80,000 Hours’ Post

Opening doors to inspiration We are OnFife and we know how valuable creativity is to our communities. Whether we’re helping people learn or making them laugh – we’re here to bring people together, and make them feel good. We specialise in making jaws drop, hearts warm, eyes light up and imaginations run wild. From the screen to the stage, the painting to the page, from the treasures of the past to the stars of the future – culture is our oxygen. Our spaces are some of Fife’s favourite places – from historic buildings to mobile libraries, awardwinning new destinations to much-loved community hubs. Museums, theatres, galleries, libraries, and archives – we offer them all. OnFife is a registered charity – here for Fife, not for profit. Every penny we make is invested back into free and affordable entertainment and learning. So whether you buy a ticket, book a venue, grab a coffee, or donate – you’re helping keep the doors to inspiration open to everyone. Our values:  Fearless, Inviting, Fair and Exciting.

What is the man with a personal fortune of over $100 billion and considered by many as the most successful investor of this century looking for when hiring someone? Integrity is the key trait that a person must possess to join the team of American businessperson and philanthropist Warren Buffett. Now at 93 years old, Buffett created a plan in 2006 to donate over 80% of his wealth, a figure that was raised to 99% in 2020, according to Britannica. Do you agree with Buffett? What do you consider to be the most important quality a candidate must have to be hired by you?

Let’s talk about manners in business. Couple days ago, I got a message from a student, which he asked me about where he could apply for my non-profit. Then, out of the blue, he throws a middle finger at me. Here’s what I will say. LinkedIn is a professional community, and it no place to mess around to fool people. People like this, especially students examining such behaviour is an absolute disappointment and is the reason why many employers, like us hesitate to hire them, or consider them to be serious. It is important to consider the implications of one’s actions— a foolish choice by one person can destroy the public image of the entire group the person may be in.

3 Reasons businesses struggle to hire good people: 1. Lack of understanding about what's important to the best candidates 2. They don't know who they're competing with for talent, and therefore can't make their offers attractive 3. They don't lead with the WHY behind the work. The mission is more important to people than companies think. We've consulted with a few charities and mission-driven orgs recently, and solving these issues is actually quite straightforward when you have the right data and strategy in place. Question for my network, does mission matter to you when you're looking for a new role? Or is it all about salary, working pattern etc.?

Ever wondered why nonprofit hiring feels like finding a needle in a haystack? 🌾✨ Navigating the recruitment waters of the nonprofit world often feels like a rollercoaster with a few extra loops. Trust me, as a recruiter at Lakeshore Talent, I've seen it —the murky and the magical. One frequent challenge is competing with the lucrative salaries of the private sector. A noble mission can't always pay the bills, but haven't we all dreamed of hiring superheroes for a few peanuts and a cape? Another hurdle? Finding multifaceted candidates who can juggle fundraising, strategy, and maybe even bake a sensational batch of cookies for the next board meeting. 🧁 Nonprofits wear many hats, and so do their ideal employees. But, let's be honest, finding someone who loves crunching numbers just as much as heartwarming community outreach is rarer than a unicorn on Wall Street. And let's not forget the maze of compliance and regulations - it's as if the paperwork has its paperwork! For smaller nonprofits, navigating this can feel like building IKEA furniture without the manual. 🛠️ But, at Lakeshore Talent, we revel in these challenges. By fostering relationships and understanding both sides of the table, we turn haystacks into goldmines, one recruitment at a time. 💼✨ #NonprofitRecruitment #TalentHunt #HiringChallenges

RP Connections - another great Kent business run by someone under 40! We love Rebecca's' seven fun facts...so much so we would love to learn seven fun facts about some of our other great businesses run by people under 40 in Kent... Please tag us in your posts so we can share and thanks to Rebecca Pooley for the great idea... #7FunFacts #KentFoundation #SmallBusinesses #YoungBusiness #EntrepreneursinKent

I remember my first Recruitment Manager who told me that finding a great recruiter is not about their experience, their education nor their success. It’s all about their Parents ! -When they come from great parents, they will be great Yes! I know some families who have beaten the odds Some call it 'Circles' some call it 'Class' but it's real and it’s very hard for the Talented to be given a Neutral (Fair) Platform to launch their career. I love the 'Underdog' because I appreciate that they have smashed through their Imagined and Real ceiling to become kings and queens. But I constantly feel annoyed that there are children born in particular parts of Dublin / Ireland /Europe and the World who will ultimately have a tougher journey and are destined not to succeed. They can be stamped by their accent, by their nationality, address, by their friends, by their aspirations, and by their level of education. It’s nearly impossible for them to break free from the poverty circle. Their parents lack of Education and Employment in the majority of cases is reflected on to their children. No equity to pass down, no belief in education and career planning and an acceptance of the status quo! Yes! they all love their kids and in the majority of cases, too much! Their parents try to over compensate their situation by purchasing the latest gadgets and brands while struggling to balance their huge Debt! Some use sugar, some use fast food, some use alcohol and unfortunately some use drugs. All with the objective of disguising their reality. So how do you break the circle of poverty ? It all starts with your roots. Having an inspirational parent (s) or guardian! You know that mum or dad who pushes their kids to do their best and be their best. This type of parent can live in any situation and still their kids will prosper! They are the catalyst of success! and they are generally a reflection of their parents who valued education and career success or whom has aspirations of their own to succeed. But there is another way! It’s called Attitude! and requires huge motivation and belief in yourself to smash through the ceiling of poverty, class and silly stupid circles. Expect to lose some old friends on the way! But if this your strategy! You are already a success! I love the 'Underdog' because they have climbed mountains while others simply took the elevator. They have proved the system wrong, they don’t need to stand on any giants shoulder, they simply are an inspiration ! And that’s why you should hire the underdog….

Hello LinkedIn Network! I'm now well into my second year at Charity People, and realised my LinkedIn network is full of so many more amazing people who I may not have had the chance to have a proper chat with; so I'd like to do a big "Hello" to my connections, explain a bit about my background, my brilliant team, and the work we do! I'm a very lucky dad of 3-under-3, am originally from Newcastle, a former Corporate Fundraiser of 17 years where I was super lucky to have worked for the likes of The National Autistic Society, YouthNet (now The Mix Charity), Living Streets and Dogs Trust. I made the move last year to Charity People, where I now lead the absolutely mint Fundraising Recruitment Team working on every type and level of fundraising role (hey Katharine Tinker-Switzer and Tanya White!) We are also about to announce our newest team member who starts next week...more on that later! Some of the things I love💚 Working in true partnership with charities; Breaking down barriers for candidates; An accessible process with EDI at the heart of everything (for example looking at type of materials, interview format, questions in advance, application process, and feedback, language and much much more!); Charities who are open to new ways of recruiting into their team; Receiving supportive feedback for candidates; Looking beyond the sector and having a skills based search; Investing in people's personal development; Embracing a holistic definition of flexible working; Creating a tailored approach to each search; Transparency both ways; Challenging the past way of recruitment - we must do better! Some of the things I really do not love 💔 Barriers to people applying for jobs; Saying roles are flexible but not tailoring them to each persons' situation; Lengthy application processes; Unnecessary tasks or asking waaaaay too much from a task; Too many interview stages; Expecting to find a unicorn candidate; Rehashed job descriptions from years ago; Dismissing out of sector candidates; Short turnarounds; Leftfield questions during an interview; Making presumptions of people; Asking about gaps in employment; Not showing the salary; Asking candidates their current salary; Lack of transparency; Not giving feedback! As a Fundraising Recruitment Team, we really champion working in partnership with the amazing charities we represent. We all have previously worked in the sector and have genuine passion to change the sector in a positive and collaborative way with partners. If you are a candidate or charity who wants to find out more about my approach. search process, and the values I embed throughout every search, get in touch, I'd love to talk. I'll leave you with a rare photo of my beautiful family, apologies for the absolute chaos; getting a photo of all five of us is pretty much impossible! #CharityPeople #Reflections #CharitySector #Fundraising #Partnership #InclusiveRecruitment

Hey Job Seekers! In the last 12 hours I have had the same conversation with 2 different people, and when that happens, I feel the impression to talk to y’all about it. When you have lost your job, it’s really tempting to shut yourself from the world and sit behind a screen sending out application after application, hoping that the next one is going to get you that interview. Problem with that is it’s way too hard to fall into depression when you do that. To keep yourself in a positive place and moving forward while you are looking for your next role, make sure you are taking the time to get out and be among people. Networking meetings are a great place to go. How about a walk with a friend in the park or volunteer with a local charity? Hell yourself by getting out and being with people! #cartergarvin, #opentowork, #jobsearch, #jobhunt, #jobseeker, #hiring, #recruitment, #jobsearching, #remotework, #ibja, #layoff, #laidoff, #recruiting, #talentacquisition

Thoughtful Thursday: Today, let’s recognize the power of our networks in helping others succeed. If you have access to career opportunities, consider referring qualified professionals in your circle. Your recommendation could be the key that opens a door for someone in need. Don’t hesitate to offer a reference for those you know are ready and capable – landing a job in today’s competitive market takes a collective effort. It’s not about how many names you put forward but the quality and care you bring to each referral. Together, we can help talented individuals thrive. It truly takes a village. #Opentowork #thoughtfulthursday #referafriend #payitforward #kindness #encouragement #networking #leverageyournetwork #support #helpopendoors #shareforreach #ittakesoneclick #passalongtheresume #behelpful #advocateforothers