It’s fair to say that almost all the candidates we work with are looking for a good Vacation and PTO offering in their compensation package. However, in the US, standard vacation packages haven’t changed much over the years. Professional salaried employees can expect 10 days and 15 days for more tenured, senior staff.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: HOW TO ACE IT
With just seconds to make a first impression, appearance and attitude is everything! We’ve all heard it said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however, there are just a few guidelines when it comes to dressing for the part you want, not for the part you have. Internationally applauded fashion designer Tom Ford said it best when he said, “Dressing well is a form of good manners.”
BUILDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK IN A NEW CITY
Moving to a new city for your job or for a new job is a lot of change at once. The easy thing to do would be to rely on your co-workers and happy hour to build your professional network and make new friends. This is okay but here’s a list of a few tips to encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and carve your own network of like-minded professionals and friends.
SKYPE INTERVIEW? 8 TIPS TO SKYPE-READY
You have aced your phone interview and are on to the next step of your interview process – nice work. Many employers are turning to Skype or video interviews to speed-up the interview process and reduce travel expenses and Skype may be an interview trend that is here to stay. Check out these 8 tips to make sure you or your team is Skype-ready.
CANDIDATE ASSESSMENTS – USE THEM OR LOSE THEM?
Get the full audio experience without disturbing the neighbors. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
ATTRACTING THE RIGHT TALENT. HINT, IT’S NOT ABOUT THE SALARY.
In this market, everyone is challenged with meeting their hiring goals. Unemployment is at a low presenting multiple opportunities for candidates in the job market. However, in the architecture and design world, we believe the challenge isn’t in FINDING the talent but rather in ATTRACTING the talent to your position.
CONDUCT A SOLID INTERVIEW + BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
We discuss a lot about how candidates can prepare for an interview and since it is a candidate market we thought the interviewer could use some tips as well. An interview in itself should not be a test for a candidate, we suggest making every effort to make it a seamless process for both your team and the candidate. Allowing a candidate to be comfortable and asking relevant questions is key to really understanding the content of a candidate’s background and how they will fit with your team.
THE ART OF FOLLOW THROUGH
For the past couple of weeks, I‘ve mentioned the significance of professional follow-up. Nothing confirms to perspective employers your interest level more than a strong follow-up. After an interview, sending a “Thank You” note is not only a nice touch but it’s also super important for leaving lasting impressions and standing out from other interviewed candidates. Saying a simple, “thank you”, at the time of the interview is a basic form of gratitude and is expected. Sending an email is nice, however, an email can come across as impersonal and generic. Go the extra step and invest time and thought into a handwritten “Thank You” note.
CLIENT FOCUS: MENTORSHIP IS A TWO-WAY STREET
I often read articles centered on the importance of seeking out and building healthy relationships with a mentor – whether at a new job, a different industry or simply for a fresh outlook. There’s no doubt mentorship is a valuable resource too often overlooked, but the responsibility for growth shouldn’t rest solely on the mentee. It’s a false assumption to think the only person benefiting from mentoring is the individual pursuing advice when in fact; a mentor can gain strides from a mentee through out-of-the-box means.
10 STEPS FOR A SMOOTH CAREER TRANSITION
Congratulations on your new position. Now you have to navigate what may seem like a tricky resignation. But, it doesn’t need to be a cumbersome process. Your resignation should focus on two areas: giving your current employer the respect of a notice so they may plan and how you will help in making your exit a smooth transition for their company. It’s easy to be emotional during a career transition, but by focusing on the how and not the why you can leave your current company on a good note and start fresh.