Optimize You » Uncategorized

Is there really a candidate shortage?

optimizeyou — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:54:51 +0000

So, I keep reading about how the job market is softening, that companies are freezing hiring, and that unemployment is on the rise. Yet, when I talk to HR professionals – and even reading articles on the subject of recruitment – HR professionals continue to place “difficulting finding qualified candidates” as their number one recruiting challenge!

We read over and over again, as Baby Boomers get older and start retiring in droves (okay, they’re already retiring in droves – but those droves are going to get bigger!) we are going to start seeing these recruiting challenges more and more. Plenty of applicants, but none that are qualified.

I have a theory – I think there are a lot more qualified candidates out there, but with today’s recruiting techniques they aren’t getting through! With the initial screening often being done by software, if you don’t have all the right key words on your resume its not going to get picked! I’ve also noticed that companies tend to discount the resumes of candidates who have changed careers – so someone who might be great for the position is discounted because the majority of his or her experience is in an unrelated feild.

Candidates need to find ways to stand out in a crowd.

As a recruiter, I can assure you that if you are simply submitting your resumes to jobs you find online you are NOT standing out. Unless you have an amazing resume – but few people do. You have to learn to stand out without being obnoxious. Recruiters hate being “stalked” (and we use that term) but we also LOVE to find the right candidate. If you show us that’s what you are… we’re going to be thrilled to talk to you!

Leadership

optimizeyou — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:33:33 +0000

I just returned from the eWomen Network National Conference – wow! What a weekend. I had a recurring theme for myself – whether or not it was the theme of the conference – Leadership, and primiarily Women in Leadership, continued to come up for me. It was funny, because I have been thinking a lot about Women in Leadership in the last few months and starting to focus my coaching on working with women who are looking to develop their leadership abilities and talents. I will be blogging about the conference for a couple days – I have so much to say! I got to meet some amazing people including Michael Port and Carly Fiorina – that’s another fantastic blog in and of itself. More soon…

very exciting, new service

optimizeyou — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 05:55:22 +0000

For those who have trouble staying motivated on a day to day basis – to work on their goals, primiarily, business goals, I am going to creat a motivational meditations audio download. I am going to have a generic one for sale, and also offer customized versions with a 20 minute coaching session with me. How fun is that? I’m getting started right now…

What do I know about motivation?

optimizeyou — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:41:25 +0000

I know its elusive, that’s for sure. I know that staying motivated is something that we have to work at daily. I know that motivation comes from within and taping into what motivates YOU is how you are going to be able to keep going.

Where does my motivation come from? My kids, my love of life, my husband. I want my life to be full of beautiful moments – moments I will cherish and moments my family will remember. When I’m unhealthy, sad, disconnected – those moments don’t happen as often. And my lifetime may be shortened … I want to live as long as I can and have as many of these moments as I can!

People often talk about being motivated by money… I don’t buy it. You’re motivated by what the money means to YOU. For some people money means a great car or a big house. For others money means security. And for others money means their kids can go to private schools. Whatever money means to you – that’s the motivator.

I think that Al Gore is a great example of staying motivated – wow he’s been a big believer in saving our planet for years. He thought being president would afford him the position to be able to make a difference in Global Warming… but that didn’t work out. So what did he do? He made a movie about it – a movie that won an Oscar! A movie that has sparked a lot of conversation. Now that’s staying motivated! He had a passion for this cause.

What is your passion? What motivates you? And if your lacking motivation, what is it that’s keeping you stuck?

Hello world!

optimizeyou — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:16:50 +0000

Here we go – my first stab at blogging! I’m excited to get writing. Thanks for visiting my blog.