Seasonal

Perfect Time for Podcasts

Lindsey Curtis
September 10, 2019
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Looking to change up your routine as you drive to work?  Need something else to listen to as you run on the treadmill?  We’ve got the perfect suggestion – podcasts!

Stop what you are doing right now and browse to the purple podcast button on your phone.  Don’t have one?  Head over to the App Store or Google Play Store and download Stitcher, which will get you started.  Once there, browse for these TGHR recommendations.

Anytime is a good time for self-improvement.  Have you been meaning to revise your resume (hint – use our resume template)? Looking for interview tips?  Career Cloud Radio is the podcast for you.  Even in its description, it states, “there’s no better show to hear practical and tactical job search advice that is actionable.”  It promises that you will learn something new in every episode.

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit?  Then search for Gimlet Media and you will have your pick of podcasts that touch on how businesses are built.  Our recommendation?  Start with StartUp, which has eight seasons of episodes, will occupy you for quite some time.  The first season follows Alex Blumberg and how he started a podcast company.  It’s so entertaining that ABC had a sitcom  about Alex and how he started his business.  So, hurry up and get on the bandwagon now!

Also from Gimlet Media is The Pitch, which if you like Shark Tank, you’ll like the The Pitch.  Each episode founders pitch their businesses to a group of investors.  The types of businesses are varied and you will pick up personal branding tips along the way.  Each episode does include a follow-up interview with the founders, so if you like to know “where are they now” this podcast won’t leave you hanging.

Glassdoor has a great round-up of other career-related podcasts to check out to add to your list.

Not business related, but if you can’t get enough of Dateline and true crime stories, try the podcast Dirty John from the LA Times.  It’s told in six episodes and you’ll be on the edge of your seat by the last one.  It chronicles the life and family of Debra Newell, a successful interior designer from California and her relationship with John Meehan, a felon.  It’s narrated by Christopher Goffard, who is a reporter for the LA Times. Another crime-related podcast you might want to add to your list is Crime Junkies.  And it’s produced right here in Indianapolis!

Are you already listening to podcasts on a regular basis?  If so, please share with us on social media your favorites – we’d love to hear them!

 

HR Insights

Tips for Recruiting Millennials

Mary Springer headshot
Mary Springer
Partner
April 17, 2019
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Millennials—those born from the early 1980s to the late 1990s—are the fastest growing generation to occupy the workforce. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 1 in 3 workers are young adults ages 18-34, and by 2020, half of all employees will be Millennials. With numbers like that, it’s easy to see the impact this generation will have on your company’s future growth. Beyond just growing your employee pool, hiring Millennials can add fresh perspectives and ideas to energize your business. So how can you snag these creative go-getters?

Know What They Want

The days of selling a candidate on your benefits like insurance and retirement funds are over. Millennials care much more about advancement opportunities, professional development, and—you guessed it—pay. Salary is a key component to most job-seekers, and this generation is no exception. Communicate clearly about pay during the recruitment process to keep candidates more interested. Young workers are also looking for a clear path to promotions and appreciate defined goals for advancement. They want a company that will invest in them as professionals, including mentors and leadership training.

While salary is important, young people also value less traditional benefits. According to a Deloitte survey, 3 out of 4 Millennials want to be offered the chance to work off-site. They are all about a customized lifestyle with flexible work schedules and a strong work/life balance.

Update Your Communications

Today’s young employees are the most tech-savvy working generation to date, relying heavily on mobile devices. Your website and application process must be mobile-friendly to engage Millennials. Not only do you want to make it as simple as possible for them to reach you, but it’s also important to demonstrate clearly that your business values and invests in technology. Easy-to-use mobile platforms are a must, and job searches and application submissions should be quick and painless.

Growing up in this world of real time messaging, Millennials expect timely communication. Once an application or resume is submitted, a rapid response detailing when they can expect to hear back offers great assurance. Text messages are not considered too personal with this generation as phone calls are seen as old-school. But also keep in mind Millennials value personalized communication, so steer clear of scripted emails and texts or cold autoreplies.

Maximize Social Media

Connecting with potential Millennial talent on social media can be a powerful tool in your recruiting arsenal. For one thing, most young workers today are always on the lookout for that next job opportunity; in fact 2 out of 3 Millennials are ready to leave their current job for greener grass according to the Deloitte survey. Facebook and LinkedIn are great platforms for not just posting jobs online, but also for sending personalized messages to possible candidates. Young people respond well to unique communications directed specifically to them and their talents.

Most Millennials also check out potential employers by visiting their social media pages. A strong online presence is vital to showing them just exactly who you are and what your company is all about. Young workers today want your company’s mission and culture to align with their values, and they look for clues through the photos and messages you share on social media. Use platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to tell a story about your business. Consider posting items like pictures of your employees having fun, special company events, volunteering opportunities, and more.

There’s no denying Millennials and technology have forever changed the recruiting landscape. With a little insight into this thriving generation, you can attract fresh, enthusiastic talent into your company. At That’s Good HR, we’re experts at connecting with potential candidates across all generations. We’re here to answer your questions. Contact us today.

Tips

Let’s Talk Language

June 11, 2018
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Lately in the TGHR office, we’ve had a few grammar debates – do you put a comma before the word “and”? Do you double space or single space after paragraphs? Do you use acronyms as words in everyday conversation?  With attention to detail and excellent communication skills being some of the qualities that can help any employee stand out, we looked at how the English language is evolving.

This year, 2018, marks 90 years since the completion of the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.  Did you know the dictionary is updated four times per year? The most recent update occurred in March 2018 and the next update is scheduled for June.  A number of new words are introduced with each update.  Words must be in use for a period of time to be considered – like hangry. According to this article, “the only language not in a perpetual state of flux is a dead language”.

Acronyms like ASAP, RSVP and FYI have been part of our vernacular for a long time now. New words have crept in the into the English language in recent times including BRB, YOLO, OMG, LOL, and TMI*.  Some of these acronyms are so pervasive in today’s language that they even make it into the Oxford English Dictionary.  For example, EGOT** was just added in January 2018.  What words do you think will be added next?

So, what’s up with the extra comma in a sentence, known as the oxford comma.  It turns out according to grammar experts, unless you are writing for a particular publication or school, it is up to your discretion if you use a comma or not.  According to Associated Press (AP) Style, which is the style that newspapers are written in, you should not use the comma before the word “and”.  Others feel passionate that it should be used in all cases.  What is your comma preference?

Recently at TGHR, we have starting using a new skills test provider.  When you take a typing test on the software, the directions indicate that you must put two spaces after each period.  It seems that this is second nature to approximately half of our office, but the other half is squarely in the one space after a sentence camp.  Why the difference?  It turns out it depends on how you learned to type.  If you learned to type on a typewriter, you most likely put two spaces after a sentence.  This is because with a typewriter each letter takes up the same amount of space (monotype), but on a computer with the fonts we use today, letters take up a proportional amount of space so not every letter gets the same amount of space. Putting two spaces after a period made sentences easier to read.  “Two spacers” tend to be from Generation X or before, which is what we discovered in our own office.  Take a poll in your office – one space or two?

Get crazy today and only use one space after your sentences and go nuts with commas because YOLO.  LOL!

* BRB (be right back), YOLO (you only live once), OMG (oh my gosh), LOL (laugh out loud), and TMI (too much information).

**EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony winner)

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