3 Practical Metrics for a Successful Recruiter

3 Practical Metrics for a Successful Recruiter3 Practical Metrics for a Successful RecruiterAs a professional in an HR field, recruiters often face difficulties gauging their personal successes. The assignment based nature of the role and continuous juggling act as you look to fill multiple positions across companies and even industries can make tracking your progress and growth all but impossible. There is, after all, a reason that people dont compare apples to oranges.Even with all these disparities among individual job fills and distinct tasks, there are still certain commonalities that you can use to independently judge performance, ensuring you remain at the top of the recruitment game. Here we break down the practical milestones, or metrics, that show progress and help track truly successful recruiters.1. Time to FillWhen it comes to being a successful recruiter, the measure of time to fill for any open position may be the gold standard by which to judge success. The last thing clients looking for new employees need is to have a vacant position sit stagnant for an extended period of time. Reduced staffing typically brings extra costs in terms of overtime, reduced response times and lower customer satisfaction. Having a low time to fill metric means that you can help your hiring clients reduce costs and button up uncertainties to maintain geschftliches miteinander continuity.Time to fill metrics can be higher than optimal for a variety of reasons that are out of a recruiters control. If your candidate resumes are rejected frequently by the employer, consider setting up an initial phone or in person interview with the person in charge of hiring decisions with the client in order to obtain a better idea of the type of candidate they may be looking for. Scheduling interviews closely together and consistently follow up for feedback from the interview are also key factors for narrowing the time it takes to close the hiring deal.2. Cost Per HireWhether its your weekly grocery bill, that next auto purchase or filling a job vacancy, keeping costs low is always a desirable outcome. The cost per hire metric is important as it effects your clients bottom line and is one of the most immediate ways hiring managers will use to judge a recruiters success when deciding whether to go back to a particular agency or placement agent.When aiming to keep your cost per hire metric down, consider a number of different steps and be sure to factor in actual money output as well as the value of time spent. For example, advertising job opening on for pay sites or a recruiters own placement fee are immediately apparent to hiring managers. The value of time spent in the hiring process may not be immediately apparent on a balance sheet but will be felt and questioned by sophisticated managers and HR professionals. Ensure that your candidates show up to interviews on time and utilize scheduling, follow up and precise candidate targeting to minimize the time a clien t will be left with a vacant, non-productive opening. All of these actions will help reduce your cost per hire metric and have you looking like a recruiter super star.3. Time to Productivity (AKA the Onboarding Process)As an internal manager, hiring professional or recruiting lead you know that getting the candidate in the door is only one-half of the hiring process. Once youve found and hired your new employee there will be time and resources needed in order to get them up and running in a productive manner. This onboarding process is critical for both long and short term employee success and makes a valuable metric by which to judge the proficiency of any hiring professional.Starting out with quality candidates will certainly set the stage for a smooth onboarding. In addition, encourage first day and week training in company technology, procedures, and culture that will help avoid any unnecessary hiccups in administrative tasks right out of the gate. Next, ensure that the company or department has in place a well-developed training schedule for the individual position. This schedule should focus on the key skills needed in the job description as well as a plan for thoughtful instruction in their areas that builds off of the previously learned skills. Each of these approaches will help create an efficient, smooth and quick onboarding process that benefits the employee and company.

What to Do in College To Help You Land a Job

What to Do in College To Help You Land a JobWhat to Do in College To Help You Land a Job11 Things to Do During College to Help You Land a Job After CollegeMake yourself a stronger candidate for your post-grad job search.As a recent high school graduate or new college student, you might not want college graduation advice or to be thinking about your life after college just yet.However, its never too early to begin thinking about your future. You dont need to know exactly what you want to do when you grow up, but you can begin to consider your professional persona and also take steps to help yourself land a job after your college graduation.As a recent college graduate, youll be considered an entry-level employee. This title implies that youll have little to no work experience to show on your resume. With that said, there are other activities you can participate in or focus on to add a bit of oomph to your resume that will catch a prospective employers attention. You can also begin to connect with experienced professionals and address other factors employers look at, like social media activity, when making hiring decisions.Below Ive provided some college advice, ideas, and tips to consider during your days on campus to help you land your dream job with more ease after your graduation. With a good dose of preparation and a dash of luck, you might even land your dream job prior to graduating, which is typically the goal. Join clubs and organizationsOne of our best pieces of college advice is to get involved Participating in clubs and organizations is a great way to show initiative. If you join committees, even better, as it shows you can handle several responsibilities (club meetings, committee attendance, keeping the grades up) simultaneously. Once you enter the working world, you might find yourself in a similar situation, and employers will take this experience into consideration.Find part-time workMany college students turn to part-time work to have some spendi ng money or help pay for college expenses. Another advantage of part-time work is the fact that it shows future employers that you are responsible and can hold down a job. Your supervisor could even act as a reference for future applications. Holding down a part-time job through college can help in getting a job after college. If youre worried about how to balance school and work, know that employers who hire college students typically understand that you need a flexible schedule, so you wont need to stress about scheduling conflicts.Start your own business or freelanceAlong the same lines as finding part-time work, nothing shows initiative to a prospective employer like freelancing or starting your own business. If you have any skills, like graphic design or writing, you could make some extra cash using freelance sites like upwork.com. Direct sales companies like NYR Organics, Jafra, and Isagenix can also be a great way to make some extra cash while adding to your work experience o n your resume. Do your research, though, to determine what would work best for you and to avoid potential scams.RelatedWays to Earn Extra Cash Outside Your 9 to 5Volunteer or get involved with the communityAnother way to get involved while in college is to start volunteering It shows good effort, initiative, and responsibility if you choose to get involved with charities or community organizations. Employers also like to hire people who care about supporting and helping others, as youll need to have such a perspective to work effectively in team environments. Keep your grades upThough grades arent the only thing an employer looks at, having good grades does make landing a job easier in many cases. You dont need to graduate with honors to land a decent job, but grades do impact an employers decision when youre first starting out as a new hire, largely because you have little to no work experience from which to base your performance potential.Socialize and enjoy lifeIt may come as a s urprise, but having a social life is just as important as keeping the grades up. Employers consider personality and emotional intelligence when it comes to cultural fit, and your social interactions are where unterstellung characteristics come from. Your life experiences also provide you with information to pull from during the bewerberinterview process. At the same time, be responsible. A DUI or consequences from poor decisions and actions can have a negative impact on your future employment.Identify leadership opportunitiesIf you dont think it will add too much to your plate, consider a nomination for leadership roles, such as President or Secretary, for the clubs and organizations in which you participate. Prospective employers will notice this type of initiative on your resume, and the experience will also present you with more examples to pull from during your future application and interview process.NetworkIf youre in your later years of college, you likely have chosen a major and can now identify industry-specific clubs and organizations to join and participate in. These are great networking resources to use for future opportunities, and you might even make friends that will be a part of your life for years to come. Networking online counts too. Its not too early to create a professional LinkedIn profile, considering that almost 90 percent of employers hired an individual via LinkedIn in 2014 per a report by Capterra.Mind your social media Ps and QsPer a 2013 CareerBuilder report, almost half of all employers surveyed use of social media to research candidates and reject many based on their social media activity, such as putting down current co-workers and companies, provocative photos, and more. Be mindful of your social media activity now to support you in getting a job after college.Related20+ Social Media Dos and Donts Every College Grad Should KnowConsider graduate schoolMany of us think well go back to get a graduate degree later, but life happens and it can become challenging to find the time. It can sometimes be easier to go straight through from undergrad to graduate school if youre inspired to do so. This is what I did, and it was the best decision I could have made as far as my education was concerned. It boosted my hirability and doubled my starting salary compared to what I would have been making with just an undergraduate degree.In some instances, going to graduate school right after undergraduate school also supports those who would like to focus on a different major because they arent in love with the discipline they chose as an undergrad (keeping in mind that some graduate degrees do require a certain type of undergraduate degree or course requirements to be accepted).Utilize your schools career counseling centerMost colleges have some type of career counseling or employment support center to help students create resumes, cover letters, and apply for positions. Take advantage of it if your school has one. Many dep artments also bring in employers for students to interview with. This is how I landed my graduate internship and first job out of graduate school. Even if youre not interested in a particular employer, it can be worth it to apply to interview with them just for the experience of going through the interview process youll be better equipped to interview with the employers you do want to work for. It will pay off down the road even if you choose just one or two of the pieces of college advice in this list and take action during your college years. Doing so will put you ahead of the game when it comes to your competition during what can be a daunting job-search process after graduation.Click on the following link for more tips for your job search.How are you faring with bringing this together on a resume? Submit for a free resume critique to get objective feedback and find out.Photo credit college.library/FlickrRecommended ReadingThe Best Jobs for 2018 and What That Means for College St udentsJob-Search Tips for Recent College GradsTop Entry-Level Jobs for College Graduates

7 jobs that pay you to travel the world

7 jobs that pay you to travel the world7 jobs that pay you to travel the worldMany people say they love traveling but struggle in finding a sustainable way to do it. Due to those demanding 9-5 job commitments, they may only get the chance to travel on a foreign holiday once or twice a year then its likely time sensitive, dictated by factors like annual leave or affordability. You need money to do all you might want to do, after all. But what if there were ways to travel while earning at the same time?Well, there are, and some are mora unique than you might think. Here are 7 jobs that will pay you to travel the world1. Work on a Cruise ShipCruises are genuinely regarded as a time of rest and recuperation therefore they may leid come immediately to mind as a place youd like to work. However, a cruise is also a vessel to every continent of the world (even Antarctica is becoming an increasingly popular choice among travellers). Furthermore, the options for work are vast. Whether your str engths are in retail, cooking, hosting, dancing, as a waiter or bartender, there is a range of opportunities on board a cruise ship, not least of which is the chance to travel the worlds oceans.2. Become a Tour GuideIf youre passionate about working on the ground and enjoy learning about other cultures,a tour guide positionmay be perfect for you. Of course, wherever you choose, a minimum requirement for this would be that you could actually see yourself living there for a decent period of time. For that reason its recommended that you only consider tour guiding after already living in a certain place for a little while not only will this help you decide whether you like it but youll plattl up key facts and knowledge about the location along the way. Being a quick learner and good at public speaking are also great attributes for a successful tour guide to have.3. BartendingIf youre preparing for tour guiding or another long-term travel goal but need something to help you get by in th e meantime, serving drinks in a bar is as good an option as any. You get to share stories with the locals and may even pick up some of their quirky mannerisms along the way. This is the kind of job you can find almost anywhere, even in smaller towns, and one that you dont need any qualifications for. Obviously, youll need to be good with people, though if youre passionate about travelling you probably love meeting new people anyway.4. Truck DrivingNot everyone is a people person of course you may be more of an introvert, cut out for a job that involves long periods working alone. In that case driving a truck cross country might be ideal. This is another in-demand role that youll be able to pick up anywhere providing you have the correct driving license requirements. Truck driving to some will seem dull but it is a seriously great way to enjoy the environment of any country its only through driving long-distance that you truly appreciate the scale of the land youre travelling.5. Char ity WorkIf you care about people and countries that are less well off, there are numerous charities that will offer you the opportunity to travel in exchange for hands-on work on the ground. Obviously, this is a somewhat less glamorous option that probably wont pay as well as you might like, but the important thing is that youd be doing something you care about, seeing the world and helping others along the way. Many people find that charity work gives them experiences theyll remember for a lifetime.6. Teach English as a Foreign LanguageAnother way you can feel like youre doing something to help others is becoming a TEFL teacher. This is a highly in-demand role due to English being such a popular global language. Its not a difficult role to get into either. You dont necessarily need to know the local language in most cases, though picking up a few words alongside a little cultural knowledge is nonetheless always helpful. You will need a TEFL certification, but there are plenty ofTEF L training programs you can take you can take without too much trouble. Plus, there are few jobs more rewarding in general than teaching.7. Travel BloggingQuite literally one of the jobs you can do traveling is travel blogging. To start making proper money from this youll need a decent amount of followers and social media knowledge to promote your material, as well as some writing skill, an eye for photography if you want to have more of a photo-based blog, or video production skills if youd prefer video blogging. Even if this doesnt turn out to be financially viable long-term, it could still bea great hobby that helps document your travel experiences to look back on later.These are just some ideas for jobs that will pay you to travel the world, but there are endless possibilities out there for those wanting to craft their own experiences. Use these as your catalyst to discover your own unique path across the world.This article was originally published on YourCoffeeBreak.

This successful sommeliers tips on how to to do well in your career

This successful sommeliers tips on how to to do well in your careerThis successful sommeliers tips on how to to do well in your careerAshley Santoro has a dream job. She spends her days surrounded by fine wine at the Standard Hotels locations in downtown Manhattan. When shes not in meetings or checking in with her team, shes testing beverages or visiting winemakers.Though not all of us can be successful sommeliers like Santoro, we can learn from her pointers on how to live our best lives at work. Here are a few nuggets from a recent interview she had with Lifehacker, when she spilled all her secrets about how to stay organized, what to pack in your suitcase - and yes, what wine to pair with that spaghetti dish you love to make.On packing to impressBecause Santoro splits her time between two hotels, she said she makes a point of packing light. But she does have one tip for being prepared, no matter how lightly you pack.Always pack black, she told Lifehacker. I never know what (or who ) might pop up and need to be ready for a quick outfit turnaround.On leaning on co-workersSantoro said she would be schwefellost without her team, especially the people who lead creative development for beverages at the hotels. And if she can rely on her colleagues for backup, that means you can, too. After all, everything goes better when you work together.On staying calmSantoro leads a hectic life - the Standards monthly beverage inventory alone sounds like a headache. But shes figured out a trick for remembering what she needs to get done, and its pretty simple.I write everything down she said. Its the only way I can prioritize. If its not in my calendar or notes, its not real.On escaping the stressIt may seem relaxing to smell wine all day, but from the sound of it, Santoros job is a tough grind. To get rejuvenated, Santoro said she travels whenever possible, even if its a train ride away. Time to check Travelzoo for Amtrak dealsOn finding the perfect wineHoping to make your st aple spaghetti and meatballs a little fancier? Look no further thanPeybonhomme les Tours. The winery makes a bottle, the Energies, that Santoro said pairs beautifully with red sauce (among other things). Listed below $30, a bottle of theBordeaux wine is surprisingly affordable.On taking career adviceSantoro received one major piece of advice that seems to have deckenfries with her, all the way to the Standard Hotel. And its probably worth listening to no matter what profession you pursue.Move out of your own way, she told LifeHacker. Its definitely easier said than done, but when a majority of decisions must be made in the moment, you cant get stuck in your head.

This is how using your phone in the bathroom affects your health

This is how using yur phone in the bathroom affects your healthThis is how using your phone in the bathroom affects your healthIt may be a little uncomfortable to talk about the time we spend on the toilet. For many of us, those intimate moments are completely private - were not super thrilled about the idea of getting into our business about doing our business.But in an Internet age, theres one habit a lot of us have taken up while we wait for a bowel movement, and its high time we talk about it.When we head to the loo, a good chunk of us take our cell phones with us so we can either read or play as we sit. And a bunch of doctors in Israel decided that we needed to understand how this practice impacts our health.They suspected that it might have a positive outcome - they hypothesized that reading during toilet time provides a distraction and acts as an unconscious relaxation technique and allows an easier defecation process. But they were wrong.First, lets take a glance at the num bers. According to their research,52.7% of the population takes part in toilet reading, and in Israel, men, younger adults, white collar workers, secular people and those with a higher education were more inclined toward the habit.But alas - the practice does not make us more prone to go to the bathroom Researchers found that although toilet readers spent significantly more time in the toilets, no differences were noted for the font or frequency of stools. Meanwhile, toilet readers had morehemorrhoids (ouch), though not by a significant margin.Toilet reading is a common and benign habit, the authors wrote. It is involved with a longer time spent in the toilet. It seems to be more for fun and not necessarily to solve or due to medical problems.So go ahead - sit on that toilet and read. Its not going to hurt you all that much, though youre likely to waste a little time as you play Candy Crush.

The Ultimate Resume Now Trick

The Ultimate Resume Now Trick Besides the businesss website, LinkedIn can be a wonderful resource for finding company contact info. Frequently, employers might ask you to follow instructions so that they can see and react to the email, others might be testing you will read and finish the instructions properly. Moreover, your employer paid that you take web design classes. The resume follow-up letter can be utilised to offer additional brief information regarding the candidate. The samples below can enable you to judge whats too repetitious and whats not. The partie scanning the inbox or utilizing the email search function is on the lookout for particular words in the topic of a message. Your examples dont have to be in the teaching domain. Ok, I Think I Understand My Resume Now, Now Tell Me About My Resume Now Open the attachment so youre confident you attached the appropriate file in the correct format, and that it opens correctly. The only instance you might need to use a TXT format would be for job board submissions which dont enable you to attach your resume. Closing thoughts Your file format is a significant aspect to take into account when sending out your resume. Sending the incorrect file format could be harming your odds of getting your resume noticed. There are a few things you shouldnt include in your resume. Use the search box to find just what you are searching for. Your resume will automatically go in the trash. Your resume may be screened by somebody in human resources who does not have any idea what it is that youre speaking about. Youve identified a list of your abilities and qualifications that satisfy the job requirements. You must tailor your resume to each work application so that it responds to the particular necessities of the job which youre applying for. It is crucial to figure out the status of your job application. You are able to post your resume ansprechbar by making a completely free account along with a work alert. Some employers request that you e-mail your resume in the appropriate format. Do a little studying to discover the internal recruiters or HR personnel accountable for processing resumes where you need to get the job done. If youre looking for a new job, you are likely applying to a massive number of jobs online and emailing your resume to any recruiter and employer that youre able to think up. You can also make hashtags with keywords that recruiters might look for so you can be readily found. My Resume Now the Ultimate Convenience Obviously, contacting the employer before submission can be hard, especially in bigger companies. A great resource for anybody seeking a job is onetonline.org. My capacity to analyze needs and make unique solutions created to yield a profitable outcome has turned out to be one of my best assets. Last, be absolutely certain to devote the opportunity to complete your profile so you that its visible and you will match with the most suitable sea rch terms to raise your odds of being found. If you receive an employer to spend more than 6 seconds to check at your resume, then your odds of getting an interview are considerably greater. If youre similar to me, and youre the product in the work market, below are some questions to ask yourself to assist you in finding your next dream stint. It is difficult to know why you click with a few recruiters and not others, but theres little to be gained from attempting to win over a person who seems bored or aloof. Stick to the steps above when reapplying for employment thats been reposted and your probability of obtaining a call back are certain to improve Ok, I Think I Understand My Resume Now, Now Tell Me About My Resume Now Start with doing some quick research on the business culture to estimate the method by which the hiring manager would likely respond. Nobody can review that lots of resumes, so the great majority of them is going to need to be eliminated. There are several other methods to land work. Simply speaking, no single way is truly likely to guarantee you a job, or just a callback. What You Should Do to Find Out About My Resume Now Before Youre Left Behind Job postings frequently dont list the name of someone to contact and just offer an email address. When its by email, you might be advised regarding what format you need to use for your resume, what things to include in the topic line of the email message, and by once the employer should receive it. Be cautious concerning the time you opt to send your resume email. Your resume email needs to be short and sweet.

Pre-Recorded Video Interviews - Spark Hire

Pre-Recorded Video Interviews - Spark HireVideo bewerberbewerberinterviews definitely have their benefits. They enable you to meet job candidates who may not live nearby or provide you with an opportunity to interview in the comfort of your own home. Even with these conveniences, though, there are times when it may be more beneficial to you as well as the job interview process to have candidates conduct pre-recorded video interviews.What is a pre-recorded video interview?A pre-recorded video interview, also called a One-Way Interview, is yet another creative way to interview prospective job candidates without all of the hassle typically associated with this process. You can invite up to 25 candidates to participate in a single pre-recorded video interview. As you are aware, interviewing 25 different candidates can take days, if not weeks, to accomplish. With pre-recorded video interviews, you can significantly decrease the time it takes to interview prospective job candidates.What do you need to provide on your part for a pre-recorded video interview?The job video interview requires one thing of you a list of questions. You can ask up to 10 in a single invitation. These questions are just like those you would ask in a face-to-face job interview tell me about yourself, what are your biggest weaknesses, how will you work to be an asset to this company?With Spark Hires pre-recorded video interview services, you can save questions and use the same question templates over and over. Again, this takes a lot of the prep work and time out of the interview and candidate selection process.How do you analyze a pre-recorded video interview?Analyzing one-way video interviews is just like assessing real-time video or face-to-face interviews. You are judging candidates on their appearance and preparedness as well as their answers to your questions. Like a real-time video interview or resume, you also want to make sure theyve taken the necessary considerations to making a great first impression.Are they answering the questions from a crowded coffeehouse or a quiet room? Did they bother to dress professionally or do they look like they just rolled out of bed? Do they sound like a candidate that would be capable in the role and adaptable to your company culture?What are the next steps after viewing a pre-recorded video interview?After viewing all of the video interviews, narrow down your list to whichever candidates stuck out to you. At that point, its totally up to you whether or not to consider a live video interview or an in-person interview as a prerequisite to a potential job offer.Whatever the case, one-way video interviews enable you to look at job candidates on a level playing field. Youre better able to discover which candidates are worth a second look before actually bringing them into the office. And with that, you have a better option of filling that open position a little more quickly and with the best possible person.Would you consider conduct ing pre-recorded video interviews why or why not? Share now in our comments

51% of D.C. workers would consider quitting for a jop at new Amazon HQ

51% of D.C. workers would consider quitting for a jop at new Amazon HQ51% of D.C. workers would consider quitting for a jop at new Amazon HQAmazon is opening new headquarters in New York City and Arlington, VA. Hiring will begin this year, and workers in the sozialschlauch D.C. area are excited 71% of all information technology workers in the D.C. area would possibly quit their current jobs for a position at Amazon, a survey of 1,000 employed IT workers by Eagle Hill Consulting found.In fact, 51% of all workers in the metro D.C. area would consider leaving their current jobs for a job at Amazon, the survey found.The top reasons to flee into the arms of Jeff Bezos (newly single) included better pay (71%) Amazon has said the average salary at its new headquarters will be $150,000).45% thought the work would be more interesting.45% felt Amazon was a more progressive company.33% thought theyd find a better workplace culture.Only 17% were actually unhappy at their current job.And the em ployees who said theyd stay put despite Amazon cited happiness with the work they performed (52%), happiness within their current job (45%), and a feeling that they worked for a good company (38%). They also included satisfying work-life balance, company culture, and the fact that they were already well-paid.D.C. workers predicted a mostly positive impact on their area from Amazons opening in the form of the local economy and salaries with some negatives, such as traffic. Between the two new headquarters, 50,000 new jobs will be created. Two cities were chosen for the headquarters so as to not overwhelm one city with a massive influx of workers, but still, not everyone is happy about it.And pay attention, D.C. they wont be just hiring locally Amazon hires from all over the country. Theyve created a guide for interviewing presumably for hopefuls that are ready to quit their jobs to join the Amazon team.

A Five-Step Checklist to Remove Bias From Your Job Posting

A Five-Step Checklist to Remove Bias From Your Job PostingA Five-Step Checklist to Remove Bias From Your Job PostingHumans are remarkably efficient. Our brains make shortcuts to help us process day-to-day decision-making, allowing us to open the correct door or avoid a grumpy cubicle mate without even thinking about it.However, theres a downside to this process, too. As we filter information based on our experience and knowledge, our brain also forms unconscious biases related to other philanthropisch characteristics such as race, culture, gender, disability and more. This leads to making decisions in our work and our habits that result in an unintentional form of bias that come out when we reflect on how we behave and how we write. Writing a job post is a natural and normal activity for human resources representatives. However, job postings arent free from this kind of unconscious bias. We write what we write using our perceptions and assumptions, and then candidates read what we wr ite with their own biases. While we can never completely remove unconscious bias. The best communication reduces these biases as much as possible to communicate the essence of the job. If youre in charge of writing a job posting, heres a checklist you can use to remove as much bias as possible. Use gender-neutral language Inclusive language such as gender-neutral wordinghas a powerful impact on the results of recruiting. Evaluate your use of typically feminine or masculine descriptive words and review your job posting to speak to the candidate rather than he or she. Use task-focused language Task-focused language as opposed to concept-focused language increases the number of applications you will receive. For example, instead of describing a warehouse job as having an Aggressive, fast-paced environment, youll want to get specific about the skills required to succeed in the environment, such as the Required ability to lift more than 50 pounds in 5 minutes, and Required to act quickly in response to instructions. Ask someone different from you to review it Since unconscious biases are personal, an effective way to remove your biases is to have someone very different from you review the document. Find someone in the office with a very different learning style, background or experience level and ask for their feedback. Run it through word processing software Several word processing softwares including Microsoft Word and HemingwayApp.comallow you to assess the reading level of the document youre editing. Unless youre specifically writing a job posting for a position with high education requirements, aim to meet the governments Plain Language Guidelines of a 6th-7th grade reading level.

Tips for the Young and Jobless

Tips for the Young and JoblessTips for the Young and JoblessMany victims of layoffs this year were young, entry-levelor near entry-level- employees. And if you were one of those perhaps-now-not-so-newly laid off youngsters, youve probably considering going back to school to make yourself more marketable. But if youre on the fence about spending thousands of dollars on a JD/MBA/MA/MFA/MD/PhD, consider some other things you can do to make your resume fresh and relevant. Volunteering is a big one. Learning a new skilleither by reading up, taking a continuing ed course or earning a certificateis another. On his blog, Seth Godin recommends the followingSpend twenty hours a week running a project for a non-profit. Teach yourself Java, HTML, Flash, PHP and SQL. Not a little, but mastery. Clarification I know you cant become a master programmer of all these in a year. I used the word mastery to distinguish it from familiarity which is what you get from one of those Dummies type books. I would hope you could write code that solves problems, works and is reasonably clear, not that you can program well enough to work for Joel Spolsky. Sorry if I ruffled feathers. Volunteer to coach or assistant coach a kids sports team. Start, run and grow an ansprechbar community. Give a speech a week to local organizations. Write a regular newsletter or blog about an industry you care about. Learn a foreign language fluently. Write three detailed business plans for projects in the industry you care about. Self-publish a book. Run a marathon.While successfully completing everything on Godins list may take the same amount of time as an MBA program, youll still come out on the other end with a great resumeand no new student loans. Posted by Carolyn Wise, Vault Senior Education Editor