Friday, August 31, 2012

What's the Deal with Generation Y?




I frequently read about the various generations in the workplace and don’t concern myself with it.  However, I realize in trying to reach some of my younger candidates that certain means of communication are more effective than others.  For example, a candidate in her early 20’s didn’t respond to email on a very timely basis, but calling her cell and not leaving a message resulted in an immediate callback.  I came upon this article with some interesting statistics about Generation Y that I think is worth sharing.

It does confirm one thing I know to be true, even if they like to come in late, you can always count on your Gen Y employee to help you with technology and social media!

-Carolyn Murray, Director of Business Development

 

It seems there’s always an analysis surfacing of generational differences and how they apply in the workplace.  But a new one from PayScale Inc. and Millennial Branding offers plenty of food for thought, as well as specific data. (Scroll down for PayScale’s infographic.) It scrutinizes Generation Y, a distinctive category that applies to people ages 18 to 29. Still, people in that category may have a beef with some of the conclusions. (Leave a comment about your take.)
Apparently, the Gen Y worker prefers broad flexibility and small employers, with the exception of big tech companies that offer plenty of perks and prize innovation. Despite being well educated, many are working jobs that wouldn’t necessarily require a college degree, thanks to the economy.....



 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Building Rapport Is A Learned Behavior

I found the column by Anita Bruzzese, ‘On the Job:  Building rapport is a learned behavior’, to be very interesting and relevant, partly because of my psychology background, and partly because of my fascination with the FBI!  But mostly because I can relate to this, due to my many years of interviewing experience as a Recruiter.  I have found that interviewing is definitely a learned behavior that takes times to develop, both on the interviewee and interviewer sides.  I will admit, I have griped after an interview where the candidate talked too much, made odd comments, didn’t read my body language (aka, ‘establishing time constraints’ as Robin Dreeke describes in the article), etc.  But I have the unfair advantage of eight years of interviewing experience, whereas most people have only gone on a handful in their lifetime.  I have learned it’s as equally important for me to do my part to make the candidate feel comfortable and less nervous/threatened, so that they can do their part and answer my questions effectively.  Interviewing is a nerve-wracking experience for most people, so reading this article before-hand could really help ease some jitters.  And if you’re about to interview with me, just start talking about animals (especially kitties) or Michael Kors and you’re in like Flynn.  ;)
-Ali Kairies
In many fictional stories, the good guy always manages to establish some kind of rapport with the bad guy.  This causes the villain to spill his guts, revealing all the necessary details needed for the good guy to avert worldwide disaster and save mankind.  It's not always that way in the real world, however. While the good guys in movies or television make it seem easy to establish a connection with a stranger, it can be intimidating just thinking of trying to strike up a conversation with someone you don't know, such as a hiring manager or a potential customer….

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Millennials - Should You Hire Them?


I found this blog (link below) interesting enough to incorporate it into my own.  There is a lot of talk about the pros and cons of the new group entering the workforce these days, the Millennials.  What I’m learning is that there is no getting around the fact that this is the next generation.  So, instead of fighting it and making them do things the way we always have, maybe we should take a moment to understand who they are.  There could be a lot of positives they could bring to the company if we could learn to adjust.  I’m not saying that they should not learn how your business runs but maybe, just maybe, there is something each side could learn from the other.
-Gen X’er signing off

Social media-obsessed, tech savvy optimists are breaking into the job market in record numbers. This new generation of workers, known as Millennials, has struggled to land jobs recently. But, there are certain traits that these 18 to 29-year-olds possess that make them a catch to any potential employer.....