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October 31, 2022

The Perks of Hiring People with No Experience

Hiring new talent can be an exciting and frustrating experience, especially if it’s your first time hiring employees. There are so many things to consider, like how much to pay, what benefits to offer and how to keep your new hires from leaving once you get them on board! But, how do you decide which candidate is right for your organization? Someone with years of experience, or someone with no experience? That greatly depends on which position you’re hiring for, but let’s explore the benefits of hiring someone who has no experience — this strategy can save you money and help you foster trust within your organization as you build your employee’s experience.

Finding the Right Fit

When you’re in need of someone to fill a position, be sure to think about what skills they will have that can be utilized at your company. There are many benefits to hiring people with no experience such as being able to train them and mold them into the perfect fit for your company. Plus, there is a lot less pressure on you when it comes time to make a decision because you don’t have any preconceived notions about who they are as an employee which can lead to better decisions. When considering hiring someone who has no experience, make sure they have skills that can be useful at your company and once hired, then take the time to train and coach them so they can grow into the perfect person for the position. 

These skills don’t have to come from direct experience in your industry; for example, if you run a marketing company, a potential candidate could put on their résumé that they have experience working with customers to persuade them to purchase a product from working the floor in retail — they just don’t have direct marketing experience. This is still a skill that can be put to good use at your company! In fact, in this example, this gives that job candidate a unique perspective into what consumers want that may have been previously missing at your business.

They Are an Investment

One of the biggest perks of hiring someone without experience is that they are an investment. A person without experience can be a great asset to a company because it takes time for them to learn and grow. When hiring people with no experience, you invest in them and their future because they become more valuable over time. Plus, there is less turnover when you hire people who have no experience because you build trust and loyalty by showing candidates you are willing to work with them and allow them to move up in your company.

They Are Eager to Learn

Hiring someone without any experience can be a risky move. There is always the chance that they will not be able to keep up, or worse, quit after a week. However, there are plenty of reasons why it might be worth the risk. For starters, you can find people who are eager to learn and will be happy to go above and beyond what is required in order to make themselves valuable. This can lead to your company having an influx of motivated employees who have the potential for growth and education. 

They Bring Fresh Ideas

Hiring people without experience can be intimidating because you don’t know what they’re capable of. But, it also offers many benefits that inexperienced managers might not think about. One major perk is fresh ideas. If you hire someone without experience, they’ll bring a new perspective to the company and help you find new ways to improve processes and increase your creativity. For example, if you have an employee who has been working for years on a particular project or product, they may not see other solutions that could help make the work process smoother and more efficient. In some cases, having an outsider’s perspective on things can be valuable because it’s likely they won’t be tainted by old habits or assumptions that others may be stuck in.

As mentioned before, hiring someone with experience versus no experience comes down to your company culture and the position you’re hiring for. There are benefits to both, but focusing specifically on those with no experience, they can be a great investment for your company! What has been your company’s experience hiring someone who has not worked in your industry? Let us know!

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October 24, 2022

How to Write a Cover Letter: The Ultimate Guide

If you’ve ever applied to a job online, then you’ve probably had to write a cover letter of some sort. But despite their commonality, many job seekers don’t know how to write one well. If you’re struggling with writing a cover letter that will impress employers and get you hired, we can help! Here are some tips on how to write a cover letter that can help you stand out from the crowd and get your foot in the door for your dream job.

Step 1: Identify the Roles

It’s no secret that having the right skills and experience are key factors for securing an interview. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to impress your future employer, so it’s important not only to customize your letter based on the type of position you’re applying for, but also consider what keywords you’ll need in order to connect with the hiring person. It’s also worth noting that this type of correspondence has evolved into more than just a paragraph explaining why you’re the best person for the job. Also, it helps to include the name of the position for which you are applying, and mentioning some of the bullet points in the original job description. For example, if the description lists that you need three years of experience as a virtual assistant, mention that you have X amount of years as a VA which is more/less as requested in the job description (if you say less, explain why you feel you deserve the position!).

Step 2: Answer these Questions

  • Who is the letter for? 
      1. It is important to be clear about who you are addressing your letter to. This person should be listed in the top of your cover letter and throughout the body of your letter as well. If you are unsure about who your letter should be addressed, this should also be stated up front in order to give them an understanding of what you want from them or what you’re requesting of them. This can go hand-in-hand with explaining why they need to read the following contents of your cover letter as well. 
  • What are my qualifications? 
    1. This question is asking for three things in particular that the employer wants a clear understanding on. First off, it asks if you have experience with the industry/company’s specific field. For example, if it is related to marketing then there are quite a few subsets within marketing that require specific experience such as web design. Secondly, it asks if you have any relevant degrees (like a web design or marketing degree). Lastly, the company wants to understand what you bring to the table through your experience such as tools you have at your disposal; sticking with the web design example, the company wants to know if you have all the tools you need already or if you will require them such as a company computer. In fact, some employers look for people that already have personal access to specific software. These questions require very specific answers so make sure they align closely with their expectations and needs.

Step 3: Highlight your Qualifications

By this point, you should have spent enough time talking about yourself so that the business owner or hiring manager knows your strengths and weaknesses. You should also have addressed why you are uniquely qualified for the job. This is where you discuss any qualifications that are related specifically to the job description in question. Make sure that any skills and experience mentioned fit into your objective, though.

Step 4 : Formatting Matters

When it comes time to write your cover letter, formatting is important. A great cover letter tells the story of you and your journey, in such a way that the employer can’t stop reading. No matter how strong your qualifications are, if they’re not presented well on paper they will be overlooked. Check out this example below for guidelines on how to properly format your cover letter and break into the industry of your dreams:

  1. Mention the position and why you are interested.
  2. Go into detail about your work history, but make it interesting; employers are getting tons of cover letters, so it’s important to make yours stand out.
  3. Talk about the job requirements and how you meet them.
  4. Give employers a couple of different ways to contact you.

Step 5 : Tailor Your Cover Letters

Cover letters are one of the most important parts of your job application. They should be tailored specifically for each job so make sure that you spend time personalizing it. If you’re applying for a job as a manager, talk about how your management experience makes you the perfect candidate. If you’re applying for an entry-level position, talk about how excited you are to get started and learn from the people who’ve been there before. Pick which experience to focus on based on what the job is!

What tips do you have for those who are writing cover letters? Let us know!

 

 

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September 5, 2022

Tips for Creating An Attention-Getting Job Seeker Profile to Help You Get Hired!

One of the most popular questions we get asked is: How do I create a great online profile / resume that stands out to employers? So, we’ve put together some examples of what to do (and what not to do). This is a great guide for those just getting started, but it’s also a great reference for those who have their résumés posted that are not hearing back from employers.

It’s important to note that employers cannot see your online profile / resume unless, (1) you’ve applied for their specific job or (2) you are a Platinum member which comes with a rotating profile on the home page. 

Ok, so let’s start simple…

What Not To Do

Your profile is how employers learn more about you. They like to see a headshot so they can put a face to a name with your information. Most importantly, they like profiles that are detailed with LOTS of information.

The profile below is an example of what not to do. There is no picture, and there is no information. Employers use your profile first, and then they turn to your résumé. It’s also a good idea to update your profile on a regular basis. That way, employers know you’re serious about looking for work. Set a reminder to review and update your profile periodically such as quarterly or every six months.

Make sure to complete your profile! It’s totally okay to set up a test profile like the one below to see how things will look, but don’t forget to go back in and fix it later. This profile has a photo (that we’ve hidden), which is great, but nothing at all for employers to reference!

This next profile is another step in the right direction, but it needs more information. The profile has a photo, which is great, and a description, which is also great. But, this doesn’t speak to specific experience for an employer to reference.

What To Do

You’re probably noticing a trend at this point: provide a photo, write a description, and provide specific employment information. We reached out to some of our past top performing profiles for permission to share. Check them out below!

Hannah checked all three boxes: she has a photo that clearly shows her face, she has a description, and she has detailed information about her work history. Plus, she made it even easier for employers to check out companies she has worked with by providing their URLs

Hannah shares: 

“I got my job with very quickly (within a week) after applying through HireMyMom! I believe the key was really that online resume and me emailing the company to stand out. I also mentioned their website and how much I loved what their business was about in that initial email. I believe anything to stand out like that is good…When I am looking for jobs my go to is ALWAYS HireMyMom.com. I also tell ALL my friends about it because I believe HireMyMom makes it so easy for moms to stand out in the online/remote workforce.” 

Now, we understand that some people do not want to share their photo online, and that’s okay! We suggest providing further information to interest employers so they are blown away by your experience and skills, like Sara’s profile below; Sara also went the extra mile to provide how many years of experience she has for specific skills.

There you have it! A profile does act as a résumé, so you should fill it out accordingly, but it also gives you more space than a typical résumé so you can go into a little more detail.

If you have questions or need help with your own profile, reach out to the team at HireMyMom — we are more than happy to help! We have several opportunities to help you level up!

 

 

 

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August 22, 2022

Struggling to Find a Job? 5 Tips to Boost Your Morale

Finding a job can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’ve been searching for quite some time and haven’t had any luck yet. If you’re discouraged about your job search and need some help getting motivated, these five tips can help give you the extra boost you need to continue your search and get excited about finding your ideal career path.

1) Set Mini Goals

One way to stay motivated when job hunting is to set small goals for yourself. For example, you could resolve to check three job boards every day, or send out five resumes per week. Once you accomplish your mini goal, give yourself a pat on the back and move on to the next one. You’ll feel much better about your situation if you keep setting small goals for yourself! 

Create a schedule too. Maybe each week or every other week, sit down and set more goals. Spend time evaluating where you are, where you want to be, and what you need to do to get there! And remember, these goals should be small and easy to achieve so you know you are making progress towards your overall goal of finding a job.

Having realistic, achievable steps to reach your long-term goal can help you make progress and take action. For example, if you are looking for a job in the real estate industry, setting a mini goal of getting your real estate license can help significantly as it shows potential employers that you have taken initiative and are knowledgeable about the field. It’s also important to constantly reevaluate your mini goals to make sure they still align with your overall career objectives so you don’t get lost in pursuing something unrelated to what you really want.

2) Stay Organized

When you’re job hunting, it’s important to stay organized and keep track of your applications, contacts, and follow-ups. This will help you stay on top of the process and avoid getting overwhelmed. The more prepared you are, the better!

Keep track of jobs you’ve applied for, where you are in that process, and keep any feedback you receive in a place where you can revisit it as you continue your job search — especially if you receive feedback after an interview. Tools such as Asana are great for this.

3) Surround Yourself With Positive People

One of the best things you can do when you’re feeling down about your job search is to surround yourself with positive people. These are the people who will listen to your venting, offer words of encouragement, and help you stay motivated. So reach out to your friends and family, and let them know what’s going on. You’d be surprised how helpful they can be!

4) Remind Yourself Why You Want the Job

It can be easy to forget why you wanted the job in the first place when you’ve been looking for a while without any luck. But reminding yourself of your reasons can help you stay motivated. Maybe you want the job because it will help you gain experience in your field, or because it offers good benefits. Whatever your reasons, keep them in mind and let them inspire you to keep going. If you start getting frustrated, think about how happy you’ll feel once you land that job!

This is a great time to create a dream board and keep it where you can see it daily. Boards can have photos of your dream job, motivational quotes, etc. If you place it someplace visible, you can always glance over at it to remind yourself why you want the job.

5) Do Something Fun

When you’re feeling down about your job prospects, it can be tempting to just veg out on the couch and watch Netflix all day. But that’s not going to do anything to improve your situation. Instead, try to do something fun every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This will help you maintain your energy and enthusiasm levels as you continue your job search.

Most importantly of all…DON’T GIVE UP! Sometimes it takes time to find just the right job, and that’s okay! What are ways you stay motivated during your job search? Reach out and let us know!

 

 

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May 30, 2022

Do Personality Tests Help Employers Find the Right Person for the Job?

Personality tests are often used by employers to assess job candidates in hopes of identifying the right person for the job, and they’re becoming more and more popular in today’s competitive job market. The number grows yearly, but right now 22% of businesses actually use personality tests to find job candidates. But are personality tests effective? Does your personality really determine whether you can do the job well or not? And should employers even be using them at all? Let’s discuss some of the pros and cons of personality tests and how accurate they are in determining how a person will perform on the job, as well as how to best use them when hiring someone.

Why do companies use personality tests?

Companies use personality tests when hiring to get a general understanding of an applicant’s character so they can make an informed decision. People with certain personalities tend to work better in certain roles, and personality tests can help companies spot these trends quickly and accurately — but just how accurate are these personality tests, truly? While there is some debate over whether or not companies should use personality tests at all, most experts agree that if used correctly, they are generally very accurate, but they must be used in conjunction with other measures such as cognitive ability.

How do personality tests help companies?

By providing a fast, accurate, and standardized measure of the five primary personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), personality tests help companies narrow down their search to applicants who are most likely to succeed. For example, if an employer is looking for someone with a high level of openness but low levels of extraversion, they can save time by ruling out candidates who score poorly on that particular scale.

Are personality tests worth my time?

Yes, but only if you use them correctly. The key is to employ objective personality tests and a structured hiring process in which your hiring managers fill out personality tests at the same time. In other words, objective personality tests should be used to help hiring managers do the same thing they would have done otherwise—in essence, these psychological tools are just more sophisticated and more efficient than a good gut feeling. And for those taking the tests, it’s important to answer them truthfully to make sure you are a good fit all around.

In the end…do personality tests REALLY help companies hire the perfect person?

Yes and no. Personality tests can help you screen for the right candidate, but they are not the ‘end all, be all.’ We have seen these tests used successfully in the hiring process. In the most successful example we saw, the company sent the tests right at the beginning of the process to determine what type of personality traits they were looking for — but, they also had their staff take them (including the person who they were replacing) to help them narrow down what they wanted out of a candidate.

If they received candidates that tested at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from what they wanted, they declined moving forward. From there it was a sliding scale of what they accepted. The personality test, though, was just the beginning. They then had specific experience they were looking for as well as how folks answered questions in the interviews. As an employer, personality tests can really help when you post a job and you suddenly find yourself flooded with applicants. Just make sure it is not the only measure you are using! 

For employees out there, we know there are a whole host of different personality tests companies are asking you to take. It’s really up to you whether you want to invest your time in them or not. Some are fast and easy. Some are longer. You need to ask yourself, are you truly interested in the job in its entirety, or did it just sound okay?

And employers, that’s something you should think about too when adding in a personality test. How much time am I willing to ask from a potential candidate before things get serious with them? Because an extra long personality test given too soon at the beginning of the process might just chase your dream candidate away. It’s a balancing act, for sure. How does your organization handle personality tests during the hiring process? Reach out and let us know your take!

 

 

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May 9, 2022

How do I answer job interview questions?

You already know what you’re going to be asked:

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

Why are you interested in this position?

Do you have experience with x, y, and z?

Every interview, you’re asked the same handful of questions. But, here’s the hardest one yet: do you know the best way to answer job interview questions?

Employers want to know that YOU know your stuff.

We recently participated in an interview for a marketing assistant position. When the job candidate was asked if they were familiar with Photoshop, they said yes, and then they defined what Photoshop is. While employers are happy to hear you know what is being discussed, they want to hear HOW you use it. Instead of defining it, explain that you’ve used Photoshop for many years to edit photos, specifically removing backgrounds and changing colors. Mention a couple of specific projects you’ve used it for.

On the flip side, if you have some of the qualifications mentioned in the job description but not all, let the job interviewer know that. Be honest, but tie it back into experience you DO have. Maybe you don’t have Photoshop experience. That’s fine! Maybe you have experience with Canva or Picsart instead. Let your potential employer know that you are happy to learn Photoshop, but in the meantime, you’ve used Canva or Picsart to create assets and do some photo editing within that online service.

Pay attention to who is in the interview.

Tailor your job interview answers based on who is in the interview with you. Are you interviewing for an accounting position, but a normal HR rep is conducting the interview? Or are you interviewing with the lead accountant? If it’s someone unfamiliar with the technical details of the position, make sure to not spend too much time on super technical answers, and don’t just use big buzzwords to sound fancy. For example, let them know you’ve used Quickbooks in the past to run revenue reports, but don’t go into a step-by-step process of how you ran those reports

If you find yourself with the lead accountant, take some time to get technical with answers of how past experiences apply to this new position; using the example above, mention that you’ve used Quickbooks to run reports for monthly and quarterly pre-tax revenue data points. This demonstrates that you really know what you’re talking about, and this can turn the job interview from an interview into a conversation. We’ve certainly found ourselves a time or two laughing and joking about crazy technical aspects of the job that we encounter daily.

The third option here is that perhaps you’re not sure what your interviewer’s level of comfort is with the topic at hand. Don’t be shy, ask them! Let them know you don’t want to waste their time with too vague or too specific of answers. Never be afraid to ask questions, and always try to ask a few of your own.

Employers ask strange questions out of the blue to see how you handle the unexpected.

Sometimes, you might find yourself being asked something that seems out of left field! One time we were asked, “What’s the most inspirational thing you experienced while traveling?” No, the job was not travel related!

Job interviews can be nerve wracking as is, so if you find yourself freezing up with a weird question, don’t worry about it. Let the interviewer know you weren’t expecting a question like that. If they admit it’s something along the lines of seeing how you handle unforeseen things, then bring the interview back to the job description and how your experience fits that. Give specific examples of how you’ve handled unexpected events. Then come back to the original question. If you can answer it, great! If not, just admit that’s a question you need to think on a little more.

A more tame version of this that we have encountered is that some employers have asked, “What are three values that matter the most to you in your life?” This question is a bit easier to tie into your past job experience, but it’s not a super common one. In one instance, an employer asked for the answer in a rapid response style to see what came to mind first. Answer honestly, then mention specific times you used those values in the workplace.

That all sounds great…but HOW do I answer job interview questions?

Let’s break it down:

  1. Give specific answers about past experiences.
  2. Bring the questions back to the experience you DO have that you bring to the table.
  3. Ask your own questions!
  4. Everyone is human. If you freeze up or stumble, admit it!

And if you need more resources on answering job interview questions, check out the 7 Tips to Rock Your Remote Job Interview. But really, when it all comes down to it, we are all human. If you get a weird question or your mind goes blank, let the interviewer know. We’ve all been there!

Before your interview, go through the list of qualifications the employer is seeking. Write down specific examples of how you’ve used those qualifications in the past, or come up with a list of things that are similar that you can mention instead if you don’t have exactly what’s mentioned in the job description. Having your notes nearby can help. Ask friends, family, even your kiddos to help interview you! In fact, kids say the darndest things (right?) so they might be a great way to prepare if they are old enough to help; it can even be a fun little game to play!

Now we want to know, what’s the WEIRDEST question you’ve been asked in a job interview? Reach out to tell us!

 

 

 

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April 25, 2022

Do I need to respond to every applicant that applies for a job?

Are you familiar with the term ghosting? This refers to when someone just leaves a situation with absolutely no explanation. You may have experienced this when someone left you hanging and possibly puzzled you as to why.

Have you, as an employer, ghosted job candidates?

Everyone here understands the struggles of being a business owner: there’s never enough time in the day, never enough help when you need it, or there are days where nothing goes right.

All of that plays into how you go about the hiring process. As a small business, sometimes you just don’t have the manpower to do it all. 

You’re probably asking, when is it considered ‘ghosting’ during the hiring process?

To be honest, there isn’t a clear cut line. What we can say is that the further someone makes it into the hiring process, the more they want to hear a response either way. Each company has its own steps to follow, but if you reach out to a candidate to express interest, it’s at this point that most job seekers start to experience ghosting.

77% of job applicants have been ghosted. That might be after an initial screening phone call, after one face-to-face interview, or after multiple interviews. In fact, some candidates have said they were ghosted by potential employers after a final job offer was submitted to them!

As an employer, ghosting comes down to a judgment call. There are lots of tools available to help you not leave job candidates out in the cold as to where their application stands. One thing we recommend is to write a generic template email saying thank you but no thank you. You can send this to all the candidates at once that aren’t moving to the next round, and that lets them know you aren’t ghosting them — which they will appreciate! You’ll appreciate it too because sometimes ghosting job seekers can lead to more of your time being eaten up when they reach out via phone and email to follow up on their application’s status.

But, what about the flip side?

What should you do as an employer if a candidate ghosts you?

In 2020, job seeker ghostings went up 18% from the previous year. The number one reason job seekers say they ghost employers is because they felt the job was not a good fit. Many applicants ghost early on in the process, but job seekers can wait until the last minute too. In fact, employers have reported that a quarter of new hires don’t show up for their first day on the job.

We’ve experienced this ourselves. We have even experienced new hires showing up for the first few days then ghosting with no explanation. In situations like this, what should employers do? Clearly communicate all expectations from day one. Do not close a job application (or, at least, do not stop the interview process) until a job seeker officially accepts a final offer from your company. Encourage applicants to ask questions. Once they are onboarded, schedule regular one-on-one meetings with them to continuously review expectations and allow them to voice how they are feeling. Be open, and they will follow your lead. If you’re looking for more tips, check out these 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring.

We also suggest checking out these 10 Qualities to Look for When Hiring Team Members. Look for these qualities and their consistency through the interview process, and that will help you to not get ghosted once you’ve hired someone.

In a world of technology where we are all connected, we have never seemed further apart. Ghosting is happening on both sides of the aisle, but it’s for the same reason: either an applicant decided the job was not a good fit OR an employer decided the applicant was not a good fit. We suggest using tools available to send short notes to job candidates to let them know what is happening with their application, and be open and honest with your communication. 

Now we would love to know, do you send candidates something to inform them of your decision? How do you handle this process? Let us know!

 

 

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April 18, 2022

5 Tips for Applying to a Job Listing that Doesn’t Include the Pay Range

You find an interesting job listing…

The company sounds great…

Your experience matches the company’s required qualifications…

This job sounds great! There’s just one problem: the job doesn’t list the pay range. What does that mean? Should you apply, or should you find a different listing?

Why do companies not list the pay range?

There are several reasons as to why companies post listings without salaries. These reasons range from employers hoping to avoid potential questions from current employees to trying to avoid a wage war with competitors. However, the number one reason normally has to do with finding the most passionate job seekers: if a company does not list the pay range, they hope to attract job seekers that are more interested in the role itself than they are the money behind it.

This can be tricky for job seekers, though, as money is obviously a huge factor, and no one wants to waste their time going through the hiring process if salary expectations aren’t the same!

So, should I apply if a job listing doesn’t include the pay range?

In the end, it all comes down to your personal preference. If the job sounds like your dream job, then go for it (and use these tips to make sure your application stands out above the crowd). If the job doesn’t sound like an absolutely amazing fit and you’re on the fence about it, maybe see what else is out there. There’s no wrong answer here! But, if you do choose to apply to job listings without salaries…

Here are 5 tips for when you apply to a job that doesn’t mention wages:

#1. Research what other, similar positions are offering. The job title can help you figure out what the industry standard of pay is for that position. If it’s not quite what you’re hoping for, then figure out what job titles you should be searching for instead.

#2. Go ahead and apply! Take a chance and see what happens. This might just be the position of a lifetime! If not, it’s a great learning experience. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back from applying to a potentially great opportunity!

#3. Ask what the pay is! Communication is ALWAYS the key. Ask right away. Establish if this is a good fit for yourself and for the company.

#4. Plan to negotiate your salary. If no numbers are listed, this means the discussion about pay expectations is much more open than listings that include numbers.

#5. Be reasonable, but make sure this is a good fit for yourself. If you learn the pay range isn’t quite what you want, make sure to figure out if the position is truly a good fit beyond that. Consider time management, budget, experience, etc. Is this a position that will help you grow and achieve your career goals? If the answer is no, it’s probably time to apply to another listing.

As mentioned above, applying to a job with no pay range listed is completely a personal preference. We’ve worked with job seekers that did not like applying to those positions because they felt salary expectations were always less than they hoped for. On the other hand, we’ve worked with job seekers that have negotiated an amazing wage that they might not have received with a different job.

Money is a big factor when finding a job, but it’s not the only thing to think about! How does this job fit within your schedule? Does it give you the freedom to learn and grow? Does the company offer benefits that outweigh pay discrepancies? 

Make sure you look at the job as a whole and not just the pay — and let us know: do you apply to listings that do NOT include the pay range, or do you pass them over?

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April 4, 2022

What should I do if a company ghosts me during the hiring process?

It’s not even a spooky season, but you might find yourself encountering more and more ghosts on a regular basis.

Are you familiar with the term ghosting? This refers to when someone just leaves a situation with absolutely no explanation. At least, that’s what the kids are calling it these days! You may have experienced this yourself during the hiring process: you spent lots of time putting together the PERFECT résumé, answering questions in a phone interview, spending time through lots of face-to-face meetings, and then…NOTHING?!?

Ghosting is becoming an all too familiar phenomena in the world of job hunting. In fact, 77% of job seekers have said that potential employers ghosted them. There’s no clear cut line for where ghosting occurs, but you can probably agree that the further you make it in the process, the more a yes or no becomes important to you. But what should you do if you don’t hear back?

#1 Reach out!

Companies ghost candidates for a myriad of reasons, but sometimes they aren’t ghosting you — they’re just working their way through the hiring process which can take some time. It never hurts to reach out and ask about the status of your application. This can show the company your dedication and interest in the position, and it can also get you some peace of mind to know where you stand. 

It’s important, though, to move on if the company is ghosting you. If you have tried to contact them several times with no response, that’s a good indicator they are going in a different direction.

#2 Never stop searching.

Until you have signed a final agreement with an employer, do not stop searching for jobs! This will make sure the hiring process is not at a stand still for you, and always work on innovating. Tweak your cover letter with these 5 tips to stand out to potential employers. Practice your interview skills with family and friends. Ask for feedback from companies that have been responsive to understand what you can do better.

#3 Don’t take it personally.

It helps to put things in perspective and understand that it wasn’t something personal that caused a company to ghost you. We’ve seen situations where companies received over 1,000 applications in a very short period of time which caused them to not be able to respond to everyone. We encourage employers (and employees alike) to communicate instead of ghosting, but there can be extenuating circumstances that prevent that.

One of the businesses that uses HireMyMom wanted to share with you what happens on the business side of things when ghosting might occur:

“As a business owner, I appreciate the tenacity of the person following up. My advice would be to continue that practice, while learning to let it go after a period of time. In my business, it is part of the process. Applying for a job is sales. You make your pitch, follow up, then move on to the next. It has never been my intention to ghost anyone. However, the very fact I came to HireMyMom to get help indicates my own inability to tend to every detail. At least from my side, it’s less about being rude than simply scattered and trying to keep too many plates spinning. Please don’t take it personally.”

Don’t worry, these sorts of ghosts won’t haunt you! If you’re getting ready to start your job search, check out these 14 résumé skills to help you stand out to potential employers. Ghosting is not 100% preventable, but you can refine your materials and skills to the best of your ability to stand out and make it hard for companies to ghost you! Just be open with your communication as to what you expect with your potential employer, remember that it’s just business, and always stay on the hunt for new job listings.

Are you getting ghosted a lot in your job hunt, or is this something you’ve never heard of before? Let us know! 

 

 

 

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March 21, 2022

Business Need a Boost? A Complementary Partnership Could be Your Secret Sauce

If you’ve ever visited a fast food restaurant and purchased a kids meal with a movie-themed toy or bought a box of cereal to get the special gift inside, you understand the power of complementary partnerships. While many people think of these types of partnerships as strategies for large businesses, as a small business owner, you are perfectly positioned to harness their power and reap important benefits.

The right complementary partnership can change the trajectory of your business and open up a world of opportunity for you. The HireMyMom team has seen several small business owners successfully pursue this strategy with great success. In this blog, we share why these arrangements are so powerful and offer some tips to help consider if this approach is right for you.

Understanding Complementary Partnerships

Simply put, complementary partnerships happen when businesses team up to promote each other’s products or services. The terms complementary partnership and co-branding are generally interchangeable. 

Complimentary partnerships allow businesses and organizations with different strengths to create something better than either could offer alone. It’s also a chance for sellers of products that are sold separately but used together to join forces and pursue customers together.

There are many ways to create these types of partnerships.

  • A business that offers a product can partner with a company that provides a different product that’s similar or different.
  • A business that offers a service can partner with another service provider or a company that provides a product. 
  • Small businesses can team up with other small businesses, larger businesses, local groups, nonprofits.

Here are some examples of complementary partnerships for small businesses:

  • A bakery opens up a corner of the shop for a coffee kiosk, allowing customers to pick up coffee and pastries in one stop.
  • A t-shirt shop creates a partnership with a nearby school to provide spirit wear for students and families. The school promotes the shop, and the shop promotes the school with joint social media posts, signs, and other promotions.
  • An Etsy shop owner pairs up with an animal rescue organization to create a product line celebrating the organization’s work. The rescue organization sells the merchandise, and the two groups promote each other’s work.
  • A virtual assistant specializing in creating mailing lists creates a partnership with a writer who specializes in writing blogs and a social media manager who promotes small business accounts. The three promote each other’s services to clients but operate independent businesses. In many cases, they serve the same client and refer each other to clients who could use the services each provides.

There’s no limit to the ways you can work with your partners. In addition to promoting each other, you can jointly sponsor events, run contests where you feature each other’s business, share resources, introduce a shared rewards program, and even share a website or back-office service providers.

Benefits of Creating Complementary Partnerships

Creating complementary partnerships offer many benefits to business owners, including:

  • Increasing revenue through more business.
  • Helping small businesses survive and compete with more established companies by gaining a competitive edge and boosting brand recognition.
  • Offering opportunities to acquire new customers, engage more fully with established customers and provide a seamless experience.
  • Retaining current customers through enhanced offerings.
  • Sharing resources for greater reach with lower costs for each business.
  • Reducing the loneliness that often goes along with entrepreneurship.
  • Creating access to additional expertise from the partner and opportunities to share expertise.

Keys to Success

If you are thinking of entering into a complementary partnership, it’s important to do your homework before you begin seeking a partner.

Start by taking a critical look at your business to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what you bring to the table and what you’d like to find in a partner are essential to successful partnerships. 

With a clear vision of what you have to offer and what you need, look for a partner business that fits the bill. 

Networking is a great way to find potential partners. Attend local business meetups, reach out to the Chamber of Commerce, and attend trade shows to find potential partners. Also, be open to finding a partner closer to home. In some cases, a nearby business may fit the bill perfectly.

As you engage in conversations with potential partners, make sure that you feel comfortable with the partner personally, her approach to business, and her business practices. Even though you’ll be running separate business enterprises, as complementary partners, you will be working closely together, and that will be easier if you are comfortable with each other.

Once you and your patterner settle on a plan for a potential partnership, work together to create an agreement for your work together. Outline:

  • The parameters of your work together.
  • How you will communicate.
  • The level of transparency you plan to maintain.
  • How you will define success.
  • Who will manage which tasks.
  • Checkpoints where each business will assess the partnership’s future to determine if it still makes sense.

Please share!

Forming a complementary partnership is a fantastic way to move your business forward. If you enter into one, please drop us a line and share your experience.

 

 

 

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