Author: Tanya Ponton

13 Sep Cultural Fit – Should One Size Fit All?

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

You're sitting across the interview table from a prospective candidate. Their resume is in your hand. You have a notebook of questions to ask and a pen ready to record their responses. As you begin the conversation, you find that they are witty, well-read, and an extensive traveler, as are you. Like your business partner, they enjoy Italian reds and domestic beer. The company softball team needs a new pitcher and they played varsity in high school. This person begins to evolve into more than your next supply manager. They just make sense. They’re the right. . . cultural fit. Hiring them is a no-brainer. Or is it?

The pros and cons of hiring for cultural fit.

07 Sep Like A Boss: Unusual Hiring Tips You Hadn’t Thought Of (Probably)

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

If you are new to the hiring process, or a veteran looking to improve your vetting skills, read on. We have a few unusual hiring tips that you may not have thought of. Most of those who hire regularly have gotten good at spotting red flags like gaps on resumes, or noting bad communication skills during the interview. But these extra efforts could be incredibly helpful in really learning all you can about your candidate.

Some unusual hiring tips to consider:

31 Aug You Gotta Have It . . . Skills Every Employee Should Have

Posted at 07:00h in Job Seekers

When you are reviewing your resume or preparing for an interview, you will likely take inventory of all your experience and accomplishments. But there are some skills every employee should have that you might be undervaluing if you have them (or need to acquire if you don’t). Not all jobs require the same talents, but these are some universal qualities that most employers will value.

Here are skills every employee should have:

24 Aug Between Jobs? Things To Do If You Are Unemployed

Posted at 07:00h in Job Seekers

The job market may be recovering, but for the nearly 7 million people in the United States who are unemployed, that might be cold comfort. Even if you are working on your resume, reaching out to contacts, and going on interviews, it can be difficult to stay positive and optimistic. Part of the reason for feeling down if you are unemployed is a lack of control. Without a day-to-day routine of a place to go, a steady paycheck, a work identity, you can begin to feel that you are drifting along with no way to take action. But the truth is, there are a variety of things you can do when you're unemployed to maintain direction, and feel like you're growing professionally, even off the payroll.

Here are things to do right now if you are unemployed:

17 Aug On the Hunt: How to Choose a Headhunter

Posted at 07:00h in Job Seekers

You’re out in the market, you’ve polished your resume, and you’re networking like crazy. But you want a little extra help, a second pair of eyes and ears on the lookout for your next opportunity. One solution is to work with a headhunter. Having a professional help you can reduce stress and expedite your job search. But how do you choose a headhunter? What do you need to know about them? And what will they ask of you?

Here are tips on how to choose a headhunter:

10 Aug Interviewing I.Q.: Five Signs That You Should Pass On A Candidate

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

It’s always exciting to meet potential hires. It means the company is growing, actively searching for new talent, and people are interested in becoming part of the team. And in most cases, you are going to be spending a lot of time with these people so it’s an important new relationship. But what if you should pass on a candidate? Certainly some interviews go so poorly that it’s a no-brainer that the person is not going to work out. But sometimes, there are equally compelling parts and things that give you pause.

Here are signs that you should pass on a candidate:

03 Aug Breaking Up Isn’t Hard To Do: Why Your Employees Are Leaving

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

As the economy continues to recover from the dark days of the recession, there is still a lot of discussion about how to hire the best people, the trends among Millennials and unemployment and job search advice. But that doesn’t mean that people don’t have choices. So what do you do if employees are leaving? You need to take a hard look at your company and the dynamics that could be accidentally driving away your talent.

Consider the following if employees are leaving your company:

27 Jul Interview tips that go the extra mile

Posted at 07:00h in Job Seekers

You already have the basic interview must-dos down – on time (or a little early), neatly dressed, easy on the perfume or cologne, etc. But everyone knows that, right? So what interview tips can you follow to edge out the others and get the best chance possible of landing the job?

Here are interview tips that go above and beyond:

20 Jul Occupational Hazard: Keep Your Desk Neat and Clear Your Head

Posted at 07:00h in Employers, Small Business Owners, Startups

We get it. The workday seems to be getting more and more hectic. Checking your email, sitting on conference calls, creating presentations and meeting deadlines can quickly overwhelm. But one way to keep calm and carry on is to keep your desk neat and office space tidy. Despite recent reports that a messy desk can support creativity, it’s fairly limited to the idea of keeping files accessible, not a desk full of post-its and pictures.

Use these ideas to keep your desk neat:

13 Jul Dropping the Mic: Leaving Your Job Without Drama

Posted at 07:00h in Job Seekers

Even the best job opportunities sometimes run their course, and new options become available. Perhaps something more interesting, with better pay, or offering more responsibility. And once you find it, you'll start counting down the days to leaving your job. Whatever the reason for moving on, you can’t get the next role without giving notice to your current employer and leaving your job. But if you depart the workplace without thoughtfulness and consideration, you could burn bridges and end relationships that prove useful in the future.