The Follow-Up Strategy: Maintaining Engagement Throughout the Hiring Process
** Thought Thursday: Trends & Tips ** In this week’s article, I want to dive deeper into two key points I mentioned in my post, “Reducing Time to-Fill When Hiring.” Specifically, the importance of follow-up. What steps can candidates take to follow up effectively while waiting to hear back after an interview? And from a company’s point of view, how can they manage follow-up communications to ensure a smooth, positive experience for everyone involved, especially as they move toward extending an offer? In this article, I’ll share my recommendations for both candidates and companies to ensure that the entire process remains professional, respectful, and leaves a positive impression, regardless of the outcome. For Candidates: Staying Top-of-Mind Without Being Overwhelming The hiring process can often feel like sending messages into a void. Here’s how to maintain meaningful engagement: Initial Application Follow-Up: Wait 7-10 business days before your first follow-up. Briefly reiterate your interest and highlight a specific contribution you could make based on recent industry developments. Post-Interview Engagement: Send a thoughtful personalized thank-you note within 24 hours that references specific conversation points. During Extended Waiting Periods: If the hiring process extends beyond the initial timeline communicated, it’s perfectly reasonable to follow up. A good approach is to send a polite and professional email, ideally before the weekend, expressing continued enthusiasm for the role. In your message, you can kindly ask if there are any updates on the hiring timeline or when you might expect to receive feedback. This shows you are still interested while also respecting the employer’s time. Be sure to keep your tone positive and patient, as delays are often due to factors outside of your control, but a thoughtful follow-up can help keep you on their radar. Leveraging LinkedIn Strategically: Connect with interviewers and engage meaningfully with their content to maintain visibility professionally. For Hiring Managers: Keeping Top Candidates Engaged and Excited In today’s competitive market maintaining candidate engagement prevents losing top talent. Creating Transparent Timelines: Provide a clear outline of the hiring process with approximate timelines. When delays occur, proactively communicate revised expectations. Implementing Check-In Touch points: Send brief weekly updates to shortlisted candidates. Sharing Company Culture: Invite top candidates to virtual coffee chats with team members or share company newsletters during extended hiring processes. The Feedback Loop: Provide constructive feedback after significant interview stages to show respect for candidates’ time and maintain their interest. By implementing these strategies, both parties can transform the frustrating “waiting game” into a meaningful period of connection.
The Evolving Landscape of the Publishing and Education Markets
The publishing industry has been undergoing significant transformations in recent years, and the education market is no exception. With advancements in technology, changing student needs, and evolving teaching methodologies, the traditional publishing landscape has been reshaped. This article explores the current state of the publishing industry within the education market, from our perspective, and highlights key trends. * Digital Shift: One of the most prominent developments is the rapid adoption of digital content. E-books, interactive learning materials, and online platforms have gained popularity, offering students and educators greater flexibility, accessibility, and interactivity. This shift towards digital formats has compelled publishers to embrace technology and develop innovative digital solutions to cater to evolving educational needs. * Personalized Learning: As education moves towards personalized learning approaches, publishers are leveraging technology to deliver tailored content and adaptive learning experiences. Adaptive platforms and learning management systems are being integrated into educational curricula, enabling personalized assessments, analytics, and real-time feedback. There is also more investments in data analytics and artificial intelligence to understand student progress and provide personalized recommendations. * Open Educational Resources (OER): OER, freely available educational materials, have gained traction due to their cost-effectiveness and collaborative nature. Educators and institutions are increasingly adopting and creating OER content. Publishers are responding by exploring partnerships, licensing models, and incorporating OER into their offerings. * Accessibility and Inclusion: Publishers are focusing on accessibility and inclusivity to ensure educational resources are available to all learners. Efforts are being made to provide content in multiple formats, such as audio and braille, and to comply with accessibility standards. Additionally, publishers are addressing diverse student populations, including learners with special needs, multicultural backgrounds, and different learning styles, through inclusive content and culturally responsive materials. The publishing and education markets are experiencing a dynamic period of transformation. The shift towards digital content, personalized learning, and the emergence of open educational resources are shaping the industry’s future. Publishers are adapting to these changes by embracing technology, fostering inclusivity, and providing value-added services to meet the evolving needs of students and educators. By staying agile and embracing innovation, the publishing industry can play a pivotal role in advancing education and preparing learners for the challenges of the 21st century.
Forbes 2021 America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms
US Publishing Jobs was just listed on Forbes Best Executive Search Firms list for 2021! This came from over 26,000 nominations so we just wanted to say thank you to everyone for always trusting us with your recruiting needs. We are sincerely grateful to be assisting those in the publishing, education, ed-tech space over the last 40 years and look forward to the next 40!
Forbes 2021 America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms
US Publishing Jobs was just listed on Forbes Best Executive Search Firms list for 2021! This came from over 26,000 nominations so we just wanted to say thank you to everyone for always trusting us with your recruiting needs. We are sincerely grateful to be assisting those in the publishing, education, ed-tech space over the last 40 years and look forward to the next 40!
How to overcome a gap in your work history
You are ready for a change, you are working on your resume, and preparing to go on interviews. But what do you do while you are NOT working? Here are a few ways to plug the gap in your work history. 1) Volunteer for a cause you believe in. Whether preparing or delivering meals to the homeless, registering runners or cyclists for a charity, tutoring kids in English as a second language, find something that you can do at least once a week or several hours three days a week to occupy your time and give back. You get some experience, meet new people, and get a reference. 2) Pro Bono consulting – Use your skillsl to your advantage by providing pro bono consulting in your field to worthy non-profits. The Taproot Foundation is a non-profit serving other nonprofits with experts for projects including, but not limited to, marketing, strategic planning, board recruitment, technology, and training and development. Serving on a project team or leading a project team keeps your skills sharp and adds to your resume. 3) Join a committee in your professional association – and do some work related to your field. You will get to know your colleagues better and find out the inside scoop on job openings. 4) Contact family and friends to find out who they know and who they can introduce you to..Everyone knows at least 200 people you don’t know. Enlist their help to expand your network to other people in your field and companies where you would like to work. 5) Contact local businesses in your neighborhood to see if they need part-time help with administrative details, sales, or customer relations. 6) Talk to several temporary employment agencies to see what they have in your field. A part-time or temp job is a good way to keep up your skills, be productive, and have something to put on your resume during this period. Remember: your job search is a marathon, not a sprint. It may take 6 months to a year to find your next full-time job, so volunteering, consulting, and temp work are good ways to fill the gap. (c) 2019 Amy Geffen All rights reserved
Press Release- US Publishing Jobs
Personnel Associates, Inc. has a new name, US Publishing Jobs For Release September 25, 2019 After nearly 40 years, the boutique contingency only search firm, formerly known as Personnel Associates, Inc., announced they have officially changed their name to US Publishing Jobs. Even though the name has changed, their contact information, including the website, www.uspublishingjobs.com, as well as their amazing team of recruiters will remain the same. They look forward to using their years of combined publishing recruiting experience and network of over 100,000+ industry contacts to help find the top talent you are looking for. About US Publishing Jobs (Formerly Personnel Associates, Inc.) The company was initially founded in 1982 as Personnel Associates, Inc. Through the years, they have refined their area of expertise and expanded their network within the Publishing industry in key segments such as Academic, Trade, Society, STM, Higher Ed, K12, Professional, Corporate and Ed Tech. As they continue to focus the company’s strategy around these areas, they felt their name should coincide with their goal, which is why they have officially become US Publishing Jobs. For More Information Please visit their Contact Us page, https://uspublishingjobs.com/contact-us/. To stay informed on recent industry news, new vacancies and more be sure to connect with each of the recruiters below: Nicole Jamal, Business Partner/Recruiter Steve Ganz, Business Partner/Recruiter Shelly Ray, Recruiter Lisa Hunt, Recruiter Alexa Gusman, Recruiter US Publishing Jobs welcomes new relationships as we continue to provide top talent to our current and long-term clients.
Tips to Best Prepare for an Interview
You have a job interview coming up. Don’t panic. Here are some tips and strategies to prepare yourself for a stellar performance. 1. Do your research – Learn as much as you can about the company through their website, LinkedIn, their annual report and any recent news articles about the company mission, goals, challenges. Learn about your interviewer through LinkedIn and Google. Know something about the person or people sitting opposite you in the interview. 2. Be prepared – Know your pitch (your 2 minute commercial). Be prepared with 2 or 3 stories about your greatest accomplishments and how you solved problems for other companies and how that relates to what you can do for this organization. Don’t spend too much time on each answer – two minutes is the maximum. Just make sure you illustrate your skills with a real life example that shows how you can get results. 3. Practice in front of a mirror – Write out your stories. Read them over and over until they feel very familiar. Be able to talk in a conversational tone so it doesn’t sound like you memorized them. Practice in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend. 4. Dress the part – Dress appropriately for the industry and company. Set out your clothes the night before. If you are in finance or insurance, dress in neutrals, such as gray or navy. Shirt and tie are de rigueur for men. If you are in IT you can be more casual with khakis and a shirt with no tie. If you are in fashion, be stylish and up to date. 5. Follow Up – After the interview make sure to follow up with an email in which you can reiterate your fine points, your skills and mention one or two accomplishments. You can make up for any poorly answered questions or incomplete answers from the interview. Remember to say that you want the job and would love to work for the company. Interviews don’t have to be that stressful if you are prepared and a have a few stories to tell. (c) 2019 Amy Geffen All rights reserved.
Helpful tips to negotiate your salary
So you have been interviewing for jobs and you finally got an offer. Congratulations! Don’t just accept the first number they throw at you. They have probably been asking you to tell them what you would want in terms of salary. And if you have mentioned a number before they make the offer you have already broken one of the key rules of negotiation. Don’t talk about salary until they make you an offer. 1) Build your case for your candidacy by making sure you tell them how you can help solve their problems Talk about previous accomplishments that are directly relevant to the job. Find out if they have any objections and try to overcome them. 2) Do your research. Find out what is the range of salary for the exact position in your city by looking on Glassdoor, Vault and Salary.com Know what is realistic for your city and state. Salaries vary a great deal from state to state and city to city. 3) Never throw out the first number. The first person to say a number in any negotiation loses. If they ask you early on in the process say you know they will be fair. If they ask you again, say let’s wait until I understand the roles and responsibilities. 4) When they offer you the job, THEN you can start to negotiate. Give a range making sure the low end of your range is the lowest you are willing to accept. Everything is negotiable…not just salary. Negotiate every aspect including training, continuing education, attendance at conferences, sign on bonus, vacation, travel relocation expenses, how and when you will be evaluated, and how often you will get a raise. Start with the easy yeses, NOT with vacation time. 5) Never respond immediately. When they make the offer, say you are thrilled and would love to work for them and you need 24 hours to think about it, or if it is on a Friday, say you need the weekend to think about it. Then when you talk to them on Monday morning say, I am relly excited about working for xyz company. Is that the best you can do? Usually the first number they give you is not the last. (c) 2019 Amy Geffen All rights reserved
Best time to search for a Job
Spring is here and summer is approaching, and if you are out of work you may be thinking, maybe I should take the summer off because there are no job openings this time of year. Well, you would be wrong There is no best time to look for a job. Spring – Lots of job movement when families buy and sell homes in anticipation of a move to a different location so their kids can start in a new school in the fall. Summer is a great time because not many other people are looking. People are moving to other cities, other jobs during the summer, and it is a perfect time to look. Fall – People are going back to school, returning to their jobs after summer vacation. So it is not a good time to look. You would be wrong again. Openings occur all year long. Winter holiday season is not a good time to look. People are busy with holidays. Wrong agin. This is the time of year when employees are receiving bonuses – or not; getting raises – or not. So it is a time that staff get laid off – right before or right after the holidays are over. So there is no best time of year to look for a job. The bottom line is the best time is when you are STILL WORKING! Recruiters and hiring managers search by key words on LinkedIn to find people who are currently working to offer them an opporutntiy to interview for open positions. Employers and hiring managers are biased against those who are unemployed. If you are happy and challenged in your current position – congratulations! You should still keep an eye out for possible opportunities and stay in the game through networking. But if you are becoming uncomfortable or getting bored, or not getting recognized the time to start is now! (c) 2019 Amy Geffen All rights reserved
How to fill the Job Gap
So you just lost your job and are feeling sorry for yourself. You start on your job search in earnest. But what if it takes 6 months or a year or more to find your next job, what do you so in the meantime? And how will you fill the gap on your resume? Here are some ways to fill the gap. PAID 1 Consulting Get a gig from your most recent employer, a precious employer or a referral to consult using your best skills. 2 Interim position Fill a full time position in the short term 3 or 6 months while you keep looking. Agencies that specialize in interim assignments can help match you to an appropriate position. The.downside is there are no benefits or 401k. 3. Part time work doing same thing you have been doing one or two days a week. Again, there are temp agencies to fill those positions. UNPAID 4. Volunteering for a cause you are passionate about. No pay but lots of satisfaction. Volunteering fills the job gap gives you an opportunity to network with other people and obtain another reference for your skills, responsibility and dedication. 5.Pro bono consulting Lots of non-profits need expertise in marketing, fundraising, strategic planning, website management, and board development. You can offer your services by going directly to non-profits or going through a recognized provider such as Taproot Foundation. It is important to show a prospective employer that you have been using your skills and filling your time wisely while pursuing your job search. If your part-time, interim. or volunteer work is relevant, do put it on your resume. (c) 2019 Amy Geffen All rights reserved www.geffencareers.com