For a Successful Referral Program, Keep Employees in the Loop

For a Successful Referral Program, Keep Employees in the Loop For a Successful Referral Program, Keep Employees in the Loop Imagine youre going to work. You walk through the front door of your office building and find yourself surrounded by coworkers you cherish. They work hard, theyre driven, and theyve all been at the firm for several years. Theyre your friends, colleagues, college classmates, and maybe even some relatives.They all have one thing in common They were referred to your company by you.Itsounds like a fantasy,but itsthe basic aimof a solidemployee referral program. Who wouldnt want to workwiththe people they know and love?But more than that, referred candidates also tend to be the best candidates.According to LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Employee referrals produce the highest ROI of any sourcing method. Here are a few stats to illustrate that pointAccording to the same LinkedIn report, 46 percent of referred hires stay on the job for at least one year. Only 33 percent o f career site hires and 22 percentof job motherboard hires stay for that long.Whats more, 45 percent of referred hires stay for at least two years1 in 10 referred candidates are hired, whereas only1 in 100 general applicants are hired.According to Jobvite,67percent ofemployers sayreferrals shorten the hiring process,and 51 percent say sourcing via referral is less expensive.If you want to enjoy all the benefits of referral hires, you must first build an easy-to-navigate employee referral program that works.KeepEveryone in the LoopThe most importantcomponent of a successful referral program is communicating expectations to referrers and referrals alike. Keeping employees and candidates updated on the progress of the search and the status of referrals is vital. If youre not setting the right expectations and communicating critical information, candidates and employees could become disengaged, costing you valuable hires.Expectations and guidelines must be set for the program to succeed , but what those expectations and guidelines are will depend on the needsof your business, your employees, and your candidates.Some questions your referrers need answeredincludeHow quickly will the company respond to my referral?Is there a referral bonus? If so, what criteria must I meet to get the bonus?Howare bonuses paid out?Questions referrals need answeredincludeHow quickly will the company respond to my application?Do I meet the qualifications of the position?Will I get an bewerberinterview?How long will the interview process take?When will I know if I got the job? Will I hear back if I dont get it?To build long-lasting relationships with employees and candidates, communicate important information in a timely manner. Your people and your candidates want answers, so give them what they want It never hurts to be transparent with your workforce (or your potential workforce).Given that referralsonly make up about 15 percent of all hires, you may wonder if building a referral progr am is worth it. The fact is, referrals are 5 times more effective than the average hiring method. Referrals may be asmall group of candidates in the market, but the conversion rate from referral to hire is much higher than for candidates sourced via other methods. In other words, referred candidates have the most potential to make great, long-term employees. Why wouldnt you invest in a strong referral program?A version of this article originally appeared onIQTalent Partners.Chris Murdock is the cofounder and senior partner ofIQTalent Partners.

About the Army Service Ribbon Award

About the Army tafelgeschirr Ribbon AwardAbout the Army tafelgeschirr Ribbon AwardThe Army Service Ribbon is one of the most common ribbons you will see worn by Army personnel. It is earned when a soldier successfully completesinitial-entry training and if needed, their MOS-producing course of training. It is a ribbon that is earned only one time. It was established on April 10, 1981, by the Secretary of the Army. Description of the Army Service Ribbon The Army Service Ribbon is a multi-colored rainbow ribbon, with the colors arranged from left to right red, orange, yellow, green, blue, green, yellow, orange, red. The colors represent the complete range of military specialties officers and enlisted soldiers may go into upon conclusion of their initial training. Who Can Earn the Army Service Ribbon? The Army Service Ribbon can be earned by all members of the active Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve in an active Reserve status. The ASR is earned only once, no mat ter how many times a soldier completes initial entry training. For example, if a soldier completes enlisted training and then later completes officer training. What are the Criteria to be Awarded the Army Service Ribbon? Officers After successfully completing their basic/orientation or higher level course an officer will be awarded the Army Service Ribbon. An officer who has a specialty or special skill identifier or MOS that is based on skills acquired in other services or in civilian life and therefore enters without attending a course is awarded the Army Service Ribbon after completing four months of active service honorably.Enlisted personnel areawarded the ribbon after successful completion of their initial MOS producing course. As with the officers, if an enlisted soldier does elend need to attend an MOS producing course because he or she has the skills needed for his or her specialty, special skill identifier, or MOS, the Army Service Ribbon is awarded after completion of four months of honorable, active service. If a soldier died in the line of duty on or after August 1,1981,prior to completing the required training or time in service, he or she may be awarded the Army Service Ribbon posthumously. Key Dates in Award of the Army Service Ribbon The award was established in 1981 and there are some key dates that affect who could earn it during that time frame. The date of August 1, 1981, determines who earned the award and who can be awarded it retroactively. If you completed your required training prior to August 1, 1981 but you had an active Army status on or after that date, you can be awarded the Army Service Ribbon retroactively. Soldiers who completed the required training after August 1, 1981,have received the Army Service Ribbon if they fulfilled all of the other criteria. Order of Precedence for Wearing the Army Service Ribbon The Army Service Ribbon has a low order of precedence. It ranks above the Army Overseas Service Ribbon and b elow the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon. Equivalent Awards in Other Armed Services The equivalent awards in other armed services are the Air Force Training Ribbon and the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem. Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon When successfully completing a designated Noncommissioned Officer professional development course, the service member is awarded the Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon. A numeral is attached to the ribbon to show completion of specific levels of subsequent courses. The primarylevel course is signified by the basic ribbon basic level course with the number 2 advanced level course with number 3 and senior level course (Sergeants Major Academy) with number 4.

What to Do if Youre Overqualified for a Job You Want

What to Do if Youre Overqualified for a Job You WantWhat to Do if Youre Overqualified for a Job You WantIs there anythingthatfeels more unfair than being overqualified for a job? Why should you be penalized for being too good? What should you do if you really want a job but are concerned that the employer will think youd be a better fit for a higher-level position? If you think about it from an employers perspective, it makes sense. An overqualified candidate may bedrngnis want to linger long at a position, and employers like to avoid turnover. Employers look for candidates who are agood match for the job, and if your credentials show youre overqualified- or underqualified- you may not be considered for the role. Find out more about why employers avoid hiring overqualified candidates, how to adjust your resume to make it clear that you are interested in the position over the long haul, what to mention in a titelseite letter, and how to respond to interview questionsintheblogpostbelow . Why Is Being Overqualified a Problem? Here are some of the main reasons why employers shy away from hiring candidates who appear overqualified Theyre worried youll be boredCompanies want to hire people who will stick around and enjoy their day-to-day work. If you are overqualified, hiring managers may be concerned that youll get bored and leave for an opportunity that uses your full talents. They may also be concerned that you wont want to do the level of work the position entails.Or that youre after the job as a temporary measureIf youve been unemployed for a while, employers may think that you just want to get a job- any job- on your resume, and that the position is intended to parlay you into another job that youre better suited for. As with the concern about boredom, here employers main worry is that you only want the job as a stepping-stone to something better. Theyre unsure youll be able to take directionOne other reason employers may avoid hiring very qualified candidat es for positions that dont match their experience level is that these candidates may struggle to take direction from people who are less qualified on paper.And nervous the pay wont match your needsSome part of anemployers concern about your being overqualified may be a worry that you will want a salary that matches your experience level- and is well above the sortiment in place for the job. Tips for Your Resume Your resume tells the story of your career. And while you should never, everlie on your resume, it is permissible to leave off jobs and generally paint yourself as a candidate who is at the right level for the job at hand. Here are some suggestions for resume strategies that will make you look appropriately qualified for a position. Make it tailoredAs with any job application, if youre overqualified, you should make sure your resume focuses onhow your experience matches the job you want. Dont delve into experience and qualifications that go beyond the companys needs for the position. Include your qualifications that are the strongest match to the job, and considerwhat you might leave off your resumein order for it to get a closer look. Leave off advanced degreesYou do not need to list every degree you hold. Leave off the post-college degrees if you think they are not necessary to get the position you want. You dont need to advertise the fact that you have more credentials than the employer is looking for.You also dont want the employer to expect that youll require ahigher salary because of your degree. Leave dates off your education Theres no need to includegraduation dates for when you attended university on your resume. Dates advertise how old you are, and your age can indicate that youre overqualified for an entry-level position. Remove some jobsYou are not required to list every positionyouve held. You canremove jobs from your resumethat make you look overqualified just be aware that doing so may make companies wonder what you did during those blocks of time. Be ready to explain during a job interview. Go functionalResumes can be formatted in all sorts of ways, fromfunctional(which is an achievement- and skill-based format) tochronological(which lists jobs by when they were held). A functional resume can help reduce the impact of your fruchtwein recently held title and responsibilities. Assemble your functional orcombination resumearound the position you desire. Put thesummaryorobjectivesections to useThis is the best spot- aside from the cover letter- to tell your story. Some ways to take advantage of this section when you are overqualified are Put the title of the position you want in your objective section.Explain in your summary that youre looking to transition to a new career (this can show why youd take a position below your experience level).Avoid lofty language.Skip details about how long youve worked and your strong expertise. Keep it simpleExplain your career arc in a way that makes it clear why youd take a lowe r-level position perhaps youre in a field where promotions have led you to management-level positions and away from doing the work you actually enjoy. De-emphasize titlesTypically,job descriptions on your resumeput the title in a place of prominence, but that doesnt have to be the case. You could put the company name on the top line and list titles below. Use less powerful wordsIn general, the advice is to punch up language and usepowerful wordsto convey how much responsibility and leadershipexperience you have, but if youre concerned about looking overqualified, dial down your language and keep it simple. Instead of Spearheaded a transition to a new accounting system you can say you Helped manage a transition to a new accounting system. Expand Use Your Cover Letter to Explain Your resume is just one part of your application package. Use your cover letter toshow why the job is right for you, even if you could be doing something ata higher level. There are many reasons why you co uld be looking for a career shift at this time. Perhaps youre retired but want to still maintain a connection to the industry. Maybe you have a personal passion for the position or company. Maybe you want to return to more hands-on work in the field and leave management behind. Use your cover letter to give details on your motivations and show how youd be a good candidate. Discuss Being Overqualified During an Interview During interviews, if the topic of being overqualified comes up, ask for specifics about why the interviewer has that concern this will allow you to give the best possible response. After all, your interviewer may think youre overqualified because you have a graduate-level degree, not realizing its in an unrelated field. Take some time toprepare your response to questions about being overqualified, so youre ready to answer. Above all, dont get discouraged if you keep getting turned down for jobs because of being overqualified. With changes to your resume and cove r letter, you can get past this obstacle.