Link Love

If you want to be popular you need to stay on trend. Personally I find this very difficult to do. I do not enjoy fashion magazines or shopping. I am also quite short, so I often end up in the children's section of clothing stores. And trust me, nothing says "this chick is not hip" like a pair of velcro sneakers with Dora the Explorer emblazoned on the side. Not only am I not a particularly stylish dresser, but my taste in general is "pretty lame" (according to my hipster friends at least). I still get really excited by board games, and haven't updated my gym playlist in years. Why would I? What could be better than Will Smith's Getting Jiggy With It for getting your pump on?! Thankfully, when it comes to social media, I actually enjoy trend watching. Every morning I sit down with a cup of black coffee and skim through Feedly to see what's trending in the blogosphere. There's always some awesome new app to check out, or Facebook update to complain about, and sometimes if I'm lucky, there's a gorgeous new Infographic for me to download and save as the background for my iPad (Looking at you Leader's West!) Catch-up time means I'm usually pretty behind when it comes to world news, but I make up for that by compiling links for the Jobcast blog's Link Love Wednesday. I figure, if I share enough cool stuff in our Link Loves, you'll forgive me for not knowing the results of Pakistan's latest election. So here is my humble plea for forgiveness, in the form of Links that will help you stay on trend: Trends are in a constant state of flux, as it's the nature of the beast! Just when you think you've got your social media strategy down, some new social network comes along to shake things up. The only way to deal with this constant flow of new technology is to stay open-minded and curious. Easier said than done! Which is why this piece on accepting change in a fast paced world by HR Bartender is so awesome. Staying open to new things is a great idea in general, especially when they can save you time and money! This is why I highly recommend embracing the new move towards sharing platforms. Both because they are a great way to save your hard-earned dollars (three cheers for Airbnb), and also (at least according to Cameron Scott) sharing platforms are the next revolution in social technology. I have to say, I think he's on to something. Speaking of revolutions, apparently the next wave of innovations in recruiting will all have to do with improving candidate experience. Fistful of Talent shares some companies and apps looking to spearhead this movement by making job applications less complicated and the candidate experience less stressful and more fun. Occasionally (okay, often!), being hip has a bit of a dark side. That dark side is blatantly apparent when it comes to the new and controversial web site, Beautifulpeople.com. Basically, the site is a place where employers can go to hire good looking candidates. And really, if the classic American film 'Zoolander' has taught us anything, it's that being incredibly good looking makes you trendy and popular. Hiring only attractive people seems to work well for companies like Abercrombie & Fitch, but this site still leaves a nasty taste in my mouth! A more tasteful, and far less shallow, way to boost your popularity is by improving your SEO.

Here's how to get your site on the front page of Google's search results by updating your SEO. These tips are pretty straightforward, and accurate according to my very own SEO guru (i.e. my husband). Alright hipsters, happy link loving! Oh, and one last tip for being cool, remember these words the next time you're doing some networking: "Be there, be awesome, be gone"

Measure twice post once. Except that you actually have to post more than once in order to effectively grow your employer brand... At least, that's what most of the Infographics floating around on Pinterest say. Moving on, and far away from that terrible analogy, today's Link Love is all about metrics. Every employer (and their cat) knows that metrics are super important when it comes to recruiting. Mostly thanks to Monday's article explaining the importance of metrics for Facebook recruiting. You're welcome. That article also gave some pretty solid advice about what metrics employers need to track, and how to best make use of the collected data. Double you're welcome. But, and I do not say this lightly, there are other worthwhile resources out there to help you better understand, track, and use your hiring metrics. Shocking! I know. As much as I would like to ignore those other resources, so as to remain your sole source of information on all things Facebook recruiting, I couldn't live with myself if I did that. I link because I love!

So let's get to it

Firstly, here's a great (i.e. short) list of which hiring metrics to track, and why you need to track them. These metrics apply not just to finding more candidates, but also how to improve the future of your company culture through improved staffing. Secondly, more metrics you should track! The first list is super short, so a few more won't hurt — you'll be fine. TLNT shares what data you should measure to make sure you're hiring great people. Thirdly, for those of you who want a more in-depth understanding of Facebook data tracking, AllFacebook explains the essentials of Facebook metrics. Fourthly, there's an app for that! Not for creating fourth links, but for tracking metrics. Kissmetrics can help you track all kinds of data, and they even have a specific service that works with Facebook analytics. They also put out an abundance of awesome Infographics. You simply can't go wrong with more Infographics. Fifthly (is that actually a word?), I think we can all agree, the content put out by LifeHacker is pretty darn great. Their guide to working harder, better, and faster is no exception. Especially this section on how to organize your data, because if you don't organize the hiring and social media metrics you gather, you'll never be able to put them to good use! And put them to great use you shall, with link number six (because sixthly just sounds wrong): Heidi Cohen's advice on how to assess and reassess your social media strategy to make it better. We hope you enjoy these fantastic articles as much as we did. If you have any great tips about hiring metrics, let us know in the comments. We shall track that data and use it to provide you with even more great blog posts. Teamwork!

Good advice is great. It informs, motivates, and generally helps us do things better. Monday's blog explored advice from the most fundamental source imaginable... Parents! Typically advice from parents is about hygiene, savings, and not riding motorcycles. You know — annoying advice! My parents are no exception, hence my sad lack of motorcycle skills. But they have both been working in HR for over 30 years, so they know a thing or two about recruiting. Which means they are an awesome, but unconventional, source of wisdom when it comes to all things HR. This almost makes up for the motorcycle. Almost! Todays links are all about advice and lessons from places we wouldn't usually think to look. Like surfers. Yup. Surfers. What, you ask, do surfers have to do with business? Well, other than motivating us to finish up early so we can hit the beach. Not much. Oh, except maybe how to put an end to procrastination, learn to except failure, and generally get more stuff done in a day. Okay, I take it back, that's a lot! Next up: cartoons. I'll admit it, I've learned quite a bit from cartoons over the years. How to fight crime, look good in tights, and the importance of masks... But for most normal humans they are not a staple source of advice. These HR-themed cartoons presented by the Harvard Business blog may change your mind. They are a great little reminder of stuff we already know, but tend to forget. I'm especially fond of the first one, which reminds us not to get carried away by fancy titles and qualifications when recruiting. What matters is finding the right candidate for the position. It is also hilarious! One of the biggest hurdles we face when it comes to getting our jobs done is energy. No employer wants to be so tired that they forget to post new job openings on their Facebook Career Page, forget a candidate's name, or worse, fall asleep mid-interview! Embarrassing. If this sounds too familiar, then maybe it's time to seek the advice of a nutritionist. According to Inc. Magazine, the food we eat can make us more productive and energetic. Here's a list of foods you should snack on to boost productivity. All of them look super tasty too, except maybe flax seeds... but hey, chocolate made number seven! This last link is my favorite. Yes, it even beat out the article advising higher consumption of dark chocolate (though I am currently munching on cacao nibs!) This blog post is about how you can learn to be successful on the internet by watching Family Guy. You heard me, Family Guy! Even better, it recommends taking a cue from an episode of Family Guy referencing Star Wars. Nerd-heaven. So there you have it. Go surfing, read the funny pages, eat more chocolate, and watch Family Guy. Not only will your life be more awesome, but you'll up your productivity and garner internet success!

It's spring. Finally!

Time for barbecuing in the park, colorful tulips and fresh-starts.

A fresh-start can mean a lot of things, from finally throwing away the moldy pesto that's been hanging out in the back of your fridge, to starting a new job, to the beginning of True Blood season 4!

But for those of us interested in social recruiting, a fresh-start means rethinking social media strategy, freshening up our Facebook employer branding, and True Blood season 4! I mean it, there's a lot to be learned about branding and HR from those vampires. You try branding a group best know for their pasty skin, scary fangs, and thirst for blood. Not easy!

Well, here are a few links to help you keep your employer brand fresh and your social recruiting springy:

Do you read Copy Blogger? If not, you really ought to check it out. Even if you don't consider yourself a writer, I'm willing to bet you still spend a fair amount of time writing. Even if it's only job descriptions, contracts and emails, you're still writing. Copy Blogger is one of the best resources to make your writing more effective. And, if your emails, contracts and job descriptions are more effective, then by default, YOU are more effective at your job.

Lorelle VanFossen writes the series "Blog Exercises", featured on Copy Blogger. In the series she provides simple exercises to improve your writing. Technically, the articles are aimed at bloggers, but I've been applying them to content marketing, Twitter, and email with great success. Oh, and her writing is a delight to read, in part, due to her fantastic use of George Carlin quotes!

For those out there who prefer to learn by example, Tim Ferris recently interviewed 5 online businesses that gross over $250, 000+ per month. Tim may not be everyone's cup of coffee, but if there's one thing he knows, it's how to model success. Much of the information gleaned from his case studies is pertinent to Facebook branding and can also be applied to social recruiting.

Speaking of case studies... If you haven't checked out how Gordon Food Service is using Facebook to recruit for their family-run business, or how The Phoenix Group is creating a strong Facebook Employer Brand for the entire province of Saskatchewan, get on it! Both case studies provide great advice and examples of successful social recruiting and employer branding.

LinkedIn is a crucial part of social recruiting success. One of our very favorite bloggers, and social media guru extraordinaire, Stacy Donovan Zapar shares 6 tips to help you spring clean your LinkedIn profile.

If you really want to stay fresh, not just at work, but in life, apparently all you really need is sleep. Encouraging employees and employers to get proper sleep raises productivity, slashes healthcare costs, and boosts moral. What's not to love?!

We saved the best for last! A hot tip from yours truly, exciting huh?

Update your profile pic

With the magic of smart phones, there's no excuse not to have a stunning picture with which to represent yourself. Stand in front of a white wall, where there's natural light and have a friend snap your picture. If you want to get fancy, use a filter app (I like Instagram's "Rise" filter, as it hides how pale I am). Your profile pic is your online introduction. Make it work for you, not against you.

If that didn't convince you to show your lovely face then maybe this article will!

Happy Link Love Wednesday everyone :)

Everyone can use a little more awesome in their lives.

Last week we wrote about great ways to improve your Facebook Talent Community by being more like Ryan Gosling, who is basically the epitome of awesome.

This week, we’ll share some links to our favorite Ryan Gosling memes!

Just kidding — that would be silly for a recruiting-themed blog to do. Instead, we’re going to share the link to this incredible new app that allows you to “Snoopify” pictures of yourself! I mean, really the only thing that could make your LinkedIn profile better is if you were wearing a rasta hat, giant gold chain, and dope shades. Obviously!

Oh, and here are some other links that will make your social recruiting more awesome. They are just icing — Snoopify is recruiting gold.

Being famous on Twitter, if you’re not a hot young starlet or stand-up comedian, is hard! The Cynical Girls gives us regular folks 6 tips to get us there.

What could be better than 6 tips. 7 tips of course! Improve your social media engagement. Tip number one: “Highlight current employees on your company Facebook Page” sounds awfully wonderfully familiar.

Maybe perfect isn’t so awesome. Check out Seth Godin’s musings on how your best is kind of boring, and definitely not your most creative.

Quote of the week:

“Move mountains for them. All of them. You move all the mountains for all of them.”

It’s from a stellar article on how to be awesome at HR. Despite what the hyperbolic quote implies, this article has some of the most practical/fantastically blunt advice for HR I’ve ever come across. Awesome.

Corporate culture. It’s so important when it comes to recruiting great talent. Here are six ways to ensure your corporate culture is awesome. Other than the fact that the author doesn’t make buying a foosball table tip number one, this article is pretty darn great.

Happy Snoopifying! And trust me, foosball = key to better corporate culture.

I am a university-educated North American in my late twenties.

So I love and value three things over anything else:

• My iPad

• Hip coffee shops

• Instagram

I also spend an inordinate amount of time taking photos of my coffee with said iPad to post on Instagram. Don’t judge me — choosing a filter that makes my image look cool-for-school is how I justify my arts “education”!

Okay, now before this turns into a gen-Y bashing session, let’s talk about something us gen-Yers love that is actually super useful. Some might even say makes the world a better place.

Podcasts.

If you are not yet on the podcast train, get on now! There’s no better way to get a free education. Seriously, you can get a free education. Check out iTunes University. This podcast from Cornell is life-changing, and Harvard shares business lectures. Bet you never thought you could get a Harvard education via your iPhone!

Getting your info from (reliable) podcasts is more efficient than from journals and newspapers, as you can listen to them while doing other things. You can listen to then while commuting, cooking, and exercising (although I still think for the weight room, you can’t beat rap).

Recently Suzanne Lucas, The Evil HR Lady herself, interviewed Steve Montako of the Boss Show. Don’t let the title fool you, the show isn’t just from the employer-perspective. It cover tons of different topics related to HR like productivity, working from home, and job interview screw-ups. The shows are nice and short and the two hosts have an obvious rapport. It’s no This American Life, but out of all of the HR podcasts I’ve heard so far, the Boss Show is hands down the most enjoyable.

Another popular HR podcast is the CYA report put out by Fistful of Talent. I’ll be honest and say it’s not my favorite. But, having worked for several years as a college radio jockey, I’m quite picky. I urge you to check it out for yourselves.

My personal favorite business-related podcast is Planet Money. They always manage to be engaging, even when covering ridiculous topics. Their explanation of the Motza Economy is fantastic, although I still think the best episode is the one on lard.

As far as non-business / non-HR Podcasts go, RadioLab is Amazing. I have actually cried while listening to episodes of RadioLab on the Subway, and was too captivated by the storytelling to even care.

Do you listen to podcasts? If so please, please, please share them in the comments.

There are lots and lots and lots of rules. In recruiting, in HR, in social media. In life. Although we like to say that rules are meant to be broken, for the most part, they're not. The rules are there to keep us safe from speeding cars, bad grammar, and to prevent us from alienating those around us. In general, the rules are there to keep us from becoming unpopular, well-spoken, and out of the hospital, but they do occasionally warrant a little stretching. Maybe even the occasional breaking... And sometimes, it turns out, those rules are just plain wrong and it's time to re-examine why they became rules to begin with! This week's links have a little something for the goody two-shoes, for the rebels, and also for those of us that fall squarely in the middle. Of course it's best to lead with your most controversial content. Such as, this list of productivity boosters that go against everything that general wisdom would advise.

Buffer explains how we can improve productivity through procrastination, saying no and just plain giving up. The rebel in you can rejoice and be more productive, which means more time drag-racing and shopping for leather jackets. Awesome! After waaaay too many social media gurus wrongly declaring the death of job boards, it has become pretty taboo to challenge their importance for recruiting. It may be time to break that rule though, as it looks like the popularity of job boards is starting to wain. You should probably start using the Jobcast app to recruit with Facebook, just sayin'! This next link speaks to those of us lodged firmly in the middle. More specifically, to those of us who like a good dirty joke, but only if it's both hilarious and appropriate. It discusses K-Mart's viral commercial and how, despite being attention-grabbing, it wasn't a great move as far as their branding goes. It also makes the case that humour in HR is pretty risky business and should be used with caution! Lastly, here's a gift for those of us who love rules, rules, and more rules! New rule number one, never cross your arms again, never! This Ted Talk breaks down the rules of powerful body language and how to make it work for you. Oh, and I simply can't resist. Here are some important "rules" thought up by comedian Paul Rust... His New No-Nos are so funny, you'll bust a gut. A gut is not a rule, so feel free to bust it.

The new Superman trailer is out and it’s dominating my news feed.  The “Man of Steel” is taking up valuable real-estate that ought to be devoted to stories about the latest social media trends, Facebook Recruiting, and cat pictures. Doesn’t Mashable.com know that Superman is the most boring of the heroes, and that I have a very important Link Love to write!?!

Apparently not.

Superman is my least favorite hero. He is just too … well … super. It’s too unbelievable. Unlike a tortured man, who decides to dress up like a bat and get into epic battles with overly-smiley green-haired fellows. Now that’s realism!

Okay, so maybe believability isn’t the best reason not to like Superman. But really, you’ve got to admit he’s just not the most practical archetype to aspire to. No amount of martial arts training, voice modulation, nor fancy gadgets on your belt will transform you into Superman. Whereas there is still a part of me that thinks, if I work extra hard on my Jiu-Jitsu skills, I could totally take the Joker!

Practical skills, that’s where it’s at.

So, for this Link Love, let’s look at some recent articles in the blogosphere that will help you develop some practical social recruiting skills and make your recruiting a little more super!

Our very favorite post this week just happens to be about our favorite subject: Facebook recruiting! This nifty Infographic breaks down 10 easy steps to make your Facebook Page better.

Best quote of the week has to go to Michael Schrage for:

“Resumes are dead. Interviews are largely ineffectual. LinkedIn is good. Portfolios are useful, but projects are the real future of hiring”

And it’s not just this quote that’s awesome. His argument that having candidates work on actual projects is more efficient and effective than any interview could possibly be is bold, smart and practical.

TalentHQ breaks down how to set the stage for recruiting success. Hint, it’s all about planning.

Another of our favorite topics: better employer branding! Jodi Ordioni (best name ever) helps you avoid three major employer branding pitfalls. Tip number three is copy-writing gold!

And what list of practical advice would be complete without some app suggestions? None. So here are some recommendations from Inc. for apps that your business really should start using. We also, highly recommend Buffer.

Oh, and one last little piece of advice: Don’t hire the kid with lime-green hair. Trouble.

It’s time for another edition of Link Love Facebook Style.

Not to be confused with Link Love Gangnam Style. Which sadly, I will never actually get to write, as it would make me look very behind the times, which is basically a death sentence in the land of social media. Missed the boat on that meme big time.

Thankfully for my blog-writing, Facebook is a never-ending source of updates, policy changes and (Sponsored) stories to report on. It also doesn’t hurt that, at Jobcast, Facebook is our bread and butter. So, sorry developers, your frustration is this girl’s literary gold!

And heavens to Betsy (yes, I’ve been watching Mad Men), this past couple of weeks, the Facebook related news has been extra juicy. What better way to celebrate than by linking to other peoples’ blog posts? Maybe with pizza and cake, but Link Love is far more artery-friendly. So there.

Obviously, the biggest headline is the release of Facebook Home for Android (sorry iPhone users, self included). And leave it to GigaOm to write a hilariously sarcastic yet super informative article all about it. This article outlines the pros and cons of Facebook home and provides lots of screenshots/animated gifs.

Best line:

“Should I Buy It? If by buy you mean buy the HTC First, which is pre-loaded with Home, no, because Home is a free download and the HTC First is a junker.”

Sooooo sassy!

Next up, Jill Duffy warns about the possibility of unwanted Facebook (Home) invasion. And she set me up for that killer pun! Love her.

Facebook Threaded Comments are another recent release from the social network. The new API is a much less sexy topic than FB Home, but more relevant to Facebook recruiting and branded Pages. Here the social network itself outlines how the new Facebook Threaded Comments are going to work.

Even more recently, Facebook announced that it has opened its Graph API to allow developers to create tools that manage Threaded Comments.

Companies like Conversocial are moving fast to capitalize.

Last, but not least… well kind of least, actually. Facebook is testing out new language to try and get more users to buy Promoted Posts. They’re hoping that using terms like “Boost” and “Advertise” will be more enticing. Personally, I think the updates to Facebook’s News Feed will be a huge push for Page owners to pay for advertising, but that’s just me.

Oh, and it might also have something to do with just how slowly Facebook is rolling out the changes to News Feed.

Well, there you have it! Two more links than usual, I’m on fiiiiire.

Happy Linking!

Big Data is powerful stuff. And, as all good employers and recruiters know, with access to such great power, comes great responsibility. Jobcast believes in using our blog for the forces of good, not evil. Which is why we try our very best to help employers find great talent through helpful tips and guides to social recruiting. Okay, so not quite as impressive as GI Joe protecting the world from the clutches of Cobra Command. But, pretty close, right? In the spirit of GI Joe, today's Link Love is all about using Big Data for good! Big good! For the good of employers, for the good of employees, for the good of the world: This app is so cool!  Morale.me is a new app that aims to increase productivity by improving employee morale. Talk about a win-win situation! The iPhone app allows employers to connect via LinkedIn accounts, submit monthly feedback, access Foursquare-style engagement and anonymous assessments, utilize month-by-month, on-the-go tracking. It's also really pretty. So so cool. Evolv recently gathered up a bunch of data about the effect of using social networks on productivity. They determined that "hourly employees who use social networks are more productive in general, but it seems the more social networks you use, the more productive you are." Sharing is caring!

Skillshare is a new company looking to fill the skills gap by sharing knowledge through inexpensive (only $20) online courses. Professionals share practical knowledge of their field that they have gained hands-on. What could be more noble than creating exciting infographics to spread knowledge and joy to the public?!? Absolutely nothing of course. Here's how to source Big Data through social media to inform your next infographic. And for the sake of all that is good in the world, if you do end up making your own infographic, let us know! Our last link is for the Complaint-Free April Challenge. It has nothing to do with information or recruiting, but I would argue that it could lead to a far more positive work environment. Which could lead to more attractive company culture and better retention, which is very appealing to top talent. So there! I'm giving it a shot and thought it might make for a fun company team-building challenge too. Happy Linking! If you have any complaints about the articles we've chosen to link to, please save them for May ;)