Saturday, May 30, 2020

True Story What A Group Interview Is Like In Israel Part 2

True Story What A Group Interview Is Like In Israel â€" Part 2 4 Group interviews sometimes have surprises that go beyond what should usually happen. (Didn't read part 1 of this article? Read it first and then come back here for the conclusion of the story.) This is a guest post by Ronni Kives. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. After the coffee break, the next exercise was: Exercise 4: What can you do with a ten agura coin? We were told to brainstorm in this “creative” exercise about how many ways you can use a ten-agura coin not connected to the monetary purpose. I suppose that the purpose of the exercise was to see how we could think out of the box.eval Some of the ideas that I remember included: cookie cutter stamp jewelry (earrings, necklace, broach) paper weight token for a supermarket cart (the ones today use 5 shekel coins, but you could have other sizes) put on tap dance shoes tracer (make pictures in the sand) mold (dip in paint and draw) base for an electronic chip Exercise 5: The Exhibition Prepare a slogan for a cellular company that has reduced its market share. Present the slogan to the team and justify your reason behind the slogan and its concept. (More background was given, but I do not want to give too many identifying factors about the company.)eval On a piece of paper, write down the marketing collateral that would be needed for this exhibition and the stages you would need to plan it. Although the last exercise was about an agura coin, the penny didn't really drop until this moment. I asked Yael and Limor whether I could write the brief for the exhibition in English. They refused. I said “but aren't you looking for a Marcom person who writes in English?” They answered that the work in Israel is done in Hebrew, and that the position is to cover all marketing activities in Israel, including the company Intranet and Internet in Hebrew. The only other anglo and I looked at each other. I quietly approached Yael and told her that there has seemingly been a mistake. The placement agent told me that this was a Marcom position in English! I was wondering why Yael and Limor had been throwing me dirty looks since the morning's cargo ship sailed (remember the first exercise!?). However, didn't they notice that my CV, was only in English? Did they not do any filtering of the applicants before they called them in? Did they show complete faith in the placement companies? Once I realized that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, for the wrong position, I could have walked out and gone home. However, I thought it was going to be an educational experience for me, as it was my first time in such an evaluation center. At this point, a man walked into the room and sat at the head of the panel, closest to me. I whispered to him that it would be nice if he would introduce himself. He did â€" I think he was the Director or Vice President of Marketing for Israel. I was the first or second person to present, and came up with a clever slogan, ironically in Hebrew, that I will reserve for my own copyright in the future. Amir (again, not his real name) challenged my presentation but I was able to answer his questions clearly and actually enjoyed being able to get up and address the group. A few of the women chose English slogans that did not make sense. They were trying to be clever, but it didn't work too well. This was the one area, copywriting, where I had the upper hand in the group. The brief was less successful, as I am used to drafting documentation on a computer, and my handwriting, especially in Hebrew, is not one of my strong points. I organize procedures and thoughts well using programs such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint, so I did not feel that this exercise was a fair indicator of our organizational abilities. But I saw some of the stars in the group hand in Hebrew briefs with beautifully ordered, neat Hebrew handwriting. I knew that I was out of the running for the position for a long time, so I didn't take it to heart. Exercise 6: And the Winner Is? The last exercise consisted of three parts, with none of the other candidates being able to read our answers: Write down why you think you are the best candidate for the job? Rate the most appropriate candidate, not including yourself, out of the women here today. Justify your choice Rate the least appropriate candidate, not including yourself, out of the women here today. Explain why. This was fairly easy to do as I rated the “CEO” as the most suitable candidate. She clearly showed leadership abilities without being aggressive very early on in the morning. I rated the other native English speaker as the least appropriate, because I felt that mother tongue Hebrew was essential for this job. As for rating myself, I wrote down that I am suitable for a Marcom position, but not this one! What I took from the group interview: prepare yourself Some of the women there were testing the waters and had jobs of their own, as opposed to being unemployed, so even if Yael and Limor chose them, there was no guarantee that they would leave their current company. Although Amir seemed very nice and professional, Yael and Limor gave a cold, if not hostile, impression and had I been chosen to work at this particular company, I would have been in a bit of a dilemma. I felt that they thought they were doing us a big favor to give up our time and that we should be honored to have been chosen for the first screening process. I do not feel that they were aware that we were evaluating them as much as they were attempting to evaluate us. Some of the exercises were indeed clever, while others seemed plain silly. I would use simulation and teamwork exercises as a secondary screening process, rather than a first one, if at all. Although I was told that I could not prepare for this “test”, it seemed obvious that many of these women were well-versed and polished. Who knows, maybe they read about the exercises in Hebrew on someone else's blog? What do you think? Have any of you been through this process? Did you enjoy it? Dread it? If you are employers, what is your take on this? I know that the experience I had does not represent all companies or evaluation centers, but I hope it is helpful to some of you. And if not, maybe you will come up with some new great use for a ten-agura coin and patent the invention. About the author Ronni Kives has been a marketing communications writer for the high tech industry in Israel for the last ten years. After receiving this guest post, I (Jacob) just received the good news that Ronni was hired for a full-time position as a marketing writer, after several months of unemployment. The content of this post has no connection whatsoever to her present position or employer and was written and submitted before the publication date here. She was not recruited through an Evaluation Center. Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, Ronni currently lives in Kfar Saba, Israel. If you found this article useful, you'll also enjoy Psychometric Testing in Israel: A Day at Machon Pilat.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Generation Y in Politics Krystal Balls candidacy

Generation Y in Politics Krystal Balls candidacy I have been waking up at 4am to work. And I like it. Not only have I been writing more regularly, but also, as soon as I became committed to waking up at 4am, I became committed to going to bed at 8:30pm. And then I got a routine. And all that research about how a little routine begets more routine? Well, its true. Because after three months of not being able to figure out how to get to the gym, I started fitting the gym in after I got the kids to school. So today, I woke up at 4am, and started my daily tour of the web before writing. At the Huffington Post there was something about the glass ceiling. It caught my eye because Im sick of glass ceiling BS and I wanted to see who wrote the article so I could hate her. But the article was about politics, which I dont pretend to know very much about, and it was written by a woman running for Congress. That seemed potentially interesting. So I clicked. Turns out its Krystal Ball (who realizes she has an unfortunate name and addresses that in her post) who is running to represent Virginia in the U.S. Congress, and if she wins shell be the first woman under 30 to do so. I like that. I like the idea of young women in Congress. New perspective. New issues. More collaboration. So I read her post and it turns out there are racy pictures of her on the Internet, and she wrote the obvious response: Women are sexual beings. Its okay. There is a history of womens sexuality not being compatible with legitimate power. And I have spent a lot of my career trying to figure out how sex and power go together in a legitimate way. Ball summarizes the problem here, when she writes about the advice older women have given her: I was often told to cut my hair, to wear shorter heels, to dress in drab colors. I realized it was actually because they wanted to protect me. They did this because, for their generation, female sexuality was dangerous to display in the workplace, especially in politics. But this is impractical advice for a generation of women who are living their whole lives online. There are so many photos of these women online already, that there is no way to portray a grown woman in 2010 as asexual. Ball dives in head first: How did I end up with private photos of me at 22 with my ex-husband across the entire Internet, and in papers from London to New York to Boston? Its not because people care about the Congressional race in the first district of Virginia or because of my positions on energy independence, school choice, marriage equality, or pro-growth environmentalism. But Ball walks a fine line. She knows that the photos have nothing to do with her campaign. She knows the tactic to ignore issues and go for salaciousness is nothing new. But she is not immune to having her feelings hurt. And now, I present to you: A generation of women who are not only going to cry at the office, they are going to cry in their husbands arms, and they are going run for Congress, all at the same time. They wanted me to collapse in a ball of embarrassment and to hang my head in shame. After all, when you are a woman named Krystal Ball, 28 years old, running for Congress, well, you get the picture. Stripper. Porn star. Ive heard them all. So, I sat in my husbands arms and cried. I thought about my little girl. I couldnt stand the idea that I had somehow damaged the cause of young women running for office. I couldnt stand the idea that I might shame my family, my friends or my supporters in some way. The reason I love this post is that its not black and white. Its about the complicated way women deal with their sexuality and power and vulnerability. All at once. Ball talks about how it is no coincidence that the two Republicans in Congress who are consistently willing to cross party lines are women. We already know that women are more collaborative in the workplace, and Ball convinces me that she will help create a more collaborative government. Even if shes not as left-leaning as I am. Even if shes a member of the NRA. Do you know how to tell people that its okay for women to be sexual and have power in Congress? Donate money to Balls campaign. I did, just now. Heres the link for you: http://www.krystalballforcongress.com

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Why Pre-Screening Is a Must for Safe Hiring

Why Pre-Screening Is a Must for Safe Hiring The downturn of the economy has created an increase in personal stress levels both at home and in the workplace. Employees are consistently being asked to do more with less and corporations large and small continue to turn to layoffs as a means to remain viable. At the same time, the United States has continued to see an increase in workplace violence. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 564 work-related homicides occurred each year in the United States from 2004 to 2008. Now more than ever, employees want to feel safe and secure in the workplace and free from fear of their coworkers. Experts recommend using pre-employment screening as a workplace violence preventive measure, but many companies are still not committed. Companies cite delays in the hiring process as well as the cost of screening as the largest deterrents to pre-employment screening. Pre-employment screening company, HireRight, estimates the typical cost of a comprehensive pre-screening packages ranging anywhere from $30 to $100. The length to complete the screen and provide the results to the employer can take as little as a day to up to week (or more). Although the costs and delays may seem steep, the issues that arise from failure to pre-screen can be fatal. Here are four additional reasons pre-employment screening is a must: 1) Reduced potential for employee theft: Candidates with criminal backgrounds are less likely to apply to organizations with rigorous pre-employment screening processes. Those who do apply with criminal backgrounds will be discovered up front by the employer, providing the opportunity to re-evaluate if the candidate’s fit with the job and the company. 2) Discourage fraud: While only a small percentage of worker’s compensation claims are fraudulent, a much larger percentage (nearly 25 percent) are exaggerated. Worker’s Compensation records are public, thereby creating opportunities for potential to filter out potential fraudulent employees. Additionally, screening candidates allows an employer to ensure the validity of the information provided on the resume. 3) Reduce liability for negligent hiring: Organizations that fail to conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening, thereby failing to protect their employees, can be subject to costly lawsuits. In 2007, a truck driver for a hazardous waste company in Texas caused an accident leading to a man’s death. A jury awarded the man’s estate more than 20 million dollars because the company failed to adequately check the employee’s driving record. 4) To comply with applicable state laws: Many states have laws requiring employers in certain industries to complete pre-employment checks. Examples of industries may include: childcare facilities, healthcare organizations, transportation, and gaming. What incidents can you think of where conducting a pre-employment screen may have prevented a case of fraud, violence, or theft? For the jobseeker perspective, check out 7 Reasons Employers Will Hire You! Author: Robert Petti is the Founder and CEO of Resoomay, a cloud-based pre-screening tool that improves the job search process for recruiters and applicants. Connect with him and Resoomay on Twitter.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Books to Read to Achieve Success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Books to Read to Achieve Success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You don’t need an MBA from an ivy-league school to learn about business and achieve success. By reading books from successful businessmen or thought leaders, you can get hints and advise about being successful and use these in your career. There are many motivational business books out there that must be read but below are my favorites. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell In this book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of outliersthe best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and their experiences. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! By Robert T. Kiyosaki Rich Dad Poor Dad, the #1 Personal Finance book of all time, tells the story of Robert Kiyosaki and his two dads, his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad, and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you. The Art of the Start 2.0: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki The art of the start 2.0 is Guy Kawasakis classic bestselling guide to launching and making your new product, service or idea a success. This book  reflects the seismic changes in business over the last decade, in which once invulnerable market leaders have struggled and many of the basics of getting established have become easier, cheaper and more democratic. Today, business plans are no longer necessary. Social media has replaced PR and advertising as the key method of promotion. Crowdfunding is now a viable alternative to investors. The Art of the Start 2.0 will show you how to effectively deploy all these new tools. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill This is the most widely acclaimed, influential book on success ever published. For a quarter-century, Napoleon Hill interviewed hundreds of successful men and women under the guidance of the richest man of his time, Andrew Carnegie. In this timeless classic, he reveals the secret to their great achievements, a powerful, proven formula that can empower you to achieve your own most cherished goals, too. If there is one must-have guide you need on the road to high achievement and success, this is it. *Back cover narratives of above books are taken from Amazon.com.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Writing Administrative Assistant Resume - It Takes Time

Writing Administrative Assistant Resume - It Takes TimeWhat are the things that you should include in your writing administrative assistant resume? The job of this person is to help in the business, by reviewing applications, processing payments and make necessary forms for a business. He or she also reports on some transactions to the office.Some applicants are unaware that they can use this type of resume if they have some similar experience. It is possible that a candidate has some kinds of experience in the service industry like sales or finance. The applicant can start a fresh account with a business by explaining his or her experience in an official document.Aside from such information, writing administrative assistant resume should include some details about the candidate. The applicants should show that they have all the necessary skills for this position. The resume should be well written in order to attract the employer.In the writing section, there are certain sections tha t should be included. This information can help the employer in making a decision. There are sections that need to be addressed in the resume, such as a description of the candidate's qualifications and the jobs that he has held.A better way to write a resume for an administrative assistant is by using the services of a professional. These professionals offer different styles of resumes that are tailored for specific needs. They can help you achieve your career goals while at the same time, help you gain more confidence.In addition, a writer who offers writing services for administrative assistant can explain how you can write a professional resume. This professional will also help you figure out what is needed and how to get started. They will also help you create a professional-sounding document and guide you in completing it.These writing experts have developed a marketing plan that helps them present a professional image to potential employers through writing and website promoti on. The marketing plan helps you find more work and find your potential clients. The writers have the best insight to the latest trends in online marketing, so they know the current trends in working from home and understanding client expectations.Writing a good administrative assistant resume takes time and requires research. A professional will help you in writing a resume that will help you land a job and impress your potential employer. The administrative assistant resumes are a great way to boost your career and build the confidence you need to succeed.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Top Five Tips to Boost Your Job Search - CareerAlley

Top Five Tips to Boost Your Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. How long have you ignored that nagging voice?The one that says you deserve more money?That youd thrive on more responsibility?Or that you just fancy a change? The only way to silence it is to act. If you have been thinking about a career change, youll need to get your job search started, but it can be a daunting task. Here are our top tips to boost your job search and ensure that you can take the next step in your career. 1. Know what you want Before you even start, its key that you have figured out what it is you want from your next job. Start by defining your motivations for leaving your current role; is it a lack of responsibility, monotonous work, a poor relationship with your manager or is it simply that you are not being paid enough? Once you have this figured out, you will be able to identify what it is you want from your next role. With that information in mind, you will be well placed to find and target the right type of jobs. How to Raise Your Own Salary Price: $14.95 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 As you consider your next career move, you should think about what makes you excited to wake up every day, but dont stop there. For every interest or passion, really try to pinpoint what about it gets you most excited. Its also helpful to try out some things thatll let you explore your interests a bit morethink volunteer projects, side hustles, and informational interviews. Ashley Faus 2. Know where to look So youve worked out what you want from your next job, now its time to get searching. But where to look? Start with researching recruitment firms that specialize in your industry, they will have a variety of roles that will be suited to your skillset. You should also look for specialist job boards, where these jobs are advertised. Look at industry publications and websites that cover news and events, many of which will have information about jobs in the sector. You can also think about the type of organization youd like to work for and research them directly; many larger companies operate their own recruitment and will advertise jobs on their own websites. Networking Strategies To Find Jobs in the Hidden Job Market: A Recruiter Reveals: Insider Secrets Price: $4.97 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 source 3. Talk to the right recruiters It is important that you spend your time looking in the right places and speaking to the right people. Specialist recruiters, such as Michael Page, who work in your industry are a great source of help with your job search. They will be able to offer advice on your search and will have direct access to a wide array of available jobs. Identify recruitment firms in your space and seek out consultants who work in your area. You can find their information via LinkedIn and they are always happy to hear from new candidates. Job Searching with Social Media For Dummies Price: $5.71 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash 4. Use social media More than half of organizations in the UK use social media to screen potential new employees and you can be using it to your advantage. Not only can you create a social presence which is impressive to potential employers but you can be researching them as well. Building a professional and well-curated LinkedIn profile is the best way to market yourself online treat it as your online CV and make sure that it is kept up to date. LinkedIn is also a great source of job opportunities and the best place to build a network of professional contacts. You should also ensure that your other social profiles such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are showing you in a positive light. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash 5. Keep at it There is no getting around the fact that a job search can be tough. There will most likely be some rejection along the way and at times it may feel like the job you are looking for does not exist. It is so important to remain positive and keep momentum in your search. New jobs come onto the market every single day and those job seekers who are proactive and keeping a close eye on the market are much better placed to capitalize when jobs do come up. Stick with it, your dream job may come up at any moment. Stuff happens along the way and we lose focus, get stuck in a dead-end job or cant seem to find the right opportunities. But no matter what your dreams are, its never too late to make changes to your approach to your career and get a fresh start on your goals. Tweet This With good preparation, knowing where and how to search, using the tools available to you and with a positive attitude you are putting yourself in the best place to boost your job search and take the next step in your career. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to identify and land your dream job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Friday, May 8, 2020

Free presentations in Copenhagen - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Free presentations in Copenhagen - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Im giving two free presentations in Copenhagen over the next month, one on October 2nd on stress and happiness at work and one on Novemer 1st about happiness at work coaching. Theyll be held in Danish and you can read all aboutem and sign up here: October 2nd: Stress and happiness at work November 1st: Happiness at work coaching 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