Which is the Best Employer Review Site [Glassdoor vs the Others]

Which is the Best Employer Review Site [Glassdoor vs the Others] The vast majority of internet users today rely on peer-review sites before making a purchase. From books to restaurants, hotels and even airplane seats, users happily rely on online services to aid them in making informed choices. Sites such as Amazon, Yelp, TripAdvisor and eBay have made online reviews the norm for savvy consumers everywhere. Equally, savvy jobseekers around the world are relying on social media, particularly on employer review sites for information about their prospective employers. Review sites have come a long way from merely providing disgruntled employees and rejected jobseekers with a place to vent and publicly air their grievances. In the last few years, these sites (and their user base) have matured to be reliable sources of “insider” information for candidates looking to join an organisation. In an age where branding and corporate culture are becoming key differentiators when attracting skilled talent, employer review sites provide an alternative to the glossy brochures, media coverage and fancy corporate careers site made available to jobseekers: Glassdoor: Glassdoor.com  â€" the most popular employer and CEO review site right now. Current or former employees anonymously rate their companies on a scale of 1 â€" 5 along with a statement of at least one pro and one con of working for the organisation. Employees are also able to review CEOs and other high-profile business leaders who are known in the public domain. However, users are not allowed to submit reviews for “private individuals”, i.e. immediate line managers to preserve their privacy. Each submission is manually reviewed by a team at Glassdoor to make sure that the entry is “genuine”.  Apart from reviews, users are also able to submit information regarding interview questions they faced as well as reporting salary information. With the release of its Facebook application last year, usage has grown dramatically and the site continuously attracts new users from around the world. RELATED: How Glassdoor Gives Candidates an Inside Look at Employers RateMyEmployer.ca: RateMyEmployer.ca  â€"  The site displays anonymous reviews from current or past employees for Canadian businesses. To date, 36’817 reviews have been submitted for a total of 8’060 employers.  The site discourages posting reviews for companies with fewer than 20 employees to prevent possible identification of the reviewers. All submissions are user moderated and as such, the system relies on the community to report inappropriate language, inflammatory comments and other objectionable content. Apart from flagging inappropriate material, the site also allows users to “like”, “dislike” and comment on existing reviews. RateMyEmployer is owned and maintained by Jobwings.com careers inc., a Canadian company that also operates several job boards. However, despite being founded by a company firmly entrenched in the online recruitment space, RateMyEmployer does not advertise any jobs nor does it seem to have a revenue stream which works in partnership with any employers rated on the site. JobAdviser.com.au Jobadvisor.com.au  â€"  Launched in March 2012, JobAdvisor is an Australian employer review site focusing on providing employers the opportunity to improve their online branding. As with other review sites, all submission are anonymous with all companies ranked against similar organisations in its sector. The service’s main aim is to promote employment branding for companies. JobAdvisor urges employers to use the feedback they gained on the site as a benchmark for overall employee satisfaction whilst at the same time, leveraging the positive reviews as an attraction tool for new hires. Kununu.com Kununu.com  â€"  was founded as an alternative to Glassdoor.com specifically aimed at the German-speaking market. The platform has gained significant traction in the Austrian, German and Swiss markets. Recently it was acquired and is slowly being integrated with the social network Xing. As with other review sites, the monetisation model for the platform relies heavily on employers paying a subscription fee to respond to the submitted comments as well as enhancing their page by adding photos, videos and the company logo. Further revenue is generated by allowing companies to post job vacancies on the site. Jobeehive.com: Jobeehive.comâ€" launched in September 2008, the site hosts anonymous reviews primarily for employers in India although there are entries for US-based employers too. Similar to other sites, user-reported salaries and compensation reports are available alongside the company ratings. Jobs are also available on the site via Indeed.com’s platform.  Jobeehive also offers a “Layoff Tracker” functionality that displays the number of employees made redundant in a given month. The site generates revenue primarily through display advertising. They also offer employers the opportunity to promote their brand through a “Featured Employer” program as well as social media management services. TheJobCrowd.co.uk: TheJobCrowd.co.uk  â€" is a UK-based employer review sited targeting the graduate population about to enter the workforce. The site pitches itself as the ‘TripAdvisor’ for graduate jobs and internships. Founded by two graduates, the review site focuses primarily on providing feedback for advertised graduate schemes throughout the UK. The site has since expanded to include employer reviews, as well as information on working hours and average salaries. Hiring managers and recruiters alike should be aware of the online reviews available to jobseekers. Not every review will be positive however, being aware of what is being said about your company online allows you to anticipate possible concerns that candidates may have after reading the reviews prior to accepting your offer of employment. At the same time, showcasing stellar feedback from current and past employees may give candidates the final necessary push when deciding between equally attractive job offers.

Work in the USA

Work in the USA Every time I get a question about working in the USA, my palms sweat a tiny bit. I know the key websites to recommend (Embassy, Fulbright, service resources on working abroad) but despite my best efforts, I know that deep down I still get confused about what  the different visa options are for  a typical UK graduate. So, when I felt I’d got my head around it last week, I wrote it down quickly before I got confused again: Work in the USA There are lots and lots of niche areas (for everything from development workers to fashion models), let alone those with different citizenship status, but this is the  super-generalised overview of generic entry routes. Short term opportunities (J1 visa) to work in the USA Basically to do something like an internship, train, or do work experience (paid or unpaid), you’ll probably need a J1 visa A J1 visa is only issued under one of  14 different ‘programs’ Lots of ‘programs’ are specific (e.g. au pair/camp counsellor), but there are 3 general ones: The ‘intern program’ â€" visa to stay up to 12 months, can work â€" paid or unpaid. Only for those in full time higher education or 12 months out. The ‘trainee program’ â€" visa to stay up to 18 months, can work â€" paid or unpaid. Can be done after some work experience: 5+ years OR degree + 1 year The ‘summer work travel’ programe â€" can work for up to 4 months. Only for those in full time higher education. To use one of these ‘programs’ to head west you need a sponsor (see the  â€˜find a sponsor’ bit on the right of this page).  â€˜Sponsors’ are different to ‘employers’.  They’re one of only 93 approved bodies who can give you the forms to get your J1 visa. It’s their job to check that what you’ll be doing meets the terms of the ‘program’. For this they have a fee â€" an example of a sponsor and their fees is here:http://www.cicdgo.com/fees.php Most of these sponsors will hold a list of internships/traineeships/placements that you can apply directly to, from them, although you can also go and find your own and then come back to them. Technically, an employer could apply to  become a sponsor  themselves, but there are requirements, such as ‘to have experience in the field of managing international exchanges’, so it’s unlikely the majority will do this, as they don’t have to! When hoping to intern or similar at a US organisation without a background in this, reading up and becoming confident about getting your J1 visa is important â€" as the onus is on you to sort it out before you can head out. Longer term opportunities to work in the USA (employment-based, generally H1B visa) The H1B visa is outlined here:  http://london.usembassy.gov/work.html From the USCIS webpages, it seems that H1B has been defined as:  basically a role which requires a degree The H1B visa is something the employer has to file for, after they offer you the job Again, if the organisation hasn’t tried to file for a H1B visa before, it could put them off hiring you â€" hence, it is important that you know all about it to help convince them it’s worth doing. Permanent emigration For permanent emigration on the basis of employment, details are at:  http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/employment-based-visas.html General routes for those with a degree and professional experience still require a specific job offer to apply Other useful links for US work: www.prospects.ac.uk/links/usa  â€" on work and study in the USA www.jobweb.com  â€" US-produced career magazines online, similar to the TargetJobs guides There’s a  handy summary on short term work in the USA  on the Fulbright website If I’ve mistaken anything, do leave me a comment and let me know, but hopefully that’s a useful snapshot! ___________________________________________________________________________

How not to get shortlisted

How not to get shortlisted Writing applications is a tedious and tiring process it can often feel like a full-time job in itself.    As a Job Search Adviser here at Warwick, I have seen hundreds of CVs, cover letters and application forms so have some insight into how it must feel to be a recruiter. Make their job easy by giving them reasons to select, not reject, you.  These are some of the common mistakes applicants make that can often cost them progression to the next round of the recruitment process. 1.    Writing a shopping list In an effort to ‘get this over with’, many applicants start listing verbatim their skills and experiences in the hope that employers will grasp the connection between these and the job criteria. Employers, however, are busy people and will not waste time trying to infer meaning or spot the relevance.  Nor will they start musing on the candidates potential if you havent given them something concrete to go on, the chances are youll end up on the reject pile.  Unless you clearly state how your experience fits with and adds value to the organisation, don’t expect employers to fall over themselves with glee.  2.    Taking the spam approach You may think that sending countless applications will save you valuable time and create more opportunities for success.  But theres no obvious  correlation between the number of applications you send and the success rate.  In fact this strategy can often backfire. Employers are looking for (demonstrable) potential combined with genuine interest in their company and its mission or vision. Firing off applications that vaguely cover the job criteria are unlikely to impress. Taking the time to showcase  both your motivation and suitability,does not allow for a scattergun approach. If youre firing off hundreds of applications or uploading your CV to numerous job boards, youre selling yourself short. You need to choose: quantity or quality. You cant have both! 3.    Researching then regurgitating Some applicants go from one extreme to the other; from no research to regurgitating everything conceivable about the sector, company, role, MD etc etc.  In principle this seems a pretty solid approach: after all, recruiters want to see youve taken the time to understand what they do. But in practice too much can be as detrimental as too little. Employers are not (generally) interested in your forensic research skills â€" well, unless that’s part of the job criteria. What theyre  looking for is evidence that youd  be a good match and would fit with the company ethos and culture. They dont want to read about every single deal theyve cut or merger theyve initiated. Try to personalise your application: what is your personal motivation to join the company? How could you personally  add value to the organisation? 4.   Killing content with clichés ‘I am a motivated and hard-working individual with strong drive…’; ‘I am a self-starter with a keen eye for detail…’; ‘I am a great team player…’ Sound familiar? Of course marketability is about ‘talking the talk’ but this approach offers neither style nor substance. In some sectors, the applicant to job ratio is staggeringly high so the name of the game is to stand out. Clichés are both meaningless and lazy. Avoid at all costs. Be factual, be genuine, be original. If in doubt read it aloud how does it sound? If you cringe, then imagine what an employer will do.  5.   Waffling onand onand on Never write 50 words, where 100 will do! This certainly seems to be the mantra of some students. But, remember: employers are time poor they dont want to waste what time they have trying to decode endless verbiage.  In an effort to cover everything and then some  applicants produce lengthy accounts, often repeating themselves in the process. Ive seen CVs where chunks of prose cover much of the page this makes it hard to read and the salient points just get lost. Bear in mind most employers will  scan  your CV in seconds and make a judgement based on their first impression. If you cant be concise and precise, then you might as well throw your CV in the bin.  The same applies to application forms and cover letters focus on the facts and evidence. Before you hit send cast a critical eye over your application: does it hit the right notes, or just incite a feeling of zzzz? If in doubt ask a Job Search Adviser to check it for you. Dont leave anything to chance.

The Complete Marriage Paperwork Checklist

The Complete Marriage Paperwork Checklist While marriage is a beautiful thing, there is a whole lot of paperwork that goes on in the background before and after a wedding takes place, which is not as easy or beautiful. To ensure that you don’t run into problems and that your marriage is recognized by the state and legalized, there are certain steps that you have to take. For this, we have created a marriage checklist, which can help you keep track of each and every step. Even though your mind might be on things like the wedding script for your wedding ceremony, it is vital that also consider things like your marriage license, and certain other legalities as you get married. The following tips will give a picture of the things that need to be done; you can also seek further clarification from a family law attorney to be sure. So, before receiving your cute wedding blessings on your big day, be sure to have your documentation intact and completed, for a signed, sealed and delivered union in the eyes of the law. Marriage paperwork checklist While the legal requirements for getting married are generally the same in the country, they vary slightly in every state. So, it is necessary to confirm the details with your state when figuring out the steps to getting married. Some of these steps in the getting married checklist will include things like blood tests, residency requirements, marriage licenses and more. The Marriage Ceremony Some states have requirements on who can perform the marriage ceremony and whether there needs to be a witness. In most cases, the ceremony can be performed by a minister or a justice of the peace. Prenuptial Agreements Some couples decide to have a pre-marital or prenuptial agreement included in their marriage paperwork. This will have to be figured out before the wedding. A prenuptial agreement specifies the financial and property rights and obligations of the couple if the marriage relationship should end. Marriage License The marriage license can usually be obtained at the town clerk’s office or local marriage license office of the county where you intend to get married. This can be confirmed from a family law office or the city clerk as it varies from state to state. ID Requirements: A valid driver’s license along with your social security number is usually sufficient. For a non-citizen, you would need a translated and certified copy of your birth certificate and your passport. Previous Marriages: If you have been married before, you would need to show documentation.   That might include final divorce papers or a death certificate on how the marriage ended. If you’re wondering what to do with marriage license after the wedding, please keep in mind that it would need to be filed at the appropriate county office after the wedding. This task is usually handled by the wedding officiant. Change of Name After Marriage In the process of getting married, some spouses decide on changing their name for symbolic or customary reasons. There is also some legal paperwork to carry out in effecting this change. Below is a simple name change after marriage checklist. Get a new social security card with your new name To do this you will have to fill out and print the application for a new social security card. The next step is to take a certified copy of your marriage certificate along with proof of citizenship, like your birth certificate, and either mail it all or take to the Social Security office. Update your driver’s license After getting your new Social Security card, you would need to update your driver’s license. Just take your current drivers license along with your marriage certificate, birth certificate, and new Social Security card to the local DMV. Fill the required forms and pay the fee. Other documents to update Other documents and agencies you would need to update with your new information include your passport, the bank, post office, and utilities. You would have to inform your employer as well.   Especially if the name change and change of status could affect your work benefits and insurance plan. Property and Finances Certain finances and property ownership would need to be figured out before marriage. While this is not compulsory, it would definitely help to figure our previous debts, mortgages, and taxes.   And,   to what extent certain specific finances or accounts will be combined with those of your spouse. A marriage is definitely a beautiful union, but it is also a legal one. And this is why in the process of getting married, it is important to figure out how to get legally married and what to do after you get married. This is why a marriage   checklist on all the steps you need to take before marriage and the documents to change after getting married, can be quite helpful.

5 Ways Social Media Can Help Your Job Search

5 Ways Social Media Can Help Your Job Search According tostatistics, the number of global social media users in 2017 is approximately 2.46 billion and is estimated to reach around 3.02 billion by the year 2021.It comes as no surprise since social media offers its users a number of incentives such as the convenience to share contacts, express individual interests and formulate a support system that includes users from around the world.Social media is popularly labelled as ‘the next big thing’. While these social platforms help you in staying in touch with your loved ones, they can also serve as ideal tools to begin your job search.evalAccording to a survey conducted byCareerBuilderin 2015, out of 2000 recruiters and HR professionals, around 52% revealed that they use social media for conducting background check of the potential candidates.In fact, one out of three respondents confessed that they have found relevant content on social networking sites that encouraged them to hire an individual.Around 42% reported that they fou nd information that instigated them to not appoint the applicant and 18% revealed that they discovered information that made them wary about appointing the applicant.And, according to the latestCareerBuilder survey, the proportion of recruiters who use social media to investigate about a candidate has increased up to 70% in 2017, which is 11% higher from 2016 and 13% higher from 2015. Such is the power of social media on your career and professional life!Photo Credit â€" sanctuaryrecruitment.com.auWays Social Media Can Help You Land a JobHere are some reasons you should exploit the power of social media for job hunting and make your profile stand out:1. Branding your personalityevalGone are the days when employers and recruiters used to read pages after pages of resumes and cover letters. Today, with just one click, your potential employer can see your entire profile on LinkedIn. Moreover, what you do on Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms is also available with a single cl ick.Hence, social media can serve as an excellent tool to present yourself the way you want to. Want to apply for a magazine position? A powerful blog on Tumblr or WordPress showcasing your writing talent can be an excellent addition to the CV.evalLooking for an artistic position? Use Instagram photos to portray your photography and creative skills. While your education and experience are vital parameters to gauge your suitability for a job role, it is your persona that actually seals the deal.2. NetworkingThe greater your network is on these social networking platforms, the more chances you have to come across the right job opportunity. Through these websites you can reach out to thousands of people and learn the power of effective communication on a daily basis.Social media facilitates the users by providing a relaxed learning environment. For instance, if you want to learn something, get in touch with your favorite YouTube blogger.According to a2014 survey, around 14% of employer s consider a large network or extensive subscriber/follower base as a positive sign. It is believed that if large number of people are following an individual, then he or she must have something valuable or interesting to share.evalHence, the leadership skills and community engagement of such an individual greatly attracts recruiters to hire him or her.3. Staying updatedThe world of social media is evolving every day. New tools are being implemented and users are constantly encouraged to familiarize themselves with latest technology for better online networking experience.Your ability to adapt quickly to these technological advancements has a positive impact on the potential employers as it can foster formal and informal training.Whateveryou didn’t learn in college, now is the chance to learn at your own pace through social media. Join various community groups that help you learn new skills and polish your existing talents.Engage in healthy discussions with professionals who are a lready in the industry and acquire firsthand knowledge about how the industry works and what prospects it holds for you. Moreover, browse through corporate pages to stay abreast about latest job openings and current happenings.4. Real Job HuntingNowadays, nearly every company has its own LinkedIn and Facebook page.Ever wondered why? It’s simple! They want to reach out to millions of users with a single post. In the fast paced world today, people are no longer interested in signing up on job portals.Hence, companies and recruiters have resorted to utilizing social media platforms for the purpose of posting job ads. Want to work for your dream company?Just ‘Follow’ their LinkedIn page to stay updated about their job openings. You never know when you might get lucky.evalAccording to asurvey, around 24 percent of recruiters revealed that they appreciate it when potential applicants interact with any of their social media networks. Therefore, check the company’s website to find t heir social media accounts listed.Nowadays, almost every company has a corporate blog where it shares its activities and other useful content. Following these blogs and interacting with the company employees via comments and feedback can help you pave your way towards job prospects in that company.5. Learning about a company’s valuesevalSocial media can work both ways. It allows the potential employers to get an idea about your personality before they hire you. Similarly, it also provides you with ample opportunities to probe deeper about a company by going through their social media accounts. This can help you prepare for an upcoming job interview.Moreover, most of these corporate social media networks have feedback provided by their customers and those who have done business with them. Any negative feedback can raise a red flag for you to investigate further before landing a job with that particular company.Photo Credit â€" www.labourpower.comFinal ThoughtsKeeping in mind the cu t-throat competition in the professional world, hiring managers are constantly searching for as much information as possible about prospective candidates that might facilitate them in making the right decision.evalInstead of disappearing from the online world, job hunters should make their proficient guise evident virtually, and make sure that any information that could discourage potential bosses is kept private or erased.When employers observe that whatever you have mentioned on your CV is exactly what they found during background check on social media, they consider you a genuine candidate.

I have the Interview, now what

I have the Interview, now what 16 Flares 16 Flares Todays guest post is from David Graziano.  David has 25 years experience as a Social Recruiting Strategist and Full Life Cycle Talent Acquisition Specialist in the Contract, Sourcing, Permanent, Staff Augmentation and Corporate Recruiting space, including extensive experience in Virtual Talent Acquisition and Web 2.0 technologies. David is available for consulting, speaking and training engagements.  Check out Davids blog, connect with him on Twitter, and friend him on Facebook. We all know how difficult it is to secure an interview in the transactional nature of the employment market today. We also know what a rush it is to have one scheduled. I would like to share with you a strategy that will maximize your chances of succeeding on the interview. The interviewer in asking him or herself while interviewing you: Do I like this person? What makes them tick? Can this person do the job? Keeping those questions in mind here are my suggestions for what you need to do. 1.  Research the company. Not just the financial information, but where people worked before they worked at the company. Research the name(s) of the interviewers. Use LinkedIn, Google and other Social Media tools. It is amazing to me how little this done, but yet everyone discusses this all of the time. 2.  Bring your own structure to the interview. This is where the fun starts. Many interviewees I work with often tell me that the interviewer “asks the questions” during the interview. Cool, why can’t you also? An interview is a structured conversation and you will feel much less anxious about it if you participate in the structure by having prepared questions. 3.  Upon entering the office of where the interview will take place, be aware of any personal photographs, art, models (ships, cars, planes) and ask a question of interest. This is very powerful in establishing rapport and demonstrating how comfortable you are in your own skin! Here are specific questions that you can ask your interviewer: What are the specific day to day tasks that I will be performing? What touch points, KPIs or goals are there in the first year? In your experience, what makes some one successful in this role? What specific skills or experience do you see in my background that you would like me to elaborate on? What specific challenges are you facing now? (This one will open the door for you to demonstrate how you can be a problem solver.) These questions do not have to be asked in order. I have found that they are used most effectively at the appropriate time in the interview. It is very important for you to match the pace and tone of the interviewer also. If he or she has high energy, match that. If the interviewer is more somber, match that or know you do not want to work there anyway! “Tell me about yourself?”  is a question that drives candidates crazy. My suggestion is to be very specific in your answer and to focus on one or two personal interests and then have a succinct statement about your career. “Why do you want to work here?” is of the same ilk. This is where your research pays dividends. You will know about products and services the company provides and you can communicate your excitement about being part of a culture that provides those. These techniques are just the beginning, but if you accept responsibility for executing and hold yourself accountable you will be surprised by the results. In closing, always dress professionally for the interview and delete all embarrassing content from any Social Media sites.

Are Resume Writing Services a Scam?

Are Resume Writing Services a Scam?A lot of people have this misconception that resume writing services are a scam. They think that hiring a professional is the best way to get a high paying job, without having to put in any work. This article will explain why they are not.To start with, they can't do anything about the fact that you have a poor education or did not get a good job, but if you take the time to find something that fits your skills and experience and that you are willing to write about, you will be on your way to getting a decent job. Resume writing services are not required to pay you anything extra, other than their fees.There are many legitimate ones out there. All you need to do is to take a look at their portfolio and make sure that they are someone who is worth hiring. The best thing to do is to try to hire them directly by typing their name into the search engine.If you are able to find some reputable companies, you can also try looking them up on the internet. D on't fall for the first company that comes up, because you should be cautious when it comes to companies that offer to do this for free. You will usually end up with someone who wants you to sign up for a subscription before they will even give you an estimate of how much the services will cost.This is not going to get you anywhere, as you won't be able to take any notes. Remember that a resume is very important when you are looking for a job, so make sure that you do not take shortcuts when it comes to writing one.When you are looking for resume writing services, make sure that you can see at least a sample. The best companies will not simply send you a cover letter for free. All you are doing is giving them a little extra work.If you are not used to writing, you will need to find someone who can take care of that for you. There are plenty of people who are willing to do this for free, but make sure that you find someone who has written resumes for companies before.Resume writing s ervices are not a scam, nor are they some type of middleman. If you are serious about finding a job, it is better to hire someone directly and save yourself the trouble of paying the fee and going through all the trouble of finding a resume writer.