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Below, George Newman shares five key insights from his new book, How Great Ideas Happen: The Hidden Steps Behind Breakthrough Success. George is an associate professor at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and he has spent his career trying to unravel the mysteries of what creativity is and where it comes from. His research has been featured in the New York Times, The Economist, BBC, Scientific American, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. What’s the big idea? Most of us think great ideas are conjured from within—some mysterious well of genius possessed by a special few. But if you listen closely to history’s most celebrated creators, you’ll hear something completely different. They describe their greatest work not as something they conjured or invented, but as something they found. Not creation, but discovery. Listen to the audio version of this Book Bite—read by George himself—below, or in the Next Big Idea App. 1. The five percent novelty rule There’s a famous story about Post-It Notes. In 1968, a chemist named Spencer Silver was trying to create a super-strong adhesive that could be used to make airplanes. Instead, he wound up discovering pretty much the exact opposite: a glue that was barely strong enough to hold paper together—though it could be used again and again without losing its stickiness. For years, Silver brainstormed different products. His first big idea was a sticky bulletin board. That went nowhere. The next idea, which came from his colleague Art Fry, was a reusable bookmark. That also flopped. Finally, after almost a decade of brainstorming, Silver landed on Post-It Notes, and the rest is history. Silver’s story is often told as one of grit and perseverance. And, no doubt, stick-to-itiveness is an important part of creativity. But when you think about it, the sticky bulletin board, reusable bookmarks, and Post-Its were essentially three different versions of the same basic idea: paper + Silver’s adhesive. Yet, only one was a major hit. Often, when we think about what makes certain ideas great, there’s a tendency to focus on the differences—how much a breakthrough idea towers above the rest. But rather than focusing on what differentiates great ideas, I want you to instead think about the similarities—how close those breakthrough ideas are to many others just like them. Just like in the story of Post-Its, for every great idea we can point to in history, there were dozens, maybe even hundreds of ideas that were just like it—nearly identical versions of the same thing that failed to catch on because they lacked a small, but crucial element. For example, when John Lennon originally wrote the Beatles song “Please, Please Me,” it was a slow ballad. George Martin suggested the group try speeding it up. Would the Beatles not have been The Beatles without a small tempo change? It seems almost impossible to imagine, and yet, history is filled with examples that suggest exactly that. How many breakthrough ideas are sitting in someone’s drawer right now, just one small adjustment away from changing the world? Great ideas aren’t about inventing something radically new. They’re about finding the missing adjustment, tweak, or change that unlocks an idea and makes it your own. We often get this backward. In my own research on creativity, I have found that when people set out to do something “creative” they often focus too much on trying to be original and different from everyone else. In one study, we had home chefs create sandwiches for a food truck. We found that our chefs thought that the more original they made their recipe, the more attractive it would be to others. But when we presented those sandwiches to customers, we found the opposite: the more original the chefs tried to be, the less willing customers were to try their sandwiches. Those chefs had forgotten the most important ingredient of all: making their food taste good. “How many breakthrough ideas are sitting in someone’s drawer right now, just one small adjustment away from changing the world?” We also analyzed multiple seasons of the show Top Chef and found the same thing. When contestants explicitly said they were trying to be original and different from everyone else, they were more than twice as likely to have the worst-rated dish and get eliminated. So, stop trying to reinvent the wheel. Just make it spin a little differently. The recipe for a great idea is surprisingly simple: Make the main dish conventional, something familiar and known. Then add something special—a spice or twist—making it new, exciting, and your own. 2. Be a problem finder Okay, so you need to find that missing five percent. But how? One of my favorite studies on creativity comes from one of my favorite psychologists, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He spent years investigating what distinguished truly creative individuals, and he found that the most creative people weren’t just good at solving problems. They were exceptional at finding them. In one study, Csikszentmihalyi and his colleague, Jacob Getzels, recruited a group of art students studying at the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. One by one, each of the artists was led into a studio furnished with two tables. On one table was a collection of objects that artists might typically use to create a still life. On the other table were drawing supplies, including paper, pencils, and charcoal. The instructions were straightforward: Choose some objects from the first table, arrange them in any manner you like, then create a drawing. The artists were free to take as much time as they wanted, start over if they needed, and to stop only when they were satisfied with the outcome. Most of the artists quickly got to work. But some artists did something different. They spent time handling the objects, feeling their weight, studying them from different angles. Looking at the negative space that formed in between them. They were searching for something—a problem worth solving, or a question worth asking. Then Csikszentmihalyi waited—for 18 years. When he followed up with the artists nearly two decades later, the ones who talked about drive or ambition were not the ones who were successful. Nor was it the ones who opined generally on the importance of seeking “beauty,” or “order,” or “harmony.” It wasn’t the artists who seemed confident, nor was it the ones who had worked out a deep, philosophical approach to their artistic practice. Instead, it was the problem finders, the artists who approached the drawing task without any preconceived notions and allowed the shape and structure of their still life to emerge from the situation itself. “When we pay close attention to our surroundings, new opportunities and challenges begin to reveal themselves.” When it comes to finding the missing element that unlocks a breakthrough idea, it is essential to adopt the mindset of a problem finder. When we pay close attention to our surroundings, new opportunities and challenges begin to reveal themselves. Our task then is to learn to recognize these signals—to see that creativity isn’t about forcing solutions but about uncovering what an idea needs. Finding a great idea takes a lot of work, trial and error, and even a bit of luck. But there’s also a lot that you can do to increase your chances of finding something great. Notice where there are problems, tensions, or places of resonance. Author Margaret Atwood doesn’t just sit in a cabin waiting for inspiration. She digs through archives, historical records, and newspaper clippings to find the inspiration for her stories. Creativity isn’t magic. It’s about looking outward and remaining attentive to the world around you. 3. Push past the creative cliff Once you’ve found your problem, it’s time to dig. And here’s where most people sabotage themselves. Researchers Brian Lucas and Loran Nordgren asked people to brainstorm ideas for five minutes—things like how a charity could increase donations. Before starting, they asked participants to predict their productivity: How many ideas do you think you’ll come up with in the first minute? How many in the second minute? And so on. People expected the first two minutes to be productive, followed by a sharp drop-off. Raffle, bake sale, door-to-door solicitations—really, how many fundraising ideas could there be? But when people actually brainstormed, something fascinating happened. The first minute was strong. The second minute was even better. But then, instead of falling off a cliff, participants just kept generating more and more ideas. The third minute was more productive than the second. The fourth and fifth were even more productive. And what’s more, when other people rated the ideas, they scored the ideas from the latter half of the session as more promising than the early ideas. We call this the creative cliff illusion. People think they’ll run out of ideas, but the opposite is true. Just when you think you’ve exhausted every possibility, that’s probably when your process is really starting to heat up. Look at some of the most successful creators in history. Thomas Edison held more than a thousand patents, including duds like cement furniture and a creepy talking doll. James Dyson built over five thousand prototypes before finalizing his vacuum design. When Dua Lipa recorded Radical Optimism, she wrote 97 songs—only 11 made the final cut. When you think you’re done brainstorming, keep digging. Generate a hundred or 500 names for your business, not just ten. Schedule multiple brainstorming sessions over several days, not just one. When it comes to generating ideas, more is more. 4. Great ideas are worth waiting for If you’re generating hundreds of ideas, how do you know which ones are worth pursuing? There’s a wonderful anecdote about Albert Einstein that captures this perfectly. Years after developing his theory of relativity, Einstein was discussing his creative process with his friend and psychologist Max Wertheimer. Einstein explained that before his big breakthrough, he’d been bothered by something. Not confused, not stuck—bothered. There was a tension he couldn’t resolve, a gap between what he observed and what the current theories predicted. That discomfort, that sense of something not feeling right, was the spark that eventually led to one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs in history. “We become significantly better at evaluating our own ideas with a little time and space.” The research shows that we can be surprisingly bad at knowing when we’ve struck gold. One reason is that great ideas—especially when we first think of them—can feel abstract and even a bit uncomfortable. A second reason is that we can become overly attached to an idea simply because we were the one who thought of it. I’ve found that people actually have a great deal of difficulty evaluating the quality of their own ideas, in part because of the sudden rush of excitement we get when thinking of a new idea. One solution is simply to wait. We become significantly better at evaluating our own ideas with a little time and space. Another solution is to invite others in—other people can provide a much more accurate assessment of an idea’s promise precisely because they are less attached to it. Great ideas are worth waiting for. Studies of entrepreneurs have shown that the very first kernel of an idea can predict a product’s success just as much as the final product itself. Ideas contain structure; they suggest what comes next. As Andrew Stanton from Pixar once said, “You’re digging away, and you don’t know what dinosaur you’re uncovering. But once you start getting a glimpse of it, you know how better to dig.” So don’t rush past discomfort. Lean into it. Bring others in. The ideas that bother you, that feel awkward or strange—those might be exactly what you’re looking for. 5. Think about what you can take away Now comes the hard part: deciding what to keep and what to discard. In 1984, Paul Simon was in a funk. His marriage to Carrie Fisher had ended, and his previous albums were commercial disappointments. Then a friend gave him an unmarked cassette of street music from South Africa. Simon listened to it nonstop. By summer’s end, he knew he had to go to Johannesburg. Simon spent two weeks in South African recording studios, essentially jamming with local musicians, generating as much material as possible. Then he returned to the U.S. and spent an entire year editing. He selected engaging segments, pieced them together, overdubbed, and transformed those free-form sessions into songs. The editing was so extensive that Simon pioneered the use of digital audio workstations in studio recording. The result was Graceland, which many consider Paul Simon’s greatest work. But here’s what’s crucial: Simon wasn’t looking for what he could add. He was looking for what he could take away. This goes against our instincts. Psychologist Gabrielle Adams showed that when improving a piece of writing, rather than removing the redundancies, most people add more material. In another study with visual designs, people almost never removed elements—they just kept adding. “Often, the biggest breakthroughs are revealed when we can strip away everything that’s not needed.” It’s easy think about creativity like building a tower. You want to stack everything you’ve done, showcase all your effort. But your audience isn’t in the tower business. They’re in the raft-inspection business. They’re looking for holes, for weak spots that will sink the project. So, when you’re refining your idea, think about floating a raft. Remove anything that doesn’t directly serve your core purpose. Often, the biggest breakthroughs are revealed when we can strip away everything that’s not needed. Creativity isn’t a mysterious gift possessed by a chosen few. It’s a process of discovery that anyone can learn. Stop waiting for genius to strike. Start exploring, imitating, and problem-finding. Push past the cliff when you want to quit. Trust the discomfort of promising ideas. Great ideas are often hiding in plain sight—you just need to know where to look and what to strip away. The tools of discovery are available to all of us. You just have to be willing to dig. Enjoy our full library of Book Bites—read by the authors!—in the Next Big Idea app. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission. View the full article

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The human brain is engineered to ignore most of what it sees and hears, according to the neuroscientists I interviewed for the audio original Viral Voices. If that’s the case, how are you supposed to make a memorable impression? The empowering news is that if you understand how the brain works, what it discards, and what it pays attention to, you’ll be far more persuasive than you’ve ever imagined. Persuasive people have influence in their personal and professional lives. BRAIN RULES FOR THE WORKPLACE “The brain doesn’t pay attention to boring things,” says John Medina, a molecular biologist at the University of Washington and author of the bestseller Brain Rules. “If the brain is bored with something, it’ll move on to something else. It has a lot of stuff to do,” Medina told me. According to Medina, our brains lock onto stimuli that evoke an emotion. Medina says this stimuli acts like a mental Post-it note, telling your listener’s brain to pay attention to you and your ideas. Imagine being able to identify the exact emotional triggers that will hold your listener’s attention. Well, thanks to scientific experiments in the lab, we now know what grabbed people’s attention when they lived in caves. It turns out the secret to effective communication isn’t new. It’s an ancient formula that can be traced back some 2,300 years to a really smart guy named Aristotle, the father of persuasion. ARTISTOTLE’S FORMULA FOR PERSUASION Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, said that a persuasive speech has three elements: ethos, logos, and pathos. Ethos is credibility. These are the things that often precede you before you walk into the room to give a presentation. They are your résumé builders, your credentials, and your experience. Logos is logic. These are the facts and figures you provide to support your argument. Pathos. These are the emotional hooks that make people care. Pathos is the tricky element, especially in today’s workplace. How do you connect emotionally with your audience through PowerPoint, Zoom, or an online video? Once again, the ancients revealed the secret that makes people stars on the TED stage and TikTok. STORYTELLING IS YOUR SUPERPOWER Storytelling is not something we do. Storytellers are who we are. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and author of Sapiens, one of the bestselling nonfiction books in the world. When I interviewed Harari about communication skills, he shared a theory that completely changed the way I teach public speaking. It all starts—and ends—with story. According to Harari, Sapiens—our species—dominated the world because they could use language to tell stories. We are wired for stories because narratives were the key to convincing large groups of people to cooperate. Great stories follow structures. The three-act structure is the most popular. You’ll see it in nearly every Hollywood movie. Act 1. Set-up: We meet the hero and experience the world they live in. Act 2. Conflict: This is the middle hour of a film where the hero embarks on an adventure and encounters villains, hurdles, challenges, and near-death experiences. Act 3. Resolution: During the final 30 minutes of most films, the hero resolves the conflict, slays the dragon, and returns with the treasure. The three-act structure doesn’t just work for movies. It’s the foundation for great business presentations, too. Steve Jobs followed the formula to launch the iPhone in 2007. In the first few minutes, he talked about Apple’s experience in designing great products. He then introduced the problem, or what he called “the usual suspects.” Jobs explained how existing smartphones were complicated and hard to use. The better path would be to get rid of the fixed keyboard and replace it with a giant screen customers would navigate—not with a stylus—but with their fingers. The pattern is simple, and you can follow it for nearly any pitch or presentation: status quo, problem, solution. Describe the way the world works today for your customer. Explain the problem your customer might be facing in the current world. Reveal the solution to the customer’s problem. Many content creators who find success on social media follow the structure, whether they know it or not. Sahil Bloom, a former finance professional who now shares business advice to nearly 1 million Instagram followers, recommends following the three-act structure when pitching ideas. “It’s very simple, really. First, paint a very clear, vivid picture of what the world looks like today. Then describe why the current world is bad, dark, and stormy. Finally, paint a very clear, vivid picture of what the world would look like in the future that you envision. Beautiful, sunny, clear skies. If you can take an investor on that journey, you’ll get all the money you need to raise.” Did you spot the pattern? It’s no different from the three acts of a Hollywood movie. It’s just condensed from two hours into a 20-minute presentation or a 20-second Instagram reel. Persuasion, by definition, means combining words and ideas to move people to action. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you cannot convince other people to take action on that idea, you won’t be nearly as successful as you could be. Your ideas deserve to be heard. Sharpen your communication skills, avoid boring content, and keep your audience engaged, and you’ll transform both their world and your career. View the full article

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Recruitment jobs play a crucial role in connecting job seekers with employers. As a recruiter, you identify, attract, and assess candidates for various positions within organizations. This involves collaborating with hiring managers to comprehend their staffing needs and crafting clear job descriptions. You’ll use multiple sourcing methods, from job postings to social media, to reach a diverse candidate pool. Grasping the intricacies of the recruitment process is fundamental, as it directly impacts both candidates and organizations. What specific aspects of recruitment are you curious about? Key Takeaways Recruitment jobs involve identifying, attracting, and selecting candidates for organizations based on staffing needs and job requirements. Recruiters collaborate with hiring managers to create clear job descriptions and define evaluation criteria for candidates. Methods include internal recruiting, contingency recruiting, and utilizing professional networks or recruitment agencies for diverse candidate sourcing. Daily responsibilities encompass networking, managing the hiring process, and ensuring a positive candidate experience throughout recruitment. Effective talent acquisition strategies and assessment techniques help improve hiring outcomes and align candidates with company culture. What Is Recruitment? Recruitment serves as the backbone of any organization’s workforce strategy. It’s the systematic process of identifying, attracting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and onboarding employees to meet staffing needs. To be effective, recruitment involves various methods, including internal recruiting, retained recruitment, and contingency recruiting, among others. As a recruitment consultant, you play a key role in this process, acting as a bridge between potential candidates and the organization. You collaborate with hiring managers to understand their needs and serve as a brand ambassador, promoting the company’s values and culture. Effective recruitment is essential for building human capital, ensuring that employees—considered the organization’s most valuable asset—are hired on time and within budget. Many organizations choose to outsource recruitment to external firms, allowing them to save time and access a broader pool of pre-screened candidates, enhancing the overall effectiveness of their hiring strategy. The Role of Recruiters in HRM Recruiters are central to Human Resource Management as they implement talent acquisition strategies that align with company goals. By collaborating with hiring managers, they guarantee that the skills and traits sought in candidates meet specific needs. Furthermore, effective candidate assessment techniques help them identify the best talent, making certain the recruitment process is both efficient and successful. Talent Acquisition Strategies In today’s competitive job market, organizations must adopt effective talent acquisition strategies to secure the best candidates for their teams. As a recruiter, your job involves crafting a recruitment consultant job description that aligns with your organization’s goals. You’ll utilize various recruitment methods, such as internal recruiting and staffing solutions, to fill positions efficiently. Identifying staffing needs is essential, so you collaborate with hiring managers to define job specifications and desired candidate traits. Engaging with passive candidates and building relationships with local universities can help create a robust talent pipeline. Furthermore, leveraging data analytics and HRIS streamlines the recruitment process, allowing you to track candidate progress and improve hiring outcomes during budget and timeframe constraints. Collaboration With Hiring Managers Collaboration with hiring managers is crucial for effective talent acquisition, as it guarantees a clear comprehension of job requirements and candidate qualifications. As a recruitment consultant, your responsibilities include: Defining job requirements and desired skills with hiring managers. Tailoring job postings to attract candidates who align with company culture. Streamlining candidate evaluations through regular communication. Integrating feedback post-interview to refine recruitment strategies. This collaboration not just improves the efficiency of filling vacancies but also guarantees that the recruitment process aligns with organizational goals. By serving as brand ambassadors, recruiters convey the company’s values and culture, making it easier to attract the right talent. In the end, this partnership cultivates a more effective hiring process and contributes considerably to the organization’s success. Candidate Assessment Techniques Effective candidate assessment techniques play a pivotal role in the recruitment process, ensuring that organizations select individuals who not just possess the necessary skills but also fit well within the company culture. As a recruitment consultant, your duties and responsibilities include utilizing structured interviews, behavioral assessments, and skills testing to evaluate candidates. You may furthermore employ pre-employment assessments, such as cognitive ability tests and personality inventories, to gauge compatibility with the organization. Collaborating with hiring managers helps you define specific evaluation criteria that align with job requirements and organizational goals. Key Components of the Recruitment Process In the recruitment process, you start by identifying staffing needs, which helps you create clear job descriptions that outline the required qualifications and responsibilities. Once you’ve established these needs, you can explore various candidate sourcing methods, such as job postings, social media, and recruitment agencies, to attract a diverse pool of applicants. This foundational step guarantees you’re well-prepared to assess and select the right candidates for your organization. Identifying Staffing Needs Identifying staffing needs is crucial for any organization aiming to meet its goals effectively. To achieve this, you should: Assess your current workforce to find gaps in skills and roles. Collaborate with hiring managers to clarify the specific skills and qualifications required for open positions. Conduct a job analysis to define roles and responsibilities, ensuring clarity in your recruitment consultant job description. Analyze turnover rates and workforce trends to anticipate future hiring needs. Candidate Sourcing Methods Once staffing needs are identified, the next step in the recruitment process is to explore candidate sourcing methods. Effective candidate sourcing methods include using job boards, social media platforms, and professional networking sites to find potential candidates. Recruiters often leverage their professional networks to reach passive candidates who aren’t actively job hunting. Furthermore, internal databases and applicant tracking systems (ATS) help match qualified candidates from previous applications or existing talent pools. Recruitment agencies may implement targeted advertising campaigns to attract specific demographics or skill sets, increasing job visibility. Collaborating with local universities and attending career fairs can further expand your recruitment efforts by connecting you with emerging talent and recent graduates, ensuring a diverse and qualified candidate pool. Retained Recruitment Retained recruitment serves as a strategic approach for organizations seeking to fill high-level or specialized positions with the utmost precision. By hiring a recruiting firm and paying an upfront fee, you guarantee a dedicated focus on your unique needs. This method is particularly effective for roles requiring specific skills or executive-level talent. Here’s what makes retained recruitment valuable: Dedicated Resources: Recruiting firms invest substantial time and effort into sourcing and vetting candidates customized to your specifications. Thorough Process: It includes candidate sourcing, screening, and presenting top talent, assuring quality over quantity. Cultural Fit: The recruiter works closely with you to understand your corporate culture, aligning candidates with your values. Higher Quality Candidates: With a focused approach, you often receive candidates that meet or exceed your expectations. Understanding the recruitment consultant job description is essential as these professionals play a significant role in this process. Contingency Recruiting Contingency recruiting operates on a payment structure where recruiters get paid only when they successfully place a candidate, making it a budget-friendly option for many employers. This model allows you to work with multiple agencies at once, which can broaden your candidate pool and expedite the hiring process. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons, as success hinges on the recruiter’s ability to quickly identify and present qualified candidates in a competitive environment. Payment Structure Explained During exploring various recruitment strategies, you’ll find that the payment structure of contingency recruiting stands out for its unique approach. In this model, recruitment firms only get paid when they successfully place a candidate, making it cost-effective for employers. Here’s what you should know: No Upfront Costs: Employers pay only after a successful hire. Incentivized Recruiters: Recruiters work hard to find the right fit quickly, aligning their goals with yours. Competitive Fees: Fees typically range from 15% to 25% of a new hire’s first-year salary. Diverse Candidate Pool: Recruiters often manage multiple openings, providing varied options. Understanding this payment structure is crucial for grasping the recruitment consultant job description and the overall recruitment process. Pros and Cons During exploring the pros and cons of contingency recruiting, it’s important to recognize that this model offers both advantages and challenges for employers. One major advantage is the no-win, no-fee structure, making it a low-risk option for hiring. Agencies work quickly, often leading to faster hiring timelines and access to a diverse pool of candidates. Nevertheless, the competitive nature can complicate the process, as candidates may be presented to multiple employers simultaneously. Furthermore, variability in candidate quality can arise since agencies prioritize speed over thorough vetting, sometimes neglecting recruitment consultant job requirements. Ultimately, although contingency recruiting can expedite hiring, it’s essential to weigh these pros and cons to guarantee you make informed decisions for your organization. Staffing Recruiting Staffing recruiting plays a crucial role in the employment terrain, especially for businesses needing immediate workforce solutions. This type of recruiting focuses on filling temporary or short-term positions, catering to fluctuating workloads. As a recruitment consultant, your job description may include: Matching candidates with specific skill sets to employers looking for quick hires. Working with a diverse pool of candidates, including those seeking part-time, seasonal, or project-based roles. Utilizing online platforms and databases to efficiently source candidates. Supporting industries with seasonal demands, such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. Outplacement Recruitment Outplacement recruitment serves as a crucial resource for individuals moving from one job to another, especially following layoffs or organizational changes. This process helps former employees find new opportunities by offering valuable resources like career counseling, resume writing assistance, and interview preparation services. Typically included in severance packages, outplacement recruitment supports displaced workers during enhancing the company’s reputation and morale. Here’s a brief overview of outplacement recruitment services: Service Type Description Benefits Career Counseling One-on-one sessions with career experts Personalized job search strategies Resume Writing Professional assistance in crafting resumes Improved chances of getting interviews Interview Preparation Mock interviews and tips for success Increased confidence and readiness Group Workshops Collaborative sessions with peers Networking opportunities Ongoing Support Continued access to resources Sustained motivation and guidance Outplacement recruitment effectively reduces re-employment time, benefiting both employees and employers. Reverse Recruiting Reverse recruiting is a strategy that encourages employees who feel underutilized or dissatisfied in their current positions to explore better job opportunities elsewhere. This approach not just helps you find a role that aligns more closely with your career aspirations but additionally provides valuable insights to organizations about employee turnover. Concept of Reverse Recruiting In today’s competitive job market, companies are adopting innovative strategies to attract and retain talent, one of which is the concept of reverse recruiting. This approach shifts the focus from merely filling vacancies to comprehending employee needs and career aspirations. Here are some key aspects of reverse recruiting: It encourages dissatisfied employees to explore better-fitting opportunities. It creates a personalized recruitment experience aligned with candidate goals. It improves employer branding by showcasing commitment to employee well-being. It builds a talent pipeline by engaging with passive candidates through social media and networking. For those in a recruitment consultant job description, reverse recruiting emphasizes nurturing relationships, ultimately benefiting both the employees and the organization by aligning expectations and aspirations. Benefits for Job Seekers As candidates explore job opportunities, they gain a sense of agency in their search, which is a key benefit of reverse recruiting. This approach empowers you to find roles that align with your skills and aspirations. Engaging with recruiters allows for customized job matches, increasing job satisfaction. You’ll enjoy personalized support, including resume improvements and interview preparation, greatly improving your chances of landing a desirable position. In addition, reverse recruiting promotes direct communication, streamlining the hiring process and reducing the pressure typically associated with traditional applications. It furthermore broadens your network, connecting you with industry professionals and potential employers. Comprehending the recruitment consultant job description can further help you navigate this process effectively, improving your job-seeking experience. Strategies for Effective Recruiting To effectively recruit the best talent, organizations must implement a variety of strategic approaches that go beyond traditional methods. Here are some key strategies you can adopt: Leverage social media: Use platforms to reach passive candidates and expand your talent pool. Build university relationships: Connect with local institutions to access emerging talent and create internship pipelines. Utilize employee referrals: Encourage current employees to refer candidates, as they understand the company culture and job requirements. Implement structured interviews: Guarantee consistency in candidate evaluations, leading to more informed hiring decisions. These strategies align with vital recruitment consultant duties, enhancing your recruitment efforts. Furthermore, staying informed about industry trends and competitive salary benchmarks can make your job offers more appealing to potential candidates. Day-To-Day Responsibilities of Recruiters Recruiters juggle a variety of daily tasks that are crucial to the hiring process. As part of your recruitment consultant job role, you engage in full-cycle recruitment, which involves writing and posting job openings, sourcing candidates, and conducting interviews to assess qualifications. Task Description Job Posting Write and publish job listings on various platforms. Candidate Sourcing Utilize HRIS and social media to connect with potential candidates. Communication Maintain contact with candidates and hiring managers throughout the process. Daily responsibilities include networking to promote job openings and meet with hiring managers to refine job descriptions. You’ll spend significant time managing multiple candidates whilst ensuring a positive candidate experience, which is critical for attracting the right talent to your organization. Skills and Personal Qualities of Successful Recruiters Effective recruitment goes beyond merely managing tasks; it requires a specific set of skills and personal qualities that can greatly influence the hiring process. As a recruiter, your effectiveness hinges on these indispensable traits: Strong Communication Skills: Engaging with candidates and clients is crucial for building relationships. Critical Thinking: You must analyze data, prioritize tasks, and assess qualifications beyond resumes. Intuition: Your ability to evaluate a candidate’s potential and cultural fit is vital. Drive to Succeed: A strong motivation to match the right talent with job openings improves organizational success. These skills and personal qualities of successful recruiters are fundamental to the role of a recruiter. By mastering them, you can positively impact both the candidates’ experiences and the overall effectiveness of the hiring process. Your commitment to these traits not only builds your reputation but contributes to the growth of the organization you represent. Work Environments for Recruiters During your journey through the recruitment environment, you’ll find that work settings can vary considerably, impacting your role as a recruiter. In-house recruiters often immerse themselves in the company culture, which helps them comprehend internal staffing needs. Conversely, agency recruiters usually specialize in industries like IBM or healthcare, managing clients and filling various roles. Here’s a breakdown of the different work environments for recruiters: In-House Recruiters Agency Recruiters Corporate recruiter Employment representative Collaborative HR atmosphere Fast-paced, client-oriented setting Profound comprehension of company needs Diverse roles across multiple clients Each setting requires strong communication and interpersonal skills. Adapting to the unique needs and cultures of these work environments for recruiters is crucial, as it directly influences your effectiveness in sourcing and placing candidates. Career Paths and Educational Requirements for Recruiters Charting a career in recruitment involves grasping various educational pathways and professional growth opportunities. To succeed, you should consider these educational requirements and career paths for recruiters: Most recruiters hold a bachelor’s degree, typically in human resources, business, or psychology. Certifications in human resources or recruiting can provide a solid alternative for those without a degree. Entry-level positions, like HR assistants or administrative roles, offer valuable experience and can pave the way to a recruiting career. Fundamental skills include strong interviewing, negotiation, and persuasive abilities, vital for matching candidates to job openings. Career paths in recruitment can lead to specialized roles, such as executive recruiting or independent consultancy, offering extensive growth opportunities. Benefits of Recruitment Agencies for Job Seekers and Employers Recruitment agencies offer considerable advantages for both job seekers and employers alike. For you as a job seeker, these agencies provide access to a broader range of job opportunities across various industries, greatly boosting your chances of finding suitable positions. Furthermore, you can benefit from professional guidance on crafting your resume and preparing for interviews, which improves your prospects of securing employment. For employers, using recruitment agencies saves time and resources in the hiring process. Agencies handle sourcing and pre-screening candidates, allowing you to focus on core business activities. They likewise bring expertise in identifying the right fit for specific roles, which can elevate employee retention rates. By streamlining the hiring process, recruitment agencies increase the likelihood of employers finding qualified candidates quickly, thereby reducing hiring timelines. Frequently Asked Questions What Do You Do in a Recruitment Job? In a recruitment job, you source and attract candidates through job postings, networking, and databases. You review resumes and conduct initial interviews to assess qualifications and fit for roles. Collaborating with hiring managers, you understand the skills needed for each position. You negotiate job offers, including salary and benefits, and guide candidates through the hiring process, ensuring a smooth changeover into their new roles as you manage candidate information effectively. What Are the 5 C’s of Recruitment? The 5 C’s of recruitment are fundamental criteria for evaluating candidates. First, Competence guarantees candidates have the necessary skills for the job. Next, Compatibility assesses how well candidates fit into the team and job requirements. Culture focuses on alignment with the organization’s values, which is critical for long-term success. Character examines integrity and interpersonal skills, significant for a positive work environment. Finally, Commitment gauges a candidate’s dedication to the role and organization. How Do Recruiting Jobs Work? Recruiting jobs involve various tasks that help connect candidates with job openings. You’ll source and screen applicants, conduct interviews, and collaborate with hiring managers to understand job requirements. Utilizing tools like applicant tracking systems simplifies managing candidate data. The process can vary based on the organization’s needs, and you’ll often handle multiple candidates simultaneously. Strong communication skills and the ability to adapt are essential, as you’ll navigate different personalities throughout the recruitment process. What Are the Three Types of Recruitment? There are three main types of recruitment: retained, contingency, and staffing. In retained recruitment, you pay an upfront fee to secure an exclusive partnership for high-level roles. Contingency recruiting, in contrast, charges only upon successful placements, making it popular among organizations. Finally, staffing recruitment focuses on filling temporary positions quickly, catering to companies that need immediate assistance. Each type serves different purposes and payment structures, aligning with specific hiring needs. Conclusion In conclusion, recruitment jobs are essential in connecting employers with suitable candidates, ensuring a smooth hiring process. Recruiters utilize various strategies to attract talent and assess applicants effectively. By comprehending the nuances of recruitment, you can appreciate the critical role these professionals play in human resource management. Whether through retained or contingency methods, successful recruiters possess key skills and qualities that improve their effectiveness, eventually benefiting both job seekers and organizations. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Are Recruitment Jobs and How Do They Function?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Recruitment jobs play a crucial role in connecting job seekers with employers. As a recruiter, you identify, attract, and assess candidates for various positions within organizations. This involves collaborating with hiring managers to comprehend their staffing needs and crafting clear job descriptions. You’ll use multiple sourcing methods, from job postings to social media, to reach a diverse candidate pool. Grasping the intricacies of the recruitment process is fundamental, as it directly impacts both candidates and organizations. What specific aspects of recruitment are you curious about? Key Takeaways Recruitment jobs involve identifying, attracting, and selecting candidates for organizations based on staffing needs and job requirements. Recruiters collaborate with hiring managers to create clear job descriptions and define evaluation criteria for candidates. Methods include internal recruiting, contingency recruiting, and utilizing professional networks or recruitment agencies for diverse candidate sourcing. Daily responsibilities encompass networking, managing the hiring process, and ensuring a positive candidate experience throughout recruitment. Effective talent acquisition strategies and assessment techniques help improve hiring outcomes and align candidates with company culture. What Is Recruitment? Recruitment serves as the backbone of any organization’s workforce strategy. It’s the systematic process of identifying, attracting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and onboarding employees to meet staffing needs. To be effective, recruitment involves various methods, including internal recruiting, retained recruitment, and contingency recruiting, among others. As a recruitment consultant, you play a key role in this process, acting as a bridge between potential candidates and the organization. You collaborate with hiring managers to understand their needs and serve as a brand ambassador, promoting the company’s values and culture. Effective recruitment is essential for building human capital, ensuring that employees—considered the organization’s most valuable asset—are hired on time and within budget. Many organizations choose to outsource recruitment to external firms, allowing them to save time and access a broader pool of pre-screened candidates, enhancing the overall effectiveness of their hiring strategy. The Role of Recruiters in HRM Recruiters are central to Human Resource Management as they implement talent acquisition strategies that align with company goals. By collaborating with hiring managers, they guarantee that the skills and traits sought in candidates meet specific needs. Furthermore, effective candidate assessment techniques help them identify the best talent, making certain the recruitment process is both efficient and successful. Talent Acquisition Strategies In today’s competitive job market, organizations must adopt effective talent acquisition strategies to secure the best candidates for their teams. As a recruiter, your job involves crafting a recruitment consultant job description that aligns with your organization’s goals. You’ll utilize various recruitment methods, such as internal recruiting and staffing solutions, to fill positions efficiently. Identifying staffing needs is essential, so you collaborate with hiring managers to define job specifications and desired candidate traits. Engaging with passive candidates and building relationships with local universities can help create a robust talent pipeline. Furthermore, leveraging data analytics and HRIS streamlines the recruitment process, allowing you to track candidate progress and improve hiring outcomes during budget and timeframe constraints. Collaboration With Hiring Managers Collaboration with hiring managers is crucial for effective talent acquisition, as it guarantees a clear comprehension of job requirements and candidate qualifications. As a recruitment consultant, your responsibilities include: Defining job requirements and desired skills with hiring managers. Tailoring job postings to attract candidates who align with company culture. Streamlining candidate evaluations through regular communication. Integrating feedback post-interview to refine recruitment strategies. This collaboration not just improves the efficiency of filling vacancies but also guarantees that the recruitment process aligns with organizational goals. By serving as brand ambassadors, recruiters convey the company’s values and culture, making it easier to attract the right talent. In the end, this partnership cultivates a more effective hiring process and contributes considerably to the organization’s success. Candidate Assessment Techniques Effective candidate assessment techniques play a pivotal role in the recruitment process, ensuring that organizations select individuals who not just possess the necessary skills but also fit well within the company culture. As a recruitment consultant, your duties and responsibilities include utilizing structured interviews, behavioral assessments, and skills testing to evaluate candidates. You may furthermore employ pre-employment assessments, such as cognitive ability tests and personality inventories, to gauge compatibility with the organization. Collaborating with hiring managers helps you define specific evaluation criteria that align with job requirements and organizational goals. Key Components of the Recruitment Process In the recruitment process, you start by identifying staffing needs, which helps you create clear job descriptions that outline the required qualifications and responsibilities. Once you’ve established these needs, you can explore various candidate sourcing methods, such as job postings, social media, and recruitment agencies, to attract a diverse pool of applicants. This foundational step guarantees you’re well-prepared to assess and select the right candidates for your organization. Identifying Staffing Needs Identifying staffing needs is crucial for any organization aiming to meet its goals effectively. To achieve this, you should: Assess your current workforce to find gaps in skills and roles. Collaborate with hiring managers to clarify the specific skills and qualifications required for open positions. Conduct a job analysis to define roles and responsibilities, ensuring clarity in your recruitment consultant job description. Analyze turnover rates and workforce trends to anticipate future hiring needs. Candidate Sourcing Methods Once staffing needs are identified, the next step in the recruitment process is to explore candidate sourcing methods. Effective candidate sourcing methods include using job boards, social media platforms, and professional networking sites to find potential candidates. Recruiters often leverage their professional networks to reach passive candidates who aren’t actively job hunting. Furthermore, internal databases and applicant tracking systems (ATS) help match qualified candidates from previous applications or existing talent pools. Recruitment agencies may implement targeted advertising campaigns to attract specific demographics or skill sets, increasing job visibility. Collaborating with local universities and attending career fairs can further expand your recruitment efforts by connecting you with emerging talent and recent graduates, ensuring a diverse and qualified candidate pool. Retained Recruitment Retained recruitment serves as a strategic approach for organizations seeking to fill high-level or specialized positions with the utmost precision. By hiring a recruiting firm and paying an upfront fee, you guarantee a dedicated focus on your unique needs. This method is particularly effective for roles requiring specific skills or executive-level talent. Here’s what makes retained recruitment valuable: Dedicated Resources: Recruiting firms invest substantial time and effort into sourcing and vetting candidates customized to your specifications. Thorough Process: It includes candidate sourcing, screening, and presenting top talent, assuring quality over quantity. Cultural Fit: The recruiter works closely with you to understand your corporate culture, aligning candidates with your values. Higher Quality Candidates: With a focused approach, you often receive candidates that meet or exceed your expectations. Understanding the recruitment consultant job description is essential as these professionals play a significant role in this process. Contingency Recruiting Contingency recruiting operates on a payment structure where recruiters get paid only when they successfully place a candidate, making it a budget-friendly option for many employers. This model allows you to work with multiple agencies at once, which can broaden your candidate pool and expedite the hiring process. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons, as success hinges on the recruiter’s ability to quickly identify and present qualified candidates in a competitive environment. Payment Structure Explained During exploring various recruitment strategies, you’ll find that the payment structure of contingency recruiting stands out for its unique approach. In this model, recruitment firms only get paid when they successfully place a candidate, making it cost-effective for employers. Here’s what you should know: No Upfront Costs: Employers pay only after a successful hire. Incentivized Recruiters: Recruiters work hard to find the right fit quickly, aligning their goals with yours. Competitive Fees: Fees typically range from 15% to 25% of a new hire’s first-year salary. Diverse Candidate Pool: Recruiters often manage multiple openings, providing varied options. Understanding this payment structure is crucial for grasping the recruitment consultant job description and the overall recruitment process. Pros and Cons During exploring the pros and cons of contingency recruiting, it’s important to recognize that this model offers both advantages and challenges for employers. One major advantage is the no-win, no-fee structure, making it a low-risk option for hiring. Agencies work quickly, often leading to faster hiring timelines and access to a diverse pool of candidates. Nevertheless, the competitive nature can complicate the process, as candidates may be presented to multiple employers simultaneously. Furthermore, variability in candidate quality can arise since agencies prioritize speed over thorough vetting, sometimes neglecting recruitment consultant job requirements. Ultimately, although contingency recruiting can expedite hiring, it’s essential to weigh these pros and cons to guarantee you make informed decisions for your organization. Staffing Recruiting Staffing recruiting plays a crucial role in the employment terrain, especially for businesses needing immediate workforce solutions. This type of recruiting focuses on filling temporary or short-term positions, catering to fluctuating workloads. As a recruitment consultant, your job description may include: Matching candidates with specific skill sets to employers looking for quick hires. Working with a diverse pool of candidates, including those seeking part-time, seasonal, or project-based roles. Utilizing online platforms and databases to efficiently source candidates. Supporting industries with seasonal demands, such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. Outplacement Recruitment Outplacement recruitment serves as a crucial resource for individuals moving from one job to another, especially following layoffs or organizational changes. This process helps former employees find new opportunities by offering valuable resources like career counseling, resume writing assistance, and interview preparation services. Typically included in severance packages, outplacement recruitment supports displaced workers during enhancing the company’s reputation and morale. Here’s a brief overview of outplacement recruitment services: Service Type Description Benefits Career Counseling One-on-one sessions with career experts Personalized job search strategies Resume Writing Professional assistance in crafting resumes Improved chances of getting interviews Interview Preparation Mock interviews and tips for success Increased confidence and readiness Group Workshops Collaborative sessions with peers Networking opportunities Ongoing Support Continued access to resources Sustained motivation and guidance Outplacement recruitment effectively reduces re-employment time, benefiting both employees and employers. Reverse Recruiting Reverse recruiting is a strategy that encourages employees who feel underutilized or dissatisfied in their current positions to explore better job opportunities elsewhere. This approach not just helps you find a role that aligns more closely with your career aspirations but additionally provides valuable insights to organizations about employee turnover. Concept of Reverse Recruiting In today’s competitive job market, companies are adopting innovative strategies to attract and retain talent, one of which is the concept of reverse recruiting. This approach shifts the focus from merely filling vacancies to comprehending employee needs and career aspirations. Here are some key aspects of reverse recruiting: It encourages dissatisfied employees to explore better-fitting opportunities. It creates a personalized recruitment experience aligned with candidate goals. It improves employer branding by showcasing commitment to employee well-being. It builds a talent pipeline by engaging with passive candidates through social media and networking. For those in a recruitment consultant job description, reverse recruiting emphasizes nurturing relationships, ultimately benefiting both the employees and the organization by aligning expectations and aspirations. Benefits for Job Seekers As candidates explore job opportunities, they gain a sense of agency in their search, which is a key benefit of reverse recruiting. This approach empowers you to find roles that align with your skills and aspirations. Engaging with recruiters allows for customized job matches, increasing job satisfaction. You’ll enjoy personalized support, including resume improvements and interview preparation, greatly improving your chances of landing a desirable position. In addition, reverse recruiting promotes direct communication, streamlining the hiring process and reducing the pressure typically associated with traditional applications. It furthermore broadens your network, connecting you with industry professionals and potential employers. Comprehending the recruitment consultant job description can further help you navigate this process effectively, improving your job-seeking experience. Strategies for Effective Recruiting To effectively recruit the best talent, organizations must implement a variety of strategic approaches that go beyond traditional methods. Here are some key strategies you can adopt: Leverage social media: Use platforms to reach passive candidates and expand your talent pool. Build university relationships: Connect with local institutions to access emerging talent and create internship pipelines. Utilize employee referrals: Encourage current employees to refer candidates, as they understand the company culture and job requirements. Implement structured interviews: Guarantee consistency in candidate evaluations, leading to more informed hiring decisions. These strategies align with vital recruitment consultant duties, enhancing your recruitment efforts. Furthermore, staying informed about industry trends and competitive salary benchmarks can make your job offers more appealing to potential candidates. Day-To-Day Responsibilities of Recruiters Recruiters juggle a variety of daily tasks that are crucial to the hiring process. As part of your recruitment consultant job role, you engage in full-cycle recruitment, which involves writing and posting job openings, sourcing candidates, and conducting interviews to assess qualifications. Task Description Job Posting Write and publish job listings on various platforms. Candidate Sourcing Utilize HRIS and social media to connect with potential candidates. Communication Maintain contact with candidates and hiring managers throughout the process. Daily responsibilities include networking to promote job openings and meet with hiring managers to refine job descriptions. You’ll spend significant time managing multiple candidates whilst ensuring a positive candidate experience, which is critical for attracting the right talent to your organization. Skills and Personal Qualities of Successful Recruiters Effective recruitment goes beyond merely managing tasks; it requires a specific set of skills and personal qualities that can greatly influence the hiring process. As a recruiter, your effectiveness hinges on these indispensable traits: Strong Communication Skills: Engaging with candidates and clients is crucial for building relationships. Critical Thinking: You must analyze data, prioritize tasks, and assess qualifications beyond resumes. Intuition: Your ability to evaluate a candidate’s potential and cultural fit is vital. Drive to Succeed: A strong motivation to match the right talent with job openings improves organizational success. These skills and personal qualities of successful recruiters are fundamental to the role of a recruiter. By mastering them, you can positively impact both the candidates’ experiences and the overall effectiveness of the hiring process. Your commitment to these traits not only builds your reputation but contributes to the growth of the organization you represent. Work Environments for Recruiters During your journey through the recruitment environment, you’ll find that work settings can vary considerably, impacting your role as a recruiter. In-house recruiters often immerse themselves in the company culture, which helps them comprehend internal staffing needs. Conversely, agency recruiters usually specialize in industries like IBM or healthcare, managing clients and filling various roles. Here’s a breakdown of the different work environments for recruiters: In-House Recruiters Agency Recruiters Corporate recruiter Employment representative Collaborative HR atmosphere Fast-paced, client-oriented setting Profound comprehension of company needs Diverse roles across multiple clients Each setting requires strong communication and interpersonal skills. Adapting to the unique needs and cultures of these work environments for recruiters is crucial, as it directly influences your effectiveness in sourcing and placing candidates. Career Paths and Educational Requirements for Recruiters Charting a career in recruitment involves grasping various educational pathways and professional growth opportunities. To succeed, you should consider these educational requirements and career paths for recruiters: Most recruiters hold a bachelor’s degree, typically in human resources, business, or psychology. Certifications in human resources or recruiting can provide a solid alternative for those without a degree. Entry-level positions, like HR assistants or administrative roles, offer valuable experience and can pave the way to a recruiting career. Fundamental skills include strong interviewing, negotiation, and persuasive abilities, vital for matching candidates to job openings. Career paths in recruitment can lead to specialized roles, such as executive recruiting or independent consultancy, offering extensive growth opportunities. Benefits of Recruitment Agencies for Job Seekers and Employers Recruitment agencies offer considerable advantages for both job seekers and employers alike. For you as a job seeker, these agencies provide access to a broader range of job opportunities across various industries, greatly boosting your chances of finding suitable positions. Furthermore, you can benefit from professional guidance on crafting your resume and preparing for interviews, which improves your prospects of securing employment. For employers, using recruitment agencies saves time and resources in the hiring process. Agencies handle sourcing and pre-screening candidates, allowing you to focus on core business activities. They likewise bring expertise in identifying the right fit for specific roles, which can elevate employee retention rates. By streamlining the hiring process, recruitment agencies increase the likelihood of employers finding qualified candidates quickly, thereby reducing hiring timelines. Frequently Asked Questions What Do You Do in a Recruitment Job? In a recruitment job, you source and attract candidates through job postings, networking, and databases. You review resumes and conduct initial interviews to assess qualifications and fit for roles. Collaborating with hiring managers, you understand the skills needed for each position. You negotiate job offers, including salary and benefits, and guide candidates through the hiring process, ensuring a smooth changeover into their new roles as you manage candidate information effectively. What Are the 5 C’s of Recruitment? The 5 C’s of recruitment are fundamental criteria for evaluating candidates. First, Competence guarantees candidates have the necessary skills for the job. Next, Compatibility assesses how well candidates fit into the team and job requirements. Culture focuses on alignment with the organization’s values, which is critical for long-term success. Character examines integrity and interpersonal skills, significant for a positive work environment. Finally, Commitment gauges a candidate’s dedication to the role and organization. How Do Recruiting Jobs Work? Recruiting jobs involve various tasks that help connect candidates with job openings. You’ll source and screen applicants, conduct interviews, and collaborate with hiring managers to understand job requirements. Utilizing tools like applicant tracking systems simplifies managing candidate data. The process can vary based on the organization’s needs, and you’ll often handle multiple candidates simultaneously. Strong communication skills and the ability to adapt are essential, as you’ll navigate different personalities throughout the recruitment process. What Are the Three Types of Recruitment? There are three main types of recruitment: retained, contingency, and staffing. In retained recruitment, you pay an upfront fee to secure an exclusive partnership for high-level roles. Contingency recruiting, in contrast, charges only upon successful placements, making it popular among organizations. Finally, staffing recruitment focuses on filling temporary positions quickly, catering to companies that need immediate assistance. Each type serves different purposes and payment structures, aligning with specific hiring needs. Conclusion In conclusion, recruitment jobs are essential in connecting employers with suitable candidates, ensuring a smooth hiring process. Recruiters utilize various strategies to attract talent and assess applicants effectively. By comprehending the nuances of recruitment, you can appreciate the critical role these professionals play in human resource management. Whether through retained or contingency methods, successful recruiters possess key skills and qualities that improve their effectiveness, eventually benefiting both job seekers and organizations. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Are Recruitment Jobs and How Do They Function?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Chipmaker swaps last year’s complex framework with AI start-up in favour of $30bn equity chequeView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The next generation of Meta's Display smart glasses might come with a smart watch. According to a report from The Information, Meta's watch, codenamed Malibu 2, could feature fitness tracking features and AI, but its real purpose is to replace the Display's neural band and act as controller for the smart glasses. If the reports are accurate, Meta Display smart glasses with a smart watch could be available in 2026. There aren't any other details on the smart watch, so we don't know the price or what features it may have—but I'd be surprised if this rumor doesn't pan out eventually. Meta has discussed the idea of a smart watch before, and it makes sense: If you're going to have a wrist-controller for your glasses, why not give it smart watch features as well? Especially if a glasses-and-watch combo potentially gives users a reason to switch away from their Apple Watches. Apple is reportedly working on AI wearables tooSpeaking of Apple, if the rumors about the company are true, Apple is pushing to release its own suite of AI-powered wearable devices. According to a report in Bloomberg, Apple could roll out smart glasses in early 2027. The company is also reportedly developing an AI-powered pendant that can "be pinned to a shirt or worn as a necklace," as well as AirPods with expanded AI capabilities. The AirPods and pendant will be equipped with cameras designed to "help the AI work" as opposed to taking photos. Apple's smart glasses will reportedly not feature a display, but will feature a higher end camera and superior build quality to Meta's smart glasses. All of Apple's devices are reportedly designed to work with iPhones. Is the wearable war heating up?None of this is confirmed, of course. The closest Apple has come to announcing these plans is CEO Tim Cook mentioning “categories of products” enabled by artificial intelligence at an all-hands meeting. However, everything points to Meta and Apple betting that consumers want a collection of connected AI-wearables. Each company is taking a different approach to hooking users into their ecosystem. Apple seems to be betting on devices integrated with iPhones and controlled with the kind of camera-based tech that powers the Apple Vision Pro headset. Meta seems to be aiming at replacing phones with an in-glasses display, and a biometric control scheme that works with muscle movements, like the existing neural band. Both Meta and Apple seem to be competing to go beyond a screen or smart glasses to become the next interface for your life—but do people want that? Are consumers excited enough by the prospect of always-available AI and tied-together devices to buy them? That's the big question, and the answer is anything but certain. Both Apple and Meta have made big bets on virtual reality, and, despite both companies' VR devices being excellent, neither seems to have captured the market in way these firms would have liked. So, as they say, stay tuned. View the full article

When your internet isn't as fast as it should be, it can be helpful to check a network speed test tool. If the results are slower than expected, you'll know it's your network that's acting up. If it's performing well, perhaps it's the website in question, your web browser, or the device itself that's in need of a tune up. You have plenty of options across the internet to choose from, of course, but if you have a PC, you're about to get one built right into the OS—at least, in theory. Windows' "built-in" network speed test tool is really a shortcutAs part of the latest Release Preview Channel update for Windows 11 Insiders, Microsoft rolled out a network speed test tool, though "shortcut" might be a more appropriate word. This shortcut isn't its own app; rather, you access it directly from the taskbar. You right-click the network icon, choose the "Perform speed test" option, and, subsequently, Windows fires up your browser. You'll see Bing load up—even if you have another search engine of choice as your default—where a simplified "Internet speed test" tool appears. While I wouldn't blame you for assuming this tool was a Microsoft creation, it's actually made by Speedtest, of speedtest.net fame. (Disclosure: Lifehacker's parent company, Ziff Davis, owns Speedtest.) As Tom's Hardware highlights, the integration itself isn't actually new, as Speedtest first started running a network speed tool within Bing back in December of 2023. The news now, of course, is that this tool is available as a shortcut within the Windows taskbar itself. It's a neat addition to Windows, and makes sense to include within the network icon in the taskbar, but something that actually runs natively on your PC would certainly be better. Maybe the convenience of quickly right-clicking the network icon whenever my internet was slow would win out, but I imagine I'd rather head to the full Speedtest tool, especially to avoid using Bing. Other new features in this Release Preview Channel updateThis shortcut isn't the only thing new here. Microsoft also added new settings options that let you pan and tilt connected cameras. There are new emojis on the way, including face with bags under eyes and harp, and the Widget settings menu now takes up a full page. You can also now set .webp files as your desktop background, so you don't need to convert these images ahead of time. You can try these features out now if you enroll in the Windows Insider program. While you run the risk of unstable software by enrolling your PC here, the Release Preview Channel is much less risky than the Dev or Beta channels, since the Releaser Preview Channel issues updates that have gone through more testing. View the full article

President heaps pressure on Tehran as US amasses biggest force in Middle East since 2003 Iraq invasionView the full article

Sometimes a life hack works when I wish it didn't. I, for example, am vulnerable to depression and anxiety. I also passionately hate running. I have, unfortunately, discovered that running regularly helps my mental health a great deal. I'm thankful (because I feel better) and resentful (because I have to run). This is how I feel about Brain.fm, a music service I discovered a couple weeks ago when the company got in touch with me. I started using the service, mostly for the purposes of writing this article, and something unexpected happened: I noticed it's a great deal easier to get started on my work in the morning. I like this (because I'm getting more done) but am also annoyed (because I'd rather be listening to the music I love). Credit: Justin Pot It's a conundrum. Brain.fm is a subscription service that costs $14.99 per month, more than Spotify (which costs $12.99 per month). The product sells itself as having a collection of music backed by scientific research to increase your ability to focus, meditate, and sleep. There's also a free trial, meaning you can get a feel for whether it works for you. After a few weeks of testing, I feel it might be onto something. I don't always trust my intuition, though, so I wanted to dig deeper. Is this for real? Or am I falling for snake oil? More importantly: can I go back to listening to KEXP in the morning? Is the science behind Brain.fm legit?After a few days of using the application, I couldn't help but wonder. Is my increased focus real? Or is it a placebo? So I wrote to Daniel J. Levitin, professor emeritus of neurology at McGill University, and author of This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession. He replied quickly, and concisely: "It's all placebo," he said. It was a very concise email from an academic about a complex topic, which as a journalist is always nice. But Levitin didn't stop there—he told me to get in touch with another neuroscientist, one who had published research on this type of modulated music. I'll say more below about that research, but first, let's take a look at what's actually in those Brain.fm tracks. What using Brain.fm is likeYou can't use this service to search for a specific artist—you instead let the application know what you're trying to do (Focus, Relax, Meditate, or Sleep). In the Focus section, there are a few sub-options: Deep Work, Motivation, Creativity, Learning, and Light Work. Choose what you want to do and a track will start playing. Credit: Justin Pot The genres, such as they are, range from the kind of "chill beats" you can find on YouTube to post-rock and symphonic—though it's all instrumental. "The basic problem is that most music is made to grab your attention," Kevin Woods, a neuroscience PhD who works for Brain.fm, told me. "If you talk to a music producer, they'll tell you that their job is to make things punchy and bright, and to make somebody sit up and turn their head and favorite the song on Spotify." That attention seeking can make playing music during the work day distracting in a subtle way, according to Woods. "The problem is that a lot of the distraction is not overt in the sense of, 'I can feel my attention breaking and I have to turn this off or turn down the volume'—it's more like, 'I'm working at 70, 80% capacity, and I'm not really sure why.'" So the music at Brain.fm is written and performed by in-house composers who are intentionally trying not to keep your attention. But that alone doesn't really set Brain.fm apart from using ambient music or video game soundtracks to focus, let alone the various "chill beats" playlists and live streams that are out there. And that's where Brain.fm's scientific claims come in. Brain.fm says the key is "amplitude modulation"Brain.fm points to several scientific studies on its homepage, also mentioning that its research was in part funded by that National Science Foundation. A lot of the claims are based on "amplitude modulation," which Woods told me is what sets Brain.fm's music apart. But what is amplitude modulation? They're "fast modulations added that do not usually occur in music," according to Woods. If you listen to the music for a bit, you'll hear an almost fluttering kind of sound. These sounds, which are added to compositions in post-production using AI, are available at three different levels for each track. The "ADHD Mode," which is the highest of the three settings, is what I mostly used while testing. I find this effect a little bit disorienting, so I sometimes needed to turn the setting down. It's hard to deny the effect is a musical signature of Brain.fm. But does it work? Research on amplitude modulation is limited, but promisingI became a bit less skeptical of the science after getting in touch with the expert that Levitin recommended: Psyche Loui, a neuroscientist, musician, and Associate Dean of Research at Northeastern University. Loui told me that "it's not all placebo", pointing to a paper she published alongside Woods and other neurologists in Communications Biology. Now, to be clear, it's not unusual for scientists to disagree about how things work—that's part of the process. And the claims made by the paper are narrow—the conclusion is that music with amplitude modulation can help people focus on tasks when compared to both pink noise and music without amplitude modulation. The control music, according to Woods, were the same tracks—the only difference was whether amplitude modulation was added. The results of testing, and brain scans, suggest the effect is real. "We did something which is rarely done in music research, which is a very well-controlled study that only changes one factor in the music," Woods told me. As with all scientific research, there's always more to learn. But to me, a study making these claims published in a Nature-affiliated publication suggests there might be something to this. At the very least, Brain.fm helped me reflect on my relationship with music at work Brain.fm, if nothing else, has been an opportunity to reflect on my relationship with music. I really enjoy discovering new music during the workday, but after using Brain.fm for a few weeks I wonder if that might have been the reason I have trouble focusing in the morning. Maybe it's best to listen to music that fades into the background when it's time to focus, and save music discovery for when I only need part of my brain. And maybe I should save the music I really love for when I'm not working at all. Brain.fm, if nothing else, taught me that. But I also find that the music really does work when I need to focus. I still am not fully sure if the effect is real, or if any music that blends into the background would do the job. I sometimes play the entire Boards of Canada discography when I need to focus, and find that works about as well. All that having been said, I really think anyone who has read this much about Brain.fm should probably go ahead and see for themselves. View the full article

Most employees will receive 5% less in equity rewards after bigger cuts a year beforeView the full article

I use Google Maps to get from point A to point B, but I also use it for research. It's an essential tool for finding new restaurants to try, or for identifying well-reviewed hotels in a new area. While many use it with their Google account, others might like to keep some of their data out of Google's hands. Using Google Maps while signed out is a good way to do that: You can find new locations of interest without having Google know you're interested in those spots. However, if you like using Google Maps without an account, be warned: The experience is now much more limited. As reported by 9to5Google, Google is now limiting the amount of data visible when accessing Google Maps without an account. This change includes things like images, reviews, restaurants, businesses, hotels, parks—really, most labels on the map. From what I can tell, essential labels like city names and highway identifiers are left intact, but even some street names appear to be omitted when logged out. If you can find restaurants in limited view, you'll see some of the data points that you'd normally find, but you'll also notice a number missing as well. That could include labels noting whether the restaurants supports takeout or delivery, user reviews, popular times, photos and videos submitted by users, menus, as well as related locations. I tested it myself in an incognito window, scrolled randomly over Richmond, VA, and clicked the first (of few) restaurants to appear: Laura Lee's. While I could see the total star rating (4.6), I couldn't actually click through to any reviews. I could also only see the primary image of the restaurant. There's enough here to decide whether or not to call, but it's missing a ton of the data points you'd usually rely on to consider a spot for lunch or dinner. Credit: Jake Peterson Google doesn't necessarily pin the limited view on you being logged out, however. If you check the "Help" pop-up that appears here, titled "Seeing a limited view of Google Maps," the company explains that there are a few reasons you might be seeing this view. That could include issues with Google Maps itself, unusual traffic from your computer or network, or browser extensions that might be interfering with Google Maps. Only after it lists these reasons does Google suggest that signing in to Google Maps "might help you avoid seeing this limited experience again." Of course, logging in brings all this data back as you'd expect, and if you always use Google Maps with your Google account, you'll never notice the difference. But it's an interesting line in the sand for Google to draw. How many people who use Google Maps without an account will know this is the reason why their experience just got worse? Perhaps they'll flock to another option, though there aren't many. Apple users have Apple Maps, and there's always Waze—but, surprise, it's owned by Google too. View the full article

The New York City-based lender, whose roots lie in taxi lending, believes an expanded home-improvement loan operation will generate mid-teen loan growth this year. View the full article

Move follows similar initiatives by other Wall Street institutions but comes as concerns mount about sector’s healthView the full article

The increase in borrower activity came as housing starts ended 2025 on a high note, while mortgage rates were a percentage point lower year-over-year. View the full article

While Android has automated, built-in backups for plenty of data, including photos, apps, and settings, local files have been excluded. In order to ensure you don't lose PDFs, documents, and other files stored on your device, you have to manually upload or copy them to the cloud or another location. But that's changing, at least in part: the February Google Play Services update comes with a new feature that will copy and upload your Downloads folder to Google Drive. This is a meaningful update to Android's backup system, but it has some limitations. Here's what to know before enabling it. How Android will back up your files after the updateAs Android Authority describes, the local file backup feature applies only to items in your Downloads folder. It will not cover your device's entire internal storage. The backup will go to Google Drive as a static copy, meaning that files will not be continuously synced, and if you make changes in one location, they won't be reflected in the other. Backups will likely take place occasionally, such as when your phone is idle, charging, and connected to wifi. Android handles videos and photos similarly with backups to Google Photos. Other device data, like your call and text history and system settings, are backed up to Google Drive. How to check your Android backup settingsWhile automatic backups of local files are useful for anyone who doesn't already have a comprehensive backup plan (and if you don't, you should), they could potentially take up a significant amount of space in your Google Drive storage. If you keep lots of invoices, tickets, documents, or installers in your Downloads folder, you may want to be more selective about what you back up and where—especially if you already pay for extra Drive capacity and need it for other purposes. Thankfully, file backups are disabled by default. To turn them on, go to Settings > Google Backup and select Downloads. You can also change your backup preferences for photos and videos and "other device data" from this menu. Note that this feature is expected to be rolled out gradually and may not be available on your device immediately. View the full article

The impact of insurance costs, availability and related state rules also were top of mind at the Mortgage Bankers Association servicing conference. View the full article

In today’s digital shopping environment, utilizing online coupon codes can greatly reduce your expenses. Tools like Ibotta and Fetch allow you to earn cash back on products and gift cards, respectively. Browser extensions such as PayPal Honey and Capital One Shopping automate the search for discounts, ensuring you benefit from the best deals. The following discussion outlines seven top resources that can improve your shopping experience and maximize your savings. Explore these options to find what suits you best. Key Takeaways PayPal Honey automatically applies coupon codes at checkout, ensuring you don’t miss out on potential savings from major retailers. Capital One Shopping finds and applies discounts while providing price drop alerts, helping you secure the best deals from various retailers. RetailMeNot offers cash back on entire purchases, allowing you to save more while shopping at over 20,000 brands. Groupon provides significant discounts on local services and attractions, making it easy to find deals in your area. Flipp consolidates digital coupons and loyalty offers from multiple retailers, streamlining your shopping experience and maximizing savings. Ibotta: Best For Earning Cash Back on Individual Products Ibotta is an excellent choice for anyone looking to earn cash back on individual products, especially since it allows you to select coupons before you shop. This coupon app connects with thousands of retailers, giving you access to a wide range of products eligible for cash back. You can easily upload physical receipts or link your online retail accounts to earn rewards seamlessly. Ibotta offers flexible redemption options, allowing you to transfer cash back directly to your PayPal, or redeem it as gift cards. Furthermore, you can receive free coupons by mail, enhancing your savings even further. With high ratings of 4.8 stars in the App Store, Ibotta proves to be a reliable choice for maximizing your cash back savings. Fetch: Best for Effortlessly Earning Gift Cards With Fetch, earning points is straightforward and requires minimal effort on your part. Simply submit your shopping receipts from various RetailMeNot, and watch your rewards accumulate quickly. You can then redeem these points for gift cards from popular brands, allowing you to benefit from your everyday purchases. Earning Points Simplified Fetch stands out as a top choice for effortlessly earning gift cards through a straightforward process that requires minimal effort. With Fetch, you can easily accumulate points by submitting receipts from any grocery or retail purchases, including those made with online coupons for all detergent. Here’s how to maximize your rewards: Submit shopping receipts from various stores. Connect your email and online retail accounts like Amazon. Use the mobile app or upload physical receipts for convenience. Choose from a variety of gift cards from popular retailers. Fetch’s high rating of 4.8 stars from 6.5 million reviews showcases its reliability as a discounts store. This means you can earn points without any complicated steps, making it an ideal option for obtaining gift cards. Receipt Submission Process To start earning points with Fetch, grasping the receipt submission process is crucial. You can submit receipts effortlessly through the Fetch mobile app or your computer, making it convenient to earn points from various retailers. Simply take a picture of your grocery receipts or upload physical ones directly. By connecting your email, Amazon, and Walmart accounts, Fetch automatically tracks eligible purchases, improving your points accumulation. Furthermore, you can boost your savings by using free printable manufacturer coupons or grocery coupons, increasing your total. Keep an eye out for exclusive bonuses tied to specific brands, as these can greatly increase your point earnings. With a high rating of 4.8 stars in the App Store, Fetch is a reliable choice for maximizing rewards. Gift Card Redemption Options Earning points through receipt submissions opens the door to a variety of gift card redemption options that improve your shopping experience. With Fetch, you can effortlessly redeem points for gift cards from popular retailers, enhancing your budget. Here’s what you can expect: Gift cards from major brands like Starbucks and Amazon Easy tracking of eligible purchases by connecting your email and accounts A simple redemption process directly through the app High user satisfaction ratings, with 4.8 stars on the App Store This convenience is particularly useful when you’re engaged in laundry detergent couponing, allowing you to stack savings with Tide digital coupons. Utilizing Fetch not only maximizes your savings but also streamlines your shopping experience. PayPal Honey: Best Browser Extension for Discounts When you’re shopping online, PayPal Honey acts as your personal discount assistant by automatically searching for and applying coupon codes at checkout. It additionally keeps you informed about price drops on items you’re interested in, ensuring you never miss a deal. With features like these, Honey makes it easier for you to save money during shopping online. Automatic Coupon Search As you shop online, the PayPal Honey browser extension simplifies the coupon searching process by automatically finding and applying discount codes at checkout. This means you can save money effortlessly, whether you’re looking for Tide coupons or printable laundry detergent coupons. Honey additionally notifies you if your purchases qualify for PayPal Rewards points, adding even more value to your shopping experience. Automatically applies discount codes. Tracks price drops on desired items. Supports both desktop and mobile shopping. High user rating of 4.6 stars on Chrome Web Store. With PayPal Honey, you can easily shop discount offers without the hassle of searching for codes manually, ensuring you get the best deals available. Price Drop Alerts PayPal Honey’s browser extension not merely helps you find and apply coupon codes, but it also features a useful tool called “DropList” that tracks price drops on items you want to purchase. By setting up price drop alerts, you can stay informed when your desired products, such as Tide coupons free printable or other coupons for laundry products, drop in price. This feature guarantees you never miss a deal, allowing you to buy at the best possible price. You’ll receive notifications directly, making it easy to act quickly. Plus, with insights into price history, you can see how prices have fluctuated, helping you make informed purchase decisions. The extension is highly rated, reflecting its effectiveness in assisting you save. RetailMeNot: Best For Cash Back on Full Purchase Amounts RetailMeNot stands out as an excellent choice for online shoppers seeking to earn cash back on their full purchase amounts. With access to over 20,000 brands, you can easily maximize your savings. Here are some key benefits: Browse cash back offers via the RetailMeNot website, app, or browser extension. Earn cash back on your entire purchase, not just specific items. Stack cash back offers with promo codes and free shipping for greater savings. Transfer your cash back rewards to platforms like Venmo or PayPal, giving you flexibility. RetailMeNot has received high ratings of 4.8 stars in both the App Store and Google Play Store, highlighting its reliability and user satisfaction. It’s a practical choice for savvy shoppers looking to improve their online shopping experience. Groupon: Best For Discounts on Local Services and Attractions Groupon serves as a potent resource for those looking to save money on local services and attractions, offering discounts of up to 70%. You can easily browse deals based on your location through the Groupon website or mobile app, ensuring you find offers nearby. The platform features a wide variety of discounts, including dining, entertainment, wellness services, and outdoor activities, catering to diverse interests. Whether you’re seeking a relaxing spa day or an adventurous excursion, Groupon has options for everyone. You can purchase deals directly through the app or website, making it convenient to access and redeem offers. With high ratings of 4.8 stars in the App Store and 4.5 stars in Google Play, Groupon is recognized for its user-friendly interface and effective savings opportunities. Flipp: Best For Discounts on Local Products Flipp stands out as an excellent tool for finding discounts on local products, making it easy for you to save money during shopping. By entering your ZIP code, you can access weekly ads from nearby stores and discover great local deals. The app allows you to click on specific deals to locate products in your nearest retailers, enhancing your shopping experience. Clip digital coupons directly within the app. Add loyalty cards for streamlined savings. Access offers from multiple retailers in one place. Enjoy high ratings of 4.8 stars for user satisfaction. With Flipp, you maximize savings effortlessly, ensuring you get the best deals on local products during your enjoyment of a user-friendly interface. Capital One Shopping: Best For Amazon Shoppers If you’re an Amazon shopper looking to maximize your savings, Capital One Shopping is a valuable tool that can improve your online purchasing experience. This browser extension automatically finds and applies coupon codes during checkout, making it especially beneficial for Amazon shoppers. It works seamlessly in the background, scanning for discounts without any extra effort on your part. You’ll also receive price drop alerts and can compare prices on Amazon, ensuring you secure the best deal for your desired items. Furthermore, Capital One Shopping allows you to earn rewards points on purchases, which can be redeemed for future savings. Users highly rate this extension for its effectiveness and integration, making it a must-have for savvy online shoppers. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best Site for Coupon Codes? When you’re searching for the best site for coupon codes, consider RetailMeNot. It offers cash back and allows you to stack deals from over 20,000 brands. Honey is another great choice; its browser extension finds the best discounts automatically at checkout. If you shop on Amazon, Capital One Shopping provides price drop alerts and automatic coupons. For local deals, Groupon can save you up to 70% on activities and services in your area. Where Do Extreme Couponers Get the Coupons? Extreme couponers often gather coupons from multiple sources. You can find printable coupons on brand websites or digital coupons through mobile apps like Ibotta and Fetch. Furthermore, joining social media groups dedicated to couponing lets you exchange valuable tips and information. Subscribing to newspapers can provide coupon inserts, whereas store loyalty programs often offer exclusive discounts. Finally, consider using coupon clipping services to access rare or high-value coupons for an even better deal. What Is the WAYDAY20 Promo Code? The Wayfair promo code provides you with a 20% discount on qualifying purchases during Wayfair‘s Way Day sale events. You can apply this code at checkout on the Wayfair website or app. It’s important to be aware that this promo code is time-sensitive, often valid only during specific promotional periods. Make sure to check the sale dates and verify which items are eligible, as some products may be excluded from the discount. How to Find Promo Codes That Actually Work? To find promo codes that actually work, start by using browser extensions like PayPal Honey or Capital One Shopping, which automatically apply codes at checkout. Check reputable coupon websites, such as RetailMeNot and Ibotta, for verified offers. Sign up for newsletters from your favorite retailers, as they often share exclusive codes. Furthermore, follow brands on social media for limited-time promotions. Always read the fine print to guarantee the codes meet any requirements. Conclusion In summary, utilizing these seven online coupon codes can greatly improve your shopping experience. Whether you prefer cash back through Ibotta and RetailMeNot or discounts from platforms like Groupon and Flipp, there’s an option for everyone. Browser extensions such as PayPal Honey and Capital One Shopping streamline the process, ensuring you don’t miss out on savings. By incorporating these tools into your routine, you can effectively reduce your spending as you enjoy a variety of products and services. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Best Online Coupon Codes for Major Retailers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article