How to Use Snapchat for Talent Branding

How to Use Snapchat for Talent Branding Snapchat is a craze that doesnt seem to be going anywhere. Apart from allowing individuals to take selfies  through  fun filters and film life around them, its also a modern marketing tool for reaching millennials and selling an employer brand. Cisco is the largest networking company in the world with over 70,000 employees.  How does it use Snapchat for employer branding? Ive spoken to Carmen Collins,  the social media lead for talent branding. Have a listen to the podcast interview embedded below or  keep reading for a summary of our conversation. And be sure to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast. What do you do at Cisco? I have the best job in the world. I am . So rather than sitting in the marketing department, my team sits in the HR department. And my job is to use social media, which Im super passionate about. How does Cisco use Snapchat for talent branding? The talent brand team has been thinking for about a year now, how could we use Snapchat, because Snapchat is the new shiny social media tool and its different to all other social media tools, which made it a little challenging as we thought about how we were going to use it. And its also very age specific. Its very very young; millennials, Gen Z  and they dont use it exactly for branding. Its not a marketing tool, right?  I had to take some time off from work to have surgery and maybe it was a drug-induced idea, I dont know, but I came back and said, You know, I think I know how we should use Snapchat. I think we should hand the keys over to our employees because I dont think anyone on Snapchat particularly cares what, you know, a marketing team or, you know, what marketers want to say on Snapchat. Oh snap! Were on #Snapchat our employees are taking over! Use our #snapcode follow the #WeAreCisco fun. pic.twitter.com/STDr2PzMih We Are Cisco (@WeAreCisco) April 15, 2016 What are the steps to get started with Snapchat? Well, the challenges for Snapchat is that its about the quality of your followers. Snapchat does not give you a follower count. Snapchat gives you a score, and you can tell how much and engagement youre getting, but the idea of followers goes out the window. So that was one of the challenges, is how are we going to measure success with Snapchat because its not a traditional channel? And another challenge, which for me as a social media manager, was the scariest thing, is how are we going to roll this out to an employee base that is 70,000 people strong? So, you know, we have a global company, we have offices around the globe and how are we going to make this work because were giving the username and password, you know, to our employees. So what we did is we started by setting up the Rainbow Kitten Unicorns. Thats because they are so awesome.  So in our social listening over the past year, weve been able to identify certain employees that are super ambassadors. Theyre always talking about how much fun it is to work at Cisco, they come up with the neatest photos. It was a blast! We will call this group Kitten Rainbow Unicorns of Awesomeness! #WeAreCisco #LoveWhereYouWork https://t.co/1Cq8tEyEgk We Are Cisco (@WeAreCisco) April 12, 2016 How do you organise a Snapchat team of 30? Well, this is whats great about our Kitten Rainbow Unicorns. They sort of came together and self-organised. So if one person said, I have a few snaps that Im on the East Coast of the U.S., and I know that Ill be done at 11 oclock, but thats just about the time that San Jose is waking up, does anybody want to take over that day? And they email each other back and forth, and they send cute little memes back to each other, back and forth to each other, and so they really self-organise. Usually its one person per day, but we have had times where for example, our CEO, Chuck Robbins, has been on our Snapchat account, and thats because one of our Snapchatters was working with him on a project to film a video. And the two Snapchatters, the one that had that day originally and then the one that was with our CEO just emailed back and forth and said, Hey, is it okay if I cut in the middle of your day because hey, our CEO wants to say hi? And so they just talk amongst them I mean theyre such a g reat group of employees, that I cant say enough good things about them. What type of content normally gets posted on WeAreCisco on Snapchat? Well, Cisconians, thats what we call our Cisco folks, Cisconians really like food. So youll see a lot of food. They love the cafes, they love the chefs, they love their snacks. So youll see a lot of food. But one of the things that weve really tried to do is tell our employees to be them. We have a social media policy at Cisco for all of our employees to sign that gives them, you know, general guidelines. I like to call it, Would you show it to your mom guidelines, right? Just keep it clean, keep it smart and other than that, we dont over architect it. Sometimes theyre goofy and they love the lenses. I think the most popular one is the dog, where the tongue comes out when you open your mouth, I think they really like that one a lot. Do you keep Snapchat content on that platform only? No, actually we do cross populate the content. It depends on the content. So if we get really great Snapchat photo, well put that on Instagram. When our CEO, Chuck Robbins, appeared, he was so magnanimous and he actually thanked our followers. He said, Thank you for following WeAreCisco. And so of course we took that video and we put it on Twitter and put it on Instagram. So it really depends on the content, but I would say for the most part, the content on Snapchat is not exclusive to Snapchat, but best viewed there because of the format, because of the lenses and the filters that they can use. So its not exclusive content, but I think its more Snapchatty, if thats a word. Did you see my takeover on wearecisco @Snapchat today? T-shirt fun abounds! #Snapchat pic.twitter.com/cWzuWhWReE Carmen S. Collins #Wahoowa #NationalChampions ?? (@CShirkeyCollins) July 6, 2016  How do you calculate ROI on Snapchat? Ah, yes, the ROI question. Well, heres the great thing, weve partnered with a company called Delmondo. And Nick Cicero is a friend of mine, its his company, and he is a social media person too, and so thats how weve connected with our social media tribe. But he has a company that works with Snapchat influencers. And if you work with Snapchat influencers, you have to be able to show Snapchat metrics. He and his company help us with our metrics. And so what we do know is that since weve started two months ago, weve grown our follower base by about 600% per week, which is huge because on Snapchat as you know, you cant discover new accounts as easily as you can, say on Twitter or Facebook. You have to know the username or the snapcode to follow someone. Were really proud of that metric, that weve grown as much as we have so quickly. And then one of the other stats that we know, is the rate of engagement. So when someone starts watching our Snapchat story, 70% to 80% of them finish watching the Snapchat story. So they are engaged and theyre interested in whats going on, and we keep growing our reach each week as we grow our percentage of followers. Follow Carmen on Twitter @CShirkeyCollins  and dont forget to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast.

Danica Patricks unique selling proposition

Danica Patricks unique selling proposition Okay, so Danica Patrick still has not won a race, and now that the Indy 500 is over, a new round of complaining has started. There is truth the complaining. Patrick does have very good equipment in a sport where equipment matters a lot. And she does have more sponsors in a sport where other competitors have had to win a lot of races to get sponsors. But instead of pointing out all the factors that make Patrick an anomaly, look at how she is like you: She is looking to do something she loves, and she is figuring out a way to make it work. She sees an opening selling herself to the media as the only woman driver and she takes it. This is not unfair. In fact, Jamie Birch reminds us that having a unique selling proposition is integral to good business and we all need one. So as youre doing your job, keep an eye open for what will make you pull ahead of the crowd, and dont be discouraged in a field of fast drivers. You dont need to win a race to have the best selling proposition. You do, however, need to have a good understanding of what you offer. Be realistic of why someone is coming back to you. Patrick wishes people loved her because she wins races, but they love her because shes the first woman. Dont be so picky about why people love you just leverage that affection to do the work you want to do.

The marital dance to figure out who stays home with the kids

The marital dance to figure out who stays home with the kids My husband and I always thought hed be the stay-at-home parent, so I am shocked that I am the one changing diapers all day. When we were dating, I was making a solid, six-figure salary in the software industry. I had already founded two companies and cashed out of one. He was a video artist and traveled to festivals all over the world showing arcane art on activist topics. He planned off-beat things to do on our dates; I would pay for them. I was rising so fast in my corporate career that a business magazine paid me to write about my ascent. I ended up making as much money writing as my husband made at his day job. People asked me if I resented having two jobs and subsidizing my husbands career as an artist. Actually, I didnt mind at all; I loved to work, and he agreed to stay home when we had kids. I thought I was one of the lucky women who could blast through the glass ceiling and have kids because I had a husband who would take care of our home life. We planned to get pregnant at a time when I would not disrupt my career, but in September 2001, our designated family start-date, both my husband and I got laid off. I got pregnant anyway. As my belly grew, I continued my freelance writing career while he volunteered in non-profits, and we lead a bohemian life with corporate savings. But by the seventh month, I missed the structured, team-oriented atmosphere of work. I was editing my resume the morning I went into labor. When the baby arrived, I planned to get a full-time, office job right away, but after only a few weeks of sleepless nights, my husband got a job offer. He wasnt even looking, really, he was doing things like soothing diaper rash and assembling the breast pump. But one of the people he met through volunteering got him an interview at a top-notch human rights organization. The job offer was for his dream job, so we decided he should try it. Now I would be home with the baby, alone. For those of you who havent had a baby, lets just say that going to an office is about a thousand times easier than dealing with a newborn. With a newborn there is no schedule, no break, and no performance review to let you know if youre screwing up. So naturally, I wanted to be the one with the job. I tried to be happy for my husband. I tried not to hope that he would hate his job and quit. During my first week as a stay-at-home mom, I couldnt sleep, I couldnt write and I couldnt figure out how any adult can stay home all day with a baby who cant talk. So I hired a babysitter for a few days a week and I went to an office to write and look for a full-time job. But I never got around to the job hunt because I missed the baby while I was away I missed his smile and the way he stares at his hands like hes not sure if theyre his. People often describe their family life in terms of earning power: The spouse who has the higher earning power is the one who works. This is logical, but it doesnt always work out that way.

Time Can Be an Element of Your Design

Time Can Be an Element of Your Design IT’S ABOUT TIME Did you get a gift card or two and just cannot find something unique and lasting for yourself? It can be very hard to find something both personal and useful at the same time.   This is especially so nowadays when most of us have a place of our own to call home, whether alone or with a friend or partner; which we have already spent time and money furnishing.   We accumulate the basics and then some luxury items too and before we know it; we find we have a cache of belongings and a sense of our own particular style has emerged.   So it can be very hard choosing something when youre already established and have most of the necessities.   Well, why not consider getting a wall clock? Wall Clocks Come In Many Designs A wall clock is a wonderfully practical gift to yourself; it is both a handy way to keep a watchful eye on the time and it doubles as an attractive piece of wall art as well.  Or you may simply want to add a wall clock to one of your own rooms to freshen up the decor and add a touch of flair.   We did a little online searching and found some truly gorgeous wall clocks in more colours and styles than you can imagine.   Some of our favourites are available from Purely Wall Clocks.   The range here is huge and includes large and small, round and rectangular, traditional and contemporary designs.   No matter your particular taste, there is something to please even the fussiest of us. Adding a wall clock to your decor provides a sense of character to any room.   It can also be the perfect item to team with other shapes and colours, objects and pictures and even plants, to really make a statement.   If you prefer a modern vibe, you may choose a simple design in a single colour and minimal detail; perhaps with plain hands, no numerals and a flat glass face.   Or if you like a more eclectic feel there are patterned clock faces with a variety of detailed numbers and outer boarders.   If you have a large room or a warehouse to decorate using larger wall clocks is a bold and economic way to make a dramatic impact and also to ensure you can tell the time at a distance. Timely Decor Is Much More Than Just a Wall Clock The choices are endless and we loved the funky range of bold geometric designs in black and white and multi-coloured faces!   Some of these are simply dazzling and will set the tone for other items you want to match it with.   Or, you may simply want to make the wall clock the feature â€" stand alone â€" no fuss and no frills!   There are some dramatic pendulum clocks, beautifully crafted in a sleek glass finish and stunning metal pendulum which are perfect for this!    Theres so many to choose from youre sure to find one that fits perfectly!

5 Reasons Why a Role in Tech is a Smart Career Choice

5 Reasons Why a Role in Tech is a Smart Career Choice Technology is growing by leaps and bounds in recent years and it’s showing no signs of slowing up just yet. Great, right? On the whole, yes, but to many, it leaves their career role of many years insecure.In the UK, reports suggest that 30% of jobs could be under pressure because of potential breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Jobs in certain sectors in the US also face extinction with four out of 10 roles being threatened to bereplaced by 2030.evalHowever, it’s certainly not all doom and gloom, even if you’re in a vulnerable role, such as real estate brokers. The time is now to make the move and jump on the technology bandwagon â€" and here’s why:1. Freelance opportunitiesevalMillennials are quickly becoming the biggest part of the working environment. Bringing with them a desire to shift away from the 9-5 roles, more of the workforce is dreaming of a flexible shift pattern that will enhance their work/life balance â€" freelancing certainly offers this.The average wor king week is steadily getting longer, but the public appears happy to accept this change, as long as they have more control over their start and finishing times.The 2017 Talent Trends study revealed that nearly a third of all companies currently use freelancers to fill a number of their vacant roles.In fact, as we witness a huge shift from the ideology of full-time working, freelancing is allowing us to take on more than one job at a time, which could, in turn, lead to a higher salary overall.And, with start-up businesses sometimes reluctant to hire full-time employees, freelancers are hugely appealing.2. Remote workingevalAs well as being able to work at any time of the day, remote working is high up on the wish list for the millennial workforce â€" a job in a tech-related field can often offer this incentive.However, it’s not just convenience that appeals to employees. In America, a survey showed that 65% believe remote and flexible working would increase productivity levels â€" removing key distractions in the office environment including gossip, social media and snack breaks.GoInspire’s chief web designer and owner, Nathan Murphy, claims that remote working is one of the key benefits of working in the industry thanks to technological developments. “Owning your own business can mean you’re too busy to take a holiday or a break from your schedule. However, last year I was able to work remotely in Malta,” says Murphy.“The power of the internet means that you there’s never a need to be in the office environment to get your work done. My clients are spread around the globe and, thanks to technology, I can sustain my workflow with anyone in the world in order to continue doing the job that I love.”3. Higher salaryevalAslower-end roles begin to fade out, technological advances have led to a higher need for certain skilled roles. With this new skill set comes a higher wage â€" and a greater salary increase year on year.A study by Paysa revealed tha t tech jobs can be even more lucrative than a career in sports. It states that an average MLB career lasts just five and a half years.In this time, the average earning potential stands at $2,912,000; this is nearly half the total career earnings of an engineer, whose lifetime take home could top $5 million, with a yearly salary typically being $125,480.It is also clear that landing your dream career as a professional sports player is a lot less likely, with six out of 10 engineer students gaining a degree, and 97% landing a role in the field.4. Vast opportunitiesCertain roles may well be peering over their shoulders due to the threat of technology, but these new advances are actually creating more jobs than they are ‘killing’. Thanks to technology, knowledge-intensive employment sectors, including the healthcare industry, have benefitted.It has also helped to lower costs of essentials, increased disposable income and helped to create a new demand for roles that were not previous ly there.In 2016, the average web developer earned $64,970 and, although it may not be the highest salary in the tech industry, the number of jobs available is expected to grow by 27% by 2024.Computer systems analyst roles are also expected to increase by 21% in the same time frame, with software engineers to grow by 17%.evalIt’s also worth noting that, no matter what your interests are, you can find a job involving technology as every industry is now saturated with a need for tech professionals.Science, technology, engineering and maths 5. Continuous training opportunitiesThanks to technology constantly evolving, you will always be able to improve your knowledge, as many roles now look for certifications to enhance your position.With more companies consistently migrating their business to the cloud, being certified is one area in which tech professionals can really stand out from the crowd and get ahead of the game.A recent salary survey confirmed that, although four out of five workers in NetSuite expect their roles to increase within 12 months, only one in five actually possessed a foundation certification.evalGaining such qualifications can help you get hired, but also to retain your current position. As businesses always look to cut costs, certifications can show you’re invaluable to your business. They can also lead to promotions as your skills improve and your credibility increases.So, it’s clear that although certain roles are in danger of becoming extinct, thanks to technology there will be an abundance of jobs still available, and a whole lot more being created as the world keeps evolving around us. Whether your passion lies in sports, music, or literature, technological advances will carry on creating new roles in an industry of interest.Now is the time to leave the uncertainty behind and jump on board the tech train â€" it’s definitely going to be here to stay for the foreseeable!

When Youve Been Eliminated as a Job Candidate - Hire Imaging

When You’ve Been Eliminated as a Job Candidate - Hire Imaging If you’ve been eliminated from the selection process for a particular job, you may think that’s the end of the line. No! Why? Because any employer can be a link to other job opportunities. Here are a few thoughts for what you can do: Ask for feedback about your strengths and weaknesses. If you believe you had a good interview, email, call or visit the interviewer to ask about how you presented yourself. Both the praise and criticism are important to you. A little feedback on what you did right helps to keep you going, and criticism cues you about what you might need to change. Not all interviewers will respond. But there are some who enjoy helping you improve what you are doing, especially if they want to encourage you to continue in their line of work. Ask for referrals. “I’d like to continue seeking work in this field. Could you suggest who I might talk with, or where job possibilities might generally be?” While you may draw a blank on this, it’s worth asking for referrals. Especially in tight fields where professionals know each other, you may get a strong lead if you made a good impression during the interview. At other times, the interviewer can tell you the kinds of organizations best to approach or give you other useful information. Send thank-you notes. A thank-you note is valuable in reconnecting. It’s the best way you have of reinforcing a positive impression, so use it with anyone you hope to see again. A well-stated and friendly letter is remembered long after the selection process is over. If you write ten of these letters to interviewers you liked, odds are you will have some beneficial future contact with at least two or three of them. Following up well separates the confident and tenacious job seeker from those who are tentatively dipping their toes in the water. Early interviews are preludes to better interviews. Sometimes interviews circle back on themselves. The person you talked to three weeks ago (who rejected you, but you did some follow-up anyway) is the person you meet later who tells you about a new company he just heard of. Follow-up also sharpens your persistence skills, your ability to keep moving toward a goal even when the early indications are uncertain. There will be many moments when you want to give up or settle for less, but follow-up reminds you that every contact you make has some potential. It sounds cheesy, but the person you least suspect might help you can become the one who gives you the lead you’re looking for. When you get the “Thanks for your interest, but …” letter, focus on the positive, hard as it may seem. You’re now in the pipeline, so you have access to influencers and decision-makers that other candidates just don’t. Move forward, adding the value this experience has afforded you. I always love to hear from you! Please comment below.

The Best Resume Tips That You Should Know

The Best Resume Tips That You Should KnowThere are some universal truths about the ideal resume and one of them is that it must be optimized for your ideal job search. A resume should be optimized for specific job searches only. The other things in a resume may be fine, but if the resume is not optimized for a particular job search, then it is wasting valuable time. Let's discuss what to avoid when it comes to optimizing your resume for specific jobs.Don't use a keyword resume. The goal of a resume is to get you an interview. Not using keywords helps your chances of getting an interview by four percent. However, when it comes to job searches, the quality of your resume matters a lot. When you can't remember what you put on your resume, then the skills that you have won't count. Search engines will determine this and that's why you shouldn't be using keywords in your resume.Headings are okay, but don't try to make them stick around the page. Most resumes use bullet points and that is fine. However, if you don't use them properly, then the bullet points can end up sticking around the page. This means that the person reading your resume will think that they need to skim your resume in order to find out the bullet points. This will make your resume less effective at getting you hired.Don't put incorrect information in your resume. You will often find that you are required to show evidence of your experience. Most people just don't do this, so the employer is looking at their resume thinking that it is filled with knowledge. However, they are actually looking for references or something to back up the facts that they are finding in the resume. They might even go as far as thinking that this resume has nothing to offer.Important factors that should be put in your resume to include your education, experience, and the areas that you want to work on. Keep these in mind when you are writing the resume. If you put an area that isn't important, then the employer will proba bly see it and will decide to discard your resume. For example, if you're looking for an executive position, then don't put 'marketing' on your resume. People looking for marketing positions will see this and you may get called back for an interview.It is very important to organize information so that it makes sense. In the world of resumes, you will find that they are organized alphabetically, then by categories (if any), then by departments (if any), then by months and then by job fields. Organizing these different sections so that you don't get overwhelmed is important.Make sure that your resume looks professional. When you read resumes, then you will notice that most people don't put everything right. If you use this as an opportunity to learn, then you will see that putting your information on the page correctly can increase your chances of getting a better job offer. So, once you learn how to make your resume look professional, then you can put more effort into making it more efficient.The last tip is to learn to pick out a few tips and advice that you can use to create your resume and send it out to recruiters. These tips are things that I've found are very valuable for preparing a great resume. Then, you'll be ready to create great resumes and get more interviews.