What You Dont Know About Resume Screening Software Could Be Sabotaging Your Job Search - Workology

What You Dont Know About Resume Screening Software Could Be Sabotaging Your Job Search - Workology How Resume Screening Software Works Ten years ago, only large recruitment firms and big-budgeted corporations could afford to use resume screening software as part of their talent acquisition process. Job seekers who were applying to small-to-mid-sized companies were immune from the vagaries of these tools. With the proliferation of the software as service delivery model, this no longer holds true. Even fairly small companies can afford to adopt some kind of resume extraction, screening and management software, either directly or through a full-service hiring solutions firm such as Staffback Inc. This means that job seekers have to be much more savvy about the technology if they want to ensure that their resume gets noticed. How Resume Screening Software Works First of all, lets get the Optical Character Recognition issues off the table. There are only a few companies who still scan paper versions of resumes, so if you are holding on to concerns about using italics, underlining, bolding and colour in your resume, you can let them go. Todays resume management tools are substantially more sophisticated than the OCR versions of old, and have the capacity to neatly handle a wide range of text-based formats and content. They typically include a module that extracts data from resumes, and an HR or talent management system that uses the extracted data to evaluate and rank qualified candidates. The resume extraction tool uses advanced algorithms to scan your resume, identify text information, and categorize it using the rules of standard resume formatting. Data such as your name, address, telephone number, education, professional experience, years with each job, and keywords will be extracted and fed into an HR database such as Oracle, PeopleSoft, or SAP, or into a candidate tracking system such as Hire Desk. The talent management database is the foundation tool for the candidate evaluation and qualification process, not your actual resume. Based on the criteria identified by the recruiter or hiring manager, each candidate that makes it into the talent management database is ranked in terms of how closely they match the parameters of the job. Factors that will go into this ranking include where the candidate lives, their years of experience, and most importantly, the appearance of specific keywords the more keywords, the better the ranking. In older versions of extraction and talent management tools, the keyword match had to be exact, and many candidates were inadvertently screened out because of spelling variations (AS400 versus AS/400, for example). Moreover, the software was fairly simplistic in its parsing capabilities the keyword was either present or not present, there was no ability to judge the context in which the word was used. This meant that unqualified candidates were able to trick the system by loading their resume with keywords. Todays advanced tools, such as Talent Technologys Resume Mirror and HireDesk, have the capacity to parse and interpret meaning from entire sentences and phrases, which allows hiring manages to conduct contextual and parametric candidate searches. Soon after the job is posted and applications begin to roll in, the hiring manager will generate a report with a list of applicants who meet a minimum ranking the more applicants there are for a job, the more restrictive the hiring manager can be in setting the threshold for qualification. The report may contain small excerpts such as the summary from your original resume, but your actual resume may not get looked at in its entirety unless it makes it to the top of the ranking pool. The Resumator, a new software suite launched early in 2009, cuts across the grain in this regard. Designed to meet the hiring needs of small to mid-sized companies, Resumators built-in logic mimics the way that resumes are read in real life, and the software has the ability to display the resume in its entirety. But it still uses data parsing and keyword recognition logic to identify qualified candidates. What Job Seekers Can Do to Maximize Their Success with Resume Screening Software Before I start this section, I want to state for the record that I am not an advocate of trying to beat the system. If you are applying for positions for which you are patently unqualified, I believe that you are doing a disservice both to your own job search strategy and to the people who are managing the hiring process. In fact it is largely because unqualified candidates keep applying in great numbers that companies of all sizes have been forced to resort to resume screening software. Now, that being said, there are specific measures that qualified candidates should take to ensure that their resume gets scanned properly and makes it to the top of the candidate pool. How to Make It Past the Resume Extraction Process Submit your resume in a text format. A surprising number of candidates use graphics-based pdf files, which are viewed by the scanning software as nothing more than pretty pictures. Ken Winters, CEO of Staffback Inc., goes one step further. He recommends that you stick to MS Word, because its very universality means that it is least likely to cause reading and parsing problems for resume extraction software. Dont use graphics at all on resumes that are being electronically submitted. Extraction tools work on the basis of text recognition, so graphics are white noise that not only dont get scanned, but can actually mess up the parsing process for the surrounding text. Dont forget your address. Some candidates think that by excluding their address they wont be geographically limited, but in fact the opposite is true. One of the first screening parameters that hiring managers use is often the postal code or zip code, and if it isnt present on your resume, you fall to the bottom of the candidate pool. Dont use Words header or footer options for key data such as contact information. These are outside of the scanned areas, and wont get parsed. Use conventional formatting for things like your telephone number, no spaces between the numbers, no fancy characters as separators. Stick to standard layouts. While resume extraction software has greatly improved over the years in terms of the ability to recognize and parse a variety of formatting conventions, if you are too creative, the software may not parse your resume properly. Unless the response to the advertised job has been low, the recruiter or hiring manager is probably not going to take the time to fix the errors, and you will be dismissed as a P.I.T.A. candidate. Use reverse chronological formatting rather than functional it tends to parse with fewer extraction errors. How to Stand Out in the Candidate Ranking Process Tailor each resume to the specific job one size most certainly does not fit all in todays job market. Read the job posting carefully, and look for the keywords that are used to describe the job and the qualifications. These are an indication of the companys thinking and will most likely be used to rank candidates. In fact some candidate-ranking tools will do a direct comparison of the entire job ad against the candidates resume. Learn how to read the qualifications section. Many companies that are currently in recruitment mode are looking for candidates who can cover multiple skill sets, almost to be point of being unrealistic in their expectations. When faced with a long list of qualifications, know that some of them are must haves, and many of them are nice to haves. The higher up in the list of qualifications a keyword occurs, the stronger it is weighted in importance in candidate rankings, and the more likely it is to be a must have. Incorporate keywords directly into the body of your resume, so that a context is provided for the word. Keywords that cannot easily be used this way can be listed in a separate table. Be aware however, that some recruiters frown on the use of a lengthy keyword table, and regard it as an attempt by unqualified candidates to trick the system. Keep your keyword list short (10 to 12 items), relevant to the job, and accurate in terms of being a key strength you have to offer. Understand the principle of resume fatigue. Keep your resume easy to scan visually when it finally does get seen by a recruiter or hiring manager, and avoid look-alike formatting that you get from off-the-shelf and online resume templates. As one recruiter I spoke to noted, Ive had virtually identical resumes come in from multiple applicants for a single job. Not a good way to stand out, and shows a distinct lack of initiative. Get your resume in early. In fact the earlier you are in the submission process (provided that you are qualified), the more likely you are to become the gold standard by which the qualification threshold is set for all subsequent applicants. A Final Word on Job Search Strategy Advice from Industry Insiders While knowledge of resume extraction and candidate management software can give you a leg up, motivated job seekers should not rely exclusively on electronic submission of their resume to land their next great job. The laws of the hidden job market still apply, and candidates should be using a multi-pronged job search plan that includes direct applications, networking, cold calling, and relationship building. Ken Winters advises candidates to make use of resources such as LinkedIn to create a network of contacts and referrals. Use your network to solicit recommendations where appropriate, its a great way of establishing credibility and letting people know that you are available for new opportunities. Don Charlton, Founder CEO of The Resumator describes a great job search strategy as one that uses best practices in relationship building and solution selling. A good salesman knows that there is a fine balance between being pushy and annoying, and creating positive connections. Dont be afraid to ask questions, to seek out the person who you will be making the final hiring decision. But be respectful of their time. You are offering a solution. Look, sound and most of all act like somebody who is solution-minded. Karen Siwak, a Certified Resume Strategist, is a passionate believer in Resume Authenticity if the words on the paper dont feel comfortable coming out of your mouth, weve missed the point of the exercise. She uses a highly interactive partnership with her clients to create job search documents that are true to her clients voice, and has craft top caliber career transition packages for lawyers, medical professionals, corporate executives, scientists, law enforcement specialists, accountants, engineers, project managers, and administrative operations personnel at all organizational levels. Information about her company and her services can be found at http://www.resumeconfidential.ca

A Night of Networking with Women Tech Leaders at Audible?

A Night of Networking with Women Tech Leaders at Audible? Regardless of whether it's making a long drive something you really anticipate or controlling your day by day exercise, Audible (an Amazon organization) is changing the manner in which we tune in. Discernible is the world's biggest dealer and maker of book recordings and other verbally expressed word diversion, enhancing the lives of our a great many audience members consistently. They have rethought a media classification and are the main thrust behind the present sound amusement revolution.Want to find out additional? At that point we'd love to have you go to our night of systems administration and tech board conversation including the ladies tech pioneers and partners who make Audible conceivable. The occasion will occur on Tuesday, October 22nd from 6pm to 9pm at the Audible Innovation Cathedral, situated at 15 James Street, Newark, New Jersey. Plan (subject to change):6:00pm - Check-In, Networking and Photo Booth fun over Light Food and Refreshments6:40pm - Opening Remarks by Mi lena Berry, CEO CoFounder, PowerToFly6:45pm - Welcome Address by Vincenza Pizzo, SVP Product Experience, Audible6:50pm - Product Demo by Lisa Stringer Abdullah, Product Management Director, Audible7:00pm - Panel Discussion including from AudibleShruti Page, Sr. Chief, UXBidisha Das, Director, Software EngineeringLisa Stringer Abdullah, Product Management Director7:20pm - Audience QA7:35pm - Closing Remarks by Vincenza Pizzo, SVP Product Experience, Audible7:40pm - Networking photograph stall fun proceeds over Light Food RefreshmentsCome out for some systems administration and fun by experiencing our selfie corner gave by DigiBooths. You will have the option to send the photographs directly to your telephone. We would like to see you there!Visit Audible's page on PowerToFly to get familiar with the organization and their open roles.About our Events: All RSVP'd participants are welcome, paying little heed to race, shading, religion, national inception, sex personality, pregnancy, phys ical or mental inability, or age. On the off chance that you expect convenience to completely take an interest in this occasion, if it's not too much trouble email hi@powertofly.com, and we will get in touch with you to examine your particular needs.Unfortunately, PowerToFly and Audible can't concede outside selection representatives to this specific occasion. If it's not too much trouble email hi@powertofly.com in the event that you have any inquiries regarding this policy.About Audible: Audible is more than the world's driving supplier of book recordings. We're pioneers. We're creators. We're narrators. Since 1995, we've been creators of an industry upset, making a worldwide goal for knowledge, data, and creative mind worked at the speed of the verbally expressed word. Our kin are driven by an aggregate enthusiasm for enhancing the human voice and advancing the urban areas and networks we call home. Together, we're changing the account on storytelling.From Your Site Articles PowerToFly and Audible introduced an occasion for ladies in tech ... A Look at Our Event with Audibles Mobile Leaders - PowerToFly Blog Related Articles Around the Web Discernible Aki Merced

How to Make Meditation Part of Your 9 to 5 CareerMetis.com

Instructions to Make Meditation Part of Your 9 to 5 It's anything but difficult to zen out at home when you're in your very own space however conveying this equivalent serenity all through the workday is essential to remaining persuaded and happy.Creating your own zen space at work will help lift your temperament and diminish sentiments of stress. At the point when you're sure and quiet, you're probably going to be increasingly innovative, inspired and produce better quality work. Have a go at actualizing some contemplation into your work routine and watch the results.evalMeditation is the act of centering your brain through representation or careful attention to give you a vibe of lucidity, smoothness and comprehension. It's simple for us to become overpowered by the obligations of regular daily existenceâ€"business related tasks, getting the children to class on schedule, taking care of the tabsâ€"yet welcoming contemplation into your life, even only for five minutes every day, can extraordinarily lessen sentiments of uneasiness, ad vance mental health and increment your focus.You can take a stab at including one of these reflection procedures to your morning schedule or practice for the duration of the day to keep you centered and happy.The Benefits of MeditationThe most evident advantages of contemplation are a portion of the outcomes recently referenced, similar to sentiments of peacefulness and an improved feeling of focus.However, examines have discovered many physical and mental advantages related with reflection. Regardless of what sort of way of life you lead, you can receive the benefits of this practice.Most individuals practice reflection to advance sentiments of serenity and decrease their business related pressure, yet research has discovered that ruminating can likewise help hone your center, making you significantly progressively beneficial and less on edge about your assignments. A few examinations likewise refer to physical advantages, for example, brought down circulatory strain and a more gro unded resistant system.Making Meditation Part of Your Life1) Begin Each Morning with a Five-Minute Breathing ExerciseevalTaking time toward the start of every day to get yourself engaged and loose can begin you off on the correct foot. A considerable lot of us wake up and quickly start agonizing over all the work and tasks we have to complete that day, driving us to feel tense and restless before we've even made it to the office.evalInstead, put aside only five to 10 minutes each morning to clear your psyche. Regardless of whether you practice a perception method, utilize point of convergence reflection or simply take a shot at breathing activities, these couple of seconds of focus will give mental lucidity and help spur you for the day ahead.You can likewise attempt objective setting contemplation, in which you set and picture a particular objective to additionally drive you toward this intention.2) Practice Mindful Eating at LunchWe will in general consider reflection a movement t hat must be done alone or among a gathering of other people who are rehearsing simultaneously, yet you can really incorporate contemplation strategies into whenever of the day.Too regularly we end up scarfing down our snacks, attempting to complete our feast as fast as could be expected under the circumstances, so we can come back to whatever business related undertaking has caught our consideration. Yet, numerous individuals additionally notice that their capacity to center and be gainful will in general reduce toward the evening. To set yourself up for achievement in the second 50% of your day, utilize your mid-day break to really leave your brain alone still.evalPractice the craft of being available at the time with careful eating. With each chomp, attempt to relish the surface and kind of every fixing. Notice the scents related with your lunch and focus on how it feels to eat the food.3)Create a Mantra for YourselfMantras can be very useful when attempting to keep our brains con centrated on something explicit. You can make your own mantra or examination customary phrasesand discover one that reverberates with you.Throughout the day, you can rehash your mantra quietly to help you to remember your objectives and help support profitability. At the point when initially acquainting a mantra with your reflection practice, attempt to make a cadence between your breathing and your mantra repetition.4) Incorporate Stones and Beads into Your MeditationCrystals and gemstones are special devices that can extend your contemplation practice and work as physical tokens of your strategies. The vast majority who practice reflection for stress help are hoping to do establishing practices that can be improved by the privilege crystals.Lava stone globules are ideal for advancing establishing and dependability, further fortifying those sentiments of mental lucidity. Obviously, gems come in every single diverse shape and sizes, however the magma stone dots are ideal for day by day contemplation since they can undoubtedly fit into your pocket or made into an arm band to wear. Having your magma stone globules with you can remind you to rehearse your breathing strategies when things get the opportunity to be a lot during the day.eval5) Use a Daily Meditation AppThanks to tremendous innovative progressions, we approach an about interminable measure of data and exhortation. In case you're simply getting intrigued by reflection and you need some direction, or on the off chance that you simply incline toward guided contemplation, you should explore a portion of the numerous applications that exist.Headspace is one of the most well known, and it offers both a free and paid variant. Obviously, with the bought variant of the application, you'll approach a lot more activities, however the free determination is an incredible method to check out the application and check whether you're interested.Headspace is one of the most well known reflection applications since it has a gigantic assortment of guided activities on everything from self-improvement to profitability and inspiration. These themed meetings put forth it simple to concentrate your reflection attempts on a particular objective and help keep your brain from wandering.6) Practice Breathing Techniques evalUnderstanding and acing essential breathing activities can extraordinarily lessen worry in the working environment and cause you to feel more zenâ€"even in high-pressure circumstances. You can rehearse these activities whenever, especially in minutes when you feel overpowered, to advise yourself that you are alright and you can deal with any assignment that is tossed your way.The most regular breathing strategy is to breathe in through your nose for five seconds, hold your breath for three seconds and breathe out through your mouth for an additional five seconds. Another variety of this has you breathe in and breathe out through your nose while substituting which nostril you breathe in and breathe out through.To start, close off the left half of your nose, take a moderate, full breath through the correct side, plug the two nostrils and, at that point breathe out through your left. You can keep on rehashing this, exchanging which side you breathe in from. To add some representation to your breathing activities, envision taking in spotless, blue or green air on your breathe in and breathing out dull earthy colored or dark air on your breathe out, consistently welcoming new, reviving vitality into your body.7) Start an Office Yoga GroupThough yoga joins physical stances into the training, it is a type of contemplation and an approach to concentrate your brain and vitality on one explicit breath or motion.If you're feeling the weight of work, all things considered, the others around are encountering comparative emotions, so why not start a gathering that can help everybody relax?evalAsk around the workplace to check whether anybody would be keen on a week by week or fortnightly yoga class toward the start or day's end. At that point, gradually fuse fundamental stances and breathing strategies to get yourself into a thoughtful state and discharge a portion of the undesirable tension.8) Make Meditation Part of Every DayPracticing contemplation just takes a couple of seconds every day, except the advantages can be cosmic. Invest energy chipping away at your breathing strategies or perception practices in the first part of the day, and help yourself to remember your training for the duration of the day via conveying a mala supplication arm band or establishing magma stone rockswith you.Crystals can help uplift your reflection experience, and the Bead Traders assortment of gemstone dabs can transform your gems into wearable adornments.

Networking Opportunity Memphis Young Executives - Copeland Coaching

Networking Opportunity Memphis Young Executives Im impressed with the Crescent Club for putting on their next networking event.   Its being hosted by their Memphis Young Executives group, and will be on Tuesday, October 29th. The networking event will feature complimentary hors doeuvres with a cash bar available.   But, most importantly there will be 15 high school juniors and seniors there to network.   They will be learning more about networking and enhancing their own skills by interacting with you. The event is a partnership between the Crescent Club and FedEx.   I commend both groups for taking the time to help out these high school students. Below is more information about the event.   Heres a link to their Facebook invite.   Call 901.684.1010 to RSVP. Life Skills Networking Event Tuesday, October 29th 5:30pm at The Crescent Allen Club mYEX (Memphis Young Executives) and The Crescent Club are partnering with FedEx to bring you a very unique networking event. The FedEx Life Skills Team has been working with 15 Wooddale High School Juniors and Seniors to give them a little exposure, and taste, to what life will be like as a young business professional. When you join us after work, the students will be there and ready to network with us and experience first-hand an important skill for a young professional. Since one of the most important networking skills is the exchange of contact information be sure to have your business cards handy! This is a fantastic event and one that we are proud to be hosting along with the FedEx Life Skills Team â€" let’s keep training our local talent and inspiring them to keep Memphis growing! Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Contact The Crescent Club at 901.684.1010 for Reservations