The 7 Steps to Setting Up Your Own Recruitment Agency

The 7 Steps to Setting Up Your Own Recruitment Agency This post is written and sponsored by John Buckman of Recruit Ventures; the joint venture operation funding and supporting entrepreneurial recruiters start-up in business. To find out more, follow the above link to get in touch! As I often say, most successful recruitment consultants possess a strong entrepreneurial flair; it goes with the territory. If you’ve ever considered going at it alone and taking the plunge from top biller to top business owner, you’re definitely not the only one, so keep on reading! Let me share with you some of the expertise I have gained from personal experience. As a top-billing consultant interested in starting up your own successful agency, it’s absolutely key that you endeavour to build a solid business around you which runs smoothly, allowing you to continue to do what you do best; finding and servicing clients. But beware! Before you put that entrepreneurial flair of yours into practice, check out the 7 things you need to set up your own recruitment agency: 1. Finance Firstly, the financial support has to come from people who understand the business. There are cash flow, accountancy and legal demands on a recruitment consultancy or agency that many banks or investors won’t understand. Talk to those first or maybe consider a joint venture partnership to help you on your way. 2. Infrastructure Secondly, the support needed goes beyond the purely financial. You can’t ‘hit the track running’ unless you’ve got the IT in place and a road-tested, fully compliant system up and running from day one. What about premises where are you going to build your empire? And then, where do you start with lease agreements, rent etc… it can all be a bit daunting. 3. Branding Then, as much as you’ll have ideas about launching your own recruitment business you have to understand that you’re not automatically an expert in every aspect of launching a business. You’ll need professional advice on branding, your logo and your identity. 4. Back office Because you’re setting up on your own you’ll want to concentrate on what you do best; actually doing the business and making new relationships. If you’re always worrying about getting vital invoices out on time, you’ll end up being distracted from generating the work that ultimately generates the invoices, causing your business pipeline to dry up. You need the backup (which includes the dreaded cash flow again!) to provide not only the systems that allow you to match people to roles, but also to make your own business run like clockwork. 5. Support I set my business up with the backing of a partner who trusted me to get on with running it… ‘a joint venture’ which provided the right support at the time I needed to get going.  I am strong evidence that joint ventures really do work. 6. Dedication I know about hard work too. Getting here wasn’t a walk in the park. My guess is that you’re not afraid of the hard graft either! It’s just that you’re starting to think that it would make more sense if you saw the rewards of that effort you put in, yourself. 7. Freedom This ones really important; youre going to need some freedom, too. If you’ve started out on your own for the first time, you need to be able to do it your way and get on with doing what you love. You don’t need a backer or financial package that ties you down, turning you back into the restricted and frustrated employee you were before. So, if youre interested in setting up your own recruitment business, remember these key points: you need sound backing from people who understand your business. You need the right systems in place to support the front and back end operations of the business. You need to have professional advice on branding and presentation. You need a whole lot of dedication and finally, you need freedom to concentrate on what you do best! About the author: John Buckman is chairman of Recruit Ventures. To find out more about how John can help you launch and build a successful recruitment business, check out their website at Recruit Ventures.

What Neuroscience Teaches About Creativity, Stress and Getting Promoted - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Neuroscience Teaches About Creativity, Stress and Getting Promoted - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career On the surface, stress might seem like a good way to kick-start  productivity, but studies show that when we are under stress we can’t think as broadly, widely or deeply. Stress can increase motor function but it decreases perception, cognition and creativity. David Rock, author of  Your Brain at Work  and the co-founder of the  NeuroLeadership Institute, studies the intricate mechanics of the brain, creativity and stress. Rock works with organizations using brain science to help leaders perform and manage more effectively.  â€œEven a small amount of stress is noisy in the brain,” says Rock.    The  NeuroLeadership Institute  surveyed 6000 workers, and found that only ten percent of people do their best thinking at work. Expanded technology, multitasking and a competitively demanding (or threatening) company culture, can add to the noise in the brain, which crushes creativity. What Practical Steps can you take to decrease stress and increase creativity? Rock has the following suggestions: Create a positive state Be positive in how you approach a problem Quiet the brain. That means reducing the neural activation, the numbers of neurons speaking to each other. Being quiet, not speaking Become internally focused. We can be more creative if we shut out what we see and hear in the moment. Practice mind wandering; effortlessly wander through thought, and cut down on external data. Stop working on a problem that you fail to solve. The non-conscious has the resources of the milky way. If you’re having a problem, switch to doing something else and let the non-conscious do the work. In addition to Rock’s suggestions for steering the brain towards increasing creativity I suggest a few more ways to reduce stress that could help spur creativity: Realize you can’t solve every problem Be kind to yourself and find areas in your life that bring you pleasure Manage your energy not your time Put effort into problems that you can help solve Let go of dysfunctional relationships Stop thinking you can fix everyone else’s problems some things are outside of your control and require acceptance Don’t expect yourself to be perfect Laugh more at yourself Develop strategies to improve in a few areas that you can change Disengage from conflict where there is no foreseeable solution Reach out to socialize with positive people Now that you have a plan in place to reduce stress, is it possible to increase creativity or is creativity an innate characteristic? Dr.  Puccios work at The University of Manchester  debunks the myth that people are born creative geniuses, with a special gene that endows them with inventiveness.  According to the latest scientific research, Puccio shows that’s hardly the case at all. It turns out anyone can be creative. You just have to know how to  think  creatively. He says that in today’s hyperactive worldâ€"where bold new challenges can seem to bring about the same stale answersâ€"creative thinking is more important than ever. And it’s about more than just writing a novel or composing a piece of music. Creative thinking involves taking a broader, more imaginative approach to analyzing and solving the everyday challenges we all face, whether in the office or at home.  By training yourself to become a more creative thinker, you could:  Develop and bring to fruition new answers to problems that once seemed daunting or unsolvable;  Become more persuasive in how you present and sell your ideas;  Avoid tired solutions in favor of novel ones with the potential for even greater success;  Strengthen your ability to lead teams and organizations; And  reach new levels of satisfaction and fulfillment in your daily life. Because creativity is a set of skills that anyone can improve, you can learn how to wield the same research-based tools and techniques that today’s creative people use in their own work. Puccio believes that in order for you to become creative all you need is an open mind, a determination to succeed, and  a creative toolkit to develop and hone the skills. Puccio highlights the four major stages of this process. Each stage involves a different way of thinking and a different set of tools to facilitate greater creativity. And all of them can be adapted to fit the demands of your own particular challenge. Clarify:  Once you’ve determined your problem and your goal, you need to identify the challenges (both obvious and hidden) you’ll have to address and overcome to achieve the results you want. Ideate:  This stage is about generating ideas: good ones, bad ones, and ugly ones. It’s also where tools like brainstorming, brainwriting, forced connections, and even borrowing from others can lead you to out-of-the-box solutions. Develop:  Now you need to focus on development, which involves taking your ideas, evaluating them, determining which ones are workable, and transforming them into solutions. Implement:  Last comes the most tactical part of the process, in which you move the solutions from your own head into reality, using a plan that includes specific, measurable steps. Learn the Tools of the Creative Trade According to Professor Puccio, creative problem solving is a toolbox. He sheds light on how to maximize your creativity and increase your ability to solve problems and achieve your desired goals using the following techniques: Brainwriting:  Traditional brainstorming sessions not fruitful enough? Try this silent method, in which participants write their ideas and swap papers with one another, using cross-fertilization to build on already written ideas or add entirely new ones. Solution enactment:  A kind of dress rehearsal often used by tech developers, this tool involves acting out a proposed solution to see how it could be improved. It can also help you more effectively communicate abstract ideas and processes. Stakeholder analysis:  To determine who can support (or hinder) the success of your plan of action, analyze the positions of those individuals who have a stake in your plan. Then, devise a set of specific actions aimed at gaining their support. How-How diagram:  Designed to help move your solution forward, this webbing tool forces you to be more concrete by repeatedly asking yourself, “How do I achieve this solution?” in order to shift your perspective into concrete action steps. While Puccio’s creativity toolkit can be extremely useful for those interested in using creativity to come up with imaginative approaches to problems, it may not help someone who is extremely stressed. Neuroscience research shows that when a person is stressed they cannot get their creative juices flowing no matter how good the instructor or the course curriculum is. If stress is holding you back from reaching your full potential, it might be time for you to stop pushing yourself harder. Try taking a break from everything in order to recharge your creative battery. Do something that could relax your body and mind; take a road trip into the country, walk the beach, or take a hike in the mountains or in a local park  to clear your head. Give yourself the chance to reflect on your life and reframe your challenges so you can come back to work with a positive outlook and a strategy for compartmentalizing your stress. Taking a conscious break from your work can allow you the mental space to renew your creativity. By becoming creative in how you deal with your stress you may even become more creative in handling other challenges. Improving your outlook and your creativity could lead you to be more engaged, motivated and productive at work. These are the traits management looks for when deciding on promotions. So nip your stress in the bud today and start getting more creative. Business leaders have more in common with artists, scientists, and other creative thinkers than they do with managers. -Abramam Zaleznik (2003)

Read the Books Your Parents Read - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Read the Books Your Parents Read - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Lately I’ve been flashing back to a book I recently read. It’s a remembrance  of a more genteel time. But, it had a chilling effect on my thinking. It’s a book my father read. I ignored it for many years. Until a friend brought it up. Then I paid attention. Why is that? Why did it take a friend to let me know that a book was “cool” and OK to read. Well, that’s the nature of things and the way it is with parents. My recommendation today is to break that mold. Read the Books Your Parents Read! How Will You Know What They Read? Well, the obvious answer is ask them. But, also look around on their bookshelves. Ask them questions about why they kept a particular book for so long Ask them why they liked it Ask them what they learned Just Ask! What’s the Point? Books are timeless vessels of information, transformation and imagination. Through books you can go anywhere and do anything. You can experience the low gravity on the moon, explore the depths of the deepest ocean or become a wizard that saves humanity. Books are the mind-travelers friend. One of the side benefits of reading is that it will make you a more rounded individual and by doing so you will Stand Out in Your Career. You will pick things up in the books your parents read that will help you understand a bit more about them, the world and yourself. You may be thinking … no way. I don’t want to read books. I want to spend my time on Social Media apps, watching TV and hanging out with friends. There is nothing wrong with doing these things. However,  I urge you to  make the time to grab 30-45 minutes every chance you get to immerse yourself into a different mindset while exposing yourself to the books your parents read. Also, don’t let these thoughts or these other common concerns deter you: There will be NO TESTS. You are reading because you want to. Enjoy the experience and don’t worry about a pop quiz. You don’t have to FINISH. If you don’t like the book (after a reasonable attempt) … dump it. There are lots of options available. I’m too SLOW. It’s not a race. Read for pleasure, read at your pace. Slow Reading is GOOD for your BRAIN. If you need a few more reasons to read consider these points: 6 minutes of reading is enough to reduce stress by 68%, Reading keeps your brain functioning effectively as you age. Paper books are better for memory retention. The Point is … Reading sets you free. It allows your mind to run wild. It allows you to relax and enter another level of thinking. When you read you learn. Even if you didn’t intend to learn something you will almost always come away with a different perspective. What if you can’t find the books your parents read? Look at friends bookshelves, and parents of friends bookshelves. Then, ask the same questions as above. The responses you get may surprise you and you might find out something that can really change your perspective on the world which in turn might be one more thing that helps you Stand Out in Your Career. Who knows you might even discover a whole new career. Oh, and if you are wondering about the book I mentioned at the beginning. That book is Earth Abides by George R. Stewart and you can get it at your local library, bookstore or on Amazon for free. I highly recommend reading it … even if I’m not your parent. Like me, you may find yourself flashing back to the ideas, experiences and new realities the tribe encountered. My interpretation and reaction to Earth Abides enters my mind almost every day. I find myself wondering how the people of today would react. I wonder which generations would lead, support and sustain the tribes of the future. I personally think Millennials and Gen Z’s would do quite well … albeit after a tumultuous start. In the end I think Millennials and Gen Z’s would revert to the books their parents read.

The Truth Behind Work-Life Balance - Classy Career Girl

The Truth Behind Work-Life Balance The endless search for work-life balance continues to elude many struggling professionals. Your day begins with 24 hours of opportunity, but take into account 8.5 hours for a good night’s sleep and your average working day, this is no longer true. In fact, when many of us also commute for up to 2 hours each day it can come as no surprise we find it difficult to maintain other commitments. An online search on the debate has conflicting messages, with many experts believing personal and professional life should be segregated, and others contending the two need to meld together. The shocking truth behind discovering a balance is actually rather simple. It is important to acknowledge that work and life cannot be measured they aren’t neat time slots in an excel spreadsheet. In order to moderate daily life successfully, we need to prioritize our passions and ultimately shift our focus. The Truth Behind Work-Life Balance 1. Sometimes There Won’t Be Balance The first step toward a better work-life balance is to accept that things aren’t that black and white. The more you try to separate your daily life into strictly work or leisure, the harder this will be to achieve. There will be days when you need to focus on work and attempting to override this with leisure time could skyrocket your stress levels. Similarly, there will be times when your family needs you at home, and that pile of papers on your desk will have to wait. Creating a good work-life balance isn’t about maintaining a clear 50/50 all the time, but rather knowing what will keep you in a calm, focused headspace and how to tailor your day to suit this. 2. Prioritize The  Present In a month’s time, a lot can happen. You could meet the love of your life or be fired from your job. It is crucial to not look too far ahead when deciding on your focus. Not only is tomorrow impossible to accurately predict, but it distracts from the now. This isn’t to say that planning for the future is an unwise decision. It is, however, important to know that not everything will happen the way you want it to. Work-life balance relies on any number of variables, from the amount of last-minute tasks that need to be done to when exactly you’d like to join your colleagues for a laugh at happy hour. All of this will change day-to-day, and prioritizing the present will lead to a more productive, healthy and fulfilling life. Related Post:  Working Mom Shares Her Creative Balance Tips 3. Work In An Industry You Love If you enjoy what you do, then it’s true that you will never work a day in your life. When a job is motivating and fulfilling, finding balance will come naturally. Of course, finding a role that meets your interests and passions can be a challenging endeavor. It requires a good understanding of personal ambition and no small amount of courage to go against the grain and with your gut feeling. Ask any freelancer, CEO or small business owner how they manage to strike a balance and their answer will often include the phrase ‘I love my job.’ Stepping back from the workplace to reevaluate your situation is a great opportunity to see what else is out there, with options like choosing to travel abroad, taking an online course or doing in volunteer work. 4. Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness An income will buy you a house, but not necessarily the family to fill it. It could buy you an easel or a fancy camera, but not the time to practice. These are the hard truths that money-driven, madly-ambitious professionals must face. In a worldwide trend that is seeing people spend more time at their desk climbing the corporate ladder, the ultimate solution is to understand the true value of money. Of course, drive and a passion to succeed are great attributes. They do, however, need to be countered with a healthy state of mind. This means that sometimes choosing a low-income, a high-satisfaction job can pay off in the long-term. The real secret behind establishing a happy balance is to view work and life as two different focuses, rather than a conflict of interest.

Writing a Resume: What Every New Graduate Should Know

Writing a Resume: What Every New Graduate Should KnowWriting a resume is a step in the job search and the following step is to maintain it so that the employer knows exactly what kind of worker you are. This is especially true when your resume is being submitted to many different employers. If you follow some tips, you can get the most out of your resume.Simple, clear and straight to the point - you want to make your resume short, but not boring. Be sure to include all of the information, even if it's only something as small as your phone number or email address. Avoid presenting your resume as if it's the first one they will ever receive from you. Keep it professional in your letter writing as well. Keep it to the point and easy to read.Great resume writing skills is incorrect - When you do a resume for someone and are not able to write a letter of introduction or summary of your experiences, you will run into problems. Your resume will not be accurate and you will have trouble gett ing that interview. Writing a letter and then writing a resume is not the best way to go about this situation. Just keep the information short and concise.You will be doing this for a long time - Your resume will not be the only one you write for a long time. You will be writing resumes for many different companies in many different fields. If you write poorly you may have trouble finding another job for a long time. Just because you don't know someone on the first meeting does not mean they won't come after you.Check your spelling and grammar - You will likely get some rejections while writing a resume. While you will be less likely to have the same problem with a cover letter, you still need to check your resume for grammar and spelling mistakes. In addition, there is no excuse for spelling errors, punctuation or style errors. Make sure that everything is correct before you send it off. Most people forget to do this, but it is very important to check it and get it right.Make sure your resume has all of your personal details - For one reason or another, many people do not include their birth date when writing a resume. Others forget to include your contact information. You may have any number of stories like this. This is only natural. Having all of the information included is the best way to ensure that your resume has as little misspellings as possible.Your resume should stand out from the crowd - Now we are getting to the point where you must consider your resume's job. Is it to stand out? What do you want your resume to do? You should have a good idea of what you want your resume to do before you start writing.The writing skills you use is the first step to your success. Take the time to learn the skills you need to write a perfect resume. It will be well worth it in the end.

Video The Three Social Media Sites that All Job Seekers Should Be Using

Video The Three Social Media Sites that All Job Seekers Should Be Using The following are the top three most important tools within social media that job seekers need to have completed to compete in todays new era of job search: LinkedIn because: LinkedIn offers the broadest array of resources to further your career. Whether you are looking for your first job, are considering changing careers, or want to move into a more senior position, LinkedIn can help you achieve it. Visibility, company job postings, research. If you are not here, you dont exist for many recruiters and hiring companies. Twitter for Research, job leads, learning from others. Twitter gives you free information about people, organizations, and job listings. You can be an observant follower and still reap many benefits. Facebook: One of the reasons Facebook is important as a job search tool is because every business and brand that knows the power of the web is already there. Recruiters are also scouring Facebook for candidates. In summary, Facebook for visibility. Recruiters use the friend-finding search feature.

Why Send A Resume When You Can Send A SnapChat Resume

Why Send A Resume When You Can Send A SnapChat Resume If you are submitting  resume after resume into an ATS, youre never going to stand out. Trying something new can be riskyor it can get you 15 minutes of fame like this SnapChat Resume Just google Snapchat resume and see what happens. Is this what you see? It has  997,000 results on Google In just one week, his uploaded YouTube video has  796,270 views and 2,600 likes (and 433 dislikes, hey, its a response) His Twitter account has 264 followers (he just created it Feb 26) Snapchat Resume I first saw his story  on Facebook (thanks to Chris Russell). It was an article by Business Insider. Elski, aka Eli, really wanted to work at Snapchat- he said its his favorite app. What better way to prove his interest in the company than using their tool! When Eli shared his Snapchat resume, it caught on. Heres why I think this Snapchat video works: Video allows him to convey his communication abilities. It uses requirements from the job posting so he proves hes got the qualifications (in a humorous kind-of-way). Its targeted to  Snapchat and contains their name, so it will get on their radar (assuming they monitor their online mentions). It includes contact info and name so anyone can connect or contact him. Its fun, short and shareable. It took a bit of effort to create this, probably about the same amount of time it would have taken to customize a resume for the  job posting. Will Eli get the job? We dont know. But hell be known as the guy with the Snapchat resume for a very long time! @careersherpa send some of that sunshine out here to Santa Monica!! will do, thanks for the positivity ¡ â€" Elski Felson (@ElskiFelson) March 4, 2015 Why arent you doing something out of the ordinary to get that job you really want?