6 Steps to Quickly Onboard an IT Contractor

6 Steps to Quickly Onboard an IT Contractor For those working in HR, recruitment and resourcing agencies, the process of enabling a candidate and client to get the best out of contracted work involves several key elements. Throughout, there needs to be an effective line of communication so that both parties are singing from the same hymn sheet, and the agent is getting the right talent for the job. But what does the onboarding process entail when introducing an IT contractor to ensure an immediate impact within a new organization? How long should it take, and what do those doing the hiring need to consider in terms of the crucial tech-based skillsets to deliver successful projects?  1. Put an efficient process in place First and foremost, it’s the duty of an agent to truly understand what it is that both the employee and employer desire from the vacancy. Discussing each requirement in detail â€" and speaking regularly about what the onboarding process entails with both parties â€" will help to not only uncover vital details about the job and organization itself but can also help them to understand what they need to do in order to fill an IT contractor role successfully. However, none of this can be achieved without having effective communication throughout. Clients and candidates don’t want to lose faith in one another because the agent hasn’t offered the valuable information they need. And, in the same breath, they need to underline exactly what technical skills they both offer, or if any changes are taking place which could ultimately affect the available position. Having a seamless process in place that delivers openness and honesty between each party is imperative in building strong relationships and delivering a smooth onboarding process. 2. Set expectations What’s the point in keeping recruits and clients in the dark about what the role entails, and the skills they need to do a good job? A personable and knowledgeable agent who has been able to garner the crucial details needed should be able to determine what technical skillsets suit a particular organization and project. Other elements need to be considered too, such as finding out whether the recruit requires more support if they’re relatively inexperienced, or what they have to utilize to the fullest to ensure their tech skills are being maximized. Setting clear timeframes for the employee, in particular, will enable them to understand what will be expected of them and their key responsibilities, in order to complete a contract successfully. 3. Housekeeping Within the tech sector, in particular, a lot of clients prefer to hand over details of their internal processes to the agent to handle so that all of the ins and outs are translated to a project worker at the earliest opportunity. As well as knowing what the absence, holidays and illness policies are, IT contractors also need to know about invoicing â€" who to send them to, when and when these will be paid. There also needs to be a consideration around behavior while actually doing the job. Being a representative of the agency, it’s the resourcing specialist’s job to underline how they must act so they deliver the very best performance. Very often they’re also serving as the agent’s client on a customer site, so professionalism is key. 4. Integration A factor which largely depends on the role itself, an agent can help with the onboarding by highlighting what recruits should expect from the organization they’re joining â€" and how important it is to the employer. For example, an IT project manager will have to quickly get to know their team, figure out whose tech skillsets suit which particular area of the plan, and how much support everyone needs as a whole. The burden to integrate and be a part of the team ultimately lies with the person joining the firm, but an agent can certainly alleviate any fears, nerves, or answer key questions, to prepare them for an easier start in a new environment. Any tips they can give about the team they are joining around skillsets etc should be handed over professionally. 5. Guidance Again, this is another element where the onus falls on the recruit to understand their role â€" and put the groundwork set by the agent, into practice. Onboarding a temporary member of staff could require a lot of advice-giving and guidance, but it’s also about understanding what tech skills fit into which organization. Soft skills play a huge role too â€" a personable approach should help to create a clearer picture as to what the client and candidate truly need. By caring about the quality of the hire, an agent can make key decisions and understand the direction a company â€" and its staff â€" want to take. 6. Equipment Many IT firms offer laptops on arrival with their tech programs already installed to help a contractor complete the required tasks. However, agents shouldn’t always think this is the case â€" particularly within the tech sector â€" as plenty of companies will expect workers to have their own kit. An efficient agent should be able to find out these details when they first get to know their client, and what they offer within a package. Considering each stage of an IT contractor hire, a running theme throughout is having the ability to communicate effectively. By being well-versed in the company and candidate’s needs, agents can deliver what tech skills are needed where, and which personalities are best suited for a particular firm. Conducting vital research from the get-go will enable professionals to assemble the required information in order to complete a swift â€" and successful â€" onboarding process of an IT contractor. About the author: Alex Wilkinson is Chief Operating Officer at cloud tech resourcing specialist, Cranford Group.

The Secret Behind Reference Checks - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Secret Behind Reference Checks - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Reference checking is not standard. Smaller companies typically have neither the manpower nor the funds to do thorough reference checks, which could cost hundreds of dollars. Conversely, larger companies do reference checks but at varying levels of thoroughness. Different from the typical applicant’s concernswhich have to do with performancecompanies typically do background checks for security and legal liability reasons. A comprehensive preemployment check consists of an employer’s examination of court records, motor vehicle reports, credit reports, identity records, possible aliases, and several other kinds of checking. My informal research revealed that a significant number of applicants have motor vehicle violations, bad credit, and collection agency records. In addition, just shy of one-third of applicants have discrepancies in their résumés in terms of past employment; some have criminal records; some inaccurately report level of education; and some test positive for use of illegal drugs. All of those findings warrant companies’ doing such checking prior to employment. However, the applicant’s concern stems not so much from the logical or legal angle as much as it does from the emotional angle. The question that torments most people in transition is, What will my previous boss or my previous company’s human resources department reveal about me and my past performance? From a practical aspect, references are being performed via two methods. The formal one is done by the human resources department, and its value is limited because it is legally restricted to answering only basic questions related to title, dates or duration of employment, and perhaps whether the company would rehire or not. However, an informal reference check is done through personal contacts in the industry. This is the one that’s done on the Q.T. and cannot be controlled or restricted. Here, one’s reputation in the industry is what is important. Building such a reputation is a slow, deliberate, and often challenging process. Ruining it can be fastand difficult to recover. This is the one that comes with consequences and pain. Every job applicant should have a list of at least three references. Employers are looking for past supervisors, possibly at various employers. What’s most important is that you ask permission before putting a name on your reference list. Plus, as your job search progresses, keep your references abreast of developments. Many people fail to stay in communication with their references, with the result that when a contact is made, they may be caught surprised and unprepared.

How to ask for mentoring

How to ask for mentoring I get a lot of email from people who want advice. I usually reply. Sometimes I get an email from someone who is clearly a pain but Im impressed that he or she asked for help, so I answer. Sometimes I get such a good question from someone that I actually give him or her a call. I learn a lot from answering peoples questions. First, I learn about how to ask for advice because I can listen to how people do it to me. Second, the more I hear myself give the same advice over and over again, the harder it is for me to not take it myself. Here is an example of someone asking for help in an effective way: She sent one of the thirty press releases in my in box that week. I was interested in a few of her assumptions in the press release, so I emailed her. She wrote back lame answers. I ignored her. Then she wrote an email asking me how she can do better at addressing the press. She asked three, very specific questions. I was impressed at how well she asked me to help her. I made a note to myself to ask such good questions. Then I called her to give some advice. Here is an example of a different exchange, but one that I have all the time: Me: Did you know that outside of schooling, the quality of your network of mentors is the most important factor in how successful your career will be? Other person: But how do I get a mentor? Me: You read a lot and find people you want to be like and send them an email. Other person: What do I ask? Me: How that person overcame the specific hurdles you see yourself facing. And what advice they would give to you to get on a path to achieve what they have. But to be honest, its not like I do this all the time. So, like I said, the more I give advice the more likely I am to take it, and finally, I decided to try contacting someone I read about. She got a big columnist position that is not in my genre, but the person seemed like a real go-getter and I like her writing. So I emailed her to ask if she could give me some career advice. I sent her some sample columns and I made a little joke about how even the career columnist needs career advice. After all, humility and humor go a long way in getting someone to want to help. She replied to my email ten minutes later. I couldnt believe it. I rarely respond to my emails that fast. I decided she was very organized and on top of things and she would really have a lot to teach me. I got excited. And then I got nervous that I wouldnt have good questions, or that I wouldnt know how to steer the conversation. So I didnt call her for three weeks. Finally, I called. She was so incredibly useless that I cant believe she writes an advice column. She said she had no career plan for herself. She said she just fell into everything. She said she just lives day to day. I dont believe any of that. She fought too hard to get where she is. But you know what? I felt great after that call. I felt great that I took action to get a new mentor, even if it didnt work. I felt great that I read about someone and talked to her. Thats what people should do, and I knew that after having done it once, I would do it again. It wasnt difficult at all.

The Top 6 Things You Need to Know About Teaching Adults - Classy Career Girl

The Top 6 Things You Need to Know About Teaching Adults Remember this quote? “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” From my perspective as an educator, curriculum designer and course developer, putting together a course is not simply dumping a lot of materials into a website and hoping to make a fortune selling it. Instead, there is a science behind learning and teaching and when we tap into this we ensure our courses will really make  an impact. If you are thinking about using the internet to connect with your clients, let me share some tips with you today that will help you keep your customers interested and engaged. I help  women like yourself create dynamic online courses that will make good on your promise to help your customer.  These tips will help your customers  actually remember what it is that you are so excited about sharing with them.  My teaching tips below are based off of how adults actually learn and how we make sure what you teach  â€œsticks.” The Top 6 Things You Need to Know About Teaching Adults 1. Adults need to know why Make sure you clearly explain how you can help.  Explain your expectations of them early and clearly and tell them what the course will look like and what improvements they can look forward to. Tip: Provide a friendly introductory video where you state all of this up front. It should be as clear as a bell. 2. Adults have a strong self-concept A strong self-concept is a way of saying that your clients will be self-directed and don’t like to feel you are forcing your ideas on them. (That is why compliance training can be a FAIL). Tip: Always offer them choices for discussion topics or a variety of ways to respond to your requests for completed assignments (written, video, audio, etc.). 3. The role of experience is important Adults bring with them a wealth of experience. Acknowledge their ideas and prior experiences whenever possible.  Recognizing them whenever possible will bring out amazing results. Tip:  Make sure you allow time for reflection. As they read or listen to you they will make connections with previous learnings they have had in their  life and will want to reflect. This is where online discussions are golden. Refrain from using yes/no questions. Use “what” or “how” to start your questions and support them by offering a safe place to share. 4. Adults have a readiness to learn Personally, this is one of the reasons I enjoy working with adults. Make your resources and materials relevant and current. Take advantage of their readiness as they will be more open to accepting or understanding your teachings. As soon as they see the learning will help them with real life situations, they will SO  appreciate you! Tip: Early in your relationship ask your students what they expect from you and how you can best help them. Ask them to demonstrate HOW they will apply what they learned from your course in their daily life. 5. Adults are problem centered in their desire to learn Adults  are motivated by learning how to solve real-life situations. They will construct new knowledge by taking what you share and solving challenges in their own lives. Tip: Journaling is a great activity to encourage self-reflection and observations of personal progress throughout your course. They can use online notebooks like OneNote to keep personal journals. Encourage them to problem solve without you (when possible) and to use the group as a resource if they seem particularly challenged by your topic. 6. Adult learners are motivated The most powerful motivators are internal. Adults can’t be motivated by the fulfillment of your expectations for them. If they value working with you and you continuously provide them with stimulating and thought-provoking materials, their motivation knows  no bounds. Tip: Even if they take away only one thing from your teaching, that one gem of knowledge can change lives. Support them and offer your best self to inspire and challenge them towards new goals. Individuals have differences so not all rules will apply to your clients. Try adapting at least some of these tips and you can be confident your course will provide real value. I’d like to hear about results when you try this with your clients. Questions? Please read more on my website or follow me on Twitter.

5 keys to success on a marketing internship - Debut

5 keys to success on a marketing internship - Debut If youre reading this, congratulations. Youve just secured yourself a marketing internship one of the most coveted positions for millennials out there (or so LinkedIn would have you believe). Marketing is fun for people from all walks of life. Its the best of both worlds coming up with creative campaigns and off-the-wall ideas, all the while geeking out over numbers and statistics. But the question is, how do you hit the ground running? In this fast-paced industry, there a few keys to success that you should remember. And here they are: Start with the end in mind Before you even start your marketing internship, be aware of this vital pre-game tip. What are you actually going in there to  get? A permanent position? Valuable experience? Career perspective? New skills? Figure it out first and then, when you get there, let it shape your work accordingly. Your manager will likely want to know what your endgame is while working with them. Showing you know your goals and having careers ambitions will show that youre serious about the position that you can be trusted. Be transparent about your skills The temptation when you start a marketing internship is to act like youre more advanced than you actually are. STOP! Its okay to not know everything. Even if you did a marketing degree at university, you arent necessarily going to be as familiar with things like Google Analytics and SEO. Thats what mentorship is for! Be honest about what you know and dont know. The aim of the internship for your managers is to develop you to a point where you can help them. Theyll be happy to show you the ropes. Be honest about what you know and dont know. The aim of the internship for your managers is to develop you to a point where you can help them. Theyll be happy to show you the ropes. Seek knowledge as much as possible In a profession like marketing, where there are almost infinite ways to achieve the desired result, its important that you dont rest on your laurels. Seek knowledge as often as you can. If you find yourself at loose end, observe your manager. Ask them what theyre working on and why its important to the business at large. For added gold stars, seek out a former intern and ask them what they learned. You might glean some information you didnt have before. Dont beat yourself up IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: youre going to make mistakes. That mistake might come sooner rather than later. I myself went a long time without making any mistakes that were too catastrophic. When the slip-up finally came, I was horrified. But then,    I realised something important. Life goes on. Things move quickly, especially on a marketing internship. Everyone messes up once in a while, but you only really need to worry if you dont learn from it. And as soon as the next work day starts, you get a clean slate. Represent Your managers will thank you for this. The job of the marketer is not just to get others to believe in the product, but to believe in the product themselves. Thats why you should be sure to spread the word. Post on social media and prep your 30-second elevator pitch. That kind of enthusiasm is whats gonna take you from marketing internship to permanent position quicker than you can say A/B Testing. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Do Millennials Know the Secret

Do Millennials Know the Secret Growing up I saw my dad struggle to put food on the table.  He worked long hours.  He worked weekends all summer long (in the agriculture business and during the picking/canning season he was always on call). He put up with a##hole bosses who took credit for what he created.  He was the go to person when the CEO needed results.  But the Yes Men were the ones whod get promoted and big bonuses. And then the company went bankrupt.  And he lost his job.  And his pension.  And had to start over.  After over 20 years of dedicated service to the company. Starting over sucks! This video addresses many of the raw-deal realities realities my dad faced that are now facing the Millennial Generation. Although there have been many advances in technology and basic necessities that used to be considered luxuries and would make you among the richest people in the world, there are some pitfalls and half-truths that can derail the unwary. Here are a few Ive discovered over my last 50+ years. Let Them Play I cant tell you how much stress and frustration comes from the elementary school systems desire to create college-bound robot kids.  Homework every night that becomes a battle between parents and kids and the Common Core curriculum that punishes all involved. So what happens is homework drags into dinner then off to a sports team activity then home and to bed.  To do it all over again.  The kids never getting to play for the fun of playing.  Thinking theyre failing because the 5-step math problem that requires solving four different ways and showing your work is so above their cognitive abilities (not age-appropriate). homework, an age-old source of angst for many families, has gotten even more complicated. Parents, like myself, are trying to guide children through questions that make little sense to adults who were taught math using other methods. a recent study in Psychological Science found that math-anxious parents who help children on homework breed math-anxious children Which leads me to No, Everyone Shouldnt Go To College Teaching coding and robotics in 3rd grade.  Really?  Preschool college prep? In the drive for better school rankings, teaching the basics and having a mix of work and fun/exercise/social time (aka recess) has transformed into trying to cram too much work into the school day followed by an overflow of homework.  Recess that used to be where kids learned how to interact with others and get their exercise has become so regimented that kids no longer think for themselves.  Certain games are prescribed.  Every minute is regimented. So what happens?  The average kid gets left behind.  They end up more confused than ever.  And they hate school. And if they get by, then they think they have to go to college to get a good job.  So they apply to overpriced colleges (prices having tripled over the last 30 years in real dollars), bury themselves in debt,  are taught information that is largely useless in the real world (by professors who are more concerned about getting their grants than teaching kids) and end woefully unprepared for the working world.  With a debt-millstone that dooms the next 20-30 years of their work life as they try to repay the debt of their Psychology or History degree while holding down a $40k to $50k job.  One they could have easily gotten for a cost of $50k to $100k less. What about trade schools?  What about manual labor?  What about small businesses and entrepreneurship?  Everyone doesnt need to go to college. Invest In Yourself Your future earnings are based on your skills, your reputation, and your relationships develop all three.  And although a good college education can boost all three, what you do to invest in those areas during your working lifetime will make the difference between average pay and exceptional.  Readers are leaders and learning can also make life more interesting and enjoyable just dont overpay for it.  Make sure the return on your investment is worthwhile. Always Prepare Yourself For The Next Opportunity Whether youre an entrepreneur leading a company or have a 9-5 job, you have to be always building yourself up for the next opportunity. Companies dont last forever they get sold or go out of business.  And when that happens, you may be gone, or the new culture may not fit you.  Layoffs do happen even to the best people.  The job market changes and industries evolve.  Are you prepared? Preparing yourself includes everything from preparing your resume to building relationships to  educating yourself to build your skill and knowledge base. Your Home Is Not An Investment I know everyone has heard, Your home is your best investment.  But what happens when you lose your job and you find yourself getting behind in your mortgage payments and then lose the house?  Unlike mutual fund retirement plan investments you cant just pull out equity easily and quickly. What if a good job that is a boost in income and career potential is 100 miles away?  Then that home is a ball-and-chain that prevents you from realizing your full potential. And what if the housing market tanks?  Yes, home prices dont always go up.  If you need to sell then, can you take a $50k to $200k hit to your nest egg? Live Simply Live simply more isnt always better.  The Joneses really are more broke you think (they just hide it in visible luxury stuff).  When you buy the McMansion in the exclusive nice neighborhood, suddenly you find yourself upgrading both cars.  Then you hire the housekeeper, landscaper, and pool boy.  Your kids the nanny or tutor.  They need designer labels to not be embarrassed at school by their peers.  And so the hamster wheel spins.  Once you start you find it difficult to get off.  And then you pile up debt to keep up. Dump the insane  lifestyle and life gets easier.  You find everyday life more enjoyable.  You are saving for your future.  You will be able to retire instead of work til youre 70. Dump Debt Once you crawl into that debt hole, getting out is like escaping quicksand or a riptide.  It is a tough habit to break.  Instead create a gap between your salary and spending.  And aggressively dump that into savings.  By doing that you create more freedom to do what you want.  It also gives you Screw you! money so youre not trapped in a bad job. Take an 80/20 assessment of your finances.  Rank your spending from top to bottom in size.  What are the leaks you need to plug?  Can you get a cheaper place (without jeopardizing your security or future opportunities)?  Can you get a beater car for $2,000 instead of a $500 a month car payment (for an asset that is worth less every year)?  Can you reduce your car insurance costs by shopping it every year?  Can you cut cable and get a cheaper phone plan?  Can you bring lunch and eat dinner at home instead of going out?  When going out can you cut out the overpriced alcohol (often what adds 30-100% to your dining bill)?  Can you do cheaper travel or reduce the number of expensive vacations?  $30-$50 to camp vs $200 to $500 a night for hotels is a big difference. Youd be amazed how revamping your priorities and periodically right-sizing your finances and spending habits can rocket you ahead in your savings goals and clear out debt in no time.  If you need help, check out Dave Ramsey the king of living within your means. Self-Sufficiency Is King No one will care for you when youre old the government is already broke (they just havent recognized it yet) and that guaranteed pension might not be worth anything when you need it (how many cities have gone bankrupt leaving their retirees left holding the bag?) What are you doing to take care of yourself in retirement?  Fool.com article shows According to the Social Security Administration, the average retired American couples gets $2,212 per month, or roughly $26,500 per year, in Social Security income. Thats not a lot of money when you consider that the average American household earned $53,657 in 2014 and the average annual expenses for an American retired couple over age 65 were $41,403 in 2013. The CBO estimates that the Social Security Trust Fund will be depleted in 2029, and that could result in a 29% across-the-board cut in monthly Social Security benefits in 2030. Premiums for Part D Medicare insurance, which covers drug costs, are often withdrawn directly from Social Security checks and those premiums are growing more quickly than Social Security income. Also, Medicare premium surcharges that come directly out of Social Security income are determined by income limits that arent adjusted annually for inflation. As a result, Americans face a one-two punch that could mean Medicare premiums take a much bigger cut of Social Security income in the future than they do today. According to a December study from Transamerica, the total household retirement savings of American workers age 50 and older is a median $135,000. What does this all mean?  If youre not aggressively preparing (read save your ass off) for your retirement, you think it is hard living paycheck-to-paycheck now, while you DO have discretionary savings, how hard will it be when your healthcare costs are eating you alive? Find Meaning Lifes too short to do  work without meaning.  Yes, you need to work at something that will pay you enough to survive and set you up for a secure retirement.  But once you get that handled you should be looking for jobs, companies to work for, or entrepreneurial options to get the most financially and satisfaction-wise out of your work life. Plan your life on purpose.  Otherwise youll find yourself in a place you do not wish to be due to decisions you did not make (but were made for you).  You only get one run at this life so make it count. Now You So what are you doing with your life?  Are you building your future the right way?  And living life to the fullest?  Are you making a difference?

Online Course in Resume Writing - A Good Way to Improve Your Resume

Online Course in Resume Writing - A Good Way to Improve Your ResumeThe best way to improve your resume is by completing an online course in resume writing. Online courses are helpful when it comes to providing personalized services to candidates who seek assistance from a recruiter or even to those who need help improving their resumes before submitting them to employers.Online courses are not always free. In fact, many universities offer the option of enrolling for courses as part of their undergraduate or graduate degree programs. With the rise of the Internet and technology, however, there has been a trend toward choosing online courses in resume writing.Resume writing, also known as resume-writing, entails organizing information in such a way that it helps to create a professional image for the candidate. With more people opting for online courses in resume writing, it becomes important to select the course to suit the kind of candidate you are. Whether you are seeking advice or support, or you just want to build a portfolio for yourself, you can obtain the help you need from an online course in resume writing. There are several reasons to choose to attend an online course in resume writing.Firstly, it has a good chance of allowing you to make some progress before you begin to pay for the course. Because it is always possible to pursue these courses from home, it is often cheaper to choose this route. However, it is still a wise idea to go to a university in order to ensure that you receive good value for your money.Additionally, an online course in resume writing has the advantage of allowing you to gain expertise on what you need to prepare a resume based on personal experience. Although you can gain the same quality advice as you would get from a local tutor, the online course will provide you with a wider range of resources that will assist you to write better resumes.Students may also find that the course provides a good chance to interact with other s tudents. Being able to ask questions is often one of the most valuable learning experiences that any student will have, and this is certainly the case when it comes to personal development. The more you can learn about what others have done, the more you will know about how to present yourself in a way that allows you to appeal to potential employers.Furthermore, an online course in resume writing has a good chance of becoming more affordable than any other course, whether it is a classroom course or a full-time online course. Most universities will offer very reasonable costs for their courses, making them cost-effective for students to consider.Finally, it is often a good idea to take online courses for resume writing if you have decided to work toward improving your resume. It is always beneficial to improve your skills before beginning a course that will help you do so. If you continue to make progress after completing a course, you will find that your resume writing efforts wil l be more effective.