How to Humanize Your Employer Branding through Storytelling

How to Humanize Your Employer Branding through Storytelling Sometimes companies lead with mission and values, but stories are what makes it real for candidates. In this interview, Lauryn Sargent of Stories Incorporated talks about what makes a good story and gives examples of story content that effectively communicate concepts like culture and values. Listen on  Apple Podcasts,  Stitcher Radio,  Google Play  or  SoundCloud. Why stories? Why now? We’re in a place where candidates have choices, and even in an age where there’s information everywhere, they still don’t have everything they need to know to make the best choice. They’re going 2-18 places before they apply somewhere. And employers know this: From a Glassdoor study a few years ago, more than two-thirds (67%) of employers believe retention rates would be higher if candidates had a clearer picture of what to expect about working at the company before taking the job so companies know we aren’t giving out as useful as information as we can. I think part of it is because culture can be hard to communicate. It is nuanced and universal at the same time. Employee stories are the only way to put candidates in their shoes at their workplace and give them the experience of really working there. With this knowledge, candidates can better self-select in and out before they apply, which leads to higher candidate quality, which leads to better choices and fits. And this is important because good fits lead to engagement, which leads to happier and more productive employees, which leads to companies performing better as a whole. So storytelling and employee stories have become incredibly popular and it’s a best practice in recruitment marketing. I think there’s a difference between a testimonial and a real life story of what the organization actually did that made life better for their employee. I think we all need to be a little more discerning and specific in our content. What makes a good story in the context of employer branding? Good question. At its most basic, a story must have a candidate picturing themselves as the storyteller in the story, thus imagining themselves working for your company. A story needs to be true, and from the employee who experienced it. A good story is specific, and has personal elements to it. A good story must also give candidates insight into what it’s like to work there, either universally (this is what we mean when we say we are this value, or this is our EVP) or specifically (this is what it’s like to be a woman in tech or work at this particular office or site or be in this rotational program). As for great stories, I think we’ve got a great story when I read or watch it, and I know I don’t want to work there, but I know who to refer. I know we’ve got a great story when we’re showing experiences that couldn’t or don’t happen other places, or at least many other places. Give us some tips to get great stories that give candidates real insight? Prepping lightly the people who are telling the stories. So, that’s as easy as sending a few questions ahead of your interview that will lead them to tell you something that actually happened. A favorite day at work, the moment you knew you made the right decision to take the new role outside of your comfort zone, when you knew you made your best friend at work. Don’t overwhelm storytellers or overprep because you’re going for conversational, and early in our experiences doing this we would send out a list of questions we always develop together with the client. People would come with pages of typed up notes and want to read it verbatim or were really concerned with remembering what they wrote. It just doesn’t work as well when you’re going for natural and authentic on camera. The second would be, create a safe space for them to really reflect on their experience. It’s a no-judgement zone. If you’re filming, let them know you’re only going to take the best of what they say, they can tell a story several times. Another tip would be to listen for what might seem generic. Your employees aren’t thinking about and consuming employer branding and recruitment marketing content all day like we are. They don’t know that saying “Work is fun” or “My team is collaborative” or “I can bring my whole self to work” is said a lot of places. It’s all about listening, asking for an example, and then being patient as the storyteller thinks it through. It takes some practice before you’re speaking in examples. We do this every day and when we did a project like this for our own company, even I had trouble immediately speaking in stories. The last tip is to make it as conversational as possible.  If someone is having trouble, you go first. My colleague Bernadette calls it something like Tell a Story to get a story. She’s had success getting really good stories by telling one first, so it’s a two-way process. Do you have examples of stories that effectively communicate concepts like culture, purpose, mission, and values? Definitely. So many. We’re finishing a project for ElectronicArts where we heard a great one. A storyteller was recalling an event he attended for EA that was close to a military base. The employee was surprised when a player of a game this employee had worked on, asked him to speak privately. He told him about his experience in the military and that he had a tough time transitioning out. But being able to connect with other people through playing the game helped him better acclimate socially, make friends and made the transition easier, and also helped him get through a hard time. Video games can touch people on a personal level. The storyteller said he felt like he was really making a difference and it injected purpose in his work. We’ve heard lots of stories around family culture, where colleagues rallied around them when they were going through a challenging personal time. At Kasasa, a woman had an emergency surgery told her manager she was scared, and when she woke up, her manager was in her waiting room. That illustrated their love value. At CVS Health, a woman was driving to work when her mother called her crying, because she’d just learned CVS Health was pulling tobacco from their shelves, and their family had dealt with getting her father to stop smoking unsuccessfully. What’s your step-by-step guide to getting great stories to attract the right candidate? Identify the people your organization wants more of. That could be people who are living your values, or women leaders, or Get those storytellers comfortable. Prep, safe space. Credible, relatable storytellers are so important. Learn about their experiences at work, to illustrate workplace culture and day to day. Get an outsider to ask questions like a candidate. Pick a story medium that lets them shine, best illustrates the story, and/or resonates with your candidates. Have multiple people review the content to make sure it’s a true representation of the organization. The worst thing you can do is put something out there that’s mostly aspirational or a situation that would only happen once, because then your candidates get in and say, ‘This isn’t what I signed up for.’ What are your top tips to employer brand managers? One interview day can yield so much content. Don’t just make a video, make 10. Write blog posts from the transcripts. We’ve made 27 substantive videos of varying lengths, designed a story-based job description infographic, wrote several blog posts, delivered 500+ images all from 1.5 days of interviewing so think big!! Think constantly about how to stretch the content, show a story in new ways. Pick storytellers so you can use their story to target talent like them. One story about what it’s like to work for your company from an intern who is also a veteran and a woman in STEM, there’s so many places to use that! If you’re on a budget, look for team- or business-specific recruiting challenges. We’ve had clients that have been able to split content costs with the business or with TA for that group. If you’re just starting and need to prove buy in: frame a content buy as a pilot project. Sometimes using that word makes it seem exciting and new but not risky. Connect with Lauryn on LinkedIn!

Learn How to Write a Resume With a GMAT or GRE Study Guide

Learn How to Write a Resume With a GMAT or GRE Study GuideIn today's world of mass application, one of the biggest changes to come is the need for higher standardized academic level scores on the GMAT, GRE or TOEFL. Since not everyone can afford private tutors to help them achieve the necessary score that they need to get an offer at a top business school, many people will attempt to write their application essays and resume with the help of a GMAT or GRE study guide. For those who would like to avoid the hassle and expense of hiring a private tutor, there are many quality study guides available to help you learn how to write a resume, including online study guides that are free of charge.Most students who take the GMAT or GRE will receive an official test report via mail within three months. It may be necessary to request a copy of your official score report. The rules are not always as specific as you might want them to be in some schools, so if you have any questions about what yo u will receive from the school, or if you have not received a copy of your official score report yet, ask. Your future employer can't give you an official score report without your permission.While you may be anxious to get started on your GMAT or GRE essay, it's important to prepare yourself for what comes after you submit your application. This is especially true for those who get offers but decide against attending the college they are being offered by the time they have to submit their GMAT or GRE score. It's also important to remember that your GMAT or GRE score will remain on your permanent record for about five years. Once you have submitted your application, you can't take the score off of your record.One of the best ways to prepare for your GMAT or GRE is to find a GMAT or GRE study guide that will help you review the material that you will be required to review in class. The first part of your academic life will be filled with tests and test results. To prepare for this, m any students find that studying is a helpful practice. The purpose of the first part of your academic life is to learn everything you can about the subject, so knowing what you need to know ahead of time can help you learn more effectively.Once you have learned all you can about your subject in high school, go back to the beginning and review what you have learned about the GMAT or GRE. You'll want to go through each section of the GMAT or GRE and review the material you have learned. In some cases, you'll be given time during the reading to finish up any further thoughts that you might have.After you have learned everything you can about the GMAT or GRE, you will want to prepare for your individual reading section by reading the material with a pencil in hand. Even though you've learned everything you need to about the subject, it's helpful to take a time to read over the material with a pen in hand. If you are required to answer multiple-choice questions, you will want to make sur e that you are aware of the directions that you are given for your answers so that you don't confuse yourself.There are many ways that you can organize your time while studying for the GMAT or GRE. You may find that taking several short breaks is better than waiting until you have completed all of the work you need to complete. The key is to maintain focus and to make sure that you keep organized.Once you have learned the material you need to know about the GMAT or GRE, it's important to go through your application before you even know if you will be accepted to a college. There will be many college applications out there that you will be able to complete and submit. Make sure that you use your GMAT or GRE scores when you start creating your resume. Because you will have already seen and reviewed the material, your application should be significantly easier for you to complete.

Is Employer Brand Something a Company Can Control

Is Employer Brand Something a Company Can Control Nowadays your employer brand is just as important than your actual brand. In fact, an organisation’s employer branding  is what will  set them apart to help attract the best talent and eventually win them. Its what people believe working for your organisation is and the key to a successful employer brand is your employees I mean who better to say how good it is to work for your organisation, than the people who work they? But does this mean employer brand is something your organisation cant control? Here are 10 recruiting experts  who tell us whether this is fact or fiction. Erin Wilson A company can build their employer brand. A company can influence their employer brand. A company cannot control their employer brand. Sites like Glassdoor and mobile apps like Blind, make it impossible. These days, employees hear about your brand from someone (or somewhere) else. Focus on the true story and execution. That’s what you can control. Erin Wilson  is Founder and Talent Engineer at Hirepool.io Leela Srinivasan Much like its corporate brand, a company can influence its employer brand, but never fully control it. We live in an age of unprecedented transparency, leading to a loss of brand control, but an increase in brand authenticity. Your employer brand has never been more shaped by the genuine stories and perspectives of your employees, alumni, and candidates sometimes recounted via company-edited channels, often not (hello, Glassdoor). Even your customers and the health of your business can be impacted by their perceptions of what it’s like to work at your company, as Uber is finding out right now. Leela Srinivasan, Chief Marketing Officer at Lever. Amy Volas If it were only that easy to flip a switch and “control” your employer brand.   What you put out into the “atmosphere” absolutely makes an impact.   More importantly, its the foundation youre creating internally to have your employees be your biggest brand builders.   If they’re set up for success, operating under strong leadership, your products/services are providing value and ultimately the team is thriving and growing that is your employment branding golden ticket.   Leverage all of this awesomeness to tell your “story” to bolster your employment brand and that equals control in my book. Amy Volas is  Chieftain of Avenue Talent Partners. Lars Schmidt Control? No. Influence? Yes. All companies have an EB whether they consciously shape it or not. Most companies that are successful in recruiting take steps to proactively influence and shape their employer brand. Lars Schmidt  is the Founder of Amplify. Chad MacRae Employers can cultivate and guide their employer brand through messaging, but they can’t control it. Your employer brand is your promise to candidates â€" not the promise you tell them, but the promise you show them through your actions. So, match your actions to your messaging. Live your employer brand, don’t just market a facade. Chad MacRae is the Founder of Recruiting Social. Stacy Zapar I dont know if control is the ideal word to use but I do think that every company can (and should!) join in the conversation to help shape their employer brand. The more we can educate our audience (about the company, people, values, culture, work being done, etc.), the more likely we ?are to attract the right people who are most likely to be successful and engaged employees. The best way to evangelize our brand is to engage our employees and get their voices out there, telling their stories, perspectives and experiences. Stacy is the Founder of Tenfold The Talent Agency. John Feldmann Absolutely, but it can’t be created or changed overnight. It has to evolve over time with a great deal of thought and effort. An employer brand identifies a company as an employer of choice to both current and future employees. In order to establish itself as an employer for which employees want to work, a company should outwardly project expertise in its field, as well as a sense of appreciation for its employees, and this must be done over a period of months or years. John Feldmann  is a writer for Insperity Recruiting Services. Maren Hogan There are many players that can get involved in your employer branding strategy. Some valuable professionals include your talent acquisition pro, marketing department leads, and HR. Other important employees to include are front-line managers and employees who hold key positions, so you can fully understand the true complexity and get a comprehensive look at what’s happening inside the company. If anybody is going to own it, let it be talent acquisition. Maren Hogan is CEO and Founder of Red Branch Media. Craig Fisher Yes, companies can control employer brand.   A brand is a perception.   A culture is harder to change.   A company must find the good in their culture by asking employees, and highlight those things.   And they must be transparent about working on the things that are not so good.   Get your employees to be more vocal online about the great parts of their job. Craig Fisher is  Head of Employer Brand, CA Technologies, and Allegis Global Solutions. Will Staney While companies can’t control what is said about them, an employer brand is something that can be developed and managed with enough care. Employers are able to control the message they’re putting out there, but it’s ultimately up to employees, both current and former, that manage how the brand is perceived. Companies can insure a well balanced and accurate portrayal of their employer brand by focusing on treating employees well, being fair and transparent, and then empowering their employees to be advocates for attracting high caliber talent. Will is the  Founder Principal Consultant at Proactive Talent Strategies.

Managing up How to manage a baby-boomer boss

Managing up How to manage a baby-boomer boss Heres one of the hottest topics in management training: How to manage the current crop of twentysomethings. Really. Baby boomers are sitting in seminars for hours and hours trying to demystify the alien ways of the new work force. But what about the opposite situation? One of the most classic pieces of career advice is to manage up: Manage what your boss thinks of you; steer your bosss plans for you; get your boss to supervise in a way that works well for you. Younger workers need to know how to manage their baby-boomer bosses. Managing up will not be easy. Youre dealing with someone so different from you that he or she sits through PowerPoint presentations about your emoticons. But theres hope for you because managing up has always been a generational challenge. Lynn Lancaster, one of the aforementioned consultants on generation Y told me, All generations are angered that the next generation is not like them. Once youve established you can reliably meet your bosss weekly and monthly goals, you can let your boss know about your own goals. When I spoke with Gen-X demographer Laura Shelton, she reminded me that to a boomer, meaningful goals might be a reserved parking space and a new title. So you need to make sure your boss understands that you want shorter-term goals and that you care most about issues like being challenged, learning new skills, and preserving your personal life. Make your priorities clear to your boss so you dont get sidetracked in areas that are irrelevant to you. For Francois DeCosterd , a management consultant turned art teacher, problems arose in his consulting job when he found himself working among people so obsessed with rank that he could not focus on the work that interested him. It is very difficult to find your own voice when you away have to deal with hierarchy and power politics, which are very draining. Understand what you can get from your boss, so you can make reasonable, actionable requests for mentoring. When a baby boomer says, Do you realize how many years of experience I have? The baby boomer means, Do you realize how long Ive paid my dues? Why do you think you can do challenging, interesting, work immediately? Dont be put off by this exchange. Instead, recognize what those years of experience mean for you right now: A lot of experience doesnt mean someone is clever, likeable or talented. But when you are dealing with people who have worked many, many years, you can assume they have learned to deal with many different situations says Fran Pomerantz, executive recruiter at Korn/Ferry International. So use this person to help you with project management and prioritization because theyve seen it all before. Your seasoned boss can identify deals that are going to blow up, policies that will derail you, and perks waiting to be claimed. Investigate which other skills your boss has picked up over the course of his or her long career. Make a list of skills and knowledge you want to accumulate in the next two years. Bring the list to your boss and ask which your boss can help you with. For the others, ask what sort of projects or teams you can get to aquire the skills out of your bosss reach. Youre going to get the best results from your boss if you use your bosss language: The language of diplomacy, says Dianne Durkin, president of Loyalty Factor. You might want to say, Stop talking to me about my career at this company. Im leaving in two years to start my own. But you will get a better response if you say, It would be a big help to me if we could focus on what Im doing this quarter. The other language barrier you have with your boss is IM. Its like a poorly spoken second language to boomers, if they know how to use it at all. So effective management of your boss means using email. And take the time to type full words and use a spellchecker; two small concessions to get what you want from your manager. If you do all this and you dont get what you want, you should leave. Dont sit in a job with a baby boomer boss who doesnt get it. Vote with your feet, advises Shelton. It costs companies so much to replace a worker that they will eventually change. And this will be a better workplace for all generations. DeCosterd also advises to leave your job if you dont feel valued. When he talks about his transition from consulting to teaching art he says, Its been remarkable to meet so many people who are excited and supportive about my ideas. Understanding your boss is the key to managing up. But whats the best way to understand your boss? The Myers Briggs survey is a psychological system designed for understanding other people, and its a test used by nearly 100% of the Fortune 500 to help senior executives succeed at work. If you understand the test now, earlier in your career, youll be able to manage up in a way that will put you on the fast-track to success. Learn how to use this tool in the course from Quistic: Fast Track Your Career with Meyers-Briggs

ClearPoint Resume Writing Review

ClearPoint Resume Writing ReviewClearPoint Resume Writing is a program created by someone who is really passionate about creating resumes. This particular program was created by an individual who would rather be an employer than an employee. In fact, this individual chose to work in the human resources field. So, what is it that is different from other programs?The most unique thing about ClearPoint is that it can be used on the computer as well as on paper. It will allow you to create your own resume and not have to rely on others to do this for you. Of course, you will still have to go back into the information for your resume and tell them how to structure their resume the way you want.Another cool thing about ClearPoint is that it can be used on the Internet. You do not have to be at a computer, but if you are, then you can print it out whenever you want. All you have to do is go into the page and choose which page you want to print. They even make it so that you can simply scan it and print it for a friend to review and take notes on.ClearPoint also gives you the ability to use a template. They have templates available for both men and women, just like most of the other resume writing programs. You will even find templates for children, career fields, and even ones that are based on your religious beliefs.Another great thing about ClearPoint is that you will not have to write all of your own information. You will have all of the information you need in one place. It is great because you will be able to get your information in one place. That makes things easier on you, especially if you are trying to get it printed out and do not have time to go back and look over the information.One last great thing about ClearPoint is that you will be able to access it anytime, anywhere. The same goes for your computer as well as the Internet. This program allows you to print right off the computer.One of the things that is good about ClearPoint is that it can help you w hen you are using other programs to create your resume. With many other programs, you will have to go through a lot of different screens to get your information. This program will make it much easier on you because it will give you everything you need for your resume.So what exactly does ClearPoint do? It provides you with the tools to create your own resume, a template that you can print off, and a resource that will give you information for your resume. This is something that is going to help you a lot and will help you get that next job you have been searching for.

6 Tips on How to Be an Healthy Employee

6 Tips on How to Be an Healthy Employee Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comAlthough business owners can time off work to exercise or get in shape, employees don’t always have that luxury. It becomes a challenge for employees to stay healthy as they work long hours or are running from meeting to meeting without eating. Often, they are on the road and choose a fast food place to eat or are taking clients to lunch at restaurants with fatty foods. However, healthy employees are more productive and could ensure business owners get more revenues. Here are some tips for employees to stay healthy.1. Take Advantage of Wellness ProgramsevalIf your company offers wellness programs where you can get reimbursed for healthy choices and lifestyle, you should take advantage of it. This means that you could get paid to visit the gym after hours. You could get paid to get a massage or eat healthy foods. The company might even pay for your wellness coach or dietician. These programs are great motivator to be healthy.2. Design an Office for Wellnes s in MindWhen considering how to lay out your business, consider an office that promotes wellness in your employees. You could have standing desks, long hallways or other equipment. You might include a gym in your building that gives employees the option to use it throughout the day as long as they get their work completed.evalEmployees should take advantage of equipment brought into the office for health-conscious lifestyle. An office for wellness also has plenty of water available and healthy snacks.3. Bring Snacks With YouWhen on the road to meet potential clients or clients or meetings, you should bring food with you. This way, you won’t be tempted to visit unhealthy fast food restaurants. Make sure you bring healthy snacks, such as nuts or vegetables.When you are driving for a while, you can turn to your stash to ensure you are eating healthy. Pack a lunch to bring to the office instead of eat outside the office every day. Again, you will be eating better, and you would save money too. You also want to have healthy snacks at your desk for those afternoon cravings.4. Drink Matcha TeaMatcha is a green tea from Japan that is ground into a powder. Therefore, it would be easy to bring with you to the office or on the road meeting clients. The tea is packed with antioxidants and nutrients that prevent heart disease, stroke, cancer and other diseases. The tea can help you lose weight or maintain your current weight. You can brew it hot as a tea or drink it cold as a smoothie. Whatever way you choose to use it, the tea will keep you healthy.5. Put Plants on Your DeskevalCertain plants will clean the air around you. Putting them on your desk will ensure you are breathing healthy air and beautify your workspace, which will work to improve your mood. If you are happy where you work, you will be more productive.6. Exercise RegularlyEither before work or after work, you should ensure you get exercise. This will counter the negative effects of sitting in a chair or i n a car for long hours. In addition, you could do things, such as climb the stairs instead of taking the elevators and get up from your desk regularly and walk the office or outside the office.

Avoiding Self-Destruction With A Career In Construction - CareerAlley

Avoiding Self-Destruction With A Career In Construction - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If a career in construction has always been your dream, whether youre just started a new job at a company or youre looking for work, then youve got a long and exciting journey ahead of you. Construction is certainly an industry in which practice makes perfect, as any training or qualifications you may have is only the tip of the iceberg. It takes experience and time to become settled in this industry, but those with the determination to succeed will certainly find it to be a rewarding career. Nonetheless, a career in construction isnt without its hurdles. Its a difficult job, both in terms of strenuous labour and working as part of a professional, safe, smart team. If you want to avoid self-destruction with your career in construction, then here are some top tips to drill into your mind which will hopefully help to ensure that you dont mess up too majorly within your early days as a builder. Get Trained There are so many ways to prepare for a career in construction. Perhaps youre young and youll be looking into getting started by gaining some work experience in construction sectors, but you might want to consider different routes if this is a career change later in life. You could consider a part time apprenticeship, as you wont have to give up the much-needed salary of your current job, and youll be building up your CV in preparation for your career change to construction. Its vital that you have sufficient training before you enter the construction industry, either way, as this is a dangerous and skilled profession; it requires extensive knowledge and experience. Prepare for Accidents A career as a construction worker is incredibly rewarding, but it doesnt come without its risks. Working around dangerous equipment and operating heavy machinery every single day is going to lead to accidents or injuries at some point, as you likely well know if youve been keen on entering this industry for a long time. Most construction companies will provide some form of protection or cover for workers in the event of an accident. However, you might want to look into work injury lawyers and workers compensation specialists, as insurance companies can sometimes take advantage or fail to sufficiently cover your costs whilst youre recovering from an injury and out of work. Theres also a chance that your employer wont be covered with workers compensation insurance, so you might want to look into that sort of thing before you take a job with any specific company. Picture Source Never Stop Learning The key to succeeding within the construction industry is to constantly look for ways to add new skills to your portfolio. You dont want to be falling behind your team or letting your professionalism drop, so you should always be striving to further your knowledge and ensure that nothing leaves you baffled on the job; your co-workers wont be able to hold your hand the entire way. Always be open to learning new things for yourself, and dont let your standards slip. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+

How to Prepare Your Resume as Graduation Approaches - Short and Sweet Advice - Hallie Crawford

How to Prepare Your Resume as Graduation Approaches - Short and Sweet Advice Your graduation date is slowly creeping up on you, but are you prepared to enter the workforce? Many graduates think taking time off to travel or just to relax before entering the workforce is needed, and by all means, you deserve it. But don’t forget to prepare your resume. As with every job applicant, your resume is your first impression and you will want to make sure it’s a good one. Get involved with something whether it’s at school, in your community, or church and add it to your resume! Take advantage of leadership opportunities, internships (official or unofficial), mentoring, or other initiatives and involvements with clubs and organizations. Put those down as well. Remember, your resume doesn’t have to only include traditional work experience. Employers don’t expect years of experience when you’re a new grad so don’t feel badly about that. Show them what you have been doing, and how they relate to the working world by identifying your transferable skills. Remember, this information goes a long way in supporting your determination, work ethic, ability to work independently and with others, and more.  A little planning can go a long way, and when you are really ready to start your job search, you will be prepared to start your career with a bang! Thank you to one of our resume experts, Jasmine Marchong, for this article and the resume tips. Want more Resume and Cover Letter Tips? Watch these helpful videos Hallie has created by clicking here. Schedule a free consult with HallieCrawford.com today