SIMPLE….. it allows you to make calls from one computer to another, anywhere in the world, totally free of charge.  Now that should be VERY attractive, especially in this economy that has yet to totally recover.  I myself have been using Skype for a few months and will be using it more now that fellow colleagues/friends/family are getting in on this act.  Is Skype just for making phone calls you may ask??!  NO, not only does Skype allow for voice communications but it is used for video (with the addition of a Webcam).  Many newer computers, particularly laptops, have the webcam, microphone, and speakers built in for just this purpose.  Ever go to one of those FedEx stores to video conference?  I did and it was plenty expensive.  At least with Skype you have another alternative.  The Cons?!?  Well, it isn’t a suitable substitute for regular phone service, nor does it pretend to be. From a safety standpoint, it’s important to know that Skype CAN NOT be used to make emergency 911 calls.  Other free services on Skype include: transferring and forwarding calls to others on Skype, instant messaging and group IMs and conference calls.  Give it a shot; I did and it is worth the hype!

The virtual world can be a lonely world. No meeting by the water cooler to discuss our personal lives or office affairs, no good lunches each day, no best friend to confide in during breaks, no cracking jokes among colleagues. Instead, we interact with our dogs or cats, aka “our 4-legged co-workers”, which can be a real big minus as they erupt into song at the squirrel on the porch when you are talking to your brand new client……

Virtual employees, most of us anyway, (the good ones my boss says) put in more hours per day compared to office workers. That’s because, when ‘real’ office employees leave the workplace, the paperwork and other tasks stay back in the office – it’s a physical separation. At home the computer taunts you – screen saver blinking, blinking at you. The email is waiting – pinging at you – pulling at you. The virtual office phone is ringing, calling your name. It’s difficult to say “no more for today” and really mean it. There is always one more thing that needs to be done, or you give in to that email ping or you just have to check the caller ID to see who is calling. I laugh at myself when I sit down to send one final email for the night and an hour later, I am still here working.

A huge annoyance about working virtually is the LACK OF RESPECT. I don’t understand it – can’t get my head around it – but my friends and neighbors think that since I work from home, that I am HOME doing nothing. They just don’t seem to digest the “work” aspect of the virtual office. “This is my friend, Alissa. She “works” (wink, wink) from home – I’m sure she can take care of that little favor for you…” “Alissa, can you come over and wait for the plumber for me? I have to take little Johnny to the doctor, unless of course, your are (wink, wink) working…..”

Another problem is the guilt factor – and don’t ask me where that comes from. I can’t tell you. You’ve taken a short break to run to the bathroom and on the way back hear the phone ringing or the email pinging or the IM dinging – and you literally RUN (hauling PJs back up) to your desk to intercept it. I mean REALLY, gods and goddesses forbid that you have to “use the facilities” or go fix your lunch so you can EAT LUNCH AT YOUR DESK WHILE YOU WORK. Because, well gee, you never pee or eat in a REAL office… How does that feeling sneak in? I can’t for my life figure it out.

Working virtually does have its benefits. Of course, there’s the obvious: you don’t have to dress for the occasion; pajamas do work well some days. That’s a real kicker – negotiating away while tapping out a silent rhumba in your bunny slippers. Gasoline budget drops considerably and you save yourself the stress of dealing with the idiot on the cell phone, who is putting on make-up and eating a danish. Of course you lose the pleasure of expressing your feelings regarding same, with the world-wide known and appreciated 3rd digit salute. Wear and tear on your car is minimal, and if you have kids, you can be home for them. Of course, that can be a big negative as well – going back to the noise factor as they croon in with Bud the singing pooch.

Working virtually develops stupendous multi-tasking skills. Have you ever been on a conference call, stirring dinner on the stove, taking notes, and trying to get chewing gum out of your child’s hair- all at once? It can be done – I’ve been there and have the tee-shirt! (Of course, if I hadn’t given in to checking out the phone digital display – I wouldn’t have been on the freakin conference call to begin with) Which reminds me – Who loves the “MUTE button”??? Those same gods and goddesses granted the virtual office this one HUGE thing. The mute button is the conqueror of all evil – I promise…the one on my phone is practically worn out.
So, all in all, working virtually is pretty much a mixed bag – but I like it. It suits me. Do you work virtually? Would love to hear some feedback, experiences, etc. from our readers!!

It’s ALL in the Details – From a Recruiter’s perspective

What do we recruiters need to know to help find that perfect candidate for our clients?  Is more information or less information better? Is just a job description enough?  Well for me, a recruiter at a contract research recruiting firm, partnering with our clients is almost as if we work at their site.  We are actually an extension of their recruitment team and sharing the right information is key to our success. 

Sure, job descriptions are important and yes, all the technical requirements are a must have to find the right candidates, but honestly it’s not enough. Clients need to provide details such as:

-why the positions are open
-team or department structure
-details on hiring manager (his/her management style)
-expectations
-what the team lacks
-how long positions are open
- challenges as to why they have not been able to fill the position on their own to date

I can go on and on; you get my drift, right?  Details!!!  Speaking to a hiring manager is also a bonus; his/her version of the position and ideal candidate provides incredible insight.  Sharing their knowledge, what he/she really is looking for, what the must haves are for this candidate, what he/she is willing to bend on or be flexible on is very valuable.  This type of information can’t be picked up from a job description alone. So yes, hiring managers on intake calls should be a RULE.

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*Definition:
• Main Entry: com•mu•ni•ca•tion
• Pronunciation: \k?-?myü-n?-’ka-sh?n\
• Function: noun
• Date: 14th century
1 : an act or instance of transmitting
2 a : information communicated b : a verbal or written message
3 a : a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior <the function of pheromones in insect communication>; also : exchange of information b : personal rapport <a lack of communication between old and young persons>
4 plural a : a system (as of telephones) for communicating b : a system of routes for moving troops, supplies, and vehicles c : personnel engaged in communicating
5 plural but sing or plural in constr a : a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech) b : the technology of the transmission of information (as by print or telecommunication)
*Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication

Communication… a vital part of human existence, yet an area in which we all fall short at times.  A noun by function, dating back to the 14th Century, communication has been a key role in every aspect of life, sometimes in ways we don’t even realize.

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