Laura would redesign and move my blog, and in exchange I would write her resume, job search letters and LinkedIn profile.

The deal worked out better than I had hoped. My new blog design is beautiful (check it out!) and Laura's thrilled with the work I did for her. As we were arranging this deal, I saw a piece on one of the morning news shows about a marked increase in bartering as the economy continues to struggle, and though 'Ah! I must blog that! Lots of people could probably do this in exchange for job search help.'

You hear it everywhere... get a temp job and it may turn into a permanent position. Good idea, right?? After all, it gives you the opportunity to really see what the company is like and how the employees are treated. And, it lets the company see you in action. So why isn't everyone doing it?

Well, almost everyone is, or trying to. A local temp agency told me the other day that they were "saturated" with candidates who are all trying to do the same thing. It's a tough market out there and there is a lot of available and experienced talent trying to do the same thing. And although about half of their college grad candidates are able to go from "temp to perm", this agency offered up some specific ideas to help.

• First, do whatever the agency asks of you, no matter how short term or menial it may be, to the best of your ability. Once you get positive feedback from the company, the recruiter, who only has about 10 minutes to fell a slot, is more likely to call you back for better assignments.
• You need to have a top notch resume and make a positive impression on everyone you meet and work with. Employers want to see some part time work experience and a strong work ethic. They want to know you are competent and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
• Finally, be patient. If there is an opportunity to become a permanent employee, it will most likely not happen right away. Most employers have to pay a finder's fee to the temp agency if they hire you within a specific time frame so that will have an impact on any decisions they make.

Going from temp to perm is still a good strategy but it now takes more effort and patience.

Article by, Susan Kennedy, career counselor for college graduates and young professionals

If I had to guess, most of our readers would be raising their hands high. At the very least, they would be looking at their feet and shifting uncomfortably.

How about during the interview?

I can hear you now...

"I am self-motivated, always on time, first to volunteer, a people person..." and the list of embellished qualities continues on. We all do it. Our main priority in the interview is to sell ourselves. But when does it cross the line from embellishment to just a flat out lie?

Continue reading about embellishment and lies ...

Article by, Lauren Kleinman and courtesy of jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!

The role of a specialist

A specialist aligns [his] passion with a specific skill set and contrives a personal brand statement from that. Specialists become the go-to-people in and out of the office. Sometimes a specialist is a natural at what they do, while other times, they have to work very hard to perfect their knowledge in a specific area. Malcolm Gladwell states that it takes 10,000 areas to assume mastery over something in his new book, Outliers. Specialists get called upon when a certain opportunity surfaces or when there is a business challenge that can only be handled by someone of that caliber. As a specialist, you may have to learn complimentary skills as well.

In her article for the December 2008 issue of The Writer magazine, C. Hope Clark, herself a full-time freelance writer, gives aspiring full-time freelancers some things to think about before they "take the plunge."

The first question Clark recommends writers ask themselves is if their day jobs are really so bad.

Other questions to ask yourself:

• Why do I want to leave my current job?
• Do I crave the freelance life because I want to write or because I want to get away from my boss and[/or] coworkers?

Next, Clark advises making two lists - one that details what makes the daily 9-to-5 so bad and one that details what makes it good.

Some things to consider:

• Will I miss the positives of my day job?
• Will I get rid of all the things I hate?
• What will I lose by becoming a freelancer? (like health benefits)

People who have families should definitely find out what their families think. That's not the same as asking for their permission or soliciting support, Clark says. It just means that their feelings and thoughts are important and will be considered before a final decision is made.

Clark asked her family's opinion and as a result, they relocated so her husband could accept a promotion and reduce the strain on the family budget. Not everyone can be so fortunate, so it's a good idea to calculate the money that will be lost by leaving your day job in order to be a full-time freelance writer. Also, be sure to save at least "six months of expenses" before taking that first fateful step. Success rarely, if ever, happens right away and bills will still have to be paid.

Freelance writing is a business like any other. Clients and editors need to be responded to in a timely manner, accounts need to be organized and accurate, and deadlines have to be met.

There are many other things that Clark says a freelance writer has to think about, like training to stay up-to-date with industry changes, start-up expenses, and "what small-business licenses and fees may be required in your town, county and state." Being uninformed could be costly. Finally, she suggests writing a business plan.

Becoming a full-time freelance writer is more than a notion. Clark recommends visiting the U.S. Small Business Administration's Web site (www.sba.gov) to connect with a mentor and join professional organizations.

What old ideas have held you back? Some examples:

• "If I work hard, I will get a raise and a promotion."
• "If I speak to enough recruiters, and I have the
• right skills, I will get a good job."

Be warned - this is not an official study. No one was harmed in the deliberation of this topic. However, your ability to obtain a phone or first round interview may be at risk.

Everyone in the job search advice arena has a different opinion on the value of a cover letter. My experience and resulting opinions come as a result of being a hiring manager for 15 years and as a fellow job seeker.

I am personally not a big fan of cover letters. I am also not a big reader of them unless they are short, crisp and very well written. What has caused my falling out? I have seen way too many cover letters that try too hard and, as a result, end up triggering a filter alarm that negatively predisposes that person's candidacy for the job.

Many corporate employers use internships as a primary method for identifying entry-level hires for full-time positions, and will continue to hire interns in a down economy so that they can develop a pipeline of potential full-time hires for the future. According to annual surveys conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the percentage of interns converted to full-time employees increased from 35% in 2001 to 50% in 2008, with almost 70% of interns receiving full-time offers in 2008.

For many years, I worked in campus Career Services offices connecting students and employers. In the process, I developed a few observations on how students can best prepare:

If you haven't started already, this is a great week to begin. Many campuses don't open for spring term until mid-to-late January, but a majority of staff at Career Offices will be back on the job before the term starts. If your school offers individual counseling appointments or resume critique services, now is a great time to beat the rush and prepare. If you'd like outside help, you may also want to consider hiring a resume writer or career coach--but keep in mind that you will need to follow resume guidelines set by your campus.

Whatever

Over the holidays, I went to a movie rental store in search of some fun family entertainment. Upon entering the store, I greeted the clerk..."Happy Holidays!" I offered to which he replied "whatever." Whatever? Needless to say, I was somewhat surprised by his lackluster response. I know that times are hard and that it is indeed a challenge some days to stay positive, upbeat, and a happy camper. Having said that, it would seem that no matter what you do for a job, if you have one, it might possibly warrant something better than whatever when responding to a customer's greeting.

What does whatever mean, anyway? According to Dictionary Online, one of the definitions of whatever is: "used to indicate indifference to or scorn for something, such as a remark of suggestion."

• Abbott Labs - Abbott is a global health care company focusing on pharmacetuicals and medical devices, They have approximately 33,000 employees globally. In addition to being on the Working Mothers list of best companies to work for, the are also on the DiversityInc magazine's "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" list. The main page of their career website has tabs across the top where you can select info on the company, internship programs and professional development. Featured jobs are listed on the right hand side of the page with recruiting events listed as well. Click "Search Jobs Worldwide" from the left-hand side, followed by your country to get to the main careers sign-on, register and search page. Searching on the US yields 210 jobs across the country.
]]> http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/happy_new_year_happy_new_job.php http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/happy_new_year_happy_new_job.php General Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:39:35 -0600
An interview by Dan Schwabel

Today, I spoke with Gretchen Rubin, who just might be the happiest woman on earth. She shares her happiness tips everyday on her world famous blog (over 17,000 subscribers), while blogging at the Huffington Post, being an author of several books and, soon, taking over the world. In this interview, Gretchen reflects on 2008, gives you tips for 2009, shares some of her blogging strategies and then analyzes her own personal brand for all of us.

Gretchen, for 2008, can you sum up some of your advice on how to live a happy life?

If you want to live a happier life, I'd suggest you start by thinking about the elements of my "First Splendid Truth" - to be happy, you should think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth.

• First, ask yourself - what makes me feel good? What brings me joy, energy, enthusiasm, engagement, satisfaction? Ok. What can I do to bring more of this into my life? E.g., you might start a film club with six other movie-crazy friends.
• Second, ask yourself - what makes me feel bad? What brings me anger, resentment, boredom, frustration, guilt, remorse? Ok. What can I do to lessen this in my life? E.g., I have tried very hard to give up gossip.
• Third, ask yourself - do I feel right about my life? Am I leading the life I feel that I'm "supposed" to live? Do my choices reflect my values? Am I heading in the right direction? I switched from law to writing, because although I had a great experience as a lawyer (for instance, I clerked for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor), I felt that I wasn't doing what I was "supposed" to be doing.
• Fourth, ask yourself - does my life have an atmosphere of growth? What's changing for the better? In what way am I learning, growing, helping, and making things better? (more on this topic in Question #2)

What are your top 3 suggestions that people can use for living a happier life in 2009?

• First, although happiness seems like a transcendent, abstract principle, start with the physical reality of your own body: work on getting enough sleep, some exercise, and eating healthfully. These habits matter! If this seems overwhelming, start small: turn off the lights 15 minutes earlier each night, take a ten-minute walk outside each day, eat an apple at lunch. You will really see a boost in energy - and energy is a great foundation for happiness.
• Second, ancient philosophers and modern scientists agree that the key to happiness is relationships with other people. Take time to see your friends and family, show up, reach out to new people, try to be helpful, make connections - anything you can do widen and deepen your relationships will boost your happiness.
• Third, one aspect of happiness that I didn't recognize when I started my research was the importance of a factor that I call "the atmosphere of growth." We're all happier when something in our life is changing for the better: we're learning something new (taking a Photoshop class, working on our golf game); we're helping something grow (a child, a business, a garden), we improving something flawed (cleaning a messy closet, volunteering to help an organization get its books in order), we see positive change in our life (getting a raise, getting out of debt, starting a new relationship, healing a rift). As that list suggests, there are many ways to foster "an atmosphere of growth." Make sure your life includes this aspect somewhere. It helps bring you enthusiasm and energy - without it, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, trapped, cramped, stagnant.

Your happiness project consists of twelve commandments. What are your three favorite and why?

Actually, I think all my commandments could be summed up in two: "Be Gretchen" and "There is only love." In the end, I've found that although it sounds like a cliché, it really is true: as long as I remain faithful to myself (not who I wish I were) and as long as I try to act with love, I have the foundations of a happy life.

As an individual blogger, you've succeeded more than almost anyone. How are you able to stay committed, original, vocal on your blog? What are your secrets for growing a readership?

Thanks for those nice words about my blog! I'm very lucky, because the topic of happiness is inexhaustible. I never worry about running out of things to write about. I never lose interest in the subject, myself.

I do try to discipline myself to keep things interesting for readers. I ask myself a series of questions when I post: am I being funny? Am I giving good information? Am I tying into recent events? Am I telling stories? Am I providing links to interesting material and highlighting the valuable writing of others? Am I showing what it's like to live in New York City? Am I being honest about my own nature and perspective? Am I being critical of anyone other than myself? Obviously, I don't hit each note every time, but I keep those goals in mind.

I also post six days a week - I think that's important to keep a blog lively.

I try to reach out to other bloggers who write about related subjects. This is good for my blog and also wonderful for me personally - I have lots of new blog friends, some of whom I've met, but most of whom I haven't met - and that has enriched my life tremendously.

Once a week, I write a post in "tips" form, a format that's very popular on the internet. I think that has helped me get picked up in places that exposed my blog to new readers. I also cross-post twice a week on the Huffington Post, post original content twice a week on RealSimple.com, and starting on January 12, I'll cross-post on Slate. I love each of these sites, and I'm thrilled that I get a place there myself. And obviously that's good exposure for my writing.

How have you built your personal brand over time and what's next for the brand called Gretchen Rubin?

The goal of my book and my blog is to help people understand happiness better and to start their own happiness projects, so that they can help themselves become happier. As such, my brand is to be engaging, informative, accessible, light-hearted, and encouraging.

So, for example, I tell people that if they'd like to see my personal Resolutions Chart, of the resolutions I keep as part of my happiness project, they can email me for a copy (just email me at grubin, then the "at" sign, then gretchenrubin dot com. -- no need to write anything more than "Resolutions Chart" in the subject line). By sharing my experience, I hope that I can inspire other people to do a happiness project of their own.

I also use Facebook, Twitter (follow me at gretchenrubin), and a monthly newsletter to connect with readers. I love these new tech tools, which weren't available to me when my other books came out. I try to use my presence there to reinforce my availability, my ability to point people to interesting, useful information, and to connect other people.

Because my book, The Happiness Project, isn't coming out until December 1, 2009, its publication is what's next for me.


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.


]]> http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/how_to_find_true_happiness_and_be_successful_in_2009.php http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/how_to_find_true_happiness_and_be_successful_in_2009.php General Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:20:55 -0600
It's the New Year, and none too fast in my view. 2008 has been a painful year for many of us and it will be refreshing to "wipe the slate clean" and start fresh. Looking for a new job can be challenging even in the best of times and the New Year is the perfect time to reassess your approach to finding a new job. Like everything else in life, too many goals (resolutions) will lead to failure, so let's keep the list short and make them count. I've listed a few suggested job search New Years' resolutions to get you started, but you should make a list that works for you.
1. Review your approach (marketing campaign) - What's worked well and what has not? You should refocus your approach and spend more time on what has worked well (while not abandoning other strategies). As an example, if you've gotten a better response from contacting employers directly, then allocate more time to this activity.
2. Review and revise your Resume - If you've been looking for a job for any length of time, you've probably already figured out that you either need to revise your resume as you go or have several versions targeted to specific jobs. You should also make sure that your resume includes all of the important key words that will ensure your resume shows up in a search for your industry/profession. Now's the perfect time to revise your resume if you haven't already done so.
3. Refresh your Network - The New Year is the perfect time to send "Happy New Year" emails or notes to the recruiters you've been working with along with a revised copy of your resume. This reminds them that you are still available and a revised resume may help in the process. The same holds true for the rest of your network. While you might not need to send your resume, just sending the "Happy New Year" note is a great way to stay connected (and it's a nice thing to do as well).
4. Refresh your Job Boards - While you should be refreshing your resume at the top job boards every week (best online job search sites), the New Year is the perfect time to do this if you haven't been diligent. "New" resume postings are looked at by recruiters and companies first.
]]> http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/job_search_new_years_resolutions_whats_yours.php http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/job_search_new_years_resolutions_whats_yours.php Finding the Right Job Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:30:55 -0600
An interview by Dan Schwabel

Today, I spoke with John Gerzema, who is the Chief Insights Officer for Young & Rubicam Group and an author. We discuss the three main challenges marketers face in today's marketplace, what the brand bubble is and how to measure it, as well as his five-stage model for brand creativity and change. John, then gives us his perspective on personal branding.

What challenges do marketers have these days? How are they different than years ago?

Marketing is facing a convergence of forces:

• First the Fragmentation of everything -- of channels, choice, modes and mediums means it's no longer possible to build a brand on the back of mass media, the way we did in previous decades.
• Second, because of Social media (collaboration, communication and sharing... social networks, applications and consumer generated media), consumers rely on each other more than brands.
• And Personalization (products, experiences, mass customization and micro-addressability) means there are no USP's anymore. A brand has a myriad of potential appeals to be personally relevant.

All of these new phenomena accelerate the decay in brand equity. Consumers are quicker to punish uninteresting brands. Marketing must adapt because brands have nowhere to hide.

]]> http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/the_same_laws_apply_for_personal_brands_as_any_brand.php http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/the_same_laws_apply_for_personal_brands_as_any_brand.php General Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:06:12 -0600
An interview by Dan Schwabel

Today, I spoke with John Eckberg, who has spoken with many successful entrepreneurs and celebrities, wrapping up his interviews in a book and sharing a few today for this blog. The two we will discuss are Donald Trump and P Diddy, who, in my opinion, truly represent the epitome of personal branding. Donald Trump understood early in his career that personal branding would give him an edge, while P Diddy figured out that being around people who were smarter than him would help accelerate his business success.

What can Donald Trump teach us about building a powerful brand (personal/product/corporate)?

Donald Trump is one of the few Americans who has turned his success in the fairly stodgy field of real estate in world-renown brand and persona in the milieu of entertainment, retailing and recreation. And while I am no Trump-a-phile, that is, I have not studied his books nor have I pored over the minutia of his career, I do know this much about him: the guy returns phone calls. Maybe it's because I work at a newspaper and hold a megaphone that reaches hundreds of thousands of people (though I suspect he'd return phone calls to folks who run newsletters) but this mogul is somebody who tends to his telephone messages.

Why is that important in building brand and what does that teach us about creating a brand?

]]> http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/lessons_on_personal_brand_building_from_donald_trump_and_p_diddy.php http://www.collegerecruiter.com/career-counselors/2009/01/lessons_on_personal_brand_building_from_donald_trump_and_p_diddy.php General Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:58:13 -0600