WHY CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS TO ALDEBARAN RECRUITING - Lance Winsaft

Turnover is known to be the biggest expense to companies throughout the nation. At Aldebaran Recruiting we have one of the highest retention rates you will ever come across for when placing candidates. What’s our secret you may ask? It simple. We listen to our candidates. Money is not the only motivating factor for a lot of the workforce nowadays. 

Companies have been making it a point to work on their “Corporate Sustainability”. Corporate Sustainability is a strategy that takes into account how a business operates ethically, socially, environmentally and economically. Successfully working on corporate culture and making a conscious adoption of a company mission make your company appealing to workforces world wide.

Becoming apart of a company that makes a difference and has a reputation of having Corporate Sustainability is what millenials today are looking for. By 2025, millennials will make up three-quarters of the workforce so the needs what they are looking for is important to understand. There has been skyrocketing statics that prove millenials are not motivated by money anymore, they are motivated by culture and change.

What we do here as recruiters at Aldebaran is understand the wants and needs from our candidates and clients, then make the match. There is a shift in what the workforce looks for in a company to work for. When shifts happen we adjust and learn new wants and needs.

To learn more about Company Sustainability, check out this great article Why Corporate Sustainability Should Matter to Recruiters. 

LANCE WINSAFT ON FINDING YOUR IDEAL CAREER: WHERE DO YOU START?

Finding your ideal career is not easy, but the fact that you’re reading this article means that you’re a driven, motivated individual that’s willing to work hard for it. Good job! You’ve already gotten the first step down: To find the motivation.

So what’s next? Well, here are some essential steps to start finding your ideal career. It is recommended that you write your ideas down as you go to make it more concrete and easier to work with.

Define your passion

First, you need to do some self-assessment. What are some things that you like? What is it that drives you? It doesn’t have to be career- or industry-specific. Your motivation can be your simplest desires like “I like helping others” or “I like it when the numbers come together.” Landing a job that aligns with your passion will definitely boost your performance and leaves you feeling satisfied.

Define your strengths and weaknesses

Make a list of things that you’re good at and what you need to work on. You’ll more likely enjoy and succeed in a career that allows you to make use of your strengths. If you’re concerned that your ideal career path might not suit you because of your weakness, don’t be discouraged! In fact, good for you! Now you know what you need to work on and you’re one step closer to being in your ideal career.

Gain experience

You may have found it difficult to list your passion, strengths, and weaknesses. That’s ok! You’re not alone. You’ll need to give yourself some time to identify both your natural and learned skills. Take the time to understand your own potential. After gaining some experience, you’ll be better able to assess yourself and find a skill (or a combination of it) that you can capitalize on.

Define your priorities and career goals

Everyone has slightly different goals in life. Some will want to focus on their career growth, while others want to focus on learning new skills. If you’re focusing on your career growth, avoid the common mistake of prioritizing short-term improvements. What you want now may not be aligned with what you want five or ten years down the road. For example, don’t be swayed by a job promotion if it means that you’ll be stuck in a career path that you don’t want to be in.

Consider the work culture

Work culture may seem insignificant, but it actually matters more than some would think. Consider the work environment that would suit you best. What will your relationship with your coworkers look like? What style of company leadership do you look for? These things can contribute to whether you will enjoy a job or not. For example, some would enjoy working in a big corporate company while others thrive in smaller companies. Do your research. Find out if the work culture of the jobs in your career path would allow you to perform at your maximum potential.

Money is not everything

Yes, we all have to pay our bills. However, money shouldn’t be your primary goal. You’ll always want “a bit more.” You’ll never be content if your goal purely about gaining more money. Instead, think about what matters to you most. Do you want flexible work hours? What kind of lifestyle do you want to live? Revisit your values, life priorities, and career goals.

It’s always nice to be in your ideal career. But like everything nice, it will take time and effort. So put in those hours and don’t hold back on those sweat and tears! You might only land a decent job in the beginning, but rest assured, your efforts will pay off sooner or later. Best of luck!

LANCE WINSAFT ON WHAT TO DO WHEN A RECRUITER IS BEING UNRESPONSIVE

Did a recruiter suddenly stop responding to your emails? Are they not responding to you after you went to multiple interviews? Have you sent them polite emails and multiple phone calls for a month, but they’re still not getting back to you? Then you have been ‘ghosted.’

Ghosting is a pretty common occurrence not only in recruiting, but also in life. It’s when the other party ‘slowly fades away.’ If you find yourself being ghosted in the hiring process, here’s what you should do.

1. Mourn About It

Let it all out. Cry on your bed. Punch your pillows. It’s ok to feel upset. You have every right to feel that way. However, it’s important to do this privately. Share your pain and frustration with your closest friends and family, but don’t bring it to your social media. Venting through your social media is not the best option. It will demonstrate a lack of emotional control to your future employers and ruin your chances in the job hunt.

2a. Send a Firm Email Saying That This is Not Ok

Ghosting is an unprofessional business practice. Sending a firm email may not get you the job, but it might make you feel better. Recruiter Jane Ashen Turkewitz from .comrecruiting suggests sending an email like this:

“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to interview for the role of X. I was surprised, after my 7 rounds of interviews, to not hear anything regardless of my attempts to stay engaged.

Due to the lack of response, it’s a fair assumption that you have decided to move in another direction.  While I am disappointed, I certainly respect if someone more qualified entered the picture.

That said, isn’t it common courtesy to let a candidate know where he stands in the process, even if it’s a difficult conversation? A rejection is disappointing but ghosting shows a lack of leadership and empathy.

I hope one day, if you are in my shoes, interviewing for a new, exciting job, that you are not treated in such an unkind manner. Wishing you and yours continued success as I find success elsewhere.”

Be cautious about sending a firm email. Remember, send it only when you’re ready to move on from the job. Also, it’s best not to be too firm when you’ve only been to only one interview with them. Instead, you can them a small and polite note.

2b. You Can Also Not Do Anything

Please don’t go assuming that recruiters are evil. Not all of us are like this. Sometimes recruiters have no control over this. Sometimes being unresponsive can be a part of the recruiter’s job. Some companies have a “no feedback” policy. By not doing anything, you won’t be burning any bridges. It’s a good way to keep your options open with this company, especially if it’s a big company. 

3. Don’t Let It Affect Your Other Applications

Don’t start becoming impatient and keep asking questions to future recruiters. It’s best to always present your best self. Getting ghosted sucks, but it’s best to let it go. Yes, we realize that it’s much, much harder than it sounds. Every recruiting process is different. It’s best to simply learn from this experience to be prepared for when a recruiter ghosts you again.

Don’t be discouraged when you’re being ghosted. It happens more often than you’d think, but not all recruiters are like this. It doesn’t always mean that they’re not interested in you either. Getting ghosted can be very upsetting, but worst case scenario: You won’t end up in a company that lacks proper etiquette. If they’re treating you poorly from the start, who knows what else they would do to you.

LANCE WINSAFT - WHAT TO DO ABOUT JOB HOPPERS

Some recruiters do not like candidates who job hop. They believe that job hoppers only cause an unnecessary increase in their turnover expenses. However, that is not always true. 

There are plenty of benefits that job hoppers can bring to your company. 

Why they make good hires

Job hoppers may bring benefits that can more than make up for your turnover expenses.

• Fast learners

They are typically fast learners. Having had many jobs in a relatively short period of time, they have learned to be adaptable and adjust quickly to new environments. Since they’re easy to get onboard, they don’t require much time and effort to get up to speed.

• Diverse skill sets

Job hoppers often have a wide range of both technical and soft skills. Having worked in different industries, they can tackle problems from a different perspective. They may also be familiar with different technologies that your company might benefit from. Job hoppers have developed strong interpersonal skills by working with a wide range of people and companies.

• Bring new ideas

Job hoppers can bring new ideas. They can draw on their experiences from working with other companies to bring more innovative ideas and solutions to your company. This is something that loyal employees might lack. As a result, it prevents your company from being stale.

• Wide social network

Job hoppers are more than just a deep well of knowledge and ideas. They have most likely built a wide business network. Having more business connections can only benefit your company. This can be anything from recruiting more quality candidates and finding more clients.

How to hire them and get them to settle at your company

Job hoppers are naturally ambitious and eager to gain new experience and/or climb the ranks. Retaining them can be difficult, just as it is difficult to attract and retain any top talent. 

• Foster employee development

You can increase retention rates by implementing employee engagement programs. Talk and listen to your employees. Let them express their objectives. Then provide them with some strategic direction. Ambitious job hoppers are eager to learn. They seek guidance and will greatly appreciate your input. They will be more inclined to keep working with you if your company is a resourceful learning environment to them.

• Facilitate advancement in the company

All employees want to be valued for their hard work and commitment. Job hoppers are the same. They crave continuous recognition of their contributions to the company. Create a rewarding and appealing work environment by recognizing their years of service, high performance, and continued excellence. Again, you have to listen to them closely. Take the time to understand their interests to create a recognition program that will truly resonate with them. Job hoppers will be more inclined to stay at your company if they feel valued.

LANCE WINSAFT - WHAT TO NEGOTIATE WHEN SALARY IS NO LONGER AN OPTION

Your negotiation position depends on your alternatives. When all else fails, don’t be discouraged! Take ‘No’ as an answer and recognise that it’s part of the growth process. ‘No’ can also mean ‘Not yet’. There are still other alternatives to salary that you can negotiate.

Better Work Conditions
Take this opportunity to negotiate for better work conditions. For example, if you feel like you’re unable to work at your full potential, consider requesting for a better workspace that would best suit your style. If you feel suffocated because of work, maybe you should ask for a more flexible schedule to accommodate for your life outside of work. If your job requires a long commute or would require you to relocate in the near future, consider asking for the option to work remotely. Lastly, if you feel that your title doesn’t fully encompass the scope of your role, you may also request for a better title.

– Workspace
– Work schedule
– Remote work option
– Job title

More Benefits
If better work conditions are not your cup-of-tea, consider requesting for more benefits. For example, think about what you need to stay physically and mentally healthy and ask for more paid time off. If you often pay a visit to the doctor, consider upgrading your health insurance. If you travel a lot for work purposes, ask for travel reimbursements to lighten your load. Lastly, if you’re looking to improve your qualifications, consider requesting for tuition reimbursement or professional development support.

– Paid time off
– Health insurance
– Travel reimbursement
– Educational opportunities

When presenting your counter offer, never negotiate through written communication! You should always counter offer in person or over the phone. Negotiations must always be engaging to both parties. Remember, this is an opportunity for you to think outside the box, so you’re not limited to the options mentioned above. It’s best to counter only once, so choose wisely. Figure out what’s most important to you and what your superiors are most likely willing to accept.

For more information on how and what to negotiate, visit https://americannegotiationinstitute.com/ 

LANCE WINSAFT - WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN “INEXPERIENCED” CANDIDATE

Everyone is unique. Each one of us have our own strengths and weaknesses. We’ve all lead different paths in life. In truth, no one can be said to be actually “inexperienced.” Whether an applicant is fresh out of college or looking for a career change, you shouldn’t be worried about them being inexperienced. There are many opportunities for them to shine. So what should you look for in a good candidate?

Answer: Soft Skills

According to the Oxford Dictionary, soft skills are defined as the “Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.” While technical ability can be taught, soft skills are much harder to instill in a person. Employees that lack soft skills can undermine your company’s success. On the other hand, soft skills that complement hard skills are what makes an applicant truly valuable.

Here are some skills that you should consider looking for in candidates:

• Communication skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Dependability and reliability
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Initiative
• Adaptability
• Good business ethics
• Innovative spirit
• Willingness to learn

Where to Look for Soft Skills

Now that we know what to look for in a candidate, there are several methods to assess whether a candidate will make a good employee.

Reviews from Contacts

What better way to assess a candidate’s personal qualities than to ask someone who knows them? Talk to their previous employers and find out about the candidate’s work ethics. Were they responsive? Were they able to communicate well with their coworkers? You can also give a call to their friends or relatives, but there’s a good chance that they have biased opinions. So communicating with a candidate’s previous work contacts is the best option.

Previous Experiences

Mark Murphy, the founder of Leadership IQ and a NY Times bestselling author, found that “high performers … are naturally wired to put others’ needs ahead of their own.” Whereas low performers will get their job done, they’re only doing it because they’re told to do so. On the other hand, high performers go above and beyond because they “find passion working toward something bigger than themselves.” They have what Mark calls the “helper” attitude. A good way for a candidate to demonstrate the “helper” attitude is if they find volunteer experiences truly rewarding.

Preparation in Recruiting Process

Lastly, a good way to judge a candidate’s personality is through how prepared they are during the application process. A candidate who’s not afraid to take the initiative to ask questions and comes well prepared to the interviews is very likely to help your company succeed.

LANCE WINSAFT - 3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD IMPROVE YOUR CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE

What is candidate experience?

Candidate experience is how a job seeker reacts to a company’s recruiting process. There are hundreds of articles out there on how to improve candidate experience. It’s a topic that’s been gaining much popularity in the recruiting world, but why does it matter? There are billions of people out there looking for jobs. Surely, companies will eventually find one that qualifies for the job, right? Not so fast! Here are 3 reasons why you should treat your candidates as valuable as your customers.

Candidate experience > Employment brand 

All companies strive to improve their brand reputation. However, your reputation as employers should not be overlooked. A company cannot build a strong brand reputation if the people, including your valued customers, learns that its employees and candidates are not treated right. A poor candidate experience will set back your efforts on building that solid brand reputation. Creating a strong reputation starts from giving a delightful candidate experience.

Attract top talent

Improving your candidate experience builds a strong employment brand. In turn, a strong employment brand attracts talented candidates. Candidates have worked very hard to earn their degrees and gain valuable work experiences. They don’t deserve to be left in the dark or given vague responses. Talented candidates know their value and want to be treated right. Giving candidates a pleasant experience allow them to shine. They’ll be better able to show their strengths and you’ll be better able to pick the right candidates.

Attract more customers

Yes, you read it right. Candidates who’ve enjoyed their application process will share their positive experiences. This is an opportunity to build a positive image for your company to attract more customers. Kevin W. Grossman, vice president of Talent Board, has spent many years in the world of talent management. He found that having a positive candidate experience can positively impact the direct revenue for consumer-based businesses.

Treating your candidates right will not only build a strong employment brand, it will also help you attract more valuable candidates. Furthermore, it helps you attract more customers, thus increasing your company’s revenue. Start improving your candidate experience. What’s there to lose?