Link Love

Today’s Link Love is all about employees. Making them happy, keeping them productive, and helping them achieve their full potential.

But first, we have a small announcement to make: Jobcast has a brand new video posted about how to brand your Facebook Career Page.

We’re pretty excited about it because we think this video tutorial will be super helpful for all of our awesome Jobcasters!

You should probably watch it right now

(video not available)

Then share it with all of your friends, family, and pets. Thank you kindly!

Okay, now that we have all of that out of the way, here are the links:

Ted Coiné explains: Why You Should Pay Your Employees More Than You Must!

Pam Moore gives us: 15 Easy Steps to Ignite Employees as Brand Evangelists.

Over at Blogging4Jobs Stephanie Hammerwold explains: Getting Employees on Board with New HR Technology.

Tom Gimbel shares: 5 Ways to Save High Performers from the Sophomore Slump.

Then the ever awesome HRNasty makes a strong argument connecting: Business Cards, Employer Branding, and Employee Pride!

Happy Link Loving!

I’m off to watch our new video a thousand more times, because I’m cool like that 😉

Did you know that physicians who are likeable are less likely to be sued?

 “People just don’t sue doctors they like,” according to Alice Burkin, a leading medical malpractice lawyer.

She goes on to give an example of a client who wanted to sue a random specialist, even though her primary care doctor was obviously at fault because, in the clients own words:

“‘I don’t care what she did. I love her, and I’m not suing her.’”

The impression that we make on others dictates our success in life, the workplace, and apparently, even legal matters!

If you are an employer, then you want your employer brand to make a great impression on potential candidates in order to convert them into applicants.

If you are a recruiter, a candidate’s perception of you will influence how they feel about both the job opening you are looking to fill, and the company you are representing.

Eep!

That’s a whole lot riding on candidate’s opinions, especially when those opinions are often formed in a matter of minutes.

In order to help you radiate awesomeness, and repel potential law suits, we present to you…

5+1 Articles to Help You Win Candidates and Influence Applicants

The first thing you need to take into account when trying to influence applicants is your job post. I am always shocked by the amount of job posts I see that do everything in their power to convince potential candidates to run away. Far, far, far away!

If you would rather candidates run towards your company, rather than flee from it, checkout this helpful post over at Blogging 4 Jobs:

OMG Not Another Sucky Job Posting! 

Language and tone play a key role in how we are perceived; this can get slightly tricky when we are communicating via Twitter, email, or job posting.

Carolyn Kopprasch shares her thoughts on two very commonly used words, their impact on email campaigns, and on the importance of word choice in general on the Buffer Blog:

The Power of Every Word: Why I Stopped Using “Actually” and “But” in my Customer Service Emails

Connecting with people, and connecting people with each other, is what recruiting and social media are all about when it comes right down to it.

There are very few ways to leave a better impression on someone than by connecting them with a new friend, new idea, or new job.

Learn how you can make the kind of impression on a person that will make them want to connect with you:

5 Tips for Better Super-Connecting

Your actions speak louder than words, especially when you are in a position of leadership and authority.

Show employees, both current and potential, that you are the kind of leader they want to follow, with this advice from TLNT.com:

Manager’s Mantra: Walk the Talk, Give Credit, Admit When You Don’t Know

Although many popular inspirational quotes would have you believe that first impressions are the only ones that matter, it is not true.

This myth is happily put to rest by Kazim Ladimeji on Recruiter.com:

First Impressions Count, but Last Impressions Count More

For even more great advice about how you can get on a candidate’s good side, here are 5 more great articles about how to make candidates like you.

Happy Link Loving!

Combat those midweek doldrums by taking a little break and reading our top five recent social recruiting blog posts. Taking breaks throughout the day has been proven by the internet science to increase productivity! And if that isn't a good enough excuse; all of these  articles are HR related, so basically you are still working… Even if Tim Sackett's article does have you laughing so hard you spit coffee all over your key board! Tim’s recent re-write of the classic commencement speech is funny and true (the greatest combo since pancakes and bacon!) Check it out, and let me know if you agree that his redux is far more inspiring than the bland original. Warning – There are swear words in Tim’s post. They are not flagrant, but they do exist, in case that bothers you. Speaking of the hilarious men of HR, Andy Headworth has a new article up that begs the question: Is your ego affecting your social media recruiting?  Also, his twitter banner looks like this now:

Andy’s new banner makes a strong first impression, which is important in all aspects of life, but, especially during a job interview. According to Kris Dunn: “Executives say ten minutes is the amount of time it takes for them to form an opinion of job seekers during interviews”,  his article, First Impressions – You’re On the Clock, shares more on this topic. But what about the impression employers make on candidates? Thanks to the internet, a potential candidate’s first impression often comes from a Google search! And that impression can easily go horribly, horribly wrong. If you want some cold truths about how you may be turning job seekers off, Shauna Moerke holds nothing back in her post: 11 Reasons Candidates Don’t Want to Work for You! Let’s end on a fun note with some HR Happy Hour. Steve Boese and Lindsey Pollak discuss the next generation of workers and their transition into leadership roles. Cocktails are optional, but highly recommended!

BlogTalkRadio with HR Happy Hour

For more tips about recruiting millennials give this article on the Entelo blog: Techniques for Recruiting Millennials. Happy Link Loving!

id you read Gareth Cartman’s latest guest post?

In it he explains why you must get social with your recruiting, if you want to attract millennials.

And, along with his convincing arguments, he even shares a quirky tip about how his company encourages employees to act as social media brand ambassadors.

Gareth presents all of this info with his signature British wit.

Unfortunately for you, I do not poses Gareth’s wit, but what I lack in wit, I make up for in curatorial skills! So, I present to you…

5 Actionable Tips for Getting Your Social On

“Inclusion of words like “click”, “please retweet”, “comment” and “share” are proven to increase engagement” – Click to Tweet!

From, 6 Ways to #Fail at Social Recruiting, by Raj Sheth

Read this whole article please. It is short. It is sweet. It is chock full of good advice. Every single one of Raj’s tips can be applied to your social recruiting immediately with little to no effort, and will make your efforts more effective and your brand more likeable.

“Increase your recruiters visibility by letting them interact with candidates through a twitter chat” – Click to Tweet!

From, How Top Brands Use Twitter for Recruiting, by Nisha Raghavan

This article has been written before, and it will definitely be written again. Possibly by me! But, it has not been written this well. Nisha cuts through the fluff and gives you smart examples that you can actually use… Even if you are NOT blessed with Sodexo’s budget, or Zappos’ brand recognition!

“Know and reflect your company’s unique employer value proposition in order to build content that resonates with your prospects” – Click to Tweet!

From, Predictions for the Future of Digital Talent Acquisition (Part 1 Content), by James Ellis

If you aren’t following this series, start now! I know it sounds extremely boring, but I promise, the title, although technically correct, is misleading. Ellis’s article is fascinating, especially his explanation of fast versus slow content for recruiting.

“Review social profiles for insights into a candidate’s personality, interests, and potential company culture fit” – Click to Tweet!

From, How to Hire the Perfect Graduate (Infographic), from Undercover Recruiter

Infographics are one of my favorite ways to learn. Mostly because they are pretty! It is the time of the season for hiring recent grads, so stats and tips presented in this Infographic are especially pertinent.

“Every social platform appeals to a slightly different audience. Defining your target audience and choosing the best social platform to reach them is key to social recruiting” – Too long to Tweet! #lol

From, 10 Ways to Make Social Recruiting Work for You, by Crystal at Leadtail

Not only does this article share lots, and by lots I mean ten, great tips for social recruiting, but it also includes a whole bunch of cool articles on the topic as well.

Do you have any tips, or techniques you use for getting jiggy social with it? If so, share them in the comments 😀

Happy Link Loving, Big Willy style!

Last week's Link Love about social recruiting role models was my favorite article we've published to date on the Jobcast blog. This is because in that post, we got to highlight some of the people who have made this blog what it is today, and in doing so, thank them for being such a great source of knowledge and inspiration.

(Check out our list of 7 Incredible Social Recruiting Role Models)

It is so important to learn from other people in your field if you want to improve at what you do, but it is also helpful to look outside of your own genre for inspiration. Social recruiting involves a diverse skill set. Creative writing, the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively, trend analysis, excellent communication, and the list goes on! In order to cultivate these skills I highly recommend you add these non HR or recruitment related blogs to your RSS feed. 5 Unexpected yet Essential Blogs for Social Recruiters:

Lifehacker

http://lifehacker.com/ Lifehacker is a blog that offers its readers simple but clever solutions (hacks) for all sorts of annoying problems. The site, whose tagline is “Tips and downloads for getting things done”, churns out tons of great articles that will make you more productive, keep you informed about helpful new apps, and teach you all the best tricks for getting the most out of social media… And life in general! Check out this recent Lifehacker article, The Three Questions You Should Ask to Think More Critically.

Fast Company

http://www.fastcompany.com/

Fast Company is an online magazine focusing on innovation, design, leadership, and technology. With articles written by some of the most progressive and successful business leaders it’s no wonder that they were named 2014’s Magazine of the Year by the American Society of Magazine Editors. Fast Company is a fantastic source of inspiration, and shareable workforce related content that any social recruiter can benefit from. Their article, Is a Truly Flexible Workplace Possible, is an excellent example of the high quality content they publish on a regular basis.

Buffer Blog

http://blog.bufferapp.com/

The Buffer Blog is my current obsession. I have never before come across such a consistently valuable source of social media and content creation tips. The articles on Buffer are innovative, well written, and offer advice you have NOT heard before, such as how to apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to your content creation strategy, amazing! This blog post, All About Content Calendars, completely revolutionized our content calendar for Jobcast’s social media, newsletters, and blog.

99u

http://99u.com/

This winner of two blogging Webby Awards mission is to help its readers put their ideas into action by providing them with educational videos, articles, blog posts, and interviews. Not only will you find 99u to be a source for quality shareable content but, with a little bit of exploration, I’m sure you’ll find it be a wealth of actionable tips to improve your own recruiting and social media efforts. An example of the perspective shifting content 99u consistently provides is this video: Change the World with Outrospection.

CopyBlogger

http://www.copyblogger.com/

To succeed with social you must be able to write strong copy that fits with the social platforms you use. CopyBlogger is hands-down the best source of information for anyone looking to write better online content and social media posts. There article, How to be Authentic, is a must read for anyone looking to build up a trustworthy brand. Happy Link Loving and stay social!

Role models are great. I don't know about you, but I have lots of them. There's Nia Shanks, who is my fitness role model, Charles Francis Xavier who is my super hero/life ethical role model, and let's not forget my blog role model, Passive Aggressive Notes! When it comes to social recruiting, there are a whole lot of fantastic role models to choose from. This is terrible because choosing is hard. But never fear, I am here to help rescue you from the stress and torment caused by excessive choice. I have narrowed the list down to 7. This was a harrowing experience, but your well being is worth the pain, tears, and hurt feelings. Feel free to send Reese's Peanut Butter Cups as a token of thanks though.

7 Awesome Social Recruiting Role Models

Lisa Jones - Lisa is a director at Barclay Jones, she writes for all the best HR blogs (including the Barclay Jones Blog), and gives killer social media recruitment advice. Oh, and she has really pretty hair... That's an important trait in a role model right? (Says the girl with hair envy.)

Ashley Lauren Perez - Ashley's blog, The Social HR Connection, is a breath of fresh air. She is extremely honest, intelligent, and well written. Ashley is also the Talent Acquisition Content Strategist at Wilson HCG and can definitely teach you a thing or two about social recruiting. Andy Headworth - Andy is hilarious, and the Social recruiting Strategist and Managing Director for Sirona Consulting. His blog posts tackle even the most controversial social recruiting topics deftly. And they are hilarious. Maybe he is my blogging role model... Stacy Donovan Zapar - The most connected woman on LinkedIn and Recruiting Strategist & Chief Trainer at Tenfold Social. She has founded multiple businesses, runs a very successful blog, and is a genuinely awesome person. Susan Wright-Boucher - Susan is the perfect combo of old school and new school because she writes about all the latest trending social recruiting topics on her blog, Plugged In Recruiter, but all of her posts are perfectly edited and of magazine level quality. Glen Cathey - When I do not understand a concept related to social recruiting or HR tech, I turn to Glen's blog: Boolean Black Belt. Glen is smart, direct, and pulls no punches. Now if only he would release a Cliffs Notes version of his blog. Laurie Ruettimann - Laurie is great role model material. She's smart, successful, and a very well respected social recruitment consultant. Most importantly, she has fun doing it, checkout Laurie’s blog and you'll see what I mean. Happy role model/Link Loving and stay social!

If your midweek doldrums are setting in, and the Wednesday hump seems insurmountable; fear not! Today is Link Love day and what could be better than a well curated selection of blog posts to re-energize you! Especially when we have a ton of great articles about social recruiting, your favorite topic... Okay, second favorite topic. I know, I know, pancakes are number one. Which is why I am going to start things off on a sweet note with an unusually off topic link: Delicious, eggy, banana pancakes.

These are delicious, and only require two ingredients (can you guess what they are?) They are also super quick and easy to make, so you can whip up a batch to devour while checking out the rest of today's links.

Facebook is going to launch a mobile advertising network this month. No, this is NOT boring. It just sounds boring. In fact, this is going to improve Facebook Ad targeting and reach. And I know you're all using targeted Facebook Ads to recruit top talent (if not, it's time to start, they are rad).

Twitter is following in Facebook's footsteps. I am referring both to their brand new layout's blatant rip-off of FB's design, and the huge improvement it provides for social recruiting. Need a little inspiration for your next hiring campaign? Then checkout these beautiful and creative social recruiting campaigns posted over at Likeable HR. Those campaigns are totally inspiring, but they are also rather lofty... Check out these 50 simple things you can do to recruit with Facebook. Much more actionable, if I do say so myself. "43% of job seekers used their mobile device to look for jobs" - Tweet this!

That's just one of the many social recruiting trends reported in Recruiter.com's Recruitment Technology Trends for 2014. The mobile stat is an important reminder that your online recruitment efforts really do need to allow for easy access from any device! This is another great reason for using social networks to share your jobs. A more surprising stat from this report is that 45-54 year olds are currently the fasting growing demographic on Google+. Proof that social recruiting isn't just about targeting the youngsters. If you want to get weekly tips about how to reach 45 - 54 year old candidates with social recruiting, sign up for our awesome newsletter! Happy Link Loving, and stay social.

Today is Easter Monday. It is a holiday where I currently live, The Netherlands, and where I am originally from, Canada. Easter Monday is a day for sleeping off your chocolate-bunny-induced sugar hangover, for eating pancakes in bed, and for discovering strange and mysterious “Easter eggs” on the internet. No, I’m not talking about finding actual candy online. That technology does not exist… yet! Nope. In this context, the term Easter egg refers to a hidden message – often an inside joke – or a little bonus feature, intentionally cached in a movie, computer game, website, online app etc… The traditional hunt for internet Easter Eggs goes waaaay back – like 1990’s back—so you know we just can’t ignore it on the blog. Today’s blog post is a bit of silly Easter fun. Next week we’ll get back to the hard-hitting social media journalism that you know and love, but for now, check out these delightful Easter eggs hidden inside the workings of your favorite social networks: Our first find, a video about Easter eggs on Facebook, is almost sweeter than Peeps (those awful yellow-marshmallow bird-shaped candies that you hate to love). How could you not want to emoji yourself, or change your language settings to “Pirate” for a couple of days? There are even some actually useful tips, like paying to send strangers a message (source much?), or finding your “hidden messages”. Once you have finished playing with “Upside Down English” on Facebook, head on over to HubSpot and check out this article that shares 13 of the best hidden gems on the internet. I am particularly partial to the YouTube Easter egg: Beam Me up Scotty! It makes me smile every time. .. and speaking of YouTube, here are 12 YouTube Easter eggs that are completely worth the time suck. One of them even features a flying rainbow-cat for your viewing pleasure. Happy Easter Monday, happy Easter egg hunting, and – if you don’t get today off – happy social recruiting!

I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly fretting about whether or not I’m good at my job. No matter how much praise a superior gives, how many goals I meet, or how often my mom remembers to Like my blog posts on Facebook; I’m constantly thinking about how I could do things better. I have a feeling you may also be like this. Otherwise, why would you be reading a blog about social recruiting whey you could be surfing Pinterest! Think of all the different cupcake recipes you could be pinning right now... When it comes to social recruiting there are a lot of awesome tips and tools floating around the internet that can help satisfy your obsessive desire to perfect your craft, so that you can get a huge gold star from your boss, and possibly even land a promotion… Or at least show off your newly honed skills to your co-workers! Here are some such links: The title of this article: How to Avoid Becoming a Hiring Mistake,  made me squirm. The thought alone is terrifying! But, it is full of great tips for excelling in a new working environment. In fact her tip about finding your “value add” reminds me quite a bit about a recent article on the benefits of social recruiting, published on a very well respected blog… This next post by Barbara Bruno breaks down the stages of recruiting and gives 9 tips for improving your hiring process. 

Now let’s get to the social recruiting stuff! Social media has provided HR with a whole lot of new data about candidate and employee behaviors; this article explains how you can leverage all that big data to improve HR practices. Google Plus is becoming a hotter Hangout (see what I did there?) for social recruiters, check out this podcast and article to learn how you can use Google+ to improve your SEO and promote your content. Then you can:

Double Your Twitter Followers in 5 Minutes per Day!

Yeeeeaaahhhh riiiiiiiight… That sounds like a real thing. The claim of this infographic is probably false, but the advice is solid, so I am still going to recommend it, bogus title or not! That’s it for the links, but I would love to hear any tips you may have about how to get better at work. Share your advice in the comments :D Happy Link Loving, and stay social.

It is spring.

Spring is the BEST time to clean up your social recruiting.

Mostly because of the whole spring cleaning thing, but also because:

A - It's usually around this time that our New Years resolutions start to slip

B - It's reaaaaaaally nice out and becoming more efficient will give you more time to chill in the sun and eat popsicles

I know how important popsicles are to you, so I'm going to share some tools that will make staying on top of your social media strategy a breeze!

Check out these 5 effective tools for improving social recruiting, marketing, and reach!

1. ShortStack: The ShortStack app organizes all of your content, resources, docs, and videos so that you can access them from a single platform. You can use ShortStack to run contests, polls, data collection and analytics. I'm having a blast playing around with the free version and suggest you do the same.

2. Trello: Do you collaborate with other human beings? If so, the Trello app is a game changer. We've been using Trello to organize, track, and, improve the efficiency of pretty much all of our projects at Jobcast. It's easy to use, and makes communication amongst team members super simple, which is difficult considering we all work remotely and from different countries!

3. Swayy: Are you using Swayy yet?! I told you about it like three weeks ago! Swayy is my favorite new content aggregator. It gathers data from your social networks to suggest new content that is perfectly suited to your target audience. I've definitely seen major improvements in the variety of my content strategy since adding Swayy to my arsenal, but even more importantly, it saves me tons of time!

4. Jobcast: Of course I would say Jobcast, but come on, we automate your social sharing, integrate seamlessly with your ATS which means you only have to share a job post once to have it appear on all of your social networks and major job boards, and we even have an awesome scheduling tool. The Jobcast Facebook recruiting app is a huge time saver for anyone using social media and Facebook to recruit.

5. Powtoon - Recruiting videos increase rate of application, improve engagement, and are a generally great way to express your company culture! Powtoon is a great little app that makes it very, very easy to put together short animations that you can use for both recruiting and marketing. Check out this short video I made using Powtoon. It's pretty decent considering it was my first attempt at using the app... and I am definitely not artistically gifted!

Now it's time to take a much needed break and enjoy some delicious icy treats :D Happy Link Loving and barbecuing!