Can Your Name Cost You a Job

Can Your Name Cost You a Job A few weeks ago, BuzzFeed posted a video on their site that is causing quite a stir. According to the video, José Zamora applied to 50-100 jobs a day on Craig’s List, but received no response. In order to avoid racial discrimination against his ethnic name, he decided to change his first name to Joe. Using the same resume and applying to the same jobs, he continued his job search efforts, and seven days later received numerous responses to his applications. In the two weeks the video has been posted, to date it has racked up well over a million hits on YouTube. Racism is always a touchy subject for good reason, and when it comes to racial discrimination in the workplace, this certainly isn’t the first instance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2014, there is still a disproportionate gap in unemployment between races, with a 5.3 percent unemployment rate among white Americans, a 7.8 percent rate among Latino Americans and an 11.4 percent rate among African Americans. Many will argue that discrimination plays a part in the disparate unemployment numbers between races. Sadly, racial discrimination will most likely never be eradicated from the workplace. However, the Buzzfeed video leaves a number of unanswered questions. The first thing I find interesting is that the video was posted on BuzzFeed. This site is better known for videos of cats falling off windowsills and quizzes telling me which Disney princess I am than for dispensing valuable employment news and information. Racial discrimination isn’t something new. A quick Google search yields numerous articles on name discrimination dating back well over a decade. YouTube videos on the subject of name discrimination are plentiful as well, though none have anywhere near the hits that this one has. A video on such a controversial topic released by a high-traffic website such as BuzzFeed is sure to get a noteworthy response. It does make me wonder if this is an attempt at going viral. Secondly, I’m curious as to what Mr. Zamora’s skill set includes that makes him qualified for 50-100 jobs a day on Craig’s List. Even if he were applying to positions that required minimal or no previous experience, it appears Mr. Zamora was firing off resumes indiscriminately, and all recruiters know that the “spray and pray” method of job application is not the best choice. Rather, tailoring your resume to the specific position being offered and accompanying it with a cover letter addressed to the hiring manager will almost always yield a better response than a mass-mailing approach. Granted, Mr. Zamora claims to have used the same application method when applying under the name Joe and received a different response from employers, which appears discriminatory. However, there could have been a number of reasons given by employers for not responding to his applications â€" among them, not being qualified, not following application instructions, etc. At one minute and ten s econds, there is much information this video does not tell us about Mr. Zamora’s approach to job application. The third element of this video that raises questions is the fact that Mr. Zamora didn’t change his last name. Is the surname Zamora not also of Spanish descent? If employers were so inclined to discriminate against him based on the ethnicity of the name José, wouldn’t they also discriminate against him for the name Zamora? Somehow, the change in first name elicited numerous responses to his job applications, yet a seemingly ethnic last name never gave the same employers pause? Again, the video does not go into detail on such items, but had he changed his name to Joe Smith, his claims of name discrimination would appear more tenable. Discrimination is an ugly part of society, and when it occurs in the workplace or the hiring process, everyone loses. However, there are other factors working against job seekers right now, in particular, a slow economy and fierce competition in the job market. When job seekers experience rejection over and over again, they may be inclined to misplace the blame. I don’t know if that’s what happened in José Zamora’s case. What I do know is that his video is clearly sparking conversation around an important employment topic. However, we need a little more information from Mr. Zamora regarding his application methods and the nature of the positions to which he applied before we can validate the inflammatory remarks showing up in the comment section of his YouTube video. Recruiters, where do you stand on the issue?

Personal Brands Stop Goals, Set Requirements - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Brands Stop Goals, Set Requirements - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You have already taught yourself how to fail. You set goals and you fail to reach them. You may even be a serial goal-setter. Maybe you set goals every January. Maybe even more often.  The more times you set them, the more chances to fail. You might be a goal-mover. You take all the goals you have on your calendar for one day, and just move them over to the next day. Maybe you do this daily. Maybe you’ve just learned to let goals expire, lingering on your calendar until enough days pass and you can’t see them anymore. Maybe you’re a goal-sabotager. You know exactly what you’ve resolved to do and you arrange your life so you couldn’t possibly reach those resolutions. You know, your goal is to lose 15 pounds so when you go grocery shopping, you slip in cookies or chips (in case someone drops by). Or worse, you ask for a letter of recommendation and then never follow-up (after all, you wouldn’t want to bother someone!). Failing to meet what you’ve called your “goals,” doesn’t mean you haven’t been successful. In fact, if you took as much time to take an inventory of your successes and by looking at that learned what really matters to you, you’d probably be impressed. You probably are a success. But, why look at what you’re good at and what you’ve found compelling to accomplish, when you can pick away at your weaknesses? Sure, you may have loved StrengthFinders, but who would strive to be more of their authentic self â€" when you can drive yourself into a depression by being unfair, unrealistic and unkind. The biggest bullies we meet are ourselves. Hence, my sarcasm about all of our goal-setting antics. I am a recovering goal setter. I set goals for years â€" done it with professionals, gurus and experts â€" and I have given it up for success. I am largely successful because I no longer have goals. I have requirements instead. Requirements are like deadlines. They must be met. There’s nothing optional. Requirements aren’t shoulds. Requirements are fundamental to life. May I respectfully recommend you stop “shoulding” on yourself by setting goals that sound like something you should do? How about sitting with yourself and looking at what you have done. Make a success list no less than 100 items long. That means you count adopting a shelter dog, making a great meal for a sick friend, staying up all night getting that report done, looking up a “word of the day” to post on Facebook every day, keeping current on wars or being the first in your crowd to wear those ugly eyeglasses that are so popular. When you look at your life to see the road you have chosen, you have the best vision to plan the road ahead. You have done plenty of new things that have enlarged your vision up until now, so make sure you fill in a requirement for how much new you need. In fact, fill out a list of no less than 100 requirements for yourself. Let your first requirement be honoring the success you are. Author: Nance Rosen  is the author of  Speak Up! Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at  NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name:  nancerosen

Student Blog The End of Student Life and Finding a Job What the Graduates Say University of Manchester Careers Blog

Student Blog The End of Student Life and Finding a Job What the Graduates Say University of Manchester Careers Blog Written by Max Ibbotson, Final Year English Language Student and Careers Service Student Blogger I like the pub: it’s warm, there’s little damp and the beer’s on tap. That makes it better than my student house. On all three counts. Even better, if you go during the afternoon, a beer is cheaper than a Taste the Difference mini pork pie. Belting. Now, imagine my deep horror as I come to the realisation that my idyllic beer-and-pork-scratching haven is collapsing in on me. A life I have loved and cherished and forgotten good chunks of for 3 years is being dismantled. I have to get a job and I’m terrified. “But I don’t want to!” “No one would hire me!” “Happy Hour is still on for another two hours!” Try as you might, there’s no avoiding this one. Sure, you gained a load of friends, debt and transferable skills, but it’s time to face up to the fact that you’re finally at the end of your educational road â€" or tether, for those of you who are more than ready to ditch the exams and endless masses of coursework. But life after uni sounds complicated: I have to find a job and a flat, and I’ve not a Scooby Doo what to do and how to do it. Being a student is easy â€" struggle to wake up, go to a lecture, go for a nap. Rinse and repeat. And that was acceptable because everyone knows that’s what being a student consists of. Now I have to become an adult and I don’t think I’m ready. I think I’ve worked out what I want my career to be. For about ten years I’ve been kicking around ideas for what real job to get. All sorts of ideas but none that really stuck, mostly because I never really wanted to do them. As I’ve got to the end of uni, I’ve shaped some sort of idea of what I want to do when I finish but it’s not really filling me with enthusiasm for life in the Real Worldâ„¢. There’s a good chance I might not like it, or that there aren’t many jobs going, or that I just won’t be any good at it. I’ll have finished uni without anything other than an extra two stone and bags under my eyes. Even though I might have decided what I want to do, I’ve no idea what it’s going to entail. If I want to be a copywriter, I could be working in an office 9-5, or I could be working freelance from home. Maybe I’ll end up working for an advertising agency and work with loads of different clients, or I might be just working in-house for one company. There seems to be a never-ending uncertainty with finding and pursuing a career that’s exciting, but the fear of not knowing is enormous. If that wasn’t bad enough, I’ll be homeless in a month. Getting a student house was a walk in the park: nab the first one that pops up on Manchester Student Homes in November and don’t worry about it for 8 months. With proper flats in the city, you have to think about how close you are to tram stops, parking spaces, and whether the balcony faces south or north. (Also, no one tells you just how expensive council tax is. It’s, like, really expensive â€" I couldn’t believe it.) In a vague attempt to try and cure my neuroses, I asked some friends who’ve graduated â€" and actually got a job â€" whether things are as bad as I worry they might be. According to Sara, although you lose some of the freedom you had as a student, it doesn’t completely disappear. “Accept that your flexibility is gone: you have to go to work. It shouldn’t stop you doing things though, you just have to make sure you forward plan a bit more.” Sara is now a staff nurse, so it’s promising that after a year of intense 13-hour night shifts her worldview is still fairly positive! James was in a similar position a year ago to the one I’m in now. He didn’t have a job and if he didn’t get one soon he wouldn’t be able to pay rent. Besides actually getting a job, James’ advice is to not leave things ‘till the last minute because “it causes way more stress.” There doesn’t seem to be a solution to finding which job you want to do, but James reckons you should try and go to as many interviews as possible. “It’s good experience. Even if it’s for a job you don’t really want, all of the interview processes can be proper different so you can build up more confidence. And when it comes to a job you actually do want, you can know how to prepare and you’ll be nowhere near as nervous.” Sara did give one last piece of advice: “don’t age yourself too quickly.” By this, she meant that you’re still young â€" getting a job doesn’t change that and you should carry on doing the things that 20-odd-year olds do. Obviously you’ll have a job and more responsibilities, but you’re still young and you don’t have to waste that just because you’re no longer a student. I suppose the thing that is really driving my fear is the fact that I just don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m sure it’ll be fine and things will work out, it’s just the fear of the unknown. What I do know though is that I’ll miss being a student â€" I already do. The lie-ins and the pork pies and the pints. But last orders have been rung: it’s time to go to work. If youre a final year in need of some Careers support, visit our website or contact the Careers Service. Remember: you can still use our services 2 years after graduation!   All Graduate Graduate jobs careers final year final year students Graduate jobs Graduates graduation well-being wellbeing

Grab Your Year and Go!

Grab Your Year and Go! Your Year Is In Your Hands! Are you tired of making New Year’s Resolutions that fade away by February? Want to start the New Year off right, but in a different way? Trade in your resolutions for a new attitude and make this your year. Your year can be whatever you want it to be. That doesn’t mean that your dreams will be miraculously handed to you on a plate. It means that you can approach the year differently. Get away from specific prescriptions or proscriptions and move towards a new attitude. Think ‘Yes I can’ and ‘I will try’ without setting any specifics. Take it one step at a time; leave yourself open to whatever comes next. How can you do this? It’s not always easy, but it is simple. Nurture and Love the Woman Within You Get to know yourself. Spend time alone, in your own company. Learn the difference between being alone and being lonely. Being alone gives you time to reflect, to digest what is happening in your life and make conscious choices about what will happen next. Listen to the voice in your head. What is it saying? Give yourself some positive feedback. What have you done well lately?  Who have you helped lately? What made you smile? Learn more about the woman inside you. Like her, nurture her and love her. Choose How To Respond The year will still have its bumpy spots. When life throws a challenge at you, tell yourself ‘I am strong enough.’ When faced with an obstacle, remember that you don’t need to solve it all at once. Take it one step at a time. Start with a deep breath: anyone can do that, and it does clear your head. Then take another small step forward. Do that a few times and you will find yourself on your way to conquering the challenge. On any day of the year, know that in December you will look back with pride and satisfaction on how you handled it. Rise to challenges. Reach for new goals. See what you can really do.   Be inspired by positive thoughts. Get to know, love and trust yourself. You have so much talent and strength within you. Make this your year!

Resume Writing Help - How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting Hired

Resume Writing Help - How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting HiredYou are looking for a way to increase your chances of getting hired, right? There are a number of things you can do to try and improve your chances of getting hired so read on for some easy ways to increase your chances of getting hired.Resume writing help free online is the fastest and easiest way to improve your chances of getting hired. Writing a great resume is not easy, especially if you do not have any experience. I am sure you have heard of resume writing help free online, right? There are many places where you can find this valuable resume writing help free online information.If you need a little more help on career planning, resume writing, or even just to find an online business to start, you can take advantage of these free services. Most of these services are free, which makes it easy to get started.First thing is first and you need to have a new job that you would like to apply for. You can start off by f inding a website that will help you with your job search. These sites may offer you resume and cover letter help to help you get an application in front of a hiring manager for the opening you found on their site.It is so easy to use these free resume writing help sites to get started. They will give you lots of tips on how to write a great resume and cover letter. When you get started, you will find that your chances of getting hired will improve.There are many benefits to using a free resume writing help site, including getting a head start on your job search. You will be able to review a sample resume or a sample cover letter that you can use to put together your own resume and cover letter.I suggest that you use one of these free resume writing help sites to get started. They will show you how to improve your resume and cover letter to make it more professional and more relevant. You will also learn about the various resume and cover letter formats that are used by many differen t companies.This is the easiest way to start off your job search with a free resume writing help site. You can start by adding a few samples of your work so that your potential employer can see what you can do. Remember, your resume and cover letter are the first thing that will be seen by the hiring manager for the opening you were seeking.

How to Win in the First 90 days in Your New Job - Jane Jackson Career

How to Win in the First 90 days in Your New Job - Jane Jackson Career Its the night before you start your new job. Youre feeling excited about your new role and probably anxious about how to make a good impression. Youre wondering how to smoothly settle in and hit the ground running and make the first 90 days count. Give yourself a head start by preparing yourself well in advance.Click here to read my original article on the Michael Page Australia website1. Express your enthusiasm early onOnce youve accepted the role, contact the hiring manager and your human resources contact. Let them know you are looking forward to getting on board and convey your enthusiasm for the new role.2. Connect on LinkedIn with those youve met during the selection processMake sure your profile is as strong as it can be as others within your team will probably check out your profile before you turn up on your first day.3. Create a 30, 60 and 90-day plan with your new managerThis will give you a map to follow during your initiation into the company and the expectations of your role. Having measurable benchmarks developed with the organisations business goals in mind will help you greatly with clear direction. Ensure you understand how your success will be measured so you will know where to focus your attention initially and in the longer term.4. Identify the resources you need to do your job early onThis will be anything from office supplies, phone and mobile connection to the technology required to get things done. Get to know the administration and technical support team as you will need them. There are always individuals within any company who can help you get things done because of their workplace knowledge or their relationships with key people within the organisation. Find out who those people are and develop a relationship with them as they will be the people who can help when you are stuck.5. Look for ways to make a difference even in the early daysOf course its important to develop good working relationships very early on; however, while you are doing so, see where you can pick the low hanging fruit and get some wins on the board. After the first 30 days, it will be time to demonstrate the value that you bring.6. Always show respect for the people and events that have come before youIts wise to ask questions that show appreciation for current employees and respect for those who came before you. Be very tactful, especially in the early days, even if you believe you completely understand the political landscape of the organisation. You wont really know whos who in the zoo until youve been there a while.To a person who has a hammer, everything looks like a nail.7. Check in with your manager every week or two to make sure you are on trackAs you learn more from your stakeholders you will be able to manage expectations. Always be willing to ask for your managers help if you need it.8. Stay positiveThere will be good days, better days and some days when you may feel a little disappointed. The first couple of weeks will see you tr ansitioning from excitement about the new role to the reality of the day-to-day routine and challenges. Displaying energy and enthusiasm for the role will benefit your reputation amongst your colleagues.A new role can be quite stressful, so give yourself time to settle in and know that no one is perfect. Make the effort to understand the way things work and always be willing to ask questions and listen to the answers.Whether youre changing roles within an organisation or joining a new one, you will need to learn new skills for success.As Professor Sattar Bawany, CEO and Master Executive Coach, Centre for Executive Education says, Executives in a new role confront the need to adapt to new business models and organisational cultures, and to build supportive networks. The biggest trap they may fall into is to believe they will continue to be successful by doing what has made them successful in the past. There is an old saying: To a person who has a hammer, everything looks like a nail. New leaders must focus first on discovering what it will take to be successful in the new role, then discipline themselves to do the things that dont come naturally if the situation demands it.Follow these tips and youll hit the ground running in your new role!Jane Jackson is a Career Management Coach, Speaker and Author of #1 Amazon Australia best seller, Navigating Career Crossroads. Jane is also a keen podcaster and is the host of the Jane Jackson Career Podcast on iTunes.

The Best Job-Seeking LinkedIn Applications - CareerEnlightenment.com

The FrameworkFor those of you who have watched my videos, trainings or presentations, you know that I tend to refer to frameworks when making strategic decisions.If we use the framework of The Three Questions, we can make a strategic decision about which applications to use.For those of you unfamiliar with The Three Questions, you should sign up for my free video. But just to line them up briefly, the idea is that hiring managers on LinkedIn really need only three questions answered before hiring you. Those questions are:Who are you?What motivates you?Can you do the job:Using this lens, lets figure out what applications you should be using on LinkedIn.The ChoiceFirst off, we know that Can you do the job is answered by your experiences and your education (perhaps your recommendations). We also know, from the video, that this question isnt really the most important.Who are you can be answered by things such as what you do in your spare time, your hobbies, your values and your passions. The answer to this question is often very subtle:   colors chosen, punctuality, tone or voice in your writing.What motivates you can be answered by things like what books you are reading, what articles are you writing, what places you are visiting, what events you are attending and what presentations you are creating.Catching on yet?LinkedIn applications answer the question of what motivates you. Simple.So my pick of the top 3 applications every job seeker MUST use are:Amazon Reading list: not only does the cover of the book add color to your profile, it does a great job of communicating your true motivations and passions. Every job seeker NEEDS to use this application.Slideshare presentations: Slideshare presentations actually get indexed by Google, and the links are active. This means that you are adding flair as well as active links to your profile. If youve ever developed a presentation, you should put it here.Events: not every event you go to will be promoted on LinkedIn. Howe ver, nothing stops you from creating the event and then RSVPing to it here. Every time you RSVP to an event, it will show up. So make sure you are attending industry-relevant activities.3.5: Alternatively, if you are a blogger, you might consider integrating your blog with the WordPress or Blog Link application. Nothing creates the image of an expert better than having something to say, and sharing what you have to say.