Commuter Barbie knows the public transportation struggle is real

Commuter Barbie knows the public transportation struggle is realCommuter Barbie knows the public transportation struggle is realShes the career girl whos running the world- and running late.A new Commuter Barbie parody video is a playful takeon the everyday (and sometimes harrowing) realities of getting to work on time- especially if youre taking the train in a place like New York.NYC comedians Carina Hsieh and Claudia Arissocame up with the idea, which is a send-up of multitasking New York commuters who dress for their trip to work as if theyre preparing for the apocalypse - complete with jackets that can face the Arctic headphones to block out fellow commuters a phone full of the latest hip podcasts and prestigious-looking books to appear smart.See Commuter Barbie in actionCosmopolitan Magazine editor Hsieh, who is also a comedian,tweeted out a cropped version of the video on Tuesday.In a later tweet, Hsieh toldviewers to click the Facebook link to watch the full version of the v ideo, which clocks in at three minutes.In the video, two strangely wise girls play with the doll, which comes complete with a puffy jacket, a tote bag, an MTA card, aStarbucks Grande Macchiato that really spills, a water bottle, a Clif bar, a Trader Joes bag, and more.A Barbie thats ready for commuting warThis Barbie, a sophisticate, is also constantly on the defense against the indignities of living in New York - or other big cities where people are packed together.Shes not a fan of manspreaders who stretch out and take two seats on the train, or the harassment thats standard in many public spaces.Herheadphones tune out the creeps when youre stuck in the middle seat.This Barbie must also come with the standard stay away from me scowl of many New York commuters, because one of the girls in the video says, but if she cant hear the catcallers, how will she know to smile? which is met with total silenceas both of their faces slowly turn to face the camera.No comment needed, girls - n othing they could say would sum upjust how real that is for women of all ages.A doll that captures multitasking realityHsieh told Gothamist how much the pair relates to the fictional doll.We dont think were Commuter Barbies, if only because we cant afford $800 Canada Goose jacketsBut arent we ALL a little bit Commuter Barbie? Hsieh told Gothamist.What makes the video really brilliant is the wise asides the little girls offer on Commuter Barbies life.One of the girls says,shes got that review coming up at work, to which the other responds, her manager keeps rescheduling. Typical.Commuter Barbie also shows off just how cultured she is, toting around a mini-copy of the book Swing Time by Zadie Smith and a phone to listen to podcasts. When one little girl announces the reviews of the book, the other deadpans, we get it, you read the New Yorker.But Commuter Barbie has to deal with the price of transportation too, with aMetro card sold separately and subject to random fare hikes.The real Barbie chimed inMattel evengot wind of Commuter Barbie, and made a joke about the dolls Los Angeles drive to work.Well played.Commuters cheer their harried BarbieCommuter Barbie already has some fans.Hsieh was right- each of us isa little bitof the doll.

3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywords - FlexJobs

3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywords - FlexJobs3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywords -38If youre sending out the same old resume and cover letter for telecommuting jobs, part-time jobs, or freelance jobs and not getting much of a response, theres a reason. Several, actually. For one, recruiters get bored with the same old documents day after day and they can spot a generic application from miles away.Another reason is this When you upload your application materials to company websites, their recruiting software often has the ability to screen the documents for specific keywords related to the job to which youre applying. If your resume and cover letter dont contain those keywords, chances are theyre not being sent by the software to a menschlich recruiter for further review. So, whether theyre being screened by a human or a computer, resumes and cover letters without keywords are doomed.3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywo rdsHeres how to make your job search materials stand out using keywords1. Use the job description as a knowledge base. Job descriptions are filled with industry jargon and the keywords found here are the ones that companies want to see in your application. Wherever possible, edit the content of your resumes and cover letters to include relevant keywords from the job description.2. Company websites speak the company language. Websites have become an art form and most companies take the time to craft very carefully whats written on their website. Look at the Career and About pages to see how the company speaks about itself and what it values then incorporate any relevant keywords into your resume and cover letter.3. Numbers are always good keywords. Talk about your accomplishments in quantifiable ways, whether its how many people you manage, or how many clients youve brought in, or how much youve saved the company through cost-cutting initiatives. Anything youve done to increase prof its or decrease costs is keyword gold.If youre looking for telecommuting jobs, freelance jobs, part-time jobs, or flexible schedule jobs, your job search success starts with a well-tailored resume and cover letter. For other specific tips on customizing your resume and cover letter, check out Customized Resumes and Cover Letters are Better for Your Job Search.

8 Ways to Create a Desirable Employer Brand for Candidates

8 Ways to Create a Desirable Employer Brand for Candidates8 Ways to Create a Desirable Employer Brand for CandidatesBy now you probably aware that employer branding efforts help companies attract and retain talent. But if you dont have a clearly defined and documented strategy, candidates can fall through the cracks. Research shows that top employer brand companies are twice as likely to have a defined and documented strategy as companies outside of the top group. Once you define your strategy and get executive buy-in, its necessary to make koranvers your company website and your interviewing process reflects your employer brand. Heres what you need to know.WebsiteYour website is usually the first place candidates look for information about your company. A corporate website with job listings and no information on company culture is a wasted opportunity. Engage candidates on your corporate page by doing the followingEnsure what is conveyed is accurate and honest. If its not, candidate s will find out during the interview process, or worse, after they accept an offer and start work.Show pictures and videos of employees having fun AND working. Ive seen companies post images of only snack areas, Ping-Pong tables and parties. Unless you run a playground, this is not an accurate picture of wherbeie employees spend most of their time. If your company has a wide variation in work environments by department (workshop, office, warehouse, lab, etc.) show pictures of employees at work in each environment. Consider hiring a professional photographer/videographer to come in for a day to capture images of employees on the job.Keep it updated. If key employees have left the company or the office has been redecorated or moved, by all means update the content to reflect the changes. Management shifts and policy changes can significantly impact corporate culture, so its important that whats shown on the website reflects reality.Provide links to articles and awards. Your company ma y have a press page, but remember to highlight any articles and awards relevant to job seekers on the careers page itself. bedrngnis every candidate seeks out press information, and the most relevant information for candidates can get buried in a chronological list that includes product announcements. Put information in the place where the people you want to find it are most likely to look.InterviewingThe interview process is where candidates get a firsthand view of the employer brand in action. Sometimes a companys interviewing process can convey a different message than the actual culture.Laura Gonzalez, principal at CDM Search, once consulted with a company that was having trouble finding candidates that would accept offers.They had a positive laid-back culture, she said, but their interviewing process was disjointed and drawn out. Smart questioning revealed that the team hadnt been trained in interviewing practices and didnt understand the importance of moving quickly in a compe titive job market. Heres how to make sure the same thing doesnt happen to you.Plan the interview process for each position. Candidates who have to answer the same skills-based questions over and over again can get fatigued. Make sure ever person on the interview team knows what the position is, what aspect of the candidates experience they should address and is familiar with interviewing techniques. You cant assume that just because someone has a manager title that they know how to interview, said Gonzalez. She provides clients a packet of interviewing guidelines when needed and gathers the team for a pre-interview briefing and post-interview debrief.Let the recruiter serve as candidate advocate. The primary task of the hiring manager and team members is to make sure the candidate can do the job and will fit in with the team. The recruiters task should be to understand the factors under consideration for the candidate such as commute time, desired salary and benefits, family situati on and motivation for seeking a new job. Once the team makes a decision to hire a candidate, that information can be used to prepare a suitable offer quickly.Allow for the candidates human needs. Candidates tell horror stories of being left in conference rooms during marathon interview sessions without water and not knowing where the restroom is. Make sure to offer a beverage upon arrival and provide directions to the restroom. If the interviews stretch over a lunch period, buy the candidate lunch.Get creative with candidates. There are a myriad of ways to make a candidate feel welcome. Gonzalez gave two examples of successful candidate attraction tactics. One involved courting an executive for a cross-country move. On the second round of interviews the executives wife was flown in. She was paired with another executives wife for a tour of the area. After her warm welcome, she could no longer say, I dont know what its like there and I wont have any friends, to discourage her husband from taking the job.The second example involved finding an employee with a personality match from another department to give a candidate a tour of the campus. For instance, a candidate with an interest in long-distance running or guitar playing could be shown around or taken out to lunch by an employee with similar interests. These sort of casual connections outside of ones department are factors that make a workplace attractive to candidates.As we mentioned previously, experience makes candidates skeptical of employer brand marketing. The more you can show them evidence of your employer brand by providing authentic information on your website and follow through during the interview process, the more likely youll find the right candidates who will accept offers.Read part 1 and part 2of this series on employer branding.