"My son is a senior in college and he hasn't started his job search yet. I can't seem to get him to get in high gear. I'm tempted to write his resume for him and just start sending it around but I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea.Any suggestions?"

First of all, let me say that your son is fortunate to have a parent who is so invested in his future. You are right, however, that it would NOT be a good idea for you to write his resume for him, or to conduct his job search on his behalf.

There may be a number of factors contributing to your son's apparent disinterest in starting his job search.

Workload:
As a senior, your son may be feeling overwhelmed, or at least, consumed with the task of graduating. Many seniors can get bogged down with research projects, term papers, presentations, honors theses, etc. That "bogged down" feeling may be exacerbated if he is also working part time, involved in extra-curricular activities, athletics, volunteering, or is committed to other duties. Since conducting an effective job search can be a full time job, in and of itself, your son may not feel like he has the time, energy or resources to start his job search.

Fear:
There's a lot to fear related to conducting a job search, especially these days. There's fear of failure, of new or added responsibility, of change, of rejection, of leaving the familiar. While all perfectly reasonable fears, they can act as an enormous stumbling block for anyone intending to start their job search.

Lack of Experience:
Let's face it, many college students leave college with a lot of knowledge but not a lot of experience. The workforce requires BOTH. The job search can be particularly daunting if your son is not sure that he has sufficient occupation-specific experience. Even with internship experience, the Class of 2009 will be competing against '08 grads who may just now be entering the job market after taking a year to travel, intern, or shore up their skills in other ways. '09 grads will also be competing against the many professionals who were laid off this past year who will have significantly more experience than new grads.

What should your son, and others like him, do to "get in high gear"?

If workload is the issue, or if various fears may be hindering his job search, then it would likely benefit your son to break up the job search processes into small, tangible, accomplish-able tasks. If your son is very busy with other things, incorporating small job search tasks may feel more manageable, and less scary. He might start by committing just 10-15 minutes a day to job search activities. For example, he might spend 10 minutes looking for job postings in his field of interest on a mega job search engine, like Indeed.com. After the 10 minutes are up, he moves onto a different, non-job search activity, whether or not he has found any positions to which he would like to apply. (Using the Internet as his sole job search strategy would NOT be particularly effect, but it might be a safe starting place.) Or, your son might spend ten minutes creating the basic structure of a resume. Whatever steps he takes initially, he needs to start somewhere and build momentum. Once there's momentum, there are a number of job search-related activities that I discuss in an earlier article that your son could pursue that would demonstrate to potential employers that he is genuinely interested in his field.

If your son lacks experience in his field what he really needs is TIME so that he can gain that experience. However, since graduation is just around the corner, there are a few things he might consider doing before commencement to gain some of the experience he needs. He should begin reading through job descriptions for entry level positions in his field and become familiar with the specific duties he would be expected to perform. Then, he'll need to identify where the gaps exist in his experience and then look for ways to get the experience in the next few months. When I first applied for the Career Information Specialist position for my current employer, experience with MS Access was an important requirement. I had used Mac's FileMaker Pro, but had never built a database or maintained one, and had not touched MS Access. Before I was even offered an interview, I installed MS Access on my computer and set about creating a basic database (to maintain my job search contacts and leads). By the time I interviewed for the position, I could confidently say that I had a working knowledge of MS Access. I could not say that I had significant experience with it, but my employer was impressed that I took the initiative to learn the software.

Keep in mind, however, that there are some skills that simply require time to develop and it might not be possible to acquire a sufficient level of proficiency before graduation. This brings me to my next point - your son needs to have a Plan B, and C, and D, and so on. He might NOT find a job right away. Even if he had started his job search in the fall, he might still not find a job in his field immediately upon graduation. You will both need to be prepared for him to explore other employment avenues. Unfortunately, according to the most recent Recruiting Trends presentation, the traditional fall-back jobs, such as retail, sales and marketing, have dried up. Your son's backup plans may need to consist of "non-traditional" forms of work, such as splicing together multiple part time jobs, temping, volunteering, interning, or job-sharing. It will be important for your son to remain flexible and open to a variety of work options.

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, encourage your son to connect with the career services office at his institution. Their professionals can work with him to identify an effective and tailored action plan for getting his job search started and on the right track. They are likely networked with recruiters in your area as well as alums of the college who may be willing to offer advice or leads to your son.

Kudos to you for supporting your son - continue to do so, but definitely fight the urge to do the work of job searching for him.

Grace Kutney, Career development professional with 10 years of experience in career advising. Specializes in working with undergraduate students with little-to-no work experience. Special interests include: international students, immigrant populations, parents transitioning back into the workforce, faith in the workplace, and Christian career counseling. Grace's site, Sweet Careers, provides tips, advice, videos, and tutorials to help job seekers find meaningful careers.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 4:40 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As if it isn't bad enough that you are out of work, or needing to make a change, when you are job hunting you also often find yourself on the receiving end of tons of advice, suggestions, ideas, opinions, and comments.

And even criticism.

Criticism can be deflating, but it can also be inspiring. The trick is to learn how to tell which comments are worth taking to heart and which are just off-the-wall fault-finding that has more to do with the critiquer than with you or your work.

With no further ado, here is the trick to sort through the criticism maze:

Helpful criticisms are ones that, when you hear them, seem familiar to you. You will feel a flash of recognition. Maybe a little voice in the back of your head says, "That's what I've been trying to say all along!" Helpful criticisms feel "right." Helpful criticisms spur you to do more of what you do, and to do it better.

Unhelpful criticisms are the kind that, when you hear them, you think "Huh? Really?" They feel wrong and weird and awkward. Upon closer examination, this kind of comment often seems to have much more to do with the criticizer than with you.

Telling the difference between the two is not always easy. When you are in the early stages of the jobhunting trail, you may take every criticism you receive to heart. You may start down many wrong paths and then have to backtrack. But with practice you learn how to spot and take advantage of valuable criticism. You will even want to thank your criticizers.

And the weird, off-the-wall, "huh"-type comments? Well, sometimes they can provide material for funny stories to tell later, once you have landed that great job.

Happy hunting.

Article by, Karen Burns, Working Girl

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 4:36 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

A December survey by the Pew Internet Project reveals that 75% of adults ages 18 to 24 in the U.S. use social networks. Understanding the reach of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc., smart companies are using such sites to tap into a veritable gold mine of young talent to attract candidates with interests and skills that mirror jobs they are seeking to fill.

Through innovative third party applications that bridge data-based applications like Salesforce CRM to Facebook, savvy recruiters locate prospects through keyword searches. Viral recruiting also encourages current employees to recommend friends in their network for job openings. Those leads are often considered the highest quality, as they are pinpointing candidates that are most likely to be interested in job openings.The data used to make the match with the open job position lives within the social network. But personal privacy is not invaded as the most widely used social networks give consumers control over their personal information.

If you're not using social networks to gain an alliance with young prospects, you're missing the boat.

By Eric Chester and courtesy of Generation Why? Whysblog

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 2:36 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Thanks to WCW reader Amy for turning me on to the cool new service Rypple, which seems to be a direct response to Gen Y's need for constant feedback at work.

The premise of Rypple is that successful people have friends, mentors, managers, and clients they view as trusted advisers. These people can give real, useful feedback, but often the process is awkward and time-consuming. And annual performance reviews are loaded because they are linked to your pay and/or advancement in the organization.

Rypple is especially relevant now because it's a way to curb your anxiety if you think your job might be in jeopardy as so many are these days. Instead of wringing your hands worrying about what your boss really thinks of your performance of late, you can just ask.

How does it work? After you sign up (which is free), you go to "get feedback" to ask your mentors, co-workers, managers, friends, or clients a single question. Rypple lets them know you're looking for feedback or advice, and gives them a quick way to tell you what they really think (since their identity is kept secret). It only takes them a minute to respond and they don't even need a Rypple account. Then, you head to "review results" to see the responses as they come in.

The positive applications of Rypple are endless. I might even start using it to solicit recommendations from clients and audience members in real time, immediately after a project or an event. I wish the founders best of luck with this first class idea!

Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 2:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Here are the best practices to using avatars in reinforcing your personal brand online:

What is the goal of your personal avatar?
If your avatar is meant to help people recognize you online only, the choice of image isn't as important as the necessity to use the same image wherever you can.

However, if your avatar is meant to help people recognize you on AND offline, you should use a portrait photo of yourself for the avatar image, and that's the case I'll focus on here.

11 Rules for success

1. Use a picture of yourself, not a logo

Considering that we're discussing "personal branding", the avatar image should be a person - you. Most people say they never forget a face; help them by showing your face.

2. Use the same picture everywhere

This is key. An avatar is your personal logo online, and every appearance should reinforce your personal brand's identity. If repetition is reinforcement, this single concept may have the most impact on your personal brand's success. The best part of this is that reusing the same picture everywhere is just simpler to manage too.

3. Full head shot only

A consequence of using the same picture everywhere is that the image will appear in different sizes. If people are to recognize you, your face should appear as prominently as possible wherever it will be displayed. Considering that avatars can be seen as small as 16 x 16 pixels, only a full face image will give you any chance of being recognized universally.

4. Use a professional self-portrait

This is a no-brainer. Make the best impression with a picture of the best quality.

5. The picture should resemble your real face as much as possible

While trying to look as good as possible in the picture, don't go so far with makeup or Photoshop touch-ups that you're barely recognizable in reality, defeating the whole purpose of the avatar. On the other hand, do cover up or digitally remove any temporary facial blemishes that were visible on the day of your photo shoot.

6. Only use special effects for shock value

For some people, it's more important that the image be memorable than an accurate portrayal, such as a professional clown who's trying to make you laugh. In that case, it's ok to use special effects (facial distortions, etc.) to further your goal.

For everyone else- special effects will only make you less recognizable in real life.

7. Have your picture taken when you're feeling fine

Sleep well the night before or even the few nights before. Also, avoid a photo shoot when you're sick. It's a bad sign if the pictures haven't been taken yet and you already know that Photoshop will be needed.

8. Keep makeup understated unless you have a good reason

If you only want people to recognize you when you have makeup on, use slightly more makeup than usual for the picture. Otherwise, keep it understated so that people can still make the connection if you're not wearing any makeup at all when you meet.

9. Your facial expression should inspire the right emotions

Most people will want to inspire confidence and professionalism with their avatar.

The quickest way to make a good impression is with a nice smile or slight grin, something we grew accustomed to seeing as babies.

For other people, like boxers or prison wardens, a grim face is better to show toughness.

10. The photo background should contrast well

A background that contrasts well with your head or face will make it easy to look at the image online. Another reason to get a professional photographer to take the picture for the avatar.

11. Only use images in the jpg format

Most social networks like LinkedIn or Facebook will let you upload gif, png or jpg images but of those 3, only the jpg standard compresses photo quality images well.

Conclusion

If you take the time and thought to create the best avatar for your personal brand just once, you can multiply the benefits with every view your avatar gets online.

Jacob Share, a job search expert, is the creator of JobMob, one of the biggest blogs in the world about finding jobs. Follow him on Twitter for job search tips and humor.

Article courtesy of Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 2:10 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I just read an interesting article on Forbes.com. Jobs That Obama's Stimulus Program Will Create offers good insight into what jobs may be created in the near future. The advice from Tara Weiss is sound and it jives perfectly with our research on the hardest jobs to fill. Companies tell us that they have trouble finding:

• Engineers
• Machinists and Machine Operators
• Skilled Trades (Welders, Carpenters, Joiners)
• Technicians
• Sales Reps
• Accounting and Finance Staff
• Mechanics
• Laborers
• IT Staff
• Production Operators

If you're currently out of work, now might be a good time to re-examine your career goals and make some changes -- a big change or a small 'tweak' in your skills inventory...

• Take the initiative to upgrade your skill set
• Take some training
• Go back to school
• Use the internet to learn
• Find a mentor who is currently doing what you want to do
• Practice your communication skills -- both written and verbal
• Research companies who might align with your interests
• If appropriate, find a volunteer opportunity that fits

Being out of work is really scary, but try to take advantage of this unplanned time to help advance your career.

Article by Melanie Holmes, Vice President of World of Work Solutions for Manpower, and courtesy of Manpower's Contemporary Working blog. Melanie shares Manpower's extensive knowledge while building strategic partnerships with government, universities and other leadership organizations across the country. She is also responsible for social responsibility at Manpower, which includes diversity, volunteerism, community involvement, community relations, philanthropy and workforce development.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 2:05 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you're job searching at the moment, let me ask you a question - how many jobs do you want?

Just the ONE right?

If you're looking for just one job, it doesn't matter how deep the recession is, how many job cuts are announced each day, how much doom and gloom there is in the environment - if you're only looking for one job - one job will be out there. (Really, it will).

That's the same attitude I had during the recession of the early 1990's when I graduated with no relevant experience and a fairly average academic record. I kept telling myself "I only want one job - there's one job out there with my name on it, I just need to go out and find it."

And I did. I joined a top 10 listed firm which most of my peers thought was beyond our reach. Many of them sat back with a "there's no jobs out there - what's the point" attitude which meant they stopped trying.

It took me several months of hard work, plenty of set backs, being flexible (it wan't exactly my ideal job), and being persistent (I had sooo many rejections)- but all this was based on a mindset that I was just as good as anyone else and "I only want one job."

That's the same attitude you need to take in the current market.

I appreciate that there are fewer roles in the market compared to 12 months ago and there are more people looking - but it all comes down to a) the level of self esteem you have and b) what actions you are willing to take to find a job.

a) Self Esteem
Placing a high value on yourself and having a belief that there are employers out there that you can make a contribution to - employers who will value that contribution - give you the foundation to find work during a recession.
Of course it's not just about the self esteem - it's also about action.

b) Taking Action
If you are really clear about the results you have delivered to date, can articulate them coherently to other firms and are persistent in your approach whilst being open minded about what you'll consider - there will be opportunities in any market. For some people, that may mean having to reinvent your career and find new jobs in different parts of the economy - but again, there will be opportunities if you rebrand yourself, are flexible and willing to work hard it.

So don't get too absorbed in the bad news and job loss announcements that seem to be a daily occurance in the media. Stop that voice in your head that keeps telling you "you're screwed, there are no jobs out there." If you place a high enough value on yourself and take the appropriate actions consistently, you'll find work.

After all, you only want ONE JOB right..?

Article by, Sital Ruparelia and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 1:28 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Ok - how many resumes have I reviewed, written, edited - not sure, but it feels like millions. One thing I have to say over and over again is don't let your resume end up with "feature creep".

Feature creep is a term for over doing it on product options. I came across the term in a book I'm currently reading called Made To Stick, by Dan & Chip Heath. They use a remote control as an example - sure, an engineer can make your remote do 12 billion things - but when is too many too much. When do we get away from 'elegant design' and into too 'complicated' for anyone to use.

It struck me that the same thing happens with one's resume. We want to add 'everything', all our features, including the kitchen sink to our resumes and we over do to the point of zero white space, eye exhaustion and complete boredom on the reviewers part.

The important thing for your resume in today's marketplace is to get away from 'generic' -more is better- and focus on 'targeting'. Research, find a position you are interested in and target your resume specifically to that position so that everything on it speaks to how your experience and background match that particular job. This will help you avoid 'feature creep' on your resume and will satisfy your reviewer.

And - don't forget to get some opinions on your resume. It is very easy for us to fall in love with our own resume. Getting an outside opinion may be the best thing you do to help you create a winning resume.

You can also access our 'free' resume ebook.

Article by, Robin Ogden and courtesy of FiredUPCareers.com

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 11:08 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

You've just been notified of your last day of employment. Your supervisor hands you a severance agreement and release and your mind is flooded with questions. How can this happen? Can they do that? Unfortunately, if you are an employee your employer can terminate you at any time, without notice and with or without severance.

After the shock, here are a few things you should consider when reviewing a severance agreement and managing the transition from one company to your next opportunity. Continue reading about severance packages ...

Article courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 10:32 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

an interview by Dan Schawbel

Today, I spoke with Sally Hogshead, who gives sound advice on how to radically engineer your career and why doing things differently than everyone else will help you stand out. She is an author, speaker and media commentator, who brings years of experience to this interview. We talk about her fancy website, some of the research she's conducted, how she got Careerbuilder to sponsor a book tour for her and reflections on her own personal brand. The main takeaway is that you don't have to do what everyone else does in life. You don't need to be afraid of putting your creativity out there for people to see.

Your website is extremely cool and bold. You even have your own Flash intro with sperm! Why should people invest money in their own websites instead of getting free hosting? Why is this good for personal branding?

When it comes to making a first impression, your website is every bit as important as your dress and demeanor. For many of us, it's even more important because the people we want to reach might never actually meet us. That's not to say your website needs to be complicated or expensive--not at all. It can be simply executed with brilliant content. But no matter what you can afford, it should very accurately communicate the specific qualities of your own personal brand.

Here is my personal brand promise:

"Radical ideas and passionate action, keenly executed."

That means every idea I develop should be radical in some way, with my passionate involvement, and incisive execution.

For my website, RadicalCareering.com, that meant untraditional ideas, such as the motion-graphics of sperm swimming, with the headline, "You were born unlike any other." It's a concept in my book, Radical Careering, about tapping into your own ultimate competitive advantage.

My personal brand is also about keen execution, so I chose a high-end Flash design. However, this site launched in 2005, back before Web 2.0. The Flash was new and sexy back then, but I wouldn't recommend it now, because it limits search engine optimization. Google, as you probably know, can't search Flash. That means all the content in Flash never shows up in search results. I'm actually re-doing my whole online brand (working with The Next Wave) so it's more Web 2.0 savvy.

Why do you say that people have everything they already need to succeed?

Often times, people blame their career shortcomings on external forces: an unsupportive boss, a failed project, or right now, the economy. But the truth is that in the long run, your success depends on factors within your own control. How intently are you willing to apply yourself? Are you willing to push outside of your comfort zone, and refuse to give up even when you feel discouraged?

Would you be willing to take a temporary pay cut for a job that offered the opportunity to work with smarter people, and gain valuable experience? Can you support the people around you to their own success, so that you build a community? You already possess everything you need to make these choices. The hard part is actually making them.

Did you find anything really exciting and unusual in your 1000 radical research project?

Yes! We asked 1000 professionals age 25 - 45 about their motivations and intentions for their careers. The results demonstrate just how our attitudes have shifted since our parents' "bring home the bacon" mindset.

The main findings are posted at radical1000.com. A few highlights:

Which is most important in determining success:

Natural talent: 8.8%
Hard work: 91.2%

Which is more important to get from your employer:

Respect: 88.8%
Fat paycheck: 11.2%

Which has had the greatest influence on your success:

Luck: 2.3%
Skill set: 15.6%
Reputation: 15.8%
Daily actions: 29.2%
Attitude: 37.1%

Which is your idea of professional hell:

Long hours: 3.8%
Low pay: 4.7%
Being micromanaged: 15.6%
Disrespectful boss or coworkers: 75.9%

You got Careerbuilder.com to sponsor a speaking tour for you. How did you manage to pull that off?

After the executives at Careerbuilder.com read Radical Careering, they contacted me to submit a proposal. I could have simply responded in an email, as most other applicants did. But to sell them on my personal brand, I had to clearly articulate why I could do this better than anyone else. If my personal brand truly is "radical ideas and passionate action, keely executed," then I needed to reflect that promise.

So what I did I do? I created the vision for an entire program, which I called "Radical CareerBuilding." I showed how my brand could perfectly combine with their brand. I outlined a marketing plan, potential partners, and even a logo design. Within a week, I got the phone call that I'd be going on tour in a few weeks. I'd sold them with my extra thought and effort.

What are your feelings about personal branding and how have you built your brand in the advertising world?

A personal brand must be an accurate reflection of who you are - who you authentically are at the core of your heart and soul. You can't fake something you're not, or you'll fail. You can't pretend to be detail-oriented if you're really a big-picture creative type, or you'll be miserable. You can't base your brand around reliability if you're not willing to back that up with relentless perfectionism, or you'll lose the trust of those around you.

In my career, everything I do and say and create aligns with my personal brand promise to create "radical ideas and passionate action, keenly executed." That includes not only my resume and website and business card, but also my work itself. When a client hires me to do their advertising and marketing strategy, they get those same qualities. The ideas will not be traditional and safe and boring. I'll engage with the assignment with passion and intensity. The execution will be the highest caliber. Everything in my brand aligns, so people have greater trust in what they will get from me. That allows me to charge higher fees, have greater job security, and more career freedom.

Take, for example, my last name. Hogshead. Can you imagine how much it sucked growing up with the last name Hogshead?? (It was worse than you can imagine, trust me.) Even today, maitre d's in restaurants erase my reservation because they think it's a joke, and operators hang up on me, thinking it's a prank call. People say, disbelievingly, "No, seriously, what's your last name?" Um, it really is Hogshead.

I could have hidden from that, downplayed it, or even changed my name. Instead, I pushed it. My business card reads, "A Hogshead is a barrel that holds 62 Gallons. So what's your name, smartass?"

Article by, Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 9:39 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

You have to love it when a small company grows into something big. It's hard to believe that some of today's major corporations were started with a couple of people in a garage. What's even more extraordinary is when a small company that gets big never loses sight of who they are. That's the story of Patagonia, a company that started out making tools for climbers. They are now a "worldwide business that makes clothes for climbing - as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running." You've probably heard of Patagonia, and there's a good chance that you own something made by them, whether it's a polar fleece, a windbreaker, or long underwear. With a winter like this one, Patagonia gear is especially necessary for avoiding frostbite. Despite advances in technology and amazing business growth, Patagonia continues to take the same approach to their business - their "product design demonstrates a bias for simplicity and utility" and their "values reflect those of a business started by a band of climbers and surfers, and the minimalist style they promoted." Patagonia makes exceedingly cool products, and they are the definition of a cool place to work. Continue reading about Patagonia...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 8:59 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I'm sure that all of you learned the story of Helen Keller in elementary school, but just to refresh you she was a woman who overcame growing up both blind and deaf in the late 1800s to graduate from Radcliffe College magna cum laude. These days that would still be impressive, but it's amazing that she did that when she did it. (She had a tutor spell textbooks letter by letter into her hand.) After graduating from college, Helen Keller made it her life's work to help blind and deaf-blind people. She founded Helen Keller International in 1915, and it has been "devoted to fighting and treating preventable blindness and malnutrition" ever since. Continue reading about Helen Keller International...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 8:56 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

An interview by Dan Schawbel

Today, I spoke with Susan RoAne, who is a bestselling author and speaker. Her latest book is called Face to Face: How to Reclaim the Personal Touch in a Digital World. In this interview, we spoke about online communication versus offline communication, and the differences in technique. Susan also mentions how to manage your own online identity and how to manage the dreaded office politics that many of us are already accustomed to.

Will the internet ever replace face-to-face communication? Why or why not?

No. Although the internet affords us so many ways to connect, meet, communicate, we are still humans who require relationships (professional or personal). It's how our species is wired. This is why even twitter sponsors "gatherings" in some of the urban areas.

How would you communicate to someone different if it were online or offline?

For online communication, we must reread what we write BEFORE we hit send. Many friendships, business communications and sadly, even marriages have been lost because we wrote something we would NEVER say to someone's face. And there is no context, tone, visual or audible clues to our comments. We bring our "stuff" to what we read (email, text or IM) and that causes misinterpretation. (I received an email from a friend that absolutely felt like acupuncture with Knives. Three years later he never remembered what he wrote, had no clue of its tone, but I was hurt for a long time). And who wants to lose a client, job lead or biz relationship because of such miscommunication???

To quote President Obama about having to give up his "BarackBerry":

"My policy is never to hit 'send' without realizing it could end up on CNN."

(It was a CNN pre inaug interview). What I wrote in Face to Face: How To Reclaim the Personal Touch in a Digital World is NEVER send any message you wouldn't want to see on the internet, youtube or in court.

When it comes to personal branding on the web, you are communicating messages without even talking to someone. How can you shape these perceptions/messages so you stay on-brand and are seen positively?

Considering my topic is about communication, connection and building relationships, I make sure my messages have a "personal touch". I want the recipient to know me and feel a personal connection. But I am careful about what I share. I look at each email, text or twitter as something that could be passed around an office.

That serves me in business, marketing and in my social communication. And we all have "techno friends" (a term used in Friendship by Joseph Epstein). They are people we feel a "kinship" but have never and may never meet and that's reflective of our global workplace. Those friendships often evolve out of email, posting comments on blogs , etc.

What is the best way to connect to someone else? How do you know when to use email, IM, etc?

Find out how people PREFER to be communicated with: phone, text, email, twitter. HOWEVER, if everyone else is digitally addicted and you want to solidify your personal brand and connections to a contact, use the PUPÔ method. Pick Up the Phone. Again, find out what works for the receiver. It was recommended to me that if constructing an email or IM is taking more than 5 minutes of time, there must be a reason that can be solved quicker in a phone call. And we get to hear tone, inflection, etc. Avoid the volley of emails, the CCs to everyone and their brother and boss.

What are your top 3 tips for handling office politics?

• Be aware.
• Be observant and
• know what's going on.

Talk to people in all types of positions as they bring another view, information and grapevine. Have a multi- layered office network. DO NOT contribute any bad behavior or damaging judgements/gossip. The SAVVY among us are in the loop. Otherwise, things happen and, if you don't know the players, processes and events, you can be caught off-guard in the Job world.

Article by, Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 3:53 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

With the start of the New Year, employers will be finalizing their salary budgets for 2009. Many survey vendors collected, compiled and analyzed data regarding merit increases for 2009 and reported that merit budgets for 2009 were on track to remain consistent with previous years' averaging at around the 3.5% mark.

As more economic turmoil surfaced toward year end, some organizations took a new look at merit budget plans for 2009 as we discussed in the article Pay Increases in 2009 May Disappoint Workers in our December 30th newsletter. Most employers are being cautious, preparing for long-term economic difficulty and keeping their options open for 2009.

So what does this mean for employees?

Continue reading ...

Article courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 1:28 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I'd suspected as much, and then I read it in the Economist. Sometime between the beginning of the economic downturn and now, Gen Y has become unentitled. Says the article that confirmed my thoughts:

Jessica Buchsbaum first noticed that something had changed in May 2008. The head of recruitment for a law firm in Florida, Ms Buchsbaum was used to interviewing young candidates for summer internships who seemed to think that the world owed them a living. Many applicants expected the firm to promote itself to them rather than the other way around. However, last May's crop were far more humble. "The tone had changed from 'What can you do for me?' to 'Here's what I can do for you'," she says.

The global downturn has been a brutal awakening for the youngest members of the workforce - variously dubbed "the Millennials", "Generation Y" or "the Net Generation" by social researchers. They got used to a world in which jobs were plentiful and firms fell over one another to recruit them. Now, their prospects are grimmer. According to America's Bureau of Labour Statistics, the unemployment rate among people in their 20s increased significantly in the two most recent recessions in the United States. It is likely to do so again as industries such as finance and technology, which employ lots of young people, axe thousands of jobs. Net Geners are also finding it harder to hop to new jobs, while their dissatisfaction grows as crisis-hit firms adopt more of a command-and-control approach to management - the antithesis of the open, collaborative style that young workers prefer.

To me, this last sentence says a great deal. I don't think the generational clashes are going to stop just because Gen Y is less cocky. Today's young professionals still need a supportive work environment, and given that they're the future of most organizations, companies that are unable or refuse to provide it will have troubles that extend beyond their current economic woes.

Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 11:46 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

It's Saturday and I've been on the phone with clients who are looking for jobs. I've been reading through all the job news (or jobless news) hearing Obama talk about the possibility of double digit unemployment if we don't 'act fast', and basically just feeling a bit gloomy with all the down news.

So, I decided to clear up some paperwork and get ready for good ol' tax season (wow, what a way to add to and already down day!). I came across this paper that was handed out in a psychology class that I took some time ago. After reading it again now, I thought I would post it because it struck a cord in me of hope and possibility. I wish I knew who wrote it because I would certainly give full credit and links, but there is no name on the paper (if you know who wrote it let me know).

He's The Greatest!

Yesterday I overhead my son talking to himself as he strutted through the

backyard wearing his baseball cap and toting a bat and ball:

"I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced.

Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed.

"Strike One!" he yelled.

Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!"

He tossed the ball into the air.

When it came down, he swung again and missed.

"Strike Two!" he cried.

The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!"

Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed.

"Strike Three!" he yelled.

Then he exclaimed, "Wow! I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"

-------------

What struck me (no pun intended) after reading this is that when we grow up and get out there in the world of 'career' we think of ourselves in only one way - as an accountant, or as an engineer, or as an administrator, or as a product manager. We forget how many gifts we really do have and how transferable our gifts are into so many different professions and industries.

I think we need to think more like the boy in the poem - it didn't end when he didn't hit the ball (hence, it doesn't end when we get laid off), he turned it into a success and another gift he was able to give to the world. I think we all have that inside of us if we just start thinking differently.

Article by Robin Ogden and courtesy of FiredUPCareers.com

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 11:02 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Okay, so you are comfortable with getting your personal brand out there on the web. But periodically you are going to have to monitor, prune and synchronize it to keep it fresh. Here are a few tips for keeping your personal brand clean, organized and synchronized.

Monitor

Tons have been written about monitoring technologies for brands and here is a good list of them all - 170 Resources to help you manage your online reputation. I tend to use a combination of Technorati alerts on my name and blog name sent directly to a special folder in my Google RSS reader. Plus I also use Tweetscan for twitter mentions and Samepoint for comment mentions all sent directly to a personal brand folder in my Google RSS Reader. Bottom line find something that works for you and stick with it.

Organize

Listening is really the easy part, organizing your brand and more complicated. Like any brand you want to be known for something. So making sure that your single message and point of view is coming through on all sites your brand is on is critical.

I syndicate my blog to 10 sites and get picked up my a dozen or so more. You have to be sure you bio, headshot, key message and look and feel of your brand is perfect across all these channels. I have a quarterly reminder on my outlook calendar for the first Saturday of every quarter - to visit all these sites and see how my brand is coming across.

Tip: When you do this please be sure you don't just go through the motions - really think like a person who is unfamiliar with your brand and then look for ways to improve on all of these sites.

Synchronize

Here is one that is new for me and is well worth the time. I am sure you have been growing your personal brand onplaces like Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo - but have you synchronized all of them to ensure you are getting the biggest benefit from all of them?

Here is how. Assuming you have assembled all your email addresses into one central location like Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail - you can then export them to a file and import it into Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Plaxo looking for people who you haven't connected with yet.

I did this recently and found tons of people I was connected with on LinkedIn but not Twitter or Friendfeed and vice versa. Hat tip goes out to Christopher Penn to pointing this out on a recent podcast of Marketing over Coffee. In fact they even wrote a 19 page eBook about the topic.

Article by, Paul Dunay and courtesy of Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 10:42 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Did you know employers sometimes pay a premium for the right education and experience? Or that you might be able to earn more by doing the same job in a larger company? In fact, these could be some of your strongest negotiating points in your next performance review, job interview, or request for a promotion.

Employers typically adjust their market data when determining how much to pay a specific employee to do the job. After they determine the value of the position by researching the data on pay practices for comparable jobs at comparable companies, they adjust the data to reflect the employee's background and experience. Continue reading ...

Article courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 10:21 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Your college degree is worthless...that is unless you learn to supplement it accordingly and market it effectively. In Part 1 of this two-part post, we examined ways to supplement your college degree. In Part 2, we discuss how to market your degree effectively.

About the author: Career development professional with 10 years of experience in career advising. Specializes in working with undergraduate students with little-to-no work experience. Special interests include: international students, immigrant populations, parents transitioning back into the workforce, faith in the workplace, and Christian career counseling. Grace's site, Sweet Careers, provides tips, advice, videos, and tutorials to help job seekers find meaningful careers.

Posted by Grace Kutney on January 29, 2009 at 9:43 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I participate in a lot of career events where I critique people's resumes. It's usually a five to ten minute diagnostic exercise and I can give job seekers general guidance on the strengths and weaknesses of their document. While it's really designed to help people "check the pulse" of their resume, many people come with the expectation that the critique will "fix" their resume or at least provide them with a step by step roadmap of how to craft the perfect self-marketing tool.

It's not that simple and job seekers should view the critique like a cholesterol or blood pressure check. Once you know the state of your "resume health" you can begin to craft a strategy for improving it. There is no quick fix and you will have to put in some work.

Deciding on your next steps requires some soul searching and introspection on your part. If you are a real do-it-yourself-er" you might want to invest in a few resume writing books. Career Hub offers a free resume writing guide and Blue Sky Resumes offers a free resume course. If you want to view books with writing tips and samples, you can check out the JIST expert resume books at Wendy Enelow or Your Best Impression. You can also find advice and samples in Happy About My Resume.

But if writing and self promotion is not your thing, be honest about it and make the investment in yourself by partnering with a professional resume writer to be your muse and best position you for your next opportunity. The bloggers on this site represent some of the industry's best resume writers. Find a "voice" here that you can relate to and initiate a conversation with a professional.

I know a lot of people are feeling they can't afford professional help these days, but a poorly constructed resume just keeps you out of work longer. Instead of asking yourself "Can I afford a professional resume?" ask yourself "Can I afford not to have a professional resume?"

Article by, Barbara Safani and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 9:06 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

We've told you about teaching fellowship programs before, and today we're going to look at another one. It's called Math for America, and it's based in New York City with operations in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Washington, DC as well. Their goal is simple; they want to "improve math education in secondary public schools in the United States by recruiting, training, and retaining outstanding mathematics teachers." Numerical literacy is essential to a properly functioning society, and, unfortunately, we're falling short. If people can't understand basic math, there's no hope that they'll ever be financially responsible. If they can't understand statistics, how will they ever fully comprehend the political process or medical advice? Our country's math education is woefully inadequate, and even many students at top colleges have a fear of math. Great teachers are the answer, and that's why Math for America is recruiting great mathematical minds for America's classrooms. Continue reading about Math for America...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 8:49 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Running a website isn't easy. I know. Figuring out hosting, updating software, setting up an e-mail account, managing analytics, and monitoring uptime are just a few of the tasks that make setting up a website a nearly insurmountable task for small business owners. If you don't know how to do everything yourself, you need a pro whom you can trust to jump in and fix something when it breaks - even if it's at 2 AM. Why deal with all the headaches of managing a website (and a webmaster) when you can outsource it all to someone else, like GoodBarry? GoodBarry is an integrated system that allows you to manage your business' website, e-mail marketing, and online shop while automatically growing its customer database all through one central console. Although it's not suitable for what I'm doing here on One Day, One Job, I can dream of the day when I don't have to worry about all the webmaster stuff. Continue reading about GoodBarry...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 8:44 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In their eagerness to get a job offer, many prospective employees forget that they are making a choice too. Presumably they're going to spend a good chunk of their lives with this organization, and yet they don't take the time to really evaluate whether or not it's a good place for them to be. That's why I love this article from the excellent Heather Huhman at Examiner.com. Heather says:

Even if the position description sounds perfect, the culture is ideal and you love your future supervisor, it is essential you look beyond these characteristics to the overall health of the company. Katy Piotrowski, M.Ed., author of "The Career Coward's Guide to Job Searching," provided five signs to look for that indicate a company is failing.

1. Weak credibility in the industry. If you're just getting started in your career, ask your professors, parents or friends of the family what they know about a company's reputation. If you receive more "thumbs down" than "thumbs up" ratings, think twice about signing on with them.

2. A credit record that raises eyebrows. If you're not sure how to check a company's credit record, talk with your banker about uncovering the data you need. She can steer you to credit-reporting services and help you interpret what you discover. Despite typical ups and downs, better-run businesses will be able to maintain a good credit rating.

3. Being a brand-new business. On average, fewer than 50 percent of businesses survive past the first 48 months. Ask how long your potential employer has been in existence, and aim to sign on with one that's been solvent for five years or more. Your chances of staying employed beyond the short-term will double.

4. A revolving door of employees. If the business changes employees practically every season, beware. Ask to talk with the person who most recently held the position you're considering, and find out why they moved on. Again, former professors, friends and family members may be able to help you uncover the contacts you need.

5. A tiny little voice that says, "Don't do it!" Your intuition can be your best guide. If something about the potential employer doesn't seem right, talk with a mentor you trust to get his feedback about what you're sensing.

Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 7:42 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Thanks to ProBlogger's Darren Rowse for sharing an excellent piece by Laura Roeder on making deals with bigshots in 10 minutes. Here are some highlights of Laura's advice, which is sound and absolutely worth following, because no matter how great you are, there will always be someone higher up the totem pole who can help you.

Don't think people are out of your league. No one is too important for you to contact. It's always worth a shot.
Keep the chit-chat to a minimum. Follow their lead if they want to make small talk later, but in the beginning you should get to the point quickly. If this feels awkward to you, start the call by saying "Alright, let's get right to it!"

Do not assume that they know who you are or have read materials you've sent them. Start with a brief overview. Do not take it personally if people have no clue who you are, they are taking the time to speak with you because they want to know who you are.

Tell them exactly what you'd like them to do. Never contact someone and say "Hey I thought we could do a joint venture, any ideas?" Don't make them work for you, always come from the position that you are working for them. The benefit is two-fold. One, they will be happy that you came to the table with something. Two, it is much easier to agree to an idea than to think of an idea on your own. Make it easy for them to say yes!

Ask if there's anything else they would like to discuss. You are leading the conversation, not dominating it. Make sure you give them a chance to ask clarifying questions or throw in their own ideas.

Propose some next steps. So many people overlook this and finish a call with "Um, then I guess we'll get back in touch in a few months?" You need to take ownership of putting your plan into action.

Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 6:23 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Staying Mobile is the second of the 6 Principles of the Free Agent Worker. What does it mean to "stay mobile"? In her earlier comment, Angie from Caribbean Career Advice got it right. She said it could mean, "available", "flexible", "visible", "participatory" or "involved."

You need to see yourself as an actor on a stage, someone who takes action and takes control of his or her life. This applies whether your career is repairing home appliances or teaching extension classes at a local college. Get over any stigma of "selling yourself." If you follow the suggestions in this post, you won't need to sell anything. Let your actions speak for themselves.

Many people become too entrenched and too "in love" with their current employer - and in some cases, their industry. Narrowing your worldview to one workplace places your fate in one employer's hands - not a great idea, even in a hot economy.

I'm not suggesting you set your sights so broad that you try to be all things to all people - just prepare yourself to make the next move, before you need to. Depending on where you work, that may require you to switch industries or job titles. Learning about the criteria for job satisfaction will help you think about what you want in your current job and the next one.

Here are some suggestions on how to stay mobile by making yourself visible.

Join at least one networking group for your industry (see our tips in my recent post, career specific networking), and plan on attending at least 50% of the meetings. After going for awhile, you'll meet people and learn new information about other employers and your industry. At some point, you'll feel comfortable in contributing to the group - either in leadership or giving a talk.

• If your industry doesn't have a networking group, try one that bolsters skills you need in your job (Toastmasters for public speaking, etc.)
• Offer to volunteer with one group or nonprofit, using skills and/or knowledge needed in your career.
• If you don't enjoy going to the group after a few tries, think about why that is and try a different group. Does the reason have to do with you, or with the group itself? Are you meeting other like-minded people? If you have trouble talking to strangers (like I do), go online or get library books at with helpful advice, or team up with a more outgoing colleague who will go with you. Just make sure you branch out when you get to the meeting.
• Don't be afraid to join a group or volunteer where you think people are more educated, outgoing, or interesting than you are. Chances are, you underestimate yourself. As we all learned in grade school (and nothing has changed), who you "hang out" with will rub off on you. You might as well spend time with and learn from other successful, motivated people.

Never lose sight of your goal to be someone available, flexible, visible, and ready for a new opportunity. That's not disloyalty to your current employer, that's being smart.

Article by, Juliet Wehr Jones, J.D. and courtesy of Career Key, striving to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 4:14 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

"'With no job and 5 kids, 'better to end our lives', one man wrote".. with such horrendous stories coming up recently, it is time we thought more on this topic - How to generate income post layoff / or during job search process and also focus on how to remain positive during these tough times.

I am presenting this article in two parts - focusing on how you can generate small incomes when not in a full-time job and the other very important aspect is -- how to remain positive and do the right things when the going gets tough. This post will be updated in the coming weeks with more ideas, in the hope that even if it helps or influences the lives of 10 odd families, it is much much worth it.

Before you even start thinking of how to generate extra income to sustain yourself and family, it is very important to have a healthy balanced mental outlook. Quoting from an article on my website:

"While the positive state of mind governed by positive emotions can do wonders in realizing one's aspirations and goals, the negative frame of mind, harshly controlled by negative emotions, can cause havoc and destabilize, dislocate and demoralize a person to unimaginably lowly depths. Positive thinking and high morale can lead one to incredible heights of achievements and success, low morale and pessimistic outlook can drive people to ignoble defeats and tragic failure, one state of mind may lead to the path of fame and glory, the other may push one to hellish fire of sorrow and misery. Hope and faith may lead to incredible achievements."

So for that reason I shall cover the money generation topic in the next post - part 2 of this article.

HOW TO STAY POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC WHEN YOU HAVE NO INCOME

Here are some tips, please contribute yours to supplement this list:

• Do not isolate yourself. Talk to your friends and those you connect to - just closing yourself to the world can do more harm and enhance depression
• It is not your fault or someone else's that you are out of job, do not fall in the guilt or blame cycle - think about what must be your next positive steps
• Evaluate your spending - what can you cut down to save the few dollars, even those will matter in the long run. For example;
• Cook meals at home in a small budget, or get together with other friends and families and eat together- you might save this way too..
• Avail free food services - there are quite a few in most cities where you can get free food for the family, for example Presbyterian Churches, Sikh Gurdwara Temples etc.
• Listen to some inspirational audio once a week
• Read a good/inspirational book every month
• Dance alone or with your kids whenever you can - at least once a week
• Think positive thoughts - a healthy mental state is very important to achieve anything

And if the list above does not convince you enough, think about all those who are in far much situation than yours and still fighting life smiling. Think about those affected by war or chronic disease.

DO NOT HARM YOURSELF OR OTHERS or indulge in other criminal activities, remember that this too will pass. Don't let a wrong move today haunt you and your family forever.

Every crisis must teach us to do things better next time. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT?

What would you do different if it ever happens again? And the reason this is a good time to think about the future because we never get time from our daily routines to think about what we cold do if things were different .. well this is the time. Use your time well and you will get out of it wiser.

Words of Wisdom from the Great Minds

Give the great thinkers of our times a chance to motivate you - those who have said more in few words:

"Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valleys you must traverse. Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the mountaintop. So will you learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble. There is always a seed of good. Find it and prosper."
-- Og Mandino

"If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn"
-- Bernie Siegel

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit."-- Bill Clinton

"Tough times don't last, tough people do, remember?"
-- Gregory Peck

In the part 2 of this article, I will compile some ideas on how to generate money if you have no permanent job and getting one in near future seems isn't likely.

Article by Shweta L. Khare, founder and president of Careerbright and Speakbright and courtesy of Careerbright blogspot

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 4:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Have you ever heard the one about the woman who was walking down the street at night when she came across a man searching frantically on the ground for something in the light of a streetlamp?

She asked him, "Sir, what are you looking for?" He said, "I have lost my keys."

She said, "I will help you look. Did you lose them right here?"

The man said, "No I lost them across the street in the alley"

The woman asked, "Then why are you looking over here?"

And the man responded, "There's no light over there."

That joke makes me think of some job seekers I have met....they look for jobs in places they are comfortable looking but that aren't necessarily where the jobs are. The key to finding employment in a tough economy (and make no mistake, many people, including about 70% of my clients, are finding jobs now) is to go where the jobs are. You may have to leave your comfort zone whether that means your current geographic location or your industry. Use the internet to conduct research on which companies are hiring and what industries are growing.

Here is a list of a few of the companies that are recruiting for job openings right now:

Edward Jones is hiring financial advisors and branch office administrators in St. Louis, MO and Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ

Google is hiring engineers, marketing professionals, product managers, and sales professionals in Mountain View, CA, New York City, and San Francisco, CA

Cisco is hiring engineers and customer advocates in San Jose, CA, Research Triangle Park, NC, and Boxborough, MA

Genentech is hiring product development professionals, manufacturing employees, and legal professionals in San Francisco and Oceanside, CA

Methodist Hospital System is hiring management, nurses, clinical professionals, IT and HR professionals, entry level support services and administrative jobs in Baytown and Houston, TX locations.

Whole Foods Market needs to hire a wide range of people in Austin, TX, Chicago, IL, and New York City. Supposedly they have around 800 job openings.

Microsoft is hiring despite their recently announced layoffs. They are recruiting software design engineers, financial analysts, HR professionals, marketing and sales professionals in Redmond and Issaquah, WA and Mountain View, CA

Ernst & Young, Accenture, KPMG, and Price Waterhouse Coopers plan to hire thousands of employees in 2009. E&Y alone plans to hire approximately 2,400 experienced professionals and nearly 5,000 students from campus into Assurance, Tax, and Advisory practices. Openings are in New York, Chicago, IL, and Dallas, TX.

Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world is hiring software and systems engineers, information assurance and security engineers and intelligence analysts in McLean, Herndon, and Arlington, VA

If you are concerned about your job security or have been laid off you should put your resume together and find a company that is hiring people like you - jobs are out there but you may have to do a little research to find the jobs.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 3:31 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Like many of you, The Shawshank Redemption is my favorite movie. In fact, it's arguably the greatest film ever to get completely snubbed by Oscar. I'm not usually a movie quote guy, but I think this flick has much career advice to offer. There are some spoilers below, so if you've never seen the movie (shame on you!) stop reading and go Netflix it!

"Get busy living or get busy dying" - Andy Dufresne

Andy utters these words to Red the day before he makes his triumphant escape from Shawshank. We'd never compare work to prison (nah!), but we do think it's a fair question to ask yourself on a regular basis. Are you 'dying' where you are working or 'living?' More...

Article by Andrew G.R. and courtesy of jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 10:34 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Your college degree is worthless...that is unless you learn to supplement it accordingly and market it effectively. In Part 1 of this two-part post, we examine ways to supplement your college degree.

Before anything else, let me say this: YOU are in control of your career and your college education - don't let that control slip away from you by handing over decision-making power to someone else. Of course it's a good idea to ask for help from your parents, advisors, faculty, career counselors, friends, etc. But, the final decisions have to be yours.

Supplementing your college degree:

• You've gone to college to learn, both inside the classroom and outside of it. What you learn and how much you learn is up to you.
  • For example, if you're interested in pursuing a career in child development, and have signed up for a developmental psychology class, don't assume your professor will bestow all that needs to be known about child development upon you. If there are certain aspects of child development that you know will be useful to you in your career (because you've been researching various employers in your field), utlize your prof's office hours to discuss the topic in more detail. Think about writing a term paper on the subject. If you're offered the opportunity to give a class presentation, make sure your presentation is about this topic.
  
  
• If you know you'll need at least a working knowledge of specific tools, technologies or techniques, but don't have time in your course schedule to add another class that will give you this specific knowledge set, explore other avenues on campus to gain the desired knowledge.
  • For example, if you're an English major with an interest in an editing internship but have no experience with QuarkXpress, ask around campus if there are faculty, staff, grad students or other students who would be willing to give you a quick tutorial, or better yet, give you some time using the software.
• Outside the classroom or lab, look for ways to gain experience through student organizations.
  • If you know managing a budget is a skill you'll need in your career, consider becoming the Treasurer of campus group.
  • If event planning is your interest, be the one to organize a rally or campus fundraiser.
• On-campus jobs are another excellent, and practical, source of experience.
  • Need to demonstrate a background is sales? Get involved with phonathon.
  • Want to shore up your multitasking skills? Look for a job in campus catering or food service.
  • Future career calls for experience managing crisis situations? Consider opportunities with campus helplines, peer counseling, residence life or security.
  There's a wealth of experience waiting to be gained on campus, you just have to look for it.
  
• There's plenty of experience to be gained off campus, as well. Internships and part time jobs are the most obvious sources, but also consider volunteering. (Just keep in mind that service is best performed for service's sake, not as a resume padder.)
  

About the author: Career development professional with 10 years of experience in career advising. Specializes in working with undergraduate students with little-to-no work experience. Special interests include: international students, immigrant populations, parents transitioning back into the workforce, faith in the workplace, and Christian career counseling. Grace's site, Sweet Careers, provides tips, advice, videos, and tutorials to help job seekers find meaningful careers.

Posted by Grace Kutney on January 28, 2009 at 9:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

A friend sent me an email the other day asking for help. "Can you read through my blog post and make some suggestions for how to improve it?" he asked.

"Sure." I replied. "Could you tell me who your audience is? I can't evaluate anything without knowing who you're writing for."

His response showed that I'd thrown him for a loop. "I don't write with an audience in mind. Is that a problem?"

Know your audience and increase your effectiveness
Actually, it is a BIG problem. What impresses one person could mean absolutely nothing to a different kind of person.

It's incredibly important to think about the kind of person or employer you want to appeal to in order to create your personal brand strategy.

Some of you will be shaking your head at this. There are a lot of people who never think about their audience-and they do fine. You might already be doing well without considering your audience. Why add in the extra step?

The truth is, knowing your audience can drastically increase the effectiveness of your personal branding efforts. That's because if you know who you are trying to reach, it's easier to determine where to concentrate your efforts.

Let's say you want to work at a small, cutting-edge marketing company. Then you need to make sure your personal brand shows that you know and understand all the new marketing trends. You should actively be using multiple forms of social media and focusing on building connections with other online marketers everywhere from Facebook to Twitter. If you're not, it will have a negative effect on your brand.

Know how you measure up
In fact Joseph Jaffe of the new marketing firm crayon just declared, "If you don't blog, you can't work at crayon." Hubspot, an inbound-marketing company, looks at the Twitter Grade and the Website Grade of potential employees' personal websites or blogs to see if they have their act together. Those companies want to potential employees to be connected online and actively using social media tools.

If you're looking to participate in a more conservative field, however, your personal branding needs to be drastically different. On your blog, you need to focus on serious material that shows you are constantly learning about the field and have a strong depth of knowledge. You'll want to focus less on Facebook, and more on building your profile on LinkedIn.

A good example of this is Jeff Ogden, who is looking for a job as a senior executive. On his blog, CEO Ideas, Jeff writes about the studies, white papers and articles he reads, and shares his advice on how to grow a business in tough times. His blog demonstrates strong thought-leadership in his field.

Having a clear idea of your audience is important because it gives you a barometer to to determine if you're accomplishing your goal or not.

Every time you participate online, you can quickly check to make sure it supports your personal brand by asking "How would example person of your audience view fill in what you're doing online? Would this impress them?" If the answer is yes, then you know you're on the right track. If not, you can change what you're doing until it does fit.

Get lucky by doing everything possible
Of course, there's always the possibility that you could get lucky and naturally create a personal brand that will catapult you to fame and fortune in the exact area you'd love to work in. Some do.

But in a tough hiring market with hundreds of others looking for work, wouldn't you rather do everything possible to make sure your personal branding is as effective as possible?

Article by, Katie Konrath and courtesy of Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 8:57 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I received the following press release from Office Team when I asked about the funniest interview experiences their recruiters had ever had. CA

Survey Reveals Most Embarrassing Job Interview Blunders

Most people are on their best behavior when meeting with hiring managers, but some actions fall nothing short of bizarre. In a recent survey, OfficeTeam asked executives to recount the most embarrassing job interview moments they had heard of or witnessed.

Following are some examples:

"The candidate sent his sister to interview in his place."

"The candidate stopped the interview and asked me if I had a cigarette."

"We had one person who walked out of an interview into a glass door -
and the glass shattered."

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam and conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 150 senior executives at the 1,000 largest U.S. companies and 100 senior executives in Canada.

It's helpful to do your homework before a job interview, and the following job seekers would have benefited from more preparation:

"The candidate got his companies confused and repeatedly mentioned the strengths of a competing firm, thinking that's who he was interviewing with."

"We're a retail company, and when we asked the candidate why she wanted to work for us, she said she didn't want to work in retail anymore."

Most employers observe applicants' body language to see how friendly and honest they appear. Unfortunately, these job candidates could have used some improvement in that area:

"An interviewee put his bubble gum in his hand, forgot about it, and then shook my hand."

"A candidate fell asleep during the interview."

Dressing professionally increases your chances of landing a job. Regrettably for these next job hopefuls, the wrong attire can take you out of the running:

"Someone showed up for an interview in pajamas and his hair not combed, like he had just rolled out of bed."

"A candidate insulted the interviewer on his tie."

"Although extreme, these examples illustrate the importance of interview basics," said Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "To be considered for a job, candidates must prepare well, dress appropriately and provide compelling information about themselves."

OfficeTeam provides the following tips to avoid embarrassing job interview moments:

• Do your homework. Study the company and ask the interviewer relevant questions that demonstrate your interest in the firm.


• Dress to impress. Err on the conservative side with a suit in a neutral tone. "Test drive" a new outfit before the interview to make sure it's comfortable.


• Don't delay. Plan to arrive at your interview at least 15 minutes early.


• Give yourself extra time if you are unfamiliar with the area.


• Keep it real. Offer examples and anecdotes that help illustrate your strengths, but do not embellish or lie.


• Resist rambling. Once you have answered an interview question, stop talking. Allow for periods of silence while the hiring manager formulates the next query.

Alas, even careful preparation can't prevent all mishaps, such as the
following:

"A candidate cut his lip shaving, and it was bleeding profusely during the interview."

"The applicant spilled coffee on her suit."

Added Willmer, "Handling problems gracefully may actually impress interviewers. But if the situation can't be overcome, move on and focus on the next opportunity. It's a learning experience that will someday make an entertaining story."

Although some of the above scenarios sounded familiar to me, I thought it was worth it to post them again because it's like what one comedian said about the warnings on new gadgets (electronics, appliances, etc.): "They wouldn't have said it if somebody hadn't tried it." I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. CA

OfficeTeam provides businesses with the temporary administrative professionals they need to maximize productivity, achieve cost efficiency and support full-time staff. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at
www.officeteam.com.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 8:31 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Have you been asked to do more at work with fewer resources? Are you overwhelmed trying to figure out how you will do it all? Are you hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel, but have a feeling that there is none?

In today's environment, many of us are carrying a heavier workload than we used to. And, we are feeling the crunch. A few years ago, we were busy, but not like this. The economy is taking a downturn, and not only have we been asked to do more with less, but we are afraid if we do not keep up, we may be included in the next round of layoffs.

You might not be able to control your workload, but you can control how you react to it. You can choose to be overwhelmed, or you can choose to accept where you are today, while taking steps to improve your situation.

So How Can You Make The Situation Better? Follow These Easy Steps:

1. Know That You Are Not Alone

With layoffs and cutbacks, everyone is feeling the pressure. Knowing that you are not alone, can give you the strength to continue. It also alleviates the internal question of why it seems like everyone else is handling their workload better than you. Everyone is
busy. But, what you choose to do about your "busy-ness" it is up to you.

2. Prioritize & Plan

You can only do so many tasks at one time, so it makes sense to focus in on what is really required. Before you leave each evening, write down your top 3 priorities that need to be accomplished the next day. In addition, write down one step that will get you
started for each item. You might not feel like doing this at the end of your day. (You are tired, you want to go home, etc.) But the reward is direction and focus when you begin work in the morning. Why wing it? Set yourself up powerfully so you can win.

3. Delegate or Eliminate

After you have prioritized, it is time to look at what you need to accomplish. What can be given to someone else or removed from your day? This will be tricky. You will have to get creative and come up with a good reason why you are no longer the right person to
perform these tasks. Will you be more productive if you eliminate this portion of your job? Is the company losing money by keeping this process in place? Come up with what is in it for the company if you want to delegate some of your responsibilities.

4. Become The Solution

What strategies can you come up with to solve the problem? What processes can you make a part of your day to help things run smoother? Finding a solution will not only energize you, it will give you a sense of power and control over your situation.

5. Take Good Care Of Yourself

Your most important priority right now (and always!) is you. You cannot complete the projects you have on your plate unless you take care of yourself first. Take breaks during the day if you can. Try to leave your thoughts about work at the office. Bring healthy foods into work with you everyday, and drink lots of water. Do not be surprised if you see a shift in your attitude when you incorporate these simple practices.

6. Remember That It Will Not Be Like This Forever

In life we have our good days and bad days, and this too shall pass. When we look back at the situations that have been the hardest, we realize that we were there for a reason. What do you think you are learning or need to learn from this situation? What have you
been avoiding or resisting that you cannot overlook anymore? Use this lesson to empower yourself and those around you.

Article by Deborah Brown-Volkman, a top professional Certified Coach (PCC), sought-out career coach & expert, best-selling author, and the President of , Surpass Your Dreams, a successful career coaching, life coaching, and mentor coaching company that has been delivering a message of motivation, success, and personal fulfillment since 1998.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 8:18 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In the rush of daily work, many of us forget to do regular "maintenance" with our job skills. Maintaining our attractiveness on the job market means identifying our skills, strengthening and adding to them, Principle #1 in my blog series, 6 Principles of the Free Agent Outlook on Work.

The more scarce and in demand your skills are, the more likely you will get or keep a job - in other words, marketable skills. The good news is that skills can be both "marketable" and "enjoyable" - you just need to plan it that way.

The following 5 actions will help make you a successful Free Agent using marketable skills you enjoy:

1. Identify your skills, including the "Foundation Skills" and your "motivated skills", those you enjoy using. You can do this by following the steps in Career Key author Dr. Lawrence K. Jones's article, "Identify Your Skills."

2. Match your personality with careers, keeping in mind what you learned about your "motivated skills." Your Career Key test results and the skills you identified will show you the direction most likely to result in job satisfaction.

3. Know what skills your industry, desired employer, and career path requires. If you're in the right career - one that matches your personality, it should require your "motivated skills." If not, then you need to re-evaluate your career path. What you don't enjoy, you will not do well in the long term.

4. Strengthen the skills you enjoy and that your career requires. You can do this in several ways:

• take training or classes (paid for by your employer or by yourself),
• seek out people with skills you lack or are weak in, and spend time with and learn from them. This could be in your social life and on the job,
• ask for certain work assignments, and/or start a project outside of your job (small business, volunteer).

5. Clearly communicate your skills and accomplishments to employers, whether you are interviewing or in a performance evaluation meeting. If you don't get performance evaluations, find appropriate ways to make sure your boss - and if possible, your boss's boss, knows about your skills. For example, if your project made money for the company, find ways to publicly thank people who helped you on the project.

Successful Free Agents need to be ready to tell a prospective employer what their skills are, how they used them in the past, and how they will use them in the future to help the employer achieve their goals (profits, helping people, etc). Preparing yourself using these exercises will make you a successful Free Agent.

Article by, Juliet Wehr Jones, J.D. and courtesy of Career Key, striving to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 7:35 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Want a promotion? Let me guess the response.

I estimate that over 80% to 90% of individuals never ask for a promotion and of those who ask over 95% don't plan enough before pitching for it. Considering what's at stake, it is surprising that so many individuals don't have a robust plan to achieve their career goals.

If you have repeatedly lost a promotion to a not-so-good contender, it may be time to conduct an honest self assessment and develop a solid career management strategy.

Consider the following strategies:

Define the goal, first

Before pitching for a promotion, it is absolutely critical to define your next step. Do you want to move to a leadership position? Are you seeking to add project management skills to your portfolio? Is it just a jump in the title? Is it about the money? Are your short term goals in sync with your long term career strategy? Get it? Continue reading about how to ask for a promotion ...

Nimish Thakkar is a sought-after career management coach and professional resume writer. He has helped thousands of clients through his Resume Writing Service and Free Career Information site. Thakkar holds two graduate degrees, including an MBA. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Career Coach Academy. Nimish can be reached at nimish@resumecorner.com

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 28, 2009 at 6:30 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Effective communication has always been an important factor in career success, and the role of writing is more important today that ever before. The ability to write is one of the most important communication skills in the modern business world. Because so much business communication takes place via written methods of communication, writing skills are essential in virtually every field.

While it's true that some people are naturally talented when it comes to writing, it's a fact that writing skills can be learned. You don't have to be a creative writing guru to create professional business documentation. Effective business writing involves the proper use of grammar, language, tone, and style. These skills can be improved with proper training and practice.

5 Reasons to Brush Up Your Business Writing Skills

There are many reasons to focus on improving your writing skills, particularly if career advancement is something that you are striving to accomplish.

1. Increasing Role of Writing in the Workplace
Historically, writing was viewed as a very formal type of workplace communication, taking the form of letters, reports, and other detailed documentation. Today, a great deal of customer and co-worker communication takes place via e-mail, instant messenger, text messages, and more. Many times, modern workers engage in written communication more than spoken interactions.

2. Writing Skills Reflect Professionalism
It's a fact that there's a strong association between writing skills and professionalism. People who are able to write clear, concise, and effective business messages tend to be viewed more favorably in the workplace than those who are less skilled in this area. To be seen as competent, the written messages that you create need to reflect both solid substance and proper form.

3. Improved Communication Accuracy
Many misunderstandings occur as a result of writing problems. Those who are not able to write clearly often convey messages that they don't intend to send, simply because syntax problems alter the literal meaning of what they are trying to say. Choosing the right words and using the proper sentence structure can greatly reduce the possibility that messages you send are misinterpreted.

4. Consideration for Promotions
The higher you move up in an organization, the more likely it is that you will be responsible for producing formal documents on behalf of the company. Those who hold high level positions are often responsible for creating customer proposals, writing employee evaluations, responding to requests for information from regulatory agencies, and other important forms of documentation. If you haven't demonstrated a proven ability to write effectively throughout your career, you might find yourself being overlooked for promotional opportunities.

5. Writing Is a Necessity in the 21st Century Workplace
In virtually every profession, being able to write well is a necessity. Technological advances have had the greatest impact on how we communicate, and have placed an increased emphasis on writing skills for professionals in all fields. One of the most important investments you can make in yourself, and in your future career success, is to take the time to learn how to write effective business messages.

Mary G. White, M.A., SPHR is the Training Coordinator Mobile Technical Institute & MTI Business Solutions (http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com), where she specializes in human resources, management, and marketing training. She teaches open enrollment classes for MTI, provides on-site corporate training, and frequently speaks at conferences and association meetings. To register in MTI's next Business Writing Basics class, see http://bizwritingbasics.eventbrite.com/ or call 251-478-6848 to schedule a private training session for your company or association. MTI also provides a variety of consulting services, including IT Training, certification testing, HR consulting services, custom database development and website solutions.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 2:54 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The more I learn about the challenges people face when it comes to prospecting, the more I am convinced that it is so much like exercise. Consider these similarities:

Everybody has to do it. As I find myself repeating, "Whether building a business or building a career, everybody prospects." Well, everybody in business has to. The same is true for exercise--everybody has to do it. Those who don't exercise pay a price. And I can't tell you how many people have admitted to me, "I don't do enough of it." Are they talking about prospecting or exercise? Take your pick.

It only takes a little bit of time every week. You don't have to spend all your waking hours prospecting, nor do you need to do it exercising. Yet both are important, healthy activities that should be scheduled into your week, preferably in time blocks. Consider how much time you want to invest in each, and budget that time accordingly. Continue reading ...

Keith F. Luscher is author of the book Prospect & Flourish, and is a Marketing Representative with Principal Financial Group. Prior to joining Principal, he served professionals in the insurance and financial services industries as a management consultant. In that role, he advised producers on issues related to marketing and prospecting, and developed groundbreaking educational curriculum. Luscher is also a nationally known author, speaker, and expert in media, interpersonal communication and marketing.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 2:12 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Global firms spend billions of dollars a year in the pursuit of building and maintaining strong brands. They know that a strong, recognizable brand can drive revenue growth and mitigate competitive risk. Even in times of recession, some gutsy marketing executives request marketing dollars to continue brand building because of the effect a strong brand can have on revenue generation.

Consumers seek what is known

Shareholders may clamor for promotions and coupons to ring the cash register now, but clever marketing people know that consumers retreat to what they know in uncertain times and that bodes well for top brands.

Year after year the Business Week/Interbrand, brand equity report names Coca Cola as the #1 Brand on the planet. It is the brand with the most valuable brand equity - upwards of $70 million. Alternatively, Millward Brown, a unit of ad agency WPP, named Google the world's top brand in its annual "Top 100 Most Powerful Brands" survey (report available here). Both brands are members of an exclusive club and it's said that when Coke entered Poland, its red and white delivery trucks drew applause at traffic lights.

Good brands provide a name or symbol that gives a product credibility and helps the consumer identify and choose the product. In the Global Marketing and Strategy course I teach at UCLA we discuss how and why global firms continue to spend an enormous amount of time and money to manage and defend the value of their brands.

Building personal brand equity

So how does global brand equity apply to building personal brand equity? As I mentioned in last week's post, defining your personal brand starts with who you are: What do you stand for? What are your values? How do you want to be perceived? This hard work lays the foundation for building brand equity around your brand.

To ensure your personal brand equity today, you have to build a solid and compelling brand online. Some of the same principles that apply to creating brand equity for global brands apply to your personal brand. For example, the Interbrand method evaluates brands much like analysts would value any other asset: on the basis of how much they're likely to earn in the future.

It's amazing how many job-seekers don't realize that recruiters and hiring decision makers routinely Google and search the Internet when vetting candidates, especially for executive positions. If you're invisible online or if your 'Digital DNA' discredits you, you're sure to miss out on potential career opportunities.

Three building blocks

1. The extent of your network (e.g. Number of LinkedIn contacts + Twitter followers + Facebook friends, etc.,) is a good place to start
2. Ability to start a conversation. Finally, monitor your ability to start a conversation via blog comments, subscriber conversion, Facebook status comments, etc. And finally measure the growth of your network in terms of additions, followers, etc. in a week/month, etc.
3. Measuring your brand value. Next you look at how to measure the value your brand is creating in the target market you've defined. You want to establish a baseline and track changes in brand equity over time. Companies do not spend millions on developing a brand identity to suddenly begin "flying blind" and neither do you. Managers of top brands develop a measurement system to help gauge the effects of tactics and strategies on a brand and help set priorities for the future. You want to do the same.

Monitor Your Brand Equity

• Google Your Name. Again, it is surprising how many people don't do this. When was the last time you Googled your name? Do it now.
• Google Alerts allows you to receive email or RSS news based on the any topic you choose. The alerts track blogs, news articles, videos, etc.
• Twitter search can help you monitor the virality of your brand
• Social Mention is also a search engine that returns content from social media services
• Backtype allows you to monitor only blog comments.

The fact of the matter is that real brands have real value and produce real returns. Your personal brand must do the same. Be careful, though, because it's not just about numbers and scorekeeping. Understand how brand equity can influence overall performance so that you can make better business decisions.

A good motto in the online world is "give to get". Offer something of value to your audience - a free chapter of your new ebook, a free download of a new song, some tips on applications, something you've found useful.

I put the question to my Twitter followers, asking "How do you measure personal brand equity?" One follower pretty much summed it up, "Right now for me, it's all about building relationships & a value platform for networking in my business." Another said, "I measure my equity by adding speaking/chairing requests and opportunities for my company through personal requests and references made about me, etc." Sounds like they're on their way to creating and monitoring their personal brand equity.

Beverly Macy is Managing Partner at Y&M Partners LLC in Beverly Hills. She also teaches a social media class at UCLA and is organizer of the Gravity Summit event at UCLA February 25, 2009.

Article by, Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 2:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

[January 19] was a holiday for a lot of people, and I'm going to guess that not a lot got done [on January 20] because everyone [was] watching the inauguration. Many of you will probably try to use holidays and events as a way to put off your daily job searching, but here at One Day, One Job we try to make the most out of these situations by using them to generate ideas. Yesterday we look at jobs at The King Center, and today we're going to check out jobs with the United States Secret Service. Why? Because [Inauguration Day] is a big day for the Secret Service. Managing security at an event like the Presidential Inauguration is a daunting task, but the Secret Service is at their best for events like this. That's why we instantly thought of them when we tried to come up with some Inauguration related jobs. Continue reading about United States Secret Service...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 1:15 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Today's non-profit has a lot in common with us. They're all about "youth development," and I guess you could say that we are too. Juma Ventures is based out of Oakland, CA and Washington, DC, and they "operate businesses - known as "social enterprises" - for the purpose of providing job opportunities to economically disadvantaged teens." Beyond providing jobs, they also empower "youth with financial education and savings programs, college & career exploration, and essential life skills." It almost sounds like the offline version of IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com + OneDayOneJob.com. Every year Juma Ventures works with 100s of 16-19 year olds from San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego and Washington DC's most impoverished neighborhoods. They're a non-profit that uses for-profit businesses to accomplish their mission, and they seem to be having great results. Maybe we should try to find a way to get our job search training course into their curriculum. Continue reading about Juma Ventures...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 1:10 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Employers can now trust remote employees more than ever before and employees have more reason to concentrate on work and avoid distractions such as spending time on personal emails or checking in on their online social network now and then. These distractions and the lack of trust is often of concern to employers when they contract the work to remote employees - whether telecommuting or working for them in another country in a different time zone.

And what enables the accountability on either side (employees or contractor/freelancers accountability of the billed time and the employer's approval of the hours billed) is the services and products offered by oDesk.

It works well for the contractors and other remote employees who never report to the main office or those who easily get distracted when working on their own. More so, it is to the satisfaction of the employers who do not have to think twice when billed for a certain time.

If you have not heard about how oDesk works then in a nutshell it is like having your boss peak in behind you around 6 times an hour to glance at your computer screen! Alright, alright almost everyone who hears this explanation is bound to roll his/her eyes, but what the electronic monitoring feature of oDesk does is that it takes computer screen shots randomly six times an hour.

Invasive, micromanagement, violating.. maybe; but in the long run if it gets the employers happy and there is no fuss in handing over the money you have billed them for your assigned work; or for the employers to get work done with minimum distractions then why not? Further more, it also builds on the trust and reliance towards the remote employees.

This is one solution and I am sure there are more around and if not then sure enough some related solutions would be in the market soon. They better be because outsourcing, remote contracting jobs and telecommuting are the workplace trends of this century.

Article by Shweta L. Khare, founder and president of Careerbright and Speakbright and courtesy of Careerbright blogspot

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 11:30 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

While conducting company research, you should study the company, its competition, the overall industry, products services, management, financials, performance, corporate culture, latest stories, trends, challenges, etc.

Know your industry

Before you start researching companies, it would be a good idea to first familiarize yourself with the industry.

Basic information

Basic information about the company can be found through Hoovers or Standard & Poor's.

Search Engines

Search engines can provide a wealth of information, including the company's website, stories, reports, etc. Just enter the name of the company into the search engine (e.g. www.google.com) and hit "search." If you are looking for a list of companies in your industry, a variation of keywords will often produce the best results. E.g. you can use a keyword like "list of pharmaceutical companies" or "pharmaceutical companies" and see what come up. Now try changing the keywords to see if different and better results come up. You can also use local search results. Google Local Search, for example, can help you find any company in your geographic area. Continue reading about company research ...

Article courtesy of SAI Careers where visitors find free career information, tools and resources

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 10:24 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Article provided by Brand-Yourself.com

I was browsing through a few dozen resumes today, and I noticed some common mistakes. I thought I'd share with you some professional resume tips to help you to learn from their mistakes.

Below are the professional resume tips you should take away from each mistake:

1. Use the body of your email to sell yourself
Actual Example: Someone emailed me their resume saying: "I'm a current graduate student at [school]. I would like to apply for the [open position]. The attachment is my one-page resume. I hope to have further contact with you in the future. Thanks."

Analysis: Is this a human or a robot? The body of the email is both uninformative and abrupt. For all I know, they used that exact text to apply for a job at McDonald's. I get no sense of who the applicant is. Ask yourself: what will make me want to open your resume if I have dozens of others to go through?

The Fix: Treat your email body like a cover letter.

In the body of your email, give me something that makes me want to learn more about you.

Treat your email like a cover letter by introducing yourself in a moving way. Make me think: ah... this is a real, likable person. I want to learn more about what they can do for me.

Be concise and make sure you:

• Demonstrate that you get things done by identifying a few concrete tasks you completed or quantifiable change you brought to related projects.
• Demonstrate your passion by describing how this position relates to what excites you in life.

2. Send your resume as a PDF
PDF files can be viewed on all computers, regardless of operating system or software version. It would be silly to send me a .docx if there's any chance I can't open it.

Never send your resume as a .docx file. Hiring managers will not take the time to convert your resume to a .doc so they can read it. (Many don't even know how). When you have lots of applicants, it just doesn't make sense to waste time converting dozens of resumes.

Always. Send. A. PDF. Otherwise, it may never get opened.

3. Name your resume like this: "[First] [Last] Resume.pdf"
Imagine you're a hiring manager for a moment. You have a folder full of resumes on your hard drive. You have too many applicants to remember their names. Wouldn't you want your resumes to have consistent file names - one single naming system so you can quickly see exactly whose resume is whose, alphabetically?

It's always a breath of fresh air when I don't have to manually change the filename of your resume. And every breath of fresh air I get when dealing with your resume, the more I like you. It's probably unfair, but when dealing with dozens of applicants, that's just not something I want to have to deal with.

The bottom line is that every time you make my life easier, you score points in my book. So name your resume: First Last Resume.pdf.

4. Use bold text to emphasize your most important points
Hiring managers don't have much time to make decisions. That's why in your email body, you should put your most important points in bold. The items that will win you the job should jump off the screen.

One applicant today took the time to bold each company name and position he held in the body of his email. This made it easier for me to scan his text, filter out the noise and hone in on his credentials. Before I began reading through his email, I could already see where he'd worked. And after I finished, the bold text still stood out, reminding me again of his credentials. He successfully emphasized his most important points to me.

How can you use bold to strengthen the text of your email?

5. Include concrete actions and quantifiable results. Vagueness is a deal-breaker!
The more vague you are about what you've done, the less I care.

This is weak: "Worked on Project X," or "Led Project Y."

How do I know what you did on Project X? Or what results you achieved? What does it mean to lead Project Y? What did you actually do?

This is strong: "Identified and reported 27 bugs per day testing Software X," or "Developed complete end-user requirements for Project Y based on 15 two-hour customer interviews."

This tells me you actually did something. Concreteness is your best friend. If your bullet points make me clearly imagine you doing a specific task, then I can picture you working at my company.

Vagueness is your enemy. If you use broad verbs that don't describe specific actions, then I can't picture you working at my company. I don't care if you "oversaw" or "worked on" something. That means diddly to me. What did you actually do?

This is weak: "Responsible for new client acquisition."

"Responsible for" is too vague. So is "oversaw."

You were responsible for new client acquisition, but did you actually do it? That doesn't tell me what you really did. Nor does it quantify the results you achieved.

This is strong: "Cold-called 50 potential clients a week, converting 10% into paying customers."

That's much better. It tells me exactly what you did. I can picture you on the phone, chatting it up with prospective customers, winning over new clients and increasing my company's bottom line.

6. Include two or three quotes from good references.
Everybody says "references available upon request."

To stand out, actively insert two or three "testimonials" from people you've worked with. It can be a past bosses, co-workers, project teammates or even professors. Keep each quote under three sentences. Make sure they concretely support your greatest strengths.

This is weak: "John was a great teammate to work with on our Project X."

This says nothing about what John is good at. Vague verbs like "great" or "excellent" don't tell me anything about John. What is John specifically great at? Sometimes a brief story is the most effective way to illustrate your strengths.

This is strong: "We hired John after our last programmer left us four weeks behind schedule. John's ability to consistently meet coding deadlines under high pressure helped put us back on schedule. He was a hard-working and invaluable member of our team." Or, "John's ability to connect emotionally with our customers made him our second most highly-rated customer service rep. He always left our users with a smile."

7. Be a human, not a robot.
Take a moment in your email/cover letter to say something I can relate to. "I am really interested in working with you because we share a love of great design." Okay, so you are in fact human and you acknowledge that I am a person with similar interests. Maybe we would even get along!

Don't be afraid to include you interests on your resume as well. They show that you lead an interesting life and are not as boring as your bullet points might make you sound.

8. Give your resume to two other people to proofread.
You are going to miss a typo. It doesn't matter if you have super-human editing skills. Do yourself a favor: have two other people read over your resume and cover letter before you send them in. Inevitably, those people WILL find a typo that you missed. I guarantee it. A fresh pair of eyes can only end up helping, not hurting you.

9. Always provide your phone number.
If you actually care about getting the position you're applying for, you'll make it as easy as possible for me to contact you. If all you give is your email address, it appears that you don't care enough about the position to be contacted in person. Always, always provide your phone number.

Start incorporating these nine professional resume tips into your resume right now. What can you improve?

1. Use the body of your email to sell yourself.
2. Send your resume as a PDF.
3. Name your resume like this: "[First] [Last] Resume.pdf"
4. Use bold text to emphasize your most important points.
5. Include concrete actions and quantifiable results. Vagueness is a deal-breaker!
6. Include two or three quotes from good references.
7. Be a human, not a robot.
8. Give your resume to two other people to proofread.
9. Always provide your phone number.

Article by, Pete Kistler and courtesy of Brand-Yourself.com for actionable tips to put you in a position of power in the job market

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 6:50 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Ask anyone about their favorite job search strategies and the answer will be almost unanimous: classifieds. Now, ask the same people how they found their last job and most will have a story that involves some form of networking tied into it.

Career experts estimate that at least 75% of job openings are never advertised. These unadvertised jobs are often referred to as the hidden job market. Imagine, almost 90% of the labor pool targets less than 25% of available jobs. Is it any surprise, most job seekers never receive a response from potential employers? So how are these 75% jobs filled? The answer is networking. Continue reading about tapping hidden job markets ...

Nimish Thakkar is a sought-after career management coach and professional resume writer. He has helped thousands of clients through his Resume Writing Service and Free Career Information site. Thakkar holds two graduate degrees, including an MBA. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Career Coach Academy. Nimish can be reached at nimish@resumecorner.com

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 27, 2009 at 6:19 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Today on One Day, One Internship we're taking a look at internships with the Space Studies Board. That brought our attention to The National Academies, which is a non-profit organization that consists of the United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the United States National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and the United States National Research Council (NRC). Although it may sound like they're government agencies, they're not. They do, however, get most of their funding from federal and state agencies. Despite that fact, they remain independent when advising the nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Continue reading about The National Academies...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 26, 2009 at 1:04 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The economy may suck, but you still need to eat. No matter what you're eating (unless it's dirt), it probably came from a farm. That means that farms won't be going out of business anytime soon. I haven't deeply investigated how a recession affects the agriculture industry, but it might be an area worth looking into even if you're not an Aggie. One company that is hiring new grads in the agricultural sector is Rochester, NY based Agricultural Consulting Services. They seem like a relatively small company, and it's hard to get a lot of details about who they are, but they're a perfect example of a company that the large majority of job seekers would overlook. They offer a wide range of consulting services to farmers that include farm mapping, soil and plant analysis, fertilizer recommendations, integrated pest management, weed scouting and control, tillage recommendations, manure management, crop residue and cover crop management, laboratory services, environmental services and recommendations, and custom farm management software. I'm sure some of you are BS artists who specialize in "fertilizer recommendations" and "manure management," but for the most part ACS is looking for new grads who have a background in Agriculture or Engineering. Continue reading about Agricultural Consulting Services...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 26, 2009 at 1:01 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I love reading. Unfortunately, it's hard for me to find time these days to sit down with a good book. If I could read and drive at the same time without risking my life and the lives of others, I would. Since that's not a viable option, I'm lucky that Audible is around. They are a New Jersey based subsidiary of Amazon.com, and they consider themselves the "leading provider of premium digital spoken audio information and entertainment, on the Internet." Whether I want to "read" Seth Godin's The Dip, James Surowiecki's The Wisdom of Crowds, or David McCullough's 1776, all I have to do is make a quick purchase on iTunes, sync my iPod, and hook it up to my car stereo. It's a much better use of a long drive than listening to the radio. Audible makes it a heck of a lot easier to absorb new information, and they also have some pretty cool jobs available that you might be interested in. Continue reading about Audible ...

Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 26, 2009 at 12:56 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Last week we talked about why networking is important to understand your audience and get the information you need to move forward. If you're following along, I know you're anxious to get resumes out there. But do yourself a favor and take one more week (at least) to learn how to network.

You'll continue to do it along the way (this is a fluid process), but take one more week to really focus on networking and how to do it right. In the last post, I talked about why it is so important to network. Now, we're going to combat common issues.

How do I find networking contacts?

The answer-everywhere. College alumni list, neighbors, your mailman, hairdresser and your kids' friends' parents. You have to have a mix of hot (contacts you know really well) and cold (those you don't) leads. If there is someone you really admire but they are well-known or famous, there's not harm in making that big request. You may actually get a response. Use the web to find networking groups in your city or town. Go to events as you can afford it and as you are comfortable. Just get out from behind the computer. You won't get a job there.

What do I do with the information?

After a networking meeting or call, allow at least 15 minutes to review your notes, plan for follow-up and a review to ask yourself: "what did I learn?" Seriously. You should walk away with (a) information on a company (b) information on a field or industry that helps you decide if it is right for you (c) more contacts to talk to and/or (d) information on a potential opportunity. What action will you take next?

Why am I networking? Why spend all this time?

There's no secret that THIS is the way to get a job. Job boards and company web sites help, but it's the people that do the hiring. You have to put yourself out there!

Key point here: don't network for a job. Network for information. If you impress the networking contact, they will be more willing to help you. And that may be a call later to tell you about an opportunity.

This week, I will continue to provide tips via Twitter on where you can network. If you have good suggestions, send them my way!

Article by Career Coach and HR Executive, Susan D. Strayer, and courtesy of KaleidoBlog, career advice for a new generation.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 26, 2009 at 10:15 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

An interview by Dan Schawbel

Today, I spoke with Del Breckenfeld, who is the Director of Entertainment Marketing at Fender Musical Instruments Corp. and the author of the "Cool Factor." In this interview, we discuss what makes a "cool" brand and Del gives you examples of both company's and people who are very recognizable and successful based on their "coolness." You'll learn how to be cool from Del, who's job it is to make Fender cool. Do you have a cool personal brand? If not, after this interview, think about how you can attract others to your brand by becoming something people want to talk about!

Del what are some companies, products and personal brands that display "The Cool Factor"? Can you list two for each?

Harley Davidson and Fender are two perfect examples of companies that display "The Cool Factor." Both are iconic lifestyle brands that remain instantly recognizable even if you don't happen to ride a motorcycle or play guitar. The iPod certainly gets my vote for the product because it revolutionized how we can take our favorite music library with us virtually anywhere. Plus it had one of the coolest marketing campaigns to support it which is a major contributor to its "Cool Factor." The second choice would be the new Dodge Charger. Here's a retro styled throwback to the classic "Muscle Cars" of the 1960's that people lined up to buy.

I know a guy in the music business that paid more than the suggested retail just to be among the first to get one so he could be the coolest guy on the block. No small feat for a gas guzzler introduced when gas prices were above $4.00 a gallon and you couldn't give your SUV away. For personal brands I choose Steve McQueen and Jimi Hendrix who have retained the "eternal cool."

McQueen carefully crafted his cool guy image through movie after movie (aptly nicknamed "the Cooler King" in The Great Escape) so even today, almost three decades after his passing, Tag Hauer still uses his image to promote their Monaco model. Jimi died all too young, but left a legacy as one of the greatest guitarists that ever lived, and one of the most groundbreaking performers. Even though the Fender Stratocaster is a pretty cool guitar on its own. It took Jimi's stamp of approval to help place it in the world of eternal cool.

How do you know if you have the cool factor? Does it happen naturally or do you have to learn it on your own?

Some people may be born with the cool factor, but most often, a person has to work hard to be recognized as cool. In my book, I state that two criteria are you have to be imbued with the rebel spirit, and you have to be unique compared with the norm of the day. Think how Marlon Brando unleashed his cool factor on the world with his performance in The Wild One. Or a young Elvis Presley threatening Middle America with his lip-curling, hip-shaking swagger. One of the great things about the cool factor, is once you have established it, others aspire to be like you through emulating your looks, style, talent, etc.

You did marketing for Fender and made it cool. Did you become cool as a result? What is the correlation between a product and company becoming cool and that of its employees?

I can't take credit for Fender being cool. The brand established it way before I came along. For the past 13 and a half years, my job is to make sure Fender remains cool today, and for generations to come. I don't consider myself cool, but because I work for a cool brand, I consider myself a "connoisseur of cool." Most of the marketing people at Fender Musical Instruments Corp., like me, started out as professional musicians. It helps to have hands on experience in the field you work. If ask anyone "What is cool?" they probably say that they can't put it into words, but they know it when they see it. That's what we do at Fender. Identify cool, then see how it can transfer to your brand and your brand to others. That's the basis of partnership marketing.

What is your strategy for becoming cool in the eyes of your audience or customers?

The "cool factor" has equity that can be transferred to products and people. As I stated earlier in the interview, it's about becoming aspirational: people aspire to something that they hold in esteem. It's also important to reinforce your brand to remain cool in the eyes of your customer. People like Steve McQueen spent a career doing just that.

Sometimes you have to go back to reestablish your brand's image when your company has lost its way. I give the example of the Cadillac brand losing its way with economy models like the Cimarron. To recapture their "cool factor", their agency launched the "Breakthrough" campaign utilizing their classic models to the soundtrack of Led Zeppelin's "Rock n' Roll."

How have you built your personal brand over time and what lasting effect do you want to have on the world?

Well I do work for a company and brand that's eternally cool, so I have coolness by association. Writing my first book put a lot of my experiences and theories down on paper for others to share so if others find some value in that, I guess that would be my legacy. I could only hope that the phrase, "The Cool Factor," becomes part of our everyday vernacular, just like the book "The Tipping Point." I would love for marketers to say "Our product needs 'The Cool Factor.'" That would certainly have a lasting effect, and dare I say, it would be "very cool."

Article by, Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

One of the most interesting aspects of blogging about careers and the workplace, is the 'people watching.' Everyone has their own unique style. One style, which I personally find quite irritating, I've coined as is 'Mr. Forceful.'

You know the type. In fact, there's a good choice he's sitting next to you.

He thinks imposing his will on you will help his 'career progress.' He thinks he's slick, but his actions are easily identifiable. Tactics used by this guy [are] more transparent than he'll ever know.

Talking Loud: Particularly at meetings and in groups. As if the louder the decibel the greater the influence.

Controlling All Information: You ask for a report and get the runaround. Even the simplest request gets stonewalled.

Continue reading about Mr. Forceful ...

Article by Andrew G.R. and courtesy of jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 26, 2009 at 7:43 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

It has all the earmarks of a buzzword or business jargon, but call it what you want, career experts in all walks of life say personal branding is vital to today's career success. So in case you don't know what it is, I'll tell you.

Personal branding is all about marketing yourself or creating yourself as a "brand." What do you stand for? What sets you apart from your competition? What are your unique attributes? How do you represent yourself online and offline?

Here's another way I like to think of it: If you could give yourself a tagline or slogan, what would it be? Think of it as a witty extension of your job title. I like to say I'm a "higher education writer and blogger extraordinaire," for instance. An editor friend of mine gets even more creative, calling herself the "content pimp" (although not on formal letterhead, or anything, but you get the idea).

I recently interviewed Frank Schoeneman, CEO of Empire Beauty Schools, the largest provider of cosmetology education in the country, for our sister blog, A Minute With SpaBeautySchools (check it out for some of his great beauty industry tips and quips next week), and he was touting the importance of personal branding:

"You are your own brand. What makes you so special? There are a lot of those people out there who are very good at what they do -- that have better skills than you do -- but there's nobody better at being you, than you. If you're able to develop the people skills to know your product, to know your services, to figure out how and when to apply them to the right customer, your branding has been set."

Now remember, this is a professional in the beauty industry. Yet in our conversation, we didn't talk hot hair colors and cosmetology trends -- we discussed his mission to help students market themselves. And I think that's true of all fields these days, which is why more and more colleges and career schools are catching on and teaching this concept to their students. Right now, though, you'll mainly hear about personal branding offerings in the form of seminars or one-day workshops. But mark my words -- you may start hearing about schools offering it as a full-fledged elective course in the near future.

Personal branding guru, Dan Schawbel, has been campaigning this idea for quite some time. He blogs:

"You need to reach across boundaries, in a world where everyone is on the same plane, and you can almost touch hiring managers at companies you want to work for. Don't send out a 10,000 resume blast because that is just like the 10,000 emails reporters get everyday and they are discounted as spam. The real way to succeed in college is to understand how the internet can be used to get a job or start a business, and then act."

So how do you want to brand yourself? Think about it, and start doing it ASAP. It can make all the difference, especially in a tight economy.

Just for fun, what would you like your tagline to be?

Article by Dawn Papandrea and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 26, 2009 at 6:10 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Having taken on this new role of blogging on the Personal Branding Blog (thank you again Dan for the opportunity!), I naturally have been looking at many of the other personal brands that are out there. A few names come to mind very quickly when you think about strong personal brands: Robert Scoble, Guy Kawasaki, Steve Jobs (the only non blogger), Jonathan Schwartz, Gary Vanynerchuk.

Seems to me when you think of these individuals you also think of some attribute(s) about each of them. Essentially that's the position they occupy in your mind whenever you think of them. Take Robert Scoble for example - I think blogging, I think Microsoft, and I think Video.

So what does your Personal Brand stand for?
But as I review them I also do a review of my own personal brand and where I want to drive my own brand. Early on I purposely chose Buzz Marketing but decided to niche-ify it with applying it only to Technology - hence my blog Buzz Marketing for Technology was born. I went from wide to narrow. Is it too narrow? Ask Gary Vanynerchuk and he would say no -

"I don't care how small your niche is ... find what you want to do every day and DO THAT! (see Gary's Web 2.0 Expo video )

Is your brand growth oriented or more of a value play? Buzz Marketing is more growth than value and I am sure you would prefer more value in this economy. Recently, I got a call from a good friend who just got laid off and I did a quick review with him of his personal brand. He is a consultant that does cost reduction efforts. Great but in what industries, in what parts of the company I asked him - where won't you provide those services? What economic value were you able to create with those services - was it growth, customer intimacy or just cost reduction?

Either way you craft your brand I believe you need to continually refine it, keep these things in mind and test. Prune your brand every 6 months and be sure to have a clear objective (see last post on How to create a Personal Brand by becoming a Thought Leader )

5 Tests for your Personal Brand

1. Is your brand objective still relevant? Do you need to re-articulate it?


2. Is your brand a growth or value brand? Should you shift direction?


3. Is your brand wide or narrow? Should you narrow /widen it more?


4. What industries won't your brand play in? Should you include/exclude more?


5. Where in the company won't your brand play? Should you include/exclude more?

Paul Dunay is the Global Director of Integrated Marketing for BearingPoint a Management and Technology Consulting firm and author of the blog Buzz Marketing for Technology.