5 Expert Steps to Evolving Your Employer Brand

5 Expert Steps to Evolving Your Employer Brand Employer branding. If your company is hiring and doesnt have an EB strategy yet, you  might be in big  trouble. Attracting and retaining top talent is a huge battle that businesses must fight; the competition for quality candidates is tough.  Having a strong employer brand means therell likely be a  lower employee turnover, lower cost per hire and increased interest among prospective employees. As employer branding techniques become more advanced, the need to keep abreast of exciting developments in the field becomes imperative.  To shed some insight on where were at now,  I’ve spoken with Claes Peyron of  Employer Branding Academy. Listen to the interview below, keep reading for a summary and dont forget to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast. Tell us about the Employer Branding Academy? Employer Branding Academy is a company owned by Universum, and  what we do is that we offer training and employer branding to HR, marketing, and communication professionals. Today we have two different offers. World class employer branding, and world class recruitment marketing. Both of these products are offered in either a blended format, including face to face meetings and e-learning or as pure e-learning. The courses typically take around eight weeks to complete and are designed to allow the participants to study in parallel with their day to day jobs. And at the end of the completed course, the participants also get a certification. Lets start with the big question. Why do we need employer branding? Well, a few reasons why we need it today and why we probably will need it even more in the future. And that is that we see an increased competition. I think everybody has heard about the war for talent. McKinsey came up with this book I think in the year 2000 and edited version of that in 2012 where they basically said you know we were right back in 2000 but it was even more extreme than we thought. And the increased competition is due to two things mainly. Its aging population in most countries in the world. So basically theres not enough younger people to fill the holes that the retirement people are leaving behind them. Thats one thing. And theres also a much stronger focus on the topic in itself. So more and more companies are out there marketing themselves as employers. Theres also an increased focus on matching a companys culture and value with the talent. So talent or young people, in general, are more and more aware of their own beliefs, their own bigger purpose in life perhaps and are trying to find the best possible match for the company. That means that companies basically have to get out there and talk about themselves in a softer way. And thirdly theres a financial reason. So several studies that weve seen and including Boston Consulting Group have shown that companies that invest in employer branding that they benefit from as much as 3.5 higher revenue growth and as much as 2.5 profit margin increases. Whats a step by step guide to success employer branding success? I can let you know five steps as I see it: The first and perhaps the most important step is to understand the business objectives. So basically understanding where my companys heading? What are the biggest drivers in our future business plan? Whats going to make our company grow, be more profitable? Whatever it is that we have in our business plan, what are those drivers? And then its understanding the target groups that are most important to deliver on those business objectives. The third step is to set the EVP, as we call it, which is the employee value proposition. Basically, the promise that we make to future and current members of staff. As well as setting my KPIs, my key performance indicators, what Im going to measure everything against. And the fourth step is to set your creative strategies. So basically the visual identity, perhaps the creative idea that you have that you want to bring out there when marketing yourself externally. As well as defining your communication mix. Which channels will do the job for me? Do I need to get out there and drive awareness, or consideration, or preference, or whatever it is? The fifth step is to execute on all of these plans and to follow up by using very careful metrics, continuously using data. What employer branding pitfalls should companies avoid? I would say its two areas. First of all, its that you dont spend enough time understanding the business. Typically because this is done by HR. HR perhaps dont have all that knowledge, and they dont spend the time and understanding that are going to ask somebody that can tell them about these long-term drivers for the company. So thats one of the traditional pitfalls I would see. Second one is about the target groups, that many companies are way too vague in their definition of their target groups. They talk about engineers in general or, you know, business people in general. They dont dare perhaps to be narrowed down and to be much more segmented. And then you end up with campaigns or messaging that appeals to no one really because you havent made the effort of narrowing it down to the people that you really, really need and really, really match you. Be sure to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast.

Miss California Personal Branding Winners and Losers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Miss California Personal Branding Winners and Losers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I live in Los Angeles and Im a native Californian.  I love living here I was born in Southern California, where I live now.  Ive also lived in San Francisco what a magnificent city!   As a Californian, my ears perked up when I saw out of the corner of my eye last week a cast of characters playing out a Beauty Queen scandal centered around Miss California. Personal branding thoughts Im not a beauty pageant follower, but youd be living under a rock if you havent also seen some of the Miss California / gay marriage controversy thats been playing out in the news in the past few days.  Lets look at it from a Personal Branding standpoint: Carrie Prejean -Miss California Ultimately,  Carrie Prejean is a loser in that she lost the battle for the Miss USA crown.   Afterall, thats what she was fighting for, and she lost.   And she may lose her Miss California title as well, from the news reports today.   Heres Foxs John Tantillo calling  for Miss California USA, to turn in her crown or get fired.   I might get some heat for this statement, since Miss Prejean has garnered quite a bit of sympathy from one side of the political/social spectrum.   But I mean no personal insult and the marketing point here is simply too important for me to pass it up.  He goes on to discuss this from a brand perspective, Let me start by saying that Miss Prejean deserved to lose the Miss USA contest.  Not because of her pro-marriage views, but because choosing to air those views showed that she was not Miss USA material her brand characteristics simply did not match the job description. http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/05/02/miss_cal ifornia_usa-2/ From a personal branding standpoint, though, its a bit trickier. On the one hand, shes being true to her brand position.  On the other hand, lets keep our eyes on her from a marketing standpoint, because it could go either way.   This is actually a good lesson for new brands.you may find yourself suddenly in the spotlight, which is great.   The downside is- Are You Ready?   The pressure is on to see how the brand (and the girl) stands up under the heat. Also, if she looks like shes shirking her responsibilities to the pageant that put her in the spotlight, it will hurt her brand.   On the other hand, if shes got political ambitions for herself or to be on a team, she could turn out to be the winner.   She is forever immortalized on YouTube for this statement: We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage, Prejean said. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but thats how I was raised.   Some in the audience cheered, others booed. Kristen Dalton Miss USA, formerly Miss North Carolina US Clearly, shes a winner from the standpoint of coming from behind and winning the Miss USA title.  However, we dont really know much about what her brand stands for at this point, which makes her a loser.  Shes lost the spotlight battle to Miss CA and may have lost valuable time in defining her message and position.  Who is she and what does she stand for?   If were asking that question at this point in the news cycle, shes a loser in terms of personal branding.  She seems smart, though, and very ambitious.   Lets see what she does to further define her brand in the next few days and weeks. Perez Hilton Say what you will about Perez Hilton, but Ill declare him a winner in terms of brand messaging and positioning.   He has been true, true, TRUE to his brand from the beginning of this starting with the question that sparked the whole controversy.   Some wont like him or agree with him, but he is fulfilling his brand promise to his legions of fans. Donald Trump Donald Trump is a winner, too.   His personal brand takes much bigger hits than this and he keeps bouncing back.  What great free publicity for him and his Miss Universe pageant franchise!  Afterall, its said that the allure of pageants is on the wane, but here we are still talking about it over a week later.  Not bad in todays news cycle. His personal rand dictates that he be the consummate executive and stay above the fray.   Hes done that quite well (all he had to do was get out of the way).   He finally endorsed the winner, Kristen Dalton, on May 1 by saying this, I am very honored that she won. She really did a fantastic job She was doing well on every single card and she really did answer also a very, very tough question very well, said Trump. He even defended Prejean by disagreeing with Hiltons assertion that it was the worst answer in the history of the Miss USA pageant.   More brand reinforcement for Mr. Trump. Shanna Moakler, co-executive director of Miss California USA Sorry, Shanna, but youre losing the brand battle right now.  Recently, Shanna admitted to Access Hollywoods Billy Bush that the pageant did in fact pay for Miss Californias breast enhancements.  Worse, though, is that Miss California is apparently not heeding Shannas calls to get back on the Miss California itinerary.  This makes it look like the Miss California folks are in disarray and cant control their representative.   Unfortunately for Shanna, its her brand taking the hit. For more information on Beauty Queen scandals click here. Author: Beverly Macy is the Managing Partner of YM Partners and teaches a social media class at the UCLA Extension.   She also co-hosts Gravity Summit events.

Worried About Your First Day At Your New Job Dont Panic!

Worried About Your First Day At Your New Job Dont Panic! Congratulations! You’ve got your dream job! In just a short time, you’ll be about to start your first day at your new workplace. It will be the first day of a hopefully long and rewarding career. So why do you feel so nervous about it? Being nervous about your first day is a perfectly normal reaction to have. It’s often caused by an eagerness to make a fantastic first impression to your new boss and colleagues. But being too nervous can also make you shy and more likely to make mistakes. To help you feel calm and confident on your first day, the best thing you can do is get prepared before you arrive. Read through these suggestions to find out how. Decide what you are going to wear In the days leading up to your first day, choose a suitable outfit to wear. This will vary greatly depending on your job role and the company you are going to be working for. If you haven’t been told what to wear, get in touch with your new company and ask for some pointers. You can then start shopping or create a suitable outfit from what you already own. Knowing that you are going to be wearing the right attire can help you to feel more relaxed. If your new job involves you wearing a uniform, look on sites like www.uniformsandscrubs.com/koi.html. Order what you require in advance, so it arrives before your first day. This will also give you time to get it washed and pressed and even altered if needs be. Do a practice run Getting to your new workplace on time could be a big reason why you are feeling so nervous. If the office is far away or in an area you don’t know, it can be worthwhile to do a practice run. This gives you an opportunity to work out how long it will take you to get there when driving or using public transport. Doing this will show you exactly where you need to go beforehand, rather than you getting lost on your first day. Always make sure you aim to arrive at your new workplace early. This will give you extra time to work with should there be traffic jams or delays. Think of conversation starters You’ll be meeting a lot of new people on your first day and have to engage in small talk. This is something that many people worry about before starting a new job. So to avoid any awkward silences, think of some conversation starters you can use. You can do this in the days before your first day. Read up on the latest news and celebrity stories and what the weather is going to be like. Watch current films or TV shows, as this, can be a fantastic way to get a conversation started. For more ideas, see http://www.scienceofpeople.com/. The more preparations you make beforehand, the less nervous you will feel on your first day. This can fill you with confidence and help you get excited about this fabulous opportunity too. Image credits Main  Closet    Friends.

HMRC Tax Investigation Dont Panic, Heres What to Do

HMRC Tax Investigation Don’t Panic, Here’s What to Do From time to time, companies and individuals will face a routine tax audit, but a more serious tax investigation can take place if HMRC suspect that your tax returns are not accurate or that something looks out of the ordinary. Undergoing a tax investigation can be a complex and very stressful affair, so it’s best to involve your accountants as soon as you’ve been informed about the investigation. How likely is it that my company will be tax audited or investigated? If you’re registered for VAT, or have employees who are subject to PAYE deductions, you can expect the odd routine tax audit or investigation. In this case, HMRC will normally check your company records and systems and concentrate on those areas where errors most often occur. When it comes to Income Tax or Corporation Tax, routine tax audits are very unlikely. HMRC tend to investigate tax issues only if they believe you’ve made numerous mistakes or are deliberately trying to avoid paying tax. On average, a tax audit will happen every 5 years or so, but an in-depth tax investigation can happen at any time, if HMRC suspect that tax is being underpaid. Tax audits or investigations are more likely to happen if:   there are variations or inconsistencies like a dramatic increase in costs or a large fall in turnover tax returns are filed late, you pay tax late, or you make errors in your tax calculations costs appear to be excessively high for a company in your industry your company operates in a high-risk industry and routinely accepts cash payments you or your  company operates offshore bank accounts your company receives income from property HMRC receives a tip-off There are insurance policies you can take out to cover you against the costs of a tax audit investigation. Speak to your accountant about this. How am I notified of a tax audit or a tax investigation? HMRC will contact you if they feel the need to conduct a tax audit or an investigation. In the case of an audit, they will normally come to your offices to check your tax records. In the case of a tax investigation, you’ll first receive a letter from HMRC requesting information. Their letter will specify if they’re going to investigate a particular aspect of your tax return, or whether a full tax investigation is to be carried out. Contact your accountants immediately, as they should be able to tell you the reasons for a tax investigation. By law, HMRC must commence their investigation within 12 months of the due date for the tax return it relates to, or 12 months after you filed the return, if you missed the due date. What to do during a tax audit or tax investigation  Your accountants should go through your records and systems very carefully, so that you can provide accurate, up-to-date information as quickly and easily as possible when the tax inspector visits. In the case of a tax investigation, it’s worth seeking specialist advice so that you know how to respond to requests from HMRC for further information and documentation. It’s also a good idea, wherever possible, to deal with HMRC through your accountant, in writing, rather than having phone conversations or unaccompanied meetings directly with the tax inspector. Whatever you do, do not mislead, or lie, or destroy evidence, as this will only lead to harsher penalties. If you can, make payments on account towards any likely tax bill, so that you reduce the amount of interest that will become payable. Once a tax investigation has started it can last several months or more. The investigation could also expand if, for example, a corporation tax investigation leads to enquiries into the directors’ personal tax affairs. Depending on the severity of the matter, forensic accounting services may be needed to determine the extent of any financial or tax inconsistencies. Your accountants should be involved every step of the way so they can advise you what to do if HMRC takes too long, requests too much information, or behaves in an unreasonable manner. Walls have ears Tempting though it might be to tell your friends at the golf club or in the pub that you’re being investigated, you don’t want everyone in the village to know the details of your case â€" and you never know this may include someone who works for HMRC! Be prepared Remember the motto ‘No one prepares to fail, they fail to prepare’. In order to answer the tax inspector’s questions, you must be well prepared. If not, your lack of preparation may be seen by the tax inspector as a lack of co-operation on your part.

Making a Switch from A Corporate Career to A Non-Profit

Making a Switch from A Corporate Career to A Non-Profit There’s a growing trend of people making the switch from the corporate to the “helping” sectors, as we’ll call them, the charity, social, and government jobs that emphasize change.With more and more organisations able to offer competitive wages in central locations, workers are seeing the rewarding possibilities of working for a non-profit.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comHowever, it’s not just a matter of deciding to make the switch then moving to a new job overnight: finding a role in the new sector will take time, and should be considered a long term aspiration.evalBelow, we take a look at how you can make a move into a career where you’ll be able to make a real difference.What’s the Motivation?There’ll be a lot of people out there who like the idea of working for a non-profit, but when it comes down to it, it’s worth remembering that working for a charity or social organisation is a significant change â€" and should be considered as such when weighing up the options.B efore committing to the idea, think of what lies behind your desire to move. You’ll be able to make a difference, but there’s no magic wand: the differences you make might be slight, and you’re sure to come up plenty of roadblocks in your quest to do good.If you can weigh up the pros and cons of third sector jobs and remain determined to do it as a job, then it might just be for you.What You Can BringThe good news is that if you have years of corporate experience under your belt, then you’ll have the skills that employers are looking for. More and more, organisations in the third sector are operating as a corporate company, with similar chains of command and ways of practice.Before you begin looking for a job, take a look at the skills you’ll be able to bring â€" more likely than not, you’ll have tons of relevant experience. If you’ve been involved in sales, for example, then you know you’re already talented at talking to people and bringing them around to your way o f thinking.What organisation, especially in the charity sector, wouldn’t like to have a worker with that skill set? You’ll need to build on your existing skills, so they’re more relevant to a different industry, but it’s a solid foundation to build on.The Causes You’re Interested InevalThe helping sector is big; arguably as big as the corporate sector, and there are a million and one things you could do in it. If you’re passionate about working with disadvantaged children, there’ll be organisations to connect with. The same goes for the environment, healthcare, politics, and the long list of other organisation types.Think about what it is you care about. This will stem back to your motivation for wanting to help; when you first thought of moving away from the corporate sector, what did you imagine you would be doing?A useful starting point is to ask yourself what global issues you want to improve, and then get more specific from there.Getting SpecificOnce you know the type of field you want to work in, you can begin the process of learning about it, and then which subdivision of that cause you want to be a part of.evalThe environmental sector could be further divided into wildlife, climate change, cities of the future, and much more, for example.If you want to work with people, then which type of people â€" people with substance abuse problems, disadvantaged children, or people with disabilities?Read up on the issues that people working in that sector are trying to solve and what their jobs entail; you’ll soon have a better understanding of how you can help.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comVolunteeringIt’s not advisable to hand in your notice and move to another job in another industry before you have some idea of what it’s like to do that type of work.Volunteering is an excellent way to start your journey toward a helping career without the pressure of being in the deep end. This is flexible, so you’ll be able to fit in your volunteering aroun d your current job.It could be a couple of hours each weekend, one day a month, or anything else â€" it’ll all help your understanding, and also show potential employers that you’re serious about the cause when it comes to applying for jobs.InternshipsThere are, admittedly, a few corporate workers out there who baulk at the idea of undertaking an internship. Internships are for workers new to the industry, those without the experience to get a real job, they might think, and they’d be right.However, in this scenario, the corporate workers might just be those inexperienced workers!While there should be many jobs available, the biggest and most competitive non-corporate industries are harder to crack into. You can learn a lot during an internship, and if you’re serious about making the switch, then it might be a good idea. And talking of learning….Ready to LearnevalYou’ll have a lot of transferable knowledge you learned in the corporate sector, but don’t assume that you have all the skills needed to find a job in the non-corporate sector.You’ll need to be ready to learn all you can before you apply, and in some cases, it might be essential that you top-up your existing education with a new course.If you want to work in a social work position, then studying for an MSW â€" Masters of Social Work â€" will give you the concentrated knowledge you need to excel in the role.If you want to work for a climate change organisation, then taking a course in environmental sciences will help you understand the broader impact of what you’re trying to achieve, regardless of your position within the sector.Applying For JobsThe job market for jobs in social care, health work, charities, and the like isn’t as extensive as the global corporate sector, but it’s still sizable, and competition can also be fierce for the best jobs.evalMore than corporate jobs, charities love to see that you’re knowledgeable and passionate about their cause; remember, the workers are there because they’re passionate about they do. They won’t consider an application if it’s a standard, copy and pasted application that’s clearly been sent out to multiple organisations.Research the company thoroughly and outline precisely why you want to work for them, not just in that field.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comStarting SmallYou should be prepared to start small, both regarding the company you work for and the job you’re doing. It’ll take time before you have the knowledge to work your way up in an organisation, so prepare to spend the first few months doing anything and everything in your new position.Also, it’s often easier to get jobs in smaller charities â€" they might not have as big a budget or workforce of other organisations, but they will provide a useful learning curve for your first job away from the corporate sector.Easily Transferable JobsWe’ve talked a lot about taking your existing skills and adapting them for a new sector, but this isn’t always necessary. Some positions are not industry specific and can transfer from one role to the next with ease.An example of this would be IT work: every organisation needs an IT worker. Your duties might be the same, but you might feel more satisfied knowing the bottom line of what you’re doing is making a positive impact in the world.Curb Your ExpectationsIt’s worth remembering that some positions simply can’t compete, financially, with the corporate sector.Starting wages are nearly always lower, but this shouldn’t put you off â€" there’s enough scope for taking home a good salary that it shouldn’t be a deciding factor. Just be aware that new, inexperienced staff will start on the lower rungs of the ladder.New EnvironmentsWhen you do eventually find a job, be prepared to give yourself time to adjust to your new environments. The culture between the social work industry and corporate sector, for example, can be vastly different.As with all changes in life, however, yo u will eventually grow used to â€" and in all likelihood, prefer â€" your new environment.Remember the ObjectiveMoving into a sector that has a good cause at the root of its core mission isn’t easy. Coming from the corporate sector, you can’t plan on just turning up and getting a new job without proving yourself first.As we mentioned above, you should think of moving to the new sector as a longer term goal.Figure out how you want to make a difference, work on getting the qualifications needed, volunteer in that area, and then spend time engaging with people who currently work in the kind of jobs you would like to have.ConclusionThere’s a strong case to be made for doing a job that makes a positive difference, and that’s why so many people are making the change.If you think it’s time for you, take the tips above and begin your journey to a new career.

5 Jobs a College Student Can Do Without Giving Up Valuable Time - CareerAlley

5 Jobs a College Student Can Do Without Giving Up Valuable Time - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Time is a premium commodity for college students. You must allow time for classes, homework, and studying while keeping up with sleep and a social schedule. It may seem impossible to maintain a job as well, but the right position can give you extra cash without disrupting your whole day. The key is to find a flexible work opportunity that maximizes your earning potential in just a few hours. Consider these smart job opportunities and start paying off those loans while youre still going to school. Nanny If you connect with the right family, you can find an ongoing position as a nanny thats flexible enough to accommodate your college schedule while helping you earn a decent chunk of cash. Depending on the ages of your charges, you might be able to do some of your homework while theyre working on their own, or study as youre waiting to pick them up from dance class. Many families need help just a few days a week or for a couple of hours in the afternoon, which gives college students ample time to take care of their own responsibilities. Massage Therapist Image via Flickr by Nick J Webb If youre going into a health-related field, carrying credentials as a massage therapist can be a great perk. This isnt something you can jump into without an education, but just 500 hours of training can give you the necessary credentialing to work independently as a masseuse. The benefits of this work are numerous. You can set your own appointments and hourly rates and work in the clients home. As a massage therapist, you can typically receive tips on top of your hourly fees, increasing your opportunities for easy earnings while you work through college. Independent Sales Consultant Do you have a knack for sales? A traditional retail job probably isnt flexible enough for your busy college schedule. However, as an independent sales consultant, you can work whenever and wherever you like. Study sessions and social activities can turn into opportunities for unexpected earnings if you spot a fellow student in need of your products. There are numerous companies offering these types of jobs, so you can sign up to sell products that youre passionate about, whether that means jewelry, handbags, or home goods. Work with a company like Amway, and you can sell everything from surface cleaners to face masques, giving you access to a broad group of potential buyers. Tutor Working as a tutor gives you a great way to expound on your passion for a particular topic. If youre in school for accounting, you can fine-tune your skills by being a math tutor. Snag a job as an English tutor and make money while you brush up on writing skills for your journalism major. Education majors are uniquely suited to this type of work. Tutoring students in the right age range can give you a peek at what your future career has in store. Tutoring is an extremely flexible occupation. Some tutors even work remotely, using video conferencing, text, and email to connect with their students. Set your own schedule and rates, and you can start a lucrative little side business tutoring independently. If you have trouble finding clients, try a site like tutor.com. Personal Trainer Are you a fitness buff with flawless form and a knack for motivation? Offer your services as a personal trainer and you can make money while enjoying time at the gym. This is a great way to combine activities in your schedule. You can make sure you dont miss your morning run, and start earning money for those miles by working with others who need a little extra help to get out and get moving. This is a flexible job thats ideal for a nutrition or health major. Use your knowledge of smart eating habits and proper health care to help others get in the best shape of their lives. Think outside the box and you can find a wealth of work opportunities that will let you earn extra money while staying in school. Focus on your strongest skills and find a way to use these for profit. Whether youre good at identifying shoppers needs or making history homework interesting, you can make money using your skill set. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Resume and Cover Letter Writing Tips

Resume and Cover Letter Writing TipsResume and cover letter writing tips are of paramount importance for those who want to land a job in today's competitive job market. The internet has opened up job opportunities that once seemed unattainable.While there is no shortage of online job portals that can help you get your foot in the door, there are still some that are outdated and should be avoided. Employers will not want to deal with applications that don't do a very good job of convincing them of what they need to see in a potential employee. Some things you should know before submitting your resume include the following:o You should not write an original resume and cover letter. Do not attempt to reinvent the wheel - let it do the work for you.o You need to be honest in your resume and cover letter. Be prepared to stand by what you have to say.o Don't copy someone else's resume or cover letter. Make sure that you have one that you like and that is relevant to your qualifications. Ma ke sure to add your own unique style to your cover letter, as this will help you get noticed and will help you land a better job than your competitors.o Keep your letter short and simple. Your resume should only take a few seconds to read, so give it the best chance possible to catch the eye of the employer. In addition, be sure to emphasize the most important points of your resume and cover letter in your signature line.o Make sure that you follow all the resume and cover letter writing tips. If you do, then you'll be well on your way to landing the job you've always wanted.