Useful guidelines to hire the best candidates

Reliability of candidate’s resume is not 100% many a times the recruiter has to validate the credentials & statements tactfully.

Here are some tips you can use to ensure hiring the best candidate:

1.      Verify details: Cross check the dates, work history details etc. as given in the resume. Make sure you have a verification process in place and can double-check the facts given.

2.      Scrutinize:  Too much of job hopping, no sound reason for leaving an employer or even long periods of self employment. Anything and everything that raises the slightest doubt and does not have a proper explanation should be investigated further.

3.      Hiring Checklist:  The checklist for hiring an employee keeps your recruiting efforts on track and communicates progress to interested employees and the hiring manager.

4.      Pre-screening: You can determine whether their salary expectation is matching with your job. A skilled telephone interviewer will also obtain evidence about whether the candidate may fit within the organization.

5.      Background check & references: Effective background checks are one of the most important steps when hiring an employee. You need to verify that all the presented, sterling credentials, skills, and experience are actually possessed by your candidate.

6.      Social Networking Sites: Use social networking sites to get more information on candidate profiles. The information on public domains will help you verify the details submitted by the candidates in their resumes. The candidate's behaviour on social networking sites will also give an added insight into the person's nature, attitude and possible work ethic. (This is method is indeed proven one.)

7.      Skill Tests:  Make sure you take relevant skill test & just do not go by the resume statements.

8.      Intuition: Last but not the least, trust your intuition. Your intuition and sixth sense can judge about how right the candidates are than any physical verification process. If your sixth sense tells you something is not right, do not ignore it, but follow up on it.

A small initiative: Christmas celebration plan in the office

I took a small step to make a fun environment in the office & break the monotony.

Though it’s a sales organization employees rarely have time to spend in the office but somehow I managed to engage all. Christmas Celebration started with daily events till the Christmas Eve. 

The entire office is decorated & lighted up, similar to the heart of our personnel. 

Program listed below:

Day 1-Picking Santa & Child, all the employee names are written in small chits & one who picks the name becomes the Santa for the person whose name is written in the paper.

Day 2-Surprise Gift for the Child from the Santa

Day 3- Thank you note to the Child & anybody one feels like. Purpose to gather maximum thank you notes for the most liked employee.

Day 4- Surprise Token of Thanks from the company to all employees. HR has to arrange.

Day 5- Revealing the secret Santa & Celebration with Cake cutting. One of the employee dresses up like Santa & distributes sweets to all.

 It is very important for Employees to miss their organization remembering Happy & good memories.

TAKING THE BIG LEAP IN ONES CAREER

How can one take the successful leap in career? Stepping the next step in job ladder isn’t      that easy. An opportunist should always have a mentor. Follower can become a leader in time if he not only goes behind his boss but learns his strategic footsteps. I would like to share few key points:

1)      Scrutinize & understand your mentor.

2)      Decision making-let it be small decisions gradually you will discover the ability to make bigger decisions in career.

3)      Taking responsibilities-don’t be scared to experiment with your skills. Learn from others mistake & you shouldn’t feel defeated before fighting the battle.

I have observed employees with similar qualification, experience, work, skills & projects bringing different results. What makes someone rise in organization while others stuck to the same position for years? My experience says, let it be any situation OBSERVE-LISTEN CAREFULLY-ANALYSE-THEN REACT. Never take any step in hurry or with half knowledge, give sometime to your brain to exercise & remove the rust from time to time.

Important qualities to become a leader/boss/manager

1)      Empathize employee & treat others as you want yourself to be treated.

2)      Understand your team strengths & weaknesses before assigning task.

3)      Take time to train effectively & let your sub-ordinates absorb the material.

4)      Authority & responsibility goes hand in hand in higher hierarchy

5)      Lead by your examples & follow what you say.

6)      There is never an end to learning; we can learn both from lower & higher levels in the organization.

7)      Always remember no degree can swap maturity & experience so act accordingly.

Last but certainly not the least always remember, the phrase...

“A MAN LEARNS THAT HIS FATHER WAS RIGHT, WHEN HIS SON TELLS HIM THAT HE IS WRONG.”

Effective Interview Strategy for Interviewers

    Today, I will discuss on Structured interview pattern, which is planned in nature & formal in conduct. There are two type of interview i.e., Structured & unstructured interview. Since, I have worked in non-IT sector, so this session is mostly helpful for interviewing experienced employees in similar domain. I have implemented an interview strategy wherein initials rounds of interview is general & work related with HR & Managers, once the candidate is shortlisted, then we conduct a detailed discussion round with full preparation of what the organization wants & what are the goals of the candidate. 
Some common questions to be asked specially for senoir level management positions are listed below:

1.     How do you think we can achieve our organizational mission & goals.

2.     What responsibilities will be there at the level you have applied for.

3.     Strategic planning for projects/targets.

4.     Situational questions based on real time scenerio of the organization. 

5.     To what extend you have handled pressure in your last organization.

6.     What is passionating  about this industry & your job.

7.     What commitments you have towards your career & employer.  

      I have also prepared a checklist which has helped me in rating candidates on various parameters important for the position & relevant to the organization. Planning is very important for every professional in all the spheres of work, lack of proper planning leads to wastage of precious time. 

     Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.

By Carl Sandburg

            

There Is More Than One Way Of Expressing The Truth

    Once Emperor Akbar dreamt that he had lost all his teeth except one & the following morning he summoned all the astrologers of his territory to interpret the dream. The result was stated that all the Emperor’s relatives will die before him. Akbar was very upset with the interpretation and sends away all the astrologers without any reward. When Birbal, the Royal adviser of the Emperor, heard about the dream he replied that this dream actually meant that Akbar would live a longer and more fulfilled life than any of his relatives. Akbar was pleased with his explanation & rewarded him generously.

     Management moral:  There is more than one way of expressing the truth. Sometimes the worst shortcomings can be discussed without stepping on the corns or touching a raw nerve. If it is necessary to resort to a bitter pill in the course of your duty as a manager, there is always the option of using a sugar coating to soften the harshness & it can turn out to be worthwhile.

     It is a matter of seeing a glass as half full or half empty. The fact is the same, only individual perceptions vary.

Source: Solve your problems-The Birbal way

This lesson is not only for corporate life but also applies to our day-to-day chores. 

Regards

Ms Birbal ;) 

Important questions to prepare before an interview

It is obvious to be nervous at an interview but one can switch the negative energy into positive by getting ready before the big day. I suggest any job seeker to attend as many interviews as possible this will not only help to reduce anxiety & build confidence but you can also get valuable tips from industry experts. Below I have mentioned some important questions which you should prepare before attending any interview:

1.      Tell me about yourself? Or tell me about your experience? (make a 2 minute presentation to sell yourself to the organization)

2.      What are your greatest strengths & weaknesses? (List out your positives and be aware not to mention any of your work related limitations).

3.      Tell me about something in the past you failed to do & if given a chance would like to rectify now. Do not mention any major work related drawback.

4.      Why did you leave your last job? Stay positive & never blame your ex-employer.

5.      What do you know about this organization? Prepare before the interview from diff. sources like   websites, current or ex-employees etc.

6.      Are you applying for other jobs? Be honest

7.      Why do you want to work for this organization?

8.      How long would you expect to work for us if hired?

9.      Explain how you would be an asset to this organization

10.   Why should we hire you?

11.   List out how you relate to the position applied for.

12.  Tell me about your dream job? Don’t make up fancy stories, stick to practical.

13.  What is more important to you: the money or the work?

14.  What qualities do you look for in a boss?

15.  What is your salary expectation?

16.  Do you have any questions for me?

17.  Do you know anyone who works for us? Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.

   Stay focused & prepare well before the interview schedule.

   All the best!

Trends & Barriers in employee engagement activity, in today's volatile industry

      The term ‘employee engagement’ is an evolved version of ‘employee satisfaction’. While satisfaction refers to ‘contentment’, engagement refers to ‘commitment’ and the drive to go beyond the call of duty to work towards organizational goals. We all know the importance of employee engagement in an organization.

Employee engagement is a positive attitude held by the employee towards the organization and its values. An engaged employee works with colleagues to improve performance within the job for the benefit of the organization. Today, management must work to develop and nurture engagement, which requires a two-way relationship between employer and employee.

      Employee Engagement starts right at the selection stage by choosing the right fit, for the right job, at the right time, giving a realistic job preview & conducting strong induction and orientation program. 

      

     Below I have mentioned few bullet points on latest employee engagement trends.

1. Picnic at intervals on a regular basis( yearly once or twice).

2. Movie plans.

3. A every-day column on the intranet with announcements / programs of the company, written by CEO,

4. Use an overhead paging system to update information. The system can recognize employees based on business achievements

5. Suggestion systems / quick responses of employees.

6. Replay on the intranet about the president’s / CEO’s press conference.

7. Along with employee's birthday, anniversaries & years of completion with the company can be celebrated.

8. CEO spending time communicating face to face with employees.

9. Implement training programs on soft skills and other required training programs.

10. Indoor Games as well as Outdoor games, like Chess, Cricket, Badminton etc.

11. Organize award ceremonies for deserving employees.

12. Write blogs every week on serious issues related to business and ask employees for reading/recommendations.

       Now, let us see some crucial factors which act as barriers to employee engagement.

Often organization’s policies & rules, culture & practices may disengaged an employee which can hamper employees, customers, stakeholders & ultimately the organization’s financial success. Poor induction, lack of training & development programs, blurred job roles & career path, deficiency in transparency within the organization, unequal opportunity scope, job dissatisfaction & lack of co-operation from the team, subordinate or managers are some of the importance barriers to employee engagement within the organization. Another barrier may be stress levels in the workplace which has increased substantially due to the pressures of competition & technological change in this fast paced world. Stressed employees are likely to be less engaged and less productive in the workplace. The HR along with the management can convert actively disengaged & not engaged employees into engaged employees. 

 

      Questions to Determine Employee Engagement

1. Do you know what is expected of you at work?

2. Do you have the materials and equipment you need to do your work right?

3. At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?

4. In the last seven days, have you received recognition or praise for doing good work?

5. Does your supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about you as a person?

6. Is there someone at work who encourages your development?

7. At work, do your opinions seem to count?

8. Does the mission/purpose of your company make you feel your job is important?

9. Are your associates (fellow employees) committed to doing quality work?

10. Do you have a best friend at work?

11. In the last six months, has someone at work talked to you about your progress?

12. In the past year, have you had opportunities at work to learn and grow?

      Key employee engagement outcome metrics

- Employee retention

- Branding

- Company performance

- Customer satisfaction

- Profitability

 Hope this information will be useful for aspiring HR professionals.

 Have a wonderful Day!

 Nazneen 

Why Exit Strategy?

Recently, I read an article in the ascent, on exit mode; this inspired me to analyze exit process from two perspectives, i.e., employer and employee.  The separation process should be carried out smoothly & in a good note as this is important not only for the exiter but also for the organization. I have made a gist of few significant issues. 

Employee: It is important for the individual to work with full dedication during the notice period instead of reacting like a honeymooner.  Do not foul mouth about your ex co. or manager no matter how bitter the relationship may be. Properly handover all the important documents & task to the concerned person.  Don’t be reckless about your duties & responsibilities till the LWD (last working date).  Make sure you can submit your organization reference for future opportunities & leave with a good note, as most companies undergo a background check before hiring.

Employer: Every worker is an asset to the organization & turnover is not only a loss of manpower but also loss of investment on the individual, confidential information & knowledge & skills. It is must for the manager to conduct an effective exit interview in order to avoid future drain out.  Sometimes it also helps in gaining back the resource. It is obsolete to have critical (negative) behavior towards an employee who is serving his/her notice period. After all who wants a bad word of mouth in the industry? 

Every entity working in corporate faces this stage in his or her career but one should not take this lightly as this may impact in the future.” What goes around…comes around.”  Even I have faced this scenario but the best thing to do is stay tranquil, composed & optimist, eventually it is a two way requirement.

What is Action-Reflection-Learning?

Most of us must have realized that, we learn faster & better when we see or do things practically rather theoretical knowledge.  Learning is both an active and reflective process. Though we learn by doing, constructing, building, talking, and writing, we also learn by thinking about events, activities and experiences. This convergence of experiences (action) and thought (reflection) combines to create new knowledge. Both action and reflection are essential ingredients in the construction of knowledge. This concept is applicable not only to school & colleges but even in corporate sector. Modern management believes in the concept of “action + reflection=learning” & hence more & more organizations are providing their manpower with learning while earning facilities. Implementing ARL programmes has helped organizations develop leaders, boosting high-performing teams and deal with long-term behaviour change.

Studies have indicated that most of us remember close to 70 per cent of what we read and hear. Out of the same, we recollect and understand 70 per cent (of what we remember). We try to apply 70 per cent of that understood. Hence, it is approximately 35 per cent of what we read and apply. In contrast, those who learn as a reflection of their actions would be more effective in applying and sharing the same knowledge. Thus, the beginning of Action-Reflection-Learning.

                “Wisdom is not something theoretical but highly practical: it is to know the right thing to do at the specific moment in the particular circumstances and then to actually do it.”

I would like to conclude “Action-reflection-learning” is to act; to reflect on those actions and learn from that reflection.  This concept is not only useful for career but also for personal growth & development. Put your heart into your actions, replicate your actions in your brain & the learning is for a life time.

Check out if you are a Good Conversationalist

Reply each statement with:  Always/Sometimes/Never. First complete then scroll down to see the analysis.

1.     It's easy for you to begin a talk among strangers.

Ans:                        

2.     When you have something to say, people listen to you.

 Ans:

3.     It is not difficult for you to present your thoughts before a group.

Ans:

4.     You don't rush with your words; people are able to digest your thoughts well.

Ans:

5.    You give full attention to the speaker on the telephone.

Ans:

6.       You keep yourself informed on what's happening in the world.

 Ans:

7.      You list your thoughts before a public speech.

Ans

8.      You summarize your thoughts before ending.

Ans:

9.      You are able to remember important dates and people you meet.

Ans:

10.    You add a touch of humor where possible in your conversation.

Ans:

                                                 

 Inference: Always- 3 points, Sometimes-2 points & Never-1 point

Ratings: Some up the total score & check where you fall.

 10 – 14:  You need to overcome your shyness by interacting freely with others.

15 – 24:  You are able to express yourself and people lend you an ear. Maintain your skills, but there is still room for improvement.

25 – 30:  You are adept at the art of conversation. Be your natural self and try to help others hog the limelight too.

In almost every aspect of our life or in a relationship, effective communication is needed. Given the importance of communication skills in both the personal and the corporate world, any individual who want to make progress with their life should develop this important skill.

Andy Fiffick is an excellent conversationalist.  Here are few of the things that make for any good conversation.  Andy did all of them.

1. Take the initiative.  Introduce yourself and shake hands.
2. Get the other person speaking.  Ask something about the other person.
3. Open up to the other person.  Offer some information about yourself.
4. Be enthusiastic.  Let your passion for who you are and what you do show through.
5. Be open to learning about the other person.  Ask questions, listen, show you understand.
6. Engage in a give and take.  Don’t dominate the discussion, but don’t make the other person do all the work.
7. Be willing to offer help, if appropriate.

 Hope this piece of Information will be useful.