tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266447782024-02-27T21:38:36.944-08:00Career Life StrategiesTips and techniques to help you create a successful Career, Business and Life of your Dreams.Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-28278585363284263342010-08-04T15:53:00.000-07:002010-08-04T15:53:00.245-07:00I Got a Contact Name. Now What??? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSEbk7EqRb-vUCZ3s0m7NSQRc3qZ5trkZqGGBZSFIqs_RMTUOsqUE9I3MgH8pjw8t3yfXb3lh4764OCyw_vD1athVzWtGelGFgDAANuGql_fprda8o5U0zcLtd1RR1YJfbnTpQA/s1600/Symbol.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475395640914704178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSEbk7EqRb-vUCZ3s0m7NSQRc3qZ5trkZqGGBZSFIqs_RMTUOsqUE9I3MgH8pjw8t3yfXb3lh4764OCyw_vD1athVzWtGelGFgDAANuGql_fprda8o5U0zcLtd1RR1YJfbnTpQA/s200/Symbol.png" border="0" /></a>People often tell me they were on LinkedIn, or went to a networking group, or met someone when they were out-and-about and got a name of a potential contact for their job search, but don’t know how to reach them.<br /><br /><em>“What good is the name without their phone number or email address? It doesn’t do me much good if I can’t connect with them!”</em><br /><br />It’s great if you are given a phone number and/or email address with a name, however, with a little creativity and initiative you can certainly find other ways to get in touch. Here are some ideas and techniques to make those connections:<br /><br /><strong>~ Call the main number!</strong> Often people forget the simplest and most obvious solution to getting in touch with a new contact… call the company and ask for them! It’s ideal to have a direct-line phone number to the person you’re trying to reach. However, if you don’t, it’s generally pretty easy to find the main company phone number (either from their website online, a phone book, or calling 411), call and ask for the person by name. Generally a phone receptionist won’t put you through to anyone if you ask a general question like “May I speak to the Accounting Manager, please?” However, if you ask for someone by name, they will always put you through. Even if the person works at another company facility than the one you are calling, they generally have the overall company directory and can put you directly through to that person. Call and ask for them by name.<br /><br />Additionally, if you call after business hours, many companies have an automated answering system with a company directory that will often tell you the extension of the person you are trying to connect to. That’s often a great way to gain the direct-line number of someone.<br /><div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>~ Google!</strong> As with so many things… Google is a tremendous resource to find contact information. More than half of the time I'm trying to find contact information, I’m able to do it by searching their name and company name through Google. If, for example, I’m trying to find John Mansky at XYZ Company… I simply search: "John Mansky” “XYZ Company”<br /><br />I make sure to put his name in quotes to avoid unwanted results like John Smith and Bill Mansky<br /><br />Scanning down the list of results, I often find some document or site that has their phone number and/or email address. If there are too many results, I may try to narrow the search by trying his name with their web domain. For example: “John Mansky” “xyzco.com”<br /><br />Their email address is likely to include their web domain, so if the address is “john.mansky@xyzco.com” the search is likely to find it.<br /><br />If that doesn’t work, I may do a search to find ANY email address at that company to discover what their standard email format is. For example, I may simply search:<br />email “xyzco.com”<br /><br />If someone else’s email address pops up that is in a format of 'firstname.lastname@xyzco.com’, for example, I know it’s a very high likelihood that my contact’s address is in the same format. If it’s wrong, their email server will simply bounce the email back to me and no one is the wiser. If it does bounce back, I simply try other common formats like:<br /><br />firstinitiallastname@xyzco.com<br />firstname_lastname@xyzco.com<br />firstinitial_lastname@xyzco.com<br />…or other combinations.<br /><br /><strong>~ Check emails4corporations! </strong>Another great resource to help you find the standard email format for the company where your contact is employed is emails4corporations. Someone has compiled a tremendous list of standard email formats for companies all over the country.<br /><br />You can find them at: <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/emails4corporations">http://sites.google.com/site/emails4corporations</a><br /><br />Enter the company name in the search box at the top right corner of the homepage and it will show you the company, email format, address, and phone number. It doesn’t cover every company, however, is a great help if yours is included.<br /><br /><strong>~ Try JigSaw.com!</strong> JigSaw.com is probably the worlds largest ‘Rolodex’. It includes the business card information of millions of people. It rarely lets me down and is the last resort resource for me when trying to find someone’s contact information. You can either use it by paying for the service, or for free on a give & take point system. So it take a little money or some effort on your part. However, for me as a recruiter, or you as a job seeker, I believe it’s a very worthwhile resource when you need contact information you can’t seem to find anywhere else.<br /><br /><strong>~ Paid Services.</strong> Certainly there are a number of additional paid services (Spoke, ZoomInfo, and others) available online that can provide the information for you as well, however, I’m generally a big fan of “FREE”. It’s pretty rare that I can’t find someone’s contact information through one of the means listed above. Try those and then depending on how badly you need it, a paid service may be worth it.<br /><br />Generally, I don’t recommend contacting someone directly through LinkedIn’s system. Many people receive a lot of communications through there and have become conditioned to treat them like Spam. It’s generally best to reach them by phone, a professional voicemail, or email first. However, if none of those works, as a last resort, you have nothing to lose by trying the LinkedIn contact system as well.<br /><br />As always, make sure your communication is professional, well prepared, and succinct!<br />You can gain more help with that by reading <a href="http://www.thewisejobsearch.com/2010/05/keys-to-great-email-in-your-job-search.html" target="_blank">Keys to a great email in your job search!</a> or <a href="http://www.thewisejobsearch.com/2009/06/what-to-do-in-effective-networking-call.html" target="_blank">What to do in an effective networking call!</a><br /><br />Be creative, take the initiative, and find the way to connect with those job search contacts!<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br />Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as <a href="http://www.eexecutives.net/" target="_blank"><strong>e-Executives</strong></a>, writes a blog for Job Seekers called <a href="http://www.thewisejobsearch.com/" target="_blank"><strong>The Wise Job Search</strong></a>, and can be found on Twitter as <a href="http://www.twitter.com/eExecutives" target="_blank">@eExecutives</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-6248570517293287068?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=OfdBoo4yAeA:zA_K_VDn01c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=OfdBoo4yAeA:zA_K_VDn01c:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/OfdBoo4yAeA" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/OfdBoo4yAeA/i-got-contact-name-now-what.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-20596285687846242732010-08-03T15:20:00.000-07:002010-08-03T15:20:00.224-07:0010 Confidence Boosting Tips for Interviewers Job interviews can be intimidating and nerve-racking in a crippling way. But allowing your personality to show through –even if you’re faking it—is the only way to take charge of your interview and have any hope of landing the job. No matter what kinds of qualifications you have, employers want to sit down with an individual who can conduct themselves professionally and charismatically, and if you can’t even hold yourself together to keep up your side of the conversation, you may go unnoticed altogether. Instead, prepare to manage the interview session in a way that puts you in control and limits any awkward moments. Here are 10 confidence-boosting tips to help you do just that.<br /><br />1. Understand the importance of an in-person interview. An interview is your opportunity to brand yourself in front of your potential boss and really lay down the line for how you’d like to be treated in the office. Don’t come across as cocky, but understand that acting meek and embarrassed during your interview will immediately make your boss feel like he or she can get away with dictating your every move.<br /><br />2. Smile the very first chance you get. A warm, natural smile exudes confidence and sets the tone for a professional but friendly encounter.<br /><div class="fullpost"><br />3. Practice your handshake. A good handshake can be exhilarating and empowering, but an awkward fumbling or weak handshake dashes any hope of a dazzling first impression. Practice ahead of time so that it comes naturally.<br /><br />4. Research the company. Be ready to talk about the company and position you’re applying for by doing a little web research ahead of time.<br /><br />5. Come with questions. If you have a list of questions to ask, you’ll be ready in case of an awkward silence.<br /><br />6. Realize that they probably already like you. The very fact that you’re even sitting in the interview seat means that someone liked your resume and believed you’d make a good candidate for the job.<br /><br />7. Dress professionally. Wear something that makes you look professional and neat but is still comfortable. Something that’s too tight or too bulky will make you feel uneasy. A good tip is to wear something you’ve already worn few times, so you won’t be caught off guard by any wardrobe malfunctions.<br /><br />8. Sit up straight. You want to appear alert and confident, so sit upright in your chair with your hands folded. Leaning back to far will make you appear arrogant, while hunching over will make you seem nervous and self-conscious.<br /><br />9. Value the opportunity for what it is. The more you value the interview as its own learning experience and opportunity to practice your interviewing your skills, the more natural and confident you’ll feel asking questions and talking with the interviewer.<br /><br />10. Review your resume. You may take it for granted that you know everything on your resume since it’s your experience, but understand that all the questions your interviewer will have for you are going to come directly from that resume. Take a few minutes to look over the skills and experience you’ll be expected to discuss.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Rose Jensen</strong> writes about the <a href="http://www.onlineuniversities.com/">best online universities</a>. She welcomes your feedback at <a href="mailto:Rose.Jensen28@yahoo.com">Rose.Jensen28@yahoo.com</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-7312457371229690383?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=lQdfIeZ21bk:ceSLSlRT03Y:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=lQdfIeZ21bk:ceSLSlRT03Y:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/lQdfIeZ21bk" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/lQdfIeZ21bk/10-confidence-boosting-tips-for.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-22710044150232452402010-08-02T14:47:00.000-07:002010-08-02T14:47:00.208-07:00How to Apply Perfectionism to Your Career and Life In business school, if not earlier, we've all learned about Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs, and we've been told that what's called "self-actualization" is the highest, or rather, most pressing human need, on which all other "lower" needs serve as only building blocks. While Maslow's theories have earned their fair share of criticism, I'd like to defer instead to a broader set of ideas in moral philosophy collectively called "perfectionism" and then discuss how these ideas can be successfully implemented in your daily life as well as your career.<br /><br />I'm sure we've heard our friends, family, or perhaps even ourselves referred to as "perfectionists," with little thought to what that may actually mean. The image of the perfectionist in modern society is often marred with a hint of criticism. We think of perfectionists as compulsive, almost neurotic. This image should perhaps be more rightfully attributed to a person who struggles with some form of obsessive compulsive disorder, and it is not the image to which I am referring when I say "perfectionist." To give you a basic idea of perfectionism as a philosophy, Wikipedia offers the following: "…perfectionism is the persistence of will in obtaining the optimal quality of spiritual, mental, physical, and material being." Sounds tough, huh? Impossible, you say? Well of course, attaining perfection is certainly not possible in one lifetime, but a philosophical perfectionist completely understands this. The key word here is "persistence."<br /><div class="fullpost"><br />Of course, what counts as perfection will inevitably be based on what an individual values most, but in terms of your career, perfectionism is simply striving to do your very best, every single day, no matter what the size or import of your task at hand is. Surely, the bigger picture does matter, but the successful completion of the optimal life is all in the small things. The devil may be in details, as they say, but so is god, the personal god in each of us that longs to order our lives by standards of excellence.<br /><br />Although it can be difficult to appreciate the necessity of doing the small things right, I usually defer to my favorite sport, golf. When I focused too much on the outcome of the total score—I'd constantly be adding up figures as I'd step up to the tee box—I'd get hung up on the big picture, and my final score would suffer. However, one day I tried something different. I focused on only each single shot, and told myself that this one shot was the only shot I'd have to take. When I placed greater importance on individual shots—on the small things—I noticed I was doing better on each hole. Still I didn't add up scores. I just marked the number of shots per hole, threw the scorecard back in my bag and moved on. By the time I finished up on the eighteenth hole, I had tallied the totals and—not kidding—it was the best round in my life.<br /><br />In the final analysis, perfectionism is not an end goal, but a state of mind. If you strive for a systematic approach to perfection, one that keeps in mind the details with a steady, reasonable approach to the big picture, then you will find that unexpected aspects of your life—career and personal—will begin to fall into place as if by magic.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Angela Martin</strong> writes on job search topics at <a href="http://www.careeroverview.com/">Job Search Websites</a>. She welcomes your comments at her email <a href="mailto:angela.martin77@gmail.com">angela.martin77@gmail.com</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-4567337634193353839?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=f31Ty39nZsk:sgYbzpzDp88:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=f31Ty39nZsk:sgYbzpzDp88:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/f31Ty39nZsk" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/f31Ty39nZsk/how-to-apply-perfectionism-to-your.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-10099542148865349122010-08-01T14:14:00.000-07:002010-08-01T14:14:00.173-07:00Body Language: Be Careful What You Don't Say What your body language says is often more important than what you say verbally, especially when the two conflict. When they’re in sync, your movements are a reflection of what you’re thinking and what you’re feeling: your conscious and your unconscious. But when they aren’t, the unconscious prevails. <br />Why? Because while people will make themselves conscious of their words, few are conscious of their feelings and how that translates into body language, much less what that body language is saying. And in an interview, that can result in sending a message opposite what you intend. <br /><br />A person who was recently fired or laid off is a good example of this dichotomy, especially when the termination takes place for reasons that have little to do with any situation the individual instigated. You did nothing to cause the severance, but you feel responsible anyway. <br /><br />Since few job seekers know how to put a termination in perspective and handle it appropriately, it comes out how they move and how they conduct themselves. Almost every action is an apology. You knock gently on the door when the administrative assistant says, “Mr. Jackson can see you now.” You not only ask permission to sit, but you ask which chair. You either over explain or under answer. <br /><div class="fullpost"><br />Instead of speaking smoothly in a relaxed manner, your voice is too loud or can’t be heard. You say “um” or “ah” at the beginning and in the middle of your sentences. Everything about you screams insecure, even though you’re managing to articulate your accomplishments. <br /><br />The result is that the hiring authority is puzzled as to how you managed to achieve so much, when your manner isn’t conducive to making things happen. It leaves him with a question about you. Hiring authorities don’t like to be left with questions; they want to be 100% confident of who they hire. So you’re out of the picture. <br /><br />But this conflict doesn’t only occur with those have been dismissed by their employer. It can also happen when someone doesn’t have a degree, but has excelled in their career and frequently ends up competing with those who do. Or when you’ve been unemployed a long time, and you really need a job. Or if you’ve had your eye on being part of this company and finally you’ve snagged an interview. Or if you’re just plain insecure. <br />There’s a plethora of articles that list hundreds of body language cues you should pay attention to. But that’s like trying to learn the different interview styles and how to respond to each one. It’s a waste of time. You’ll spend so much time trying to remember what to do, how to do it, when to do it, if what you’re doing is correct or not, that it becomes difficult to focus on selling yourself and learning if the company is compatible with who you are and what you want. <br /><br />It starts with your head. If you don’t feel confident, then stop thinking you aren’t. Find the reasons why you’re an asset to a company. List your skills and contributions. Put together a sales pitch on yourself, and then take it to heart. Actions mirror thoughts and thoughts mirror actions. When you’re thinking confidently, you behave confidently and vice versa. <br /><br />At the same time, you can program one to follow the other. Pay attention to yourself, what you’re feeling and what’s going on around you. If you notice yourself shuffling in through the company door, pick your head up, put a smile on your face, and walk into the office as if you belong there, because you do. You have an interview, and they’re expecting you. <br />An interview is a sales presentation. You’re the product, and the hiring authority is the buyer. If you’re communicating that you’re not good enough to be hired, why would a company think differently?<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Judi Perkins</strong>, the How-To Career Coach, was a recruiter for 22 years, consulting with hundreds of hiring authorities throughout the hiring process. She’s seen over 500,000 resumes, knows how hiring authorities think and how they hire. As a result she understands and teaches what other coaches don’t: why the typical strategies in finding a job so often fail, what to do instead, and why. She’s been on PBS’s Frontline, will be in the May issue of Smart Money magazine, and has been quoted frequently in numerous articles for CareerBuilder, MSN Careers, Yahoo Hot Jobs, and the New York Times, among others. She’s also been featured as an expert in numerous career books. Sign up for her free newsletter at <a href="http://www.findtheperfectjob.com/" target="_blank">http://www.findtheperfectjob.com/</a>!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-3597515253565261333?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=dENwuAUGwLQ:4BYAsO64igI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=dENwuAUGwLQ:4BYAsO64igI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/dENwuAUGwLQ" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/dENwuAUGwLQ/body-language-be-careful-what-you-dont.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-11777769438490677722010-07-31T13:41:00.000-07:002010-07-31T13:41:00.415-07:00Words and Music: The Secret to Writing a Great Resume <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWBDJ7oAt6IFs2U32ruMjLHNV590NpsHJfhgaxAts1kbkoZIvB3ywSL8HP1ibe7s981vIXgtcEIFv74Vn5X5PSsZwPRVJb5V4bre2jbL8FQ8jlKhBldSIImzuXLWhB-63LYDZkA/s1600/Eddie+%26+the+Cruisers.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWBDJ7oAt6IFs2U32ruMjLHNV590NpsHJfhgaxAts1kbkoZIvB3ywSL8HP1ibe7s981vIXgtcEIFv74Vn5X5PSsZwPRVJb5V4bre2jbL8FQ8jlKhBldSIImzuXLWhB-63LYDZkA/s200/Eddie+%26+the+Cruisers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477235402822789058" /></a>Too many old school job seekers believe that on their resume employers are interested in a summary of their qualifications, experience and job responsibilities. What they forget, or were never taught, is that as seen through the eyes of qualified HR or private recruiters and decision makers a laundry list of key words and on-the-job responsibilities are synonymous with your possessing the minimum qualifications to qualify for a new position. With the competition being what it is today, offering up only this information is not enough. <br /><br />Demonstrating that you have the 2-15 years of work experience the company desires in a certain function says nothing about how well you've performed. You may have been performing at a minimal skill level for all 15 years or at the highest level of competency for 3 or 4 years. The people who matter can not determine how talented you are based on equating the number of years of experience to competence. <br /><br />If you have been reading my blogs you know by now that employers are more interested in knowing about your body of work and how it relates to the job at hand, and about the individual accomplishments that will validate your candidacy.<div class="fullpost"><br />This premise is borne out every day all over the web, and especially in the blogosphere and on Linked-In discussions. All of us new school thought leaders are telling our clients and readers that qualifying and quantifying your past in relation to an employer’s needs and desires is the # 1 difference maker on a resume, and qualifying and quantifying specific accomplishments in terms of bottom line $ / % results is a great way to do this. <br /><br />You need to realize that hiring managers envision prior achievements in a similar situation as a predicator of what they might expect from you in the future, while experience and key words tell people only about what you've DONE in the past. <br /><br />However, not all accomplishments matter to a hiring manager. What you consider impressive accomplishments for past employers will not impress prospective decision makers unless they accentuate proven solutions to problem they are looking to solve. <br />Still in the dozens of accomplishment based resumes that are emailed to me every week for a free resume critique I find the presentation of accomplishments and vital supporting information as presented by a professional and an amateur are as different as day is to night. <br /><br />In the movie Eddie and the Cruisers there is a dialogue I love as Eddie Wilson, the writer and band leader tries to explain how to play a love ballad he wrote to band members who want to play it too fast and too sloppy. "Words and Music man - Words and Music... without both it aint worth playing." <br /><br />The same holds true for a resume. Putting down the correct thoughts is not enough. Just as every person is different, so too should the resume that introduces them be. Just like a song, you need to know how to pace a resume. This means you need to know where to strategically place information, the order in which it must appear, and it must have the perfect combination of words and actions convincingly tell the reader what they want to hear. <br /><br />The bottom line for me is a resume must paint a masterful picture with colorful imagery, while telling a mesmerizing ‘Hero Story’ that resonates with the readers. So as you write your resume remember what Eddie said; ‘Words and Music man.” Without both your resume is not worth submitting. <br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br />Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at <a href="http://www.perrynewman.com/">http://www.perrynewman.com</a>, and email him your resume at <a href="mailto:perry@perrynewman.com">perry@perrynewman.com</a> for FREE resume critique.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-7826424176137859387?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=pD82KuL26nE:bn1ZkENLVO0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=pD82KuL26nE:bn1ZkENLVO0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/pD82KuL26nE" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/pD82KuL26nE/words-and-music-secret-to-writing-great.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-53297158633179060542010-07-30T13:08:00.000-07:002010-07-30T13:08:00.098-07:0010 Secrets for Nailing the Job Interview <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnpCFlrXkOiY9apr_ox0Y9SL8rCYr690B3vgsaW1TWQvNa3r66KpTbgsc9mcQHWtOL6tr3Caf_DjT0j6RUHlh9AU_cv_DxIlUeIJllu11nAMmhSJ-aJ6b_sLNDEnAoibdhn1a1g/s1600/PatWilliams.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnpCFlrXkOiY9apr_ox0Y9SL8rCYr690B3vgsaW1TWQvNa3r66KpTbgsc9mcQHWtOL6tr3Caf_DjT0j6RUHlh9AU_cv_DxIlUeIJllu11nAMmhSJ-aJ6b_sLNDEnAoibdhn1a1g/s200/PatWilliams.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477630946924521986" /></a>I am grateful for the opportunity to share with you the following career advice from <strong><a href="http://www.patwilliamsmotivate.com/">Pat Williams</a></strong>, senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic. Pat co-founded the Orlando Magic in 1987 and is one of America's top motivational, inspirational, and humerous speakers. He had addressed thousands of executives in organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies and national assocations to universities and nonprofits. Pat and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of 19 children, including 14 from four nations.<br /><br />Pat Williams is the author of over 55 books including the recently released <em>Nail It! 10 Secrets for Winning the Job Interview</em>, written with <a href="http://peggymatthewsrose.com/"><strong>Peggy Matthews Rose</strong></a>.<br /><br /><strong>1. What inspired a sports executive and father of nineteen to write a book on job interviewing?</strong><br /><br />Life is all about being prepared for what’s next, Brent. Whether you’re an eighteen-year-old heading out on your own for the first time or an 81-year-old looking for ways to stay in the game, we are always looking for our next job. Wouldn’t you agree? As a dad, I’ve seen more than my share of wobbly beginnings. As a sports executive, I’ve seen stellar careers ended overnight, lives in desperate need of a new beginning.In addition to my wonderful and often challenging family, I’ve been blessed to work in professional sports my entire adult life. And I can say that nowhere is the demand for high caliber employees greater, both on the court and behind the scenes. So it’s just made sense to me to study what makes one candidate stand out over others. Winning jobs is really an elimination contest in so many ways. When no one is keeping score, what defines a winner? Over the years I’ve had many opportunities to share the insights I’ve gathered one-on-one. And now with the competition for jobs higher than it’s been in decades, I believe it’s time to get those tips into more people’s hands. That’s why I wrote this book.As a dad, I can say that the challenges of raising 19 children, many of them from international cultures, and helping them find their way in the professional world, has been often daunting. By now they’ve all begun charting their own roadmaps, but a book like this one would have come in handy for me then—and it’s a great resource for them now.<div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>2. You've been involved in professional sports for over 40 years. How did you get your career started in that industry?</strong><br /><br />As a kid I was so blessed to have a dad who loved sports and who inspired me to love sports too. Baseball especially was a big part of my life and I aspired to be a major league catcher. I was good enough to play in the minor leagues but not good enough to make the “bigs.” So at age 24 I became the general manager of the Spartanburg Phillies. I figured I’d stay in baseball, but the next year, 1968, baseball legend Bill Veeck, with whom I’d been blessed to develop a close relationship, recommended me as general manager of the Chicago Bulls—and my NBA career was launched from that moment on. What a great ride it has been! Parents, if your kids are inclined to love sports, I can’t urge you more strongly to encourage them in every way you can. Sports offers the best training field for life I can think of. And if it’s a job you’re looking for, sports involvement offers a great way to make connections that lead to satisfying careers.<br /><br /><strong>3. You've outlined 10 secrets for nailing job interviews. What information can you share about each?</strong><br /><br />These “secrets” were culled over the years by top human resources professionals and represent the qualities they look for in a successful job candidate. In reviewing them, I found they are practical life principals as well. They include:<br /><ol><li><strong><em>Networking –</em></strong> Getting your next job is less about who you know than it is about who knows what you know. Start where you are and widen your circles of influence. Get involved in professional organizations, social networks, affinity groups—go anywhere you can meet people in your area of expertise who would be glad to know what you can do for them. I’ve always said that life is about “collecting people,” and nowhere is this truer than in our professional lives. </li><li><strong><em>Being ready for the questions an interviewer is likely to ask you –</em></strong> and the best way to do that is to have a life plan. Know where it is you are headed, what you want to “be when you grow up.” When you have a clear sense of your purpose and your goals, you can see the mile markers along the journey that each job interview represents. Beyond that, study sample interviews and do your homework regarding the companies with which you plan to interview. </li><li><strong><em>Being prepared –</em></strong> In all my years as a speaker, I’ve found that at least 90% of each event is what happens in advance. If I’m not prepared to go up there and address the audience, they’re not going to be happy with me. The same is true when we go in for the job interview. In these highly competitive days, we’ve got to see it as auditioning for American Idol: only the top performers are likely to be called back. So before you speak to anyone, whether in person or on the phone, have a solid hold on what you’re going to say and how you will say it. </li><li><strong><em>Display professionalism –</em></strong> Here’s an elusive word, “professionalism.” What does it really mean? We spend this chapter helping you get a grip on this concept, from what not to wear, to developing a mindset, to seeing professionalism as a standard of living. If a world-class career is what you’re after, it’s critical to dress, think, and live as a professional, 24/7. </li><li><strong><em>Exuding self-confidence –</em></strong> If you’re naturally shy or insecure, this one might seem the most challenging of our tips. But the winning candidate is the one who knows she knows what she knows, and can confidently communicate that image. In this chapter, I tell the story of my son Alan, who did NOT want to hear Dad talk to him about leadership. Then came the day I picked him up from school and he excitedly told me he’d been selected captain of his basketball team. “Well guess what that makes you, Alan?” I said. He thought a moment and squeaked, “A leader?” Turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened in his life. It’s all about believing in yourself. So if you have any doubts, I’m telling you right now that I believe in you! You should too, for that is the person most likely to win the job interview. </li><li><strong><em>Exhibiting communication skills –</em></strong> Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter tells us, “Without credible communication and a lot of it, the hearts and minds of others are never captured.” It may not seem to you that this is your mission in the job interview, but it is! Your goal is to convince the hiring manager that you are the person they’ve been looking for all their lives. That means you’ve got to sound like the right candidate when you speak and that anything you’ve written—from your resume to an email—to that individual reflects a polished, confident, professional demeanor. If you need to, join a group like Toastmasters to improve your speaking skills or take a business writing class. </li><li><strong><em>Radiating energy and enthusiasm –</em></strong> Have you ever spoken to someone who seemed to blend in to the wallpaper? Perhaps you’ve forgotten the experience because that person was so, well, forgettable. Don’t let that be you! The way to stand out from the crowd is to do so with energy. Think Richard Simmons here. You don’t have to jump around or dress in strange gym shorts—please, don’t do that! But you do need to “look alive,” as they say. I’ve found the best way to make sure you radiate energy is through choosing a healthy lifestyle. Eat right, exercise daily. Read inspiring books. Become the person anyone would be proud to hire. It really is a mind game, in that it begins and ends with how you think of yourself. </li><li><strong><em>Revealing your extraversion –</em></strong> Some of us are naturally outgoing, while others are like that guy we just talked to, Wally Wallpaper. But we can all practice being more outgoing. My writing partner in this book, Peggy Matthews Rose, remembered her first job working in retail when she was asked to greet “perfect strangers.” The requirement did not feel natural to her, but in time she was able to turn on the smile and make the customers feel welcome. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about being the best you that you can be on behalf of your employer. </li><li><strong><em>Being a person of integrity –</em></strong> In a world that often seems to be turning upside down before our very eyes—a world full of corruption, dishonesty, uncertainty, and often fear—we are hungry for men and women of integrity. People who say what they mean and mean what they say. People who are honest, undivided, and trustworthy. People who can be counted on to always do the right thing. It may not always seem like it when you read the headlines, but that is the kind of person every company wants representing them. That is the person who will change his or her world. </li><li><strong><em>Revealing your creativity –</em></strong> No matter what the position is you’re interviewing for, every company appreciates creativity. Don’t think that’s you? You might surprise yourself if you just try. It begins with realizing that you are a uniquely created individual, made in the image of a creative God. We imitate him every day, whether we know it or not. So look for creative ways to express yourself in the interview. It might be through a portfolio, or you might be like the guy who sent the Magic office pizza with his resume printed inside the box! The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. </li></ol>Those are the top ten, Brent, but of course—every game needs a free throw. So we added what I think is one of the most important tips:<br /><br /><strong><em>Be yourself –</em></strong> And to do that, you first need to see yourself as you really are. Who are you? Try stepping outside yourself and sit for a few minutes on the other side of that interview desk. Would you hire you? If you’re out of work right now or looking to transition into a new position soon, take some time first to figure out who you are and what it is you really want to do. If there is any way possible, go after your dream job. And then be realistic. You may not get that job. But if you don’t it won’t be because you didn’t give it all you’ve got. It may simply be that it’s not the right time for you, or there is something better down the road. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to be a person you respect and someone others can look up to. If you can nail that, you are way ahead of the game. <br /><br /><strong>4. Over 1.4 million college-educated individuals will enter the U.S. labor force this year. What advice can you offer professionals who are just trying to get their foot in the door?</strong> <br /><br />Be persistent. Never give up. I can’t think of better advice than that. It’s so easy to become discouraged in this highly competitive world we live in. Don’t let the gloom of a failure or two settle in on your soul. Get back out there in the game and keep knocking on those doors. One day a door will yield to your knocking and it will lead you to just the place you need to be in that moment. But when you get there, don’t rest on your laurels. Keep growing and stretching. Keep networking and keep on knocking.<br /><br /><strong>5. In conversations I've had with unemployed experienced managers, they are questioning whether to accept significantly lower salaries or keep looking for the right opportunities. What are your thoughts?</strong><br /><br />That’s a tough one, Brent, given our current climate. My gut response is to say “go for the gold”—keep looking for that right place. But ultimately it does come down to putting food on the table and making the monthly rent. We must keep in mind that all work is honorable, so we shouldn’t have the mind set that, well, that job is beneath me. If it offers you an opportunity to grow and become a better person along with making those monthly bills, you might need to accept the lower salary for a while. Remember that all things come to pass. So roll with the lumps when you have to but don’t get stuck in them. In other words—take the lower salary for now if you must. Be practical, for goodness sake! But keep your eye on home plate. Never stop looking.<br /><br /><strong>6. Nationwide unemployment is approximately 10% while overall underemployment is closer to 20%. If you could offer one final tip for job seekers, what would it be?</strong><br /><br />I’ll go back to my last remarks if I may and say—folks, it’s a tough world out there and very tough times we are facing. There is no doubt about that and no easy answers. We all want the dream job, the killer career, the fourth floor corner office. But now might not be the right time for it. I fully believe God has a plan for each of our lives. But we must be patient with the process and face facts when they are staring at us. Be patient, keep looking, stay strong. Never compromise your integrity. Do what you must. Keep growing. Keep looking. As Phil Jackson might say to his team, “Move the ball. Make the shots.” Stay focused and you’ll win in the long run.<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br />Brent Peterson, PMP, MS, MBA, is the founder of Interview Angel Inc, a company that offers a comprehensive guide and toolkit for job seekers to use in interviews. Interview Angel is in use at universities, corporations, non-profit agencies, and local governments.<br /><p></p><p>Discover customer testimonials, blog posts, upcoming events, and media interviews at <a href="http://www.interviewangel.com/" target="_blank">http://www.interviewangel.com/</a>. Brent is also in LinkedIn (<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/brentpeterson" target="'_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/brentpeterson</a>) and on Twitter (<a href="http://twitter.com/InterviewAngel" target="_blank">@InterviewAngel</a>).</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-4561109300618860918?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=0Zrtn_xpIG0:EYpIlzWqN1I:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=0Zrtn_xpIG0:EYpIlzWqN1I:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/0Zrtn_xpIG0" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/0Zrtn_xpIG0/10-secrets-for-nailing-job-interview.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-88723398867655814582010-07-29T12:35:00.000-07:002010-07-29T12:35:00.147-07:00Beyond the Resume: Part 2 <strong>Using a Personal Profile to Connect With A Prospective Employer</strong><br /><br />In today’s challenging job market, job seekers have to make every effort to go above and beyond what is normally expected, to differentiate themselves in the eyes of the hiring manager. No matter how hard you try, attempting to differentiate yourself solely through your resume is extremely difficult.<br /><br />Consider creating a “Credentials Package” for your prospective employer to consider, which can include other components in addition to your resume. One additional component is the Personal Profile. The Personal Profile outlines in a single page, for you initially—and ultimately for your prospective employer—all of your unique personal qualities, including your passions, hobbies and special interests, personal development activities, family, and other unique or interesting qualities about yourself.<br /><br />To highlight the 5 reasons why the Personal Profile is important:<div class="fullpost"><ol><li><strong>You are more than your “work.”<br /></strong>You are so much more than what could possibly show up on a résumé. If others prefer to be considered, judged, and selected based solely on their work experience, let them. You want to make it personal.<br /></li><li><strong>It’s all about relationships, and it’s always personal.</strong><br />If you want that new career opportunity, you have to convince your prospective employer that you bring positive personal qualities to the work and team environment.<br /></li><li><strong>It’s all about differentiation.</strong><br />A hiring manager may have difficulty choosing between two candidates with similar work experiences, but the personal information you provide will always be unique and different.<br /></li><li><strong>Let them know now who you are.</strong><br />You want your prospective employer to know exactly what—and who—they are getting. Even if you have the opportunity to meet with your prospective employer, you usually don’t get into this topic during an interview. Why should they wait until six months after you’re hired to find out what a great and interesting person you are? Let them know now.<br /></li><li><strong>Your personal qualities are as important as your work experience.<br /></strong>Your unique personal qualities determine how you will approach a given job, how you will interact with others to meet objectives, and ultimately how successful you will be. </li></ol><p>In addition to aiding the employer in understanding who you are—before the interview even begins, the Personal Profile is also extremely important in helping you determine if a given opportunity is right for you. By identifying and understanding all of your personal qualities, it will help you evaluate and select career opportunities best suited for you, and will help you to answer that typical and often challenging “Tell me about yourself” question you often hear during the interview process.<br /><br />Add a Personal Profile to your credentials package today. Start to develop a personal relationship with your prospective employer, before the interview even begins.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br />Over a 25-year period, <strong>Dan Burns</strong> has realized a successful career as a corporate manager, entrepreneur, educator, business owner, and now as a full-time writer.<br /><br />Prior to writing, Dan served as owner and Executive Vice President of a national technical and management consulting company, providing consulting and employee placement services to Fortune 500 companies and helping people successfully obtain their next great career opportunity.<br /><br />In May 2009, Dan published his first book, The First 60 Seconds: Win The Job Interview Before It Begins. Through his book and speaking engagements, Dan is helping thousands of people to be more successful in today’s challenging job marketplace.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-694065215236264401?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=7ygfB9QpnO0:TJxG7JkOxgQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=7ygfB9QpnO0:TJxG7JkOxgQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/7ygfB9QpnO0" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/7ygfB9QpnO0/beyond-resume-part-2.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-6838359859297996882010-07-28T12:02:00.000-07:002010-07-28T12:02:00.306-07:00Resume Advice for New Grads Now that it’s graduation season, I’ve recently reviewed resumes for several new graduates. It was clear to me from looking at these documents that many people just entering the workforce feel unsure about which rules still apply for writing resumes today. Here are some tips for those who find themselves in this situation.<br /><br /><b>What Resume Length Is Appropriate?</b><br /><br />Conventional wisdom says that resumes should be just one page. Today, many people with years of work experience find that they can’t condense everything onto one page. That’s perfectly all right—it’s more important to make sure you include appropriate keywords and accomplishments than to stick to one page. However, if you do need two pages to fully detail your experience, make sure that your most important and relevant experience is included on the first page. The one-page rule arose because of the perception that hiring managers wouldn’t take the time to review more than one page of a resume—and some today will tell you that they still don’t.<br /><br />Regardless of how many pages are appropriate to capture your experience, your resume should fill the entire page on each page of the document. So if you go with two pages of experience, make sure you have two full pages. Most recent graduates will probably not have acquired enough activities, experiences, or jobs to fill more than two pages. One exception would be a curriculum vitae for someone who had been in school for many years obtaining a Ph.D. A resume for a Ph.D. student may require more room in order to include publications and/or presentations.<br /><div class="fullpost"><br /><b>How to Date Your Experience</b><br /><br />Another trend I’ve noticed on new graduate resumes is people indicating in which semester they held a leadership position or an internship. Because companies don’t operate on a semester system, it may look more professional to date your experience with months and/or years.<br /><br /><b>Resume Objective or Career Summary?</b><br /><br />Lastly, most student/new graduate resumes I’ve seen include an objective statement at the top rather than a summary of the job seeker’s qualifications. Companies would rather see what a candidate offers them than what the candidate is looking for. For a former student who is entering the workforce, quantifiable achievements might include things like: “Obtained at least a 3.5 GPA during every semester of college while simultaneously working 20 hours per week as a reservations hostess at a busy restaurant”. Or, “Planned a fund-raising event that raised $2,000 for a national charitable organization”. Today’s college students are multitaskers who are generally involved in things other than just their classes. Use those experiences to sell yourself as a skilled candidate—even if you’re just beginning to acquire those skills.<br /><br />For a free resume analysis submit your resume via e-mail to <a href="mailto:info@greatresumesfast.com">info@greatresumesfast.com</a> or view professionally-written resume samples at <a href="http://www.greatresumesfast.com">http://www.greatresumesfast.com</a>.<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Jessica Holbrook</strong> is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis visit <a href="http://www.greatresumesfast.com/">http://www.greatresumesfast.com/</a> or for a free phone consultation call 1.800.991.5187.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-6064501659508676482?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=NBUU0GWRwuE:thEqyWoH52U:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=NBUU0GWRwuE:thEqyWoH52U:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/NBUU0GWRwuE" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/NBUU0GWRwuE/resume-advice-for-new-grads.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-14850894911391554062010-07-27T11:29:00.000-07:002010-07-27T11:29:00.414-07:005 Easy Steps to Finding Passion Many people, particularly as they accumulate years of work experience, find they have a growing desire to put passion into their life and career. My observation about why this takes place is that as we grow in life experiences a lot of the excitement or “newness” diminishes. We simply have been there and done that enough that our threshold for what will rock our world continues to go up. It’s increasingly harder to get that same level of excitement.<br /><br />As we recognize that this element of excitement is missing, it can trigger us to go in search of something we can feel passionate about. We often look around us seeing others in careers that bring them incredible joy – something they are passionate about – and we want that same feeling for ourselves. We remember how it feels to have something in our lives that consumes our thoughts and makes the hours flow quickly. The biggest issue with going in search of your life and career passion is: HOW do you discover your passion?<br /><br />All too many people think that your passion just comes to you like a thunderbolt from the heavens. In other words, we think for some people it just magically appears. This leaves the rest of us to feel unlucky because the magic hasn’t happened. Finding your passion is something we all have access to. It might seem magical, but it is simply a process, like most things in our lives, and requires turning off the TV and taking some actions.<br /><br />Here are 5 simple steps that will lead you to your passion:<div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>Start first with what you already know you’re interested in.</strong> Sit down and write out a list of all the things you have some interest in trying, but never have. Your whole process requires self honesty and it starts here. Don’t list anything just because of someone else’s interests. If you aren’t genuinely interested, don’t list it. It’s also important to create this master list as it will live on perhaps for the rest of your life. As you try things on the list, you may eliminate some and add others.<br /><ul><li>You must realize that this is a discovery and experimentation process. You need to proceed with a certain playfulness and curiosity. You are going to try these things, probably for the first time, and you have no idea how they will turn out. In fact, you need to assume that while you may enjoy many of those activities, most of them will not turn into a passion. </li><li>Because most of the activities you try will not turn into a true passion, you need to develop self-patience with no self-judgment. Have fun with the process. Be open to new discoveries. You will find your passion, just be patient and trust the process. Don’t criticize yourself if it doesn’t happen immediately. </li><li>You do not need to limit your list to only things that seem related to a job. When you find a passion, you may well be able to turn it into an income opportunity, if you choose. </li></ul><p><strong>Make goals.</strong> You can’t just make a list. You have to take action. Like all great goals, they have the characteristics of 1) being specific 2) having a time for completion 3) and are actionable. A bad example: I will solve world hunger. This goal is missing all of the key characteristics. A good example: I will enroll and take glass blowing classes starting no later than Sept 2010. Setting goals for your drive to passion means you will hold yourself accountable for making something happen in your life.<br /><br /><strong>Get curious and go in search.</strong> Your biggest asset on your quest to find passion is to get curious about your environment and what other people are doing. Ask questions. Let one thing create a thread to others that you continue to follow. There are an unlimited number of things out there that people are doing and others who are inventing more things to do. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about the work they are doing or with people on a quest like you. Having others in your life, who are excited about life, will drive your process forward. It’s great to have daily doses of inspiration.<br /><br /><strong>Record your results.</strong> To get the most out of your exploration, you need to spend time in introspection. You need to think about each action you take and your reactions to them. This will help you understand what works for you and what doesn’t. What you learn about yourself as you move forward will help inform your next steps. Consider keeping a discovery journal. If you do best debriefing your actions by talking, consider asking a person who is also going through a quest for passion to help you. You can ask each other deep probing questions and deepen the learning.<br /><br /><strong>Repeat.</strong> Don’t try something just once. Give any new endeavor a chance to capture your interest by getting past the new start up roughness. Continue to move through the steps exploring, experimenting and learning until you discover the passion you are looking for.<br />Discovering something you can feel passionate about will greatly enhance your life and career. It is not magical nor is it difficult, but it does take effort. As long as you stay open about the possibilities and continually entertain new things, you will find the passion you want in your life.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Dorothy Tannahill-Moran</strong> is a Career Coach and expert on helping her clients achieve their goals. Her programs cover: Career growth and enhancement, Career Change, Retirement Alternatives and Job Search Strategy. Want to discover specific career change strategies that get results? Discover how by claiming your FREE gift, Career Makeover Toolkit at: <a href="http://careermakeovertoolkitshouldistayorshouldigo.com/">http://CareerMakeoverToolKitShouldIstayorShouldIGo.com/</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-5798542301721145132?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=RNEAFJGZsJM:FbDViLccoxQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=RNEAFJGZsJM:FbDViLccoxQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/RNEAFJGZsJM" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/RNEAFJGZsJM/5-easy-steps-to-finding-passion.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-4877592854228341352010-07-26T10:56:00.000-07:002010-07-26T10:56:00.414-07:00Open Networking: What’s Your Verdict? <a href="http://www.careerrocketeer.com/2010/06/open-networking-whats-your-verdict.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479801388109050642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCFAdtM9l35vkrHM94rKMe7evF_EEcZrnS0ULuJq7AT382bwen1xG11bI3kKLuUMY0jAfF2Tvpum7cBoKPYTvlwhDOTh_6J3t4DcHJdJvmnpUlp0gToAweSYPh0E_KDmQ3kUFtQ/s200/LION.png" border="0" /></a>When I joined LinkedIn during my job search, I did not yet have a large network of first-degree or second-degree contacts within my chosen industry and found it very challenging to reach any potential career stakeholders. I turned to open networking as sort of an experiment to see how it would serve me in my job search efforts by joining a couple LinkedIn groups for LIONs (<em>a.k.a. LinkedIn Open Networkers</em>).<br /><br />As I gained more first-degree contacts, I gained more messaging access to them and their connections. As a result, I was able to set up a number of informational interviews, one of which led to an official interview and later the job offer for my current employment.<br /><br />Therefore, I am very much a supporter of open networking; however, I realize that like all things, there are two sides which I believe should both be heard and considered.<br /><br />To get the discussion going, I have reached out to several thought leaders to share their arguments for and against open networking.<div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>FOR OPEN NETWORKING:</strong><br /><br />“<em>As an ardent proponent of "Open Networking," I encourage it constantly in my work with clients and companies. According to research by Mark Granovetter cited in Herminia Ibarra's excellent book "Working Identity" (page 120), over 80% of job leads come from people outside of our key contact list (the numbers are 17% from strong ties, 55% from weak ties and 28% from weakest ties). By the use of Open Networking, the LinkedIn individual increases the opportunity for serendipity. I recently had a client who, through keeping his network open, made contact with a previously unknown individual in Washington State who was able to connect him with an employment opportunity he had discovered in Northeast Philadelphia. He had NO idea of who this person was, yet through LinkedIn was able to identify that this person had a strong connection to a position he had found here on the East Coast!</em>” <strong>- </strong><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/barrydavismcdp"><strong>Barry Davis</strong></a><br /><br />“<em>I advise job seekers to become open networkers on LinkedIn because it increases their reach across the site. Without many connections, job seekers are limited to using InMail or group messages to contact other LinkedIn members in reference to their job searches. Open networking allows job hunters to reach out to recruiters and hiring managers to find out about openings or to follow up on posted positions. As a LinkedIn member, I had a person who was my first level connection ask me to forward a note to a hiring manager who was a connection of mine. I didn’t personally know the person who requested the favor, but I passed on the note without having to give a personal endorsement of the person. Most LinkedIn members are willing to help. As long as people reciprocate and are willing to help each other, being an open networker can benefit everyone.</em>” <strong>- </strong><a href="http://www.calltocareer.com/"><strong>Cheryl Palmer</strong></a><br /><br />“<em>I am an executive recruiter in Manhattan, and have been one for close to seven years. I have been using LinkedIn since July 2007. As of this moment, I have just shy of 10,000 contacts. I would guess that of those 10,000, I am personally acquainted with 100. The rest are perfect strangers. However, LinkedIn is my primary source for announcing job openings. It has never failed me. Period. End of discussion. I find candidates through LinkedIn. I have placed people who I have found through LinkedIn. There are, to the best of my knowledge, no downsides to using LinkedIn as an open networker. Some people have raised concerns. The first seems to be that as an open networker, you are associating yourself with strangers. My response is that everyone knows that the vast majority of contacts are strangers. You will not be held responsible for your contacts. That said, if a contact has a strange picture I will look at his or her profile and decide whether or not to keep them. I am looking for highly professional individuals. By definition, “highly professional individuals” do not post provocative photos or content on their profiles. So the people I delete are not the people who I would ever want as candidates.</em>” <strong>- </strong><a href="http://www.hsstaffing.com/"><strong>Bruce Hurwitz</strong></a><br /><br /><strong>AGAINST OPEN NETWORKING:</strong><br /><br />"<em>Being a LinkedIn Open Networker is not a good idea. Why? Because who you publicly allow into your network reflects back on who you are. What does it say about you if you are linked to someone who posts inappropriate status updates? Who has conducted themselves in a "manner unbecoming" in the workplace? Who has been at the heart of a scandal of any sort? It does not say good things to a potential employer! In fact, I would think it would lead a recruiter to question your judgment. One of your top priorities during a job hunt should be to protect and put forth a positive, professional persona online and connecting with "just anyone" can easily throw that off-track. I'm not saying you need to have met, in person, everyone you connect with; however, you should have some knowledge of who they are, what they do, their reputation, etc.</em>” <strong>- </strong><a href="http://www.whatsnextgeny.com/"><strong>Robin Ferrier</strong></a><br /><br />“<em>If every LinkedIn user connected indiscriminately, the system would completely stop working, and people would abandon the platform. Can you think of any positive reason that people would check into a system where millions of people "connected" to thousands of other people that they had no relationship with? (and "connect" in this fashion is not the same as a twitter connection - they are separate platforms)</em>” <strong>- </strong><a href="http://www.linkedinpersonaltrainer.com/"><strong>Steve Tylock</strong></a><br /><br />“<em>The problem of being a Linkedin Open Networker is not the practice of encouraging connections that are unfamiliar. It is the unstructured nature of your resulting contacts and their lack of usefulness to your most important connections. The bell curve of members on LinkedIn is skewed toward service providers. As a LION, your connections will emulate that demographic and anyone who is connected to you will have their search results diluted by your unwieldy connections. This may result in your most important connections considering the removal of your profile as a direct connection. I am a proponent of being a LIHON, A Linkedin Handpicked Open Networker or a member that uses the ability to send messages for free to group members to handpick the most powerful connections, with or without a direct business experience. This will enhance the power of your profile and increase your credibility as a valuable Linkedin member.</em>” <strong>- </strong><a href="http://www.b2bcfo.com/"><strong>Brian Callahan</strong> </a><br /><br />“<em>Personally, the whole concept of “open networking” is something I oppose. Now don’t get me wrong, every once in a while I will make a LinkedIn connection with someone outside of my network, but usually that’s done with a specific purpose and within a relevant context for the person whom I’m reaching out to. The more people you add to your network – whether it’s LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter – the less attention you can focus on building relationships with each person in your network. I’m a believer that less is more. Rather than have thousands of meaningless connections, have a stronger, smaller network that knows you and will go to bat for you.</em>” <strong>- </strong><a href="http://www.careersparx.com/"><strong>Mario Schulzke</strong></a><strong><br /></strong><br />What are your thoughts? Are you for or against open networking? Why?<br /><br />Has it hurt you or helped you?<br /><br />Tell us your verdict!<br /><br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.chrisperry.me/">Chris Perry</a>, MBA is a Gen Y brand and marketing "generator," a career search and personal branding expert and the founder of <a href="http://www.careerrocketeer.com/">Career Rocketeer</a> and <a href="http://launchpad.careerrocketeer.com/">Launchpad</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-5699847608390328534?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=NovFN57wf0Q:VEFY9EGb2hw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=NovFN57wf0Q:VEFY9EGb2hw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/NovFN57wf0Q" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/NovFN57wf0Q/open-networking-whats-your-verdict.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-19845689562080474622010-07-25T10:23:00.000-07:002010-07-25T10:23:00.518-07:00Word of Mouth 2.0: Personal References by Google When I started <a href="http://vizibility.com">Vizibility</a> last year, we hired accountants, lawyers and other professionals to help us get the business going. Very few of us choose a lawyer or doctor or realtor or [fill in the blank] based solely on the company’s television ad or website or phonebook ad or referral alone. We may start with one of these, but we validate what they tell us by getting input from friends, family, and past and current clients.<br /><br />And Google.<br /><br />For service professionals, the best way to find new clients will always be word of mouth and personal references. The Internet won’t change that. But it has changed how word of mouth is spread. Online due diligence is a routine part of evaluating service professionals, and ‘Googling’ is now standard practice.<div class="fullpost"><br />Having a strong game plan to understand and manage what is being found about you online is just as important as having a good website. What do people find when they search for you? Does someone else share your name and dominate the results? Did the media run a positive story about you that just doesn’t show up for some reason? Did a disgruntled client post a comment somewhere that keeps popping up? Is Facebook showing up everywhere?<br /><br />To help potential clients find accurate information about their attorneys, leading Intellectual Property law firm Novak Druce + Quigg recently decided to add Vizibility SearchMe buttons to the corporate profile pages of its attorneys (<a href="http://bit.ly/96UfBh">http://bit.ly/96UfBh</a>). Vizibility ensures that their attorneys can be found quickly in Google so they don't miss an important opportunity to validate their credentials and make a powerful impression. In short, Vizibility will help Novak Druce + Quigg get more business. And we expect to see to see thousands of other law firms and other professional services organizations follow suit by adding SearchMe buttons to the bios of practioners on their corporate websites.<br /><br />Along with Vizibility, there are other tools that can help manage your online presence. But the single most important method of generating positive word of mouth will never change: <em>deliver great service to your clients</em>.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>James Alexander</strong> is the founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.vizibility.com/">Vizibility</a>. A serial technology entrepreneur, James has been involved with Internet search since starting eWatch in 1995.<br /><br />Most recently James served as General Manager of Jupiterimages. Getty Images acquired the company in early 2009. Before that, James was Director of Product Management at Adobe Systems years where he created, built and managed Adobe Stock Photos, which served more than 7,000 creative professional customers in its first 36 months of operations. He joined Adobe in 2001 to manage and build the company’s early-stage electronic book (ebook) business.<br /><br />Prior to Adobe, James led venture-backed Mibrary Inc., a New York-based software start-up founded in 1999 to make electronic books and other digital content easier for consumers to use. Prior to Mibrary, James co-founded the Internet brand monitoring service eWatch, which was purchased by PR Newswire in 1999.<br /><br />James was awarded a patent for search innovations on Adobe Stock Photos and has other patents pending. He earned his Masters of Business Administration with distinction from Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rockefeller College at the University at Albany in New York.<br /><br />Google James at <a href="http://vizibility.com/james">http://vizibility.com/james</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-4347210981599506516?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=pzBTO0N20I8:X7tw2Q-xskQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=pzBTO0N20I8:X7tw2Q-xskQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/pzBTO0N20I8" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/pzBTO0N20I8/word-of-mouth-20-personal-references-by.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-13015342500986558202010-07-24T09:50:00.000-07:002010-07-24T09:50:00.435-07:0030+ Strong Action Verbs to Spice Up Your Resume <a href="http://www.careerrocketeer.com/2010/06/open-networking-whats-your-verdict.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479801388109050642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 10px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsoufyXF6sp3eHCmioQDpzPfMJQQfxh1ZBbRPXEEmEvMCNV_MfsUEnXAOr7M_eXT3-a1MmC1r-3WeROMiJXGgRTmSsSMPG_bkg1IZojYcg2KcU741jCRSO-PuSSj-T2H3w06v5Q/s200/verb.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you use the phrases “<em>responsible for, duties included, or worked with...</em>” you are selling yourself, your experience and your resume short. These passive terms do absolutely nothing for communicating the value and benefits you offer an employer.<br /><br />These phrases are boring and repetitive because most every job seeker uses them. Hiring managers need words that jump off the page and captivate them. Here are a few examples of my favorite action words:<br /><br /><em>Accelerated<br />Authored<br />Captivated<br />Captured<br />Championed <div class="fullpost"><br />Consolidated<br />Critiqued<br />Directed<br />Diversified<br />Diverted<br />Doubled<br />Enforced<br />Enhanced<br />Exceeded<br />Pioneered<br />Forged<br />Formalized<br />Formulated<br />Generated<br />Influenced<br />Initiated<br />Integrated<br />Intensified<br />Leveraged<br />Masterminded<br />Maximized<br />Mentored<br />Optimized<br />Orchestrated<br />Re-engineered<br />Spearheaded<br />Structured<br />Proliferated<br />Recaptured<br />Rejuvenated</em><br /><br />...And the list could go on. Don’t like these? Use the synonym feature in Microsoft Word or go to thesaurus.com. Be strategic in your action verb choice and choose strong words that convey ACTION and RESULTS to begin every sentence. These words are a key component in creating a powerful and captivating resume.<br /><br />For more great resources and resume samples visit <a href="http://www.greatresumesfast.com/">Great Resumes Fast</a> or to request a free resume analysis send your resume via e-mail to <a href="mailto:info@greatresumesfast.com">info@greatresumesfast.com</a>.<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Jessica Holbrook</strong> is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis visit <a href="http://www.greatresumesfast.com/">http://www.greatresumesfast.com/</a> or for a free phone consultation call 1.800.991.5187.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-811148945938638610?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=-k67R3qOuzE:P5urSPB0H5U:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=-k67R3qOuzE:P5urSPB0H5U:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/-k67R3qOuzE" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/-k67R3qOuzE/30-strong-action-verbs-to-spice-up-your.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-37049538042713065322010-07-23T09:17:00.000-07:002010-07-23T09:17:00.723-07:00Resume vs. Online Profile: What’s the Difference? I was recently asked about the difference between a resume and an online career profile. Is there a difference? Should there be a difference? Are they considered in different ways? What should be included or avoided? <br /><br />Good question… short answer… YES! They are different.<br /><br />There are a number of things to consider when creating a professional profile online vs. creating a resume to email or present to a company, or when applying for a specific role.<br /><br /><em>Here are some thoughts that can help…</em><br /><br />When creating a resume for a specific company or position you are pursuing, it’s critical that you tailor it for the specific recipient. Emphasize the experience you’ve had that would be most important to that particular company or position. Although your experience may be very broad, if they don’t very quickly see the direct related experience for the role, it’s unlikely you will be considered further. Using words from their job description, their terminology, and giving special attention to the skills you have that are directly applicable to their requirements is key. The extra effort involved in customizing your resume for each individual application will pay off in a greater chance at a response.<div class="fullpost"><br />When creating an online profile, whether it be a LinkedIn profile, your personal professional website, a Visual CV, a job board, or any number of other venues online to post your information… it has to appeal to a broader audience. You won’t know who will see it, or what kind of role they have in mind when they’re looking. <br /><br />Although you may be interested in a variety of opportunities when you are applying, the viewer generally only has one role they are looking to fill. Your online profile should help them understand all your experience and see the fit for multiple roles. <br /><br /><strong>~ An online profile isn’t limited to two printed pages!</strong> While it’s usually not a good idea to create a submitted resume that’s more than 2 pages long, you don’t have that kind of restriction with an online profile. You can include much more information, more detail, more accomplishments, more strengths, and more keywords. Keywords are important, as that’s the most likely way they will find you. Include as many keywords as you can think of that someone might use to find someone with your background. With more detail, the likelihood of being found in a search rises, and it gives the viewer a greater chance of finding what they are looking for.<br /><br />In an online profile, just as in a resume, it’s important that your information is written in short, substantive, sentences and/or bullet points. When someone is scanning your information, short lines will get read, paragraphs will not. It’s important that they grasp your experience quickly and easily, in order to gain their further interest.<br /><br /><strong>~ An online profile can include testimonials!</strong> A submitted resume doesn’t generally have the space, and it’s not the best venue to include third party comments. However, an online profile can be a great place to include reference information and comments to “back up” the assertions you make about yourself in your profile. It’s great to express your strengths and accomplishments, it’s even better when someone else confirms them as well.<br /><br /><strong>~ Consistency is key!</strong> It’s critically important that a resume you submit to a company, and your online profile agree with each other! Nothing will torpedo your chances for an opportunity than the appearance of an attempt to deceive. Although the resume you present may not give the entire picture of your full responsibilities in a particular position, it should never contradict the more detailed description. If your role was as an Office Manager of a small business, and your responsibilities included accounting, your resume should never make it appear as if your entire role was as an Accountant. <br /><br />In today’s job market, and with easy access to search engines, it’s HIGHLY likely that somewhere in the hiring process someone at the organization you are pursuing will Google you and find your profile online. If the information you have posted there contradicts what they received from you directly, it’s unlikely they will proceed with you further. The resume and online profile can complement each other, but be consistent.<br /><br /><strong>~ Links!</strong> When presenting a resume, it’s not usually easy, or necessarily appropriate to include links to websites online. An online profile is ideal for this though and can often enhance your presentation and credibility. You can include links to other professional sites where you have information posted. Link all of your relevant online presence together… LinkedIn, personal professional website, Visual CV, etc. You might also link to a professional blog you write, articles you’ve been published in, online recognition you’ve received, etc. <br /><br />Be very conscious, and careful of your overall online presence. A racy Facebook or MySpace page can be harmful to your online reputation. Comments or less than professional pictures or articles attributed to you can damage your chances of being considered for a position further. Be sure everything you link to only shows you in the best and most professional light possible, and try to clean up anything else that may be found by Google that might hurt.<br /><br /> <br />Working together, a resume and a professional online presence can be a powerful combination. However, manage them carefully!<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br />Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as <a href="http://www.eexecutives.net/" target="_blank"><strong>e-Executives</strong></a>, writes a blog for Job Seekers called <a href="http://www.thewisejobsearch.com/" target="_blank"><strong>The Wise Job Search</strong></a>, and can be found on Twitter as <a href="http://www.twitter.com/eExecutives" target="_blank">@eExecutives</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-4262836357633958232?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=r43UidIDSY0:5dxYfTzfs6g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=r43UidIDSY0:5dxYfTzfs6g:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/r43UidIDSY0" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/r43UidIDSY0/resume-vs-online-profile-whats.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-77606302570334062692010-07-22T08:44:00.000-07:002010-07-22T08:44:00.217-07:003 Things You Should Never Mention on Your Resume Many job seekers write their resumes under the belief that they have to "come clean" on everything regarding their careers, from what they have achieved, to the reasons they left previous jobs, to what they want to do well into the future.<br /><br />But a resume is not a tell-all autobiography of your career triumphs, tragedies, and non-essential trivia. It's a marketing document that tries to position you as a prime candidate for whatever job you're applying for. While your long-term goal is to get the job, the resume's chief goal is short term: Showcase the stuff the employer needs to convince them to call you for an interview.<br /><br />That's why you should never include these three things on your resume:<br /><br /><strong>Why you left a job.</strong> This doesn't help when you're trying to market yourself effectively. The objective of any marketing project is to convince someone to buy a product or service. Rather than saying something like "Position was one of 10 eliminated as part of company-wide cost-cutting measures," focus only on what the employer is looking for: your skills and experience, and how they can benefit a new employer. You can explain the rest at your interview--if they even ask.<div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>What's in it for you...</strong>rather than what's in it for the employer. If you open your resume with a statement that says something like "Seeking a position that can utilize my skills in accounting and help position me for an executive-level job in finance," you've stated a clear career objective. There's just one problem with that: Your next employer doesn't really care about your aspirations or what you want to be doing in five years. They want someone who can do the job they have open today, and do it effectively. Start your resume instead with a summary of the qualifications that are most likely to grab their attention.<br /><br /><strong>Your college GPA...</strong>if it's been more than three years since you graduated. You may have heard the expression "experience is your best teacher." Hiring managers want to see what you've done in the workplace, and that also goes for new college graduates. Even 10 years after you received your bachelor's degree, you may still be proud of that 3.7 grade-point average. But that was a decade ago. What have you done since? If you're a recent college graduate and your GPA was at least a 3.5, go ahead and include it. If it was less than 3.5 but the GPA in courses related to your major was at or above that mark, include it.<br /><br />Before you send your resume, ask yourself these two questions: (1) Does this resume effectively communicate my skills and experience and how they match the job description? And (2) Does it effectively tell the employer the benefits they would get by hiring me? If you can truthfully answer "yes" to both questions, you've given yourself a strong chance at landing an interview.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Rick Saia</strong> is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Content Writer for Pongo Resume, a premier, full-service online resource for job seekers. Pongo provides all the <a href="http://www.pongoresume.com/services/13/resume-templates.cfm" target="_blank">resume templates</a>, tools, and support needed to write professional resumes and cover letters, ace tough interviews, and secure a great job. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.pongoresume.com/" target="_blank">http://www.pongoresume.com</a> or call 866-486-4660.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-4496386849592484800?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=wdYpmVM26PE:gVlGcLgKH1Y:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=wdYpmVM26PE:gVlGcLgKH1Y:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/wdYpmVM26PE" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/wdYpmVM26PE/3-things-you-should-never-mention-on.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-65789250917192885402010-07-21T08:11:00.000-07:002010-07-21T08:11:00.262-07:00Finding a Culture for Success <em>If you’ve ever found yourself in a company that doesn’t value your skills, then you’ll appreciate the discussion on finding the right corporate culture for the skills and talents you bring to an organization. In this post, we’ll take a quick look at how you can overcome a very common barrier for moving your career to the next level.</em><br /><br />A big issue for many working professionals is in finding a good fit for success within a company. Fit is usually broken up into two factors: job and organization. Job fit is fairly easy for the company and the individual to figure out; that is, you have the skills for the job or either the company feels they can teach you what you need to know. Organization or culture fit is much more difficult. It is essentially the alignment of beliefs and values of you and the company. Yes, the company has their own set of values. Why? Because companies are usually run by people and these people have values.<br /><div class="fullpost"><br />When companies interview candidates for hire, one would hope that they are asking questions that will assess both fits. Unfortunately, many companies don’t know what their values are. It’s fairly safe to say that many people that get involved in the interview process don’t fully understand their own company’s culture. Assessing whether you will fit or not is too difficult for most interviewers and usually doesn’t happen. The problem is that the interviewer will assess you with their own values. If there is a gross mismatch, they won’t recommend you. Even if there is a match, the interviewer’s values may not be the same as those in higher levels of the organization. This is important if you want to move up in an organization.<br /><br /><strong>Defining your values.</strong> It is useful for you to have a good understanding of why you work. Sure, we all work for the money. But do you work for increasing technical challenge, higher levels of authority, or high visibility? One thing most highly educated professionals value is graduate degrees. I know you are saying to yourself, of course they do. They’ve spent a lot of time and effort into obtaining the degrees so they want to get a good return on it. The advanced degree is a tool for supporting the desire to do higher level tasks.<br /><br />Other values that professionals seek are affiliation, autonomy, intellectual challenge, managing people, power, influence, prestige, recognition, security, variety and so on. If you want to achieve higher levels of success within someone else’s organization, you have to know your values and how you will use them. For example, I have a highly technical background. No matter what position you put me in, I will use analytical methods to resolve issues and perform my work. Now, consider putting me in a management position. Will my analytical skills be necessary? Maybe, but I will use them anyhow because it’s who I am. I can’t turn that off.<br /><br />To know what type of environment that you would thrive in, you must first understand what you value. If your values are not present in your environment, you won’t be happy. You’ll become restless and will make a change. Sometimes this change is a conscious move to another company or it can be a subtle transformation to self-defeating behavior that drives a wedge between you and the company, forcing them to remove you.<br /><br /><strong>Aligning your values.</strong> As mentioned earlier, ascertaining the values of a company from an interview is a big challenge. So maybe it isn’t the best place to look. You should consider your career goals to define the location for a values assessment. Let’s say you just completed your MBA and are looking to leave your current company to find a middle management position in another company. How do you determine if management will value your MBA? The best way is to evaluate their backgrounds. If management doesn’t have graduate degrees but possess many years of work experience, they most likely won’t see much value in your advanced degree.<br /><br />At all levels of management, values are different, but most managers strive to be similar to the managers at the highest levels of the organization. Henry Mintzberg defined the Ten Managerial Roles in 1973, outlining the typical behavior for CEOs. Later on, Pavett and Lau (1983) performed similar studies of lower and middle level managers and found that they emulated the higher level managers. One might think that managers desiring to be part of the executive groups will mimic their behavior so that they resonate with them and will increase their chances of being accepted into the group.<br /><br />One of my clients struggled with achieving even the smallest levels of success in his organization because of a misalignment of values. My client held three advanced degrees, mostly because he wanted to differentiate himself from his competition. Unfortunately, with such high levels of education, he differentiated himself from his management. He appeared more as a threat to them. Management is about competitive advantage, to some extent. Those that sit at or near the top won’t value things that they don’t have. No one would intentionally rule themselves out of the competition. Therefore, to align your strengths and skills with an organization, you need to align them with the values of higher level management. If they value what you have, you will be more successful. If they don’t value it, you’ll have a difficult time becoming extremely successful. After all, people don’t like to change, especially if they value security.<br /><br />Reaching your career goals in someone else’s organization is a difficult task. We often find ourselves in groups that don’t appreciate our unique skills and abilities. Of course, we don’t know what kind of culture we are in until we are neck deep in it. At that point, it can be painful and waste a lot of time trying to get out of the company and into a new one. You are better off taking the time to align your values with those that will be promoting you to higher levels. You can do that by aligning your values with their values.<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Todd Rhoad</strong>, MSEE, MBA is Director at BT Consulting, a career consulting firm in Altanta, and author of “Blitz The Ladder” and the soon to be released “MBA Owner’s Manual.” Todd can be reached at <a href="mailto:todd.rhoad@blitzteamconsulting.com">todd.rhoad@blitzteamconsulting.com</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-2340441737649413013?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=7nngDCXFCRg:5kJF9IW0ttY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=7nngDCXFCRg:5kJF9IW0ttY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/7nngDCXFCRg" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/7nngDCXFCRg/finding-culture-for-success.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-92196883601496503872010-07-20T07:38:00.000-07:002010-07-20T07:38:00.776-07:00Why Invest in a Professionally Written Resume? In a perfect world, interview candidates would be selected based on their strength and experiences. In reality, this isn’t how the process works. Typically, a recruiter chooses the short list of candidates from a pile of resumes. The trick is to be on the short list.<br /><br /><strong>The Rise of the Machines!</strong><br /><br />Don’t assume your resume will be read just because you sent it through. Resume tracking software used by HR departments is a unique technology. This filtering system allows HR recruiters to set certain keyword parameters, about 30,000 keywords in all, to find the most qualified candidates for their searches. A great way to pass this first test is to partner with a Certified Professional Resume Writer who is trained on how to effectively keyword optimize your resume. Without it, your resume may never be seen by a human.<br /><br /><strong>The Human Eye! </strong><br /><br />You made it. Your resume is finally in the hands of a human. Better make sure the next 10 seconds matter. Yep, you guessed it; candidates are selected or discarded in about 10 seconds. If your resume doesn’t capture the recruiter’s attention immediately, all of your years of hard work and education are wasted.<div class="fullpost"><br />It has always been my belief that resumes get chosen, not candidates. To make matters worse, most people struggle to put themselves down on paper effectively. That’s where certified writers flourish. Resume writers are experts in presenting professionals in a concise and meaningful way. Countless studies have proven that professionally written resumes get more interviews, and, if it shortens your job search by even one day, a professional resume will pay for itself.<br /><br /><strong>Hiring managers need to eat! </strong><br /><br />Bam – just like that it’s down to 3 candidates. Awesome! You better make sure you have given the hiring manager something they can sink their teeth into.<br /><br />One of the most important elements to a winning resume is its ability to provide value. There is no better value, at least for hiring managers, than quantifiable key achievements. This may be the single most important reason to invest in a professionally written resume. This is also what separates you from the competition.<br /><br />Examples of well-written key achievements:<br /><ul><li>Successfully avoided client service level agreement (SLA) penalties of $100K by implementing and executing configuration management and quality assurance processes that resulted in the highest level (99-100%) audit score ratings.<br /></li><li>Substantially increased overall customer service by 35% through a 100% delivery on commitments and by proactively solving the customer's business issues instead of merely delivering on a project.<br /></li><li>Oversaw an $800M budget that included development, management, adjustments, and management presentation. Year-end closed with less than 2% variance. </li></ul><p><em>What does your resume say about you?</em><br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Edward McGoldrick</strong>, <a href="http://www.resumeprofessors.com/"><strong>The Resume Professor</strong></a>, has the answers. He will school you in how to develop the most effective resume and land that perfect job.<br /><br />McGoldrick has more than 10 years of progressive responsibility helping over 20,000 people find employment. Leveraging extensive knowledge and experience in staffing and professional resume writing, he is focused on providing top notch, results-oriented career services.<br /><br />Prior to founding <a href="http://www.resumeprofessors.com/"><strong>Resume Professors</strong></a>, McGoldrick served as a director with Spherion, a Fortune 500 staffing firm, leading the strategic and operational growth for the southeast region of the United States. He led this region through start-up, survival, turnaround and growth modes for over four years. McGoldrick also held the position of executive recruiter with Kforce where he earned several sales awards including Rookie of the Year. He also placed in the top 5% in sales every year throughout his six year tenure with the company.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-7673207920242799764?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=wr1wZUblySM:EJMr2TndoYU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=wr1wZUblySM:EJMr2TndoYU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/wr1wZUblySM" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/wr1wZUblySM/why-invest-in-professionally-written.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-70917980648157466042010-07-19T07:05:00.000-07:002010-07-19T07:05:00.313-07:00Personal Branding Basics <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUlAd9XdvwjjVGA4E6WundO03lvHraUpSvCkKCax1se09MhWfFfhkiJCzrh8EmM1K7cJ-rjoh7vMvkfjxLzetipkhJlVRYodw6CPz_FfJB-LhSLq7ry56rcbejY8lV84STzha/s1600/introduction+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459445824293745618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUlAd9XdvwjjVGA4E6WundO03lvHraUpSvCkKCax1se09MhWfFfhkiJCzrh8EmM1K7cJ-rjoh7vMvkfjxLzetipkhJlVRYodw6CPz_FfJB-LhSLq7ry56rcbejY8lV84STzha/s200/introduction+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>A lot of my people tell me that they hear and read a lot about the personal branding in a job search but don’t really understand what it means.<br /><br />To me PERSONAL BRANDING is how you differentiate yourself from your competition and let people know how special you are.<br /><br />So here are a few ways to establish a personal brand on your resume, online and in person.<br /><br /><strong>1: Create a tag line that sums up who you are in one or two sentences.<br /></strong>For some it can be a very simple statement and for others something a little more innovative. Then place it at the top of your resume directly below your name and contact information separated by a double line. Here are 2 examples.<br /><br /><em>PPM \ PMO Manager<br />"Expertise developing process & methodology to manage a portfolio of 200 projects valued at $275M annually"</em><br /><br />OR<br /><br /><em>Highly Skilled R&D Engineer<br />“Transforming your existing products and processes into ones your competition will envy”</em><br /><div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>2: Design a great business card that accentuates your brand</strong><br />Depending on your field, you can be conservative, colorful or innovative. Whichever you choose, use both sides of the business card. Generally the front has your contact info and your brand, and on the back of the card place has an ad for what you have to offer.<br /><br />There are several companies online who have professional templates to choose from, or will print your artwork for you at a reasonable cost. Zazzle and Vistaprint are two I know of. They can also print matching stationary, return labels, hats, tee shirts and other materials to help grow your brand.<br /><br /><strong>3. Work on your public persona</strong><br />Position yourself as an expert in your field by seeking public speaking engagements in front of target audiences. You can join civic and fraternal organizations which can help you solidify your bonifides and help you build your network.<br /><br /><strong>4. Be a networking group leader</strong><br />Join a group and become the most active member, or start your own live or online networking group in your field or community. Look at what interests similar groups and bring your name and expertise to the forefront by asking and answering relevant questions and exchanging job and networking leads with as many people as possible.<br /><br /><strong>5. Create a public perception</strong><br />Work on your social media profiles. Keep them current and relevant and make sure they show people more than just a boring "widget maker" looking for a job. Let your personality shine through. Set goals and a schedule of how many group responses you will reply to and how many tweets you will post each week.<br /><br /><strong>6. Maintain your own blog</strong><br />Blogging is a great way to establish your brand, show yourself as a subject matter expert and network to get other people to join and contribute.<br /><br /><strong>7. Be open and available</strong><br />Let people you know, as well as total strangers know that you are always available to help them by sharing your knowledge, your skills and your contacts with anyone who needs it. Get in the habit of <em>Paying It Forward</em> and you will see a lot of payback.<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br />Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at <a href="http://www.perrynewman.com/">http://www.perrynewman.com/</a>, and email him your resume at <a href="mailto:perry@perrynewman.com">perry@perrynewman.com</a> for FREE resume critique.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-5383383510088676675?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=ebWt1HbfZPw:_Hyt7_5A88I:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=ebWt1HbfZPw:_Hyt7_5A88I:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/ebWt1HbfZPw" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/ebWt1HbfZPw/personal-branding-basics.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-73188051781462924802010-07-18T06:32:00.000-07:002010-07-18T06:32:00.401-07:00Put Down the Objective and Back Away Slowly <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZhV4uvHWDfRXnSnGlizjrB78qY-2znxGA6RvLXbVtzCR7KlaOM4GSlessEpLIMuljjhUNF5u2Smt0g3osQ2N09RXuxsh7jG87IwHUotCIp3yhk_1l2ji6gtsNd5lQA9bWSQA_A/s1600/PoliceCar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482942584935921234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZhV4uvHWDfRXnSnGlizjrB78qY-2znxGA6RvLXbVtzCR7KlaOM4GSlessEpLIMuljjhUNF5u2Smt0g3osQ2N09RXuxsh7jG87IwHUotCIp3yhk_1l2ji6gtsNd5lQA9bWSQA_A/s200/PoliceCar.jpg" border="0" /></a>It is beyond me why, in this day and age, job seekers still insist on using an objective statement. I can understand if you’re a new grad or fresh out of high school; in these situations an objective is permissible. But if you’re a professional, seasoned job seeker, or have more than two years of experience, put down the objective and slowly back away.<br /><br />What’s wrong with an objective you say? Hmmm ... where should I start. First, it’s overused. Second, it’s all about you. Third, it absolutely does not communicate in a captivating or influential way who you are, what you do, or why you’re the best fit for the employer’s opening. Not convinced yet?<br /><br />Let me open the doors of professional branding statement heaven (cue lights from above and angelic singing) ... <div class="fullpost"><br />A branding statement will position you as a perfect match for the opening for which you are applying. It will tell the hiring manager who you are, what you’re known for, and what value you can add to the organization—all important things the hiring manager needs to know before he calls you for the interview. You can captivate the hiring manager in your opening statement—or you can bore him and make him hunt for the information he needs. As a former hiring manager, I’m telling you—do yourself a favor. Write the branding statement!<br /><br /><strong>Here is an example of an objective:</strong><br /><br /><em>To utilize my experience and educational background within an organization that promotes growth and advancement opportunities.</em><br /><br /><strong>Here is an example of a branding statement:</strong><br /><br /><em>Maximizing corporate potential by driving top-notch marketing solutions, innovative branding strategies, and dynamic corporate events.<br /></em><br />The objective told me absolutely NOTHING about what you do or who you are. The branding statement, however, provides me with a clearer picture of where your resume is headed.<br /><br />For additional samples of branding statements or resumes, visit <a href="http://www.greatresumesfat.com/" target="_blank">http://www.greatresumesfat.com/</a>. For a free resume analysis, submit your resume to <a href="mailto:info@greatresumesfast.com" target="_blank">info@greatresumesfast.com</a>.<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Jessica Holbrook</strong> is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis visit <a href="http://www.greatresumesfast.com/">http://www.greatresumesfast.com/</a> or for a free phone consultation call 1.800.991.5187.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-2217446140189996458?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=7YnKdxw9yas:0HYfCXYFLzY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=7YnKdxw9yas:0HYfCXYFLzY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/7YnKdxw9yas" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/7YnKdxw9yas/put-down-objective-and-back-away-slowly.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-1050891213105579372010-07-17T05:59:00.000-07:002010-07-17T05:59:00.572-07:00Dealing with Inappropriate Interview Questions <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJ2UKaDZhGpB6yazJJk5b0kC0NPDjJvjQkhdrMYGJGwsQVw0Lhsis6uAJYzkSnPb2685BonQlkoPgNylWHWe7wqfoCghrNQ3tWhHna6Et8OKcLMIPP2LNlzZ7zOpHudxKxhSQVQ/s1600/InappropriateInterviewQuestions.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJ2UKaDZhGpB6yazJJk5b0kC0NPDjJvjQkhdrMYGJGwsQVw0Lhsis6uAJYzkSnPb2685BonQlkoPgNylWHWe7wqfoCghrNQ3tWhHna6Et8OKcLMIPP2LNlzZ7zOpHudxKxhSQVQ/s200/InappropriateInterviewQuestions.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482946160142054082" /></a>In your job search, if you are interviewing regularly, it’s highly likely that sooner or later you will be asked a question that may seem inappropriate or legally dubious. How you view that question, and how you respond will very likely have a great impact on your success.<br /><br />I recently had someone in my job search class tell me about an interview he had at a small company. The hiring manager asked what year he graduated from college, as it wasn’t on the resume. The candidate told him it was an inappropriate question to ask.<br />The interviewer said he was curious, and really wanted to know. And for a couple of very uncomfortable minutes the two of them argued back-and-forth about the legitimacy of the question.<br /><br />The candidate assumed it was an effort to determine his age, and make a judgment on his suitability for the job accordingly. I have no idea if that was the intent or not, however, questions like that do occur often. So how should you react? Here are some ideas that may help:<br /><br /><strong>Most hiring managers are not HR and Legal experts!</strong> Although direct questions about age, race, family, and other topics are not supposed to be asked or considered in an interview process, they often get asked innocently. Certainly someone in HR ought to be very aware and conscious of inappropriate questions, however, a direct hiring manager may not be. Often they are simply getting to know someone and are not looking for ways to discriminate. It may not be possible to know if the question was asked out of ignorance or not, but the way you react may determine your fate anyway.<div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>Getting to know you and small talk are not necessarily forms of discrimination.</strong> If the question was asked simply as a means to get to know you better, or as a form of small talk during the interview, an over-reaction can create a very negative impression if no discrimination was intended. Yes, an interviewer should know better than to ask inappropriate questions, however, when they come about from casual conversation, they often had no ill intent behind them. Your reaction generally has more to do with whether they move forward or not than the actual answer to the question.<br /><br /><strong>You’re never obligated to take a job offer! </strong>While others may have differing opinions, my perspective is that candidates are generally best off not making large waves during the process and reserving their judgment and response for afterward. If an inappropriate question was asked. Answering respectfully, and minimizing the negative response enables the process to continue. <br /><br />If you ultimately receive an offer, it’s likely no discrimination was ever intended or took place. An offer will generally be the proof. If you still aren’t convinced though, you certainly don’t have to take the position and you can decide whether to pursue the matter with them further then.<br /><br />If you do not receive an offer. It still may have had nothing to do with discriminatory practices, but rather that they had another, better qualified candidate. If you have doubts, you can decide at that point whether to pursue the matter or not.<br /><br />Getting into a verbal battle with them during the interview process, however, virtually guarantees they will not want to consider you further for the role… not because of discrimination, but because they are not interested in hiring a combative employee.<br /><br /><strong>An appropriate response to a potentially inappropriate question might be:</strong><br /><br /><em>“I’m very interested in this position and would gladly answer all appropriate questions you may have for me in order to determine if I’m the right fit. However, an answer to that question doesn’t necessarily shed any light on my relevant qualifications, so if you don’t mind, I’d prefer not to answer it. Can we move on to other more relevant topics?”</em><br /><br />Many interviewers are likely to get the hint and move on. Some, however, may not. If they continue to press for an answer. In my opinion, it is often best to give them a quick, straight-forward answer rather than continue to challenge them on the appropriateness of the question. You can certainly determine further into the hiring process whether a further response on your part is warranted.<br /> <br />In the case of the person from my job search class… he actually did receive a follow-up interview. The hiring manager simply knew someone that went to the same college and was interested whether they might have graduated at the same time. He shouldn’t have pressed the matter, and he should have been more upfront with his reason for asking. However, no discrimination was intended in any way. The candidate was fortunate that the process continued on, however, certainly may not have in most cases.<br /><br />Don’t assume every inappropriate question has dark motives behind it. It may have been asked innocently, or because of a lack of knowledge. How you react, however, can determine if a good opportunity progresses for you or not.<br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br />Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as <a href="http://www.eexecutives.net/" target="_blank"><strong>e-Executives</strong></a>, writes a blog for Job Seekers called <a href="http://www.thewisejobsearch.com/" target="_blank"><strong>The Wise Job Search</strong></a>, and can be found on Twitter as <a href="http://www.twitter.com/eExecutives" target="_blank">@eExecutives</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-259770699426881716?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=KhM2WNa1vyg:TOF8zE_AQQs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=KhM2WNa1vyg:TOF8zE_AQQs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/KhM2WNa1vyg" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/KhM2WNa1vyg/dealing-with-inappropriate-interview.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-85209022905299273612010-07-16T05:26:00.000-07:002010-07-16T05:26:00.489-07:007 Steps to Succeeding in Corporate America Having been a member of Corporate America for over 10 years, my passion for growth and advancement in the job market has thought me quite a bit. There are many different ways to look at Corporate America, every position within an organization carries its own perspective and introduces you to an entirely different experience. There is however some key areas you can focus on to ensure you are not kept from moving up into the role you desire. Most of what we’ll cover here can apply to almost any position in Corporate America, but will vary slightly if applied to retail or entry level roles in an organization.<br /><br /><em>Here are your 7 steps to succeeding in Corporate America:</em><br /><br /><strong>1. Dress Code:</strong> As simple as this may seem, it is not something to dismiss. Most will agree that they follow the dress code at work, but do they really make an effort to look the part? Most common errors made are in the details, not so much the dress code. The colors you choose, the way you knot your tie, the polish on your shoes, your belt, and off course your grooming. Choosing subtle colors will always work in your favor as management usually doesn’t have a sense of humor and doesn’t care about how you felt when you decided to wear a yellow shirt to work. Try to match your colors to your type of work. Being a banker means being socially responsible, professional and trusted so wearing dark colors with design-less ties tends to work well, especially when the colors contrast but don’t clash. Look for the details in your clothing to match the caliber of the person you are. Make sure your shoes are polished and your belt is in new condition without tears, and more importantly please make sure that your tie is not loose. Being dressed appropriately means you care and you understand your role, not only in the organization but also in Corporate America, and you will give off the right vibe to senior management when they meet you.<div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>2. Attitude:</strong> No one loves going to work everyday and doing the same thing time after time, dealing with the same customers over and over and arguing with the same co-workers. Most will actually show their discomfort or dislike of their job daily, no matter who their interactions are with. Your attitude is controlled strictly by you and no one else but you, therefore it is a direct representation of how much control you have over your own life. Management usually notices these things, and more often than you think! Through seeing how engaged you are with your work and how well you represent the company daily (no matter what issues you are dealing with in your personal life), management determines if you can lead and therefore considers you for further opportunities. This showcases that you put the company first, before yourself; and therefore holds a lot more weight than you think.<br /><br /><strong>3. What you say:</strong> Sometimes keeping your mouth shut is the only option. Often companies will invite people to voice their opinions; this is not your opportunity to complain! Companies don’t care about your complaints nor do they want to hear them, they are not complaints but rather nagging. Make sure that when you do speak, it is not only of relevance but that the things you are addressing are actually items worth mentioning. Many times people will complain of the hours a store must remain open, or their products simply not being sellable. These are issues that will not change by you voicing your opinion and therefore need to be kept to yourself. There are on the other hand many other issues that people discuss that once again should never be done in a group setting but rather only with those of relevance. You can also run into a major issue by discussing an internal corporate process that is flawed, this may expose you to a corporate violation, and now you have to deal with the consequences of the matter even though you may not have any control over it.<br /><br /><strong>4. Do your part:</strong> Many will over promise and under deliver when it comes to work. Making sure you are taking the appropriate steps to stay true to your word is key. If you are in a sales role and you make a commitment to bring in a certain amount of sales, then be prepared to meet that commitment, and to be able to demonstrate how you did so. If you are in an office setting and do mostly routine work, ensure all your deadlines are met so that no one can blame you for being a drag on the team. I have always had this theory about Corporate America and employees; most only work about 30% of the day and at 40% of their capacity. If you actually do 100% of what is expected of you and not anything more, you are doing 60% more than everyone else. Many have asked me in my past how it is that I went so far, so fast and that it would be impossible to duplicate…my response to them is simple: Do your job!<br /><br /><strong>5. Who do you know?</strong> Some call it sucking up, others call it face time, I call it mandatory. That’s right, getting promoted has more to do with who you know than what you do. This game is simpler than you think, you might do your job but if nobody knows about it, then what difference does it make. When you want to move up, you should know who your next manager and their manager will be as you will need both of them to know of you and your accomplishments before it is time for you to apply for your new promotion. Wouldn’t you want to know who you’re hiring? It is very important to build confidence in those that will have an impact on your career right from the start. How you present yourself, and speak about yourself and your story will tell all about who you are, what they can expect and give them a hint about what you want. So face time is a must if you want to get anywhere in Corporate America.<br /><br /><strong>6. Step up when appropriate:</strong> You will be giving many opportunities to take on projects for your boss, some will be relevant to your growth, others will simply be him/her delegating their work on to you. Understanding which projects will get the most exposure and if the person asking for your help is willing to give you credit for your efforts is very important. You can take on over a dozen projects, but if no one is gong to tell senior leaders that you actually worked on it, your efforts will be in vain. Stepping up is necessary and important but must be timed correctly so that it doesn’t become additional work for no reason. Declining certain projects may make sense from time to time (only as you grow more respected for having stepped up before), and it may also showcase that you have leadership and don’t simply agree to take on every task that’s given to you. Knowing how to properly say NO is very important.<br /><br /><strong>7. Leadership:</strong> No matter what level of Corporate America you find yourself in, there is always a place for great leadership. Great leaders are sometimes born, and other times made - but it is within all of us to be great everyday. No matter where you work, no matter what you do and no matter who you work for; you have it within you to make the best of it and showcase why you are not stuck where you are. <br /><br />So remember, keep your attitude up, dress well, do your part, take on more when you can, make the right friends and demonstrate great leadership EVERYDAY and you will get exactly what you want from Corporate America.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Don Sabatini</strong>, 28 years old has served in many different roles in Corporate America, from a small startup sales office at the age of 16, to being appointment the Vice President of a Fortune 500 company at the age of 20, and currently holding a Vice President position at a Fortune 100 company (without holding a college degree). Having nearly 10 years of VP level management as well as creating teaching management programs for the past 6 years (which are currently being used by major corporations), Don currently has 72 employees working for him, and is the youngest one in his corporate role, with his peers being no younger than 54 years old. His drive for success, expertise and experience make him one of the highest paid Vice Presidents within his company. As an industry expert and teacher, Don has taken his experiences in Corporate America, and his real world experiences in finance, real estate, investing, and business development and created <a href="http://www.secretentourage.com/">Secret Entourage</a>, to help motivate and educate others that seek a high level of success in an accelerated time frame.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-2141919994828762457?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=l1PH8JcYwRY:gv55fUSe3c4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=l1PH8JcYwRY:gv55fUSe3c4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/l1PH8JcYwRY" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/l1PH8JcYwRY/7-steps-to-succeeding-in-corporate.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-36267182114317969422010-07-15T04:53:00.000-07:002010-07-15T04:53:00.673-07:00Top Job Search Strategies You’ve Probably Never Tried <strong>1. Identify Your Target Industry or Field of Interest</strong><br /><br />- Most industries have multiple subfields and further, departmental differences between job descriptions, duties and responsibilities. Make sure you are aware of the variety of positions within each industry sector. Use the <em>Occupational Outlook Handbook</em> (<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/" target="_blank">www.bls.gov/oco/</a>) to research job titles.<br /><br />- Take some time to envision yourself performing each task associated with a position – could you see yourself performing this task eight hours a day, five times a week?<br />A January 2010 Gallup Poll found U.S. job satisfaction at its lowest level in two decades. Make sure you are looking at all the data before you make the proverbal leap (<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503977.html">Results of polls on job satisfaction are at odds, By Carol Morello, Wednesday, January 6, 2010</a>) <div class="fullpost"><br /><strong>2. Search for Jobs via Keywords<br /></strong><br />- Job search sites such as <a href="http://www.indeed.com/" target="_blank">Indeed.com</a> allow you to input keywords or phrases when searching for jobs. Expand your job search by viewing all industries that highlight a specific skill as a job requirement (i.e. typing in “analyst” pulls up jobs such as: “financial,” “systems,” “credit,” “economic,” “risk” and “military” analyst). By expanding your job search into different industries, you may find jobs requiring the same skill sets you already have while simply working with a different product.<br /><br />- View a variety of job postings – even jobs where you do not meet the qualifications. Scan these job postings for keywords or “buzz words” that are vital job responsibilities. Use your collection of buzz words to refine your job search and define your ideal job. <br />Once you have defined your ideal job, begin incorporating the related buzz words into your resume and cover letter. Illustrate for employers your ability and interest in using necessary industry skills. <br /><br /><strong>3. Research the Professional Associations and Organizations for your Field of Interest</strong><br /><br />- Professional associations are maintained by professionals in the field. These sites often serve as invaluable resources regarding industry trends and key resources, necessary accreditations or certifications, and industry publications.<br /><br />- Use discussion or forum boards on these Web sites to ask questions about the field, to stay abreast of industry current events, and to weigh in on industry issues. This knowledge can certainly benefit you in job interviews and additionally can benefit you when employers search your name prior to the interview and see your passion in your field.<br /><br />- Many professional association Web sites also list upcoming webinars or seminar series to attend, which is another great way to stay current in the field.<br />Peruse the organization’s career center too – search for research opportunities, internship and full-time positions.<br /><br /><strong>4. Use Niche Job Boards</strong><br /><br />- Employers post positions on niche job boards to avoid being flooded with applications from unqualified candidates. Find these sites by searching “<your> job search sites” in Google (i.e. “direct marketing job search sites”).<br /><br />- Print out jobs of interest, stay organized and record your completion of each stage of the application process (i.e. updated resume, sent application, scheduled interview).<br /><br />- Create an Excel spreadsheet tracking your job search, including information about job posting closing date, contact information, follow-up points of contact, job description buzzwords, and company mission and goals. The key is to search smarter not harder for jobs. Updating this information throughout your search will keep you prepared as employers begin calling for interviews.<br />You can even create an Excel sheet of the list of niche job boards you find. Create a schedule for yourself of dates and times you check each site to help avoid searching certain sites too often. <br /><br /><strong>5. Use your City’s Chamber of Commerce Web sites or LinkedIn to Directly Search for Ideal Employers</strong><br /><br />- Many job boards cost employers money, leading companies to post job openings solely on their own human resources Web site. Therefore it is crucial to identify and target specific employers and consistently check their human resources department Web site directly.<br /><br />- Even when employers post positions on job boards, make sure to view the position opening as it is written on the company’s human resources page. Frequently, employers will list additional application requirements about the positions they post on their website only. By doing this, employers can easily identify which candidates have done their research on the company.<br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Sara Kohout</strong>, MS, is a Career Counselor at Towson University in Towson, MD who works with students to help them choose their major and explore related careers. She takes a student-focused, self-discovery approach to career counseling, always determined to find better, more innovative ways to help students discover and achieve their career development goals.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-4532373809235833748?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=zjtDR7-SvYg:vQR9MlU-Pm0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=zjtDR7-SvYg:vQR9MlU-Pm0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/zjtDR7-SvYg" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/zjtDR7-SvYg/top-job-search-strategies-youve.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-58686606550375555472010-07-14T04:20:00.000-07:002010-07-14T04:20:00.580-07:00How Best to Work with a Recruiter Today Back in the day when job hunting was easier, job seekers had the upper-hand. Whether it was applying directly to a business online or registering with a local staffing firm, oftentimes it was a quick and easy process. Today – not so much.<br /><br /><strong>It’s a New World. </strong><br /><br />Businesses that ARE hiring in today’s climate are trying to save money wherever possible. Spending budgets have been depleted. The utilization of external recruiters is way down. Simply put, staffing firms are used much less than before. It is a crazy time to be looking for a job. Nothing you don’t already know, right?<br /><br /><strong>It is possible to beat the odds. </strong><br /><br />Companies are still hiring. And, yes, they are still utilizing staffing firms for certain hires. In order to win in this New World you must be proactive and forward-thinking. Whether you are someone in transition looking for a job or you are someone looking to take the next step, you need to be prepared to win.<br /><br />Market yourself the right way. It starts with a well-written resume and cover letter. This is a must whether you are applying directly to an HR recruiter online or if you are registering with an external recruiter at a local staffing firm. At some point in the process, your resume will be viewed and reviewed. Decisions will be made based off of it. Long story short, make sure your resume is exchange ready for headhunters and visually appealing and well-written.<div class="fullpost"><br />Tips when working with an external recruiter: </p><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>Be niche specific.</strong> Make sure you reach out to and work with local staffing firms that specialize in your field. This will guarantee you the most success.<br /></li><br /><li><strong>Be flexible.</strong> It is great to shoot for that great paying direct-hire opening but also be willing to take that temp or temp-perm job offer as well. Most staffing firms will alert you to permanent jobs that come across their desk while you are on their payroll working as a temporary.<br /></li><br /><li><strong>Add value to your recruiter.</strong> You must stand out and it starts with an exchange-ready resume. All things equal, a recruiter will always work smart. Usually that means work quickly. Don’t assume they have time to revamp your resume. Not anymore. There is just no time for that. </li></ul><br /><hr /><strong><a href="http://contributors.careerrocketeer.com/p/guest-experts.html">Guest Expert</a>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Edward McGoldrick</strong>, <a href="http://www.resumeprofessors.com/"><strong>The Resume Professor</strong></a>, has the answers. He will school you in how to develop the most effective resume and land that perfect job.<br /><br />McGoldrick has more than 10 years of progressive responsibility helping over 20,000 people find employment. Leveraging extensive knowledge and experience in staffing and professional resume writing, he is focused on providing top notch, results-oriented career services.<br /><br />Prior to founding <a href="http://www.resumeprofessors.com/"><strong>Resume Professors</strong></a>, McGoldrick served as a director with Spherion, a Fortune 500 staffing firm, leading the strategic and operational growth for the southeast region of the United States. He led this region through start-up, survival, turnaround and growth modes for over four years. McGoldrick also held the position of executive recruiter with Kforce where he earned several sales awards including Rookie of the Year. He also placed in the top 5% in sales every year throughout his six year tenure with the company.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-9067346356678716222?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=LeAeOfAOU-A:yfhgg44mByg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=LeAeOfAOU-A:yfhgg44mByg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/LeAeOfAOU-A" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/LeAeOfAOU-A/how-best-to-work-with-recruiter-today.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-3946597931114267442010-07-13T03:47:00.000-07:002010-07-13T03:47:00.622-07:00How to Deal with Headhunters <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUlAd9XdvwjjVGA4E6WundO03lvHraUpSvCkKCax1se09MhWfFfhkiJCzrh8EmM1K7cJ-rjoh7vMvkfjxLzetipkhJlVRYodw6CPz_FfJB-LhSLq7ry56rcbejY8lV84STzha/s1600/introduction+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459445824293745618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUlAd9XdvwjjVGA4E6WundO03lvHraUpSvCkKCax1se09MhWfFfhkiJCzrh8EmM1K7cJ-rjoh7vMvkfjxLzetipkhJlVRYodw6CPz_FfJB-LhSLq7ry56rcbejY8lV84STzha/s200/introduction+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>In addition to my current practice as a resume writer, career transition coach and social media strategist, I have spent 20+ years as an independent talent acquisition specialist, the 21st century name for "head-hunter." So I am qualified to say that relying on recruiters should not be at the top of your list of ways to find a new position. The reasons, of which there are many, we can discuss at another time. The most obvious being recruiters get paid by and therefore owe their allegiance to the client and not the candidate.<br /><br />However recruiters – generalists, job or industry specific, technical, executive or retained – can help you in many ways and it is important to understand what they are and how to behave when dealing with a recruiter in order to get results.<br /><br />First off, just like you most recruiters are in business for the long haul; and just like you they live or die based on the quality of the network they establish.<br /><br />You want to build a network of people to keep you in the loop regarding unadvertised job opportunities and good recruiters are always looking to network with people who can refer candidates their way for new assignments. And who knows, when you least expect it they may call you and tell you they have the perfect job for you. So even if a recruiter can’t help you today it pays to establish a relationship with recruitment professionals who have a sterling track record of integrity and some longevity in the business.<br /><br /><em>What can a recruiter do for you?</em><div class="fullpost"><br />Recruiters are a great source of information about companies, what careers are in vogue, which are on the upswing and which are fading, and what the salary parameters are in different occupational sectors etc. Even if you are not a potential placement for a recruitment firm at this time, recruiters are willing to share information with you if you are willing to share information back with them, even if you are not a highly skilled or sought after candidate.<br /><br />So here are some do and don’ts about dealing with recruiters from their side of the table.<br /><ol><li>Many people see recruiters only as middlemen who can open doors, and think recruiters only want perfection in a candidate, which is true to a great extent on both counts.<br /><br />Therefore many candidates will outright lie to a recruiter and embellish who they are, what they have done and what they are looking for in terms of a job and salary with the thought in mind that if and when they meet the recruiter’s client they will come clean and tell the truth. This does not work. Recruiters are for the most part great judges of talent and character, and their clients do not react well when the person they meet does not live up to the recruiter’s hype.<br /></li><li>Many candidates act differently in an interview with a recruiter than they do during an interview with an employer. For instance, when asked if they have any questions most will say no.<br /><br />This is bad etiquette and bad business. When you want someone to help you treat them with the respect they deserve. Also remember that how you interview with them is how they will see you interviewing with their client. If you fail to relate or show enthusiasm with them a recruiter will blow you off in a minute even if you are a qualified candidate. There reputation to the client means much more than any one candidate.<br /></li><li>Recruiters need to know your real weaknesses as well as your strengths. Being dishonest with a recruiter is the same as being dishonest with yourself. Recruiters may call you about one job, but the chance of your getting that job is at BEST 15% in most cases. However if a recruiter likes you he or she will keep you in mind for other positions and let others in their firm and with firms they network with know about you. This can increase your network by as much as 100%. However this will only pay long term dividends if the recruiter has the whole picture and can make an honest assessment of who you really are and where you will fit.<br /></li><li>A phone interview is not a casual chat. A recruiter wants to get a sense of your personality to determine if a face-to-face or more in-depth interview is warranted, so treat this as a real interview not an informal phone chat with a casual friend. Don't put on airs and change your personality because you can’t be seen. Be business like but also be you. Most important do not take a phone interview in a casual position, a place where there is outside distraction or on a poor phone connection.<br /></li><li>Last but not least, follow up with recruiters but don’t be too persistent or demanding of answers. Some candidates I have come across become obnoxiously aggressive—and, in doing so, kill their chances at being called when the right job does come along.<br /></li></ol><br /><hr /><strong>Author:</strong><br /><br />Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at <a href="http://www.perrynewman.com/">http://www.perrynewman.com/</a>, and email him your resume at <a href="mailto:perry@perrynewman.com">perry@perrynewman.com</a> for FREE resume critique.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7965827460478077853-1851711035800620990?l=www.careerrocketeer.com' alt='' /></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=s9cSQD1bT1Y:st4dHmG7ZfI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?a=s9cSQD1bT1Y:st4dHmG7ZfI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CareerRocketeer?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~4/s9cSQD1bT1Y" height="1" width="1"/><br /><br />View the <a href='http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CareerRocketeer/~3/s9cSQD1bT1Y/how-to-deal-with-headhunters.html' rel='nofollow'>Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-78957403487631442352010-07-12T03:14:00.000-07:002010-07-12T03:14:00.516-07:00Good to Go After Graduation...33 Tips for the 2010 Grad<p><a href="http://www.careerhubblog.com/.a/6a00d834516a5769e20133ee1188fe970b-pi" style="float: left;"><img alt="Grad cap in air" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d834516a5769e20133ee1188fe970b " src="http://www.careerhubblog.com/.a/6a00d834516a5769e20133ee1188fe970b-500wi" style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" /></a> Have you recently walked across the stage to receive your college diploma for the completion of an undergraduate or graduate program of study? Did you leave the college campus with a job in hand, or are you in the midst of looking for one? If you find yourself in the job <em>acquisition </em>mode following your most recent achievement, listed below are a few ideas to consider. As always, your feedback is appreciated and welcome, so feel free to add what is (or isn't) working for you as you explore life after college...</p> <ol><li id="">Stay in close touch with Career Services at your college or university. </li><li>Volunteer with an organization or 'cause' that is of interest to you. </li><li>Exercise to enhance both physical and mental health and well-being. </li><li>Review career-marketing materials to ensure overall presentation excellence. </li><li>Write a stellar resume, keeping the employer's perspective in mind. Have you made it easy for the Hiring Manager to grasp within seconds these three elements: 1. how to get in touch with you in multiple ways? 2. the type of job you seek? 3. who you are and what makes you uniquely qualified to do said job? </li><li>Avoid sending a mass-produced cover letter addressed: 'To Whom It May Concern' with your resume attached. (Sorry to say, I don't think anyone will be concerned.) </li><li>Avoid sending a mass-produced cover letter addressed to 'Dear Sir or Madam' with your resume attached. </li><li><a href="http://www.jibberjobber.com/">Keep track of stuff</a> -- people, dates, times, places, data, action steps, etc. </li><li>Make the first few lines of the body of your resume rock -- and stand out like no other in a sea of competition. (Lead off with something that will make the reader go 'WOW' -- I need to get in touch with this person now! </li><li>Target your career-marketing materials to each respective employer, so when your materials arrive on the Hiring Manager's desk, the reader will know you did the documents <em>especially</em> for them, and only them. </li><li>Consider all of your options. Make a list of possibilities to expand your target market so if one thing doesn't work, maybe another idea will...in short, have a Plan, B, C, D, and E. </li><li>Network like you invented the concept! Thanks to @<a href="http://twitter.com/spenceanderson">SpenceAnderson</a> for his tip over on Twitter the other day in response to my question about college degree and no job? "Tell them to start networking and starting networking FAST." </li><li>Also, thanks to @<a href="http://twitter.com/sitalruparelia/">SitalRuparelia</a> for his tweet in response to the same query "Offer local businesses skills and time for free, do great job & 1. ask for LinkedIn recommendations & 2. Referrals." (Yes, yes, and yes!) </li><li>Believe that <em>rejection</em> is a word and not a way of life. </li><li>Add an additional layer of skin to protect yourself from the word 'no' and 'naysayers' and 'negativity' -- do not be deterred by any of these 'n' words. </li><li>Unfollow a 'doom and gloom' perspective and 'friend' possibility thinking. </li><li>Establish a routine and stick with it daily. The golf game will wait; the video games will wait; your future is waiting for y - o - u to show that you care! </li><li>Inspire self; motivate self. What are some positive words with which you could start each day? Instead of thinking as a job seeker mentioned the other day: 'Same Old Stuff Different Day' (SOS DD)-- how about considering a more positive, productive mantra to help you move forward? </li><li>Do not be a job seeker who touts to the world <em>'I'll take anything.</em>' Find your focus and decide upon some type of direction -- and then do! </li><li>Get professional help if you feel lost -- there is an abundance of talent in the career management profession. Get referrals and do your homework before engaging services. </li><li>Speaking of 'do' -- take action now. <em>Thinking</em> is one thing; <em>doing</em> is another. Combine the two and voila -- you can begin to make things happen. </li><li>Be okay with asking others <em>to</em> and <em>for</em> help. These four words are powerful: "I need your help." Be not afraid to say them; it doesn't mean you are weak or anything of the sort -- quite the opposite -- it takes a strong individual to invite and accept help. </li><li>Become knowledgeable of <em>how</em> to manage your <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/student-debt-graduate-plan-pay-off-1279.php">student loan payments</a> when they become due. </li><li>Say 'thank you' to each and every person who shares a tip, an idea, a thought, a piece of wisdom. Thank you never wears out its welcome. </li><li>Do not appear desperate when you are speaking with employers or your network -- even though 'inside' you may feel lost, confused, or overwhelmed -- put your best foot (and face) forward and let others hear and see that. </li><li>Reach out to your connections for ideas and advice; <em>do not ask for a job</em>. Besides that not being cool, it puts your contacts on the spot and in an awkward position. Invite help without hassle. </li><li>Build a transition team to help you get from point A (college) to point B (work). Invite people you trust to serve on your team; listen carefully to their suggestions and recommendations and then, draw your own conclusions and make your own decisions. </li><li>Read <a href="http://careerhub.typepad.com/">blogs</a> and books and be a sponge in soaking up knowledge about how to find work after college. </li><li>Advocate for yourself by going to a career fair and speaking with a recruiter or other representative. See what happens; see what you learn. </li><li>Advocate for yourself by doing an unpaid internship -- you may not make money right now, but it could lead you to get that hands-on experience that distinguishes you from your competition. </li><li>Smile -- you <em>are</em> a college graduate. (Think of all the people who would love to be in your shoes!) </li><li>Share an 'attitude of gratitude.' </li><li><em>Never, ever ever give up</em>. </li></ol><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/CareerHub/%7E4/IwC4vT9GLRE" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br />View the <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/CareerHub/%7E3/IwC4vT9GLRE/good-to-go-after-graduation33-tips-for-the-2010-grad.html" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26644778.post-80312879174552266562010-07-11T02:41:00.000-07:002010-07-11T02:41:00.505-07:00Your Next Opportunity May Be the One You Create<p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 0px;"><strong>Ever heard this one before?<br /></strong></p> <blockquote dir="ltr"> <blockquote><strong><em>Work like you don't need the money,</em><br /><em>Love like you've never been hurt,</em><br /><em>And dance like no one's watching.</em><br /><em>Time waits for no one.</em></strong><br /></blockquote></blockquote> <p><strong>This quote, penned by Crystal Boyd and posted on an Internet list-serv back in 1998, is hard to forget. But does such advice exist for the job search?</strong></p> <p><strong><br />After recently attending the annual Career Management Alliance conference in New Orleans last month, I'd have to say yes..</strong>.</p> <p><br />My wordsmith is Robyn Greenspan, Executive Editor of <a href="http://www.execunet.com/">ExecuNet</a>. If you haven't heard of ExecuNet before, I highly recommend Robyn and her colleagues as an organization you should know. ExecuNet is a <a href="http://emergingprofessional.typepad.com/.a/6a00e554e4b29a88330133edfc3e3d970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Image_robyn" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e554e4b29a88330133edfc3e3d970b " src="http://emergingprofessional.typepad.com/.a/6a00e554e4b29a88330133edfc3e3d970b-120pi" style="margin: 10px;" title="Image_robyn" /></a> networking destination--and provider of competitive intelligence--for both job seekers and recruiters. I've been following their <a href="http://www.execunet.com/executive-jobs-report.cfm?ex_pid=ASUV10">Executive Job Market Intelligence Report</a> for years, and recommend you do, too. </p> <p><strong><br />While conducting research for ExecuNet, Robyn and her colleagues have asked a simple question of the senior level executives they serve: What gets you out of bed in the morning?</strong> The most common answer wasn't money. It wasn't a title. <strong>It was a challenge. Successful executives are driven by the opportunity to solve problems.</strong></p> <p><br />With that in mind, <strong>Robyn encourages job seekers to approach their own transitions with the mindset that the job search itself is a challenge to be solved. Here is her recipe for success:</strong><br /></p> <blockquote> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Collect data like a market researcher.</em></span></span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Investigate like a private eye.</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Talk to others like a journalist.</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Evaluate like a business development professional.</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Target like a sales professional.</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Think like a marketer.</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Interview like a consultant.</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Operate like a profit center.</em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:15px;"><span style="font-size:15px;"><em>Help like a humanitarian.<br /></em></span></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong>As Robyn reads the tea leaves in the market, "your next opportunity may be the one you create."</strong> If you're looking for a challenge--here it is.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:15px;"></span><strong>Can you do it? We believe that you can. Let us know how we can help.</strong></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/CareerHub/%7E4/uQN0iu4YWMs" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br />View the <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/CareerHub/%7E3/uQN0iu4YWMs/opportunity-create.html" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Katie Dardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462594810375382009noreply@blogger.com