Back in the days, references were an essential part of the recruitment life-cycle.  Once someone got scheduled with a client, you would tell the candidate to begin gathering their references ready for contact.  That they would only be contacted should the candidate receive an offer and that you would allow that candidate time to make sure those references were aware they were about to be contacted by a recruiter for a brief conversation about their work experience with this particular…

Applicant Tracking Systems are software systems designed to track, organize, and communicate with applicants in a database that is searchable and easy to use.  For non recruiters, ATS is a recruiter tool much like CRM is to salespeople and Google is to the general public.  Not great examples but about as close as it gets. 

I've used, seen, or evaluated over 30 different ATS over the years.  I've talked to many recruiters as well about these and others that I haven't even seen…

Don’t you get tired of asking the same questions every day?  I don’t know how you can do this job.  Now I admit to having asked my day care provider how she can do her job every day without moments of insanity, but that is another story.  In truth, I may ask the same questions, but I don’t get the same answers.  But to be honest, especially with the phone interview, that is not why I love doing this job.  It is for a very different reason.  It is the same reason that I strongly disagree with…

Nice infographic from a Linkedin study in 2011.  Linkedin is a great source of passive candidates and while it has many active job seekers for recruiters, the "not really looking" crowd does seem to be very engaged.....I found this to have some good info, while some of it is very obvious and well known...please comment!

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Maybe my request for the assistance of a corporate recruiter was the wrong one.  I know that posting my blog on May 24th in the afternoon was going to be a little slow in responses due to the holiday weekend coming up and so I had hopes of hearing something from someone at the first of the week.  What do you know here it is mid week and no one has stepped up to the plate.  Maybe I posted this in the wrong place and if I have, if someone could point me in the right direction I would…

The world was recently introduced to the Chocolate Machine, a device created by German psychologists to exercise and improve self-control. The idea is based on a study showing that the more people are forced to resist a temptation, the less persistence they have in solving problems.

Apparently willpower is like a muscle, and it can get tired. The more you use it, the weaker it gets.…

With the economic climate lately, and job loyalty forever changed, more and more people are in a job-hunting position. Those that are able to line up interviews need to be as prepared as possible, since there is likely more than the usual number of people vying for that one opening. Not to mention, hiring managers still being very particular as to who they hire.

Below are some pointers that hopefully will be of help. I won’t go into the basics - such as arriving early…

As the month of May comes to a close it becomes clear that labor demand is already leveling off for the season. Employers posted only 0.9% more job openings in May as compared to April. With the onset of the summer the job market is likely to decline before getting a second possible chance for growth in the fall.

What we are seeing is a repeat of 2011 where a very similar pattern in labor demand emerged. The lingering economic issues in Europe as…

Almost every week I see another blog post or story about a trend, product, or development that will doom job boards. Let’s be honest – writing about the death of any institution, especially one used by millions of people worldwide, is a great way to gather eyeballs and readers.

But as I was considering my latest snarky…

This is an exert from my blog "The Recruiter Chronicles" on Blogspot posted November 15, 2011.  I've made a few minor updates but either way, I figured this was a good one to start with.

You hear it all the time, in order to get a job you should "network". Reach out to your "network". Network marketing, networking, social networks.... its as if the the word "network" has become the magic business catch phrase of our generation. I guess it makes sense. Its usually through…

Since 1981, I have worked with over 3000 hiring managers across the United States.  Most of whom have never been trained how to effectively interview.  If they haven’t been taught how to interview, they certainly have not been taught how to select the best fit.  Therefore, they bring their own unique interview techniques and questions to the interview party.  Of course, the candidates bring their own special treats to the interviewing party; and I will share some of those also.  Doesn’t it…

As if the stock market crash a few years ago wasn't enough to ruin many older workers' retirement, USA Today is now reporting that many have not saved enough to cover the massive cost of healthcare they will have in their retirement years.

According to the USA Todayarticle,…

By Jennifer Brownell, Managing Director, Q4B

“Value is not what you and your business says it is. Value is what your customers say it is.” – John Jantsch

Companies exist to make a profit. If costs increase companies will look to raising their prices or generating more sales or both. In the short run, raising prices on your products or services would increase your profits. But very few if any businesses are in it for the short run. Generating more sales, landing more…

Participants of the People Sourcing Certification Program go through 60 questions for the Level 1 and 80 questions for the Level 2 at the end of the Program. We use the tests as an additional opportunity to practice and apply the sourcing skills.

As several participants have pointed out, and as one of them wrote, the Program actually makes you “think” instead of just plugging in some answers…

As the Recruiter’s Career Coach, I sometimes think that I have seen it all.  Then I get that next phone call from a Recruiter scrambling to find a new position.  As Recruitment Professionals we are the experts on everyone else’s career, but what happens to our own?

Here are just a few…

The only thing more important than the language you use are the actions you take with both contributing to the perceptions that others have of you. Recently, I watched a CEO speaking with a large group of employees talking as though he were a champion of his people, yet, his language betrayed him as he created an image that his words were merely false praise. A few examples of his comments included:

“We had a great first quarter, the best ever, but I know we can do even better than…

Answer: It depends.

Scenario: You're a mid-career job seeker and have been applying for jobs left and right. Due to the competitive market, you have expanded your initial local search to include 5-7 key markets throughout the US.  You start to make headway, and after gaining momentum, are invited…

Some things in life are so obvious, we just can’t see them. And it shocks me how few people understand what the important part of ‘social media’ or ‘social networking’ actually is.

The exciting aspect of the boom in social technologies is not the technology at all, (Sorry geeks). It’s the ‘social’ part.

And the core rules of socialising online are the same as socialising face-to-face.

Pandering flattery offline can be easily detected, and only…

“Plan your work.  Work your plan.”  I’ve seen those words attributed to the great Green Bay Packer Football (not futbol) Coach, Vince Lombardi.  Trainers have applied those words to all sorts of training exercises, generally in business.  Why are they universally understood?  The quote applies to all areas of our lives.  It especially applies to successful recruitment programs.

What is the basic premise of Behavioral Interviewing?  Once we find a way to be successful…