RetailCareers.com Blog

BBB Alert – Counterfeit Luxury goods – How do you know you have one? Can you tell??

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Elaine Hay

Great advice from the BBB on how to check that great new Designer handbag that you paid a lot of money for is legit!!

When in doubt about any business and service – get in the habit of checking it out on the BBB BEFORE you buy - it’ll save you grief and money - and give you piece of mind!!

And , while I am on this subject….all you ethical and honest business owners out there – If you are not an Accredited Business Member - why not??? It is an amazing low cost way of differentiating yourself from the competition – plus there are tons of member benefits to help you cut costs and improve your business!!

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/3284734/bbb_consumer_alert_on_counterfeit_luxury_items?wpid=282

Posted in BBB, Business networking, Food for thought, General Info, Managers | Tagged Buyer beware, consumer advice, consumer alert, Counterfeit Luxury goods, scams | Leave a comment

How to Avoid One of the Biggest Email Hacking Threats

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Elaine Hay

I spotted the article by Riva Raymond in the latest BBB Trust Brief - I seem to get a lot more of these types of emails lately - what about you? Even emails from people I do know are suspect, now ….I watch the subject lines and preview all emails before I open them…what do you do?

You might have heard of something called “spear phishing.” It’s an attempt to hack your computer or your accounts, or to con you out of money, by using an email message that’s tailored to you or your company. A phisher piques your interest with a conference invite, resume or invoice. But it’s a ruse to get you to provide sensitive information such as passwords, click on an infectious attachment or website link, or participate in a shady deal.

These personalized, deceitful messages can be crafty and believable enough to slip by spam filters and other security protections and to trick you — the last line of defense.

About one in every 300 emails in 2011 was a phish, according tosecurity software maker RSA, a unit of EMC Corp. Entrepreneurs should be concerned because these emails are increasingly surfacing at the office. In a separate 2011 RSA Workplace Security survey, 45 percent of respondents said they had received a phish in their work email. Often, they are personalized “spear” messages to specific employees, sometimes including details mined from LinkedIn and other social networks to make them more plausible.

Spear phishing emails can be alarmingly effective. RSA, Google and a slew of large companies had valuable intellectual property stolen over the last two years in attacks that began with a spear phish of an employee. “They’re aiming for fewer targets, but they’re aiming for a higher yield,” says Jason Hong, an associate computer science professor at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University and founder of Wombat Security Technologies, maker of a phishing filter and educational tools for companies.

Small companies have been targets of spear phish attacks, too. Last spring, an employee in receivables at a Wichita, Kan., ServiceMaster franchise opened an email tailored to her and unleashed a virus that scrambled her computer and sent spam to her contacts. The franchise’s mail server was also upended and shut down for most of the following two days while a technology consultant cleaned up, the company says.

Some spear phish attacks can cause more financial damage. Take PrintedArt, a Franklin Lakes, N.J., company that sells artwork. It has received several emails in recent months from supposed customers requesting unusual shipping arrangements requiring the firm to wire thousands of dollars to international shipping agents. But Klaus Sonnenleiter, the company’s president, became suspicious that the agents were impostors and refused the orders.

Here’s how you, too, can avoid getting reeled in by a phisher.

Use technology as the first line of defense.
Security technologies can block many phishing attempts before they reach anyone. Do the basics: use up-to-date antivirus software and spam filtering, and keep the software on your computers current with the latest updates — especially Adobe products and Java, whose bugs have been heavily exploited by malware writers.

Specialized anti-phishing technologies can also help. Major web browsers use built-in blacklists that provide a safeguard against known phishing websites. Google’s blacklist is used in the Firefox, Safari and Chrome browsers, while Microsoft’s blacklist is used in Internet Explorer.

And there are filters that use “heuristics,” a set of rules used to detect phishing that can block some attacks but can also generate false alarms. Microsoft includes this technology in SmartScreen, a feature in Exchange, Hotmail and Internet Explorer, and many security-software makers include heuristics in their product suites.

Teach employees how to spot these phishing emails.
Unfortunately, spear phish are especially adept at beating security technologies because they often look like legitimate messages. When they contain malware, it’s often tweaked to get past major antivirus products. And when emails direct victims to dangerous websites, the sites are often new and unknown to blacklists.

You must prepare employees to identify these types of emails. Experts say educating workers and instilling a healthy level of suspicion are effective in foiling phishers, who often use emotional triggers to create a sense of fear or urgency.

About 50 percent of people will fall for a reasonably good phish, say both Wombat and PhishMe, which provide anti-phishing training services. But they say employee education can whittle that number down to 10 percent or less.

Training programs usually start with sending employees fake phishing messages. If they fall for the ruse, they are given immediate online training about how to recognize scams and protect themselves by, for example, scrutinizing email addresses and website URLs.

If in doubt about the safety of an attachment, you can tell employees to forward the message to a Gmail account and view it safely in Google Docs, rather than download it to their computer, suggests PhishMe co-founder Aaron Higbee.

You also can encourage employees to use instant messaging and work together on documents using collaboration software, he says, making your company less reliant on unsecure email.

Posted in BBB, Business networking, General Info, Managers, Networking, social media | Leave a comment

What dog owners already know……

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Elaine Hay

Hi everyone and a belated Happy New Year! Today’s blog is a reprint of an article that proves we dog owners are not crazy! Like all other owners, I have lots of anecdotal proof about how smart my Bella, Brooklyn and Shelby are, but now there’s some science to back us up! LOL

By the way, Shelby especially is one of the best at judging applicants’ overall character as they enter our offices… She will awake from a deep sleep ( ah… I mean coffee break!) with either a wagging tail or a quiet growl as someone comes up our stairs to enter the office. She is rarely wrong in her “first impressions” even though she has not even met them yet! She earns her doggie treats for sure!

I totally agree with Will Rogers – “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

Proof that dogs really DO know what you’re thinking – and they can understand as much as toddlers

By Ted Thornhill

Dog lovers like to think it is their masterful voices that make their pets so keen to please.

In fact, it is more complex than that – with eye contact playing an important role alongside spoken commands.

Scientists have found the animals pick up not only the words we say, but our ‘intent to communicate’ with them. In fact, dogs are as advanced as a two-year-old child in following eye contact, a study has found.

Jszsef Topal, of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, said: ‘Increasing evidence supports the notion that humans and dogs share some social skills.

‘The way dogs work resembles that of a six-month to two-year-old child in a lot of respects.’

Dogs even watch how we make eye contact, to work out what we mean and why we are talking to them.

‘Dogs, as well as human infants, are sensitive to cues that signal our intent,’ says Topal.

Topal’s team tested dogs with videos of a person saying, ‘Hi, dog!’ in different tones of voice and using different levels of eye contact.

The dogs can ‘read’ the eye contact and enthusiasm as well as youngsters, the team found. Dogs know when they are being spoken to – and can even make a guess at what you are thinking.

Dr Topal said that the results will undoubtedly confirm what many dog owners and trainers already know.

However, whether or not dogs rely on similar pathways in the brain for processing those cues isn’t yet clear.

Doctor Topal’s team presented dogs with video recordings of a person turning toward one of two identical plastic pots while an eye tracker captured information on the dogs’ reactions.

In one condition, the person first looked straight at the dog, addressing it in a high-pitched voice with ‘Hi dog!’

In the second condition, the person gave only a low-pitched ‘Hi dog’ while avoiding eye contact.

Innovative: Researchers used eye-tracking software to determine that dogs and toddlers respond in a similar manner to our commands

The researchers found that the dogs were more likely to follow along and look at the pot when the person first expressed an intention to communicate.

Dr Topal added: ‘Our findings reveal that dogs are receptive to human communication in a manner that was previously attributed only to human infants.’

However, it is the first study to use eye-tracking techniques to study dogs’ social skills.

Dr Topal said: ‘By following the eye movements of dogs, we are able to get a first-hand look at how their minds are actually working.

‘We think that the use of this new eye-tracking technology has many potential surprises in store.’

The research was published online in the journal Current Biology.

Posted in Dogs, Food for thought, GSRBC, General Info | Leave a comment

Black Friday is coming – Buyers beware!

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Elaine Hay

Latest to watch for from the BBB!

It’s time to start planning your Black Friday, that special day after the US Thanksgiving when retailers gear up to offer their best. Our past experience tells us that all deals are not created equal and the fine print is often the most important thing. Before you head out the door or buy online for a block buster, the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Protection BC offer the following tip sheet to help you save time and money and make smart consumer decisions.

Tip 1 – Know before You Go.
In the coming weeks many retailers will release their Black Friday deals online, in social media and other publications. Research where the sales are and make a list of your gift priorities to compare prices and plan your day of deals. Since many advertisements will begin before the actual sale, build up a coupon collection as soon as possible. Remember to bring ads with you on Black Friday just in case the price is not what you expected.

Tip 2 – Don’t Fall for False Advertising.
Some companies still resort to advertisements that are untrue, misleading, deceptive, or plain fraudulent. Black Friday advertising will be abundant and we urge consumers to watch for red flags.

Many consumers have experienced frustration and lost money they can’t afford to lose after being lured by prices too good to be true, bait and switch ads designed to bring you in but push you toward more expensive items, fine print return policies, final sales, and deals that end before the day is done. To protect you on Black Friday, we advise consumers to do their own research to confirm the claims being made.

Tip 3 – Maximize Advance Alerts.
Do you have favourite retailers? Now is a good time to sign up for their email alerts and “like” their Facebook page. BBB Accredited Businesses and other stores are working to reward your loyalty and you may get a jump on special offers.

Tip 4 – Shop with Trust.
If you find a deal – don’t just jump at the first chance to get it. The BBB recommends doing your research on the business – know how long they’ve been in business, look into their customer service track record, check them out at www.mbc.bbb.org. If you have concerns about the type of gift or the right fit – make sure you ask about their return policy too.

Tip 5 – Comparative Shop Online.
There are dozens of Black Friday websites that claim to capture the best deals around and they can really help you do your comparative shopping online. Before you pick your favourite site, we recommend that consumers find a reputable site that’s not a fly-by-night operation either by checking them out at www.mbc.bbb.org or see what others have to say about the site through an online search.

If you decide to buy online there are a host of security measures to abide by, among them to Start with Trust and know you are dealing with an experienced, reputable retailer; confirm that the site is secure and be certain you have a phone number and physical address should problems arise with your order.

Tip 6 – Look for QR Codes.
They’re square, black-and-white and funny looking – but they can take you straight to a deal. QR stands for Quick Response codes and they’re popping up in many ads and print materials. Several BBB Accredited Businesses use them to help you Start with Trust and they can bring you directly to a special offer or a BBB Business Review. Before you can scan one and view the offer – you’ll have to install a QR app reader. Most newer smart phones are equipped to scan QR codes and if you’re a mobile shopper you could really have some fun.

Tip 7 -Check the Final Price Before Paying if Buying Online
If you choose to shop online rather than deal with the crowds, always review the final amount due before confirming your online purchase. When shipping and handling charges, fees, or taxes are tacked on, those online prices may not be as attractive as you first thought. Any reputable vendor will provide you the ability to review your order before requiring you to make a payment.

Tip 8 – Take the Time to Think Through the Details
When buying online, take a moment to read all the fine print before making your purchase. Find out what currency you are paying in, American or Canadian dollars? If you are ordering from the United States you may also have to pay duty on items. If you are shopping for Christmas gifts, check the delivery dates as business get busy for retailers this time of year and it could take weeks to receive your item.

Tip 9 – Check Return and Exchange Policies.
All bets can change for Black Friday deals which means the store policies can change too. Make sure you know what the return and exchange policy is for your Black Friday special and that a return is even possible – especially if you’re buying online. Final sales, a very short return window (like before December 25^th) or in-store or online only credit could leave you with deal gone wrong.

Tip 10 – Shop Safely.
While getting a deal is important, there are ways to shop safely without putting yourself or your wallet in jeopardy. Consumer Protection BC and the Better Business Bureau advise consumers to take their time and plan ahead for the best rewards.

· Make a list and prioritize where you should go and when.

· Bring friends into the mix to help sort through your options, two cars can go in two directions making it easier to get limited quantities and some pals will even wait in line as you trade off shopping in the stores.

· Remember to get gift receipts and keep them organized for those moments when the thought wasn’t quite enough.

· Always read the fine print.

If you have questions about your rights and responsibilities as a consumer in British Columbia, please contact Consumer Protection BC toll free at 1-888-564-9963, or visit our corporate website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca. You can also follow Consumer Protection BC on Twitter @ConsumerProBC, like us on Facebook and read our blog for valuable consumer tips

Posted in BBB, Business networking, Food for thought, General Info, Networking, Retail sales | 2 Comments

Please take a moment and Vote for the German Shepherd Rescue Society of BC on Joeys Restaurants Community Revival project

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Elaine Hay

Hi all,

Many of you know that I support this organization, even though I do not have a German Shepherd. Some even know the story why - I adopted our special needs girl Brooklyn from them about 4 years ago. Her mother, Maisey was a young black lab found neglected , abused and chained to a fence, and pregnant with 8 pups in Northern BC. When no other organization could find room for her, Kelly made the room in her own home and Maisey safely delivered the 8 pups. Always in need of donations, they ran a contest to name the pups to help pay for the bills. Thats how Brooklyn got her name. She was the runt of the litter, born with serious spinal issues, and it would have been perfectly jusifiable to most people to have put her down right away. But, not to Kelly - she saw the gentle spirit in those little eyes, and scrimped and fundraised and found the way to pay for the hefty vet bills to help Brooklyn live a quality life. We adopted her at about 3 months, and although she has mobility problems and arthritis setting in , she is an active and precious member of our pack. And those eyes - one look into her eyes, melts the hearts of everyone she meets.

She is our Assistant Director of Greetings at the office - check out www.retailcareers.com or our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campbelledgar to see her picture!

The GSRS of BC is a registered charity, yet receives no special funding; they rely on donations and the goodwill of people who know about them. These special people often have to put supplies and vet bills on their own credit cards, rather than see a helpless dog suffer. They don’t need much, as they manage their money incredibly well, but they do need help.

We spotted this community contest at Joeys Restaurants ( great fish and chips by the way!!) and while it won’t cost you anything but 1 minute of your time to vote, and, if you can see your way to passing this information to all your caring contacts, your actions will will make a HUGE difference to this group.

http://communityrevival.joeys.ca/?p=554

Thank you for reading, and for taking the time to vote - and please drop me a line with your comments!

Sincerely, Elaine

German Shepherd Rescue of BC

GSRBC is an organization of volunteers whose mission it is to rescue and rehabilitate homeless German Shepherds, while promoting and educating on the German Shepherd breed and responsible pet ownership. GSRBC only takes the dogs that “have no one else” and for whom we are their last resort. If they can be easily and/or quickly adopted from the shelter, they don’t need us. However, if they have health or behavioural issues and/or don’t ”show well” in the shelter, these are the guys and gals we get. Each of these dogs comes to us in need, often from situations beyond our comprehension.

GSRBC was formed in June of 2004. We were incorporated with non-profit status on October 29th 2004 and received federal charitable status in Canada on April 1st 2005. We do not have a shelter. We use an outreach program where all of our dogs are housed in foster homes across British Columbia. We depend on our wonderful extended family of fosters, volunteers, adopters, and supporters to carry on in our mission. Everyone one with GSRBC is a volunteer and no one is paid to work with the dogs. Every bit of time and effort dedicated to this organization comes from the hearts of our volunteers and their unwavering love for the German Shepherd Dog. Without them, we could never continue.

We have been asked on occasion, why we are dedicated to the German Shepherd breed. Our response is this: German Shepherds are among the most popular breeds to own. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most misunderstood breeds, which results in a correspondingly large number of these dogs ending up in shelters and pounds. Very often in a shelter situation, GSDs do not ‘display’ well and quickly become unadoptable.

As a breed rescue, we know our breed well. We are experienced with their health, nutrition and temperament needs. This ensures that when we are matching a dog to an adopter, we are able to make the perfect match every time.

Our one and only objective: to rescue, and make each dog whole again, to help them find safety and love in new forever homes. GSRBC has helped more than 200 dogs since its inception, and we always stand behind our dogs. Additionally, by educating and re-homing well-adjusted dogs, we have helped the GSD become better understood and, as a group, the dogs benefit from the reduction in short term homes and homelessness.

Our project benefits not only the dogs, but also the community at large; GSRBC ensures that any dog with aggressive or fearful tendencies is rehabilitated before being re-introduced into the community. Our mission is not to just pull dogs from shelters and flip them into unsuspecting homes, but to work in the best interests of both our dogs and our adopters. We believe in full disclosure, and will always give all the information to our adopters. We will not put dangerous dogs into the public, and will take back any dog we have placed – at any point in their lives.

As many are aware, rescue is a costly endeavour, and GSRBC’s situation is no different. Given that every dog that comes into our care requires some type of veterinary attention and/or behavioural rehabilitation, our bills just keep growing, and this doesn’t even include the day to day expenses of food and boarding. Although each dog is different, the total expenses for one dog is about $4000, with some incurring vet bills of at least this much.

So what would $15,000 mean to GSRBC? In order to achieve our goals, we require significant funding, and can only obtain so much from our group of loyal supporters. As a result, we are in desperate need of additional funding from other sources. Although we understand that we cannot help every dog in need, with additional funding, we hope to assist many more dogs than is currently possible. In essence, $15,000 means fewer dogs in the shelters, and more educated people in the community. The result: any dog lover’s dream!!

Posted in Dogs, Food for thought, GSRBC, General Info, Networking, Uncategorized, charity, social media | 2 Comments

BBB Alert – $100 dollar bills

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Elaine Hay

Counterfeiters Target Small Businesses
Protecting your employees and business from getting ripped off by bogus bills

Vancouver Police Financial Crime investigators are concerned about a spike in the passing of counterfeit bills in the last four months. Since April, police and banks in Vancouver have seized 300 of these bills, and throughout the Lower Mainland, over 500 have been seized.

Sergeant Jim Scott, of the VPD’s Financial Crime Unit, says counterfeiters are using two scams to introduce the fake currency into the market.

The first one involves online selling, such as Craigslist, when someone is typically selling small electronic items, such as an Iphone. A buyer will show up and pay counterfeit cash for the item. As the average consumer doesn’t necessarily know how to detect counterfeit bills, they will end up taking a loss when they try to deposit the money in a bank or use in a business. The counterfeiter will then turn around and re-sell the item they have purchased.Can you spot the fake? VPD’s Jim Scott holds up one real, one fake $100 bill.

Photo by RICHARD ZUSSMAN, QMI AGENCY

The second scam, used less often, involves premises typically where young teens or adults are working. Counterfeiters will choose a time when it is busy and count on the staff to be inexperienced at detecting fake bills.

“We are asking the public to educate themselves in how to detect a counterfeit bill if they are going to be handling these kinds of transactions,” says Sergeant Scott. “If you suspect you have someone trying to pass a counterfeit bill in your business, call 9-1-1, or if it is after the fact or you know the identity of a counterfeiter, call the non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.”

RCMP Cpl. Johanne Noel of the RCMP Commercial Crime Section says the RCMP works very closely with the VPD in cases like this.

“The RCMP has an Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team, with a mandate to investigate individuals or groups involved in the production or distribution of counterfeit currency,” says Noel.

More information can be found on the RCMP website.

Farid Salji of The Bank of Canada gave three indicators of a counterfeit bill that can be seen by holding the bill up to a light or even just tilting it slightly.

“You should be using at least two out of these three indicators every time you are given bills,” says Salji.

The Bank of Canada website also has detailed information on counterfeit prevention.

Lynda Pasacreta of the Better Business Bureau says it’s critical to learn to spot the signs of counterfeit money to save your business and employees hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Employees should check each bill and realize that employees working alone are most often targeted. Small purchases are made with large denominations in order to maximize the change received.

Her advice if someone suspects they have been passed a counterfeit bill is to assess the situation to ensure that they are not at risk:

politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect it may be counterfeit
ask for another note (and check it, too)
advise the person to check the note with local police
offer an alternative payment method, either by debit or credit
inform you local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money
remember to be courteous, as the person in possession of the bill may be an innocent victim who doesn’t realize the note is suspicious

“Businesses don’t need to invest hundreds of dollars in counterfeit-spotting equipment,” says Pasacreta. “They simply need to invest a few minutes to train their employees.”

Check out video of the press conference.

Posted in BBB, Business networking, General Info, Managers, Networking, Retail sales | 1 Comment

Ahhhh….the “Dog” days of Summer – some wise words to live by – and a favour to ask….

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Elaine Hay

Summer is always a bit quieter around the office, and with it brings some time for reflection. As some of you know, Shelby, Brooklyn and Bella have jobs in our office that they take very seriously ( except when they’re napping!)

I’m not sure where I found this article, but having a bit more time to spend with them, I am convinced that this is a great life philosophy…

If you live by these dog rules, you will be a happier person!
There’s a lot we humans can learn from dogs. If you live your life by the same philosophy that dogs do, you will be much better off in life. In the wild, animals fight only for two things, not a fancy car, not clothes or jewelry, they just fight for food or a mate, everything else they get after that is just pure happiness.

Dog Philosophy:

1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
3. When loved ones come home, always run and greet them.
4. When it’s in your best interest, always practice obedience.
5. Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
6.Take naps and always stretch before rising.
7. Run, romp and play daily.
8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
9. Be loyal.
10. Never pretend to be something you’re not.
11. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
13. Delight in the simple joys of a long walk.
14. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
15. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
16. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
17. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
18. No matter how often you are criticized, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

Now - I know my pups are pretty fortunate - but many are not - The German Shepherd Rescue Society ( www.gsrbc.com ) needs funds desperately, and is about to wind up their summer raffle with some cool prizes being drawn on August 31. ( Brooklyn is alive because of their efforts!!!!) Please consider a donation or contact Gerry for some tickets - but please make it quick!!!!

Hope your Summer is going well!

Elaine

Posted in Business networking, Food for thought, GSRBC, General Info | Tagged adoption, canine rescue, dogs, German Shepherds, raffle | 2 Comments

LinkedIn’s new universal apply button

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Elaine Hay

Well, I don’t quite know where to start with this one!

I totally understand that this is a natural progression in the evolution of the myriad of job boards, and no doubt soon Linked in will add a cost factor to all participating.

Don’t get me wrong, I like and use Linked In as many millions of others do, and it is great way to stay up to date with all your connections that way.

I shake my head at this however…. As company do you really want all your openings blasted out to cyberspace for all to see? And how about the extra zillion or so unsuitable resumes clogging your automated data systems that you’ll have to manage somehow?

As as a candidate - do you really want to apply knowing that you’re just another one of those zillions applying to the position that you feel you might be just perfect for? An automated system deciding if you should be flagged for a human look? Talk about the chances of winning a lottery…

I don’t care how sophisticated software systems can become - no automated process of gathering names and parsing them will EVER be more efficient that a good old fashion caring career matchmaker.

At first glance, it all sounds well and dandy for a company to have the equivalent of the New York City telephone book at their finger tips for each position they may need filled, but really, so what? Having that list is just the start….it does not ensure that you put the perfect person in the position.

Talk about the proverbial finding a needle in the haystack - well the needle - that’s you, the candidate by the way - just got way smaller, and the haystack just grew to the size of the Empire State building!

I personally don’t post ads on the job boards and never have for that very reason - my candidates prefer working with someone that they can trust to help them to advance their career, that can be an advocate and a sage for them. My clients want results - the best people presented to them for the position in the shortest period of time possible. They do not want to waste time, money or take the chance that a chosen applicant will not work out.

While my “telephone book” has become quite large over the past twenty or so years, the difference is we KNOW the people in that book, and we care about them and their careers.

Nope - I believe that skillful career matchmaking trumps database searching every time - including this new LI feature.

Linked In Introduces Universal Resume Apply Button byJohn Zappe Jul 25, 2011, 12:55 pm ET

Just before lunchtime in New York City, LinkedIn announced it is offering employers a button to include on all their job postings enabling candidates to use their LinkedIn profiles to apply for the position.

This “Apply With LinkedIn” featurewraps up the candidate profile in a tidy package that feeds directly into any one of the several tracking systems it has or will partner with. No ATS? No problem. LinkedIn will email the profile to you.

This portable feature can be used on any job, anywhere, on any site, including any job board.

Five ATS providers — Peoplefluent, Jobvite, SmartRecruiters, Bullhorn, and Jobscience — turned on the automatic feature this morning. Taleo, Lumesse, and Kenexa will have it enabled in a matter of months.

However, as LinkedIn’s VP of product management, Adam Nash, explained, the company designed the “apply” feature to be used by small, as well as large employers. It’s “really trivial” for a hiring manager at even the smallest of firms to add the button to a job posting, and specify how and where the resume is to be received.

Even candidates with resumes already on file with a job board may find the LinkedIn apply feature of more use, since it allows them to update their LinkedIn profile before submitting it, and also tells them who in their network works or knows someone at the company.

Those who click the link without having a profile — a not-too-common occurrence given the 100 million members LinkedIn has — will be given an opportunity to join.

Candidates can always opt to use some other source for their resume submission, Nash said. “This won’t be the only option there,” he said. If, though, recruiters begin to use the “apply” button in numbers, job seekers will find it easier to keep one profile updated, than the 12.6 LinkedIn says the average seeker has.

“Users,” he added, “will vote with their clicks.”

Its one major drawback is that it doesn’t yet work with smartphones. It will with some portable devices such as an iPad. Full mobile compatibility is coming, Nash promised.

“Apply With LinkedIn” has very definite consequences for job boards, which derive a third or more of their revenue from resume searching. Almost two months ago Dan Schawbel wrote about the feature, still then under wraps. Touting the advantages of the plug-in, he said, “Job boards and traditional resumes are going to fade faster than I even predicted!”

This morning, I emailed three of the largest job boards for their reaction. I haven’t yet heard from any of them, but I can’t imagine this is a development they’re welcoming. Corporate career sites, search engines, and social media all have impacted the pay-to-post business of job boards. Now LinkedIn is making a frontal assault on resume search.

Earlier this month, it shut down access to its networkfor sites like Monster’s BeKnown and BranchOut. Those services leveraged information on social networks, including LinkedIn’s, to build profiles for their members. Now, in a bit of a turnabout, LinkedIn hopes to leverage job postings to increase its own recruitment value. Whether it succeeds will depend on convincing recruiters and employers to adopt the plug-in and use it on every job posting. Netflix, LivingSocial, and Photobucket are among the initial users.

“Like everything transformative, you can argue both sides of the equation,” Nash said, when I asked him what reception LinkedIn expected from the job boards.

In the last three years especially, LinkedIn has been encroaching ever more aggressively into job board territory, offering premium search tools for recruiters, job postings, experimenting with career tools, adding a resume-maker for candidates, and now the apply button.

There’s no mystery why LinkedIn is transforming its business network into whatGerry Crispin called a “job board for the 21st century.”In 2010, recruitment products accounted for 42 percent of LinkedIn’s total revenue. In 2008, it was 22 percent, third behind marketing solutions and premium subscriptions.

tags: jobboards, social media

Posted in Business networking, Food for thought, General Info, HR topics, Managers, Networking, Recruiter, Staffing, social media | Tagged job boards, resume posting | 2 Comments

Employers – How to start an employee relationship on the wrong foot!

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Elaine Hay

Extending Job Offers Too Late

You know, in the “olden days” ( yes, I was there…) the process of interviewing and deciding on an applicant for a position was a mutually respectful process - a bit like going on the first few dates with someone. You cared what they thought, and tried hard to impress - even though you hadn’t made up your own mind as yet, still, you wanted to leave a good impression…

Over the years as the hiring process has become more impersonal with candidates forced to apply and be screened via computer applications, automated interviews and telephone screenings, I think we have all lost something in the process - the humanity and respect for one another – people have somehow become a commodity, a widget to be utilized as needed.

This article is very well written and I think captures the feeling that every person has as they get to the end of the interview process for a job. As a veteran recruiter , I share their frustrations and their conclusions as I also have struggled at times to get the client to actually ”close the sale”

I can’t really put my finger on why many Company decision makers start to procrastinate when they get to this stage of the process - but I really like the writers analogy about the waiter - as they really do do damage to the impression and their reputation that they have originally established in that candidates mind. And that starts to create that little gnawing black feeling of doubt about the opportunity and the company in general. (Retailers : remember - candidates are customers too!!)

Timothy does a great job of articulating the things that run through the candidates mind - I hear the exact same comments from finalist candidates all the time. Fortunately, they have me at their side as their Career Matchmaker working as their advocate in the hiring process. Pity the candidate who has applied on their own, as they sit in the dark musing and fuming on the reasons why the call is not coming that can potentially change their whole life.

It’s just not a good way to start a relationship with a new employee!!! If that good looking date treats you badly at some point in the dating ritual, you tend not to forget that too quickly - even if you agree to continue seeing them. It’s lodged somewhere in the back of your mind, something to be on the lookout for again… a flaw….

And, it’s all so darn avoidable….Be sure of what you want in a new employee and why you want them before you start the interview process. And when you feel that you’ve found the right person , get on with it! Golden rule here people - treat your candidate as you would like to be treated if you were in their shoes! ( after all, you just never know when that might be!!)

Thanks for reading!

Elaine

With the demand for technical talent these days I wonder why, after completing many rounds of interviews and deciding to hire a candidate, it takes more than three days to come out with an offer. Why wait? You lose momentum from the last interview with every minute that goes by. Take advantage of the moment and make the offer you intend to make within 24 hours of the candidate’s final interview. Otherwise you run the risk of stunting the momentum you’ve worked so hard to create and souring the experience for the job seeker.

Everyone has been in this situation: you go to a restaurant, you have a great meal, the experience and vibe of the place is amazing and the wait staff is very friendly, timely and informative. Then you finish your meal and your cocktail and you wonder where that wonderful waiter went. It’s obvious that the server is busy with other tables, but all they need to do is get the check for you and you’ll be out the door! As time goes on, the great dining experience you had turns sour and while it won’t completely ruin the experience it will stick in your mind and be the last thing you remember about the place. All that hard work the server put in at the beginning is forgotten and his tip will, no doubt, be drastically reduced.

Similarly, while the job seeker reflects on the interviewing experience and wonders why it’s taking so long to make a decision, they start resenting how long they’re being made to wait. Put yourself in the shoes of a job seeker after a final round interview. Imagine that you felt it went very well and maybe the hiring manager even said that they will be getting back to you shortly with an offer or a positive decision. A day passes, then two days, then the weekend.

Here’s the job seeker’s thought process:

* They’re interviewing other candidates so I should check out other options to see if there’s anything better out there.

* Did I say something that put them off in the final interview? It wasn’t a technical interview so maybe they just didn’t like me and were putting on a fake façade.

* I have an offer already from my #2 choice. Since my #1 choice is taking so long I had better accept the offer from my #2. After all, a bird in hand is better than two in the bush!

* If they take this long to make a decision, how do they make other decisions?

* Do I want to work for someone that can’t make up their mind?

Ultimately you can see that letting a candidate sit for too long is not a good thing. Job seekers are not wine or cheese! They’re people who want to be hired. I understand that larger companies have processes in place for a reason and an approval strategy must be gone through before any offers are extended, but you can get all of that done before the final round interview. You can get ready to go so you can make a timely decision.

Here are some other tips:

* Make a verbal offer and let the job seeker know that once you get verbal acceptance you will generate the offer letter.

* Alert your hiring “party” that you have a candidate that you’re strongly considering, in order to get the necessary paperwork out of the way before the final round interview.

* If you’re working with an agency make sure that they set the proper expectations with the job seeker ahead of time so it doesn’t become a frustrating “hurry up and wait” scenario.

* Follow up with the job seeker every day to update them on what’s happening. The worst thing you can do is let the job seeker simmer without any updates.

In a perfect world you’d find a job seeker that you want to hire and you’d make them an offer. There are certain procedures for doing things that you must adhere to but don’t let them stand in the way of hiring the right candidate. The market is, once again, incredibly competitive for good candidates and sometimes the only thing that keeps you from getting the candidate you want is the slowness of your hiring process.

Full speed ahead!

View Timothy Yandel’s blog

Posted in Business networking, General Info, HR topics, Managers, Recruiter, Retail sales, Staffing | Tagged hiring staff, HR practices, recruiting | 1 Comment

You can’t be passive on on Recruitment any more!(That is if you want to hire a great employee!!)

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Elaine Hay

This recent article from NetHire lays out the stats quite plainly… companies are now hiring, and there are lots of people looking - but matching the perfect employee to the job is much more tricky than posting an ad!

Whether you are overwhelmed with applications of non suitable candidates, or you just can’t attract the calibre and personality you need, time is money, and vacancies lose money…. Save both your time and your money by reaching out to your Career Matchmaker ( you know – she’s the one who knows all the great people!) to get to the perfect people for your needs!

Skills shortage wreaking havoc on employers

Employment comic cartoon

The Canadian unemployment rate is at a two-year low and there are thousands of jobs advertised everyday in newspapers and websites across Canada. The pace of hiring is expected to increase yet again for the second half of 2011 with Career Builder reporting that 61% of companies plan to hire during this time. So why are many Canadians still complaining that there is a lack of employment opportunities available? For those in-the-know that is an easy question to answer: there is not a shortage of labour, but a shortage of labour skilled in the areas that are in-demand.

Skilled labour demand in the areas of IT; health care; oil and gas; mining and trades is not expected to slow. In fact, it will prove to be detrimental to the growth of these industries in the coming years as they struggle to find employees with the skills their positions require.

As demand for employees increases so does turnover of skilled employees. Companies are increasing competition and are enticing employed skilled individuals to move over to their organizations by offering large compensation and benefit packages. It will become more important over the coming months and years, as full employment for individuals with in-demand skills comes to fruition, for companies to have in place policies and employee support systems that encourage employee retention.

That is not to say that all industries are experiencing these shortfalls, or that all job seekers will benefit from this demand. In the past ten years the economy has rapidly changed, outsourcing of many positions that were primarily catered to by new immigrants and unskilled workers have been outsourced to countries with cheaper labour.

New immigrants continue to come to Canada in search of better employment opportunities, loaded with their education and experience in health care, engineering and skilled trades. Yet their credentials are not recognized as equivalent, their language and social skills continue to lack behind and inhibit their chances of attaining gainful and productive employment in their chosen fields. As a result they are less likely to benefit from the demand for skilled labour.

NetHire recently posted an advertisement for an entry-level receptionist and in 4 days was bombarded with close to 400 resumes, all the while searches for skilled oil field engineers and miners receive an average of 30 resumes in 30 days. These numbers show just how different the skills differential is, and how the gap between the educated and skilled is growing in comparison to positions that require no post-secondary education or technical skills.

Recruitment is only going to get harder for employers in need of skilled workers and it is up to HR professionals, business owners and recruiters to look to other sources of recruitment to reach the passive job seeker if they are to be competitive in the hunt for skilled labour.

Posted in Managers, Recruiter, Retail sales, Staffing | 2 Comments

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Extending Job Offers Too Late

You can’t be passive on on Recruitment any more!(That is if you want to hire a great employee!!)

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