Be careful of what you put online, it is there forever

Published on Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008

You don’t even know it, but a lot of your unsavoury personal information is floating around in cyberspace. A simple click of the mouse can open up the proverbial can of worms for all to see.

So even as you read this, someone somewhere in the world may be reading about your escapades or activities. While most casual surfers do no harm, what about the growing trend among recruiters and employers to scour the Internet to check out both poten tial candidates and existing employees?

You will be surprised at what they can unearth – from unprofessional screen names and boasts to provocative photos from lies about qualifications to badmouthing an employer or sharing confidential information.

And needless to say, companies do rule out candidates and even cancel job offers based on what they find online.

In fact, according to a survey by a leading recruiting firm, 78 percent of executive recruiters routinely use search engines to learn more about candidates and 35 percent have eliminated candidates based on the information they found.

This means that your digital dirt can effectively jeopardise potential employment opportunities and derail an otherwise promising job search even before it starts.

So think about it! Can you afford to miss out on the job of your dreams because of a few careless remarks or salacious content?

It’s high time you check what’s posted about you on the web, because rest assured, others definitely will!

Track your online reputation – Indulge in some narcissistic ego-surfing by googling yourself. Simply typing your full name in quotation marks on a search engine will reveal a list of your digital footprints – everything you have ever done online or others have said about you. If there is some shocking old stuff like unprofessional conduct, radical views or insulting replies that you don’t want others to see or yourself to be associated with, contact the site owner and request for it to be removed/modified. But be prepared as he may just refuse to oblige!

Operation: Sanitise – Flamboyant profiles, reckless hobbies, silly brags or unruly exploits can be your undoing as recruiters check social networking sites as well.

It is advisable to take off questionable material, or at least use privacy settings and comment blocks so that only friends can view your information or post comments. Also, check your profile frequently to ensure that it does not display anything that may make you wince later on!

Clean up your act – Exercise prudence in what you say on your own blog or elsewhere. Steer clear of unnecessary rants or objectionable jokes. Sometimes, a seemingly innocent inquiry on an ‘agony aunt’ column about the effects of a long-forgotten indiscretion, violence or illegal behaviour can inadvertently spell an instantaneous death knell on your job search.

Seed it out – If your best efforts fail to erase your cyber skeletons, try to crowd them out with positive information. There are many smart ways to enhance flattering stuff about yourself and displace/suppress negative listings. As writer, Jared Flesher hints, “Search engines typically rank their results based on the number of sites that link to those pages.

The more links, the higher the search ranking. Make sure the pages you want recruiters to see have more links to them than the pages you’d rather keep hidden.”

For instance, use professional networking sites like Linkedin to showcase your skills, expertise and contacts, as they list high on Google results.

Keep tabs – You can also monitor what others are saying about you (on blogs or web groups) and keep yourself abreast of deliberate attempts to misrepresent or malign your character by setting up alerts (like Google Alerts) for anything posted online that is tied to your name.

As one blogger remarks, “Getting regular reports on what people are saying about things related to me is really useful because a lot of times there are errors. You want to make sure you set the record straight.”

Build a good web presence – An online professional identity is very important and you can actually exploit the Internet to your advantage. Starting a web page, blog or forum is a fresh way to get noticed. Use the platform to display your knowledge, passion and skills with intelligent content. Or, post well thought-out comments on industry blogs and message boards to get your name out there.

In a nutshell, you cannot afford to take any chances in this competitive world. Even an ostensibly harmless email can come back to haunt you. So be careful of what you put online; it will be preserved forever!

PAYAL CHANANIA

Work to be recognised, get promoted

Published on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008

You have worked hard and want and even merit a promotion. But the hard truth is that we often don’t get what we deserve let alone want!

A promotion rarely, if ever, comes knocking. Its not that you cannot get a better deal, but it will not be handed to you on a platter. Even the most competent employees cannot sit back and wait for an advancement to fall in their lap. So, instead of s imply wallowing in resentment, why not step up and make it happen.

An inside look at how promotions happen in most organisations highlights the efforts it takes for skyrocketing your career in-house. Here’s how to take charge of your career and work at getting yourself promoted:

Rise above the pack - Prepare yourself to make the most of any opportunities that come your way to become a helpful and supportive asset to the organisation. Volunteer for difficult projects, conduct extra research and take up work outside your job description. Try to solve important problems, suggest innovative ideas for company progress or even write constructive articles for company newsletters and industry magazines to enhance your image. Going the extra mile by doing things with more creativity will give you an unique advantage over others.

Get attention – It is not only important to do good work, but also attract favourable attention to the same. So, instead of simply keeping your nose to the grindstone, try to get yourself on the radar of people in a position to help you. Shine the light on your achievements, promote your abilities and advertise your goals. Like Donald Trump observed, “If you don’t tell people about your success, they probably won’t know about it.” But, ensure that you subtly weave your accomplishments in casual conversation without blatantly winging for a promotion.

Further ammunition – If you have already set your sights on a position you desire, gather all possible information about the same. Talk to your acquaintances, HR or conduct further research to find out the qualifications needed, inherent responsibilities and key issues. Then, concentrate on preparing yourself accordingly by developing your skills, knowledge and ability to meet the job demands. Join formal training classes and seminars to stand a better chance.

Else, try to identify ‘transition positions’ that open the door to promising advancements beyond them. This will not only offer significant learning opportunities, but also holds credence as the best person to fill a job is someone who has already performed the job.

A finger on the pulse – It pays to talk to people who have moved up to the level you wish to attain. Analyse what they did in order to succeed. Observe their work methods, attitudes, ethics and behaviour. Learn from their successes and failures. Even building a network of contacts beyond your functional area, rendering favours and allying yourself with a successful/well-regarded mentor will enable you to take advantage of promotional opportunities.

In the line – Very often, the powers-that-matter may be blissfully unaware that you are interested in a better job and want to move up. Get an interview with a decision-maker who can help you locate a more rewarding position. Show that you are serious about career advancement by putting forward the skills, talents, attitude and abilities you have to offer. Give him solid reasons why you are worthy of an appropriate promotion. Make the right impression as you sell yourself – sound positive and calmly talk out that you want to become more valuable, responsible and better paid.

Then again, chances are that the boss may utter a categorical ‘no’. In that case, seek advice on where you fall short and what you need to do to be ready for a promotion. Work on it to be recognised, promoted and earn your worth the next time round!

PAYAL CHANANIA

Craft job ‘advertisements’ that attract!

Published on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008

Every recruitment strategy aims to attract the best. Unfortunately, the good intentions meander even before the hiring process gets off the ground!

Why do most companies overlook the integral role that job descriptions play in hiring and selection decisions? They churn out poorly written job postings and classifieds without expending a single thought towards the content. This creates a generic, o rdinary and unadventurous portrayal of ‘must have’ qualifications and mundane duties hinting at sheer monotony.

People comb and assess job descriptions with an eagle eye, but such meaningless ritual incantations appeal only to those desperate to be hired.

The sloppy description actually chases away exceptional talent who can whiff mediocrity from a mile. The result is no response or worse - a flood of resumes from unqualified candidates. And that definitely is not anyone’s target segment by a long shot!

Little wonder that most hiring mistakes can be attributed to ineffective job descriptions.

Catching the right eyes

Job advert statements are all about making the crucial first impression. It is definitely essential to state the mandatory qualifications and skills required for the job along with the ensuing attributes and responsibilities.

Yet, leaving it at that makes a job seem quite off-putting. Putting some sizzle in the description will turn heads, and the right ones at that! Consider these tips:

• The job title should be compelling enough to make a job seeker want to read the rest of the posting. For example, try substituting a boring title of ‘Marketing Manager’ with a more fun and exciting one like, ‘Launcher of Nifty Office Products’.

• Listing a few positive aspects like career advancement, benefits and company progress can enliven the dreariest of jobs. All it takes to gear up excitement about a job’s prospects is a few choice phrases like ‘on the brink of greatness’ or ‘become a part of the hottest sales team’ interspersed with the otherwise repetitive tasks and mundane requirements.

• Do not portray the candidate as an interchangeable commodity. Employ descriptive ways to paint an innovative picture of the job responsibilities and depict the prerequisites as positive action items. Use examples instead of long-drawn explanations

• Try to incorporate something new and exciting either through the challenges the company has faced or upcoming projects and their impact. Use the job posting to emphasise job challenges, a cutting edge environment, company vision and how an employee can make a difference.

• Top HR consultant and speaker, Lou Adler says, “The job description shouldn’t be this dull, boring, must have this (qualification). Offer an opportunity, not just a job!” Dump traditional job descriptions that focus on a laundry list of skills and duties in favour of describing the work as an attractive opportunity. Step away from the job history and depict what the job will be in keeping with the organisation’s long-term objectives.

• Omit meaningless fluff like ‘industry leader’ and ‘change the world’ when everyone knows it’s not true. Instead, highlight small, unique aspects of the job and company.

• Identify and respond to job seekers’ motivations and desires. Concentrate on what people actually want and mould the job description to highlight what’s in it for them.

• The job description should not diverge from the actual job in an attempt to sound alluring. Top candidates will steer clear of classifieds where the features and conditions are inconsistent with the job title. Also, sugarcoating a job description to mislead candidates is not only unethical but will make gullible employees leave soon after hiring. Therefore, instead of overselling a non-existent glamour, create attractive and credible job advertisements.

Therefore, well-crafted appealing job advertisements will improve hiring the right candidates.

If you are still not convinced, consider this:

‘Support and maintenance of network operations along with short, team-based development projects to existing products….’

Contrast it with:

‘If you are bored, stop worrying right now! We work together on next generation technology. Nurture your passion for development right here….’

Now think about which one makes you want to apply!

PAYAL CHANANIA