anything anyone in the company asked her to (within reason). If she had time, she did it. - Use your contacts. Every day you meet people who might be able to help you get a full-time job. Let others get to know you. Be nice & helpful to everyone. - Absorb the culture and skills necessary to be successful. You have inside information on what the company values – use every opportunity to demonstrate you’re a perfect fit. - Talk about wanting to join the company full-time. Don’t keep your desire to be hired full-time a secret – let others (especially managers) know you’re VERY interested in a full-time role. - Depending on the company, you can also let them know you’re interviewing for positions outside of the company. The pressure of your finding another job might just push them to make a decision quicker. This can backfire, so be careful with this one. It’s a risk because they may think you’re not serious about THEIR company. (It worked for my friend, though.) P.S. Getting hired into full-time, regular position is often referred to as “Permanent”, but this is typically a misnomer. In most states, you are hired as an ‘employee at will’ which means that either the employee or company can terminate employment WITH or WITHOUT CAUSE. There’s nothing permanent about it! “Full-time” refers to the number of hours in your work-week (versus “part-time”), and “Regular” refers to someone who is employed directly by a company (versus a “Contractor”). So, even though people describe full-time, regular jobs as ‘PERMANENT’, that’s not really the right term. Just wanted to clarify.

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Marijoy Bertolini
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over 6 months ago

I found a very interesting post from a high-tech recruiter in CA about 'what recruiters look for' that I think you'll find informative. You don't need to be in high-tech for it to apply to you. Lots of detail here, but some items I think you'll find interesting:

Let me know if this is helpful! Best, Marijoy

#interview #tips #recruitersadvice

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Mark Bryan
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over 6 months ago

“Attitude” is such an important topic and I just wanted to see what other people think about this. In my opinion, having a good attitude in the workplace is SO IMPORTANT! Even if you are having a really bad day, staying positive and calm can go such a long way in how your office/co-workers view you.

You always hear that “attitude” is something you can control but what do you think?

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Julie Jakubiec
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over 6 months ago

Interviewing can be difficult, REALLY difficult. Even as a recruiter I sometimes struggle with finding new ways of rewording questions to either ask the question differently or dig in when I’m not getting the answers I’m looking for. And there are also potential HR nightmares you can create by asking questions the wrong way (check out my recent post on what not to ask in an interview as an employer Questions to Avoid). What I’ve found is that there are a few quick and easy ways to reframe questions to get the answers you’re looking for when interviewing potential employees. Step 1: Refrain from asking closed ended questions that can be answered in just a “yes” or “no” and start asking open ended questions. This is an easy fix! Instead of asking the question of “Have you done this before?” you want to reposition it as “Tell me about how you’ve done this in your experience” or “Tell me about your experience doing this” or even “Walk me through a time you were in a situation where..”. The real keys is to change the Haves” to “Hows” and “Tell me about…”. Pretty simple, right? Step 2: Reframing the question. This will help to ensure you’re not creating potential HR issues around potential areas of discrimination and sensitivity. Here are a few examples but also some universal answers: Original Q: I noticed you live pretty far away, is this commutable for you? Reframed: Is there anything that would prevent you from working the hours required and being on time each day, what is it? Original Q: I noticed you have an accent? Where are you from? (Keep in mind that you want to stay away from any and all questions related to race/ethnicity/country of origin/ age/religion/marital status/sexual orientation/gender/familial status/whether or not they have children)/political preference. Reframed: Are you currently authorized to work in the US? Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for a work visa? Original Q: Can you work for someone of the same or opposite sex? OR Can you work for someone older/younger than you? Reframed: Tell me about the type of management style you work best with. Original Q: I see that you’re in a wheelchair, can you do the job? Reframed: “Can you foresee anything that would prevent you from being able to meet all of the requirements for this role? I think when all else fails, you can use the reframed question of “Is there anything that would prevent you from fulfilling the job requirements this role?” for all of these questions. Please feel to reach out if there is anything you may have questions on!

#recruitersadvice #trendingtopics #interview

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Julie Jakubiec
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over 6 months ago

Sometimes in the rush of interviewing for a role that we’re desperate to fill we lose sight of recruiting etiquette. Part of this is not asking questions that could potentially turn into an HR nightmare for you as they have been deemed as potentially discriminatory. And while some of these may be obvious or self explanatory, I thought I would put together a list to share with you so that you can avoid potentially getting yourselves into an HR mess: Avoid asking questions around race/country of origin/where they or their parents grew up and/or ethnicity. This can easily be reframed as: “Are you currently authorized to work in the US? Do you now, or will you in the future, require sponsorship for a Visa?” Avoid asking questions about someone’s marital or relationship status, and/or sexual preference. Do not ask about children (whether or not they have them, plan to have them, childcare situation, or their ages). Definitely do not ask questions about political preference, affiliation, etc. Just stay away! Avoid asking questions about someone’s health and whether or not they have any health issues and/or disabilities. You CAN ask, “XYZ” Do not ask questions about someone’s age, including asking what year they graduated from high school or college. Stay away from asking about someone’s commute. You might instead want to ask. “Is there anything that would prevent you from arriving to work on time every day?” Do not ask “Can you work for someone younger/older than you?”. Refrain from asking questions about their religion or what religious holidays they observe. You CAN ask, “Can you work… (describe schedule).” Do not ask if English is their first language. And lastly, do not ask if they’re comfortable working for a boss of either sex. Again, these may or may seem like no brainers, but it’s always best to air on the caution when it comes to interviewing. If you need help or ideas on how to reframe these questions in a non-discriminatory way, keep an eye out for another posting in the next few days on how to do just that. Good luck!

#recruitersadvice #interview #trendingtopics

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Julie Jakubiec
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over 6 months ago

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this miniseries addressing Millennials, Wikipedia defines Ageism as “Stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age”. Let’s take a look at the perception of ageism around Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers.Through my reading and research around this topic I found a number of things and it has really opened up my eyes to ageism on all sides.

Right now Baby Boomers feel like they’re entering the last years of their working lives and feel that they’re viewed as road blocks by the younger generations. Baby Boomers have a perception of a strong prejudice against them. And in part they might be right as unemployment rates for workers over the age of 55 are significantly higher than younger generations. Baby Boomers also just want to continue to work but feel they’re the most likely to be eliminated in tough economic times, as companies can hire younger employees who do not require the same comp levels and are willing to work longer hours for less.

This doesn’t stop with the Baby Boomer generation, Gen X’ers feel that they’re being squeezed by the Baby Boomers not retiring, holding onto higher level roles that reduce the opportunities to advance. They feel that the Millennials coming in are scooping up more jobs while working for less, making the Gen X’ers feel at risk. And let’s be honest that Gen X’ers and Millennials tend to generalize the Baby Boomers as not being tech savvy. But let’s not forget that the Millennials have the advantage of coming in having grown up with social media, the internet, and having tech at their fingertips while the Gen X’ers had it from an early age too (Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Oregon Trail? I rest my case).

But let’s take a look at some of the positives to Millennials joining the workforce. While we may judge this generation for having everything handed to them and the whole “everyone gets a medal” mentality, they’re coming into the workplace with a louder voice. The women of this generation are far more comfortable calling out unprofessional and inappropriate behavior in the workplace than the Baby Boomers or Gen X’ers who have remained tight lipped for years for fear of either being told to sit down and keep quiet, or face retaliation. At the end of the day, I think the labels need to go and we all need to look at each other, regardless of age, and realize that no matter what age we are we all bring something different to the table and should learn from each other.

I’d like to open this up for discussion and I’d love to hear your thoughts and/or opinions on the topic. I just ask that we keep it positive and take it as a learning experience for all of us!

#TrendingTopics

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Marijoy Bertolini
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over 6 months ago

When does your interview start? Hint: It’s not when you’re sitting across from the interviewer. Your interview starts the minute you reach out to a company. (Do you sound professional and mature? Do you sound enthusiastic? Are you speaking clearly?) You’re being interviewed when you fill out your application (Can you follow directions? How’s your handwriting/grammar/spelling?). If an employer has to leave a message on your voicemail, what message are they going to hear? (“What’s Up? You know what to do… (BEEP!)” is just not professional.)

Once you’ve survived the application process, plan your interview day properly. Plan your route and your outfit, bring copies of your resume, a pen/paper, change for the parking meter, and give yourself a few minutes to find the building/HR office, etc. And once you arrive, of course, be nice to everyone (the receptionist is a KEY part of the interview process!!) and turn your phone on MUTE.

Remember to smile and give a firm handshake while looking your interviewer in the eyes.

If you’re a regular Jobcaser and have seen our Interview Tips, you have practiced interview questions & you’re prepared for the face-to-face conversation. Now that you’re here… You’ve got this.

Good luck awesome Jobcasers! #interview #RecruitersAdvice

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