New background blur feature can help WFH employees blend in

New background blur feature can help WFH employees blend inNew background blur feature can help WFH employees blend inLast year, the young daughter of Robert Kelly confidently stomped into her Dads room, interrupting her fathers Skype interview with the BBC. The moment she walked into the background of her fathers live interview, she became a symbol of the struggles that parents working from home face everywhere. A home has variables you cannot control. When you need to do video conferences from your room, you never know when a rambunctious child might pop in to derail a conversation.Background blur can level video playing field for remote employeesOne way to make video conferences easier is to remove the distractions altogether. Kelly is an example that Microsoft uses in a demonstration of its newBackground Blur feature that is now available to its customers. The artificially-intelligent technology uses facial detectiontoblur the background of your surroundings if you video chat on the companys Teams group messaging app. All Teams customers can remove distractions and focus your video on what matters most. (You are welcome, BBC Dad), the company states in an announcement.If you cannot blur your background, you will need to be your own visual editor and choose a neutral background for your video. You want your space to look tidy so that the coats piled behind you do not build a story that is different than the one you seek to tell. When you are working from the comfort of home, you still want to communicate that you are professional, and that can be trickier when your bed multitasks as a desk.Ultimately, what is behind you is just as important as what you are saying on a video chat when your face and space is magnified. By blurring the background, the new Microsoft feature puts the focus back on the partie talking, not on where the person is having that conversation. For some remote employees working in environments with curious children, this neutral backgrou nd will be a relief.

Dude! Wheres My Job 5 Reminders for the Class of 18

Dude Wheres My Job 5 Reminders for the Class of 18Dude Wheres My Job?Dude Wheres My Job 5 Reminders for the Class of 18September may prove to be a bit strange for our newest college graduates, the Class of 2018. In most cases, they have spent every previous September becoming mentally prepared for yet aelendher year of school after a summer filled with activities, earning money, and/or sleep.This year, theres none of that (exception those departureing grad school). Theyve joined the ranks of the employed, some in their chosen careers or something close enough for now. Most likely wrote resumes and cover letters that got them hired into entry-level roles.But if youre newly degreed and still looking for that first job, and youve been actively looking since spring, why is it not happening for you?It could be any one (or more) of these five things that you can fixYour focusDo you know what you want and what value you can bring to an employer? Can you marry what you have to offer with wha t the employer needs? More importantly, can you communicate that clearly in your cover letter and in the Summary section of your resume? Even more importantly, can you articulate it clearly in a job interview? If youre still not sure, maybe you can get some insight into your personality by doing career assessment tests or working with a career coach.Your resume (and maybe by extension, your cover letter)Does your resume highlight your best skills, job-related accomplishments and experience, and academic credentials? Is it attractively designed and limited to one page (which is all you need if youre a recent college graduate)? Make your resume and cover letter support your focus by emphasizing what youve done and how it aligns with what the employer is looking for in the job description that has drawn your interest. Finally, make sure your resume and cover letter are error-free no misspellings or grammatical errors.Your presentation skillsIf most of your college life was spent on cam pus, things are a bit different in this new world of job interviews and make-you-or-break-you first impressions. Ditch the jeans, t-shirt, and flip-flops for more professional, business-like attire. Make sure your hair is well groomed and be ready to greet each interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake. And, practicing your interviewing skills can go a long way to helping you be your most articulate self in the interview.Your zugnglich personaAs for how you appear on social networking sites such as Facebook, make sure you remove any references to those wild on- and off-campus parties - especially embarrassing pictures. A potential employer can - and probably will - hunt down your name on the web for flashes of irresponsible behavior that might take you out of the running.Your targetsAre you looking at the wrong companies or industries? Have you researched the industries that can benefit from having someone with your skills and potential? Do your homework If youre interested in a particular company, search the web for information about them, their competitors, and the industries in which they operate. Get a good idea of what would make a good mutual fit. Further, if you come across a company that invests in personal career development, consider it a potential target. More companies are doing that today to help reduce employee turnover.Take a hard look at any of these five areas in which you think you could do better. Then, start tweaking your job-search plans so you can land the type of role that will help you launch a fulfilling career.If youre a recent college grad - or can remember back that far - did you have to make adjustments in your job search strategy to get hired? Please share them with us.

Leverage the Downturn and Hire the Best Talent Available

Leverage the Downturn and Hire the Best Talent AvailableLeverage the Downturn and Hire the Best Talent AvailableLeverage the Downturn and Hire the Best Talent Available Chinsky MatusonWhen it comes to hiring employees, your small company can leverage the downturn to effectively onboardhigher-level candidates.Patricia Hunt Sinocole, CEO and founder of First Beacon Group LLC believes this is the ideal time to seek talent for several reasons. First, there are many strong candidates that are looking. Many candidates were holding back job-seeking efforts in late 2008 and 2009. The feeling was that at least I have a job or the known is better than the unknown. I am finally seeing some movement, states Sinocole.Denise Horan, Principal, Integrated Management Sales Consulting notes there are great people, many who are unemployed due to no fault of their own, that are seeking work. Like Sinacole, Horan thinks this is a very transitional time for many workers. If you are employed, you may be o verworked or underappreciated, states Horan. If you are unemployed due to a downsizing, you are ready and willing to work hard for someone else.Use the Fall to do Spring CleaningIt is difficult to get better results from your team if your workplace includes procrastinator employeeswho are merely taking up space. Sinocole suggests asking, If you had to hire this person again, knowing what you know now, would you? This question really helps small geschftsleben owners and hiring managers identify the keepers and those that are not keepers. If thats the case, be sure you know how to handle an employee termination. But sometimes, when you take the time to look around, you realize that what you have is best.Competing with the Big Guys for TalentMany small businesses find that standing out in a large sea of employers is a tall order, when it comes to attracting top talent. It doesnt have to be that way. There are a number of ways you can make your small company stand out to job candidates. According to Sinocole, there are many small companies that are not household names that have certainly created a lot of buzz in the employment marketplace. It is important for small businesses who are building their brand to treat candidates in a warm, professional and friendly manner. These impressions are lasting. Word of mouth is powerful says Sinocole.Ann Latham, President of president of Uncommon Clarity, Inc., a firm that helps clients achieve superior results faster and with greater confidence, believes the biggest disadvantage many small businesses have is an inferiority complex when it comes to attracting talent. Attracting top talent is a sales job. Why do your employees like working for you?Typical advantages that help drive employee motivation include the ability to make a difference and acquire a wide range of skills and experiences quickly, greater variety and flexibility, and the potential for a rapid increase in responsibility, states Latham. This information should be imbedded in your recruitment collateral and included on your website as part of your small business marketing strategy.Horan suggests marketing yourself locally by putting out good press. Announce your successes through press releases and participate in charity events or community service to engage with potential candidates. Horan adds, Many workers admire that and may want to be part of that type of corporate culture.Connecting the Recruiting DotsReign in your recruitment strategy by starting with your own people. Good people tend to associate with other good people. Ask your star performers if they know of anyone who might be a good fit for the organization. If possible, offer a bonus for employer referrals to get your employees thinking more earnestly about this. Use your connections in the community and dont forget to ask your vendors and clients if they know of people who might fit the bill.Organizations are really pumping up the use of social media to get the word out about job opportunities. Usesocial media platformsas part of your social media recruiting and hiringstrategy andto linkpeopleto jobs postedon Monster.Keeping your Hiring RealLatham reminds business owners to hire what they need. Terms like top talent or great talent conjure images of award-winning, Ivy-degreed innovators who sit indisputably at the extreme end of a giant talent yardstick, says Latham. It may be great for your ego to hire the overqualified candidate,but will this person still be there the moment the economy shows signs of improvement?A down economy is a great time to take stock of the talent on hand and to upgrade where necessary. Just dont wait too long, as economists are already predicting a recovery is just around the corner. 2010 Human Resource Solutions. All Rights Reserved.Author BioRoberta Chinsky Matuson is the President of Human Resource Solutionsand is the author of the forthcoming book, Suddenly in Charge Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around, (Nich olas Brealey, January 2011) Her firm helps organizations accelerate productivity and profitability by increasing employee engagement. Sign up to receive Robertas complimentary newsletter, HR Matters.