Recruiters, Whats it Take to Work for Yourself

Recruiters, Whats it Take to Work for Yourself Recruitment is a business with no barriers to entry. The discussion on whether the industry should be better regulated is for another time.  Many top billers think it is a natural progression to set up their own business. Take a bigger cut of the pie they think! But are they successful in their ambitions? Strangely, many are not and the old adage that top billing recruitment consultants are not natural managers is more true than many would like to believe. But, perhaps you are one of the few who can set up your own company and make it work. What is the secret to success? Firstly, every successful consultant who is considering setting up their own business needs to ask themselves are they cut out for it.  Your strengths most probably lie in your ability to bring in business, build relationships and source the right candidates for your clients, but have you considered the financial outlay and amount of administration involved in setting up a business that is not guaranteed to succeed? Creating a website, branding and database takes time and money. Finding office space, paying for phones, IT and advertising are  also costly. When is the money going to start rolling in? It is like building a house. You think it will be finished in six months but you don’t end up moving in until month nine. Setting up a recruitment business is the same and you need to be conservative in your predictions. Many aren’t and that is why the failure rate of recruitment start-ups is so high. Half of UK start-ups fail within five years. Actually, I think the figure in the recruitment industry is far higher when I think about the number of start-ups that have gone on to fail in London’s recruitment market over the last 15 years.  Consider also that to grow your business you will need to hire staff. The problem is that you cannot guarantee they are going to be profitable and also when you create a start-up it is very difficult to persuade someone to take the risk and join you, unless they stand to gain from a future sale. You might not want to give away equity, but it could just be the best thing you do. Hiring does become easier though, but have you considered the time it takes to effectively manage your workforce and is this really where your strengths lie?  Much to ponder! Please find below my 5 top tips to give you the best chance of success: 1. Put in place a clear exit strategy before you start your own business Your exit strategy might be not to “exit”, but to keep the business small and make enough annual revenue to make this venture a worthwhile investment. In an industry where the value of a business is intrinsically linked to the “individual” and their relationships, this ends up being the case in many recruitment companies, regardless of whether it was the intended plan initially. If you want to sell your business one day, then you need to make a clear plan of how you are going to go about achieving this. How will you scale the business? What do you need to create to attract a buyer? Who will buy you? Why will they buy you? 2. Define your market A common mistake recruitment start-ups make is to try and be all things for all people. The result is that because you don’t specialise in any one thing, clients will likely end up using an agency that does concentrate on finding candidates with the specific experience they are looking for. It is better to start off small and targeted and then branch out into different “verticals” at a later date. 3. Create a proper business plan and stick to it If you don’t create a business plan, you are creating problems for yourself down the line. A business plan is not created solely for the purpose of attracting investment, more importantly it is designed to clarify thoughts and most importantly the financials. By creating the plan, you will be able to see how much your business is going to cost you for the next 12 months. You will be able to see where the break-even point is and most importantly, you’ll see when you need to start making money by. Remember to allow for late paying clients! 4. Marketing and branding Recruitment consultancies are pretty inept when it comes to marketing and branding. Strong words and some of you will disagree. However, in my experience, recruitment managers do not understand the correlation between investment in marketing/branding and the business that you will attract as a result. Not to mention the increased candidate flow and the increase in profile of your business which down the line may lead to a better deal. Create a point of difference between you and your competitors and stand out. 5. Negotiation Negotiate, negotiate and negotiate again. Don’t be afraid to negotiate on everything. Saving money on one ream of copier paper will amount to great overall saving in 10 years’ time. Office costs are exorbitantly high and you may only save £200 per month by negotiating, but this is £2400 a year. It sounds obvious and it is!! Greater saving increase better profit margins which adds value to the business and gives you more money to spend in revenue generating areas of the business. About the author:  David Morel  is Managing Director of Tiger Recruitment, a leading recruitment company in the secretarial/administrational arena.

Social media - Whats your end game Career Coach JobJenny

Social media - Whats your end game Career Coach JobJenny And here is where Jenny appears, at first glance, to contradict herself. But it's not so. I am attempting to clarify something important that may save you hundreds of wasteful hours, keep you out of hot water with your loved ones,and allow you to stayfocused on that thing we call your job search.I stand firm that you need to integrate social media, social networking, whatever you want to call it into today's job search. The old tactics (e.g. endlessly surfing Monster, reading the classifieds, calling a recruiter, applying online for every position you come across, blah blah blah)? When used alone, they just aren't efficient methods anymore.Too much competition for too few jobs, folks.But on the flip side, I'm now seeing a different problem with some whocannonball into the world of social media without a game plan...Theybecome social media addicts. Aimlessly, obsessively chit-chatting with every Tom, Dick and Harry who comes along via Twitter and Facebook.They sit and watchdozensof in aneYouTube videos a day.They sign up for 97 blog email lists, then spend hours each day sifting through an inbox of clutter.Every day, I see people on Twitter who, I kid you not, must throw 100-250 tweets up EVERY DAY.Every day, I see people on Facebook, who I KNOW are job seekers, thumbs upping and commenting on every third photo or status update that passes them by.Every day, 10 people send me ridiculous Youtube videos that (I'll admit) are damned entertaining,but if I watch them all? They eat up my day. Andget me no further toward my end game as a successfulentrepreneur.The end game.What is yours?For many of you, I'm guessing it's to find a sweet new job, in as little time possible, no?However you answer that, if you intend to use social media for business or career purposes, you have GOT to know your end game BEFORE you get all caught up in the hype and time suck that can easily go along with Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, blogs, etc.And Farmville? For God's sake. Steer clear entirely.Photo: Tremendousnews.com

The Student Loan Explosion

The Student Loan Explosion The price of a quality education keeps rising, and unfortunately, the amount of funding public colleges receive has not risen along with it. In fact, some colleges have had to raise tuition because they simply aren’t getting as much support from the state or federal government as they used to. In other cases, schools are spending a lot of money on fancy new football stadiums and student centers with movie theaters. Schools will argue that these perks are necessary to attract new students, but whether or not that’s true, the students who go there will be paying for it with fees and other expenses. Then there’s the ridiculous price of textbooks. It’s no wonder that the amount of student loan debt in America has exceed one trillion dollars. Millions of those borrowers are in default as well, and in some cases, it’s not really their fault, or at least not entirely. That means any person who is considering either returning to school or attending college for the first time needs to ask him or herself a lot of questions before signing a loan agreement. What will you study? In an ideal world, every student would be able to find a job that aligned with their passions. If you wanted to study history, you would be able to take that history degree and find a great job at a museum or historical society. In the world we live in, that’s not really the case. A person with a bachelor’s degree in computer science who knows how to code will make more right out of college than a person with a master’s degree in English probably ever will. We value math and science more than the humanities, even though liberal arts majors are often good writers and good thinkers, both of which are quite useful in today’s job market. Still, it’s a good idea to be ruthlessly practical before you agree to take out $50,000 for a degree in art history. Could you get a double major in something else? Could you take your first year or two of classes at a community college before switching to a four-year university? Even if you decide not to change anything, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. So many 18-year-olds sign a piece of paper and then don’t realize just how hard it’s going to be to repay all that money plus interest. Where will you study? Be wary of online diploma mills that charge students a lot and give them very little in return. There are certain online schools that, if listed on a resume, will set off red flags for job recruiters. If you’re interested in online distance education programs, make sure the college has the right credentials and a good history of helping students, rather than just taking their money. An online global studies degree from a place like Linfield College is going to look better on job applications than an online global studies degree from Scammyville University. Good colleges will provide you with as much information as possible about what they do and how it will help students. Be wary of schools that make outrageous promises that they can’t keep. Paying off loans isn’t fun in the best of circumstances; a bad degree from a low-quality school can make the process even more miserable, especially since industry lobbyists have made discharging student loans in bankruptcy virtually imposs ible.

Fashion Industry On The Verge Of Revolutionary Changes

Fashion Industry On The Verge Of Revolutionary Changes Are you the type of person, who attempts to keep up with the latest fashion tends? If so, you should be prepare for some big changing set to hit the industry. These changes will truly revolutionize the market and they could have a direct impact on consumers throughout the world. First and foremost, it is nearly impossible not to take note of the upcoming revelation from Poshmark. This company, which is widely known for buying and selling women’s accessories, clothing and other fashionable goods, is already gained quite the reputation. Although they’ve only been in the game for a short stint, they’ve already managed to attract one and a half million sellers. The company primarily specializes in clothing resale and gives consumers the ability to sell their unwanted fashion items through a convenient mobile app. The big news is the fact that the company has managed to raise twenty five million dollars, during their recent fundraising season. Unsurprisingly, Poshmark is gaining successful in more ways than one. They’ve managed to entice 1 in 50 American women to begin selling on their site. They’ve also developed a social media-like platform, which has proven to be a success. Although Poshmark appears to be one success story, others within the online fashion industry haven’t been so lucky. In fact, the online consignment marketplace, Threadflip, just closed their doors in January of 2016. The website, which was previously referred to as the “Netflix for Fashion”, faced extensive competition and was eventually forced out of the business. With sites such as Vinted, Tradesy, Yerdle, and Depop, Threadflip just couldn’t compete. However, Poshmark may be a diamond in the rough. With the company’s recent fundraising and their popularity with American women, their future definitely looks bright. Sharia Friendly Fashion Another major trend, which is emerging out of Europe, is Sharia-friendly fashion. With immigrants pouring into Europe at record numbers, fashion experts hope to be able to capitalize on the influx, while also delivering fashionable items, which abide by Sharia law. The Marks Spencer retail chain, which is immensely popular throughout Britain, has begun to market a brand new swimsuit for Muslim women. The full-length swimsuit, which has taken on the moniker the “burkini”, is designed to allow Muslim women to maintain their dignity and modesty, while giving them the ability to dress fashionably and show off their style. Unfortunately, the move has been met with criticism from some. Supporters of the new outfit admit it allows Muslim women throughout Europe to feel liberated and better blend into the region. On the flipside, detractors feel that the outfit actually enslaves women that follow Islam. Despite the backlash, Marks And Spencer stands by their decision and intends to continue selling the swimsuit. In fact, they’re not the only British store that hopes to cash in on their new Muslim shoppers. House of Fraser has also decided to release its own line of burkini clothing. How the attire will be received remains to be seen, but it could very well be a sign of things to come. A Family-Friendly Fashion Show Those within Palm Beach County will be happy to know that the fourth American Girl Fashion Show is right around the corner. The event is scheduled to take place in the coming days and will feature young girls from the area’s local high schools. Local girls ranging in age from 4 to 13 will be modeling some of the clothing, which has been featured on Lyst.co.uk. In fact, the event is expected to bring over 120 local girls throughout Palm Beach County to the area. The event hopes to shed light on the way American Girls express themselves through their own unique fashion style and personality. For parents and older attendees, the event will include a Barnes Nobles bookstore, as well as an American Girl souvenir shop. Raffle prizes will also be given away to some lucky attendees. The event is associated with the Literacy Coalition and hopes to increase the awareness of the less fortunate, within the area. A Bright Future Truly, the fashion industry is taking a change for the better. More and more people and companies are getting involved and these changes could push the industry to new heights. The political aspect of the burkini may also bring about new attention to an industry, which has already turned heads for so many years. Image Source; Image Source; Image Source; Image Source

#112 - Career Expert Series - Kwame Christian CareerMetis.com

#112 - Career Expert Series - Kwame Christianâ€" CareerMetis.com The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSForEpisode 112of The CareerMetis Podcast, we will be hearing from Kwame Christian.This interview is part of the “Career Expert Series“.evalGUEST INTRODUCTION â€" KWAME CHRISTIANevalKwame Christian is the director of the American Negotiation Institute, he teaches us about an alternative way to resolve conflict. He’s a business lawyer, and serves as a negotiation consultant for attorneys and companies closing large business deals. On top of that, he also hosts the podcast Negotiate Anything.EPISODE SUMMARY1.Kwame’s initial academic love was psychology, and he achieved a bachelor of psychology before turning his focus to Law. As a result of his interest in psychology, his approach to negotiation differs from that of most lawyers and attorneys. He uses his knowledge and skills to teach others how to negotiate more effectively in order to resolve conflict in a much more impactful way.2.Kwame tells the story of a day at the playground when no one would play with him, and how that day shaped his determination to be liked. Respect came later when he decided to become good at conflict instead of avoiding it. We negotiate every day, and mastering the skill is life changing.3.Negotiation awareness is important to attain if you wish to strengthen your relationships and get more of what you want out of life. Kwame shares what that means, and where it can be applied to create win/win situations and help more people around you.4.Kwame talks about reframing difficult conversations in a way that shifts them into a positive situation instead of a negative or stressful one.5.Kwame also shares 3 steps to having a successful negotiation, and goes into detail about what they are, and how to apply them.QUOTES“No matter who I talked to, who I asked, nobody would play with me”.“Once I learned it was a skill, a skill I could improve upon, it was life changing”.“A nego tiation is a conversation where somebody in the conversation wants something”.“Negotiation is everywhere”.“The best things in life are often on the other side of a difficult conversation”.“You should look at these conversations as fact finding missions”.“None of this matters if you don’t take action”.“There is no perfect circumstance”Recommended ResourcesAmerican Negotiation InstitutePodcast â€" Negotiate AnythingFree Negotiation GuideTedX Talk â€" Finding Confidence in ConflictIntro Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas Ending Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas (www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€" No Need to Rush

The Problem with Goals - CareerEnlightenment.com

Ideals give us direction, and measurable goals   provide us with the road to get there. The problem is that most people confuse the two, causing the gap of inadequacy. An ideal is just a mental construct. Sure, it serves a purpose, keeps us motivated and growing. But most of the time an Ideal is unattainable.How to Remove the GapWhether your goal is to get a new job, go on vacation, or save for a new car, watch out for this tendency we have to idealize the goal. To want the job that is impossible with our experience level, the vacation that costs more than our means, or the car that would ruin our credit.We have to keep bringing ourselves back down to the world of what is actually achievable:   the job we qualify for, the vacation that is just a drive away, and the car that takes us from point A to B. Otherwise, we may feel totally unsatisfied, even after having accomplished great things in our lives.By taking these achievable goals to heart, rather than the ideal, we begin to live w ith more contentment. We see that we can achieve, and we feel we can provide for ourselves.A technique for accomplishing this sense of purposeful contentment requires the development of the habit of self-reward.Every day, reward yourself for accomplishing just one thing. Think back to everything you did today, pick out one thing you are proud of, and allow yourself to rejoice in it. Maybe you had a good conversation with a potential hiring manager. Perhaps you found a job posting that seems a perfect match. You might have finished your LinkedIn profile, finally.Lets raise our glasses and toast our daily accomplishment. Leave your ideals to the world of the sacred, and reclaim your achievable goals.

The Difference Between Resume and CV

The Difference Between Resume and CVWhen a potential employer is faced with two potential candidates for a job, the first thing that they will look at is the qualifications of the applicants and the second thing that they will look at is the difference between resume and CV. The information that both resume and CV can provide are not always the same. So, why is there a need to have such a large difference? Is it just for completeness?The answer is yes, the difference between resume and CV can be used for completeness. The reason why CV is less comprehensive than resume is because it doesn't include all the details that are necessary for an employer to be able to make a decision. For instance, an employer needs to know about the previous employment history of the candidate.For the sake of brevity, the employer may choose to take the least amount of time to obtain the available documents and get this information from the candidate. However, it will still take time to organize them in t he right manner and put them in the right order. Thus, the purpose of CV and resume are not just to provide information; it is also to provide the information in the most professional manner.This is why the difference between resume and CV is used for the purpose of providing the complete information. The resume and CV together provide an overview of what the candidate can do for the company. It is there to outline the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate.Resumes should also contain relevant details about the hobbies and interests of the candidate. On the other hand, the CV is mostly used to add other information that the employer may not have had before.Examples of these include details about professional achievements, educational background, work experience, awards, field of expertise, volunteer work, and any other relevant details that the employer may want to add. A CV is primarily for highlighting these skills and achievements so that the employer can make a decision about the candidate quickly.The purpose of using a CV is to make the employer's decision very fast. The CV is also used for a shorter period of time. Therefore, the CV is mostly used by companies and other organizations for a couple of months.Since the employers usually require a CV to be sent out within 30 days, the employer has more time to view and consider it. Thus, the CV is used for providing the information in a more organized manner.