YIPPEE! I Landed a JOB!

YIPPEE! I Landed a JOB! Im about done recording the video for LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the second edition.  This DVD is more updated and more awesome preorder it here. Check out the email I got on Monday: I found a job! JibberJobber was a TREMENDOUS help. This was from a user who discontinued their premium upgrade since they dont need all the bells and whistles anymore. THIS MAKES MY DAY.  Seriously. I dont care about the $9.95 upgrade Im thrilled that (a) she landed, and (b) and honestly, this is so secondary to the first point, that she got a ton of value out of JibberJobber. Now, let me share some thoughts for those who LAND. First, dont stop your job search activities. Your job search stopped, thank goodness, but you should still track: Your network contacts. People hate networking because it seems fake and superficial.  One reason is because we only network when we need to I implore you to continue to NURTURE the relationships you developed in your job search.  You should have met a lot of people in your job search keep those relationships up by keeping in touch with them. One great thing to do is to create a short email letting them know you landed and thanking them for their help and well-wishes. Your target companies. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but its likely youll be unemployed again in 3 5 years.  DO NOT lose your list of target companies.  You should actually GROW your list of target companies, as you learn of more companies from the perspective of an employed person (think about your employers vendors, customers, prospects, etc.).  Grow the list and track various info about the companies in JibberJobber. Second, do what you can do be successful in your next role. You already knew that, of course.  Let me suggest the excellent book by Scot Herrick, owner of CubeRules.com, titled Ive Landed My Dream Job Now What??? Scot is a pro in this area and has some awesome ideas and guidance.  Get his book and buy a highlighter with it and keep it on your nightstand.  This might be one of the most important books you ever buy. Third, enjoy and prepare. Being unemployed SUCKS.  You are a fourth class citizen (see my slideshow I Got Fired), you have lost your identity, and youve had to figure out how to deal with depression in the job search and a whole lot of other things. Now you can take a deep breath, get back to normal, and move on with your life. But please think about the next transition. Aside from what Ive mentioned above, its time to take a financial inventory and figure out how you can become less dependent on money. One reason I was able to start my own business, which was an alternative to finding a job, was because I was in a position financially where I could afford to do that. Some people will save more, others will prepare to downsize their house and other expenses Im not sure what YOUR answer is but think about how you can be prepared financially for another bout of unemployment. Thats it for this post to all those who land CONGRATS.  To those who havent landed yet, your time will come.  Hang in there and do the right things! YIPPEE! I Landed a JOB! Im about done recording the video for LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the second edition.  This DVD is more updated and more awesome preorder it here. Check out the email I got on Monday: I found a job! JibberJobber was a TREMENDOUS help. This was from a user who discontinued their premium upgrade since they dont need all the bells and whistles anymore. THIS MAKES MY DAY.  Seriously. I dont care about the $9.95 upgrade Im thrilled that (a) she landed, and (b) and honestly, this is so secondary to the first point, that she got a ton of value out of JibberJobber. Now, let me share some thoughts for those who LAND. First, dont stop your job search activities. Your job search stopped, thank goodness, but you should still track: Your network contacts. People hate networking because it seems fake and superficial.  One reason is because we only network when we need to I implore you to continue to NURTURE the relationships you developed in your job search.  You should have met a lot of people in your job search keep those relationships up by keeping in touch with them. One great thing to do is to create a short email letting them know you landed and thanking them for their help and well-wishes. Your target companies. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but its likely youll be unemployed again in 3 5 years.  DO NOT lose your list of target companies.  You should actually GROW your list of target companies, as you learn of more companies from the perspective of an employed person (think about your employers vendors, customers, prospects, etc.).  Grow the list and track various info about the companies in JibberJobber. Second, do what you can do be successful in your next role. You already knew that, of course.  Let me suggest the excellent book by Scot Herrick, owner of CubeRules.com, titled Ive Landed My Dream Job Now What??? Scot is a pro in this area and has some awesome ideas and guidance.  Get his book and buy a highlighter with it and keep it on your nightstand.  This might be one of the most important books you ever buy. Third, enjoy and prepare. Being unemployed SUCKS.  You are a fourth class citizen (see my slideshow I Got Fired), you have lost your identity, and youve had to figure out how to deal with depression in the job search and a whole lot of other things. Now you can take a deep breath, get back to normal, and move on with your life. But please think about the next transition. Aside from what Ive mentioned above, its time to take a financial inventory and figure out how you can become less dependent on money. One reason I was able to start my own business, which was an alternative to finding a job, was because I was in a position financially where I could afford to do that. Some people will save more, others will prepare to downsize their house and other expenses Im not sure what YOUR answer is but think about how you can be prepared financially for another bout of unemployment. Thats it for this post to all those who land CONGRATS.  To those who havent landed yet, your time will come.  Hang in there and do the right things! YIPPEE! I Landed a JOB! Im about done recording the video for LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the second edition.  This DVD is more updated and more awesome preorder it here. Check out the email I got on Monday: I found a job! JibberJobber was a TREMENDOUS help. This was from a user who discontinued their premium upgrade since they dont need all the bells and whistles anymore. THIS MAKES MY DAY.  Seriously. I dont care about the $9.95 upgrade Im thrilled that (a) she landed, and (b) and honestly, this is so secondary to the first point, that she got a ton of value out of JibberJobber. Now, let me share some thoughts for those who LAND. First, dont stop your job search activities. Your job search stopped, thank goodness, but you should still track: Your network contacts. People hate networking because it seems fake and superficial.  One reason is because we only network when we need to I implore you to continue to NURTURE the relationships you developed in your job search.  You should have met a lot of people in your job search keep those relationships up by keeping in touch with them. One great thing to do is to create a short email letting them know you landed and thanking them for their help and well-wishes. Your target companies. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but its likely youll be unemployed again in 3 5 years.  DO NOT lose your list of target companies.  You should actually GROW your list of target companies, as you learn of more companies from the perspective of an employed person (think about your employers vendors, customers, prospects, etc.).  Grow the list and track various info about the companies in JibberJobber. Second, do what you can do be successful in your next role. You already knew that, of course.  Let me suggest the excellent book by Scot Herrick, owner of CubeRules.com, titled Ive Landed My Dream Job Now What??? Scot is a pro in this area and has some awesome ideas and guidance.  Get his book and buy a highlighter with it and keep it on your nightstand.  This might be one of the most important books you ever buy. Third, enjoy and prepare. Being unemployed SUCKS.  You are a fourth class citizen (see my slideshow I Got Fired), you have lost your identity, and youve had to figure out how to deal with depression in the job search and a whole lot of other things. Now you can take a deep breath, get back to normal, and move on with your life. But please think about the next transition. Aside from what Ive mentioned above, its time to take a financial inventory and figure out how you can become less dependent on money. One reason I was able to start my own business, which was an alternative to finding a job, was because I was in a position financially where I could afford to do that. Some people will save more, others will prepare to downsize their house and other expenses Im not sure what YOUR answer is but think about how you can be prepared financially for another bout of unemployment. Thats it for this post to all those who land CONGRATS.  To those who havent landed yet, your time will come.  Hang in there and do the right things!

Are You Protecting Your Digital Identity

Are You Protecting Your Digital Identity Simple question: Are you protecting your digital identity? Now,  I usually dont talk about technology; thats Jessica Williams forte on the Girlz and Gizmos column. But something a little scary happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Below is my twitter profile: Below is a picture that I used to use as my tweet pic. .And below is a picture of someone else using my former tweet pic AND my name (which is not the most common name in any part of the world including Nigerias Urhoboland where my family is from). The username is @Sarai580. Scary, isnt it? Id like to think one of my friends is playing a hoax on me but seeing as none of them have come forward, its probably not a joke. Id also like to be flattered but Im not. Im freaked out, creeped out, and wondering why on earth someone would use the name and picture of someone else who is not remotely famous. Of course, she cant use my username, thank goodness for that, but if you search Kovie Biakolo  both my account and this user will come up.  And because that is the name on her profile and she is using MY picture, it could be mistaken for me. I asked all my Facebook and Twitter friends to mark the account as spam but alas, I still have to go through the twitter report process for impersonation. I have to send in some documents proving my identity and what not. Its an annoying task that Ive been meaning to get to but I thought Id write this post first to get your thoughts (and hopefully your comforting lamentations of how creepy this is). So, now that this has happened, Im a little bit paranoid, needless to say. Not necessarily about using social media or being online because thats simply a part of my lifestyle. But I am paranoid that it could happen again or worse. With that in mind, here are my three tips for protecting your digital identity: 1. Google yourself. And dont just Google yourself, search yourself on all the social media sites that you have accounts on. One of the reasons I was able to find this is because I have the tendency to search myself online once in a while. Whats interesting is that this Twitter imposter hasnt posted anything since April but I can almost swear Ive searched myself on Twitter multiple times before I found out just a few weeks ago. So I dont know how it all works but search yourself often. This is the digital space and employers and everyone else knows how to find your digital identity take care of it. 2. Enable two-factor authentication on your Gmail account.  And please dont tell me you dont have a Gmail account because this is 2012 and why wouldnt you have one? Now, two-factor authentication is a mouthful and it might take you anywhere from twenty to thirty minutes to install but its worth it. For a much better explanation of how two-factor authentication works than I can ever give, read this Gawker article. The article also helps you set it up. Basically, if you consider that a hacker may take over your digital life including but not limited to your social media profiles, information on online stores like Amazon, wipe out all your photos twenty to thirty minutes of your time is a small price to pay. Bonus points if you get two-factor authentication for your Facebook account. Actually, no bonus points, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it! 3. Dont put anything online that you wouldnt sign your name to in real life. This is more of a reminder (I hope). Im on just about every popular social media site, I have a blog and write on a few too, and you know why I feel comfortable doing so? Because other than this imposter here, I try to stay on top of my online identity and keep it as clean and classy as possible. Sure, there are days I want to rant, rave, and rage at people or things online but I dont. You know why? Because Its not worth it.  I once heard that typing, uploading or commenting on something online is like walking into a room full of people and yelling your thoughts to them. If you use that analogy, youll think before you type. Has anything creepy ever happened to your digital identity on social media or online? What advice do you have for people regarding their digital identity? How are you protecting your digital identity?

The Culture, Stupid - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Culture, Stupid - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In 1992, James Carville, working as a strategist for Bill Clinton (the Democratic Presidential Nominee), coined the campaign strategy phrase The economy, stupid.  He was attempting to focus the campaign staff on the most crucial themes of the election.  This phrase was meant for internal ears, however the words eventually made their way into mainstream America and became a mantra of the 1992 election in which Bill Clinton unseated the incumbent, George H. W. Bush.  The phrase became the rallying cry of what turned out to be the most crucial issue of the election. Most hiring managers will agree that the most crucial factor in hiring is a culture match between a candidate and the hiring organization.  Technical skills, relevant experience, and desired academic degrees may get you onto the short list of candidates, but it is your culture fit with the organization that gets you the offer.  In short, the most important factor in deciding between candidates The culture, stupid. So if a culture fit between the candidate and the company is so important, how does one communicate a culture match to a potential employer? Your personal brand, stupid. Many of us focus on technical and other tangible skills when creating ones personal brand.  However, one must put forth attributes that communicate one is a solid match with the company culture.  Does the organization pride itself on an entrepreneurial spirit?  Demonstrate this culture match through your brand.  Is the firm known for its strong customer service?  Communicate your commitment to customer service as part of your brand.  Your brand has to convey your hard or technical skills that are desired and the aspects of yourself that make you a good fit with the company culture. Having this type of comprehensive brand will help you with  your job search to ensure you find the proper match, culturally. And in the end, what really matters the most in finding a good career fit is The culture, stupid. Author: Kevin Monahan  is the Associate Director of the Notre Dame Career Center.  In this role, he leads the center’s  employer relations efforts in addition to coaching  young professionals in career management and career change capacities. He combines career consulting services with employer outreach to help find opportunities for both constituencies.  He is the author of the  Career Seeker’s Guide  blog.

Create Evangelists for Your Brand on Twitter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Create Evangelists for Your Brand on Twitter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career How to Create Evangelists for Your Brand on Twitter This is adapted from the eBook,  From Tweet to Hired: How to Leverage Twitter to Advance Your Career, which includes contributions from Dan Schawbel and Gary Vaynerchuk. So you have a Twitter profile that strengthens your personal brand. And your bio and background image exude your core values and align with your career goals. Youre tweeting useful links, tips, quotes, advice, and experiences that resonate with your target audience. Youre answering relevant questions and effectively retweeting those who add value to you.  Youre ready to grow your network but where do you start? 1. Define your goals As Monica O’Brien, author of Social Pollination advises, “Too often people gravitate towards their friends and  forget that the whole point is to meet new people! Have a goal.  Think of who you need to know to reach your goal (i.e. finding a job) and find those people.” What is your goal? To attract new clients? Grow awareness for a cause?  Land a job? Whatever the case, youre going to want to engage the right people in the right way on Twitter. Its time to make a splash at the global networking party. 2. Engage major players in your industry Industry leaders are phenomenal resources to stay up  to date with the latest trends.  Twitter is unlike any other social platform in  this regard. Compare it to being invited to a prestigious networking event  with some of the most prominent, well-known players in your field. The  benefits of connecting and “talking shop” with them are immeasurable. Twitter allows you to do this every day. Simply search their blog or website to find their Twitter username. Leaders in your field are too busy to respond to shallow attempts to  connect. So ask thoughtful questions, retweet their messages, and post meaningful comments on their content. After responding directly to their tweets a few  times, they are likely to follow you or respond back. When they respond, all of their followers see your name, setting the stage for more meaningful  connections. 3. Engage colleagues in your industry Start by checking out  a few of the major Twitter directories to find the relevant tweeters in your field. Maintain your relationships and lines of  communication and eventually you will be familiar enough to ask for an  endorsement, phone call, or contribution to their blog. Imagine how far  recommendations from leaders and colleagues in your field can take you. Theres only one way to find out find them and reach out to them. 4. Proactively join relevant conversations Thousands of  people in your field on Twitter are conversing with each other.  These are conversations you want to join. Use Twitter search  tools to monitor keywords in your industry. Automate these searches with a Twitter management app like TweetDeck. Keep an eye out and start  interacting. Research relevant hashtags to find conversations  surrounding your industry.  For example, at my company, we have saved searches for personal branding, online reputation management and social  media. This allows us to connect become a part of conversations with like-minded people as theyre happening, and grow a relevant network around our services. 5. Engage people nearby Connect with people in your area.  There is no replacement for face-to-face connections, but many Twitter apps like TwitterLocal allow you  to find relevant people in your area and initiate relationships with people nearby. 6. Focus on quality over quantity Do not simply follow every person with “Marketing” in their bio. You  look like a spammer if you follow many people without having a somewhat  equal ratio of followers. Instead, focus your efforts and make sure you  truly connect with those you do interact with. A network of 150 people who  appreciate your tweets is far more valuable than a network of ten thousand  who have no idea who you are, and dont care to find out. Youre now on your way to growing a network of engaged Twitter followers. Along the way, dont forget to build your thought capital, tweet useful links, tips, quotes, advice, and experiences that resonate with your followers, and retweet those who add value to you. Your goal is to grow an engaged network, not an irrelevant one. 7. Turn followers into evangelists Youre now equipped to grow your following by finding and engaging with the relevant people on Twitter. In my next post, Ill break down ways you can turn these new online connections into real, meaningful relationships, and transform everyday followers into proactive evangelists for your personal brand. Before you go: have you completed a  Twitter Audit to maximize your personal branding efforts on Twitter? Also, check out the four-step process laid out in From Tweet to Hired: How to Leverage Twitter to Advance Your Career.  I guarantee it will help you strengthen your personal brand on Twitter, and it includes contributions from some of the greatest branders in the world including Dan Schawbel and Gary Vaynerchuk. Good luck! Do you have any tips and suggestions that you use to grow a relevant network on Twitter? Author: Pete Kistler is a leading Online Reputation Management expert for Generation Y, a top 5 finalist for Entrepreneur Magazine’s College Entrepreneur of 2009, one of the Top 30 Definitive Personal Branding Experts on Twitter, a widely read career development blogger, and a Judge for the 2009 Personal Brand Awards. Pete manages strategic vision for Brand-Yourself.com, the first online reputation management platform for job applicants, named one of the Top 100 Most Innovative College Startups in the U.S.

Is Your Active Directory Resume Pages Perfect?

Is Your Active Directory Resume Pages Perfect?A lot of individuals will ask you if the unique pages for your active directory resume are perfect. The answer is no, that is just a matter of opinion. You can certainly find one that will satisfy your needs and that will meet your goals. For example, some individuals will have particular skills that they are seeking, while others may simply be looking for a career change or for a new job in a different state.If you will put some thought into it, you can make sure that the active directory resume that you use will match your needs. One such example will be your business plan or marketing strategies. If you have strong skills in this area, then you should choose an active directory resume that is specific to your company. On the other hand, if you are looking for a job in a different area, then you should look at the unique features that you can find online for the job you are seeking. Remember, you should not settle for a generic resume t hat does not address the unique needs of the individual that you are searching for.You may even want to have more than one active directory resume. This way, if you have more than one job, you may actually be able to have two or three copies of the same resume. For example, if you have three different positions, then you may want to have two different copies of the resume.Even if the person that you are searching for has shown interest in a certain area, you should still get one of these so that you can check out the specific attributes of that specific area that he or she uses. For example, if the individual works in healthcare, then he or she should use a directory that is specific to the health industry. On the other hand, if someone is looking for a position in retail, then he or she may want to look for a directory that specializes in retail job ads.A good activedirectory resume should clearly state the qualifications of the individual. No one wants to feel as though they are w asting their time or that they are being rushed into making a decision by an individual that is not truthful about his or her qualifications. As you will soon discover, a lot of businesses do not want to hire the person that they found on the Internet, and they will work hard to keep them away from their company.What you may not know is that there are a lot of professionals that sell directory resumes and they also know how to craft the best resume that is specific to each individual. For example, you may have an individual that you need to hire for a specific position. If you had a resume that listed all of the strengths and weaknesses of the individual, then you would be wasting your time when trying to meet the needs of this individual.There are people who make up a resume for the reason that they feel as though they are different from the rest of the world. They feel as though they can bring something new to a job and that they will be able to succeed. Others are simply trying t o land the job that they feel they deserve. Some people are simply searching for a job in another state or even another country.If you do not already use a professional to create a unique directory resume, then this is a great tool that will allow you to have a resume that is unique to your needs. You may be surprised at the number of individuals that will show up at your door because they were looking for a job that was available in your area. When you do use a professional, you may be able to provide them with multiple copies of your resume so that they can come back to your home or office and have a look at it. They will have the opportunity to look over each one of them and make sure that they are correct before they fill out the information that they need.

How Can I Help

How Can I Help If you are out of work or looking to make a change, the best advice I can give is to figure out what you want to do next. Not as easy as it sounds, I know. Without a focus or without a clear idea of what youre strengths are, no one is going to be able to help you, except a career counselor. It is not the job of your friends and family to know about the thousands of different jobs available. They only know what they know. A friend of mine got off the phone with someone whom they had been connected with to help provide insight and advice. My friend was trying to help. When he got off the phone he said to me, I have no idea what he looking for and I have no idea what he does. They were on the phone for at least 20 minutes. Is there a problem here? People do want to help but you have to be clear. Some example intros for career exploration: I am interested in learning from you how non-profits differ from for-profit businesses. What are their challenges and where are their needs. I enjoy being the interface with customers- helping them with their problems and providing resources that might help them. What do they call this where you work? Youve been in several different lines of work, what have you found to be the most satisfying and why? If you were to change careers right now, what would you do? Ive always wanted to be a teacher of some sort. How would you suggest I break into teaching? Of course you will also have to use your elevator pitch or 45 second commercial. This brief bio has to be spoken with passion and conviction. It also has to be forward thinking, not a laundry list of past work history, no one cares where youve been early in a conversation. I am an educator with vast experience conveying new concepts and ideas in many different industries from manufacturing to technology. Ive been fortunate to have had the opportunity to increase the performance of teams and individuals. My research has indicated that a corporate trainer, teachers aide or HR Generalist would be potential opportunities to pursue. This type of pitch helps the listener understand how they can help. It is future focused and minimally touches upon past lingo or experience. My hunch is, that as the conversation continues, the listener will ask for more information. Be ready to provide your information concisely, avoid long drawn out explanations. The listener is trying to piece together their connection and offer help. Listen closely. Explore and learn. Do you have questions you have found to be helpful in exploring new careers? Please, share them so we can all learn!

Could A Caring Career Be For You - CareerAlley

Could A Caring Career Be For You - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If you have just left school or you are looking to switch careers, a new job in a caring profession could be for you. Caring for people is a noble profession but doesnt always pay as much as it should. If you are keen to care for others, then you need to be certain that this is the career for you, as you wont get the monetary reward, although you will find plenty of job satisfaction within your new role. Caring for others is a vocation. If this is a career that you keen to explore, take a look at these caring roles that could be just what you are looking for. Teacher Teaching is all about caring for the youth of today. Educating and nurturing go hand in hand if you are keen to work in one of the nations many schools. Being an educator means that you have to be qualified yourself. This means knowing your subject inside out, whether this is music, maths or history, and you also need to learn how to teach. You could be an expert in your subject but if you cant impart your knowledge onto others, then what is the point in being a teacher. The most obvious caring career choice you might think of is that of a medical doctor. Your schooling will help you determine if surgery and hospital work or private practice is best for you. Caring Is Sharing You need to have a thirst for knowledge and a keenness to work with children. Every day will be different and you will enjoy helping those children you struggle with concepts to become more confident and be able to apply the knowledge that you have given them. Youll also need to be a pastoral leader, helping those children with difficulties outside of the school setting. If you love kids, this could be the job for you. Caring for others is a vocation. If this is a career that you keen to explore, take a look at these caring roles that could be just what you are looking for. Tweet This Carer The most basic yet most worthwhile job role is that of a carer. You could work in a range of establishments from a hospital to a special needs school and from a nursing home to sheltered housing. You might want to enhance your skill set by taking a Certificate IV in Disability to help you to beat your rivals to any job working with people with disabilities. Caring for people could mean helping them dress, cooking for them, or taking them out to break up their day and aiding them in getting outdoors and not being cooped up all day every day. Being a carer is not well paid and the shift work can have an impact on your work-life balance. However, if you want to help others in a meaningful way, this could be the perfect career entry point. Doctor If you are comfortable with returning to university, then you could choose to become a doctor. The commitment is massive, and you need to be willing to put in the time and study to become a doctor. Being well qualified and working in a hospital allows you to secure a higher wage than other professions. You can also choose to specialize once you have completed a couple of years of general training. You could work in pediatrics, in orthopedics or in cardiology. The choice really is yours. While a demanding job, you will be rewarded. You also need to be able to switch off and leave your job at work, as many moments will be heartbreaking within this caring profession. The caring profession is not for the faint-hearted. However, if you want to make a difference, there are few better careers to embark on. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search