?? The Scary Truth About Why Companies Wont Hire You Back

?? The Scary Truth About Why Companies Won't Hire You Back 83 Thinking of getting rehired after quitting? You had better have a good reason for leaving in the first place. Photo by JD Hancock In August 2001, I left my job at Amazon.com in France as a web development team manager to move back to Israel. Almost a year later, I was struggling to find a job after the dotCom bust and my former team was moving to Seattle, so I applied to rejoin them there too. It didn't work. At the end of the interview process, I was told that it came down to me and an internal candidate, and they decided to promote the internal candidate instead. If you're wondering how to get a job back after walking out, G.L. Hoffman explains in this guest post that I shouldn't have bothered trying and you probably shouldn't either, although there are some exceptions…eval Have you ever tried to get rehired after quitting? Yes No View Results New job not up to par? Most companies will NOT hire you back if, say, you give the new job a try and find out it is not exactly what you were promised. You should know that because I have heard people say “well, if it doesn’t work out, I can always go back to my old job.”eval This might be the case. Young, inexperienced managers will often say this during the exit interview, even. It is them being nice… I would not expect them to hire me back if I were you. Most companies will not hire you back. And they shouldn’t. Forget about asking for job back after resigning Here's why. Most companies understand that once an employee leaves, they have left. In effect, they have said that something at the work environment is so bad or so limiting (insert your own reason here), that they need to move on to another job. Once the employee ‘gets there in his or her own mind,’ it is very tough to go back and be satisfied in the old job. Too often I have seen companies hire someone back only to see them leave again in a few months. I bet the average is over 75%; once they leave, they will leave again. Plus, if the company does hire you back, what kind of message does that send to current, more loyal employees? An attitude of we-will-hire-back provides a safety net for everyone. I don’t want any of my employees thinking they can just go try a new job for a few months and get this one back. There are rare exceptions There are only a few instances where we have hired someone backâ€"one girl went into the Peace Corps and the other went into the military. In both cases, we were thrilled to have them back. We formed a small committee to evaluate whether our small company would hire someone back who did have extenuating circumstances. In effect, we allowed them to make the decision. I was actually surprised at the intensity of the debate. Their attitude initially was “once gone, always gone,” but they did arrive at some conditions for the hire back. Recommended conditions for a rehire? What do you think? They agreed to recommend that we hire him back because: He found out his wife was pregnant and he needed the safety of our job vs. a commission only one or, His new startup could not get funded or, He agreed to sign a contract for three years and promised not to leave during that period, or None of the above. The answer was #4. We are very clear in the company about not hiring back. We talk about this because often younger, first job employees think that a company will hire them back. After all, they reason, it is the ‘nice’ thing to do. So, when upper managers felt someone had a volunteering Peace Corps-type excuse reason, we knew we could not simply welcome him back with open arms. That would have destroyed that part of our culture. This is why we gave them the power over the decision. Somewhat risky, but the culture is that important to us. What matters most The departed employee had left us to go work for his family’s business, which was experiencing some issues. They needed his help, in other words. Our ‘committee’ was very clear on their reason for allowing him to returnâ€"he had not taken another job. If he had left us for another company, there was no way they would hire him back. A family business emergency was different. They feel good about their decision and so do we. More on trying to get rehired how to ask for your old job back What will get you rehired? Or not Bonus: can you really go back to your old job? About the author G.L. Hoffman is a serial entrepreneur and venture investor/operator/incubator/mentor. He is the former CEO of JobDig which owns and operates Jobdig.com and Linkup.com. G.L. has also been featured in US News and World Report, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. Too hasty?

What Makes a Dream Job and Dream Company - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Makes a Dream Job and Dream Company - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It is not enough for employees to only do what they like anymore. They also want to do this in a company that they love.  They not only want to work on their dream job but also want to work in an ideal environment, with ideal people aka in their dream company. According to a survey made by Horizons Workforce Consulting, a dream company is not the one that pays the most salary but rather is the one which cares about their employees’ well-being, provides opportunities to learn, helps them grow in their careers and promotes work-life balance. Also, a dream job has the following qualities according to National Career Service, something one truly enjoys doing, allows one to achieve a goal or ambition and a role one is confident in doing. Over 80% of Americans believe there is an ideal job for each person, and that this job will lead to complete career happiness and satisfaction. However, it is not only about finding the dream job. Employees want to find the dream company for themselves as well. Therefore, in order to attract the best talent, employers should become a dream company. This way, their business will be more successful because they will have more satisfied employees. High Ground posted a great infographic about this. Below are the key points for employers that want to become a dream company. Provide employees opportunities to use individual skills and abilities Offer career advancement opportunities within the company Provide networking opportunities Offer company paid training Perks also play a big role in becoming a dream company. 79% of employees reported that they prefer perks and benefits to a pay raise, especially women and younger employees. Perks with positive impact are below: Encouraged professional development Job specific training programs Unlimited PTO Profit sharing strategies Gym membership and other health benefits Holiday time-off Recreation in the office Work-life balance Stocked drinks and food Education subsidizing Onsite childcare The infographic also mentions that people usually won’t stumble into a dream job and suddenly be completely satisfied. Dream jobs are often jobs that people grow into over a period of time. According to studies, people who transition slowly into an ideal position end up much happier than those who snag the position right out of the gate. Therefore, employees shouldn’t expect to find their dream jobs and companies right away.

The 4 Fashion Rules of Your First Job or Internship - Classy Career Girl

The 4 Fashion Rules of Your First Job or Internship Scoring that first job or internship is a huge accomplishment, so, first of all, congratulations! This is your first step towards a great career. However, before you become a high-powered executive, there are many miles to walk, and your first step starts with making a great first impression on your very first day. We know that youre experiencing first day jitters. You need to convince everyone youre professional, motivated, quick, efficient and smart. To put it simply, you want to show youre the best person for this position and that no one deserves it more than you. Every first impression begins with appearance, so not only do you have to prove that you are professional, you also have to look the part, and the proper office attire will help you achieve this. Getting ready for the first day can be nerve-wracking, but with a little help, you will pass this test with flying colors, so lets start with the basics. The 4 Fashion Rules of Your First Job or Internship 1. Do Your Homework Before you dive into the corporate world, do some research and find out what the dress code of your future place of employment is. Some companies have a strict business dress code, while others allow business casual. This way you will avoid showing up to the office either under or overdressed. Your wish is to blend in, not stand out in a negative way. 2. Dress For The Job You Want Investing in high-quality, high-fashion garments is one of the smartest things you can do. These types of items are far more than clothes. They are your gateway to a successful future, so this is no time to be overly frugal. How you present yourself visually speaks volumes of who you are and who you strive to be. When you invest in timeless designer pieces, you are not simply wearing clothes. You are making a powerful statement and sending a message that will result in a fantastic lasting impression. Remember, dress for the job you want in five years, not the one you have now. 3. When in Doubt â€" Be Smart Trends come and go, but smart attire is everlasting. If youre feeling lost in your quest for the perfect outfit, you can never go wrong with a well-tailored pair of pants or a knee-length pencil skirt with a fitted blazer to match. Office attire doesnt have to be dull. Spice up your outfit by choosing something in an interesting subtle checkered pattern or thin stripes. As for shirts and blouses, the first lesson is to steer clear of synthetic fabrics. They arent breathable and dont do you any favors in your attempts to look polished and sleek. Go for natural fabrics that allow you to move and enable your skin to breathe. This will not only result in a look that is stunning, but it will give you an additional confidence boost you definitely need. As for the color palette, follow the style guidelines of minimalism and go monochromatic â€" choose from the fool-proof family of navy, white, beige and gray, and you will not go wrong. 4. Keep Your Personal Stamp Even in a professional environment, there is still room for you to express your style personality, and this is where accessories come to play. When the rest of your outfit oozes elegance and moderation, a bold choice of color when it comes to your bag is welcome. You can rock a burnt-orange tote or a red handbag. You should, however, avoid things like leopard print all animal prints for that matter. Reserve these for your days and nights away from the office. Clutches should also stay out of the picture. They have no place in the workplace as they are not only unprofessional but also impractical for work purposes. Finally, your choice of footwear should be a mixture of comfort and elegance. Sneakers are a definite no, as well as stilettos, which still leaves you with plenty of choices among which leather flats, loafers, and pumps with a block (or at least a thicker heel) are the best options. The final pearls of wisdom are related to jewelry. Keep it minimal. For example, a golden locket or necklace is a refined and elegant choice, but seriously, steer clear of clunky statement pieces. You are now ready for your first day (and, hopefully, each day thereafter!)! Step out the door armed with confidence. You are smart, ready, and now dressed to impress. Show them what youre made of.

5 Ways to Help You Understand Your Social Employer Brand

5 Ways to Help You Understand Your Social Employer Brand The ability to attract, as well as retain, your ideal employee is integral to your business. Attracting that individual can be very competitive and in today’s modern mobile climate, one of the best ways to compete is to create a strong social employer brand. 1. Understand each platform Each social platform has its own unique benefit to your employer brand. You should first and foremost understand what they are. Facebook is the most used social media platform in the world and is a great place to start. Potential candidates, especially millennials, will definitely be going on your Facebook page as one of their first assessments of your business to see what your follower base is like, and what photos and videos you have to show off.  They will also go to your page to find out your contact information, your location and to see any reviews you have received from clients. So be sure to keep it constantly updated. Twitter is more of a place for communication and engagement. For example, you could use twitter to share relevant trends, and retweet quotes from key industry influencers and stakeholders. Instagram is your platform to tell stories, a topic we will delve into later on in this piece. Use Instagram to share pictures and videos about your employees, your achievements and the events you attend. It’s a behind the scenes look into your business that offers real transparency and authenticity. LinkedIn is your brand’s professional social presence, and is a great place to reach out to, and identify, potential candidates. There are more social platforms that I might have ignored such as Pinterest, Google+ and more that are important to your business and the image you want to communicate. So just continue to evaluate, improve and develop your strategy on the platforms you want to use and make sure you are utilizing the distinct capabilities of each platform to the best of your abilities. 2. Employee advocacy: Get your employees involved There really is nothing more authentic than employee advocacy when it comes to promoting your social employer brand. Enable your employees to share information about your brand on relevant social platforms. Allow them to post, share and like industry relevant information that intrigues them. Potential candidates want to see what type of employee is at your company. They want to know if they match the type of person they want to work with, and what they should expect if they were to join you. Dell has a social media training program for over 10,000 employees, in order to help them engage their online community and post brand-related content. Along with their great company culture, employees feel happy to post about the company, as seen below. How Dell Helps Female Students See What They Can Be #iwork4dell https://t.co/QJ6pGujrJS #Iwork4Dell pic.twitter.com/1ZM65w7ryw Jennifer J Newbill (@JenNewbill) April 5, 2017 3. Go behind the scenes Use social media platforms to tell a story about your employer brand. Your candidates want to know more than what they just read. They want to see your brand and get a real feel for your business. At the same time, your current employees want to feel they are a part of your story and that each individual person means something to your brand. Be sure to be sharing photos of company events, funny videos at the office and pictures of your employees. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are great places to do exactly that. Your candidates will enjoy the transparency, in terms of the day-to-day culture currently being offered at your brand. 4. Monitor employer review sites Employer review sites have become extremely important for potential candidates to get a real understanding of a brands management style, benefits system, workplace culture and much more. These reviews are trusted among candidates and employees because of their anonymity and un-forceful nature. Leaving a review is voluntary and reviews are an authentic overview of a business’ employer brand. So be sure to be reviewing these sites as much as possible. Dedicated review sites like Glassdoor, Great Place to Work, and even Indeed are useful places for you to get a real understanding of how employees and former employees are communicating your employer brand. Does your employer brand, and the value proposition you offer,  line up with what reviews are saying online? Does the work culture you think you have actually line up the work culture your employees are communicating online? Check out this example review on Glassdoor below about Facebook: This Facebook employee enjoys the staff culture but is confused by the organizational structure. So an employer brand manager can use this information to improve the clarity of Facebook’s organizational structure by reminding their employees what their responsibilities are and who they report to. Organizational structure is extremely important in large organizations like Facebook, and by just going on a review site like Glassdoor, you can make some very important changes to your business. Employer review sites are an integral place for you to continuously audit your employer brand; in terms of what youre doing right and more importantly, what youre doing wrong, so that you can continue to improve. 5. Spy on competitors Lastly, dont be ashamed to evaluate what your competitors are doing. Use it to benchmark your social employer brand in concurrence with what others are doing. If a competitor is getting more likes or more retweets on a post, try to understand why. Why are they getting more engagement than us? How often are they posting? What type of content are they posting? Essentially, what are they doing right and what are you doing wrong. Create a social strategy based on this information and use it to develop your social brand. Competition is healthy what ever way you want to put it, and assessing your competitions social media efforts regularly is a great place to stay ahead of them. Let us know your tips to staying on top of your social brand, how you keep your social presence fresh enough to retain and recruit the best talent for your business.

5 classic sandwich combinations for a cheap and easy packed lunch - Debut

5 classic sandwich combinations for a cheap and easy packed lunch - Debut This post was written by an external contributor. Welcome to the Sandwich Solver 5 fillings for your lunchtime munch thatll stimulate your senses and leave you with more money in your pocket. Christian Lynn reports. Breakfast and dinner. Those are the two meals we normally get right, opting for something cheap and cheerful like a bowl of Fruit and Fibre for brekkie, followed by a serving of spag bol for your tea. But lunch? Considering this recent Evening Standard article on the excess costs of eating lunch out, ‘lunch on a bdget’ seems to be a real problem for us millennials. So I come to you with a little solution, or should I say, a little big-up for the often forgotten thing that is the sandwich. Sandwiches are brilliant and the ideal meal to quench your library lunchtime hunger. But they’re avoided as an alternative to buying lunch out because we can’t figure out what to put in them: the filling is the essential part. So, to save you the aggro of spending surplus amounts of student funding on Sainsbury’s meal deals, here’s a little list of some sandwich combinations that will save you time and money, so you can put it towards something a little exciting. (To give you a good idea of costings, I’ve accumulated the price of the ingredients from the four major supermarkets, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons, and created an average). Firstly, the essentials: Hovis Wholemeal Loaf = £1.05 Bertolli Low Fat Butter Spread = £1.40 Bacon, lettuce and tomato 2x little gem lettuce = £0.69 8 Pack of smoked bacon rashers = £1.81 1 Bag of cherry tomatoes = £0.86 Optional: Supermarket’s Own mayonnaise = £0.85 Total [inc. butter and bread] = £ 6.66 The vital sandwich filling and my personal favourite. The BLT is a British classic and packs a heap of flavour. With the smoky saltiness of the bacon, the sweetness of the tomatoes, the bitter hints of the lettuce and the sour finish of the mayo, the BLT has your taste buds covered, literally and figuratively. Bacon, avocado and egg 8 pack of smoked bacon rashers = £1.81 2 pack of avocados = £1.75 6 pack of free range eggs = £0.94 Total [inc. butter and bread] = £6.95 For all those avocado lovers out there, this might be the perfect combo for you. Boil an egg, mash it with your avocado to create a creamy texture that’ll blend seamlessly with the crunch of your bacon rashers. No overpowering flavours either: simple yet delicious. Ham, Gherkin and Salad 1 Pack of Honey Roast Ham Slices = £1.73 1 Jar of Whole Gherkins = £0.97 1 Bag of Fresh Baby Leaf Salad = £0.90 Optional: Supermarket’s Own Salad Cream = £0.92 Total [inc. butter and bread] = £6.97 Everyone loves a gherkin, surely? If you can love them in your McDonald’s cheeseburger, you can appreciate them in this awesome little sandwich. Be sure to go for the honey roast slices of ham. The subtle sweetness contrasts perfectly with the sourness of the pickled gherkins. Plus, you can never argue with a bit of green salad to add the necessary crunch. I recommend a dollop of salad cream to go with: could easily be replaced with mayo or left out completely, depending on preference. Egg and cress 6 Pack of Free Range Eggs = £0.94 1 Pack of Salad Cress = £0.24 Supermarket’s Own Mayonnaise = £0.85 Total [inc. butter and bread] = £4.48 While the BLT is a classic sandwich, the egg and cress is a staple for anyone growing up. And it comes so affordably. Not a difficult task to make. Simply boil your egg, cut it up and mash it down a bit, mixing it with a handful of cress and a tablespoon of mayo. Delicious and doesn’t overstuff the sandwich either, which can always be a messy problem. Falafel, salad and sweet chilli sauce 1 pack of 12 falafel = £2 Supermarket’s Own sweet chilli sauce = £1.13 1 bag of fresh baby leaf salad = £0.90 Total [inc. butter and bread] = £6.48 Now, this may seem a little unusual. But I needed to show a little love for the vegans out there. Falafel is a perfect substitution for any protein products. But, to avoid the common accusation of dryness, I’d add a little spoonful of sweet chilli sauce, just to moisten up the mixture and give a little tingle of heat as an exciting dynamic. And again, for those veggie lovers, salad is always the ideal sandwich filler. These are just a few ideas that I think work quite nicely. And it’ll save you money in the long run: it might not seem like much of a save, but with the ingredients I’ve suggested, you could make three times as many sandwiches as you’d get with a single sandwich, from a meal deal, for its extortionate price of about £2.50 each. All if you just give that little extra time to making your own lunch. And be bold with your flavour combinations, try and experiment. It shouldn’t just fill a hole: make it exciting. Uni is a thrilling time for us, and so it should be with your food. Let us know if you have your own sandwich filling ideas as well. Spread the love. Let’s bring back Lunch, and more importantly, let’s get the real hashtag going: #MakeTheSandwichGreatAgain. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.