This is what an old bookshop knows and can teach us

This is what an old bookshop knows and can teach usThis is what an old bookshop knows and can teach usOne of the blessings of travel is the chance to discover new things. Such welches the case recently when my wife and I visited New Orleans for a few days.Basically an island between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans attracts over 11 million visitors each year.Travelers come for the jazz, Creole cuisine, culture, restaurants, booze, entertainment, gospel music, jazz funerals, Cafe Du Mond beignets, Mardi Gras, and more.Old bookshops in New Orleans, however, are probably not the top attractions.Illustrations and photographs by John P. WeissThe day we arrived, my wife was under the weather and opted to rest in our hotel room. I ventured out and found a wonderful coffee shop, where I enjoyed a latte and sketched in my Moleskine notebook.A thermisch glow of lightWalking back to the Bourbon Orleans hotel, I strolled past Orleans street and noticed a set of large, lo cked up wooden doors. The sign above them said, Arcadian Books and Art Prints.I couldnt tell if the shop was closed or completely out of business, but I filed it away. Namely, because I love old, used bookshops.I returned to our hotel room and found my wife feeling better and ready for dinner. We headed out, enjoyed a fine meal and began strolling below the French Quarter galleries (wide balconies) and trees festooned with ubiquitous Mardi Gras beads.We rounded the corner and found ourselves on Orleans Avenue.Hey, I was here earlier today, I said to my wife. Theres something I want to show you.We crossed the street and I pointed to the old bookshop, knowing my wife loved books even more than me. She smiled.The large wooden doors were open, the proprietor was standing outside the entrance, and a warm glow of light was emanating from within. It was getting chilly and we were happy to step inside.Elegant chaos to it allWalking through the large, wooden, entrance doors was like stepping back in time. Every inch of the interior was filled with old books and tight passageways. There was elegant chaos to it all.Precarious stacks of books rose up all around us, like towers of forgotten words and literary ambitions. Navigating the books and makeshift aisles was hard enough, but then more people showed up.My wife, surrounded by books.The musty aroma, dust and cramped quarters felt like another era. Like a library or bookshop long forgotten.The really old books were tucked away, their covers faded and pages brittle. We blew off the dust and carefully thumbed their pages. Their long slumber awakened, perhaps they were grateful to see light on their pages? Surely it felt like eons since they last encountered the interest of a reader and the joy of fulfilling their purpose again.The worst was the suicidesI felt sorry for the books and their shared obsolescence. This age of smart-phones, computers, e-readers, and digital distractions has almost rendered books as cultural art ifacts. Quaint, analog containers that hold information and content from before the Internet.The worst was the suicides. The occasional thuds from books, tired of their neglect and sense of irrelevancy, as they dove from dusty shelves to the cluttered graveyard below. Some landed squarely, in a dignified repose, while others lay splayed, their spines painfully contorted and arched.In one corner, an electric fan was wedged between an archway of books. It seemed an engineering impossibility, but then, this was no ordinary distributionspolitik of commerce. It may have lacked the order and modernity of a Barnes Noble, but it retained a kind of magic. As if ghosts of authors hovered, still hoping their works would be discovered and loved.So many books, so little timeThere was every variety and imaginable genre to be found. Fiction, non-fiction, fine art, instructional manuals, poetry, and more. There was also all manner of old prints, on the walls and floors. Black and white photographs , artwork, and images of the past. In a way haunting, but then parts of New Orleans are famous for this.What an old bookshop knowsOld bookshops contain countless treasures and wisdom if youre willing to spend time poking around. Bookshops are not for hurrying. Like an intimate dance, they require your full attention, patience and a slow hand.An old bookshop knows about your pain because it contains books written by authors who have been there. Authors who have lost spouses, children, and loved ones. Look around and youll probably find a forgotten, dog leafed copy of Joan Didions The Year of Magical Thinking.An old bookshop knows about your guilt because it has copies of Dantes Inferno, as well as dusty standbys like Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment and Toni Morrisons Beloved.An old bookshop knows about love because on its shelves somewhere reside Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, as well as volumes by the Bront sisters.Further instruction on love can be found in the cluttered poetry section, where Shakespeare, Neruda, Dickinson, Keats and more await discovery.Dont be surprised to experience a bookshop reunion. Perhaps youve forgotten what Charlottes Web meant to you until you see a tired old copy peeking out from the childrens section. The spirit of E. B. White will surely smile as you slip your old friend off the shelf and thumb through its pages and illustrations.Handwritten notes in the marginsI remember when my Dad reminisced about his boyhood. How he and his family would gather around the radio after dinner and listen to programs.Dad, youre a dinosaur, I used to say.Well, Johnny, we didnt have televisions yet. They came later. But in a way, listening to the radio was more vivid to us, because we used our imaginations, Dad said.I feel the same way about books. Somehow the scenes they conjure in my mind are superior to Hollywood adaptations. CGI is no match for the human imagination.Fast forward a lifetime and Im telling my son about the black and white tel evision I had in my childhood bedroom.Black and white TV? my son would ask. Was it broken?No, I said, We only had one color TV back then. It was this big Zenith, and you had to get up to manually change the stations. All five stations.I remember my son looking at me the way I used to look at my father. Im sure he thinks Im a fossil.Thankfully, books have managed to hold on. For now, anyway.Theres something special about their physicality. The way they smell, and that satisfying solidity in your hands. Unlike computer screens and tablets, book pages dont glare at you, causing eye strain.I kept many of my fathers books. Even now, long after his passing, I still encounter pages with his handwritten notes in the margins. Its such a joy when I discover them. Its like a part of my Dads spirit saying, Hey Johnny, Im still here, connected to you, so dont worry.Being in the Arcadia Books and Art Prints store in New Orleans had a similar effect on me. So many old books, with their stories and authors dreams. Thoughts and ideas from the past, suspended in time, enclosed and encased in aging covers and tired spines.Like my Dads handwriting in the margins of old books, there are gems to be found in old bookshops. The past doesnt want to give up the ghost easily. It still has its wisdom, experiences, and messages for this harried, modern world.Technology may change, but not the basic human condition. Our need for love, belonging, meaning and relevancy carries on down through the ages. It will continue to do so. Thankfully, tired books in old bookshops, like artifacts of the past, will be there to share their wisdom with us.Their secrets for a better life can be found and revealed, but you better hurry, before these splendid bookshops lock their doors for good.Im John P. Weiss. I draw whimsical cartoons, paint landscapes and write about life. Thanks for readingThis article first appeared on Medium.

Purchase and Sale of Business FAQ - Australia

Purchase and Sale of Business FAQ - AustraliaPurchase and Sale of Business FAQ - AustraliaSale of Business(Assets) vs Sale of Business(Shares)What is the difference between a Sale of Business(Assets) and a Sale of Business(Shares)?In a Sale of Business (Shares) a geschftliches miteinander that is incorporated can be traktament by selling all issued shares of the Company. In this case the corporation and all its assets, rights and obligations would transfer from the seller to the purchaser.In a Sale of Business (Assets) the business entity (corporation, partnership, etc.) remains with the sellers and only the assets of the business (equipment, buildings, client lists, etc) will be transferred to the purchaser.Sale of Business AssetsWhat is a sale of business assets document?In a Sale of Business (Assets) the business entity (corporation, partnership, etc.) remains with the sellers and only the assets of the business (equipment, buildings, client lists, etc) will be transferred to the purchaser.Will this agreement work where only the assets of a business are to be transferred?Yes. The agreement can be structured as a sale of the shares of the business or as a sale of the assets of the business. In a sale of the assets the original business structure and ownership would remain intact however title to assets such as equipment, inventory, goodwill, and business contracts would transfer to the new purchaser.Why does asset price need to be allocated? The assets to be included in the purchase of a business should be specified to ensure that there are no misunderstandings regarding what is to be included or not included in the sale. In addition, by allocating a portion of the selling price to each asset, the fairness of the total asset price is more easily determined.What does the Equipment asset include?The equipment assets would include fixed and moveable machinery such as cars, trucks, lathes, computers and other similar pieces of equipment required for the business to continue to function normally after the closing date.What does the Inventory asset include?The inventory assets would include raw materies, work in progress and finished product available for sale. In some cases, a purchaser may wish to exclude obsolete inventory no longer suitable for sale or for use in production. Obsolete inventory of this nature should be identified explicitly under the Excluded Assets section.What does the abverkauf Orders Confirmed but Not Shipped asset include?Sales orders confirmed but not shipped prior to the closing date would require goods and inventory from the post-closing inventory. As a result revenues from these sales would typically go to the purchaser and should not be included in the accounts receivable of the seller.What does the Business Contracts asset include?Business contracts such as sales contracts related to the core activity of the business would typically transfer to the purchaser after closing. Business contracts such as partnerships in related ventures may or may not be included in the sale of business. Those partnership or venture contracts may prohibit the transfer of a partners interest to an outside party.What does the Books, Records, and Files asset include?Books, records and files of the business will include all the information required for a smooth transition in ownership and for the business to continue normal operations after the closing date. This includes all accounting files of the business and also includes marketing information such as client lists and market research information and all files related to product research and development as well as production and maintenance history. Note that a copy of accounts receivable up to the closing date may be retained by the seller to facilitate collection of outstanding accounts.What does the Trademarks asset include?The trademarks asset would include all ownership rights to existing copyrights, trade-names and trademarks as well as all rights to all c urrent research not yet trademarked. This will allow the purchaser to carry on normal business operations after the closing date. Alternatively, the seller may grant only a license for use of existing trademarks. This should be agreed to by all parties and explicitly stated in the additional clauses.Sale of Business SharesWhat is a sale of business shares document?You can sell a business that is incorporated by selling all issued shares of the Company. In this case the corporation and all its assets, rights and obligations would transfer from the seller to the purchaser. Any rights or liabilities are attached to the corporation and would transfer with the corporation.What is the difference between a Purchase and Sale of Business(Shares) document and a Share Purchase AgreementA Purchase and Sale of Business(Shares) is where all shareholders agree to sell all issued shares of the Company to the purchaser. A Share Purchase Agreement is the sale of some (not all) issued shares of a corp oration from a current shareholder to a purchaser. In a Share Purchase Agreement the purchaser could be another shareholder or a third party.DefinitionsWhat is meant by the Goodwill and Business Name asset?The business name or goodwill of a successful business has value in the form of repeat customers and reputation in the business community. The business name may have considerable impact on the continued success of the business after the transfer of ownership at least in the short term. An accurate dollar value representing the goodwill in the company is difficult to determine. If the seller wishes to include goodwill as part of the sale price then a qualified accountant should be used to find a fair value for goodwill.What is meant by a Non-Competition clause?A non-competition clause prevents the seller from starting or working for a company that will directly compete with the purchaser after the closing date. The seller may have many business contacts in the industry as well as i nside knowledge of the business and would have considerable advantage if they started a similar business in competition to the purchaser after closing. The restriction from competition can be for a period of time into the future and for a specific geographical location.What is meant by a Non-Solicitation Agreement?A non-solicitation clause prevents the seller from recruiting any of the employees away from the purchaser after the closing date. This restriction prevents the seller from doing harm to the business by luring away the experienced staff now and in the future.What is meant by a material agreement?A material agreement would be one that has a specific impact on the business either because of cost or because of a relatively direct impact on revenue. A contract with a customer for future sales or a contract with a supplier for mandatory purchase of goods in the future would be examples of material agreements. Partnerships in ventures related to the core activity of the business would also be considered a material agreement and should be explicitly included or excluded in the sales agreement.What is meant by representations and warranties?Representations and warranties are disclosures that one party makes to the other party concerning issues related to the business. This usually involves providing a promise or guarantee of satisfaction to the other party concerning the issue. An example of a representation and warranty would be where the seller guarantees to the purchaser that all equipment related to the business has been maintained in good running condition in accordance with standard industry practice. What is meant by conditions precedent?A condition precedent refers to a term of the agreement that must be honigwein prior to the closing date. If the conditions precedent are not met then the agreement would usually be void. An example of a condition precedent would be that the seller must obtain permission from a landlord to assign a commercial lease ov er to the purchaser prior to the closing date. What is meant by confirming representations and warranties with an Officers Certificate?In order for negotiations to proceed smoothly and to ensure there are no surprises on the closing date, each party should provide the other with a written assurance that all representations and warranties have been addressed and are valid. Each party would provide an individual or officer to make the assurances to the other party. This task may be assigned to an officer of the partys corporation. For a non-corporate business entity this task could be assigned to a member of the management team.What is meant by confirming representations and warranties with a legal opinion?In order for negotiations to proceed smoothly and to ensure there are no surprises on the closing date each party should provide the other with a written assurance that all representations and warranties have been addressed and are valid. Each party would provide an individual to ma ke the assurances to the other party. In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, an impartial third party such as an attorney may be used to provide this assurance.

If your resume shows any of these 7 things, it may cost you a job

If your resume shows any of these 7 things, it may cost you a jobIf your resume shows any of these 7 things, it may cost you a jobWhile 75% of millennials think job hopping looks good, new numbers show that this may not be the case for tech employees.New research from staffing firm Robert Half Technology found thatfrequent job hopping was the most frowned upon thing among CIOs evaluating job candidates.Robert Half Technology commissioned the survey and an independent research firm surveyed mora than 2,600 American CIOs in 26 metropolitan areas.Dont have any of these things on your resumeThe CIOs were asked When reviewing resumes, which of the following would most likely cause you to remove a candidate from consideration? Here are the results (totals dont add up to 100% because numbers were rounded)Frequent job hopping 21%Bad formatting, sloppiness or typos 17%Too long or too much unnecessary information 17%Not highlighting strategic thinking and business knowledge 13%Overuse of techn ical jargon 12%Overly complicated 11%No context around prior experience 9%Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.It only takessix seconds for a recruiter to reject a resume, so avoiding these things is crucial.Jeff Weber, executive director of Robert Half Technology, commented on the research Its a candidates market in technology right now, but that doesnt mean applicants can sit back and wait for offers to roll in. Job seekers should tailor resumes that highlight specific skills and experience related to the open position and be prepared to answer technical questions during interviews in buchen to make an impression with potential employers.But even if you have a stunning resume, you still might not be off the hook yet - research has found that 64% of applicants are better on paper than in person.That being said you definitely shouldnt do this during an interviewRobert Half Techno logy also surveyed CIOs and asked which of the following was the one thing that would make them reject a tech-job candidate during an in-person interviewSpeaking negatively about past employers or managers 20%Poor body language, such as no eye contact or a weak handshake 19%Unprepared for technical questions 16%No clear understanding of the business 15%Ineffective explanation of career history 15%Unprofessional dress 13%No thank you or follow-up after the interview 1%About that last data point Yes,following up really matters to a handful of CIOs. And,since its never a bad idea to send one, heres how to write the perfect thank you note after an interview.

Men look more successful with hair, study finds

Men look more successful with hair, study findsMen look more successful with hair, study findsLike the Biblical Samson, who lost his power after his hair was cut off by Delilah - hair makes the man, a recent survey of U.S. mens hair habits found.Dove Men+Care surveyed 2,000 men across America and found that the majority of them tie their work identities to their hair follicles.In the hair census, 8 in 10 mensaid that their hair made them look professional, the look of it was important, and that their hair helps them feel confident. Perhaps the majority of these men are preoccupied with their hair because they recognize what science has found that societies judge men on how much hair they have on their heads.Studies Hair makes the difference in people seeing men as successfulA study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery found that a few more hair follicles can make all the difference between people seeing you as a success or a lost cause. The Johns Hopkins University researchers recruited p articipants to compare photos of men before and after they got a hair transplant. Although they were looking at the same men, participants rated men after they got their hair transplants as more attractive, approachable, and successful.No wonder then that hair transplants were among the most popular cosmetic procedure men are seeking to get done, with11,000 procedures done in 2014.But, when it comes to being bald, all-in is bestIf youre balding, research suggests embracing your chrome dome fully if you want to increase your social standing. A study in Social Psychological and Personality Science journalfound that American men who make the choice to forego their thinning locks and proactively shave whats left of their hair are seen as more dominant than men who are only partially bald.When researchers showed participants photos of men with some hair and the same men with digitally shorn heads, the virtually shaved men were viewed as nearly an inch taller, almost four years older, and 13% stronger than their real-life selves. Unfortunately, the bald-headed versions of the men were still rated as less attractive than men with a full head of hair.Why are bald men seen as more powerful and dominant? The researchers theorize that in a society that prizes the vitality of hair, seeing someone purposefully give that up is also a signal of ones status when people witness someone violate standards of acceptable or conventional behavior, they may infer the person is powerful.Being seen as dominant helps you in the boardroom, which is why being bald may help you close deals. Citing previous research that links dominance to better outcome in negotiations, the researchers predict that men with shaved heads will fare better economically in negotiations.When in doubt, shave it offAlthough your attractiveness levels may decrease, the research shows that making the choice to go bald can increase your leadership potential.Instead of spending billions each year trying to reverse o r cure their hair loss, the counterintuitive prescription of this research to men experiencing male pattern baldness is to shave their heads, the researchers advise.So if youre a man with a receding hairline, dont despair - take control of your destiny and head to your barber. As successful (and balding) comedian Larry David once proclaimed, Anyone can be confident with a full head of hair. But a confident bald man theres your diamond in the rough.

Is It Time to Leave Your Job Look for the Signs

Is It Time to Leave Your Job Look for the Signs Is It Time to Leave Your Job Look for the Signs Many job seekers struggle with the decision to leave a company. When is the right time? Does it really make sense to leave one good job for another?It becomes much easier to make a decision about leaving if you pay attention to the signs.If youwait too long to leave, you may create a tough situation for yourself. You may end up limiting your choices or taking a job that doesnt pay your worth or align with your career path.If, on the other hand, you are proactive about leaving, you can avoid these pitfalls. You can only be proactive if you pay attention to the signs.Is your manager unhappy with your performance? Are they documenting complaints. Thats a sign. Do your best to address the issues, but if your manager still isnt pleased, it may be time to start looking elsewhere.If your job function is growing outdated, pay attention. On the flip side, it can also be a bad sign if more people are entering your field than are necessary. Ifsimilar roles are being outsourced or automated, pay attention.Keep an eye on industry trends, too. If your industry in general is struggling, pay attention to how your employer and its competitors react. If your company is restructuring frequently or turning over top-level management, watch closely.If you sit and wait to become outdated, you will but you dont have to. If you monitor changes in your company and industry, you will know whenits time to walk away.If youve noticed any of the aforementioned signs, you may wonder how to respond.abflug by looking for other industries that may be able to use your skills and are doing better than your industry. Research roles that may require similar skills and qualifications as your current job. Look at other cities where the job market may be healthier.At the same time, take stock of your professional network. Think about how many contacts you have outside of your current company or industry. If your company went under, do you have people you could call who arent coworkers? If the answer is no, its time to start reaching out. It maynot always be fun, but networking is a necessary part of surviving in todays job market.The point is to take control of your future.Stop waiting to see what will happen. Instead, begin making steps toward a future that you choose. If you do, youre more likely to find something youll want to stick with for years to come.A version of this article originally appeared in theMemphis Daily News.Angela Copeland is a career coach and CEO at her firm,Copeland Coaching.

Why Everyone Is Completely Mistaken About Qualifications Resume and Why You Must View This Document Immediately

Why Everyone Is Completely Mistaken About Qualifications Resume and Why You Must View This Document Immediately The Fundamentals of Qualifications Resume Revealed To determine what you should include, return to the work description. Your resume should clearly communicate to a prospective employer that youre ready to successfully carry out the office assistant job responsibilities set out in the work specification. To be able to critique your resume effectively, you want to know how a hiring manager will appear at it. You would like to capture the hiring managers attention from the beginning and demonstrate that youre a very good match for the position. The majority of states require Child Care workers to be authorized. Candidates that are looking for welding jobs should incorporate any particular training or experience theyve received during their work history. Resumes are vital tools in any work search only because they represent the very first thing an employer sees regarding a possible employee. Too many resumes are very wordy and difficult to follow. Students have to be willing and equipped to examine and change their behavior once it interferes with productive person or team relationships. Listing your skills provides a chance to showcase your abilities and experiences to prime employers for the remainder of your resume. Or you may demonstrate your skills regarding public speaking or giving presentations. Based on your career, in addition, there are core competencies specific to your industry. Therefore, youve got to consider the best method to present your abilities. In the majority of instances, your soft skills can boost your hard skills. Also, be certain that the skills you add are the absolute fruchtwein relevant to your career targets and the strongest. Whatever They Told You About Qualifications Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why You then need to have them know that you wished to be sure the board had the most up-to-date info about how much youre preparing yourself to become a firefighter. Always remember youre choosing work in the health care business and thus it is necessary to write down about whatever you can about what you know and exactly what youve already done. Another similar profession to think about is truck driver. There are a few professions like finance or healthcare where specific certifications or degrees are necessary to getting the job. Ruthless Qualifications Resume Strategies Exploited The qualifications summary is put close to the top of the resume. It can be a powerful tool to get you the interview. Therefore if youd like to go noticed at once, you should incorporate an overview of qualifications on your resume. Your summary of qualifications should incorporate a great variety of examples that produce your resume really stick out. Then go through and manually emphasize the accomplishments and details which you think are especially related to the position or program youre applyi ng to. It is possible to take action to increase the section with certifications or other expert development achievements. On the program, you are made to incorporate every job. Some services even let you have your own resume web page with your private web address. Along with your work performance, a hiring manager would like to make sure youll fit in-and work well-with the other employees in the workplace. Furthermore, you can look for flight attendant jobs on Monster. The receptionist should have good skills for managing time so they can attend to patients and clients as fast as possible. With interpersonal skills, she is able to relate with clients effortlessly. New Ideas Into Qualifications Resume Never Before Revealed You could be requested to aid in receiving a urine sample or a saliva swab. Taking the aforementioned instance into consideration, whenever theres a specific reason that youre leaving the job that you will need to rise in the correspondence, however ne glect t wish the HRD to comprehend about it, then you are going to have to be cautious. Conclusion Theres a lot you can do to better your resume yourself without getting expert assistance. Fortunately, in the era of the web, there are a few high-tech solutions to the issue of ensuring your resume gets in the hands of a person who is searching for someone of your qualifications.

Tips Hiring Managers Can Learn From Santa - Spark Hire

Tips Hiring Managers Can Learn From Santa - Spark HireWith Christmas right around the corner, holiday season is in full swing and romm old St. Nick is sprucing up his long, grey beard for the big night. The naughty or nice list is being drafted and checked, elves are preparing themselves and countless hours of preparation are coming to a head. Wait a minute, is Santa getting ready to hire new employees or is he getting ready to deliver millions of gifts and Christmas cheer to the well-behaved children of the world? Well, we all know the answer to that question, but there is actually much and more hiring managers can learn from Santa and how he deals with the craziness of Christmas.In fact, Santa might have one of the most laborious, time-consuming and stressful jobs of all but he handles it like a champ. Think about it, has Santa ever flopped? You may have had a flop Christmas before, but it certainly was no fault of Santas He consistently gets the job done and stays jolly while doin g it. Santa may be one of the best employers of all time.So hiring managers, pick up a pen, listen up and take some elendes on the hiring tips we can all learn from Santa.Preparation and OrganizationIt must be a bear getting gifts for millions of children ready and organized, dont you think? In bestellung to keep things running smooth, Santa and his elves must have impeccable organizational skills. In the same way, hiring managers must stay organized and keep all of their candidates documents and applications for a specific position together. Furthermore, Santa takes a whole year to prepare for Christmas to ensure he is ready. In the same light, hiring managers must prepare for an interview with a candidate in order to have a successful one on their part. Could you imagine signing onto a video interview or having a candidate come into your bro without knowing one thing about them beforehand? Perhaps you dont have to imagine it because you have done it before. Chances are the intervi ew was slightly awkward and likely very unsuccessful. Recently Spark Hire talked about the candidate experience and how important it is to create a great one. Not being prepared for an interview with a candidate doesnt make for a great candidate experience.Much like how hiring managers expect job seekers to research the company before participating in an interview, job seekers expect hiring managers to have some idea of who they are and what they are about. After all, you have a nice outline of this candidate through their resume. Santa would never wake up on Christmas Eve with zero gifts ready, so hiring managers should never walk into an interview with no knowledge of a job seeker.Good Judge of CharacterHes making a list, checking it twice Gonna find out whos naughty or nice We all know Santa takes a good deal of time each year crafting his naughty/nice list. Hopefully you were always on it. He knows what children have to do to be on the nice list, and knows what causes a child to be added to the naughty list. On top of that, hes thorough and checks that list not once, but twice- just to be sure. Its safe to say that Santa is a good judge of character. Hiring managers need to be the same way. They need to know what makes job seekers great candidates and what doesnt. They need to know what skills make a job seeker highly eligible for a position, and that the lack of those skills will put a candidate on the not qualified list.At the core of this though is a deep understanding of the role that must be filled. Without this it can be near impossible for a hiring manager to judge whether a candidate is truly qualified or not. Its also important that hiring managers be able to judge personality in order to make a good company culture fit. A hiring manager that cannot do this probably isnt making the best hiring decisions for their company.Top-Notch TrainingSanta didnt just wake up one day to find thousands of elves that knew how to get ready for Christmas. Maybe he did, but chances are he had to train them. He had to show them what they had to do in order to get the job done right, and it probably didnt happen over night. In the same way, employers must take the time to train the employees they just hired. This is also part of creating a great candidate experience. To ensure that a new hire stays with the company for a long time, the training process must be hands-on and clear. Goals must be made evident and the first couple of weeks should be devoted to teaching this new hire about company values, their responsibilities and the company culture. Without this a new hire may feel like a fish out of water or that no one truly cares about them or their role. Adequately training new hires is essential in employee retention.Good Attitude Santa isnt known as jolly ole St. Nick for no reason. Hes a happy person that exudes positivity. No one is expected to be happy and cheery all of the time, but when meeting job seekers and candidates interested in your company you must have a good attitude. As hiring manager, you are a representation of your company and one of the only references candidates have in the hiring process. That is why employers and hiring managers must represent their company in good light and avoid being rude and grumpy to candidates. Word of mouth travels fast and if it gets around that your company is made up of rude and negative people, its not so great for your company brand. Job seekers will associate that negativity with the overall company and share that bad experience with others. Take a note from Santa and whatever issues or setbacks you may be facing, try and keep a positive attitude in the interviewing and hiring process.What are some things you do to improve your hiring process? Do you think hiring managers can take a few notes from Santa? Share with us in the comments section belowIMAGE Courtesy of Flickr by rwkvisual