Jobinablog

Before you send that email, just think for a second...

We all send them every day, but do you think about what you are doing before you press send? Believe it or not Seth Godin - who can only be described as one of todays thought marketing Guru's - has created a very interesting checklist of 34 (yes 34!) things you should consider once you have written the email AND before you send it. I guarantee this will get you thinking!! They are:

1. Really? They've written back? (if no, reconsider email).
2. If it is a cold-call email, and you're sure it's welcome, and you're sure it's not spam, then don't apologize. If you need to apologize, then yes, it's spam, and you'll get the brand-hurt you deserve.
3. Am I angry? (If so, save as draft and come back to the note in one hour).
4. Could I do this note better with a phone call?
5. Am I blind-ccing my boss? If so, what will happen if the recipient finds out?
6. Is there anything in this email I don't want the attorney general, the media or my boss seeing? (If so, hit delete).
7. Is any portion of the email in all caps? (If so, consider changing it.)
8. Is it in black type at a normal size?
9. Do I have my contact info at the bottom? (If not, consider adding it).
10. Have I included the line, "Please save the planet. Don't print this email"? (If so, please delete the line and consider a job as a forest ranger or flight attendant).
11. Could this email be shorter?
12. Is there anyone copied on this email who could be left off the list?
13. Have I attached any files that are very big? (If so, google something like 'send big files' and consider your options.)
14. Have I attached any files that would work better in PDF format?
15. Are there any :-) or other emoticons involved? (If so, reconsider).
16. Am I forwarding someone else's mail? (If so, will they be happy when they find out?)
17. Am I forwarding something about religion (mine or someone else's)? (If so, delete).
18. Am I forwarding something about a virus or worldwide charity effort or other potential hoax? (If so, visit snopes and check to see if it's 'actually true).
19. Did I hit 'reply all'? If so, am I glad I did? Does every person on the list need to see it?
20. Am I quoting back the original text in a helpful way? (Sending an email that says, in its entirety, "yes," is not helpful).
21. If this email is to someone like Seth, did I check to make sure I know the difference between its and it's? Just wondering.
22. If this is a press release, am I really sure that the recipient is going to be delighted to get it? Or am I taking advantage of the asymmetrical nature of email--free to send, expensive investment of time to read or delete?
23. Are there any little animated creatures in the footer of this email? Adorable kittens? Endangered species of any kind?
24. If I had to pay 42 cents to send this email, would I?

Business Matters - great local based SME publication

Nothing like a bit of self promotion, as well as advertising a good local business publication. Business Matters is a well thought out and highly credible monthly business paper for the business community in the south east (UK). They are now online starting with this months issue. Check out page 9 for yours truly!

 

As a writer for them each month on recruitment related subjects, it would be wrong of me not to give it some airtime, wouldn't it?

Struggling writing Job Adverts? Here are 20+ teaser tips to help you.

A common problem with many (if not most) job adverts online and offline is that they persist in using the bulk of job specifications to write the adverts. They don't try and excite the reader ( the potential job seeker), so consequently they often don't get the desired result. So you need to put some more 'punchy' job teasers into the adverts that start to attract their interest. Here are 20+ job teasers that you can use to attract the interest of the reader:

• Tired of the same old grind? Here's a chance to shake things up and push yourself to achieve your full potential.
• Bring your skills and passion and join our team.
• Do you possess a high attention to detail with a 'zero tolerance' approach to errors? If you answered yes, we are looking to give you an opportunity to be on the leading edge.
• Launch your career and join the company voted "Best Company to Work For" by The Sunday Times. (Obviously you would need to use an appropriate 'award').
• Interested in joining a dynamic team environment that is constantly seeking innovative approaches and solutions?

Be creative to help your direct recruiting

Lets be straight about one thing, job seekers look at many job opportunities, and will consider many  different jobs. So why on earth would they look at on line adverts that are just boring job descriptions? Many companies still insist on just placing these boring items on their career sites and expect job seekers to be excited by them. That is just such a big mistake - job seekers want to 'be sold' an opportunity, and be told the benefits (ever heard of the feature and benefit sell?) to them. They also need to be able to say to themselves (or out loud should they feel the need!), "that looks a great job, I am going to apply today!". Get it now? You should be selling your jobs not telling people about them.  You only need to show them the full job description when you have the interest of the job seeker - by then they are an interested party and then they will want more information.

This makes a massive difference to the performance of adverts, whether on a career site or on an online job board. Generally speaking, if you write an add and it doesn't excite you as the writer, then you can sure that it won't excite the reader, so write it again.