How Recruiters Should NOT Run LinkedIn Groups

How Recruiters Should NOT Run LinkedIn Groups I was invited to join a LinkedIn group the other day. Well actually I probably get invited to join a LinkedIn group every day but this one stood out. I am not going to name the group or the recruitment company that started it, Ill simply mention what lessons we can all learn here. In a world with 2 million LinkedIn groups you cant afford to waste time on doing things wrong. Heres how NOT to run a LinkedIn group: The name of the group was the same as the recruitment agency. Unless you are Apple or Google its going to be hard to build a community around your brand on LinkedIn, very few people will want to join a group that carries a name like Mickey Mouse Recruitment. Ideally youd want to build the group around a topic, such as HR, Marketing or Healthcare. This is going to interest professionals in that field, Joe Bloggs Staffing is not. There were 4 posts in the group, all by the group manager and all about current vacancies that the recruitment agency are working on. So no content about the market, people or news. No real discussions between peers. Not even a question for anyone just a direct sales channel in other words. A soon as I saw this I knew this would be another tumbleweed LinkedIn group set up by a recruiter. I saw no reason to join this group unless you are an active jobseeker. If its all about jobs and recruitment, it wont attract the 80% of LinkedIn users who are happy in their jobs big mistake when we know that passive candidates are typically the best ones.  Even when a jobseeker does join this group, as soon as they find a new job what will they do? Leave the group as soon as they find something. My invite was sent way too early. Why send invites to a group that has less than 5 members? Its a fact that people want to go where other people are, just think of that swanky night club with long queues outside. The better way of doing it would be to reach a critical mass, say 50 or 100 people before blasting it out to un-initiated users. So start with the team, then friends and family (if they oblige that is), then candidates and clients that already know you and then go public with the group. I didnt stick around long enough to gauge the group rules, moderation, any welcome emails so dont know if they actually did these things right. I for one wont be going back to find out. Any other thoughts on how not to run a LinkedIn group? Please let me know! Related: How To Grow a LinkedIn Group to 50k+ Members [Case Study].

10 Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs Lessons You Can Learn From Them (INFOGRAPHIC)

10 Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs Lessons You Can Learn From Them (INFOGRAPHIC) If you are an aspiring professional or striving entrepreneur in any industry, it is highly likely that you are at least partly inspired by a successful figure in your line of work. Following the success of certain individuals can provide us with a little perspective and that extra drive to pursue our professional goals, especially if they have a rags-to-riches tale behind their achievements. We regularly hear and read about the same big names and how they succeeded in their industry. Whether it’s Sir Richard Branson who started a magazine when he was just sixteen or KFC’s Colonel Sanders who began by serving his chicken from a petrol station he ran, there are plenty of stories to inspire any of us to succeed. There are many lists online where you can read up about all of these successful and inspirational people. However, something which quickly becomes apparent is that there are little or no inspirational figures in these lists. Does this mean that there aren’t any? No, far from it. There are actually many extremely successful women entrepreneurs whose story would inspire any of us, they perhaps don’t always get the coverage they deserve. With that in mind, silverdoor.co.uk has put together a very interesting infographic which covers this very issue. Titled ‘10 Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs Lessons You Can Learn From Them’, you can check it out below.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The 8 People You Will Find in a Meeting

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese The 8 People You Will Find in a Meeting When I think of all the meetings I have sat through in my lifetime, it makes me want to chuck everything and join a crew looking for sunken pirate booty. But then I think about how the crew would probably want to hold a meeting about whose job is was to look for the loot and whose job is was to write the reportand I decide to stay where I am.I always tell people not to ditch meetings even if they believe them to be a completewaste of time -- becauseits important to understand the groups dynamics and the role each person plays in the organization.With that in mind, Ive put together a sort of cheat sheet on meeting participants, which most of you will recognize to some degree. If Ive left anything out, please feel free to add your own thoughts:1.The alpha dog. This person sits in the most commanding position, either at the head of the table or in the middle. The alpha dog often spreads out his or her stuff in order to say Im in charge. Watch out for the tendency to pee on the conferen ce table leg before beginning.2.The smirker. Contributing little to the discussion, this person tries to affect the Im too cool for this persona, but instead sort of resembles a teen showing off for friends in English Lit class. Lots of raised eyebrows, smirks and a tendency to mutter things like Oh, my Gawd, while sniggering.3.The thumb-sucker. Terribly insecure, this person feels the need to continually pump up personal contributions, i.e. Landing on the moon? Oh, yeah, I know a guy who once did thathe called me from outer space once. The charges were ridiculous, dude!4.The navel-gazer. Every issue brings up a personal story that may or may not have anything to do with the issue being discussed. This person believes that his or her experience is one that should not be missed. Works nights and weekends on a personal biography that will make Bill Clintons look like a comic book.5.The devils advocate. While contrary opinions can generate some valuable payoffs, this person likes to th row a wrench in the works just to watch the process break down. One of the biggest causes of meetings lasting for five hours. The devils advocate sets the alpha dog to yapping and peeing furiously, the smirker to eye-rolling and the thumb-sucker to creating wild tales of personal importance. The navel-gazer begins telling a story about last Christmass stocking stuffers.6.The time traveler. Regardless of what is being discussed, this person seems surprised to be a part of it as if Scotty just beamed them to the wrong planet. A perpetually confused and bewildered demeanor. Always wants to know: Should I be taking notes?7.The real deal. This person sits quietly, doodling on a notepad. During a lull in the conversation, the real deal will come up with something that is profound and sensible and makes everyone else look like nitwits and numbskulls. Often mistaken for a celebrity while on vacation. Destined to one day be wealthy and directing others while hunting for pirate booty.8.The p acifier. In the midst of all the yapping and smirking and boasting, the pacifier finds the solution for all the chaos and lack of progress: send the issue to committee for discussion.Meeting adjourned.

Memes Tell Lies and So Do Job Ads

Memes Tell Lies and So Do Job Ads Ive been a little busy lately (for busy read writers block). While  thinking about what to write next, it hit me out of the blue! Or should I say, Richard Branson told me Let me explain. On LinkedIn (a recruiting gem) there are countless memes flying about (for the less hip recruiters out there, a meme tends to be a picture coupled with a profound or hilarious quote, often  by somebody of note). Actually the  word meme was coined by renowned biologist Richard Dawkins in 1973, so there you go. Where was I? Oh yes! Richard Branson was telling me all about how if somebody offers me a job I don’t know how to do, just accept the offer anyway and then learn how to do it. There was a meme flying about that stated just that.  (Heart surgeons and pilots need not apply). Anyway,  it got me thinking. How many of these so called quotes attributed to people on memes were actually  uttered by them? We have all seen (skimmed past) these quotes; reading some and ignoring others. My question; did Churchill really say: Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. I will answer for you. No, he apparently he  didn’t. Google it. However, many people think he did, possibly because  its  plastered across a picture of him in a meme and posted online for all to see. If Richard Branson did indeed utter every last one of the life altering quotes printed across pictures of his face, surely he  wouldn’t have had anytime whatsoever to kite surf at Necker Island whilst simultaneously running airlines, trains, media and record companies. What I am trying to get at, I suppose, is that you shouldnt simply believe everything you read (drum roll) and that goes for  some of the more fantastic sounding job ads out there (see what I did there, seamless)! Some job ads really are too good to be true. Fancy an example? Take a sales role advertised with the tagline OTE £120k. A lot of the time, this is written when the sales role on offer involves relentless cold calling, no basic salary and paid on  commission-only basis. The £120k cited is usually a figure that was once reached by the owner of the company and thus used as a barometer for all new starters. I frequently see this  kind of ad full of blown out figures  used  to entice recruiting newbies to various organisations. In actual fact, this exaggerated recruiting bait is undercut by getting no  basic salary, under that 50% commission on every placement made. In reality, the successful applicant  is then  likely to be thrust into a saturated market, trying your hardest to pick up scraps and make one huge placement every month simply to carry on living. Is it any wonder so  many new  recruiters fall by the wayside? Now, I cannot in all seriousness write a blog without mentioning Widget Firtling, Sprocket Noodlers or an obscure reference to a place in Lancashire, so here is my slightly tongue-in-cheek, too-good-to-be-true job ad. Watch out for anything even slightly reminiscent of this: *Senior Sprocket Noodler â€" Turn Village* This is the chance of a lifetime to work with an  industry-leading sprocket noodling company. There is an unparalleled package on offer with a salary that cannot be matched, even by  everything you  have ever wanted in your whole life and more.   Remember the wise words of Aristotle: “The Internet is many things, truthful sometimes isn’t one.” Did he even say that? Who knows. Widgets are still superior in Lancashire.   Turn Village is generously called Village; it should really be called Turn Post Office.

Why You Should Not Use Case in Point to Prepare for Your Consulting Interviews CareerMetis.com

Why You Should Not Use Case in Point to Prepare for Your Consulting Interviews Source : Pexels.comLet me start off by asking, how many consultant positions have you seen advertised that require the applicant to have memorized the pre-existing frameworks as a necessary qualification for the job?The chances are likely none. Therefore it makes no sense to spend valuable time devoted to committing the pre-existing frameworks to memory.Memorizing the framework is not the key to launching a successful consulting career. It is for this reason that the Case In Point approach should not be used to prepare for case interviews.evalWhile being one of the more popular resources among many aspiring consultants, what Case In Point is teaching, can be misleading. The information that it provides leads the reader to believe that the ultimate success of solving complex problems lies in adopting one or a combination of the pre-existing frameworks. If only it were that simple in the fast-paced business world.It Is Not About The What But All About The HowevalFirstly, allow me to be clear, there is nothing wrong with the Ivy Case framework. It all comes down to the outlook and approach that Case In Point is instructing.If solving complex business problems is as easy as applying one of the pre-existing frameworks, then consulting firms could just advertise a few attractive packages and expanded versions of the frameworks for sale. This way the potential client can simply choose the most likely framework package to rectify their problem and proceed to the checkout.However, the fact that globally, consulting revenues reached more than $480 billion in 2018 communicates to you that it is just not that straightforward. There is so much more to providing client solutions than simply just squeezing the problem into a pre-existing framework to solve the problem. Where is the value in that?The Consultants ToolboxHaving knowledge of the basics of the framework and properly understanding the essential core of each of the pre-existing existing frameworks is undoubtedly an excellent tool for any consultant to have. These existing frameworks can sufficiently be used to establish a basic foundation for any case structure.The key fact, though, and this is what Case In Point does not drive home is that the framework alone does not define how to approach the case or draft the roadmap for solutions.The value of the pre-existing framework is only established once it is attached to a specific situation. So while learning these frameworks are great for any consultants toolbox, the question is, what use are those tools if you do not possess the suitable knowledge to use them correctly?Key Takeaway 1: Having the tools to do the job is not enough. Knowing how to use those tools to personalize the job is what is ultimately essential.“Think Like A Consultant.” evalIf anything, this specific phrase best describes what Case In Point has failed to sufficiently instruct. I initially never completely grasped the broad meaning behind this creative expression. However , once I was able to identify what Case In Point was not saying, the gist of this phrase made sense.What Case In Point is not saying is that first and foremost, the comprehensive approach should not merely be about achieving a potential solution but rather about how to go about solving the fundamental problem. Secondly, in order to correctly solve the problem, you must initially have a clear understanding of what the actual issue is.The specific answers to the appropriate questions are what will mold and define the structure of your case. If you are to simply squeeze that specific problem into one of the pre-existing frameworks, you are not providing the client with an innovative tailor-made ACTIONABLE solution.Key Takeaway 2: An innovative solution is one that has translated the customer’s needs into an actionable plan.Rule # 1-Do Not Reuse Framework.One of the most elementary mistakes made during the case interview remains an applicant trying to resolve the case on hand by reusi ng one of the pre-existing frameworks. Developing custom solutions through tailored frameworks represents the one excellent opportunity to stand out during the case interview. In addition, it is also one of the most valuable skills a consultant can demonstrate during the case interview.evalThere is a fundamental value in having knowledge of the existing frameworks. They provide you with a firm foundation on which to construct case driven solutions. The list of pre-existing frameworks includes:4Ps frameworkThis framework is most commonly used to develop a marketing strategy.Profitability frameworkThis is the most basic framework widely used for business analysis, for example: To determine the cause of probability loss.Porter’s 5 forces frameworkThis framework is commonly used to analyze competition in a specific industry or market. Market entry frameworkMost often used by businesses to make decisions on whether to launch products or services in a new market.Price case frameworkDete rmining prices, most often when launching new products.The 3 Cs FrameworkAnalyzes the company, the competition and identifying target customers.SWOTA mini-framework which is used for quick evaluation of an individual or companies performance. In the general sense, consultancy is about providing skilled advice. Clients compensate the consultancy firm for skilled recommendations which will enable them to achieve a specific goal or resolve a specific issue through the advised solutions.The consultant’s goal is to adequately resolve a fundamental MECE which is an acronym for “Mutually Exclusive” and “Collectively Exhaustive.”Is the effective method of comprehensive analysis which is based on the principle of consolidating, and grouping of information into smaller, more logical groups and analytical subcategories until each set is mutually exclusive Key Takeaway #6: No matter which framework you use or how you try to structure the case, if you do not have a clear understanding of the desired objectives, it is likely that you will not reach the right conclusions. Just a few other tips and valuable reminders about analyzing data using framework:Not all the data is useful data. Valuable data can come in a variable number of formats and can include interviews, text, numerical information and even data charts. Therefore categorizing and prioritizing data is one of the most key steps in the extensive process. Ultimately, the result of necessary data collected and analyzed is to produce the relevant recommendations and answers to the client’s questions. Do not try looking for answers until you have a full understanding of the questions being asked.An exhaustive structure like an Issue Tree or MECE represents an essential way to arrange and plow through data in a systematic, concise manner. With these concepts, you will prepare, divide and segment the data until you have filtered out the problem. If the structure you are using does not isolate the issue, you ca nnot outline recommendations or offer solutions. Therefore, it all comes down to the structure.Constantly evaluate a data point with structure and always start with the goal to finish. You are adopting the framework to keep data organized and logical, therefore it makes no sense to jump between the groups of categorized data before you have completed analyzing a specific segment of data. Dissect, examine and discard data before moving on.Assembling data in a logical manner will also help support and carefully arrange your thoughts. Once you have positively identified the objective and key priorities, you can efficiently carry out a logical assessment. Once you have identified the objective and key priorities, you can carry out a logical assessment:What does the client want to do with the analysis?What is urgent?What will the outcome be if the problem is not resolved?What does the client expect to achieve through the recommended solutions?Do I possess a sound understanding of the pro blem?CONCLUSIONHaving the tools to do the job is not enough. The value lies in knowing how to use those tools to develop tailored solutions.An innovative solution is one that is custom made and has analyzed all the possibilities in order to create an actionable solution.Do not just seek solutions, fix the problem!There are many variables between companies and those variables will influence operations and solutions, therefore solutions must always be case driven and specific to the problem being addressed. A one size fits all solution does not offer the client a customized solution.Create a unique, priority driven framework to analyze and structure the case.Before trying to find the answers, you must have a clear understanding of the objectives. Always ask the right questions to ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the client’s questions and expectations. If you do not have a clear understanding of the end objectives, your analysis will not support the right recommendat ions. Logical data supports logical thoughts. It helps to keep your thoughts and notes in an organized, logical, concise manner too. This enables you to ensure that you have covered all the key points and have a clear understanding of the client’s requirements.Practicing how to apply case driven framework is a vitally important step in preparing for your case interview.Key recommendations must consistently be supported by the necessary data when presenting your fundamental solutions to the client.