It’s Called Personal Building, Not Clone Building | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

By now, mostly everyone is well-aware of how important social media is. With the successes of Facebook and Twitter, others are now trying to get pieces of this pie. Though in the next couple years there’ll surely be lots of networking sites, it’s important to know the right ones to use in the process of personal building and how to stand out.

Pick and Choose

Just because there are about a million and two different networking sites, doesn’t mean you have to use them all. The most important and frequently-used sites are Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. They’re already well-established and have served as strong connecting platforms on numerous occasions. Many of the new ones popping up are just mirror images of those.

Amazon’s newly patented social media system has basically the same idea as Facebook, and it seems strange to think of Amazon outside of a shopping site. If you already have and make use of a Facebook account, there’s no need to invest valuable time in Amazon’s new Facebook look-alike. Even though it is a smart move for expanding their brand, it may not have much utility. When in the midst of personal building, it’s important to think about not only promoting yourself positively, but also using the right tools to do so.

Take Amazon as an Example of What NOT to Do

The personal building process is important. You need to find people who can really get behind you, engage yourself in conversations as much as possible, and connect with those who use these sites for the same reason as you. Though Amazon realizes that these social networking sites have good things going for them and would like to get in on the party, you should never simply follow in the footsteps of everyone else.

Don’t just retweet all the business leaders you follow and expect them to really care. Retweeting shows you find what they post interesting and that you care about what they do and the things they care about, yet it doesn’t show much about YOU. Personal building, emphasis on personal, is all about putting yourself out there and developing who you are for your personal brand in the chaotic “real world.”

America’s Next Top Employee

Personal building is an essential piece in creating your personal brand. If you establish yourself as unoriginal or just the same old person who wants the coveted open position, you have no real edge over your competition. You need to make a name for yourself online and in the real world. There’s no need to rely on others’ online postings or the work they’ve done in the office. Have your own voice and work ethic to speak for. Take your parents’ advice from way back when: be your own person. Though you won’t necessarily be everyone’s cup of tea, at least you’ll know you put your best effort in and you’re being true to you. Anything is better than being a carbon copy of the person next to you..who’s probably pretty boring anyways.

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Like Diamonds, Comments Are Forever | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting this week about social media comments and conversations. I’m always surprised by what people actually say on the Internet via blog comments.

Sometimes they are hurtful, malicious, angry, and just plain ridiculous. Other comments are inspirational, encouraging, relevant, and fun. All Internet activity is trackable, searchable, and findable. It’s out there on the world wide web. I’m working hard to conduct a personal social media gut check when posting on the internet.

 

• Face Value. Would you say this comment to a person’s face? How would they react and would you be able to go to bed a night feeling you did what was right?

• The Mom Meter. Pretty easy to see where I am going with this. Would your mom be proud if this kind of comment, message, or voicemail was publicized with your name attached to it? If Mom wouldn’t approve, leave it out.

• Strategy. Does leaving your digital footprint on this website, social media account, or blog align with your own business or personal strategy? Do you have a strategy or does it speak to who you are as an individual, mother, son, daughter, or father?

As a Girl Scout, I was always told to leave the camp site better than you found it. I believe your social media comments should be no different. In these digital times, online comments and conversations don’t go away, so you should be aiming to help, not hinder. Be honest, be open, and be you, but remember–like diamonds, comments are forever.

And if you would, I encourage you to please check out my intern, Blake McCammon’s blog post and consider this very post when reading, A Brief History of Gen Y.

Photo Credit Lisburn City.

Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR is known as @Blogging4Jobs on Twitter, is a published author of “Tweet This! Twitter for Business” and  is a leading HR blogger and new media strategist.  Jessica is a subject matter expert and provides insights in the areas of  HR, recruiting, and new media consultancy with her company, Xceptional HR.  Her newest project isTexting4Jobs, a text based job board platform recently launched in Oklahoma.

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5 Ways To Reduce The Risk In You

Many of us are risk takers.  We look for opportunities in life to try something new.  To test the boundaries.

There is a thrill that comes with risk.  A feeling that you are allowing yourself to experience a fuller life.

If this describes you.  If you can imagine yourself sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon like those above.  Then you fit this profile.

But don’t expect a hiring manager to be like you.

There are not in the risk taking business.  Especially during a tough economy.

Risk aversion is the driver for software purchases that help companies calculate fit.  It’s why behavioral interviewing is more and more common.  It costs a lot of money to hire someone.

And even more money to make a change and re-hire someone new.

So pay attention to this:

What kind of a risk do you represent to an executive recruiter, HR person or hiring manager?  Are they testing the limits by spending time on your candidacy?  Will they be criticized for pushing you through the process?

Here are the five ways to reduce risk . . .

1.  Be honest – Your resume, LinkedIn profile, elevator pitch, etc all must correctly state your qualifications, experience, strengths and accomplishments.  While these are admittedly all marketing documents, they are not places to fabricate a better you.  I believe you should not fudge anything on a resume.  It will come back to bite you.  And anyone who has promoted you to their friends , co-workers or fellow executives will feel the bite as well.

2.  Network like crazy – I know many are feeling a bit of networking burnout these days.  Sometimes it feels like a long run for a short slide.  But one big way to reduce risk is to get a third party endorsement from someone trusted by the decision maker or gatekeeper.  Especially if you are not a perfect fit for the job skills.  Or if you have light industry experience for the job.  Unless someone hits the hiring manager or recruiter with a 2×4 named “your name”, your resume may get a life of less than 5 seconds.  Before being quietly disposed.

3.  Be Social Media Savvy – Let people find you online in advance of or during the process.  Create a full Linkedin profile with a nice picture, well-written career summary, strong set of key strengths and a minimum of 10 recommendations (good ones from a variety of people in your past).  If you are on Twitter and Facebook, make your presence count.  Become a person of influence within your industry.

4.  Apply for the right jobs - I’ve said it before.  If you are not qualified for the job, don’t apply.  Or at least don’t do it the traditional way.  Because you just throw a wrench in the system for everyone else.  Of course this advice is not universal.  And I don’t want you to feel totally constrained.  But when I see a candidate who is completely unqualified resting in the stack of paper.  Not only do I see significant risk.  I see a lack of thought.  However, when your resume shows up in the right pile and I can clearly see a match, the risk falls away.

5.  Interview with confidence and smarts – Job seekers come in all shapes and sizes.  And in variety of temperaments.  I recently wrote about some job seeker interview styles that scream risk.  Did you see yourself in any of those styles?  Your ability to send the right signals in the first 5 minutes of an interview allows an interviewer the opportunity to relax, listen and begin to imagine you contributing to their team.

Now, after you read this article, take out a piece of paper.  On the top of the page, write:  “The Risks In Me” at the top of the page.  Below that, identify five things that make you a risky hire for the most recent position you’ve applied for.  Or one for which you are planning to apply.  And then use my five suggested ways to see if you can reduce the risk in you.

And make your candidacy one that someone can push with confidence.  Since you have made it easier for them to do so.

What are your ideas to reduce risk?  How can a job seeker make their resume or pitch one that is easy to like and endorse?

I’d love to hear from you!

Photo Credit

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

The Surprising Truths About Motivation - Career blog - Position Ignition - taking you to the next step in your career

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Succeeding in the New Economy Starts with Values - Secrets of the Job Hunt Career Podcast

As I mentioned in my last blog post, any good career plan starts with introspection. You have to know yourself, before you can effectively pick a direction, market yourself, and get back on track. As a coach trained in the field of organizational psychology, I am a big believer in introspection as a starting point. All too often, I come across transitioning professionals who have jumped out ahead of themselves only to outrun their coverage. If you want to stand out from the herd, you are going to have to be thoughtful and deliberate in your actions. This requires knowing yourself first.

When it comes to knowing yourself, you have to start with values. The values you espouse are vital to the choices you make and ultimately dictate the way you live. Values can be thought of as the principals you hold near and dear. Your values are the code you live by. They are the rules you follow and the ethics you adhere to when dealing with others.

The following is an excerpt from my new book The YOU Plan:

“Who you are drives how you work, play, live, and ultimately shine. Your experiences, upbringing, and culture have acted to shape the person you have become and the values you espouse. The values you espouse ultimately influence the decisions you make and the path you choose to follow. Your values are the lens you view the world through… There is no doubt that our personal values play a critical role in the choices we make and the careers we pursue. Yet, the unfortunate reality is that most of us can’t articulate our values. Often this leads us to making bad decisions. These bad decisions tend to land us on career paths that aren’t truly fulfilling and sometimes, even toxic.”

When resetting your career focus and re-engaging in your career journey, you have to be mindful of how your values play into your decisions. Every organization has its own unique culture driven by a set of core values. It’s up to you to understand what these values are and determine how well they match with yours. However, before you can do this you must be sure to have a good handle on your values.

So, how do you assess your values? Doing a quick web search for values checklists will provide a lot of results. The following are some on-line values assessments:

http://www.career-test.biz/values_assessment.htm

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/Career-Assessment/Work-Values-Check-List/article.aspx

The key to using any adjective checklist effectively is taking the time to narrow down your values to your top five. This is a much tougher challenge than it seems because it requires making tough choices. Whenever I have taken groups through values exercises they always struggle with this, so take your time.

Regardless of the checklist you use, you really need to ask yourself if the values you chose are really yours. A good way to test whether or not you truly value something is to ask yourself the following questions:

· Are you willing to fight for it?

· Are you willing to sacrifice for it?

· Are you willing to pay for?

Any good career plan starts with introspection. A critical component to the introspective process is assessing values. Keep in mind, values are a major driver in decision making. We are in uncertain times and successfully navigating these times will require using your values as a compass. When it comes to stepping back and creating a YOU Plan, be sure to start with assessing your values.

Good luck,

Dr. Woody (www.DrWoody.com)

Dr. Woody is the author of the new book The You Plan: A 5-step Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy – www.TheYouPlan.com

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Climbing the Ladder Tips & Career Advice by Career Expert Andy Robinson : CAREEREALISM

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Andy Robinson

It’s Friday(!), and as the week comes to a close (for most of us), I wanted to share a set of habits that have become an end-of-the-week routine for me. This routine has been key to ending my week on a positive note and “teeing up” a great start to the following week for me.

Consider these three weekly habits each Friday before leaving the office or your place of work for the weekend:

Habit 1

Reach out with a quick email or (better yet) a short thank you note expressing gratitude for those that went out of their way to help you this week. This is literally a 10 minute exercise that has powerful results. You’ll feel great in expressing thanks and the recipient will receive a nice message to end the week on. Who went out of their way to help you this week?

Habit 2

Make note of what you believe were your three greatest accomplishments over the past week. Embrace the sense of satisfaction and positive emotion associated with getting these important things done. Interrelate this Habit with Habit 1 noted above – was there anyone who contributed significantly to your three greatest achievements?  ollow up or reach out to those people with a word of thanks.

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Habit 3

What are your three most important goals for next week? Do you have sufficient time set aside to accomplish those goals? Who do you need to solicit for help (go ahead and reach out and confirm their participation before you end this week)? What is the VERY NEXT ACTION associated with each of those goals, and do you have that task clearly identified on your calendar or task list with a due date?

Give these habits a try and add others that are relevant to your situation. The message here is to begin a weekly routine that will help you end the week in a positive way and help you get clarity on the most important things for next week.

Did you enjoy this article? Read more articles by this expert here.

CAREEREALISM Expert, Andy Robinson is an Executive Career Coach, Career Success Radio Show Host, Personal Branding Strategist, Consultant, and Speaker. He helps his clients love what they do for a living and achieve lasting career success. He is a 15 year executive coaching veteran and works with coaching clients nationwide. Previous experience includes over 10 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers as a consulting director and human resources specialist. Connect with him on LinkedIn: www.AndyOnLinkedIn.com, Twitter: www.AndyOnTwitter.com and visit his blog site at www.AndyRobinsonCoach.com.

The photo for this article is provided by Shutterstock.

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Jobs in the Fast Lane | CareerAlley

“Life in the fast lane Surely make you lose your mind” -  The Eagles

If you’ve been working for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve had the thought “How did I wind up in this job?”. Not all of us wind up where we had planned at the beginning of our careers. And, if you are reading this article, then you are probably contemplating your next move or hoping to land a job if you are out of work. It is never too late to re-think your career, but if you are going to take the plunge and completely change what you are doing, you really need to be prepared. There are degrees of commitment to changing careers. Maybe you don’t want to switch from being a concert promoter to a Monk, but even if you just want to change slightly you should do your homework.  Today’s post focuses on finding the best jobs.

• 10 Steps to a Successful Career Change – The first thing you will want to do if you are making a career change is to make a plan. This article, from About.com, provides (you guessed it) 10 steps that you should consider before you make that change. From “Evaluate your current job satisfaction” to “Consider alternative roles”, the article provides some basic tips on where to start and what to consider. There are related articles on career change at the bottom of the page that are also worth a read.

• High Paying Careers – Now I don’t want to say that you are just in it for the money, but we all have to eat and why not eat well? While money shouldn’t drive your choice of career, it is certainly a consideration for most of us. This article, from money-zine.com, provides a whole bunch of lists with the career choice and average salary. The article shows a few lists like the “top 10″ and “Highest Paying Jobs in IT”. What about your current job? Don’t forget to take a look at Worth Your Weight in Gold? Know Your Bottom Line and “You Want to Pay me What?“.

• The Ten Worst Jobs in America – Your quest for a new career is not complete if you don’t take a look at the worst jobs as well. Now everything is relative (as Paul Simon would say “One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor”), so while you may have a different view, you should still take a look at this list (and apologies if your job is on the list). CNBC.com provides this list, which is a series of pictures with brief descriptions of what make these the worst jobs.

• The Ten Best Jobs in America 2010 – I’m sure you knew where this was headed and I couldn’t simply list the worst without listing the best as well. As luck would have it, CNBC.com also has a list of the best jobs (in the same format as the worst jobs). An interesting list, as as you would expect, Health Care and Accountants appear on the list. Now one that really surprised me was Historian. In addition to brief overviews, the article also provides the median salary.

• 10 Tips to Fast Track Your Career – Can’t end the post without the “fast track” part. This list is provided by Careerrocketeer.com and provides some advise on how you can move to the top of the heap by following some time tested advise. From “build and manage your network lovingly” to “Create a powerful brand online”, this article is worth a read. While you are there, don’t forget to view some of the other career related aspects of the site. Featured article links are on the right hand side of the page and related articles are at the bottom of the page. Also take a look at the Rocket List, which provides links to related sites.

Good luck in your search.

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal