tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61536353940006376092024-03-13T10:42:46.639-07:00My Playground!Blogs, videos, and podcasts covering the recruiting industry and more!David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-20109966123141492532009-10-20T04:44:00.001-07:002009-10-20T04:46:03.371-07:00WEBSITE HAS CHANGED LOCATIONSThank you for stopping by. If I could slightly inconvenience you and redirect to my <a href="http://www.DavideBenjamin.com">new site</a>, that'd be swell.David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-38606829019703962742009-06-28T05:37:00.000-07:002009-06-28T05:45:41.098-07:00Site is changing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq-3MqI12uOxh38axhrI9mZiZgs2J6jjgOQrovqYkObisLhE7-4abn-NCNlBD_28l3dIZjv9Db0Tq-SkEnRKTDurODAH5NXHOnb0nTX4OSPmR9-Al0O60kZ_0V-cBuNeDw4mGd4LTbQ_U/s1600-h/under_construction.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352358475811474722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq-3MqI12uOxh38axhrI9mZiZgs2J6jjgOQrovqYkObisLhE7-4abn-NCNlBD_28l3dIZjv9Db0Tq-SkEnRKTDurODAH5NXHOnb0nTX4OSPmR9-Al0O60kZ_0V-cBuNeDw4mGd4LTbQ_U/s320/under_construction.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>I appreciate the three of you that have visited my site over the past 6 months. While I've enjoyed learning on Blogger's format, it's now time to step it up. I am in the process of changing sites and domains. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The new domain name is <a href="http://www.davidebenjamin.com/">http://www.davidebenjamin.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>That site is under construction and will probably take a few weeks to complete.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>When complete, I am hoping to have everything I create content wise in one consice location. As always, I am open to your suggestions of how I can improve my new site.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Until then...</div>David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-73480341602505251152009-05-31T08:48:00.000-07:002009-05-31T19:22:12.242-07:00Can you predict future success?<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcd1JDuJGE-J5Gnq6Pt-etUBjDdCxpY8HRLLVprFj-Nj9imR6hs9VAinVL1PXex1HOLp1SEAHnyUeiwOP_v0XSKGfYq4q3objsYHH38DKDXWzF4QlWaUwglEp5sjG8dWW2AhJvcMO__kQ/s1600-h/Shaq.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342016036334445506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcd1JDuJGE-J5Gnq6Pt-etUBjDdCxpY8HRLLVprFj-Nj9imR6hs9VAinVL1PXex1HOLp1SEAHnyUeiwOP_v0XSKGfYq4q3objsYHH38DKDXWzF4QlWaUwglEp5sjG8dWW2AhJvcMO__kQ/s320/Shaq.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfilesECAEC/Shaq[8].jpg" rel="WLPP"></a></div><br /><br /><div>Can you tell me who #33 in yellow is? </div><br /><br /><div>What if I told you it was Shaquille O’Neal during his LSU days, would you believe me? Trust me, it is. </div><br /><br /><div>It got me thinking how challenging it is to predict future success. </div><br /><br /><div>In sports, we play this game all the time, it’s called draft prognostication and Monday Morning Quarterbacking. We have all the answers come NFL draft time. We always know which players are going to be successful in the NFL and which will be a bust (ala Ryan Leaf). </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We can easily predict which stocks will go up in the future and which ones will tank, we just choose not to cash in on all our knowledge. Heck, give me a magic eight ball and I’ll predict your future for decades to come.</div><br /><br /><div>Hindsight is always 20-20 but we do control our destiny based on effort and determination.</div><br /><br /><div>Do we REALLY know TODAY how well President Obama will do when his presidency ultimately ends?</div><br /><br /><div>Why do some people make the same mistake year after year in business. Sales are down trending worse each month yet no changes are on the horizon. Apparently time is going to be the magic elixir to solve all the companies financial woes. </div><br /><br /><div>Money aside, why don’t struggling companies consider bringing on proven turnaround specialists to assist in much needed rebranding, new go-to-market strategies, or help in hiring talent that generates more revenue ? Could it be ego? I’m just asking.</div><br /><br /><div>I’m asking all these questions because I want to initiate conversation. Look at the picture again, what stands out the most?</div><br /><br /><div>While Shaq was a highly touted collegiate player expected to do great things in the NBA, so was Sam Bowie and many others who never lived up to the hype. What do we measure to help predict future success?</div><br /><br /><div>Sports and Business go hand in hand. We can learn a lot from watching sports and apply it to the business world. There’s a reason some CEO’s can drive a business forward while others drive their company straight into the ground. The same holds true in sports, just look at the New England Patriots or the Detroit Red Wings. Winning organizations, CEO’s, and sales professionals find a way to succeed no matter what obstacles stand in their way. </div><br /><br /><div>Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t look that big compared to the rest of the players does he? Did you really know he would have the career that he’s had?</div><br /><br /><div>How do you decide where to invest your money, who to trust with your business or help make important decisions?</div><br /><br /><div>Do you have the right team in place both personally and professionally?</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18WeSL8D4dd85ZZga5aeGbzCv4w0-cZ79uiRe2l7v3Y-43dwnUNT3ECtH4-etD5iU6sFpEJCxI_d-rUS98mDL7bBk0YomdFz9XLhXJUWpBT_ItTxeVsPsjjF-oOX_wraeppNMesiTHQmK/s1600-h/Positioning.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342178614113778594" style="WIDTH: 353px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18WeSL8D4dd85ZZga5aeGbzCv4w0-cZ79uiRe2l7v3Y-43dwnUNT3ECtH4-etD5iU6sFpEJCxI_d-rUS98mDL7bBk0YomdFz9XLhXJUWpBT_ItTxeVsPsjjF-oOX_wraeppNMesiTHQmK/s320/Positioning.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div></div>David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-75400676607861710542009-05-30T12:32:00.000-07:002009-05-31T08:55:23.081-07:00Welcome to my world!Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoy your time spent here. My goal is to create an experience and a platform where content is shared in different formats for your entertainment and education.<br /><br />I've written a few blogs; share a video I produced; and provided links to a Business Roundtable podcast I co-created with Larry Henry, highlighting some of Detroit's Best and Brightest.<br /><br />I appreciate any feedback that you have. I truly care about creating a positive experience, one where you think to yourself after leaving..."I think I'll come back."David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-72167927369794013762009-04-19T09:57:00.001-07:002009-04-19T10:11:15.441-07:00What's with all the noise?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0EjIKp5WVTisMsi7Tu0tt_VYOoXcI9wAEp4iQ8aD7hw7G2QruDnp_j-Fx0x0Dvpbsh7cTiohg0AYYvcs8xHBK9R5vkmoxDJxql8pVpKl236iUC69RvFmB55E2bY0PkRMlewTyeFB013z/s1600-h/Noise.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326447916429832194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 93px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0EjIKp5WVTisMsi7Tu0tt_VYOoXcI9wAEp4iQ8aD7hw7G2QruDnp_j-Fx0x0Dvpbsh7cTiohg0AYYvcs8xHBK9R5vkmoxDJxql8pVpKl236iUC69RvFmB55E2bY0PkRMlewTyeFB013z/s320/Noise.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles11A4B18/Noise[2].jpg" rel="WLPP"></a><div><br /><br />I just don’t get it, is it really that hard? I mean, we walk around all day listening to people’s bullshit and don’t say a peep but have to endure 110 characters of two people catching up and we want to throw our laptops out the window. Jiminy Crickets! I’ve never thought of Twitter as a bunch of noise with an occasional valuable tweet every now and again. It’s all good, and when it isn’t, I just move on…it doesn’t take but 1 sec. Oh I forgot, we’re now so busy we don’t have an extra 25 seconds in our day to read through *cough* the noise. </div><div><br />I’m about building relationships. Sometimes discussing a recipe, giving props for doing a great job, or just saying “Happy Flippin’ Monday” is all I’m looking for. Excuse me that I didn’t DM them, I hope I didn’t interrupt your busy day. So many people will never understand how to get value from spending time on twitter because get this, it’s common sense. That’s right, the long lost art of ‘do what makes sense’ has gone the way of Laserdiscs...hard to find! </div><div><br />I get it, developing long lasting relationships takes more than hitting a ‘follow’ button. You may have to talk with them over the phone, meet them for drinks, or god-for-bid learn about their interests both personally and professionally over time through various platforms. I like the people in my network. I like to hear positive stories, what events are being attended providing value. </div><div><br />I like having @KenBurbary link awesome article after awesome article for me to read, enjoy, and become more educated. I enjoy hearing @AmberCadabra is doing a podcast and links where I can listen. I also like catching up with her on the social front. Is it so hard to endure a few words cross your monitor for all of 1 minute before the stream passes by like a ship in the night? </div><div><br />I can’t begin to make a list of all the positive things that have happened in my life both personally and professionally from spending time on twitter. Not every tweet has to provide ROI. If the noise is bothering you as Amber so eloquently stated. “Unfollow”. </div><div><br />Not everything we do in life provides instant results like watering a chia pet. I do business with people I know, like, and trust. Many of you do the same. Don’t be afraid to do the heavy lifting, it may take a little extra effort but the ROI is terrific. I won’t be your bff because you send me one tweet. Our relationship will take time to develop if we let it and both ‘opt in’. </div><div><br />The best things in life usually need a little nature and a little nurture. Try growing a 10 foot tree in 3 days from a seed… </div><div></div><div><br /><br />Picture credit: www.thedeafblog.co.uk/loud.jpg</div>David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-61619180499976489932009-03-15T07:12:00.000-07:002009-04-19T10:22:34.652-07:00Vicious Cycle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiK0c50sWs5Z9EIxA7ZhbXd27T21qMbUF1-uRtuLyJMuh4i8LPFzCS_jQKZmeZu5-xc40XMRdRDjoDWMBWcE4XMn1AKCxOjK8ltsaExQd_VIzYK_RZRhfrPnp2xX7-BfXHcNJYP31ho-l/s1600-h/art_obama_speech_cnn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313418030918757442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiK0c50sWs5Z9EIxA7ZhbXd27T21qMbUF1-uRtuLyJMuh4i8LPFzCS_jQKZmeZu5-xc40XMRdRDjoDWMBWcE4XMn1AKCxOjK8ltsaExQd_VIzYK_RZRhfrPnp2xX7-BfXHcNJYP31ho-l/s320/art_obama_speech_cnn.jpg" border="0" /></a>Barack Obama said in his inauguration speech just a couple months ago, “…Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”<br /><br />The 1 Million plus in attendance stood on their feet and gave a thunderous applause…right before heading home to take a nap!<br /><br />Ever listen to a motivational speaker? You leave the building all pumped up with renewed enthusiasm only to wake up the next morning and go back to the same old bad habits of getting up late for work or smoking a cigarette...thinking about how drunk you're going to get on the weekend. We’ve already lost the zeal for that great enthusiasm all bottled up just a few short hours ago. What went wrong?<br /><br />Braking bad habits is hard. We are a creature of habit or say they say. So how do we get out of this vicious cycle that most of the world seems to be entrenched in? For the purposes of this post, I’m going to focus my efforts on America but we all realize the problems exist well beyond our borders.<br /><br />We verbally say we’re going to work harder, but from my vantage point it’s business as usual. Lines at McDonalds are just as long, if not longer. Just as many SUV’s are filling up their tanks with no plans to make their next car purchase a “eco-friendly model”. The people that got motivated to join a Gym in January have started to drop like flies. Excuses for why it is impossible to be successful in business during these rough economic times are on the rise. Enough already!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=58295" target="_blank">Breaking The Vicious Cycle of Poverty</a> by Nketiah, Nana Kumapremereh<br /><br />“Economists have long argued that people are poor because of a low level of savings. Their argument is deeply rooted in the concept of vicious cycle of poverty. This concept holds that low productivity leads to low income, low income leads to low savings, and low savings leads to low investment and low investment to low productivity.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jnuxqksoZZ_OeJVaHEGyxMt2b7Ep8j6jsqvWIP_ADlxWOjqFpvCtrTCa45zhJln2DMQyloo7QSkQdgh5Uo-HiXcQjKY_Rc4f8MFneQ74gowclrCBXbokza1IVz6OrIOGwtD1IucUxB1u/s1600-h/Cycle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313418295577383554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 204px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jnuxqksoZZ_OeJVaHEGyxMt2b7Ep8j6jsqvWIP_ADlxWOjqFpvCtrTCa45zhJln2DMQyloo7QSkQdgh5Uo-HiXcQjKY_Rc4f8MFneQ74gowclrCBXbokza1IVz6OrIOGwtD1IucUxB1u/s320/Cycle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Much like the Carbon Cycle, there are some elements of the business cycle that are out of our control. What is in our control is how we really attack this current crisis. We can’t keep doing what we’ve always done, that didn’t cut it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you’re 40 years old or younger you’ve most likely not gone through this economic climate. There may not be an easy blueprint staring us in the face of how we get out of this mess, but one thing is for sure. The people that put their heads down and as Gary Vaynerchuk says, “Work their face off”…will prosper the most over time.<br /><br />Time to take action is now. There is no more tomorrow. If you are required to make 80 calls a day at work to hit your magic number, make 20% more calls. If you set ten appointments a week, schedule another two and stop complaining how exhausted you are. Be smarter with your schedules and your time management.<br /><br />If you added up how much time you waste either complaining or explaining how it CAN’T work you’d have another 5-10 hours in the week to be productive. Sleep one hour less if it means doing everything and doing it well. I’m not perfect by any stretch. I don’t have all the answers but what I do know is that I have to push myself now with blinders on and not look back.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9CjqMtAV50IvcKy_kOxZogv4R7SsGmcfusPLSJb9V9027FLCSZFbH1TkjiUcy5Q_NHCHunyLI5jJLhiuZQGy6-c6g-J8muWC2bQZh1dud80WqNebeW93v1mdX3oX2urNkOeSfxrNPD18/s1600-h/Chasing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313421615825455490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9CjqMtAV50IvcKy_kOxZogv4R7SsGmcfusPLSJb9V9027FLCSZFbH1TkjiUcy5Q_NHCHunyLI5jJLhiuZQGy6-c6g-J8muWC2bQZh1dud80WqNebeW93v1mdX3oX2urNkOeSfxrNPD18/s320/Chasing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The real question is, will you be with me or dragging behind?David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-547189566280738502009-02-28T08:38:00.001-08:002009-03-01T00:31:13.326-08:00Invest in yourself<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV2cFEs1QjOFwQ4MfmTCDC9noFRvtQDlbbav9lPtn3DXfuU-pV7-vwxi7gmUFOoZA8VzIi4D8WEFt3HAx9ix-8-9DjyvepmamTIpfncfd7vUFtY4prSHC5Rke67DLwy0dkEFxUx8nkoYr/s1600-h/04_28_50---US-Dollar-Bills_web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307888647264038338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV2cFEs1QjOFwQ4MfmTCDC9noFRvtQDlbbav9lPtn3DXfuU-pV7-vwxi7gmUFOoZA8VzIi4D8WEFt3HAx9ix-8-9DjyvepmamTIpfncfd7vUFtY4prSHC5Rke67DLwy0dkEFxUx8nkoYr/s320/04_28_50---US-Dollar-Bills_web.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anyone who has owned a company understands what it means to reinvest in your business. Make a sale, take the proceeds and reinvest in the latest technology or in more inventory. There will be time to cash in all the chips later but for now you must keep taking those dollars and putting them back into your business. So why do professionals in job transition see things differently?<br /><br />Times are tough and mostly likely to get worse before it gets better. Companies are laying off in record numbers according to a recent <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/business/economy/27layoffs.html?fta=y">New York Times article</a>. As the recruiting manager for a sales consulting firm, my inbox of resumes from candidates recently laid off is increasing by the day. Recent conversations with professionals working in the advertising industry indicate more layoffs are on the horizon as budgets are getting cut and profits have turned to deficits. So what should the growing number of jobless professionals do? How about reinvesting in YOURSELF!<br /><br />The concept of calling up a recruiter, hoping that they have the perfect job waiting for you is unrealistic. Even if they did have the ideal position how prepared are you to be considered for that job? Is your resume flawless? How are your interviewing skills? Do you know how to work with a recruiter? Do you know what you want?<br /><br />The competition is fierce out there. More people will apply to the same jobs you are resulting in fewer opportunities if you are not polished in all areas of your "career search". Much like a successful business evaluates where they are, where they want to go, and what they need to do to get there, the same should hold true for job seekers. What I am finding is that most job seekers have not taken the proper steps to compete in this challenging job market.<br /><br />WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE<br /><ol><li>Change your mind set - The old traditional ways of looking for a job no longer work</li><li>Take stock of skill sets - Do they align with what companies are looking for today?</li><li>Consider learning a trade that is in demand - You may have to invest both time & money but you're worth it! </li><li>Hire a career coach - Like the business model explained above, this can make the difference.</li></ol><p><br />Companies that survive in these difficult economic times are investing in their business today more than ever. This is not the time to stick your head in the sand and hope that good things will happen. "Hope" is not a strategy. I recommend that if you decide to hire a professional career coach, do your research. Much like the car that you bought, the house that you purchased, or the big screen television sitting in your living room, do your homework. Check out their LinkedIn testimonials, read their blogs, interview them to make sure your investment in YOU will pay dividends.<br /></p>David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-87859210660221611652009-01-11T07:06:00.000-08:002009-03-15T08:03:39.082-07:00Recruiting Branding & Sourcing<span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Issue 1 of 3</em></span><br /><br />Everywhere I turn, I keep hearing that in todays business climate, you have to build relationships with clients and customers to gain their trust and their business. Really? Was there a time when we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn</span>’t have to worry about building relationships with our business partners? If this is a novel concept to you, you’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> probably already missed the boat. If it’s not in your DNA to care about those you sell to or service don’t bother trying to fake it. Your transparent lack of caring will surface whether you like it or not, so keep selling those encyclopedias and worry about the next customer another time. In my opinion, it’s always been about building long lasting relationships, demonstrating that your concern for clients and customers reaches well beyond the paycheck you receive for services rendered.<br /><br />Through recent social networking platforms, building relationships with professionals has never been so easy. Whether you engage in sites such as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">LinkedIn</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Facebook</span>, or Twitter to name a few, our networks are growing by leaps and bounds. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Spammers</span> need not apply. Often times we begin a relationship on line before taking it to the next level off line and in person. How does this all relate to the recruiting industry?<br /><br /><strong>QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED</strong><br /><br />Where is the recruiting industry headed and how should we prepare to succeed in it? One of the most respected publications in the recruiting industry is <a href="http://www.ere.net/">ere.net</a>. In an article written by Dr. John Sullivan (well known thought leader in HR) he discusses, <a href="http://www.ere.net/2008/08/04/trends-in-corporate-recruiting-for-2009/">13 Trends In Corporate Recruiting for 2009.</a> They are as follows:<br /><br />· Update employment branding<br />· Reinvigorating referral programs<br />· Renewing the focus on quality hire<br />· Reinforcing the business case for recruiting<br />· Utilizing social networks<br />· Utilizing video<br />· Upgrading succession planning<br />· Using employee blogs for recruiting<br />· Using mobile-phone recruiting<br />· Using a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">CRM</span> model for recruiting<br />· Hiring innovators<br />· Recruiting globally<br /><br />While I plan on discussing many of these trends in future articles, for the purposes of this blog, I will tackle utilizing social networks in the recruiting industry and how they can effectively be used to help with personal branding and candidate sourcing. While I was not the first to utilize social networking in the recruiting industry I have been a huge advocate for how the two can intertwine.<br /><br /><strong>PERSONAL BRANDING</strong><br /><br />No matter what industry you work in, we all want to be thought of as experts in our field and respected among our peers. There are many ways we can accomplish our goals however it takes time, effort, and dedication to our craft before we can be considered the ‘go to’ professional. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">LinkedIn</span> is a great site to start the branding process through various features including testimonials, slide share presentations, group discussions, blog links, and much much more. I have found that helping others by answering questions is a great place to start. Having the knowledge and sharing with others is always a great way to establish your personal brand, but that alone is not enough. Real production, success stories, monetizing your business has to be a part of building a positive brand. There has to be substance, not just sizzle.<br /><br />One of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">fastest</span> growing micro-blogging sites is twitter. In an article written by <a href="http://mashable.com/author/adam-ostrow/">Adam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ostrow</span></a> , Editor-in-Chief of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mashable</span> <a href="http://mashable.com/2008/09/16/twitter-traffic-growth/">Twitter is Growing Like Crazy: Up 422% in 12 Months</a>. While it's highly unlikely growth like that will sustain, there is much to learn about where professionals are choosing to spend at least part of their day. The key is recognizing that every time we speak, write, and share with others we open ourselves up to observation and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">criticism</span>. <a href="http://www.mikelipkin.com/about_mike.html">Mike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lipkin</span></a> is one of my favorite motivational speakers and hits the mark when describing the need to <a href="http://www.mikelipkin.com/OneLifeOneMeeting.html">build preeminence one conversation at a time.<br /></a><br /><strong>CANDIDATE SOURCING</strong><br /><br />What is so wonderful about networking is that every encounter, every conversation, and every introduction enriches our knowledge and deepens our network. I am constantly looking for talented, successful professionals for my clients and typically find them in the most unusual places. Most often, the candidates I find for my clients were not looking for new employment. Candidate sourcing is often reactive meaning they find me as opposed to me reaching out to them. With our current struggling economy you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">couldn</span>’t throw a rock without hitting someone looking for work. The key to effective <a href="http://www.thesalesmatrix.com/1/sales-training/files/Matrix_Publication2.1.2.pdf">candidate sourcing</a> is creating a <a href="http://www.thesalesmatrix.com/1/sales-training/files/Matrix_Publication2.1.3.pdf">sourcing strategy</a>, then implementing that strategy.<br /><br />I often spend time on twitter to both develop my personal brand as an expert in the recruiting industry but also to scope out prospective candidates. I’m reading blogs, engaging in conversation, and testing the waters to determine which professionals to pursue. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Facebook</span> has become a bigger player in candidate sourcing of late with its popularity and includes a combination of features some recruiters use to source. Most of these networking sites include profiles, work samples, testimonials, and more which are a recruiters dream.<br /><br />For those recruiters reading this blog I ask you this question: What are you doing to build your personal brand and source candidates? We can all learn from one another.David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-33780965548725202692009-01-10T09:38:00.000-08:002009-03-15T08:02:47.424-07:00Using Employee Blogs For Recruiting<em><span style="font-size:130%;">Issue 2 of 3</span><br /></em><br />In my last blog, I discussed recruitment branding & sourcing. This came from a list of 13 Trends in Corporate Recruiting for 2009. I now turn your attention to using employee blogs for recruiting. The blogosphere is exploding with every Tom, Dick, and Harry writing about whatever is on their mind. Hand in hand is the popularity in social media. Companies are starting to take notice.<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.ere.net/author/drjohn-sullivan/">Dr. John Sullivan</a>, a practice that is finally beginning to enter the mainstream is employee blogging to support recruiting efforts. The very best firms use blogs not just to spread their message but also to answer questions and to make their company appear more “real” and approachable. Key focus areas include blogs by employees other than recruiters and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-blogging">micro-blogs</a>. Firms already discussing such trends: Microsoft, Google, and Sun.<br /><br />I recently asked the question, "Why do you blog?" on twitter. The responses were shared during a recent <a href="http://twitpic.com/zhbl"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">impromptu</span> hockey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tweetup</span></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">orchestrated</span> by <a href="http://twitter.com/shannonpaul">Shannon Paul</a>, social media guru for the Detroit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Red Wings.</span> <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tweetup</span> = People on twitter meeting up</em>. Most of the attendees were frequent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bloggers or people that spent time on professional networking sites</span>. Common responses were, 'looking to develop their personal brand', and the opportunity to demonstrate their industry knowledge and expertise.<br /><br />Most of the time companies create blogs to interact with their customers, clients, and prospects. The longer you spend on a website or blog, the more likely you will connect with that brand. When you start engaging in questions and answers, relationships begin to flourish. With the sophistication of technology, more and more video blogs are entering the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">blogosphere</span> allowing the public to get a visual with more than just words on a page. Recently I've noticed an increase in videos embedded for online newspapers. Ah yes, the world as we know it is changing.<br /><br />Due to the recent downsizing in companies, a growing number of people are either unemployed or in job <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">transition</span>. The old way of looking on Monster or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Careerbuilder</span> to find a job is becoming archaic and most of the good jobs aren't listed on these sites as discussed in my video below. Creating a plan to 'job search' is no different than any other plan you look to implement. Often times people ask me to help them figure out what jobs to pursue. My suggestions are as follows:<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Narrow down your target industries, looking in too many places will distract you</li><li>Determine which <em>current</em> job titles apply to your background and expertise</li><li>Connect with your network, let them know you are looking for a job/career</li><li>Join associations, networks, chambers, etc</li><li>Consider creating a video resume (will discuss in future post)</li><li>Seek out companies you respect and would LIKE to work for</li><li>Read company Blogs</li><li>Meet the influencers in your local community</li></ul><p>Why read company blogs? Simply put, this is where you can find out great information about what is going on with a company, if there are any expansion plans on the horizon, if someone was recently promoted potentially creating a vacant position and more. The information you find just might be the difference between getting your foot in the door before the company posts the position and having to compete with hundreds of qualified candidates. </p><p>I would love to hear about your interaction with company blogs. Do you write them? What impact do you see them having now and in the future? <a href="http://sharethelovethisholidayseason.blogspot.com/">Share the love!</a></p>David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153635394000637609.post-45576273625515270482009-01-09T06:38:00.000-08:002009-01-31T14:30:38.124-08:00Utilizing Video<span style="font-size:180%;">3 Part Series:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Issue 3 of 3</em></span><br /><br />Utilizing video is the last trend I will cover from: <a href="http://www.ere.net/2008/08/04/trends-in-corporate-recruiting-for-2009/">13 Trends in Corporate Recruiting for 2009</a>. The use of video resumes as an acceptable tool is currently being debated among corporations, recruiting agencies, and the legal profession and while many agree there is some appeal to using the new technology for recruiting purposes, the legal issues are most likely going to prevent this trend from becoming mainstream, at least for the foreseeable future.<br /><br />CareerTV, which touts itself as “the most-trafficked career video website, with the largest collection of employer videos online,” ditched its video resume service back in 2007. The two main issues are that not enough companies are interested in getting involved since there is no standardized form for what a video resume should include, it is not time efficient. The other one and probably more legitimate concern revolves around the potential law suit from candidates who could try to make the case that they weren’t hired due to race, gender, and/or attractiveness. Yes, we still live in a highly litigious society.<br /><br />As Joel Cheesman from Cheezhead states, “There seems to be little doubt that video as a <a href="http://www.cheezhead.com/2007/05/03/google-employment-videos/">tool for employment branding</a>, or <a href="http://www.cheezhead.com/2007/10/01/video-job-postings/">even as job description</a>, is a trend that will take hold. Large and small are leveraging online video to create a clearer brand. However, if <a title="CareerTV" href="http://www.cheezhead.com/tag/careertv/">CareerTV</a>’s move is any indication, the video resume has a long way to go before making it to prime time.”<br /><br />While video resumes may never take hold, employee-generated <em>unscripted</em> videos are gaining traction. As Dr. Sullivan states, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then moving pictures demonstrating what it’s like to work at your firm would have to be “priceless.”David Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12490853066041247173noreply@blogger.com0