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Thursday, April 15, 2010
In Our Busy, High-Tech World; Communication Reigns as King
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We’ve all seen the reports that employers are signaling plans to increase hiring in 2010. In fact, there’s a renewed sense of optimism out there that’s invigorating. According to CareerBuilder and USA TODAY’S latest nationwide survey of employers, 23 percent plan to increase their headcount in the second quarter, with more than 1/3 of that increase predicted to be in IT-related jobs. And with reports that rapid technology growth is one of the top five trends impacting the job market over the next 10 years—the tables are turning for those of us in IT.
With the economy poised to turn around, there are many things that have to happen to be ready to meet the needs of this changing climate. But what we have determined to be a critical component—in fact the foundation of all of our work—is strong communication. It’s one of the most critical pieces in everything we do.
I realize “communication” is a fairly broad term. What I’d like to share with you here are three simple tips we’ve found to be most helpful in ensuring top-notch communication with our clients and candidates; ultimately leading to a successful working relationship all the way around.
1. Commit to open communication. We have found that open, back-and-forth dialogue is so important. Be up front about this expectation at the beginning of an engagement. For companies hiring—share all details of a position right away. If you think there’s an aspect of the job that won’t be attractive, don’t wait until the 11th hour to share it. Knowing everything up front is critical. If you’re looking for a job, be honest with your preferences. Sometimes it’s the simple things like the hours of an opportunity or the commute that become major factors in a decision. Knowing all details on both sides of the table can avoid common experiences like these:
• “I would have taken that position if it were for $10,000 more”; or
• “The candidate we’re looking for also needs to have XX skill set,”; or
• “The commute is too long—I am only willing to drive 30 minutes to and from work.” 2. Determine the best mode of communication. There are many tools for communication these days, so determining preferences will save time and create a smoother process. Is your preference e-mail? Text or instant messaging? Cell phone? All of the above? Knowing how to reach your contact is important, especially during a time when people expect instantaneous feedback. 3. Remember relationships are important. The irony of communication is that while it’s critical to the success of any relationship, it’s really easy to let it become impersonal with the ease, speed and convenience of electronic communication. Don’t forget to pick up the phone or meet in person now and then for a live conversation. We have found that even though schedules are busy and time is limited, extra efforts like taking someone to lunch or scheduling a brief 15-minute update are appreciated and go a long way in helping make our suggestion in tip number one (commit to open communication!) easier to do.
We all have stories where we know if we had communicated a little more effectively the outcome would have been different in a positive way. At the end of the day, our job is more than sourcing candidates and churning out resumes. Anybody can do that—it’s such a small piece of the relationship between a company like EdgeLink and our clients and candidates. For win-win-win situations, we believe in the value of communication.
What works for you? Any successful communication strategies for keeping open dialogue between clients, candidates and/or vendors? We invite you to share!Labels: Industry Insight, Jeff Miller, Job Searching Tips
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Posted by EdgeLink at 9:54 AM | 0 comment(s)
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Friday, January 19, 2007
Was Your New Year’s Resolution to Find a New Job?
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How are you doing on finding that next great job or assignment? An article in the Journal of Clinical Psychology shows how many of us keep our New Year’s Resolutions and for how long. The survey reveals a decreasing percentage of people who keep their New Year’s resolutions as time goes on:
- past the first week: 75%
- past 2 weeks: 71%
- after one month: 64%
- after 6 months: 46%
How can you better the odds and not be discouraged by those statistics? Take some, or better yet, all of the steps below and increase your odds of achieving a new job in 2007.
• Take action today! Even if the action is a little step like updating your resume or making a networking call to a recruiter.
• Take time. While taking action today is key, remember changing jobs takes time. Just as for most of us our first date was not the person we would marry, so the first job interview/offer may not be the “one.”
• Look at your passions. List what you love in your current job, what you are good at, and seek a job with those ingredients.
• Talk to people. Talk with family and friends about your passions and desire to change jobs. Talk with the recruiter that calls or call them (use them as advisors like a doctor or lawyer). Call professors or colleagues you took classes with in the past. They are great sources of information and connections.
• Seek ways to enhance your skills. Take a part-time job or consulting job where you can develop new skills, volunteer for a non-profit where you can gain experience or take a class at the college or university in town.
I feel blessed to work for EdgeLink which is the best place and job I have ever worked. I am using my skills and passions, and I found this job through networking after leaving a “bad fit” job. There is hope for a great job and there are great places to work.
Here is to wishing you the best year yet, and may you find an amazingly fun job in 2007.
Resources and References:
How happy are you at work? Take a short quiz at the following site:
http://www.fabjob.com/tips213.html
Auld Lang Syne: Success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers, by John C. Norcross, Marci S. Mrykalo, Matthew D. Blagys , University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Volume 58, Issue 4 (2002).Labels: Job Searching Tips, Mark Schacter
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Posted by EdgeLink at 11:47 AM | 0 comment(s)
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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
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