How to Win at Social Recruiting in the Middle East

How to Win at Social Recruiting in the Middle East One of LinkedIns Most Socially Engaged Staffing Agencies hails all the way in Dubai, a city that has seen tremendous growth in such a short period time and continues to make great strides in all aspects of modern life. Situated along the coastline of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is widely recognized as a cultural melting pot with only 10% of the population being local Dubaians, and the other 90% hailing from all four corners of the globe. So as a recruiter, let’s just say life must be interesting! We decided to have a chat with John Fitzpatrick, the Regional Director of Executive Solutions, one of the regions best recruitment agencies, whom our friends at LinkedIn have recognized as one of the best in the industry for social engagement on the platform. We sit down with John to find out what the recruitment industry is like in Dubai and the Middle East in general. As well as gaining some insight into the award-winning work they have done online. Competition for talent in the Middle East The Middle East, as an employment market, remains very buoyant in a majority of sectors we operate, however, and safe to say, areas such as Oil Gas/related support services have been affected by low Barrel prices and this has obviously/visibly affected the levels of hiring in this previously booming sector. As some compensation, other verticals within the region, such as FMCG, Construction Engineering, Alternative Energy, IT/Digital, Cyber Security, Rail Transportation have witnessed significant increases in hiring, this mainly being due to essential projects, government initiatives and is partly related to upcoming EXPO 2021 activities, of which have organically complemented evolving markets. As an expat, originally from London in the U.K, in my mind, the Middle East represents a rich and harmonious melting pot of international talent, all of which share business methodologies and personal cultures. I believe there is no other such successful example in the world and this is why the number of expats coming to the region, versus other popular worldwide destinations, is on the increase. LinkedIn is everything Firstly, LinkedIn is a living and breathing part of our business and does not represent a chore, I must add, regardless of any expert advice/hot tips you receive on how you can make your business grow, it’s very much about the structure and full commitment by all the team to the common goal of “Digital Excellence”. Under my guidance, our entire business operates and commits to a daily/weekly/monthly routine of posting relevant articles, engaging with candidates/clients alike, plus taking the time to respond to all (where humanly possible) comments or inquiries that individuals most generously leave. I would also emphasize that to sculpt winning ways in this arena, team/business members have also got to commit to maintaining the brand on weekends and evenings. The reality is that due the fact that we operate over several continents, myself/consultants are often called upon to cater to their online media/communications that arise quite possibly when the working week starts on a different day to yours, or the time zone is significantly different (i.e. Korea, USA, Europe Australasia). After all, we all now live in an electronic world which rightly or wrongly, expects a response and now! Employee advocacy The employees contribution means everything. If you haven’t got genuine buy-in from your business/workforce, simply don’t bother. As far as tasks or creating good habits are concerned, LinkedIn is a marathon and not a sprint. Anyone can showboat, or demonstrate great activity over the course of a week or two but that does nothing for forging longer-term connections or fostering the correct levels of communication. Hands-on engagement It’s massively important to engage your audience and to only share items that may be of “real interest” to connections. Any irrelevant or insensitive postings could well result in losing contacts, as opposed to growing your network. On the matter of thought leadership, I like to have a much more hands-on approach to managing this area of my business, as opposed to providing theory and do not merely bark instructions on how we can be amongst the Industry digital elite! I refer to my previous comment “ If you haven’t got genuine buy-in from all your business/workforce, simply don’t bother. Top 3 take away tips for social recruiting Draw up a personal/business “social media plan” and most importantly stick to it. Be sure to only post interesting and industry relevant content. Diarize quality checks to ensure you’re maintaining the plan. Connect with John on Linkedin.

10 Ways Employee Surveys Help Attract and Retain Talent

10 Ways Employee Surveys Help Attract and Retain Talent A strong workplace culture increases business performance by engaging everyone in a united goal, values and vision. It is also essential for helping to attract and retain talent; a key element to achieving business growth.  The culture of your workplace has a significant impact on your employer brand and influences the perception of working for you. It is also crucial for staff retention, as employees will look to escape a toxic culture. Furthermore, a good understanding of your current culture will enable you to hire with cultural fit in mind, helping you to find those who will thrive in your organisation and prevent costly recruitment mistakes.  So how can you get an accurate picture of your workplace culture, and identify any potential areas for improvement? I  believe culture and engagement surveys provide employers with the insights needed to create a company culture which is attractive to current employees and to up-and-coming talent. When surveys are  conducted by an external party, employers are also more likely to get honest answers and gain an authentic reflection.  An effective survey will help you to understand and develop your organisation’s culture to deliver strategic and long term performance. Here’s just some of the valuable insights you can expect to receive: 1. Clarity of vision Are your employees aware of the aims and objectives of your organisation? A recent report found that only 42% of employees knew their organisation’s vision, mission and cultural values.   If employees are working without any real understanding of these elements, it is likely people will be pulling in different directions and not working together towards a collective vision. 2. Motivation levels The more motivated your employees are, the more likely they are to go the extra mile. However, it’s important to recognise what motivates people as individuals, rather than trying to guess what would work for everyone. A culture and engagement survey can help employers gain the insights needed to assess this. 3. Organisational learning New generations entering the workforce have created a shift in employee needs and motivations. Is your organisation successfully maintaining a culture which remains attractive to an evolving workforce? Are there any long-held misconceptions which need addressing? For example, is there a culture of long hours because people believe those who arrive early and stay late are seen to be the hardest workers? 4. Employee engagement The importance of gaining an insight into your current levels of employee engagement, and identifying any areas of improvement, should never be underestimated. Evidence shows that businesses with an engaged workforce have 40 per cent less staff turnover. Engaged employees will also be stronger advocates and help protect against the reputational risks associated with poor service levels or product quality. 5. Communication Is there an open and honest communication culture? Do senior managers trust employees and share information at the earliest opportunity? Providing transparent information and giving employees a voice are two key enablers of employee engagement. Effective internal communications are also essential in keeping staff engaged in the organisation’s developments. 6. Leadership style Is your senior leadership team fostering a positive work environment or a negative one? A successful workplace culture needs to have a clear commitment from the top and should be led by example. Employers also need to make sure that managers are effectively equipped to provide ongoing performance management which will help each employee to thrive. 7. Team work Does your organisation have a culture where people respect and support each other? In today’s multigenerational workforce it is becoming increasingly important to ensure each generational group respects each other’s unique talents. A successful culture will be based on employees sharing their knowledge across age groups and a sense of teamwork which spans the generations. 8. Innovation Innovation is essential if you want to stay ahead of the curve in your industry. Do your employees believe they are able to contribute ideas? They could provide creative solutions for new ways of working which will improve customer satisfaction and increase income. 9. Learning and development Do employees have a clear understanding of their career and progression path?   Offering development opportunities is an important element of employee engagement. It motivates existing employees and helps employers to create an effective progression pipeline. It also promotes the organisation as a place where new recruits will be supported to reach their full potential. 10. Employee well being Happy, healthy staff are more engaged and productive and employers benefit from reduced absenteeism. How do your employees view their work-life balance? Are any employee wellbeing programmes working effectively? A healthy culture relies on helping employees to strike the delicate balance between work and home life so they can effectively manage their careers, stay healthy and continue to feel engaged. Image: Shutterstock

Engineering a Better Tomorrow Through Employer Branding

Engineering a Better Tomorrow Through Employer Branding We sit down with an American global aerospace, defense, security and advanced technologies company with worldwide interests. Charlotte Jones leads Talent Attraction and Employee Engagement Strategies at Lockheed Martin, a leading technology innovation company. Headquartered in Bethesda, Lockheed Martin’s brings proven performance to our customers’ toughest in more than 70 nations. Charlotte has been leading attraction strategies for over 17 years now, whether it’s diversity and inclusion-focused, recruiting marketing or employer branding focused. She manages content, messages, creative campaigns, project plans and teams that contribute to the overall company brand. Have a listen to the interview below, keep reading for a summary and be sure to subscribe to the  Employer Branding Podcast. Listen on  Apple Podcasts,  Stitcher Radio,  Google Play  or  SoundCloud. In this episode youll learn: All about how Charlotte started her role at Lockheed Martin. What the corporate culture is all about at the company and why it is all about doing whats right, respecting others and performing with excellence. How the company is challenged by their  top-secret talent needs! What their oneLM approach to employer brand entails. How they communicate  and activate their employer brand strategy. What Charlottes top 3 mistakes to avoid are. Why AI is the future for employer branding and recruitment marketing. Connect with Charlotte on LinkedIn!

Choosing The Right Car How To Win At Car Buying

Choosing The Right Car How To Win At Car Buying According to the Brookings Institute, 90% of Americans drive to work.  They sit in a car for an average of 25 minutes in each direction.  Clearly, we love, or at least tolerate our cars.  So choosing the right car is important.  But how do you pick the car thats best for you?  Are you an early adopter, who goes for the latest technology?  Are you environmentally minded and looking for the best hybrid or electric vehicle?  Or do you follow the advice suggested in that football commercial by cars.com, waiting to see how it works out for someone else before you take the dive? Whether youre an early adopter type or a wait and see type, youll need to consider some basic information to make a good decision.  Heres a rundown of whats considered most important by the experts. Car Values Unless youre committed to keeping the car until its one day hauled off to the scrap yard, theres a lot more to value than the price tag. Of course, youll be negotiating for the best possible price.  But youve got to consider the likely value when it comes time to sell or trade it.  All things being equal, a vehicle with higher resale (residual value if youre leasing) is going to cost you less to own.  Think of it this way:  if it depreciates less while you own it, thats less youll have to be paying for.  If youre leasing, thats usually reflected in a lower monthly lease payment. Where can you learn about resale values?  There are online sources of values and you can also look to publications such as consumer reports who usually include such information in their reviews.  The information you want is calculated as a percentage of the new retail price, so the higher the percentage the less the car typically depreciates. Pricing Be familiar with pricing before you go shopping.  New car prices are based on manufacturers suggest retail price, or MSRP.  As the name suggests, thats the suggested retail price.  Its a starting point and (hopefully) never what you actually pay. Used cars can be a bit trickier to price.  Equipment, regional differences, even color or personalized registration can affect price of a used car.  Either way, here are some tips in negotiating price: Know ahead of time your budget, both price and payment, and stick to it. Negotiate each piece of the deal separately.  First price of the car you want, then terms of the lease or loan, and then the trade allowance for your existing vehicle. Read and re-read the paperwork.  Its not uncommon for the deal you thought you made to be different from what gets printed out. Question anything and everything about which you are unclear.  There are no dumb questions. Watch for add-on, which might include anything from protection plans, to glass etchings.   Make sure youre only buying what you really want. Vehicle Ratings and Reports Take the time to research the make and model youre considering.  What are the experiences and opinions of other owners?  What have the professional reviews concluded about it? Consumer reviews tend to be more general, but if you dig a little you might find common complaints or problems.  Professional reviews will be much more detailed, and probably more objective.  Often, theyll compare five or six similar vehicles. Finally, when youve narrowed it down to a specific vehicle, get a vehicle history on it.  That will tell you such things as maintenance history, accident history, and if the vehicle was used as a rental previously. The Other Factors Of course, buying a car is not purely an objective exercise.  You dont want to buy a green car just because its a good deal with great ratings if you hate green.  So any personal preferences or needs should be considered before you sign on the dotted line. With the average lease at 36 months of $405 payments, and the average purchase at 67 months with a $488 payment, choosing the right car is important.  The fun and excitement of having something new will fade far before those monthly checks youll be writing.  But do your homework, and youll end up with the perfect car.

7 Things You Need to Know BeforeMoving Abroad for a New Job - CareerMetis.com

7 Things You Need to Know BeforeMoving Abroad for a New Job Source : Unsplash.comWhen you think that your country has nothing to offer you, the thought of going abroad surfaces. Your current job is like hell, you barely feel that it helps you and it’s like you don’t even enjoy it anymore.Working abroad can take your career and life to the next level.Many people seek jobs abroad nowadays. It usually happens because their country doesn’t offer them many opportunities. Another cause might be the fact that they don’t find the jobs they prepared for and other countries have a wide variety of jobs that people can choose from.evalHowever, moving to a new country is not an easy task. You must give up on many things, like friends, family or even hobbies to be able to do this. Basically, a new life begins, with a new job and house and new people, language, and surroundings. A lot of bravery is needed to be able to do this.This task is not impossible, though. Here’s a list of things you need to know before moving abroad for a new job.1. The Co untry’s LanguageevalIt is no surprise, but if you’re going to a different country, you might have to learn the language, or at least some basic grammar. English is used all over the world, but where you’re going to might be a bit different.While English is the international language, there are countries where it’s not learned in school.You’ve probably heard that you can never fully master a foreign language until you live in the country it’s used. This is true. While you learn and practice at home, you might be surprised to hear a totally different language once you get there.Each language has certain dialects, and they differ depending on where you’re going. Different parts of the country have different dialects. Therefore, it’s easier to learn them when you encounter them and see how they’re used.2. Living CostsBefore starting the job, you probably have an idea about what your income is going to be. You must be aware that the costs in a different country might be different compared to what you’re used to.evalAccommodation, food, and entertainment could all have higher prices than those in your birthplace.Negotiate your income in such way to line up with the country’s costs. Additionally, you can open a bank account until actually getting your salary. This way, your loved ones might be able to help you until you get on track.3. Your Loved OnesMoving alone might be very hard. You are forced to pack your stuffand give up on meeting with your family and friends on a daily basis.Well, there’s the option to take them with you. However, there are some things to consider.evalIf you have children, you must think about how they would be able to integrate in the new country. If a young family is moving with you, look for nursery and local schooling, so find out the costs and available options.If you’re moving alone, think about how easy it would be for you to go home in case of an emergency.4. The CultureThink about the fact that you’re goin g to embrace a new culture. Do some research about the country’s culture to make sure you don’t mistakenly do something bad.Remember that, to them, you are the representation of your country. If you don’t respect their culture, they might develop a bad opinion about yours.You’re a guest, but you shouldn’t expect special treatment just because you’re a foreigner. Their country is the one offering you something, so be respectful of their culture and they are going to respect you as well.5. Their TaxesevalDepending on your home country, in some cases, you can become a tax resident in your new location. Certain countries have this thing called a bilateral tax.It means that they calculate how a non-resident is going to be taxed. Keep in mind that your finances may face a huge change if you stay there beyond the exemption time and become liable for taxation.6. Location and PeopleBefore getting there, do some research. Find out which are the best areas to live in and what they have to offer. Compare them to your home and notice the changes they bring in your daily life.Moving out is stressful however you look at it, so it’s better to have some information before diving in.evalOnce you get there, you’re not going to spend your whole day in bed watching TV. It’s a new world, so you should go out and explore the surroundings.In addition, you need to find some people you can hang out with. You’re going to be far away from home, and the faces you’re used to seeing are not with you. So, the need for people you can connect with is huge when in a foreign place.Find some people with common tastes and hobbies. Try befriending the co-workers as well. Don’t isolate yourself, go out into the world and socialize.7. OpportunitiesKeep this in mind: not everyone has this unique chance that you’re experiencing. Many people want to move to a different country but are not able to because of various problems.Working abroad is an experience you’re most likely n ot going to regret. You have the opportunity of learning a new language and seeing how life is for other people. You’re living in a different culture and learning a lot about it. Such things are sure to boost your independence, skills, and mood.evalIt also helps you find out if you want this to be temporary or you’d like to move there for good. Still, whether you decide to leave or not, it’s an experience worth living.Final ThoughtsIf you’re being drawn to getting a job abroad, don’t miss it. It can offer you a lot of advantages, and you’re never going to forget this experience.

3 Warning Signals Your LinkedIn Profile Needs Help! - CareerEnlightenment.com

2. Is Your Profile Visible?Many small businesses use LinkedIn’s built-in search feature to source candidates. The better you describe yourself in your profile, the more you will appear in search results.Luckily, LinkedIn provides this report right inside your profile. To access it, click on Who’s Viewed Your Profile on the Home page. Then toggle over to the graph on the top right called Appearances in Search. If you don’t see an upward trend, then something is missing from your profile. My guess is that you aren’t describing yourself in an accurate enough or objective enough way. Perhaps there are keywords and trends missing from your profile. Perhaps there simply isn’t enough copy on the page to capture the outlier opportunities. This is a classic symptom of being so “in it” that you can’t see how others see you.An easy fix might be to write more and hope that something you say sticksâ€"like tossing spaghetti on a wall to see if it’s doneâ€"but that’s not a prec ise way to improve your click rate. Read on3. Are You Clickable and Cuddly?Click rate can be a measurement of the quality of your profile. The better your profile copy, the more likely someone will be to click on you when you show up in search results. That’s what the Views report tells you.  Again, if you don’t see an upward trend in views, then the quality of your Headline needs improvement. Improving that pesky 120-character area will have the largest impact on your job search success.What You Can Do to Improve Your LinkedIn ProfileI respect people who want to do it themselves. My yard is full of DIY projects (and they look that way!). But, sometimes, you have to hire a repairman to tell you where your lint bricks are.When it comes to your career, you may want to consider having a professional writer handle your profile.My LinkedIn Profile Writer service offers a 48-hour turnaround on your new LinkedIn profile, guaranteed for quality. After uploading your new profile, expect upward trends in your network growth, visibility and clickability within weeks.Your career isn’t something you want to take risks on. Every day that your profile isn’t working for you is another lost opportunity to find your dream job.Click the link to learn more about my new  LinkedIn Profile Writer services.

Resume Writing Assistance Near Me

Resume Writing Assistance Near MeDo you need a resume writing assistance near me? In case you need a resume writing service or want to have your resume professionally edited, there are a few tips that you can follow in order to ensure the success of your job search.This is perhaps the first step that you must do in order to have a resume of your own. The next step in the process is getting it into a format that will be appropriate for the people who are looking for a job. This is easily done by using a variety of formats.There are various formats that you can use. You can have a resume for the e-mails, the official document and the CV. You can make use of all of these forms of resumes and you will be able to cover all the bases. You will be able to compare the formatting of your resume with all of the other available formats in order to decide which one will be most effective.There are many ways to get your resume into a format that will get noticed. One way is to put your name and t he job position on the cover page of your resume. It does not matter if this is an official resume or if it is a freelance one; people will read this cover page and they will know that you are applying for a particular job.You can also take advantage of the fact that people will skim through the resume and they will see what they want to see. You can include a few personal details in your resume. In this way, the people who are reading your resume will be able to determine whether or not you are someone who is worth hiring.The next thing that you can do is include the job title that you are applying for. It is a good idea to start the job title at the top of the resume because the person reading your resume will see the job title at the top and they will assume that you are applying for a certain job. If you do not know the job title or if you do not know what the job entails, you can also include the job title at the bottom of the resume.If you have to use Microsoft Word to write y our resume, you will want to make sure that it is formatted properly. One way to make sure that your resume is formatted properly is to make sure that it has a header row and a footer row. You can put the date of the first date that you worked at the top of the footer row and put the date of the last date that you worked at the top of the header row.There are a few things that you should avoid when you are looking for resume writing assistance near me. Avoid being too formal with your resume, especially if you are applying for a job that does not have a specific requirement for formal format. Also, do not use lots of data in your resume, especially if the job is not that demanding.