Monthly Archives: February 2012

Can Social Media hinder you from getting that new job?

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Ten years ago, the mere thought of using social media to hire or fire someone was completely unheard of. Today employees wonder if their next update on Facebook will also mean the unemployment line for them. How can social media play such an important role in employment today?

It’s a proven fact, that more than half of employers today will use some form of social media to network and screen potential employees before offering them a position with their company. While there are very popular social media sites to choose from, almost 50% choose to use  LinkedIn, just a little over half choose Twitter, and almost 80% decide to use Facebook.

Even bosses sometimes try to avoid any type of confrontation if they can when using social media services, they do not have to depend on meeting the prospective candidate up front. Using social media allows them to feel more comfortable and help them to focus more on the real situation at hand.

Employers will most normally consider and interview a potential candidate for the job shortly after receiving their application. Most employers will have a special group of personnel in human resources to handle this daunting task for them so they can continue to work. There are several ways that HR can handle hiring an individual. Some may choose to use certain HR software, however if the business is run online they may choose to use an online software. This special software for HR professionals is not cheap but once you purchase it you may never go back to hiring people the old fashioned way.

Even positions that are available at a local location are sometimes found online first in order to find someone to fit the description of the ideal candidate and essentially take up less time of employer’s who already have a jammed pack schedule.

Today potential employees must worry about their presentation which all starts with a piece of paper listing who you are.

At the same time, employees who already have a job need to worry about what their bosses may say or do if you start venting on the social media sites about something that is not going right at work. Whether you mean to or not, what you say online can affect your entire future.

Be careful and think it through; you may only get one chance to make the right impression. (Liam Condit)

Susan’s Two-Cents

Here’s a little video I captured from one of Charlie Judy’s posts on Recruitment and HR that scared the padooky out of me!

While I’m at it, what’s your take on the subject?

About the Author:

Liam Condit, an HR Professional, has been writing industry related news and comment since 2006. Other interests include jobs, marketing, politics and sport. He works with Computers In Personnel specializing in recruitment and HR system hostings.

Photo Credit: Flickr

#Follow Friday; Buzz Rooney – making some serious buzz

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Happy Friday Folks. Today I awoke to about a foot of snow outside. Couldn’t begin to tell you how happy that makes me.

Today’s featured guest and #FF is my good pal “Buzz Rooney.” Some of you may have already connected with Buzz and if not, what are you waiting for?

Her Background

10+ years HR Generalist Experience
Employee Relations
Training & Development
Compensation & Benefits
Leadership
Planning, Goal Setting & Alignment
Change Management & Process Improvement
Talent Recruitment & Management
Compliance (Federal, State & Local)
Excellent Social Media Knowledge

Her Blog

Buzz has an amazing way of using story-telling mixed with a-lot-of-smarts and humor over at “TheBuzzonHR” and is simply a weblog of her thoughts, experiences and wisdom on human resources, management and leadership. I am always learning from her.

Now understand she has created this online persona  ”Buzz Rooney” and along with working a day job, meandering throughout social spaces, she is now providing consulting services and includes resume writing, basic management coaching, organizational process improvement and compliance assistance.

Her Passions

Buzz has a passion to help others, whether it’s online (retweeting, sharing great content, allowing guest posts) or IRL with her employees. It all comes through to those that read her blogs and articles or chat with her on the phone or are connected with her in some fashion. Oh, and from what I hear, she has a few young-ans, and I’m sure she’s passionate about them :)

And like me, she loves The Food Network and to me, that’s reason right there to connect! So do it, already.

Where to Find Her

TheBuzzOnHR, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+. Here she is appearing on DriveThroughHR #DTHR. Tuesday nights you can find her in front of the TV watching “Chopped” and sometimes talking about it online.

One of the worse jobs ever!

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Almost once a week, while driving into my small suburb of Chicago, I drive past these characters. You know the ones in the Statue of Liberty costume at the corner of traffic lights. They’re always waving, dancing or trying to get your attention in some form. Yeah, they’re annoying and I never drive by them without thinking to myself, “Gee, that has to be the WORST JOB EVER!”

And it never fails - even in this crappy Midwestern weather, be it blizzard conditions, these folks are still out there – to make the almighty dollar! Surely they don’t accept this job because they want to. Because they’re actually enrolled in some kind of drama classes and they think this is going to further their career.

While I was back in Alabama for the month of January I was having a little coffee one morning with mom and she was filling me in on all that was going on with my siblings, nephews and nieces, she proceeded to tell me that one of my niece’s, who works a full-time job at a local hospital while caring for a three-year-old is looking into and has even applied for one of those “dancing statue of liberty people” (as my mom called it) as a second job.

My first response was, “Why does she need a second job? Isn’t her husband working?” To which she replied no, that he is having a tough time trying to find work.

Wait one minute! I know you guys are thinking the same thing I am …… “Well, shouldn’t he be applying to be dance-master el statue of libertere?”……. And mom just shrugged her shoulders.

Now as I hear it from inside sources, this job currently pays $10.00 an hour (and that’s in Alabama earnings). I’m sure with the cost of living difference here in Illinois that rate of pay is somewhat higher (probably $2 – $3.0o). And I suppose one could see this as “earning an honest living.” Did you know that is more than someone with a degree in accounting is making in that same geographical location?

Heck, who knows if I’m not forced out there soon (but I’ll choose Florida and the beaches to dance on).

Let’s face it –  Things are tough, unemployment is still at an all-time-high and people do what needs to be done. That’s admirable. They are doing whatever it takes to pay the mortgage, make the car payment, or put food on the table. We gotta give ‘em love for that!

Just don’t make me look them in the eye when I’m stopped at the light. Awkward!

Photo Credit: Newsminer

Follow Friday: Lyn Franklin Hoyt – She does more than bacon!

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YAY! It’s Friday. Whassup?

Today I’m featuring one of my favorite friends in the virtual sphere – Lyn Franklin Hoyt (aka. Lover.of.Bacon) hailing from the great city of Nashville, TN. She does more than bacon, check it out >

I asked Lyn in her own words to describe for all of you what it is she actually does in her “Day Job” (we all know that owning your own business is more than a day job, but some people don’t get it). Here’s her response:

“I design for Human Resources and Training professionals. I design products that help them with their recognition goals. Real products. Framed products to be exact. Certificate framing is the historical methodology. It conjures up brush script, calligraphy, plaques and parchment paper. Some corporate cultures love that stuff. My company Berkeley Tandem, Inc.  (Here’s our Facebook page) manufactures our designs and sells them on two stock websites – Award Certificate Frames and Fusion Frames. That is the framed recognition solution everybody thinks about. But, when they get to know my company they find a framed solution can be a lot more.”

Favorite Projects

“My favorite projects are the custom ones where the customer breaks away from “certificate” framing. It is not about the frame anymore. It is about building recognition relationships that make what is in the frame a meaningful solution. My job as a designer is to create a visual presentation that helps the recipient connect with their accomplishment in a way that gives them no doubt they are appreciated.”

What We Are NOT

“We are not an incentive company. We don’t consult or create recognition programs. We design framed objects that fit within branded programs. And we design our frames in a way that is fresh and compelling. Our products are more than just frames. They hold meaningful content with the potential to motivate and validate the human spirit.”

How We Evolved

“We started in 1996 as a wholesale catalog supplier. Moving to selling stock items online in 2005 helped us diversify. Now we serve and international customer base that provides products for training, education, healthcare tech certifications, sales awards, donor and volunteer recognition and military service recognition. Moving our niche between corporate, government and non-profit is about as diverse a business model as you can get.”

About Me

I personally work with custom projects. (Really, as a small business owner I wear way too many hats, from marketing to HR. This week it was also IT.) And I have my “pet” accounts. You know who you are. It is kinda like working as a hybrid between a custom frame shop and design firm. And I thoroughly enjoy my social media, happy that I can use work as an excuse to blog at the HRBACONHUT or be on Facebook and Twitter or now Pinterest. Neglected but needed – LinkedIn and Google+. And I continue to feed my social media addiction tweeting for my local SHRM chapter. I just do what I love with people I love to work within an industry I am passionate about. Oh, and I love bacon too.”

Oh, and be sure and make the connection!!!
Bacon T-Shirt Photo Credit: Zazzle.com

Dating at work – what’s your policy?

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Since it’s mushy-gushy Valentine’s Day, I thought I would delve into this topic of “Dating at Work.” (AKA – fraternizing) I addressed this on a previous post HERE.

I’ve been in a couple of relationships where I worked with someone I dated (read above post for first scenario). The second one was where I was working at said company and became really good friends with one of my coworkers. He was the best! After a few months of engaging as friends we took it to the next level. We kept this relationship private for several months (although there were no policies in place against it).

The relationship was a fabulous one, I might add (away from work) and yeah, there was a little fun having a “secret” that no one else knew – only the two of us. The time came that we had to admit to our superiors that we were in fact in a serious relationship and it looked as though we were moving in together (hey, at least we could save on fuel and car pool). They took it like champs and we agreed to try and keep work and life separate.

One problem with that is if you don’t know how to turn that switch off you’ll wind up discussing all kind of crap at the dinner table, in the restaurants, and in bed before going to sleep. (Yes, I said it!) And that’s what happened, about 50% of the time. Oh, and did I mention that I worked in an industry that was made up of approximately 89% of the male population? That made for a lot of discussion especially when I was expected to whine and dine potential customers off the clock.

All in all, it can work. It’s just a matter of keeping a few things in mind:

1. Make sure your policy at work is accepting (otherwise, don’t risk it)

2. Be able to turn the ON switch to OFF  when you walk out that door

3. Trust your partner (doesn’t that go without saying?) and understand that work is work!

4. Stay private (no one needs to know about your private life and if you open that up you’re doomed)

5. Don’t sleep with the boss (I felt the need to throw that in)

The relationship I discussed above turned out to be awesome and lasted almost three years but it was very challenging to keep in tact because of certain issues which could never be resolved. Oh, and it had nothing to do with our working together.

Photo Credit: WeBeGirls

Follow Friday: Sabrina Baker – Make the Connection

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On my second #Follow Friday tribute I would like to introduce you to Sabrina Baker with Acacia HR Solutions.

A few years back when I really started hot-n-heavy with my social media marketing and online presence I connected with a local group on LinkedIn. It is in that group that I first met Sabrina. She was holding a discussion or asking a question in which several of us responded. Then I connected with her online.

When I found out that she and I lived only about 5 minutes apart, I suggested that we meet for coffee. Yes, it was a little awkward at first (like we had connected on this dating site and were meeting IRL for the first time). But we had a nice lunch and had a great F2F meeting. We then connected on Twitter and started engaging on almost a daily basis, you know, shooting the shit! We really were able to get a sense of each others sense of humor, some things and even friends we had in common, and formed a genuine friendship.

After several conversations and meetings IRL, attending conferences together and local group meetups, we were almost inseparable (well, that’s my take on it – you’d have to ask her about where she stands) :)  

Sabrina started her company Acacia HR Solutions and specializes in HR Recruiting, Consulting and Job Search Coaching bridging the gap between the un/underemployed and employers.

She is the shiznik folks, and you definitely need to connect with her. She is a wealth of knowledge in the HR and recruiting space, and also helps with people in their job search. Why don’t I her tell you about it here – Watch this short interview:

My apologies for a whole lotta shaking going on. It was filmed before I invested in my tripod.

We then went on to start a local HR Roundtable and here is Sabrina officiating – Watch this short clip:

I’m super stoked to have her featured as she has become one of my great friends and confidants.

Connect with her here:

Twitter, Facebook, Company FB, Linked In, Website, Blog – HRChatterBox

Sleeping with the other woman – Siri (your smartphone)

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As I was discussing a social media strategy for a potential client this week, something they said rang in my ear for a few days.  ”I never turn my phone off. I even sleep with it because I’m afraid I’m going to miss that one important call or email.”

Her comment immediately took me back to my daughter being home for Christmas and sleeping with her phone. As I watched her sleep (not in a creepy way come on, I’m her Mom) I noticed she kept waking up and texting her friends back who had texted her during the night. I asked her “How in the world do you ever sleep?”  To which she just shrugged her shoulders.

A few months back Volkswagen announced that they shut down workers’ BlackBerry email service at night as part of an agreement with labor representatives.  The reasoning behind this decision? To create a better work-life balance.

Here is the full story at Wired.

The decision to shut down email service at night was made to protect the 1,154 non-exempt Volkswagen employees from spending 24-hours around the clock attached to their work email. The BlackBerry can still be used for telephone purposes during ‘blackout’ times, email is the only capability that has reportedly been curbed.

The agreement specifies that unionized workers will see their email turned off a half-hour after the workday ends, and won’t have email access again until a half-hour before the next workday begins.

At this time reports say this agreement only affects workers employed at Volkswagen’s six plants in Germany working under collective bargaining, employees outside Germany are not a part of any BlackBerry use restrictions. Additionally, any executive level employees are also exempt from this new requirement.

It’s also been reported in recent months that burnout has become an issue for many workers. Many other German companies, such as Deutsche Telekom and Henkel, have also imposed less stringent restrictions, recognizing that too much connectivity isn’t always a good thing and breaks are necessary.

Reuters reported, “German IT body Bitkom published a study this year showing that 88 percent of German workers are reachable for clients, colleagues and bosses by e-mail or mobile phone outside of working hours, compared with only 73 percent two years ago.”

The VW works council explained that modern communication capabilities “also pose dangers.” Some members of management may expect staff are “always available” and receive emails after work hours. This agreement will curb that idea. Their spokesperson was noted saying:

“The operating agreement provides that the server is for the BlackBerrys of exempt employees for half an hour before and half an hour down at the end of flextime,” said Thust. “The agreement was received very positively.”

Smartphones are often blamed for the lines of the work-life balance being crossed. This has a high potential for essentially never-ending the workday if a boss expects round-the-clock connectivity or an employee feels pressured to stay connected in order to keep their job.

The New York Times reported earlier this year, “There’s a palpable sense “that home has invaded work and work has invaded home and the boundary is likely never to be restored,” says Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. “The new gadgetry,” he adds, “has really put this issue into much clearer focus.”

These days there are many other reasons that we feel we MUST stay connected off-hours. (Think FACEBOOK). Why must we feel like we cannot turn it off? What is really THAT important?

Are we really concerned that we will miss that most important business call or are we so narcissistic that we will die if we don’t see how many “likes” we received from our amazing status updates?

I’ve been down that road. But I’ve made it a policy for some time now to turn my phone off at 9:00 PM. And / or during times with family where I don’t need the interruption. In my opinion, nothing is too important that it cannot wait from 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM. My family and friends have my home number and know where to reach me.

Experts say you should turn the phone off at night and keep it in another room, other than your bedroom. So you won’t have the temptation to check  it in the middle of the night.

What’s your take?

Read more on VW’s policies: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/316649#ixzz1hehJUq45

Read Sleeping With Your I-Phone, The New Addiction

Follow Friday – Make the connection

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Today I wanted to start doing something I thought would be fantastic (Well, actually I saw the folks over at SPIN SUCKS do it and thought it spectacular). And that is, most Friday’s they highlight someone throughout their community that they think others would enjoy and / or benefit from connecting with.

This is their own version of #FF (for those of you not on Twitter, it is a #hashtag used to tell those special people within your community you appreciate them and encouraging others to follow them as well).

So, with that being said, I wanted my first #FF to be one of my good friends and former business partner Sue Salach of Aging Info USA. Most of you know that I recently departed from AIU and left the whole social bag to Sue. She is a trooper.

Sue is not only a published author of two caregiving books “Along Comes Grandpa” and “If I Walked in Her Shoes” which focus around caring for our parents and elderly loved ones, but is an awesome National Speaker on the subject of eldercare and how it affects employees in the workplace. She has four dogs and a husband, loves the color pink, can always be found wearing a scarf (smile) and is my good friend.

Why should you connect with Sue? She can be an outstanding resource for you in the world of caregiving and eldercare because she has walked through this on a personal level, can help your employees in their journey and provide valuable tools and resources for this challenging time of life.

Connect with her on TWITTER and FACEBOOK and of course LINKEDIN.  She also writes the blog TheWorkingCaregiver.

Her website is AgingInfoUSA and her email is sue@aginginfousa.com.

Happy #Follow Friday ya’ll. Have a fantastic weekend!