How to find a job in your own backyard - Career blog - Position Ignition - taking you to the next step in your career

Your next career move doesn’t have to take you very far. In fact, you may not even need to leave the building.

Looking for your next role within your current organization can be a great option because it’s an environment that you’re already familiar with. The people around know the good work that you do and can support you as you move up or across the business. Position Ignition careers consultant Nisa Chitakasem explains that successful internal progression is about absorbing the information around you.

1. Look beyond your team

If you want to find a job within your current oganisation, it’s important to look beyond your team or department. Nisa: “As an existing employee you’re in a much stronger position than an outsider to find and land roles, so don’t restrict yourself to opportunities that originate close by. Consider what offices abroad can offer too – try and find out if they have been struggling to hire the right person or if they lack the expertise and talent you can bring”.

2. Read internal communications

You have access to information and people that external applicants won’t. If you’ve changed your browser homepage to Google, consider a reset: your company intranet is an indispensible tool for finding internal opportunities. Find time to read company emails and newsletters as these will tell you a great deal about individual staff members and their projects.

3. Attend meetings and presentations

It’s important you understand the strategy behind the business. “Get along to company presentations and meetings. When you’re there, talk to people and ask lots of questions. Try to understand the bigger business picture and identify potential areas of company development where you might be able to add value”. Meeting and presentations are also a great opportunity to promote yourself infront of senior colleagues in other departments: make sure they know who you are and what you can do.

4. Know what awards are being won

Is your company winning awards? Knowing about external achievements will help you identify areas of focus and development.

5. Read the press

News coverage is a great way to understand overall strategy and vision. If the areas mentioned are interesting to you, contact the people referenced in the press release; talk to them and find out if they have any openings for you.

6. Take an interest in product development

New services or products need teams to develop them – see if there are openings with those teams.

7. Watch where people go

Finally, observe who gets promoted and who leaves or is made redundant. “The movement of people is very revealing”, says Nisa. “Pay close attention to where they move to, either within the company or away from it. This should alert you to subtle shifts taking place in the business”.

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This blog is featured on www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice - where Position Ignition offers expert careers advice and guidance to job seekers

via positionignition.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

10 Top Tips to Get a Job Using LinkedIn

There are other business networks and you might want to go and check them out, but none of them is as big and as well-known as LinkedIn (LI). Although there is a paid version of LinkedIn, most people use the free one and find that is enough for what they want.

Many business people register and put up some sort of profile and then think that’s all they have to do but there is more!!

10 ways to get that job!

1 Hang around the site a bit to get a feel for the features before you use LI for job seeking. Look up someone you know or a company you have worked for in the Search bar at the top right hand corner of the page to see how it all works.

2 Go to the Jobs section which you can use to find jobs you are looking for in your area of work (and your geographical area too). There is a search facility so you can put in everything you’re looking for.

3 Follow the LI advice for completing applications online

4 Develop your Profile so people can find YOU. This is hugely important and you need to spend several hours getting it right. Many head hunters and recruitment agencies use LinkedIn. Talk about yourself in your profile as this is a personal statement where you sell you, your skills or your services. Make sure your profile is up to date and in line with what you say on your CV/resume because many prospective employers check LinkedIn profiles of candidates

5 Add a business-like photo and link in your website, blog, Twitter account etc if you have them. Be careful and only put professional things on LI! Upload a current CV so prospective employers can see it

6 Check out the Settings and make sure you are happy about the people who will have ‘access’ to you but remember, if you want to be found, you need to leave your settings reasonably open!

7 Start building Connections. Invite people you know to connect with you. Also invite those people you would like to work for to connect but not everyone will accept direct contact so you have to go through a connection who is connected to them. When you ask to connect to someone, don’t just use the message provided by LinkedIn but write something more personal. Also when you accept an invitation to connect, send a personal note; don’t forget you are building relationships

8 At the top of the page just under where you put your name and job title, you will see a update white bar. Update this regularly as any changes you make to it will be emailed by LI by email once a week to all your connections. This shows you are active and you can say “researching job opportunities in accountancy” or whatever

9 Join a Group. This is useful if you don’t have many direct connections but you want to add some. There are hundreds of groups on all sorts of topics. For example, if you are looking for a job in film, you might choose to join the Film TV Professionals or if you’re interested in selling hats, the Milliners Forum (yes, it does exist!) could be useful. Once you join a group you can reply to posts in discussions and post your own topics to get yourself noticed and have access to other members of that group

10 Remember that LinkedIn and other sites are for networking – that is, for building relationships. Don’t expect your first connection to offer you a job straight away!

Top Tip

Put your LinkedIn address on your CV/resume, business card, email signature and any other tool you use to publicise yourself!

I now invite you to visit my website and download a copy of my white paper “Blended Learning – the Way Forward?” and receive a 2010 Survey of Blended Learning http://www.blendedlearningzone.com/index.html to learn more about learning online.

 Kate Cobb is Director of blended learning zone. She was commissioned to write “Blended Learning” for the CIPD (UK) L&D Journal in 2008 and is a published author of training books and manuals. She provides a range of services for HR and L&D managers in design and delivery, consultancy and strategic planning of blended learning solutions.

Kate has over 25 years experience as a management training consultant providing F2F training, executive coaching and instructional design services for a wide variety of clients in UK, Europe and the Middle East in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

via employmentdigest.net

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Long-Term Unemployment is Highest on Record (scary) | JibberJobber Blog

Here is some interesting information, from the Huffington Post: Long-Term Unemployed Now 46 Percent Of Unemployed, Highest Percentage On Record.

This is a scary aspect of “unemployment” that you don’t hear about often.  I think, though, in the scariness, there is opportunity.  Many of those who are long-term unemployed, and want to get back to work, are skilled and/or hungry.  Perhaps even desperate.  Maybe some of them will start their own companies.

The strength of the U.S. could be, it’s been argued, in the small businesses and capitalism.  If that is the case, perhaps it would be awesome to see much of this talent move to “self-employed,” and see where that goes.

I really need to pick up Daniel Pink’s Free Agent Nation… a book that is fairly old (2002) but I have hears about it for a while, which talks about this idea.

Scary, but full of opportunity, don’t you think?  Or is that just wishful thinking… ?

via jibberjobber.com

Career Advice, Personal Branding & Job Search Help from Top Career Experts : CAREEREALISM

By Jay Block

I was fired by one of my best friends in 1992. More on this later. But first I want you to know this webinar was prepared for you and I want you to think of me as your personal coach; one who truly cares about you and your future…because I do! I have worked with thousands of people from around the world to help them identify, pursue and secure good-paying jobs and rewarding opportunities in tough economies. Though you and I, most likely, have not met formally, I fully understand and empathize with what you are currently experiencing; and the emotional roller coaster you are riding.

This program is different from most other job search programs because I reject the idea job search is an effective activity or, that it works at all. As you will see during our time together, career and job transition is a process not a search. Whether you are a graduating student or seasoned professional, career and job transition can be compared to planning and orchestrating a political campaign. Politicians who seek to get ‘hired’ for elected office do not conduct a political search; they conduct a strategic campaign. So must you. And once you embrace this new way of thinking, you will 1) have much more control over your future, 2) secure rewarding opportunities quickly at the pay you deserve and 3) genuinely enjoy the process!

I have worked with people who have been unexpectedly terminated, downsized, rightsized and capsized. I have worked with those who have bosses from you-know-where, who are stressed out from working in toxic environments and who are toiling every day at jobs that are downright uninspiring. Many clients and audiences I have addressed over the past 20-plus years are still in “what do I want to be when I grow up?” mode. And yet others are hampered by golden handcuffs; cuffed to an unexciting and taxing job. They are unable to seek out new opportunities because they can’t relinquish their current job because of economic and financial considerations and are so exhausted and stressed out at the end of the day, they haven’t the energy to pursue a better position. Finally, I have worked with employees wanting to start their own enterprises as well as entrepreneurs wanting to convert to employees.

I know you and the challenges you face. When I graduated from the University of New Hampshire in the mid 1970’s, the unemployment rate was near 8%. It took me months to find a management trainee job that paid just ten cents over minimum wage! However, I accepted the job and worked my way up to an operations manager in just 6 months. Then, at age 26, I quit my job and started my own company and sold it for a handsome profit at age 30. I subsequently went into business in partnership with a French company and proceeded to lose just about everything by the time I was 31 years old. I came close to bankruptcy. I continued to struggle finding my place in the labor market over the next seven years. Then, in 1991, one of my best friends hired me as his marketing director. A year later he fired me. Well, actually, he was conveniently out of town, so he had my secretary inform me I was fired when I returned from my vacation. How many people are fired by their secretaries on orders from one of their best friends?

So there I was, 39 years old, broke and broken. I was broke financially. I was broken physically; 15 pounds out of shape. And most critically, I was broken emotionally. I had lost my confidence, my dignity and any hope for the future. I was forced to reinvent myself but had idea how to do it. So I sought out and worked with some of the world’s most reputable coaches, poured through more than 1,000 books and audiotapes and, by the age of 45, found my passions, became an industry leader and well-respected author and national trainer. The point I am making is I have experienced much of what you are currently experiencing. I’ve been there, done that and worn that tee-shirt. But I succeeded as will you.

Since 1993, I have interviewed thousands of hiring managers, HR professionals and executive recruiters to determine what they look for and what they want when they are hiring. Armed with this information, I discovered most of what you’ve been taught about the job search makes no sense, is contrary to effective and accepted methods of marketing and is an exercise filled with fear and anxiety; not excitement and anticipation. So I set out to identify a common sense and motivational process that would successfully work for anyone…and found it! Since then, I have assisted tens of thousands of people to clearly identify, pursue and achieve meaningful jobs and career objectives.

So I invite you to spend some time with me in this webinar so you too can achieve all you deserve. In fact, I invite you to treat our time together as an enjoyable journey that will do for you what it did for me…give you confidence, self-respect and genuine enthusiasm for creating a better future.

via careerealism.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Questions to Ask When Making a Career Transition 

I work with many clients who are moving through a career transition. The desire for a transition comes from different places and for different reasons. Transitions can be made with intention or accelerated through circumstance. Wherever you are, these questions can help you make choices that align with your wants, needs and values.

WHY do you want this transition? Whether you are making this transition by choice or as the result of a layoff, understanding why you want it will help you get started on your path. This involves looking beyond the income to your deeper reason. Your why could include a better fit for your lifestyle, a better fit with your passions and strengths, the opportunity to make a great impact, and much more. A good place to start figuring out your why is to consider your values, what matters most to you in your life right now.

WHAT do you want? Transitions can take many different forms, from changing roles, to changing industries, responsibilities and environments. Understanding what you want means more than just choosing your next job title. It starts with a look back to the experiences and environments that brought out the best in you and helped you grow into who you are today. The next step is to look at what you want for your future including how you want to continue to grow, what types of new experiences you want to have, and how large a role you want your career to play in your overall life. Creating a vision for what you want in the form of a story can be a powerful way to capture all of this information. You want your vision to be clear enough that you can see yourself doing, being or having it, but not so clear that is too finite or tied to one path of achievement.

WHO do you want to work with and/or for? Our careers are much more than our job titles. We can play the same role in several organizations and have very different experiences within each. That is why who your work with and for is so important to consider. Think about the type of organization you want to work for, including what service/product they deliver, how they deliver it, and what matters most to them (their organizational values). Who also includes the clients or customers you will be working with and for, what they care about and why they do business with this organization. Your colleagues and especially your manager/leader play a key role in your satisfaction and success in your career so take time to consider what qualities and traits you are seeking in those connections as well.

WHERE do you want to go – which environments are a best fit for you? Environments include your physical space, expectations and support. Think about your needs – the conditions that help you do and be your best. Do you thrive the most in a structured or unstructured work culture? Do you do your best work when part of a team or as a leader (or both)? What pace of work do you prefer? These questions and more are important to ask yourself to help you choose your next opportunity.

HOW will you need to stretch or shift? All transitions involve some changes to your level of activity, your thoughts, perspective and/or behavior. Your plan may include additional education, skill building, new people to meet, a different lifestyle, a risk or leap. The success of our transition is determined by many factors out of our locus of control. What is within our sphere of influence are the choices we make, who we show up as every day, how we handle the unknown and our thoughts about what is possible to achieve.

Time to Prioritize I have shared many things to consider as you embark on your career transition. Not all of these will matter to you, and some will matter much more than others. Prioritize according to what you believe is right for you and most of all, enjoy the process of your journey while walking toward your goal.

 Stefanie Zizzo is a Career and Life Transition Coach who helps people take their life in a new direction. People who have stretched themselves to the edge of their comfort zone, who are tired of looking out the window, and are ready to step outside and truly experience a life full of possibility. With experience in career counseling and life coaching, she has helped hundreds of people to focus on what they want in their lives and careers, think and grow beyond their current beliefs and fears, and take purposeful action to make things happen. She offers both individual coaching, live workshops and will soon be publishing a Workbook called The Journey From Comfort to Possibility. For more information, visit http://www.stefaniezizzo.com.

via employmentdigest.net

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Networking: Are You Feeling Burned Out?

A few months ago I wrote about a question that seemed strange at the time.  The question was is there such a thing as too much networking?

That particular question came from a reader and had to do with a concern about over-exposure and efficiency.

But a new and really interesting question was raised on my LinkedIn group today that brought up a related but very different question.

The question asked whether others had seen a reduction in attendance at networking events around the Orange County area.  The discussion then headed to an interesting theory.

It suggested that people are burning out on networking events.  Are YOU?

I haven’t done a survey on this, but I think there is some truth in the idea.  Especially for people who have been out over six months and who have not seen networking deliver a new job.  Despite all of us out there saying that networking is the single most important job search activity.

When you first start networking, everything is new.  Everyone is friendly and open to new relationships.  And if you are doing it right, you are picking a few people each week.  People with whom you can build a deeper relationship.

But over time, if the effort has not delivered big leads.  You start to get out of bed a little slower.  You start to hem and haw.  Getting there late, leaving early or not going at all.  You do that little dance in your head: Should I stay or should I go?

And then you start getting lazy.  You stop communicating your specific job search objectives.  Stop handing out your networking business cards and one page networking bio.

I’ve seen it.  As I introduce a long time job seeker with a newer one.  The veteran has a different energy.  A lack of excitement to meet new folks.  Jaded.

And that attitude, created from experience, influences your own motivation to keep going.  And it likely influences new people you meet.  To spend less time with you.

So if today’s post is about the issue of reduced attendance at networking events and a theory as to why (burnout or fatigue), the next one will be full of solutions.

Come back early next week for: 5 Ways To Keep Networking Fresh And Productive

If you don’t have a good memory, sign up to get e-mails of all new posts automatically.  Add your e-mail to the form (top right, above) and you can forget all about  . . . having to remember.

What are you seeing in your community.  Are fewer people coming out?  If so, where are they going instead and why?

Photo credit

via timsstrategy.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

How to write an impactful resume « Courting Your Career

Crafting an effective resume can be difficult. There’s the formatting, grammar, punctuation and, most importantly, your content. To stand out from the crowd, it’s not enough to create a laundry list of job duties. You also have to talk about the impact you made while you were in that position. Whether you’re looking for your first job, or if you’re making a mid-career transition, there are two simple questions that your resume needs to address.

What? Most job seekers have this one down cold; what you did at that job. To address the “what,” read the job description carefully and identify the most important attributes and skills the hiring company is looking for. If they list management experience #1, don’t list it as the 8^th bullet under your most recent job. Also think about what not to include. If your title is customer service representative, there’s no need to list a bullet that talks about customer service unless it involves a specific situation or outcome above and beyond what could be implied from your title.

So what? Once you’ve established the “what,” you must address the “so what?” For each bullet, what were the results? What was the impact? If you presented a recommendation to upper management, was it adopted? If you developed a new process for doing business, did it save time and/or money?

Before applying to another job, read over your resume bullet by bullet to make sure you’ve answered both the “what” and “so what.” When you do, you’ll be well on your way to having a resume that gets results.

via courtingyourcareer.wordpress.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal