A quick job search tip. Make sure your phone number and email address are displayed prominently on your resume. This will allow recruiters and hiring managers to contact you easily. Having to go searching for an email from you may cause a delay in contact.

Filed under: Human Resources

If you’re in the process of relocating, or have recently relocated, here’s a tip about the job search. Be explicit. Make sure you have a cover letter for starters. Use your cover letter to explain your move.

When candidates apply for a job with a resume that shows an address out of country, province or even town with no explanation, the recruiter is left wondering if the candidate is even aware of where the job is located. By explaining your move, you’ll still be in the game.

Filed under: Human Resources

All this talk about March Madness at work is starting to drive me a little nuts. I am hearing and reading about employers turning off their televisions, blocking video feeds, and denying sick days. Who are these companies hiring? Why can’t they be trusted? Don’t they have targets, goals or deadlines?

Is the suggestion that a couple (I know, it’s more than a couple) of basketball games will throw off productivity? And if that is the case, how can these companies tell that productivity dips? And if they can tell, why don’t they just hold employees accountable to the normal productivity volume? Something like this;

Dear Employee, please make the deadline for the next release. Sincerely, Company.

Dear Employee, please answer at least as many customer calls as you did last week. Sincerely, Company.

Dear Employee, please deliver as many packages as you normally do. Sincerely, Company.

Dear Employee, please make as many widgets as you did before March Madness started. Sincerely, Company.

Does it really matter if they take an hour off to watch a game if you get the same result? Shouldn’t we worry more about results than how they use the hours of the day? If their work is bad, isn’t that because of their skills?

I ask all these questions, because I think that if you have productivity problems, it’s probably not because of a basketball game.  Am I missing a perspective? Share!

Filed under: Human Resources

Occasionally I find myself thinking about interviews of days gone by. I always have a few learnings after each round. Here are some tips for interviewing, in no particular order:

• Dress your best - Even at McDonalds, wear your very best to interview
• Be on time - Follow the 10 minute early rule
• Easy on the cologne/perfume - Be mindful that you’ll be sitting in an office, likely with the door closed
• Smile - Does this need more?
• Leave your mom and dad at home - Seriously, at most, leave them in the car if they drove you
• Call if you’re going to be late - It’s just common courtesy
• Never bail - If you change your mind, or get another gig in the meantime, call
• Be yourself - Better to get this out in the open at the beginning – the same goes for the employer, show your true self, don’t try to fancy it up for candidates
• Turn your phone off - Another common courtesy
• Pay attention to social cues - When someone starts sitting on the arm of the chair instead of the chair itself, it might be a cue that your time is up

Filed under: Human Resources

Welcome to my ramblings about Human Resources, and other stuff.

A HUGE thank you to Shamir for getting the site up and running and to Pete for serving things!

Tags: blog, friends, HR
Filed under: Human Resources