Why Writing Targeted Resumes Is More Critical Than You Think

Why Writing Targeted Resumes Is More Critical Than You ThinkWhen applying for a job, you are immediately handed the responsibility of proving youre the best candidate, which can be challenging if you cant provide examples showing that this is indeed a fact. A great way to show your worth is by focusing on what the employer needs most from the candidate who will fill the position, then writing a targeted resume that addresses those needs specifically.Targeting Your Resume Proves You Are the Best Fit for the PositionEmployers absolutely need to know that the candidate they choose for a job is the best fit, which they do by confirming that a candidates past accomplishments and current skill platzset fall in line with the important day-to-day tasks and overarching goals of the position.If you write a generic resume that doesnt take into account the specific needs of the company or showcase your professional capabilities, you are failing to prove that you are right for the position. Unfor tunately, another candidate would be more than happy to pick up your slackand take your job while theyre at it.How Can You Ensure Your Resume Is Targeted?So how can you create that targeted resume that will show the employer that you deserve the interview?1. Research the company and position A great way to target your resume is to dig in and learn about the company and what the employer wants from its candidates. Once you acquire this information, you will be armed with specifics that can help you determine what contributions you can make to the company.2. Customize a job target/title, branding stellungnahme, and career summary Instead of writing a bland objective statement, place a job target/title at the top of your resume that defines who you are as a professional. Also, create a branding statement (a one- or two-line statement that sums up the value you can offer each employer based upon their needs and how you can meet them) that is customized to the specific job. Then write a career summary (most commonly a bullet point list that shares your career highlights) listing accomplishments most pertinent to the position at the top.3. Utilize keywords throughout Its also important to utilize specific keywords in your resume. For example, if you are applying as an executive chef in the hospitality industry, you might incorporate keyword phrases like menu planning, kitchen equipment, banquet meal production, and procurement of food supplies as indicators of your knowledge of the field. Keywords should be used in your job target/title, branding statement, career summary, and most other sections in your resume.Targeting your resumes requires a bit more effort but offers a lot in return. By taking time to tailor resumes for each company to which you apply, you give them no doubt that you are the best person for the job.For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow GreatResume or visit our blog.

Food Blogs - The Top 15 You Should Follow

Food Blogs - The Top 15 You Should Follow Virginia Woolf said, One canleid think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. zu siche at Fairygodboss.com, we also believe you cannot work well if you do not eat well. So to that end, this month we have composed a list of some of the best food blogs, and a number of them are James Beard Foundation or Saveurmagazine award winners. Each blog is unique in its tone and approach one may resonate with you more than anotzu sichbei.Photo via Madeleine Shaw1. Madeleine ShawThe British food writer, yoga instructor, and menu consultant who promotes that what we eat can make us glow, tops our list because of her philosophy Food is the most powerful drug it informs not just how we look but how we feel and think too. My philosophy stems from my desire to educate people about this and to show how healthy food can be delicious, nutritious, affordable and simple to make. Her website contains recipes, wellness tips, videos, glow guides and l inks to her books and events.Photo via Serious Eats2. Serious EatsThis is the destination for delicious, serious eats with articles on cooking and food techniques (like how to store food in a Sub-Zero fridge), videos, recipes (think 23 Chicken Breast Recipes to Make You Like White Meat and tapas recipes for cocktail parteies) and feature articles on celebrity chefs, the best kitchen tools. Serious Eats also has the photo-centric The Food Lab series that teaches you how to make lobster rolls, risotto and katsu at home.Photo via Food523. Food 52This was started by Amanda and Merrill in the Chelsea area of New York City to bring cooks together from all over to exchange recipes and ideas and to support each other in the kitchen. They live by the cooking manifesto Eat thoughtfully, live joyfully. Who could disagree with that? Food 52 articles are broken down by What to Cook, How to Cook, New Now, Home Design, Drinks, Travel and Youre Good Little Joys for Well-Being. They also run a Bur nt Toast Podcast which claims to be the perfect pieces of cocktail party fodder in 15-26 minute-episodes.Photo via Thug Kitchen4. Thug KitchenThis is the place to go for foul-mouthed vegan recipes and books. Or as they say, Were the only website dedicated to verbally abusing you into a healthier diet. The recipes are easy to follow and full of flavor. (My 18-year-old stepson gobbles the stuff up even though he claims not to like veggies very much.) Examples of recipes include BBQ Bean Sliders with Celery Seed Slaw (under the blog title Spend the Weekend Slidin Dirty) and Black Sesame Cold Noodles w/Spring Veggies (You Deserve Fresh Noods). If swearing frequently doesnt bother you, this is the healthy recipes place for you.Photo via Eating with Your Hands5. Eating with Your HandsEating with Your Hands is devoted to, well, eating with your hands. The blogs tagline says, Because cutleries are lame. Fernando started the site because he thinks hand food is fun food. He includes recipes, articles about the food hes eaten and places hes been to eat that food (such as eating Iranian snack at the Azadi stadium, food trucks in Barcelona, Taiwanese street food ), guides on eating with your hands food, and reviews of places to eat with your hands. This site was a Saveurblog award finalist last year.Photo via Rambling Spoon6. Rambling SpoonThis was started by investigative journalists Karen Coates and Jerry Redfern because Food is lifeand death. It is history and culture, war and peace. It is our past, and it is our future. Food is who and what we are. They write about dinner and drink, people and places, the planets health and the future of food as they live part of the year at their house in New Mexico and spend part of the year traveling abroad. Recipes are plentiful (with gluten-free options) and the couple also authored four books.Photo via Potato Chips Are Not Dinner7. Potato Chips Are Not DinnerThis is a food blog by Paulina, a flight attendant who claims to be eati ng my way around the world when she isnt at home in Los Angeles. Recipes (matcha custard pie, sticky rice with mango, abogo three ways etc.) are sprinkled between travelogues and advice (How to Eat in Tokyo, Japan and Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles and How to Cross the Street Without Dying, for example). The tone is fun and the photos look realistic (as opposed to those photos where the food looks fake or Photoshopped to perfection).Photo via White.Vivd8. White.VividWhite.Vivid was created by Kati who is mostly a vegetarian, a foodie, picture taker, magical moments hunter and enthusiastic of everything else. She writes about travels and delicious food, both home and away, and includes recipes, food guides to cities, hotel reviews and gorgeous photos of both scenery and food. Her Mediterranean Vegetable Gratin and Springtime Rhubarb Almond Cake with Fresh Strawberries are art.Photo via Lime and Cilantro9. Lime and CilantroThis is the food blog of Soe Thein, a Burmese medical student at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He started the blog in 2012 after sheer desperate craving for hometown cuisine and says that, Behind each recipe lies a story of perseverance, creativity, love and history. Recipes include Burmese food, appetizers and small bites, noodles and pasta, vegetable dishes and salads, rice and sweets (such as the awesome, fudgy no-bake hipster brownie bites).Photo via Harvest and Honey10. Harvest and HoneyThis is an open-ended love letter, culinarily inspired by Lauren McDuffie, who describes herself as a passionate and curious food loverwho writes for a living and cooks for the love of it. Recipes are separated into Breakfast and Bread Snacks, Sides, Salads Soups Sweets and Drinks. And articles have engaging titles such as Last Meal on Earth and Laughs in Wildflowers. The blog won Saveurs Best New Voice, Readers Choice Award in 2016.Photo via Vermilion Roots11. Vermilion RootsThis is a vegetarian food blog by Christine (daughter of a Kuala Lumpur chef) who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. The blog focuses on seasonal produce and Southeast Asian flavors and recent recipes include green garlic and spring onion fried faro, Asian rainbow chard wraps and baked south Indian fava bean fritters with green chutney. Vermilion Roots was a Saveur2016 blog award best new voice finalist and Christine has written interviews on her site with Soe Thein of Lime and Cilantro and many other food bloggers.Photo via Love and Lemons12. Love and LemonsLove and Lemons is the brainchild of Jeanine and Jack in Austin, Texas, and this couple has a soft spot for avocado toast and kale salads. The blog has been featured in Food Wine, Food 52, Oprah Magazineand many others. And The New York TimesThe Love and Lemons Cookbook An Apple-to-Zucchini Celebration of Impromptu Cooking as happiness in itself tossed in every bowl. Recipes on the blog are searchable by the categories of dairy free, gluten free, raw, vegan and vegetarian, in addi tion to season and meal type.Photo via Half Baked Harvest13. Half Baked HarvestHalf Baked Harvest was launched by Tieghan in a converted barn in Colorado in 2012 and its been featured on television and in magazines positiv won Readers Choice Favorite Food Blog by Better Homes and Gardensin both 2014 and 2016. It was also the recipient of SaveurMagazines 2016 Award for Most Inspired Weeknight Dinners as well as the 2016 Bloglovin Best Food Blog Award. The recipes range from cozy comfort foods to healthy(ish) desserts sprinkled with a few over the top creations. Blog favorites include Buffalo cheddar soft pretzel twists with everything spice, honey raspberry brie crostini with basil oil and nourishing 7 ingredient chocolate chip ricotta banana bread, plus many of main courses, meats and pizza recipes.Photo via I Am a Food Blog14. I Am a Food BlogThis is a collaboration between Steph, who has a soft spot for noodles, bacon, potatoes and breakfast foods, and Mike, who loves Scotch. Reci pes on the site range from easy and uncomplicated (think cheesy baked spaghetti and pizza toast) to the more elaborate (shrimp with spring vegetable cauliflower rice paella and kimchi stew with mochi and egg). The couple also blogs about food related travel. I am a Food Blog has won Saveurs2014 Editors Choice for Best Cooking Blog and Blog of the Year awards and its been written about in Food Wine.Photo via Lady and Pups15. Lady and PupsLady and Pups calls itself an angry food blog that started in 2012 as an outlet for Mandy Lees misery after moving from Vancouver and New York to Beijing. (She currently lives with her husband and dog children Jiao-Zi and Xia-Mi in Hong Kong.) The recipes on the blog have an Asian flair and rival those in high-end glossy food magazines (Buffalo wings soup with dumpling with skin crackling fish wonton with anchovy, garlic and Tabasco Tuscanys pork fat bits country bread), but what sets this blog apart from the others is the tab The Flops, where she w rites about the recipes that didnt work out (and shows photos of them too). This column includes dishes like caramelized lime spaghetti and kale and mocha ice cream. And the link to her Instagram account where she publishes the shit I eat when Im by myself which includes a grilled cheese sandwich that contains arugula and Flaming Cheetos and orange ramen.Filmmaker and food writer Anna Thomas said, We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of an opportunity to eat badly. So check out these blogs and Buon Appetito.More Blogs to Follow11 Personal Finance Blogs to Read that Actually Make SenseLooking to budget better or save for retirement? Check out one of these personal finance blogs.25 Fashion Blogs From Around The World That Will Leave You InspiredInto fashion and want to keep ahead of the latest trends and scout all the best ausverkauf? Check out these fashion blogs from around the world.22 Mom Blogs That Will Inspire The Heck Out Of YouAre you a mom and looking for parenting advice? Working mom advice? Business ideas? These mommy blogs will inspire you.--Jill L. Ferguson is the co-author of WOMEN Are Changing the Corporate Landscape Rules for Cultivating Leadership Excellence and Raise Rules for Women How to Make More Money at Work. She is the founder of Womens Wellness Weekends and can be followed on Twitter JLFerg.Our mission is to help women create the best careers for their lives. Join us to see what people are saying about your company, and pay it forward by sharing your own anonymous tip

How to Bring Your Entire Company Into the Recruiting Process

How to Bring Yur Entire Company Into the Recruiting ProcessHow RelativityHQ boosts employee referrals (and diversity)Click To TweetJosh TolanMy name is Josh Tolan and Im the CEO of Spark Hire, the leading video interviewing platform used by thousands of organizations around the world.And this is The Recruiting Reel, a video series in which we discuss real recruiting challenges with prestigetrchtig recruiting experts to provide you with actionable tips you can apply to your own recruiting.Today, I am joined by Shelli Nelson who is the Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at Relativity which makes e-Discovery software to help users organize data, discover the truth, and act on it. She is also the President of the Board of Directors at Chicago SHRM.Shelli is super passionate about people and her career accomplishments back that up.She has nearly 20 years of experience understanding business strategies, building organizations that are structured to excel, locating phenomenal talent and d esigning and executing innovative programs that propel companies beyond the competition.We all know that current employees can have a huge impact on hiring quality people, but how do you bring your entire company into the recruiting process to drive results?Fortunately, Shelli has the answersShelli Nelson For us, its about bringing the best possible talent toRelativity, and our employee referral rate is very high. On a given day, its an average of 42%, and we take great pride in that. We also take great pride in the fact that our employee referralrate is actually 9% more diverse than our standard applicant pool.We are a fast-growing tech company. Our team members take great pride in our products, whether its building out new features forRelativity, or building out our datenwolke solution,Relativity One. They get excited about the work that they do and they want to share that with everyone in their network. So thats how we get involved with our culture of recruitment initiatives.We s tart by educating our new hires on our product, our strategy, our impact in the tech community and beyond. Then, we like to make it very easy for them. We have a new ATS system, Lever, which makes it very simple for employees to submit referrals. And we are in constant communication with our entire organization about how important employee referrals are to us.Dont force your employees to engage in the hiring process If it isnt genuine, it wont work. And, also, if youre not in HR or Talent Acquisition, dont expect employees to have the resources that they need.You want to start by educating them on your product, your strategy, alsoencourage them to send referrals by having a strong employee referral bonus and constant communication of your culture of recruitment efforts.Josh TolanThanks, Shelli. Its amazing that what you have done with driving employee referrals at Relativity and your advice will certainly help people who are trying to empower their team to boost referrals at their r espective organizations.There is no better source of quality candidates than employee referrals, but what do you do if youre either a small company and dont have a lot of employee referrals flowing in or youve maximized your employee referral channel?This is where you can bring your company into the recruiting process as a conversion mechanism.Think about the candidates in your pipeline. They are evaluating your organization along with the others they are interviewing at.How can you stand out and convert these candidates into employees? This is where you can leverage your employees voices to tell the story about what its like to work at your organization.Develop strategies to get your employees to create content that can be used to get candidates excited about working for you.Im talking about selfie video testimonials, blog posts, quotes for your careers page, and more.Share this content with candidates that are already in your hiring funnel and youll be amazed with the conversion r esults.I want to thank Shelli Nelson for joining us today. If youd like to learn more about Relativity, go to relativity.com. If you want to connect with Shelli on LinkedIn, use the url below.Thank you for watching The Recruiting Reel and stay tuned for more episodes. For additional HR and recruiting content, head over to hr.sparkhire.com and subscribe. Also, follow us on Twitter, sparkhire. And subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to know about the newest episodes of The Recruiting Reel.Thanks again for watching and happy recruiting

How to Dress Professionally - Attire for Presentations

How to Dress Professionally - Attire for PresentationsHow to Dress Professionally - Attire for PresentationsOver the last decade or mora, casual attire has become the norm in most workplaces. If your employer doesnt require you todress professionally, as most do not, it may be a challenge to figure out what to wear when a special work occasion arises. Jeans and a t-shirt, while more appropriate than a geschftsleben suit, for many jobs, just wont do for some situations. When Should You Dress Professionally? Certain situations require you to wear more business-like attire than what you would dress in for a typical day at the office. For example, when you have to give apresentation or represent your organization at a conference, you should always look yourprofessionalbest. What does dressing professionally really mean? Do you have to wear a dark suit? It depends on your client. For example, when giving a presentation to a client in a more traditional industry such as the legal or fi nancial services industries, formal workplace attire is the way to go. Lets say your presentation is going to instead be before clients from a company in the IT industry. In that case, you can be a bit more casual. Although you may not have to wear a suit, you should consider something a bit nicer than what you would wear for a typical day of work. You may question whether your attire will genuinely make a difference. After all, will your client react more favorably to your presentation if you are better dressed? If you perform poorly- either you are unprepared or your client doesnt like what youre offering- it wont matter if your suit is the best one money can buy. Likewise, an excellent presentation will still be an excellent presentation, if you dress casually. While a person in jeans may be as competent and as intelligent as one wearing a business suit, or more so, people assess others attributes based on what they see. All the ingredients- knowledge, preparation, and appearance - are necessary to make a good impression. When you spend your days in jeans and t-shirts, it is unlikely your closet is stocked with the right stuff.Here is what you need to do when casual dress is your norm, but you occasionally have to dress professionally. How to Dress Professionally If you make presentations or attend conferences at least a couple of times a year, a nice business suit is a good investment. Get something in a classic style and color. You will be able to wear it for several years. Purchase a white or pastel shirt or blouse to go with it. If an occasion to dress professionally only comes up infrequently, you may be able to get away without spending money on a suit. You can wear nice business clothes instead. Women can usually wear a skirt, dress, or pants, a blouse, and a jacket or cardigan, while men can wear dress trousers, a button-down shirt, a tie, and jacket. Keep your look professional right down to your feet. Wear a well-fitting and not-too-trendy pair of shoes in a neutral color. Make sure they are always in good condition because, believe it or not, people do notice when shoes look worn. Your hair should be well-groomed and your fingernails should be neat and clean. If you wear jewelry, keep it simple. Depending on your employers and your clients cultures, you may want to hide any tattoos you have and remove jewelry from any body piercings. What to Do If You Have to Be on Camera It isnt unusual these days to have to participate in a video conference. Take it into consideration when planning your attire that we appear differently on camera than in person. Avoid wearing patterned clothing which may look distorted. Neutral colors work best, but avoid black, white, or red. Many experts say that pastels look good on camera. Style your hair neatly and make sure to keep it out of your eyes. It will distract both you and those who are watching. Dont wear iridescent, frosted, or glittery makeup. A matte finish is best. Whether speak ing in front of people or a camera, sit up straight. You will look alert and engaged. Slouching will make you seem bored. Try to appear like youre happy to be there. A smile gives the impression that you are friendly and approachable. Of course, if you are talking about a solemn topic, dont look giddy. Avoid fidgeting, biting your nails, or playing with your jewelry. Most importantly, remember to breathe.

Basics of a Cover Letter

Basics of a Cover LetterBasics of a Cover LetterWhile you write a cover letter that will include all the relevant stuff and essential details, do not forget to remember the basics of a cover letter.What are the basics of a cover letter? Well, the basics of a cover letter denote its font and its length the basic formatting elements of a cover letter.To write a strong and impactful cover letter, you need to get the basics right. This article will tell you how to format your cover letter effectively.Things You Need To Pay Attention to In Your Cover LetterFontWhat font you use in your cover letter is very important. Depending on what you choose, your cover letter will either be read or not. So, you should select the font size in such a way that it is readable to the hiring managers, that is, neither too large nor too small. Using a font size of 10 or 12 is enough. Also, it is better to keep the font simple and professional. Therefore, there is no need to select any fancy font that will make your content confusing. Well, it is recommended to use the same font and font size that you have used in your resume.LengthYour cover letter should be written in as few words as possible. There is no need to write mora than one page and three paragraphs. Also, if you can make yourself clear in two paragraphs only, no need to write the middle one. If something is not that necessary, then do not include it in your cover letter.SpacesInclude white spaces wherever needed. It will make your cover letter easy-to-read and will make it look more professional. Good spacing will enable the hiring managers to read quickly, hence increasing the chances your whole cover letter will be read.

6 Career Networking Tips for Millennials

6 Career Networking Tips for Millennials6 Career Networking Tips for MillennialsDoes the idea of networking sound forced and unnatural? Maybe youre thinking of it all wrong Networking doesnt have to be a transactional, tit-for-tat experience where you connect with people you wouldnt otherwise associate with for the sake of furthering your career. Instead, think of networking as being the process of forming a friendship where the major basis for your relationship is work-related (instead of a shared personal interest in movies or love of cocktails). As with any relationship, your network should consist of people you like and admire after all, who would want to do a favor for anyone who isnt a trusted connection? As with many things, networking may be different for millennials than it was for previous generations. For one thing, they have the advantage of a vast number of social networking sites that can be used for networking available. But more than that, millennials dont tend to net work in structured events, but in a more organic way, with lunches and Slack conversations with co-workers, or as an extension of social activities. Here are six strategies millennials can use to develop and maintain their network Network Anywhere and Everywhere Gone are the days of the all-important golf appointment and formal drinks gatherings structured around a professional affiliation. Attending more formal networking events isnt a bad thing (in fact, it can be hugely helpful)- but its by no means the only distributionspolitik where you can network. Once you think of it more as forming connections rather than networking, its easy to see that countless opportunities to build your network are available- you can talk about work and your career-related goals during your kids play dates, at the pick-up line for school, at church, during parties, when youre at a book reading or other cultural event, and during any kind of get-together. Try to Meet Lots of People When it comes to building a community, it helps to be social and a bit extroverted. (But if big groups and socializing arent your speed, try these networking tips for introverts.) The more people you know, the more likely you are to forge a connection with someone who might know of a job or a good person for you to meet. Look for opportunities to broaden your network- this can be as small as chitchatting on the elevator, introducing yourself to a speaker at a conference, or saying hello to that person you see every Saturday at yoga class. Connect Online After Meeting in Person There is no shortage of online social sites LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat- the list goes on and on. Dont be shy about connecting with people youve met in person on these social networks. Doing this will help you stay top of mind, far more than business cards or emails, which can easily get filed away and forgotten. Your tweets, LinkedIn posts, and other social media activity can make your relationship with conn ections feel closer and more intimate. Use your best judgment about where to connect socially- if you met at a networking-oriented event, LinkedIn and Twitter are good platforms to connect on. A more casual, drinks-oriented event might make the more friend-oriented platforms (Facebook, Instagram) feel more appropriate. When in doubt, you can ask either in person or over email if theyd like to connect on social media. One cautionary musiknote Avoid connecting on every social site at once. That could feel overwhelming. Seek Out a Mentor While its good to know a lot of people, its also good to build deep, long-term relationships. A mentor can be a touchstone throughout your career, helping you to evaluate job offers, know when its the right time to leave a job, negotiate a raise, and generally help you with all sorts of career-related conundrums. Make Friends at Work Most likely, you wont be at your current job forever- and neither will your co-workers Build strong relationship s with colleagues if youre lucky, youll discover that you have a lot more than where you work in common. These relationships will make your time at work more pleasant, and may also lead to future job-related opportunities in the future, too. So make an effort to go to lunches, happy hours, and show up for birthday celebrations. Always Remember to Lend a Hand Yourself The old view of networking was that relationships were of a you scratch my back, and Ill scratch yours variety. That seems old-fashioned now networking doesnt have to be so tit-for-tat. Still, if you see an opportunity to recommend someone in your network for a job, informational interview, and other career-related opportunities, definitely do so. And dont forget, if you make a connection that results in a job offer, youll likely have two grateful connections Both the person you referred for a job and the person who hired that candidate will be grateful.

Handling Employee Violation of your Social Media Policy

Handling Employee Violation of your Social Media PolicyHandling Employee Violation of your Social Media PolicyHandling Employee Violation of your Social Media Policy Bennington, Contributing Writer Remember Cisco Fatty, a.k.a. the University of California student who back in early 2009 posted the infamous tweet about an internship with the software giant?Cisco just offered me a job Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.You already know how this story ends. A Cisco employee discovered the tweet, the offer was rescinded, and a firestorm of werbung ensued. Since this was among the first cases where a status update resulted in the loss of a job, Cisco Fatty became a case study/cautionary tale of social media recruitmentthat will live on in the history books of Web 2.0.These days, however, status firings have become downright common. From CNN editors and waitresses, to hospital employeesand, yes, even pieorogis, it seems no one is immune to being shown the door over a post that doesnt sit well with their anfhrer. However, despite the increasing number of dismissals related to social media, most have remained internal matters between employers and their staff.That is, until now.Guidelines to Help Formulate your Social Media StrategyIn onerecentcasethat involveda companys social media policy, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)filed a complaint against an employer who fired a staff member for badmouthing her supervisor on Facebook. The Facebook casewas eventually settled out of court and required that the company not discipline employees who are asking for union representation the companywill also revise their employee handbook policy around workers discussingwork conditions with their co-workers.This is obviously scary territory for employers. On one hand, you have the fear of disgruntled employees doing some serious company brand damage online. On the other, you have the risk of being su ed for violating the National Labor Relations Act.To obtain some perspective on this issue from a legal perspective, we spoke with Eric Kinder, a Labor and Employment member with Spilman Thomas and Battle PLLCand with Donna Galatas and Jackie Torres from The Galatas Groupto weigh in on the human resource standpoint. Here is what they had to say1.)Are social media posts considered free speech? Kinder Free speech in the employment setting is a loaded term. Private employers dont have First Amendment concerns in that there is no constitutional duty from them to allow or tolerate free speech, but they do have to consider the National Labor Relations Act and various state laws that prohibit employers from disciplining employees for off-duty conduct.While many of the off-duty conduct laws were drafted to address an employees use of tobacco off the worksite, many of them are written broadly enough to encompass use of social media, blogging, or other online activities. In addition, the NLRA protects an employees right to engage in concerted activities regarding the terms and conditions of employment.Many online activities, especiallysomething like a Facebook post regarding wages or working conditions that is shared with co-workers, are forms of concerted activity that are protected under the law until it reaches the point of being disloyal to the employer. Disloyal can be complicated to define, but it distinguishes between comments that are merely complaining about work from ones that actively seek to reduce business by driving customers away.Galatas /Torres We strongly believe that social media posts should be considered free speech, however, there are certain aspects of social media use that should be considered within the scope of an employers control.Employers should consider participating in appropriate social media venues and should put in distributions-mix a social media policy to supplement an internet use policy. A few examples of specific issues which should be addressed include clarifying infringements on company confidential information and intellectual property rights, slanderous or libelous statements that cannot be supported by evidence and are detrimental to the business, and failing to state that comments made are personal opinion and not made on behalf of the company.2.)When can an employer legally terminate an employee for their online behavior? Kinder This will vary from state to state, as more states are passing all-encompassing off duty conduct laws that prohibit, at least potentially, an employers ability to discipline an employee for online actions. That does not mean employers are without any mechanism for regulating an employees online activity.First, an employer has the right to discipline employees for their online behavior during working hours an employee is at work to do work, not to send Twitter updates, post on Facebook or maintain a blog. The one caveat to this rule is that employers must be consistent in enforci ng this social media policy an employer cannot discipline employees when they make negative comments about the company, but ignore other non-work related activity while an employee is on the clock.Second, an employer can, and must, intervene when an employees online actions are placing the employer at legal risk such as betraying confidential information, or violating the Federal Trade Commissions rules on endorsements of the companys products, or threatening or harassing a co-worker. Third, employers can act when an employee has crossed a line and acted disloyally. Complaining about your boss or your pay isnt disloyal telling people that the hospital where you work is unsafe would be disloyal though if there are real safety concerns raised, the employer needs to address them.3.)Can an employer legally examine a candidates social media presence as part of the recruitment process? Kinder The concern about recruiting with social mediais primarily one of allowing improper information (such as race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, etc.) to taint the selection process. In addition to including numerous pictures which will reveal a candidates age, sex and race social media sites allow and encourage individuals to proclaim their religious and political beliefs. Once an employer reviews the website, it will be charged with knowledge of all this information that should not be included in the hiring process.My general advice to employers is not to review a candidates social media presence before selecting the individuals to interview, so that the interview selection is devoid of or blind to any improper information. No matter what, any employer that plans to review any candidates social media should obtain the candidates written consent to conduct searches of all internet and social media websites, preferably as part of the release in the employers application.4.) How should an employer prevent a legal situation around social media policy from occurring in th e first place? Galatas /Torres Its very simple. Educate and communicate policy and expectations to staff using several different methods and venues. In addition, an employer should welcome all feedback from employees, both positive and negative, and use the information to increase employee engagement and employee retention and company advocates,to help address employee concerns that otherwise might not surface, and transform the organization into an employer of choice.Kinder It seems when it comes to social media, the best defense is still a good offense. So if you dont have a policy in place or one that is about blocking social mediain the workplace, now is the time to a social media policy. That said, the NLRB case is proof that, even with air-tight social media guidelines, employers are still vulnerable to complaints and worst case scenario lawsuits. So the bottom line here is to use this advice as a starting point to understand how you should (and should not) be using social me dia as an employer.Legal Disclaimer None of the information provided herein constitutes legal advice on behalf of Monster.Author BioEmily Bennington is coauthor of Effective Immediately How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job(Ten Speed Press, 2010). She is a frequent speaker to students and organizations on the topic of career success and the host of Professional Studio 365, a popular blog for new grads transitioning from classroom to boardroom. Emily can be reached at ebenningtonmsn.com or on Twitter.Stay on topof social mediaWhile weve no doubt benefited in big ways from social media, it has caused major strife as well. But one thing is certain Its not going away. That means you need to know what to be on the lookout for, what kind of workplace policies to implement regarding social media, andobviouslyhow to use social media to your advantage in terms of marketing, brand awareness, and recruiting. Could you use some help with that?Sign up for exclusive https// www.youtube.com/ adviceand well send you the latest recruiting tips, hiring trends, management strategies, and even some awesome deals. Pretty koranvers youll like us.