How to Design a Great Hiring Process Think Candidate UX!

How to Design a Great Hiring Process Think Candidate UX! What is Candidate UX? In order to understand Candidate UX, you must first understand what User Experience (UX) is. The discipline of UX is dynamic and always changing and growing, but in a nutshell, its an umbrella term used to describe all the factors that contribute to a users overall perception and feeling about a system or product. UX Design is the process of enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty by improving the usability, ease of use, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the customer and the product. This is done by asking questions such as: Is it easy to use? Is it attractive and appropriate? Does it meet users needs? Its important to note that the core of UX Design focuses on having a deep understanding of the users what they need, what they value, their abilities, and also their limitations. Candidate UX takes the best practises and fundamentals from the discipline of UX Design to provide frameworks and guidelines to the design of the hiring process. By applying what weve learned from the field of UX, we can use these frameworks and guidelines to design a positive, high quality, and user-friendly hiring process which will ultimately improve the overall candidate experience: What are the UX Design best practises? A quick Google on this topic will give you ample information about the fundamentals of UX Design from which you can work from. My favourite list is by Peter Morville, a respected UX expert, who identifies these core best practises of UX design which Ive adapted to relate to the job application process: Useful: Your content such as job descriptions, information packs, feedback etc should be original and fulfil a need. Usable: The entire job application process should be easy to use. Desirable: Image, culture identity, employment brand, and other design elements conveyed on careers sites, job specs, social sites etc are used to evoke emotion and appreciation. Findable: Job opportunities and relevant information needs to be navigable and locatable onsite and offsite nowadays this includes mobile platforms. Accessible: Content needs to be accessible to candidates with disabilities. Credible: Candidates must trust and believe what you tell them. Candidate Personas The Foundation of Candidate UX The foundation of a great UX Design is having a strong understanding of your users behaviours, attitudes and motivations (a.ka. personas). Personas concentrate on what a user does, what frustrates the user, and what gives the user satisfaction[4]. For Candidate UX this means gaining a deep understanding of your target candidates preferences, needs and expectations as it relates to the hiring process. For example, after 9 years of tech recruiting I have formed a good idea of a candidate persona for a Software Developer: I know they are typically well educated, smart and are passionate about problem solving, building things and technology so this needs to be evident in all job descriptions to catch their attention. They are technical by nature so all job descriptions and relevant useful information such as company profile and products must be easily searchable and available online and on mobile devices. They tend to be more introverted and analytical and are impressed and motivated by technical challenge so a combination of behavioural and technical interviews are required to get an accurate candidate assessment. They like team collaboration with other smart people so including peer level developers (not just hiring managers) in the interviews can be beneficial to both parties. Software Developers like a degree of freedom to play with and test new new tools and emerging technology so these topics should be discussed during the interview process. They arent always the best verbal communicators and often prefer to demonstrate their technical ability as opposed to just talking about it, so including technical coding assignments into the process is valuable for both parties. They are detail orientated by nature and like to analyse data instead of taking things at face value so make sure you have good data available to back up any claims youre making about the job and company etc. They are motivated by learning new technologies and theres a typical dichotomy where some prefer to remain 100% technical hands on throughout their career, while the others tend to move towards architecture or people management so its important to uncover this during the process and educate the candidate about typical career paths available to them at the organisation. The Universal Candidate Persona: At the end of the day, all candidates are human, and regardless of what job or industry we work in, there are some common denominations in behaviour, attitudes and motivations that we all share. Whether youre hiring a CEO, a software developer, or a truck driver, there are certain elements that all candidates need and expect throughout the hiring process. I have identified the following universal factors that must be applied to all job application processes: User friendly: Whether its submitting a resume, finding information, or interviewing, the entire job application must be easy to use for the candidate. Feedback: At minimum, confirmation that a job application has been received is critical. Better yet, feedback about the status and timing of the application should be communicated to all candidates regardless of the strength of their application. Communication: honest and clear communication throughout the process is vital. The more personal the communication is, the better. Information: Accurate, consistent and quality information must be available to all candidates (and easy to find!) throughout the entire process. Respect: All candidates deserve respect for their effort and time regardless of their fit for the role. Closure: All candidates, whether successful or not, need closure on their application. Conclusion: In todays competitive job market, the organisations that offer the best candidate experience are having the most success in reaching their hiring goals. By applying the principles derived from UX to recruitment, organisations can design better hiring processes that will have significant positive impact to the overall candidate experience. Author: Brian Thompson is Talent Acquisition Expert at  www.talentandrecruitment.com. Follow him on Twitter  @briantrecruiter.

What Are Good Words to Use on Resume?

What Are Good Words to Use on Resume?You need to write good words to use on resume if you want to get hired. There are a lot of things you need to know in order to do that. If you want to make sure that your resume is appealing and memorable, the right words will help you get the job you want. You just need to know what they are.The first thing you need to know is that if you make sure to follow the hiring process, the search will be done very quickly. You want to make sure to follow the hiring guidelines so that you are ready for the interview that you are going to. It is recommended that you are prepared before you start out.When you are working on good words to use on resume, you can look at the following guidelines. They are not the only ones that are used but they are the best ones to use. So, keep these guidelines in mind when you are working on good words to use on resume. With these guidelines, you will have a much better chance of getting hired.Good words to use on resume sh ould be present. These words should be present so that it will be easy for the employer to determine what you are after. Using these words will make it easier for the employer to determine if you are the one they want for the job.When you are ready to start, make sure that you look at your resume. This will give you an idea of what you need to work on. You will be able to see if you are doing the right thing when you are ready to begin.If you are looking for good words to use on resume, you need to make sure that you take note of your professional accomplishments. This is a great way to get you noticed by the employer. With this, you will be able to have a better chance of getting hired.Before you are ready to submit your resume, make sure that you read over it thoroughly. This will give you an idea of what is important and what is not. Taking notes will help you in making sure that you are focusing on things that you need to focus on.If you want to know how to write good words to u se on resume, follow these guidelines. They are the ones that are the best for your purposes. Good words to use on resume can help you with your goals. Take time to learn how to use them because you will need them in order to get hired.

How to Resign from Your Job Without Burning Bridges

How to Resign from Your Job Without Burning Bridges There are many reasons that you may have come to the decision to resign from your job. Whether you just feel its time to try something new, or you cant wait to see the back of the place, it would be silly to burn bridges and therefore its important that you are tactful  when it comes to breaking the news to your employer. After all, it will be far more  beneficial to the future of your career if you are to  leave the company with your head held high, than to create bad feelings between you and your ex-employer and even colleagues. So how can you go about resigning in a way that will reflect as well on you as possible? Here are a few tips for resigning in style. 1) Make sure you are 100% certain about your decision Once you have let your boss know that you intend on leaving theres no going back, so you need to be entirely sure that you are doing the right thing.  If there is a specific reason that you want to leave, think about whether you have explored all options that could resolve the problem. The same goes for seeking out a new challenge, as there may be scope for development within your existing company if you  bring your concerns to your bosss attention. 2) Arrange a meeting with your boss If you want to maintain ties with your employer, its always a good idea to arrange a face-to-face meeting with them, rather than merely delivering an impersonal resignation letter. Think about what you are going to say ahead of the appointment and stick to it. Make it clear that what you are doing is giving your oral resignation, in as diplomatic way as possible. 3) Be positive Youve made the decision to leave the company, so its likely that you have got a few issues with the place, but now is not the time to open a can of worms. Focus on the positives about your time working for the firm. Youre leaving the company now, so its probably time to let the negatives go. 4) Expect a reaction Unless your boss is expecting you to quit your job, you should be prepared for how they may react to the bombshell being dropped. The news may come as a shock to them and they may become emotional or confrontational. Try to remain calm and composed and end the meeting on a good note. 5) Stick to your guns If you have become a valued member of the team over the time you have worked with the company, chances are that your boss will be disappointed to see you go, so they may try to make you change your mind. If you are 100% sure that you want to leave, stick to your guns and politely let them know that your mind is made up. Unless of course they offer you an attractive alternative that would be foolish to turn down, in which case now is your time to negotiate! 6) Commit to  your notice period Most employment contracts will state that you must work a notice period upon resigning from your role, so that your employer has time to prepare for your departure. Though some employers are  willing to let you off of your notice period, or may even want you to leave straight away, it is important that you show that you are willing to see out your notice period and do everything you can to help with the transition. 7) Put it in writing Now that you have let your boss know your intentions, you should put it in writing to make it official. In your resignation  letter you must include your name, date, your bosss details, notice of termination of employment, the date you will be leaving and finally, your signature. If there is anything else you would like to include, that you may have missed out when speaking to your boss in person you can add it to your letter. Just keep it positive! For example, you may want to thank your boss for the opportunities they presented you and for the support they gave you during your time at the firm. 8) Do a thorough handover Before you leave, make sure that you have  completed all outstanding tasks that you were working on, so that somebody else is not left to tie up the loose ends. Participate in a smooth handover with  whoever is taking on your role and be as cooperative and helpful as possible. You never know when you are going to cross paths with your colleagues in the future, so its in your benefit to leave on a good note! [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Ask MCG Interviewing for a Different Career Path

Ask MCG Interviewing for a Different Career Path Moving to an unrelated career track? Scared to make the switch that youve been wanting to do because youre scared you wont make the cut? Heres one reader who seeks help on  the same problem and our advice. From time to time, we get readers asking for career advice.  The gorgeous Ashley (really, look at her, she is gorgeous.) reached out to us via twitter  (@mscareergirl), and she was nice enough to let us  share our advice to anyone who is going through the same reluctance that she is facing. Read her story below: Hello! ?? This is Ashley, from Twitter, who had reached out in a DM about some guidance in my job hunting woes. Just a quick background, Im 28, and was laid off from MFG technician job after working there for 9 years. Never in my life did I want to work in that field, but things just happened. My true passion is doing receptionist/administrative assistant work and so I cant help but feel a bit self-confident about switching careers and going into an interview confident. I worked on my administrative skills to boost my resume by playing a back up role as a receptionist at my last job and have done some volunteer work. I do have an interview for a job I deeply want coming up, but I feel I also fail when it comes to interviews. Im obviously too nervous and struggle with it! ANY tips would help! Thanks ?? I felt like in order to give her the best advice, I should consult my fellow Ms Career Girl mentors. With no hesitation, Kristina Mahar, one of our awesome career mentors and an experienced HR manager, offered some great advice.  Kristina currently works in Connecticut at GE Capital supporting a team of IT CIOs. Prior to her role at GE Capital, Kristina has worked at an international hedge fund, a technology center of excellence, and as a writer. Although new to the world of blogging, Kristina has been writing since the moment she could hold a pen. (You can follow Kristina and learn more about her on Twitter @KristinaMahar.) I love it when women support other women by sharing their knowledge and expertise! Read her advice below. Dear Ashley,   Administrative Assistants are in charge of overseeing the operations of a workplace whether it be setting up meeting rooms and ordering catering, sending out important emails, or arranging complex international meetings. It can be challenging, but it is very rewarding on a day to day basis.   Some things to help you prepare for the interview:   Be familiar with the Microsoft Office suite, especially Outlook. Most of your email communication will probably come through Outlook, as well as any calendars you might manage. Youre going to want to know how to book meetings quickly and effectively! If you are familiar with these programs, highlight them in your interview and resume.     Ask plenty of questions. Who will you be supporting? Is there a team you will be supporting additionally? Will you need to be available 24/7? What is a typical day like? What processes will you be responsible for such as travel expense reporting, file management, etc. I would also ask about your day to day responsibilities and what will be expected of you. Be prepared with your questions as it shows you are interested and engaged in this position.   Do your research on the company. You will want to know a general background of the company and how they gain capital. Its always good to have a general background of the company.   Be sure to collect business cards during the interview! You will want contact information to send brief thank you notes to the people who were interviewing you.   Above all, keep your calm! Stay engaged and focused, answer their questions to the best of your ability, and highlight what an asset you would potentially be to their team.   Wishing you all the best! When youre moving from one career path to another, it can get quite nerve-racking. The key thing to remember, to sum up what Kristina advised Ashley, is to be prepared and confident. An interview for a whole new career path should be treated as you would any other interview. Highlight the skills and experience that best fits the job that you want, know your goals and reasons for wanting to get the job, and above all, bring confidence to the table! I hope you get that job, Ashley! Taking that leap is a brave step, but Im sure it would be extremely rewarding. We love hearing from our readers! Please do keep them coming.  Email me at [emailprotected] and well get that question answered for you!

Learning to Write a Resume in a More Effective Way

Learning to Write a Resume in a More Effective WayIf you're looking for tips for writing resume lessons, it's easy to think you need to know a lot about writing resumes. The truth is, it doesn't matter how well you write the letter.It's not your resume that will get the attention of the hiring manager, but your ability to communicate directly with the applicant. A resume needs to catch the employer's eye with eye-catching information about you and your work experience.The resume also needs to stand out above the rest. If the hiring manager sees thousands of other resumes for the same position, he or she will quickly make a decision about which candidate to hire. There's only so much you can do, however, to convey your resume with an interesting message.This is where a resume lesson plan comes in. A lesson plan can help the job seeker write his or her resume using an effective guide. Once you start teaching yourself a few basic skills, you'll find it much easier to present the right i nformation. You can also get inspiration from other lessons that are already available on the web.You may be already aware that your skills as a writer can set you apart from others in your field, but there are plenty of other reasons that it's so important to include your writing on your resume. One reason is because it gives you the opportunity to highlight how impressive you are as a professional. It can also boost your confidence level when you meet with the hiring manager for the first time.Another benefit of using a resume lesson plan is that it can help you develop the skills you need to be a better communicator. At first, it may seem like you're just repeating yourself. Your job is to get through to the person who's reading your resume the most. A common mistake is to go back over it and re-write it, even though it may still read the same way.A resume lesson plan will help you recognize areas where you need to improve. Once you've addressed these issues, you can focus on wri ting your resume in a more creative way. Eventually, you'll have learned how to work with the words on the page and make them more effective.As you begin to learn to write your resume in a more effective way, you'll be able to share the lessons you learn with others. They'll be able to learn from your mistakes and use the lessons in their own resumes to create a more attractive and appealing resume.

Employer Responsibilities to Consider Before You Hire Your 1st Employee CareerMetis.com

Employer Responsibilities to Consider Before You Hire Your 1st Employee Source â€" UnSplash.comIf you’re a small business owner getting ready to grow and scale your business, you’re likely experiencing a tremendous amount of confidence and trepidation â€" and you probably have loads of questions about onboarding your first employee.Before you hire your 1st employee, you’ve got to make sure your business is in good legal form. Regulations increase when you become an organization of more than one, so be sure to get your paperwork in order.Legal Business Requirements to Meet Before You HireYou’ll need an employee identification number, which you can get for free from the IRS. Go straight to the IRS websitefor this â€" do not pay another agency to do this on your behalf. It’s a very simple process.evalIf you haven’t done so already, form an LLC or S-Corpafter determining which is best for your business, then register with the Department of Labor in your state. You may also have to register with local entities, especially if your business is locat ed within a city. Be sure to ask about any applicable city wage tax if you do.If you get lost, the Small Business Associationand your local Chamber of Commerce are expert resources and provide many services, including mentorship, free of cost.Decide on What You Need From an EmployeeevalDo you need someone in-office at all times? Could a remote worker handle what you do? Will you guarantee full-time hours, or do you only need part-time help? Many small business owners begin their business scaling and growth processes by outsourcing admin tasks, marketing duties, and more to part-time employees and freelancers.Considering the paperwork and expense involved in onboarding a full-time, in-office employee, a remote option might work better for you.Your First Employee: Tax and HR SetupIf you’re like most small business owners, human resources tasks will fall to you. Here’s what you need to do to get ready for your first employee:Get the right insurance:Workers’ compensation is especi ally important. This protects workers if they become injured on the job. Even if you work in an office setting, accidents can happen.Set up payroll:You’ll be legally required to withhold and deposit some of your employees’ earnings directly to the IRS. This includes Medicare tax, social security, and more. Additionally, you’ll have to calculate and withhold the correct amount for your state and local taxes. Consider using payroll software to help you get this right.File your form:Each year, you’ll need to file IRS Form 940 for federal unemployment tax.Employee Tax and Verification FormsYour new employee will need to fill out certain forms if they are a full-time worker. Note: Many startups treat full-time remote workers as 1099 If you’ve worked in a retail or office location before, you’ve seen those OSHA posters. These signs inform workers about their rights concerning workplace safety. If you have any additional on-site safety considerations, always post additional ins tructions for safe use. Document any training or education you provide regarding equipment with safety risks. This reduces your risk.evalCreate HR Files and Establish BenefitsDoes your business provide health insurance, disability insurance, or a 401You’ll want to have some basic tasks ready for any employee to complete on their first day. Appear organized and focused. Have an action plan with your new employee to make them feel valued.Decide What to DelegateWe recommend delegating tasks to your employees when the task is:Not worth your time For in-office or remote employees, include standard operating procedures or process walkthroughs for project management software, customer relationship management tools, and more. It’s possible to organize this completely in a Google Drive folder and provide read-only access to employees.While employee trust is important, a resentful employee can really wreck your day. Make sure you protect yourself from the start by providing read-only acce ss to necessary documents.Above all, enjoy the help you’ve worked so hard to afford. Best of luck scaling your business!

Job roles in the gaming industry - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Job roles in the gaming industry The gaming industry has grown up and gotten itself some fancy new pants. As technology advanced and the applications allowed for a more realistic gaming experience, a new genre of media made coding more accessible. Computer and Video Games and Gaming World made coding accessible for avid players desiring to create their own games. Also, as technology progressed, multi-player games made it possible for whole communities to compete globally. These two developments made gaming an attractive, credible and even glamorous occupation to pursue. While in the past the now lucrative gaming industry was a bit unorganized, the industry today boasts a number of varied occupations. Because of the sheer number of 3D-graphics and full-motion characters, a game goes through an entire process before completion. From conception to testing, games are handled by a team of professional coders, artists and producers. Popular gaming occupations Game designers: Designers plan the narrative structure of the game. Plot, setting and interface design, in addition to a number of elements, are their responsibility. Narrative copywriter/designer: Narrative copywriters basically write the narrative structure of the game, which includes dialogue. They capture the nuances of characters so the game is authentic. Animators: These professionals develop movement and behavior in game characters and creatures, bringing them to life. Not only are animators responsible for characters and creatures, but they are also responsible for scenery and environmental effects. Game programmer: Programmers write the code that runs the game. They also are responsible for testing code and fixing any errors (bugs). Game artists: These artists develop visuals related to character, scenery, objects, vehicles, surface texture and clothing. Level editor: The level editor creates the overall infrastructure of the game, which includes interfacing buildings, objects and landscapes. Audio engineer: The audio engineer creates the soundtrack of the game, including music, sound effects, spoken instructions, voices and environmental noise. Game testers: Testers debug the game and refine any flaws. These are some of the more common occupations for those interested in the creative part of developing a game. Game developers are involved in both creating console and online games. The online gaming industry has seen an explosion in the number of sites where global communities compete to be the best of the best. Whether playing poker online at stakers.com or gaming as a part of social media, the global community is driving this industry in one of five directions. Because of industry growth within the online community, gaming professionals can take advantage of a few careers. Careers for the online gaming professional DevOps engineer: This professional creates the infrastructure for online gaming, and secures and stabilizes web services. Games producer: This position is simply one in where the producer delivers the product to online sites. Games mathematician: This position requires the gamer to create mathematical models for games, in addition to developing game analysis. Because online gaming is evolving, the opportunities for job growth in this sector are numerous and varied. While a plethora of jobs exist for someone interested in entering this field, competition for jobs is tough. Because few occupations require a degree, any creative coder can enter the field with an impressive portfolio, which makes it difficult to compete. Not to say that companies never hire game enthusiast right out of college, but chances are companies want employees with a proven track record and an impressive portfolio. Furthermore, the type of company a gamer works for also contributes to the competition. Working for an indie publisher is different to working for a commercial one, as the salary is not as secure for indie publishers. Those interested in entering the gaming industry can better their chances of landing a gig in a few ways. Freelancing is one way to build a solid portfolio. This portfolio should include correct contact information, should be easy to navigate, should contain most recent work, and should be mobile. Also, use LinkedIn and other professional networking sites to attract would-be employers and to make connections in the gaming community, because many hires result from referrals. Nonetheless, if contacted by either, be prepared to turn on the shine and win over interviewers. Even though there are more applicants than jobs available, working in the gaming industry is not an impossibility. Gamers with a passion to develop their own games might find themselves landing their dream gig, depending on their own career aspirations. With the right portfolio, the dream of working on a team that creates, develops and codes some of the most played games is not too far off in the distance.

Augusts Spectacular Sponsors!

Augusts Spectacular Sponsors! Happy August, everyone! I can hardly believe that were closer to 2012 than we are to 2011. How the heck did that happen?! Hope everyones enjoying their summer! Im thrilled to introduce my new Spectacular Sponsors for the month of August!: The owner of Apples and Orange,  Deanna  is an artist, printmaker, and designer at Apples and    Orange. Lover of sweet treats, books, dogs, and camping. Seven12 Magazine is an online and quarterly limited print magazine that was created with the  idea of providing stylish social media. With the power of the internet we are able to reach  stylish and savvy readers everywhere. We cover a variety of topics including fashion, design,  travel, relationships, and entertainment. And my returning Spectacular Sponsors!: Tara Sroka Designs offers various graphic design services,  resources for photographers,  custom  scrapbooks and invitations. Maggie Rose Interiors is based in Seattle, WA. We specialize in creating homes that feel like  home â€" layered, collected, and designed with  your taste and  your family in mind. We love to  mix flea market finds with designer fabrics and beautiful art. We’ll help you form a vision for  your home,  and bring it to  life! From Michelle: I’ve been a Vistaprint-er for years, ordering my business cards, notecards,  letterhead, and even wedding thank yous from em! And for serious,  never go to Vistaprint  without checking out  Coupon Cabin first, even if you have a customer code to use. Itll bring the  price down so low you cant afford to not get your custom stationary from em! Interested in becoming a Spectacular Sponsor? You can make it happen for as little as $20/month, reaching my ~5,800 twitter followers, ~1,400 Facebook fans, and ~15,000 monthly site visitors . Contact me for the deets and Ill get back to ya lickety-split. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Im givin away a copy of The Spark Kit ($150value), and it can go to you!