Best of Branding: Top 5 This Week | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

Here is the Top 5 This Week – @andywergedal

The readership of employment websites was all over the map this week–can anyone explain why? I suspect it’s the nice weather and the summer vacation spirit. At any rate…

Here is the Top 5 This Week

1. Questions to Ask When Making a Career Transition – [Employment Digest]

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.

2. 7 Personal Branding Lessons From an Unlikely Source – [Brand Yourself]

Have you visited your local farmer’s market recently? If not, you are probably missing out on a couple of interesting lessons (and a few tasty vine-ripened tomatoes). Sellers at the farmer’s market face an extremely difficult task: with similar products being offered left and right, each seller must somehow stand out from the rest to succeed.

3. Job Search Advice Worth Repeating – [Secrets of The Job Hunt]

As I dig through blogs and filter through tweets I am looking for original ideas. How can I put a fresh spin on something that’s been said one thousand times by hundreds of experts? The answer certainly
isn’t easy. Maybe it is enough to just repeat the message.

4. Put Down The Objective and Back Away Slowly – [Career Rocketeer]

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.

5. Long Term Unemployment is Highest on Record, Scary – [Jibber Jobber]

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..

Photo Credit

Andy’s primary professional role is the communication bridge between technology and executive staff. An expert in project management methodologies Andy excels as the agent of change. In his spare time, he has a passion for helping people find jobs. Checkout his blog at 40×50.com and on twitter @andywergedal.

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Why You Need a YOU Plan!!! - Secrets of the Job Hunt Career Podcast

- Friday morning President Obama delivered a speech in Columbus, Ohio marking the ground breaking of the ten thousandth roads project funded by the Recovery Act (otherwise known as the stimulus package). In his speech President Obama said “I’m under no illusion we are where we need to be” echoing the concerns expressed by Fed Chief Ben Bernanke last week. In his testimony before congress, Bernanke stated that there will be a “slow reduction” in unemployment as the recovery begins to take effect.

- In April of last year national unemployment was at 9.4%. Currently, national unemployment is at 9.7%. The unemployment rate in Ohio, the site where the President showcased this “shovel ready” project, is nearly a full percentage point higher than this time last year.

- Unemployment is continuing to rise and the number of American workers out of work for longer than six months has grown to 6.7 million. This accounts for nearly half of all unemployed workers in this country.

- Welcome to the New Economy -

- Making your way in this new environment is going to be a challenge. Blasting resumes into cyberspace, brushing up on your interview skills, and trolling job fairs isn’t going to cut it anymore. It’s no longer about chasing down existing opportunities, it’s about cultivating new ones. This is going to require adapting an entrepreneurial mindset!

- Any good entrepreneur will tell you that success comes from opening your mind and seeing the world of possibilities that lay in front of you. Entrepreneurs are not big believers in happenstance, they tend to create their own luck. Take for example the June 2010 issue of Psychology Today where the featured article was on the notion of serendipity and success. The article noted that differences in personality and approach to life tend to impact perceptions of luck. When it comes to personality, one study cited by the article found that those who report being more lucky tend to be more extraverted, open to experience, and more tolerant of stress. With respect to differences in how one approaches life, the message was simple, take a step back and relax. Those who are more “present” in what they are doing and engaged with those around them, tend to have more luck.

- Although personality is not something you can change, you most certainly can change the way you approach life. In particular, when it comes to dealing with the uncertainty of career transition, it’s critical that you begin by looking inward first, then outward. You must be present in the moment before considering where to go next. Uncertainty can produce a great deal of anxiety. The less control we believe we have over a situation the more anxiety we feel. The best way to take control of this anxiety and position ourselves for serendipity is to create a plan.

- Personal planning is the key to taking charge of your career, reducing the impact of uncertainty, and generating your own luck. It’s all about creating a YOU Plan, a plan custom tailored for you and by you. I firmly believe that any good YOU Plan starts with introspection. You can’t build a strong plan without a solid foundation. When it comes to creating a YOU Plan you must ask yourself five fundamental questions that I remember as VIPER:

• * What are my Values?
• * What are my Intrinsics?
• * What are my Passions?
• * What is my Essence?
• * What is my Roadmap?

- To learn more about creating a YOU Plan go to www.TheYouPlan.com

- Good luck,

- Dr. Woody - www.DrWoody.com

via secretsofthejobhunt.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Is Your Recruiter Any Closer To The Job Than You? - Secrets of the Job Hunt Career Podcast

You're excited because you just got a call from a recruiter who sought you out. Should you really be excited? While some recruiters can help you, others may hurt your chances to land a specific opportunity - still others may just waste your time.

Not all recruiters are equal. How can you tell if a recruiter is any closer to the job opportunity than you are?

It usually boils down to the relationship that the recruiter has with the hiring manager - not just with the company, but the hiring manager. There are a number of different types of recruiter relationships, and it helps to determine which kind of relationship your recruiter has.

How can you tell which type of recruiter has contacted you? Which type is the most productive to work with? What should you do if you are working with the wrong type but on the right opportunity?

Remember, just because a recruiter has contacted you, doesn't mean you have to work with them. If you choose to not work with a recruiter, but prefer to work with another recruiter closer to the hiring manager, emailing the recruiter that you don't wish for them to represent you should do the trick. Make sure you put the recruiter on notice that you don't want them forwarding your resume.

If they have already forwarded your resume to one of your target companies, email the hiring manager and HR department to inform them that you are not working with this recruiter (this helps avoid the risk of conflicts for the hiring manager).

These are all questions that should be running through the job seekers' mind while trying to determine what kind of recruiter you want to work with.

Here are some of the basic types of recruiters:

1) Retained recruiter ...
2) Contingent fee recruiter ...
3) Splits recruiter or sourcer ...
4) Recruiter with no relationship ...

( Continued ... )

Article: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/06/is-your-recruiter-any-closer...
Source: http://recareered.blogspot.com

via secretsofthejobhunt.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

3 Traits of a True Careerealist : CAREEREALISM

By CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O’Donnell

I was at a party recently talking to a bunch of strangers. As usual, the subject turned to what each of us did for work. When I stated I ran a career advice blog, one attendee in his mid-30s and giving off a pretty serious vibe said, “Which one?” I gave the same response I’ve given for the last 18 months since launching the site, “It’s CAREEREALISM.com. It’s the word ‘career’ and ‘realism’ put together, but they share the ‘r’ in the middle.” Usually, people just nod at me and say, “Ohhh,” and the conversation moves on.

This time was different…

The guy suddenly broke into a huge grin and said, “Hey! I LOVE that site. I’ve been reading it for a while now. I’m a total Careerealist!”

I’m sorry…you’re a WHAT!?!?

I’m not going to lie, I was blown away. There are 20,000+ career sites in the world, and while we’ve been moving up the ranks in terms of visitors, I still see the site as a small, unknown community of passionate people who want to help one another find greater career satisfaction on their own terms. Yet, what shocked me even more was the way he referred to himself as a Careerealist. He actually identified himself as someone who felt part of our initiative to get people to take control of their careers. After that, he and I talked for a good twenty minutes about the site’s mission and the types of people it attracted as regular readers. Thanks to that conversation, I realized it was time to formally band together all of the smart, proactive Careerealists out there. We needed to give our loyal community a place of prominence on the site. Here’s why:

Careerealists all share 3 simple, yet vital traits for success.

After that clandestine meeting with a reader, I took the time to contemplate what defines a Careerealist. I came up with a list of more than fifty traits, but finally simplified it down to 3 core beliefs adopted by true Careerealists. We all:

1. Recognize and accept EVERY job is temporary.

2. View ourselves as businesses-of-one who need to always be developing an attractive personal brand we can market as needed.

3. Engage in career development activities, even when we are gainfully employed, by sharing our thoughts, reading up on the latest trends, and focusing on ways to stay employable long-term.

If you said, “That sounds like me,” when reading the above, then you are definitely a Careerealist! It also means we’d like you to join your peers and become recognized for your professional savvy.

STARTING TODAY…Share Your Thoughts & Get Recognized for Your Contributions

First, we’d like to invite you to post a comment below explaining why you feel you are a Careerealist. Tell us, and the rest of our readers, how you are embracing today’s career reality. You can:

A. Explain what you feel you are doing differently than others.

B. Share with us the ‘Ah-ha Moment’ that made you a Careerealist.

C. Provide your own thoughts on the traits exemplified by a true Careerealist.

Then, we encourage you to continue to comment regularly on our posts. Any time you have a thought or insight to share, we want to know about it. The more comments we get from Careerealists, the better the content gets on this site for all of our fellow readers. At the same time, we will be monitoring the comments. Each week, we’ll select a Careerealist who we feel is making an outstanding contribution to the group and showcase them in the Careerealist Corner – a program designed to highlight professionals who have the right attitude and approach to their careers. We’ll also give them a FREE life-time membership to our CAREEREALISM Club.

Plus, We’ll Help Improve Your Personal Brand On-line

One way to really advance your career is to be associated with on-line content that showcases you as a top-notch professional. If selected to be featured in the Careerealist Corner, you will automatically improve your credibility on-line. It will be a distinction you can add to your:

• Resume
• LinkedIn profile
• Twitter feed

Let’s Get Started…Comment NOW & Let Us Know Why You’re a True CAREEREALIST

We look forward to hearing from all our Careerealists and can’t wait to start showcasing you to the world. So, don’t wait, post your first comment below and tell us why you are a Careerealist!

via careerealism.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Five Mistakes Job Seekers Make on Their Resumes » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

I think I’m beginning to sound borderline preachy with my resume and cover letter advice.  But I also feel I have a duty to share with job seekers the blunders and mistakes they make that prevent them from getting the interview and ultimately the offer.  After ten years of working as a human resources manager and recruiter I’ve seen my fair share of job seeker mistakes.  So here’s my list of the five biggest mistakes job seekers make on their resumes.

MISTAKE #1: Outdated formatting

The first impression your resume gives is critical.  How do you want the hiring manager to perceive you?  Professional and accomplished?  Or sloppy and disorganized?  Old and outdated formats only reflect poorly on you as a viable candidate for the position.

MISTAKE #2: Using an objective

If your resume has an objective, please remove it.  That is an outdated practice that is no longer relevant in today’s job market.  Objectives will only land you in the “bland, just like everyone else” pile—not the “oh yeah, don’t let me forget to call them today” pile.

MISTAKE #3: Forgetting important keywords

Don’t forget to use industry specific keywords.  Also, make sure you know where to place them.  The top section of the resume is the best place because that’s where the hiring manager’s eyes will be drawn.  Short keywords are a great way to tell the employer about your expertise.

MISTAKE #4: Length and text density

Too long or too short and you’ve lost your hiring manager.  Keep paragraphs to 3-5 sentences—and the same goes for the number of bullets you use in your resume.  Why?  Any longer and you lose the audience in information overload—any shorter and you appear under qualified.

MISTAKE #5: Listing responsibilities instead of accomplishments

The hiring manager doesn’t want your resume to be an exact replica of the job ad.  He already knows what he needs.  What he needs to know is how you’re going to meet their needs.  Utilize statements that demonstrate your expertise and accomplishments in a given area.  Certainly there was a challenge you faced while working for your current or previous employers.  How did you address these challenges and what were the results?  The answers to these questions make for GREAT bullet points on a resume.

Are you making these five mistakes on your resume?  Submit your resume to info@greatresumesfast.com for a free resume analysis, or compare your resume to those designed by certified advanced resume writers at http://www.greatresumesfast.com.

via greatresumesfast.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Is it Time for a Shift in Your Work Strategy?

I am not the same worker I was last year. Too many things have happened in both my personal and professional lives that the strategies I had in the past are no longer working for me.

As we change over time, our work strategies have to be flexible enough to accommodate these changes. Your work strategy is your plan of attack, the arsenal that helps you get through each workday with as much efficiency and motivation as possible. Your work strategy may include tools, productivity techniques, work processes and other important elements that are vital to your job.

But how do you know when things need to change? Here are some symptoms you might want to check for:

• A change in your job description, regular tasks, or responsibilities. Were you promoted? Did you suddenly realize the importance of social media, leading you to spend more time on it? If you track your time once in a while it might be easier to spot these changes.
• Lowered productivity. What is your output like compared to last year’s? Don’t worry if your output has lessened (you spend more time on tasks than usual) if it’s been offset by an improvement in quality. However, be concerned if there’s no change in quality or if you find your overall performance declining.
• Your good ol’ motivators have a lesser effect. Whatever you use as motivation, whether it’s a snack after a difficult task or the thought of a job well done, gauge if it’s still as effective now as it was last year.
• New concerns. Long before you establish long term goals, they are born at the back of your mind as “concerns” — little things that you ponder often but haven’t recognized as something that requires more action. This could be a new niche you want to get into, or a new skill you want to learn. Or you could be thinking about family and friends more often, not yet recognizing the need to socialize more with them. If you find a recurring thought at the back of your mind, it’s time to pay attention.
• Thirst for experimentation. From trying out a standing work station to hiring a virtual assistant, it doesn’t hurt to explore and experiment with new ways of working — even if you think you’re already doing well. As long as it’s not too disruptive to your current routine, of course.

Unsurprisingly, I find that I’m experiencing many of these things as I evaluate my performance from the first half of the year. This means it’s probably time for me to go back to the drawing board, experiment — as well as carry over the things from my routine that are still working for me today. It may take effort, but we all have to change and adapt.

How often do you evaluate your performance during the year? Do you find yourself changing your work strategy regularly?

Photo by stock.xchng user bury-osiol

via webworkerdaily.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

She Succeeds with Two-Column Cover Letter and Wonders about Follow-up - The Career Doctor Blog

Anna writes:

I just wanted to say a big thank you for creating such a brilliant website. I don’t know what I would do without it — it’s my source.

I’ve been sending out cover letters which (at the time) I thought were very good, but I then came across a job ad where they said they are expecting high volumes of responses. It was a job where I didn’t have the exact experience they required so I thought I would change tactics and try out your 2-column dynamic cover letter and see whether I would get offered an interview.

Well, I DID and as soon as I sat for the interview, the first thing he said was that he was very impressed by my cover letter and that all the information was in front of him easy to read.

Quick question for you. I just had the interview yesterday… how soon should I follow-up?

---

The Career Doctor responds:

Our mission in everything we do at Quintessential Careers — including this blog — is to empower job-seekers like you and help you succeed, and I am so happy that you were able to use the information on our site to help obtain the interview.

So many job-seekers seem to think that most of the work is done once they get the interview — and I guess I see the logic of that because so much focus is put on obtaining the interview — but really the interview is just an interim step because your goal should be the job offer.

Did you send a thank-you note? A short note thanking the interviewer and reminding him/her of your key selling point is your first line of follow-up, and should be completed as soon as possible after the interview.

Your next follow-up partly depends on the information you received at the interview. If the company is close to making a final decision, then I would follow-up sooner than later. Typically, job-seekers should follow-up once a week by politely contacting the hiring manager and expressing your continued interest in the position and the company.

via careerdoctor.org

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