How HR Uses AI to Uproot Unconscious Bias

How HR Uses AI to Uproot Unconscious Bias Intelligent machines aren’t stealing our jobs â€" they’re making us better at filling them with right fit hires. The development of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword: we marvel at intelligent machines achieving bigger and better things, but at the same time, they’re starting to outcompete even human superstars at their own games, according to recode. Viewed in that light, A.I. can start to seem like a threat. But in reality, the purpose of A.I. isn’t to outperform us â€" it’s to enhance our own capabilities. The intelligence of computers is apparently exceedingly narrow, as TechCrunch explains, in fact, good only for the specific tasks to which we assign them (like chess). With some savvy, however, we can use A.I. to compensate for our own personal weak points, dramatically improving our effectiveness as professionals. This is why HR professionals are now using A.I. to target one of humankind’s most deeply ingrained shortcomings: unconscious bias. Data can be objective where we can’t Unfortunately, personal bias is a fundamental component of human nature â€" in other words, it’s not something we can avoid. No matter how self-aware we become, every decision we make is undermined by subjective opinion and, therefore, bias, (or subconscious view perhaps is another more common term) â€" one of the reasons why companies are having so much trouble improving diversity and inclusion. According to Fast Company, that’s why hiring managers are turning to the data-based, objective opinions of A.I. While we can’t remove bias from our own brains, we can program computers to outsmart it. Thanks to a technology called machine learning, A.I. programmes can crunch massive data sets in order to identify subtle patterns, thereby pinpointing the exact places where bias crops up in the hiring process. True to the “learning” moniker, these computers can adapt dynamically to a changing hiring landscape, altering their assessments as new information rolls in or as recruitment strategies change. Naturally, recruiters from across Silicon Valley â€" at the leading edge of diversity initiatives â€" have taken notice, as PBS reports. Hiring fairly and intelligently The benefit to HR teams, as Motherboard observes, is the ability to optimise hiring from top to bottom; everything from interview questions and candidate selection criteria to the behaviour of individual recruiters can be analysed, dissected and improved. Of course, as they note, no A.I. will deliver perfect performance 100% of the time â€" machine learning algorithms are influenced by the very people who create them. Despite the impossibility of flawless accuracy, organisations can still greatly benefit from the advantages of A.I. to create better human teams â€" and that’s exactly what they’re doing. According to TechRepublic, A.I. is already being employed by many major companies across the globe to identify and retain top talent. By gauging emotional intelligence and analysing keyword choice, computers can determine whether candidates will thrive in a company’s unique culture. While we said earlier that the purpose of A.I. isn’t to outperform people, the reality is that, for recruiters, intelligent computers are changing the game. It doesn’t require the help of A.I. to conclude that, equipped with such programs, HR teams may just have an inhuman advantage over their competitors. About the author: Kirstie Kelly is a writer at Launchpad, makers of video led HR software. She has many years of  experience  within recruitment and is passionate about promoting diverse and inclusive  workplaces.

The Problem with Filling Technology Jobs

The Problem with Filling Technology Jobs Technology is advancing at such a rate that the education system has been unable to keep up with the constant changes that are happening in the technology industry. If you use your own memories and experiences of high school, you will begin to recognize the differences in technology, with changes you could never have imagined. The government has recently made changes to the curriculum such as teaching coding skills, but with technological advances changing at a great speed, will those skills still be relevant in a decade’s time? Changing Needs In Technology Jobs In the current climate, there is a huge need for IT professionals to take up roles such as cyber security positions, analyst jobs and software development. These are all skills that not many people will have had the opportunity to train in because some of the specific responsibilities found in these roles simply didn’t exist 20 years ago. However, this is opening a big gap in the market for the younger generation to fill as they have grown up surrounded by technology. Each year, big companies are introducing new systems and enhanced system security. This means that they need more employees working in their IT department to take care of the various elements of system implementation. From testing to ongoing maintenance and security, there is a wide range of roles that are required and spaces needed to be filled. The Effect of Automation At the same time, many manual tasks are being automated, meaning that certain skills become obsolete. Therefore, there are lots of people now being made redundant, or who are unable to find jobs because they were educated a few years too early. However, the irony of the matter is, there is a huge lack in people being able to fill specialist IT roles, such as roles varying from qualified data recovery specialists who are responsible for sql database recovery, to project management. Many companies are being forced to outsource some IT skills to countries like India, where workers have the opportunity to earn more money through taking on outsourced work. Issues like this is obviously causing big problems for recruitment companies and in-house recruitment teams. Trying to find people with the relevant skills has become increasingly difficult, driving up the costs of trying to recruit. Therefore, more companies are spending more money on marketing the roles, providing lucrative financial packages and other benefits. This is all so they can tempt skilled workers from existing roles with the promise of a better work life. Wheres The Money? However, as one company starts increasing the salaries for specialist roles, their competition will gradually follow suit as they realize that the consequences of not having workers with these skills will end up costing them more than the salaries. For people that do have these in-demand technology skills, they can find themselves enjoying the competitive recruitment market and become more selective regarding who they work for, and what package they sign up for. If you are student thinking about what area to study, make sure to research the market and find out what jobs are in demand.

5 Ways to Get the Most from Training for your Employees

5 Ways to Get the Most from Training for your Employees Effective workplace training is a huge part of keeping your employees working at their best. Whether it’s to learn new skills or keep on top of recent industry developments, training is vital to both employers and employees. In a recent survey from online business print providers instantprint, over half of workers (56%) said that they’d leave their current role if they were not offered further development opportunities. Almost one-third (31%) said they had previously left positions for this reason. Despite the importance of training to business success and employee satisfaction, employers and managers are not meeting expectations, with just 59% of workers saying they are satisfied with their current training offer. Instantprint’s employee survey has highlighted how this can be improved. 1. Stay up-to-date with your mandate training Mandate training is training that companies are legally required to provide. It covers information such as health and safety and fire training. Mandate training was selected by respondents as the second most desired training topic. Start your training program by checking you are up to date with all the training you are mandated to carry out. Once you’ve met all the requirements on this, you’ll have a better idea of the time and money you’ll have to invest in other training. 2. Introduce Personal Development Plans (PDPs) Personal development was rated as the top reason employees wanted training. Personal development will mean different things to different people. This is why it’s important to create individual, tailored Personal Development Plans (PDPs) for each of your staff members. Have line managers sit down with their teams to pinpoint goals which address weak spots and enable each individual to reach their career aspirations. From these, set realistic goals and assign any resources needed for achieving them. Build regular one-to-ones into your business to keep tabs on how PDPs are progressing. 3. Introduce on-the-job training On-the-job training was chosen as the most effective form of training by over 4 in 10 workers (43%). This form of training is a great time and cost-effective solution for workplace training. By allowing employees to be more hands-on, they learn new skills from either external advisors or senior staff members, completing the tasks in a real work scenario. Often, this can be more effective than listening to speakers and offers the opportunity to assess whether training has been successful in real time. 4. Initiate a coaching or mentoring system at your business Coaching or mentoring was the second most popular form of training found by the survey, with one-quarter (25%) selecting it as their favorite. Coaching and mentoring schemes offer numerous benefits for employers and employees. For employees, having a mentor within their company means having a known point of contact to discuss issues with. For employers, coaching and mentoring is a fantastic use of existing resources, utilizing corporate knowledge to train a new generation of workers. 5. Provide e-learning opportunities E-learning is a popular training method among employees, with 15% saying it’s how they learn most effectively. Learning from electronic resources lets workers fit training around their day-to-day work and also means they can move at their own pace. From the employer’s perspective, e-learning is great because it removes a lot of costly resources that training usually takes up. A lot of great e-learning programs are available for free, or for much lower prices than hiring an external speaker. In addition, because workers can choose when to complete e-learning objectives, it removes the need for you to block out large portions of time for training. When it comes to workplace training, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. A mix of these methods should help your business make the most of its training investment. Talk to your employees about what they want, develop their PDPs, and help them achieve these through the method discussed above. About the author: Hannah Rogers is a Content Specialist with Search Laboratory. She has expertise in HR, regularly writing about employee motivation, company cultures, and other related topics.

Five Foods to Avoid for Acne Free Skin

Five Foods to Avoid for Acne Free Skin Acne is as a result of skin pores getting blocked by oils and dead skin cells. Typically, your skin is supposed to secrete away impurities but blocked skin pores limits this ability. This blockage is what leads to acne. Acne most often occurs on the face, chest, and upper back. According to studies, the risk of acne peaks in adolescence and decreases with age, but it can still affect adults too. Acne is typically triggered by hormonal changes and eating an imbalanced diet, but it is preventable and treatable. However, acne can be aggravated by other factors you can control. How does diet affect acne? In simple terms, when you eat unhealthy meals, they cause a spike in insulin. The excess insulin results in increased inflammation and triggers your skin to produce more oil. This contributes to the clogging of follicles and can lead to acne. Many studies have confirmed the link between high glycemic load diets and acne prevalence, such as this one. Therefore, you should avoid foods that are high on the glycemic index or contain lots of simple sugars. If you already have acne, here are some foods to avoid when recovering and work towards acne free skin. Dairy Products When you consume milk, it spikes your insulin levels. As mentioned earlier, a high insulin level can lead to acne. Moreover, digesting the proteins in milk (whey and casein) leads to the production of the hormone IGF-1. This hormone is similar to insulin and is thought to be the reason dairy consumption is related to increased risk of acne, as found in this meta-analysis. It is therefore essential to avoid ice creams and milk if youre trying cure acne. Similarly, even if you dont have acne, avoid consuming a lot of dairy products because preventing a condition is easier than treating one. Refined Sugar and Grains The primary function of insulin is to regulate blood sugar levels. So, imagine what happens when you eat refined sugar or grains. Insulin has to be produced in high quantities to curb the high level of sugars. When you consume refined carbohydrates like cereals, pasta, bread, crackers and sugars like honey, agave and maple syrup, they are broken down fast. Its at this point that your body detects a high sugar level in the blood and produces more insulin to control it. Consequently, acne develops. Therefore, if youre under acne treatment, avoid refined sugars that might jeopardize your recovery. Foods Rich In Omega-6 Fats Some of the most common food ingredients which contain large amounts of omega-6 fats are corn and soy oil. These fats cause inflammation in your body, which increases the severity of acne. However, its advisable to eat food rich with omega-3 fats, like walnuts and fish. Food Youre Sensitive To Anti-inflammatory drugs treat severe acne. Why? When you eat food youre allergic to, your immune system identifies the food as harmful. Consequently, the immune system will launch a protective mechanism against that food. This response results in pro-inflammatory molecules moving in your body, leading to acne. How do you know youre sensitive to food? Find a dietician who will look at what you eat, advise on what to eliminate, and then observe the results. They can then advise you to add eliminated ingredients back to your diet one by one until you identify which food youre sensitive to. Junk Food Eating fast foods is unhealthy. It is among the first reasons that lead to hormonal imbalance and thus acne. Also, junk food contains unhealthy fats, which if taken in large quantities could lead to skin problems. Therefore, if youre under acne treatment but not making progress, then avoid eating junk food for a while and watch the results. Eat Healthy and See Your Way to a Beautiful Skin One of the first things people notice about you is your skin. Moreover, beautiful skin gives you confidence. Therefore start eating healthy and youll be able to prevent or treat your acne condition in no time. If you’ve followed the above advice but have seen no improvement then you should consult a doctor who may prescribe you effective medication to treat acne.

#22 - Career Expert Series - Anna Runyan from Classy Career Girl

#22 - Career Expert Series - Anna Runyan from Classy Career Girl The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSFor This Episode of The Career Expert Series â€" we will be hearing from Anna Runyan from Classy Career Girl.Episode Summaryevaleval1. The first step in the Job Search process is to figure out what you want. The more clear you are, the more effective your job search and career will be.2. Knowing what you enjoy and don’t enjoy in your current job â€" will give you clues about the ideal job your should be applying for.3. Using Visualization, affirmations,etc. will help you to put yourself in the right mindset and attitude. Being in the right mindset will do wonders for you during your job search.4. Secrets to getting your Career Unstuck.5. Recruiters only take 5 seconds to look at your resume. It is upto you to make it stand out and grab their attention.6. Prepare the answer to the Top Interview questions. The more prepared you are â€" the more confident you will come across during the interview.7. Before starting the Salary negotiation process â€" find out exactly how much you need to make. The more prepared you are â€" the better your chances of negotiating the best salary.eval8. The importance of baby steps. Take small steps in the direction of your dreams/aspirations â€" and you will eventually succeed.9. Don’t stay stuck â€" there are other better opportunities out there for you.LinksTo learn more connect with Anna Runyan â€" you can reach her through LinkedIn or Twitter Intro Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas

New resume How to use it in your job search. - Sterling Career Concepts

New resume How to use it in your job search. New resume? How to use it in your job search. Send your new resume to any executive recruiters with whom you have an ongoing relationship, and immediately replace any resumes posted on online job boards with your new resume. You could also use your newly developed resume as a reason to touch base with members of your network who had a copy of your previous resume. If you’ve already started the interview process with a company based on your existing resume, bring several copies of your newly developed resume to the next scheduled interview, explaining that you recently revised your resume and you wanted them to have the most recent version. If you’re communicating with the company by email, you could also forward the newly developed resume by email in advance of your next If you didn’t include a new LinkedIn profile as part of your resume development package, you should also take your new resume and use it as the basis for revising or creating your LinkedIn profile. The two should not be identical, but your resume can assist you in drafting the headline, summary section, and job descriptions for your profile. Sterling Career Concepts can help! Contact us for more information.

Resume Writing Services Near Me Looking For Work

Resume Writing Services Near Me Looking For WorkSearching for a job? Have you noticed that more companies are outsourcing their resume writing services? This is definitely a trend to consider, but it has the added benefit of helping you save money.To start with, you should be aware that you can find both local and international search services on the Internet. In other words, you can easily get started even if you have no experience in business. There are many excellent websites that can give you a range of search options so that you are not limited to any one place. You can look for a local service in your area or use a search engine and do a search on the keywords 'resume writing services near me'.If you take advantage of these local and global search services you can find even a more international area. The potential employer will have more than enough applicants when you provide them a list of companies or areas you may be interested in. With the help of the local search engine, you can find out whether the job openings are in your city or not, and you can then decide if you want to give it some serious thought.What is also very beneficial about this option is that you don't need to pay any additional fees to access the local search engines. There are many different companies that have been around for years and some of them specialize in writing resume copies for particular industries or areas. There are even companies that offer their services on a subscription basis. You can work with just a few dollars per month from the company.Local search services are good for getting access to free resume writing services or even to see if there are any individual projects you may be interested in. This may seem like an extreme amount of effort, but this could be your only chance to get a foot in the door at one of these companies. In any case, you don't have to settle for any old writing service - these are the absolute best.So how much time will you need to spend o n your search for a job, after you get access to local search engines? Most of the time it takes a few minutes per company and around five minutes per site.It may be a good idea to think about hiring yourself to write a few samples if you are getting stuck, but in reality you shouldn't have to. With a little patience and the right local search tools, you should find just about everything you need.