Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Failed Corporate Recruiting Machine




Have you ever heard the term, “transactional recruiting”?  It refers to how a recruiter simply posts to the job boards any role requisition written and forwarded by any manager with an opening. This is still widely done without any thought to who is targeted for the job, without identifying where those active and passive candidates may be lurking, without considering freelancers on a trial basis, without incenting existing employees to find good candidates and so on. Just copy and post.

Today, the corporate recruiting machine is so broken that the time to fill positions keeps getting longer and longer.  Meanwhile, like my job space, the rate that those positions are changing keeps accelerating.  No low unemployment rate is going to fix this gulf, but you can fix it for yourself.  

First, understand some harsh corporate recruiting realities that your credentials will face:

1.   an automated application tracking software that will filter hundreds of resumes through a keyword search looking mostly at academic degree, work history and skills and without all or most of the desired three, you get bumped for consideration by the algorithm
2.   young recruiters unable to evaluate both job descriptions and candidate credentials due to their very own inexperience and low business acumen, thereby diminishing your chances
3.   written job descriptions that literally seek a superhero to fulfill “kitchen sink” requirements that not even the internal team quite knows what is truly needed, so they cast a wide net, trolling for everything with the view, " let's see what we catch" so you are in the tangle with a bunch of other less qualified candidates
3. this very process then sucks recruiter time, energy and focus as they struggle to sift through, the resulting cacophony of disparate responses, resulting in unexplained delays for you
4. talent recruiter employees require genuine sales, " hunter" and consulting skills both to understand the job openings and to find good candidates, but organizations hand the responsibilities of recruitment to conventional generalists, HR type resources, then slap on an annual quota for candidates placed, without proper development of their own recruiters so another reason that you risk never being found
5. internal recruiters tend to be risk adverse so they happily insulate themselves from the increasing pressures by hiding within the so called "technology enabled" processes, job platforms, algorithms, word filters, etc. and then wonder WHY they can't find the right candidates
6. ubiquitous age discrimination practices are ignored therefore losing some of the best skilled, willing and available resources untapped (more for workers over age 50 HERE)
7. external recruiting firms also feed the transactional process with aggressive tactics to meet “candidates found” and “positions filled” quotas and for matching people with zero allegiance to the job or the company , so using recruiters may inhibit your overall happiness with the job

There are exceptions to the above, but I hope you see why you need to take the situation into your own hands and make yourself the perfect candidate for that job!  I'll be posting again with tips soon!



Monday, September 16, 2019

Sample LI Post - Ghost Written


Linkedin Blog Post Ghost Written for Talent Dev Consultant Karen Hinds

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-ways-calm-spooked-team-karen-hinds/

 


·        Published on October 31, 2018

   

The pace of production slows, minor team conflicts suddenly spike, simple tasks remain undone, absenteeism and tardiness increase, complaints become edgier, simple projects stall, faces appear anxious.  Work teams only get spooked when something is amiss and it’s your job as a leader to find out what it is and confront it head on before your employees flee to another employer!  

Changes in team activity can be the best barometer for detecting employee stress, unhappiness or uneasiness.  Perhaps, someone leaked the news of imminent change, or a specter of job cuts is feared, or a rumor of a merger is floating around, but whatever the cause, good leaders address shadows before they turn into a real threat to results.  This takes an open approach to discover the problem quickly by personally communicating with your team.

1.    Gather Intel:  Set up a ten-minute meeting with each member of your team inviting them to share any of their recent worries with you.  If not one-on-one, then consider a group meeting where you invite team members to voice concerns. Even if you simply listen and understand team fears without giving any real answers, this can be enough to calm the team temporarily until you have time to get more satisfying answers.

2.    Address Misperceptions:  Clear up any unfounded apprehensions flying around by directly addressing them with your team and then listen.  Teams will accept uncertainty, and even forgive a lack of answers, if they feel they have been heard and they’ve received facts.

3.    Tell the Truth:  Assume that misleading your team in any way will be discovered and it will damage trust. When you have no answers yet or perhaps have bad news, just say so and be as tactful as possible in your approach.

Karen Hinds is President and CEO of Workplace Success Group, a strategic talent development company.  www.workplacesuccess.com Twitter: KarenHindsWSG

Writer's Resume


Sheila Sylvestre
221 Trumbull Street, Unit 2707    |   Hartford, CT   06013   |   smsylvestre@gmail.com   |   

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Experienced freelance professional writer/editor able to adapt to different writing styles, formats and perspectives for a broad variety of writing assignments; Microsoft Office, Adobe, Google Docs and Camtasia; Web, film, video, digital, print



CAREER COMPETENCIES
·     Full cycle consulting, revenue management, vendor vetting, SME communications and contract negotiations
·     Excellent grasp of data management in the L&D landscape, enterprise wide technologies, SaaS LMS and 
     CRMsystems, APIs, information supply chain, the mobile platform including off-line utility, portals
·     Superior business acumen and talented inquisitor in use of latest technology innovations
  • Close familiarity with the AP Style Guide and Chicago Manual of Style from a copy-editing perspective
  • Demonstrated ability to articulate complex concepts, challenges and opinions in writing
  • Ability to analyze existing materials/research, formulate own opinions and articulate ideas in an understandable and compelling manner
  • A passion for learning about new industries, businesses, technologies and issues through intuitive research and analysis
  • Sound organizational skills and capacity to prioritize multiple writing assignments
  • Led global curriculum development and sales teams with full spectrum of digital and eLearning competencies
  • Served as Higher Ed, On-line Faculty and Public Educator, Highschool English

WORK HISTORY

Freelance Writer/Consultant (October 2017 – Present)
Corporate communications, advanced proposals, trigger emails, sales templates, introductory emails, social media editing, college essays, resumes, creative story telling, instructional design, employee resource group communications

LEO Learning Inc. (May 2017 - September 2017)
Program Director U.S.
    ·   Crafted strategic change communications to help transition and manage global acquisition of handover 
        account relationships; protected $12mill revenue
·   Wrote complex proposals that generated over $400k new revenue in 3 months amid rapid integration activities
·   Edited scripts, client communications to help manage concurrent, competing eLearning projects with agile granular to “big picture” lens
·   Constructed and directed all internal communications to lead global & vendor teams to build client digital learning solutions within margin targets
·   Created resumes for Executive in Chief and team members off boarding due to acquisition

NetDimensions, Inc. (January 2013 – May 2017)
Global Custom Solutions Consultant and Senior Account Manager
Consulted with global clients to plan, direct and evaluate world class initiatives for multi-generational, global learners, improve capability development and determine evolving training priorities with innovative SaaS e-learning solutions, portal, software simulation, custom authoring tools, templates, gamification, ADDIE metrics and mobile/social learning.
·   Wrote White Papers, RFPs, SOWs, contracts, PowerPoints, Webinar Scripts, Web Copy, Vendor Communications, Exec Speeches
·   Generated new, long term, Fortune 100 client relationships in focus verticals; grew revenue by $12 million - added 15 new positions to support contracts
·   Directed Sales and Delivery teams in successful targeting and implementation of global solutions; exceeded client expectations on time and in budget
·   Developed global blended learning and campaign led digital communications

SMS Training & Consulting, LLC (9 years)
Founder and Principal Consultant
·   Created full cycle business communications as Education Consultant to Fortune 500 technology & healthcare organizations; high quality curriculum, technical and product narratives and marketing descriptions
·   Managed nationwide team of 15 virtual sales, marketing, and curriculum consultants; Oversight Editor
·   Authored curriculum and assessments for Onboarding, IT upgrades, M&P, succession training, and train the trainer

SNET, Southern New England Telephone (9 years)
Sales Manager and Corporate Trainer
·   Full cycle sales communications, proposals, contracts, trigger emails and presentations
·   Sold full array of telecommunications services, T-1 and fiber connections for complex data and voice solutions to the small, medium and large business sectors
·   Developed and delivered 18 new course offerings for all organizational levels

Middletown Board of Education (8 years)
Educator
K-14 Expert/English Teacher, Public Speaking, Journalism and e-learning Faculty
·   Developed novel, technology-based learning units; Mentored new faculty
·   Launched public speaking curriculum partnership with Middlesex Community College
·   Wrote and Won an AARP grant for student transition program; Competed with 63 Schools


EDUCATION

Yale University
Financial Markets Certificate 2016
Nobel Prize Professor Robert Shiller

Walden University
M.S. 2012
Instructional Design & Technology
(GPA 4.0)

Providence College
B.A. English/Spanish
(Cum Laude)

American Management Association
Certified Facilitator/Trainer

My Learning and Development Resume


Sheila Sylvestre
221 Trumbull Street, Unit 2707    |    Hartford, CT   06103    |    smsylvestre@gmail.com    |   

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Senior learning consultant for 15+ years in the use of innovative adult learning technologies, learning governance, process improvement and enterprise wide performance transformation.
·   Extensive knowledge of the learning ecosystem including enterprise learning program design, development, implementation, management, and evaluation needs assessment.
·   ADDIE, SAM and SCORM development cycles, LMS platforms, survey tools, learning budget management, media selection and archiving, content creation for all learning modalities: virtual, webinar, face to face, 1:1 coaching, train the trainer.
·   Vendor vetting and contract negotiations, information supply chain and process improvement, the mobile learning platform including off-line utility, learning portals and dashboards.
·  Superior business acumen and gap analysis to monitor, identify and recommend opportunities for appropriate improvements in content knowledge creation and management across the learning landscape.
·   Proficient in SMARTSHEET, GOOGLE Suite, Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, Camtasia, Adobe CSS and Adobe based authoring tools, on-line conferencing tools, skills management systems and third-party course libraries, simulation software, embedded help tools, MOOC and SPOC courseware.
·   Clients included Fortune 100 such as UTC Corporate, UTAS, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon, Honeywell, Michelin, Comcast, CVS Health, Fidelity Investments, AT&T, Verizon and others.

EDUCATION

Yale University (2016)
Financial Markets Certification: Professor Robert Shiller, Nobel Prize Economics 

Walden University (2012)
Master of Science Instructional Design & Technology

Providence College
B.A. English/Spanish

American Management Association
Certified Facilitator/Trainer

WORK EXPERIENCE

Strategic Learning and Technology Consultant
Independent Consulting (October 2017- present)
·     Advised clients on training development of emerging leaders, curriculum strategy, D&I initiatives
·     Experience with Korn Ferry, Hartman’s Value Profile, Myers Briggs executive assessments
·     Conducted talent development, recruitment and placement of L&D resources
·     Developed and launched client Employee Resource Group for Women to serve as model for
     future ERGs
·     Designed & Delivered sales skills training managing conflict, vendor relationships, 
     leadership, team building
·     Developed road maps for micro-learning and video training campaigns
·     Senior writing: web copy, learning complexity brochures, white papers, research, executive 
     presentations
·     Clients:  KRONOS, Workplace Success Group, Webster Bank, Numotion, Green Earth Energy, 
                   DELL

Senior Learning Solutions Consultant and Program Director – Head of U.S.
NetDimensions, Inc. / LEO Learning Inc. (January 2013 - September 2017)
·     Consulted multi-sector clients to plan, direct and evaluate world class learning initiatives for multi-generational, global learners, improve capability development and determine evolving training priorities with innovative SaaS e-learning solutions, learning portal, software simulation, custom authoring tools, templates, gamification, ADDIE metrics and mobile/social learning.
·     Led global curriculum development, both internal and external resource teams, with full spectrum of digital/eLearning competencies to design and deliver blended learning and multi-modal learning initiatives
·     Managed culture change acquisition of U.S. accounts and brought complex learning projects to closure
·     Built new custom training content for all modalities under aggressive deadlines
·     Clients:  UTC, Pratt & Whitney, Michelin, Comcast, Royal Caribbean, Fidelity Investments, CVS Health, Catholic Hospital Association, Sprint, AT&T, Port Authority NY/NJ & more

Higher Ed Consortium:  On-Line and Classroom Faculty for Public Speaking and Journalism
Middletown Board of Education - Middlesex Community College
·     Established partnership and launched hybrid virtual courses; grew to 4 sections in
     two years with waiting list
·     Public Educator Grades 10-14 English

Founder and Principal Consultant
SMS Training & Consulting, LLC
·     Custom instructor led training firm to Fortune 500 technology and healthcare organizations
·     Grew and managed nationwide team of 15 virtual sales, marketing, and curriculum consultants
·     Onboarding, IT upgrades, methods and procedures, leadership training, train the trainer, sales 
     assessment
·     Clients included CT Mental Health Assoc., CT Hospital Assoc., New Milford Hospital, 
     American College of Healthcare Professionals and many telecommunications/cable providers.

Sales Manager and Corporate Trainer
SNET, Southern New England Telephone
·     Recruited to lead internal Corporate Training initiative to develop and deliver 18 new course 
     offerings in product, skills and competitive intelligence for all organizational levels
     including leadership
·     Sold full array of telecommunications services, T-1 and fiber connections for complex 
     data and voice solutions to the small, medium and large business sectors
·     Clients included medium to large organizations across Connecticut business sectors


MISCELLANEOUS

Memberships
§  ASTD: American Society of Training and Development
§  Brandon Hall Group – Bersin Report
§  International Society for Performance Improvement Member
§  Association of Educational Communications and Technology
§  International Society for Technology in Education and National Council of Teachers of English

Board Volunteer
Wallingford Hawks Youth Hockey & Holy Trinity K-8 School (10 years)
Lifelong active member of church community