8 Ways to Increase Referrals When Hiring

8 Ways to Increase Referrals When Hiring Referrals are highly valuable when recruiting a new employee, as they not only save money and time sourcing candidates, but referred candidates  have also been proven to be better quality hires who are more engaged at work. So how can you get more referrals? 1) Ask for them This may sound a bit  like Im stating the obvious, but the simplest way to get referrals is to outright ask for them.  Don’t be reluctant to ask your contacts if they know someone that  may be suitable for your role and encourage your employees to make referrals 2) Reward employees for making a referral Offering rewards to those who put forward successful referrals could work as a good incentive to get employees involved. The reward doesnt need to be financial, as a lot of people respond better to things such as extra annual leave or a lunch out. 3) Make sure employees understand the benefit of referrals Employees are much more likely to make referrals if they understand the benefits that they can have on the workplace. Everyone wants to work with people that they feel comfortable around, so by referring somebody that they get along with they gain a bit of control over the type of colleagues they have and boosts the chance of hiring someone who is a good cultural fit. 4) Show gratitude for referrals you receive Make sure that you recognise each referral that is made and thank the referee, whether the candidate was hired or not, as they are more likely to feel encouraged to refer someone else in the future if they feel it is appreciated. Always offer feedback on each referral. Tell the individual  what worked and what didnt, so that they have a better idea about who could be suitable in the future. 5) Network By networking and making new business contacts, you are more likely to build relationships with people who are in the position to refer suitable candidates. Each contact that you make will have their own network of contacts, so chances are that somebody will be able to pinpoint an individual who fits the role. 6) Make it easy for employees  and contacts  to share your information If you want existing employees and business contacts to come forward with referrals, its important that you make it easy for them to do so. By making information about current job opportunities openly available for current employees to find and share or by implementing a referral programme in the business it makes it quick and simple to make referrals. If you are looking for your other business contacts to make a referral, provide them with a summary about the type of individual you are after. 7) Return the favour Want someone to send you referrals? Return the favour in one way or another, whether its by providing them with referrals in the future or assisting them in another way that suits them. To provide people with a little bit extra encouragement, you could even pay them a favour in advance. 8)  Give out more business cards By handing out business cards you are building awareness of your service. If each time you hand someone your business card, give them a few extras and suggest they pass them on to anyone who may be interested in what you do or a role  you are hiring for. [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Widening your job search University of Manchester Careers Blog

Widening your job search University of Manchester Careers Blog Who expects the graduate job market to bounce back this year? Dr Charlie Ball at HECSU (the closest thing to a Graduate Labour Market Statistics Guru that I know) predicts well, more of the same, at least in the first half of the year in his latest blog post modest growth in some areas but little change in others, and no return to the heady days of 2007. Given this tight job market, youd think that any graduate jobs would get snapped up as soon as they were advertised. However, were still seeing evidence of jobs going unfilled due to lack of applications. Weve got over 500 ads for full-time jobs on CareersLink currently active, but yet again, weve been contacted by an employer looking for more applications and even extending their deadline to try and find some. I thought it would be useful to deconstruct the ad to understand why they might not be getting the applications they want and how you can use that info to widen your job search. Job title SEO Executive Any the wiser? How about if they called it an entry level marketing position in one of the few areas of the economy which is growing digital media? If youre not sure what SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is, have a look here and at our Digital Media sector pages on the Careers Service website. Yes, there can be a dark side to SEO (some companies scatter spam links across the web to increase a websites search rankings) but a reputable company wouldnt last long using those tactics. So, look beyond the job title and investigate jobs which sound like gobbledegook. Others wont know what they are either, so there will be fewer applicants to compete with! Salary £14,000 £17,000 OK, Ill admit this doesnt look too attractive. Youve probably heard average graduate salaries being bandied about as £26,000 (Association of Graduate Recruiters) or even £29,000 (High Fliers survey). On the other hand, youll hear stories claiming that you can only get a graduate job after youve done an unpaid internship. Which should you believe? The graduate salary surveys you normally hear about only cover a limited number of big name graduate employers, with their fast track into management graduate training programmes. A much more representative dataset is the HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) survey of what happens to all the UK graduates, 6 months after graduating. This now includes a question on salary, and around 70% of those in full-time work answer this much more representative of real graduate salaries. And their average? £19,000. To be more specific, this is the median salary, to the nearest £500, of first degree graduates who studied full-time, who graduated in 2010/11, and who were in full-time paid employment 6 months after graduating. The equivalent lower and upper quartile salaries were £15,000 and £23,000 respectively. This means that half of all graduates in full-time paid employment were earning between £15,000 and £23,000. Unfortunately, I dont have the equivalent data for Masters and PhDs, but I suspect that would be skewed by the different levels of work experience postgraduates have before taking their postgraduate degree. Given this information, £14-17K isnt unrealistic for an entry level graduate position which doesnt require specific experience. In fact, if youre a postgraduate without relevant experience, why would they pay you any more than this as a starting salary? Its also a lot better than an unpaid internship. Do I need to do an internship? Dont be fooled by the media hype. Unpaid internships have always been the norm to get into publishing, journalism, creative industries and politics which is what newspapers know and write about. They are also common entry points for any charity or not for profit work. However, its never been the norm to have to do unpaid work to get into manufacturing, science, finance, the public sector, IT and many more types of work. I suggest you broaden your job search beyond internships, which for some employers has become shorthand for unpaid. Just apply for jobs, even if theyre low paid and not advertised as graduate or postgraduate schemes. As long as they give you the chance to learn about a type of work and add some valuable experience and achievements to your CV, and to expand your contacts, you can think of a low paid job as your own self-generated internship (and move onward and upward once youve got some experience). Back to this particular vacancy although its advertised as a permanent job, if you read the job description, it sounds very much like the type of work you might get to do as an intern. So, if you think of this as an internship on £14-17K, automatically leading to a permanent job (where your salary expectations once youve got some experience would be much higher), does that sound any more attractive? Location Wilmslow No, this isnt the centre of Manchester but its only a short journey away. If you havent been there before, Wilmslow is real footballers wives territory, and not the sort of area with lots of student houses! We know that jobs which are based in easy commuting distance from the centre of Manchester get fewer applications than those which are based in the centre. Therefore, if you want to stay in Manchester but havent investigated the outlying towns and suburbs, broaden your net and have a look at our World of Manchester site (including leafy Cheshire). Qualifications Educated to degree level in Marketing, Journalism, English, or a related discipline What if you havent done marketing, journalism or English? Id try and understand why theyve picked these degrees. Theyre unlikely to use your in-depth knowledge of the Victorian novel in a job like this. Its more likely to be shorthand for ideally, we want someone who can write, can think of customers needs, and if youve also got an understanding of digital communications, well be very happy. Pin your hopes on the catch-all of a related discipline and show them how your degree, or even your other skills or work experience, would help you succeed in the role. If you read the skills required, you can see that they have another specific shopping list of what they would ideally like, but they start out with the key bullet point: No prior knowledge is required, however a basic understanding of digital marketing would enable you to progress quicker through a fast growing business In other words, do some basic research to understand what the job would involve, show us youre interested in the job (this is critical youve got to make them feel that you would love to do the job and would learn fast), convince us youve already got the other generic skills we require (time management, logical problem solving, numeracy, communication skills) and its worth a try, whichever degree youve done. From discussions with the employer, we know theyd be interested in those with writing experience, including bloggers or social media buffs. If thats you, whether youre a geologist or a philosopher, its worth a look. If youre interested in this particular job, log into CareersLink and look at Vacancy ID 17350, and ignore the closing date (theyre going to extend it to the end of January) and apply or have a closer look at some of the other 500+ ads which are currently active. All Postgrad-highlighted Postgraduate graduate schemes Internships job hunting job market salaries

Dont wait until you bottom out to make a big change

Dont wait until you bottom out to make a big change Dont wait until you bottom out. The worst thing about big change is not that its so hard to adjust. The worst thing is that we usually have to bottom out before we make a big change; we wait until there is no other choice before we give in. I bottomed out in the car, during my commute between San Diego and Los Angeles. When I took a position near San Diego, I was so excited to have a paycheck that a two-hour commute back to LA seemed fine. And for about three weeks, the commute was interesting. Then I got bored. I tried listening to books on tape, which only served to ruin the experience of reading. I tried talking on the phone, which caused me to miss exits constantly and nearly double my driving time. But the job was so good that I persisted with the commute. I started leaving my apartment in LA at 4am. No traffic meant an abridged commute, but also an abridged social life because I had to be in bed at 8pm. After a few weeks, I fell asleep at the wheel and woke up to the blaring horn of a large trucker saving my life before I crashed. So I went back to my two hours each way. But on rainy days it was 3 hours each way. And finally, on a day of torrential downpour, just a few miles away from Disneyland, I lost it. I pulled to the side of the road and threw pieces of the inside of my car into a ditch. Then I went to Dennys and ate three pieces of pie. Then I called each of my friends to tell them I was quitting. Finally! was what they all said. Thats the thing about big change. By the time we are ready to do it, the need for change has been apparent to everyone else for months. Maybe years. Its easy for everyone else to see someone elses need for change they dont have to make it. Later, reading the want ads at my kitchen table, I was excited to find another job, and I lamented all the hours I wasted in the car. In my apartment it was clear that the job was not worth the commute. But thats how it always is: I always wish I had made the change sooner. So heres what to do with that information: Cut yourself some slack if youre in a bad situation and not getting out. But get out. Sure, research shows that people have a proclivity to stay in a bad situation, but you can be an overachiever. Get out before you have your own version of tears in front of the Magic Kingdom. Force yourself to change before things get ugly. Its impossible to see your own life as clearly as others do, but its a good goal to aim for. As soon as you hear other people say, Why dont you do [insert change here]? give the question serious thought. Put that thought on your to do list, so its right there in front of you. Still not moving? Close your eyes and imagine what life would be like if you made the big change: Maybe its giving up some responsibility at work, or quitting, or switching careers. These are the sorts of changes we put off and put off, but once we do them we feel huge relief. These days I try to focus on that relief; I still wait too long to instigate change, but Im hoping my days of being on the bottom are behind me.

Why Promotional Products Should Be In Your Marketing Strategy -

Why Promotional Products Should Be In Your Marketing Strategy - Several marketing strategies can help you expand your business. Beginning a business includes a great deal of exertion. You need to work consistently to develop your business, especially during the early stages. You can propel your business by getting the word out, and the essential component of business headway is that you have to promote your products and services in an ideal manner. This shouldnt be expensive all the time. Here are some reasons why promotional products should be a part of your core marketing strategy. THEY CREATE MORE IMPACT Creating the right image is essential in a business. If you are hoping to construct the right model in the minds of your clients, you need to consider promotional items. This can be possible by various strategies of marketing. You can work with your PR team and can help with creating the logo structure and the required content for your promotional ideas. Come up with content that will create more impact. AFFORDABLE OPTION This is the main reason why promotional products should be an essential part of your marketing strategies. A promotional product is one of the most moderate types of advertising methods. For different sorts of showcasing, for example, TV commercials, promotions on radios, and others, you might want to spend a ton of money. Promotional products are comparatively cheaper and effective. THERE IS ROOM FOR CREATIVITY It is essential to be flexible and creative to sustain a place in the market. Promotional products can be one of the most adaptable types of marketing. You can generally make changes to these items as indicated by the requirements. PR groups can exhibit their creativity and make the best kinds of things that will bring in progressively potential clients. Even though this is conceivable with different types of commercials, it would require a ton of cash to keep it liquid as indicated by the changing atmosphere in the market. GRAB ATTENTION You need to magnet in the customers to make your business successful. There is no shortcut to doing this. Giving out promotional merchandise will make a great deal of difference in this process. This methodology will enable you to make your clients keep you in mind, which will, in turn, support your business. Doing publicizing with promotional items empowers you to contact an extensive exhibit of clients. Subsequently, you create a feeling with the clients that will make them connect with you in the future.  MORE PROFIT Any strategy associated with marketing should bring back profit. The amount you spend on promotional items is very less while the advantage you get is quite impressive. The productivity of the whole procedure is controlled by the profits that are obtained. You get hold of a vast market of the audience, and thus you get more advantage. The benefits that are picked up by methods for putting resources into promotional variables should bode well. There will be no reason for doing any promotions if you dont get a sensible measure of benefit. STAY ABOVE THE COMPETITION Businesses are all about creating a unique identity. It is essential that one should continue refreshing and adapting each and every day. In case you neglect to stay aware of the patterns, you will be sent out of the game. As you update each part of your business, you need to move up to new techniques of marketing. Innovative promotional products can assist you in establishing a connection. Hence, you will stand apart from other companies that are similar to you. Get creative so that you can stay above the competition. HELPS YOU PRIORITIZE You need to know your target market to advance in business. From the type of response you get from the promotional item, you can prioritize your potential market. You can reach out to a wide array of people. You can even have different types of things for different kinds of clients and analyze the response. This will give you a lot of room to think and engage so that you can come up with the right ideas for your marketing strategy.

These are the most expensive universities in the UK - Debut

These are the most expensive universities in the UK - Debut What do you pay for when you pay for a degree? No doubt, some of us would reflect wistfully and say, My university experience was priceless. As for the rest of us? The rest of us struggled at uni. Surviving  on Pot Noodles, not having the heating on because were trying to save on bills, scrounging through secondhand book sales? Enough.Its about time we got  more transparency over the hidden costs of university. Previously, Debuts research uncovered just how students were paying for the rising costs of university. Its clear that students are going to great lengths to pay for their tertiary education. However, are young people just swimming against their mounting tide of debt?  The Telegraph reports that students are now leaving university with debts averaging £44,000. Buh-bye potential mortgage. It may be too late for us debt-ridden grads. But for anyone applying for university this year, taking a look at universities through the lens of cost could (very literally) save them from a load of money troubles. GoCompare.com compiled a piece of research entitled  Degree of Value,  measuring ten different variables to rank the cheapest and most expensive universities in the UK. Methodology GoCompare.com measured ten variables to determine the cheapest and most expensive universities in the UK. Among them: tuition fees, rent for halls of residence, private rent, travel costs, average social costs, books, food, clothes, gym and laundry. The universities with the highest total costs make up the top ten most expensive universities and vice versa. The most expensive universities  in the UK Above: Regents University London (Source: Wikimedia Commons) Topping the list based on overall total cost is Regents University London, with the average degree costing students £38,854 per annum. Of the top ten most expensive universities, eight of them are based in the capital city of London.  The other two are based in Oxford, with both Oxford and Oxford Brookes University making the list for unis that cost the most  ??????. The cheapest universities in the UK Above:  The Logo of Abertay University on the side of Bernard King Library (Source: Wikimedia Commons) Lets take a look at the other end of the spectrum.  Scottish universities Abertay University and the University of Stirling both offer the lowest overall costs for students. Abertay University costs £15,880 (a whole £22,974 cheaper than Regents University London) whilst the University of Stirling costs £16,030. Interestingly, both the University of Warwick and Loughborough University both appear in this list in the top ten cheapest universities in the UK. Respectively ranking 7th and 8th best university in the country, their inclusion seems to indicate that price does not necessarily equal value. So, perhaps when youre thinking about applying to uni (whether for an undergraduate degree or a masters), have a look at this list. You might get more bang for your buck as a result. Feature image: Unsplash Download the Debut app and  get Talent-Spotted by amazing graduate employers! Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

100 book reviews - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

100 book reviews - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog WOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!!!! I just posted book review number 100 on the site!!! Ive been waiting for a while to find a suitable book for the 100th. review, and that one fit the bill perfectly. Its one of the happiest books Ive ever read. You can see all the book reviews here. Every single book reviewed here is a great read (or I dont reviewem), and theyre mostly about leadership, learning, psychology and of course happiness at work. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Zipjob Review - How Can Zipjob Review Help You?

Zipjob Review - How Can Zipjob Review Help You?If you have a question about what zipjob review is, let me give you a simple answer. The zip job is a job-search software which helps you to apply for jobs easily. If you want to be successful with zipjob review, then read on and find out how it can help you.The main purpose of zipjob review is to make it easier for you to apply for jobs. This is really helpful because it can make the process of applying for jobs really simple. You can use the application of zipjob review as your guide to apply for jobs without much effort.When you start to apply for jobs with zipjob review, you will see that the process of searching for a job has become very easy. You will not need to waste your time looking through a lot of resume writing services. Your attention can now be concentrated on applying for jobs.Zipjob review also makes it easy for you to check out the various resumes that you can consider for your job search. You can simply do an initial s creening of the resumes that you will consider. This saves a lot of time as well as effort. It makes the process of searching for a job very simple and also saves your precious time.After you have selected the resumes that you want to check out, you can now search for the job that is available. When you check out the resumes, you will find out that most of them are quite competitive. You will also find out that some of the resumes are prepared well and have been uploaded into the job bank. This is because this type of software has been developed by professional job-seekers who use the software to search for jobs.Besides, zipjob review has made it easy for you to filter out the resumes which are not suitable for you. In this way, you can be sure that all the resumes that you receive from job-search agencies will be suitable for you. You will now only get resumes which are suitable for you. This makes it easy for you to choose the resumes that are right for you.When you use zipjob rev iew to apply for jobs, you will find that you are given a chance to check out other resume writing services which are found on the Internet. These resume writing services will prove to be extremely useful for you. You will get a chance to check out other writers who have come up with better resume writing services which are compatible with your preferences.Once you have subscribed to the service of zipjob review, you will be able to check out all the other resume writing services which are offered to you free of cost. You will find a wide range of different resume writing services which can be used in your favor. It is also possible to download resume writing services which are free of cost.