First Comment

Every new technology does some great things and it also does some not-so-great things. Social media is no different. On one had it gives anyone with an internet connection the ability to become a "blogger" and call themselves an expert on a so-called topic. People rely on the internet now to get their information but doing this for something like hiring can be as perilous as using Wikipedia to try to write a Senior Thesis. There is some great information and resources out there, but there also are a lot of people with an agenda or without the experience who will try to influence you poorly in your decision-making process.

Fortunately there are some great resources as well. Social Media has taken real experts from behind the curtain and allowed the masses the opportunity to get the information from them. Instead of having to go to a lecture to hear an idea from an esteemed colleague, you can follow them on Twitter or visit their blog every day. Instead of going through a Rolodex trying to find the person you need, you can just go on LinkedIn and see who you know in that area. And instead of wondering if what you are doing is right or wrong, you can find definitive answers on the internet.

Entrepreneur Magazine lists five to follow on Twitter for Hiring. Make sure to add us to that list as well @AstronWorldofHR. Also make sure to follow Jennifer Loftus @AstronSolutions.

Here on this Wednesday, as I get my health assessment done, I wanted to share a few links:

-From CNBC, we have America's most stressful jobs. Certainly quite a few on there that none of us would want to have. And, as Human Resources, some good jobs to know that fellow employees might be quite stressed at.

-11 Points gives us a top 11 list of famous people who were in the totally wrong career at age 30 showing all of us that career switches are possible.

-Although many of us cannot relate, Vault has some advice on how Tiger Woods' experience can help your career.

-Lastly, from Mike D. Merrill Blog, a new feature from LinkedIn which lets you follow company profiles.

Back tomorrow with some more great links (and maybe a thought or two from my health assessment)

We start out on this Wednesday with an interesting post from Fistful of Talent which talks about the sad state we've gotten to in job offers when verbal agreements aren't enough. While the author of the post first laments that candidates demand offers in writing but after more research, turns the table on those doing the hiring:

But, maybe, more importantly... why have so many job seekers been jerked around when it comes to employment offers that they have to be so overly cautious? I mean for those of you making offers out there, what the heck are you guys doing?

I agree with Jessica. If you're going to offer a job to someone verbally, make sure that it exists and there's money in the budget to pay for it. It makes things much more difficult for everyone else when candidates can't trust hiring companies at their words.

Next, from Yahoo! News via Reuters the question was put out to America if you should Facebook friend your boss and America said no (H/T Wendy*)."A survey released on Thursday found that 56 percent of Americans say it is irresponsible to be friends with a boss and 62 percent say it is wrong to be friends with an employee." The interesting part of the study is that more and more, people are feeling comfortable saying that while accessing social media/networking at work is OK, doing things like updating statuses uploading pictures, tweeting, or watching online videos are becoming less acceptable to people. Hopefully studies like this will allow more companies to allow access to social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter--and have confidence that the employees will act responsibly.

*Side Note: Wendy happens to be my boss...and she sent this to me--do you think she's hinting at something?

We start off here on our Thursday with an article from Yahoo! and Forbes on Office Etiquette Essentials (H/T Wendy). This is not good news:

Christine Pearson, professor of management at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Ariz. and coauthor of The Cost of Bad Behavior, says 96% of Americans report experiencing rudeness at work, and 48% say they are treated uncivilly at least once a week.

This kind of manners meltdown can have a direct effect on the bottom line. According to surveys conducted by Pearson and her colleagues, 48% of poorly treated employees have intentionally decreased their productivity and 12% say the boorish behavior compelled them to quit. Workplace rudeness costs employers an average of $50,000 per worker. "There are very high costs associated with even seemingly inconsequential inconsiderate words and actions," adds Pearson.

Ouch

Next comes from itWorldCanada and says that using social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook as talent sourcing tools may open up a company to potential legal repercussions.

Lastly, from Business Insurance, a court ruling from Florida that says that illegal immigrants are due workers comp benefits (H/T Jennifer)

Happy New Year to you from everyone here at Astron Solutions. Let's hope 2010 is a great one. 2009 has seem some rough times in the economy and especially with Human Resources, but hopefully better things are on the horizon for the new year. A few articles to send out the year:

-Since one of our themes this past year has been layoffs, let's take a look at the way the Washington Times is saying goodbye to people they're letting go from the Washington City Paper:

...the individuals hustled with great dread to a couple of tables where lots of letters were waiting. People walked away carrying word of their fate. Those that are getting laid off are being asked to finish up their shift tomorrow and then depart. The letters come with a list of open positions at the paper, just in case the departed want to try their luck with a different department.

Ouch. Does not sound like a good way to do this. Especially over a holiday weekend. The blog article quips "Is the paper going to raise those individuals on their cell phones and say, Hey, come back from Vail and pick up your letter to find out whether you've been sacked or saved?". Not the best idea by management. Many companies need to meet personnel numbers by year end but this isn't the best way to do it.

-Another big theme in 2009 was the use of social networking for job searches--especially the ever-growing Twitter. Well Career Solvers has some great advice as we close out 2009 about how you can use Twitter in your job search as they interview someone who has written a book about it.

-Lastly, looking ahead to 2010, Yahoo! HotJobs has a list of the most secure jobs in 2010.

Wishing a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your loved ones from all of us here at Astron Solutions!

Want to post your resume online? Well we have some advice to protect yourself.

-First, from Coffee with Viktor, five rules for posting your resume online

-Second, Examiner has some advice for job seekers to protect their resume while online.

-Lastly, Human Resources Executive Online has some advice for Human Resources executive about how to tweak their relationship building to include social networking online. Which, in the end, may be a return to how it always was done.

We now have a blog account on Twitter! Follow us @astronworldofhr (and follow Jennifer @astronsolutions)

Also, if you're more into Facebook, you can follow us there via Networked Blogs



We're all over the social networking!

In was Patriot Day up in Boston today and here are some links to celebrate:

-The Laconic Law Blog tells us how making a profane comment about your employer can result in your loss of labor protections

-Don't have time for social media? Collegerecruiter.com say to hire an intern!

-HR World says less structure, more profit and to do this they recommend hiring recent graduates and having them work in a virtual office.

-RoundPegg has some thoughts on brown-nosing, sycophantism and sucking up including urging us all to not give in

-Want to know how a company can blow its trade secret protection? George's Employment Blawg has some details

-Goals vs. Commitments. Fistful of Talent has the battle

-Lastly, Benefits Buzz urges it to be done pro bono to get the most from time off spent to volunteer

-Workforce Management starts us off this week with an article about why Girl Scout Cookie sales are down: the economy and the Employee Free Choice Act

-The HR Capitali$t asks why we're still using job boards when there's other social networking sites out there?

-Also from the HR Capitalist, an article on personal branding

-From the Workforce Management's Compensation Force blog, an article that says that adversity demands a kick-start with small goals and recognition

-Lastly, George's Employment Blawg, has tips to not get your resume blocked by spam filters. HR professionals should also look at this for tips on how to manipulate spam filters so that e-mails with resumes don't get blocked.

Just in case you didn't know (and if you didn't, it's probably because you missed this post) Astron Solutions has a Twitter account so you can follow us:

http://twitter.com/AstronSolutions

We're all up in your social networking!

We continue to move further and further into the social networking arena...

Become a fan of our blog on Facebook: click here

Laid Off and Looking from the Wall Street Journal

In this video blog entry, Dawn Jordan talks about her job search and the importance of networking.

We've all heard the reports from the news regarding the number of organizations that have slashed their holiday parties due to the economic downturn. While you may or may not agree with that approach - I don't, assuming the organization has funds to cover the cost of the party - one aspect that hasn't been covered as much is the decision to attend the party.

Now more than ever, it's critical that employees attend their organizations' holiday parties. What better way to demonstrate your interest in and support for your co-workers and your organization? Those who attend parties will be seen as the employees who care and are team players, and may have the upper hand if layoffs arise down the road.

While at the event, mix and mingle with attendees outside your typical work group. Expand your network. Get into as many pictures as possible to be remembered as the outgoing, caring person who is thankful for their job. Who knew that partying professionally could contribute to job security?!

Yesterday I Twittered for the first time. Actually, five times.

No, it’s not as risqué as it sounds.

For those unfamiliar with the process, Twitter.com is a site that takes blogging a step further. You post instant microburst updates on your latest happenings and thoughts on your own Twitter site.

Since it’s relatively new, people primarily use Twitter for social networking purposes. However, the site holds many possibilities for management in general and HR in particular. Looking to keep a project team up to date on the latest happenings? Want to inform your employees of exciting new things coming? Twitter can help you achieve them, in an easy to use manner. The Gen Y employees in your organization most likely either use Twitter already, or follow someone on the site. Why not communicate with these employees using a method they’re comfortable with?

(Warning – shameless promotion ahead) Astron needs followers on Twitter! If you like our blog, you will enjoy this peek into our daily activities at Astron HQ. Visit our site at https://twitter.com/astronsolutions, sign up, and become one of our followers! We’d love to have you as part of our Twitter family.

If you're thinking of banning social networking from your company, you may be making a very costly mistake according to employee evolution: click here

If you're thinking of skipping those MBA recruiting sessions, you should read this Wall Street Journal article about more and more people who are doing just that: click here

If you're getting ready to retire, you should read this Journal article about planning your exit strategy: click here

If you're worried about whether you need to have a required lunch break, read this Q&A from the Human Resource blog: click here

If you're wondering the best way to leveraging talent into your company's competitive advantage, read this book review from the HR Practitioner: click here

If you're trying to figure out what the role of Human Resources should be in employer branding, read this PUREcommunications article: click here

And if you're looking for an HR job, who are we to ignore social networking after we talked about it's importance, so here's a LiveJournal entry on a website for HR jobs: click here