Top Ten Networking Books - Career blog - Position Ignition - taking you to the next step in your career

Even the most confident, social and outgoing among us may find the prospect of both personal and professional networking daunting at times. From an early age we’re taught “don’t talk to strangers” but when we grow up, we suddenly find ourselves thrust into situations, be it at parties or business events, where we’re expected to initiate conversation with random individuals who we’ve never seen before, don’t know and have nothing to do with. Not only that, but we’re expected to get tangible results out of such encounters. Be it our matchmaking friend or our sales manager, they expect you to leave that party or conference with a date or a business card.

The issue here is that networking, as well as being a social skill, also counts as a career skill and the majority of us have had no formal career (or social) skills training. However, building up such skills can be an essential part of building your career, so it’s worth investing time in yourself to learn these skills. Good, old-fashioned, paper-not-digital books are one of a number of ways to start self-training. Here are ten of the most rated books on networking; a good mixture of classics and newer titles.

Click: Ten Truths for Building Extraordinary Relationships George Fraser

If even the word ‘networking’ fills you with dread and you just find the whole concept too contrived, this book is for you. In it, George Fraser explains he prefers the term ‘connecting’ to ‘networking’ and encourages us to be sincere. It’s not wishy-washy vagueness though-each chapter is packed with practical, ‘takeaway’ advice.

Networking like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections Ivan Misner

On the theme of ‘connecting’, [have you ever felt like you’re just amassing contacts without forging any type of close connection with them?] This book shows you how to resolve this by breaking down a number of networking techniques, illustrated by real life examples.

Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships that Last Lillian D. Bjorseth

Here’s another book focusing on the long-term nurturing of your network. It guides you through the process from meeting new people to establishing them as close and valued contacts within your inner circle. Like many of our Career Guides, Bjorseth has corporate experience herself, so she knows what she’s talking about.

The Networking Survival Guide: Get the Success you want by tapping into the People you Know Diane Darling

At Position Ignition we believe in not ignoring your existing contacts but instead finding out what you can do for them and what they can do for you by getting to know them properly. This book echoes these values, although it also explains how to strike up conversations with new people and how to network anywhere-even on planes!

Networking for Career Success: 24 Lessons for Getting to Know the Right People Diane Darling 

Although this is by the same author, it has a slightly different objective in that it focuses more on getting to know new people than getting closer to the ones you know. Just as valid a lesson-if we never got to know anyone new, we’d never have anyone to get closer to!

Make your Contacts Count: Networking Know-How for Business and Career Success Anne Baber & Lynne Waymon 

This is as interactive as a traditional book can get, with various quizzes, assessments and step-by-step plans to guide the reader through all the stages of professional networking relationships. A useful read for all, from entrepreneurs to job seekers.

Highly Effective Networking: Meet the Right People and get a Great Job Orville Pierson 

Networking as part of our job search is certainly useful, but a haphazard, confused approach can render it counterproductive. This book helps untangle matters by laying out the steps for a straightforward, targeted approach. Pierson is also honest about the time and perseverance required to get the job we really want.

The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep it Going, Build Networking Skills-and Leave a Positive Impression! Debra Fine

What about books for those of us who aren’t even comfortable with starting a conversation when it comes to networking? This one starts right from the start, even providing a list of icebreakers. There’s an accompanying cassette so all in all it’s a varied learning experience!

Savvy Networking: 118 Fast & Effective Tips for Business Success Andrea Nierenberg

This is ideal if you don’t have much spare time for reading, or if you don’t enjoy reading long passages! The advice for business networkers is broken down into takeaway tips, flavoured with some real-life illustrations for variation.

How to Win Friends and Influence People Dale Carnegie 

This well known classic from the 1930s is still relevant to networkers today. Networking is not only about meeting people and getting to know them, but also about treating people in the right way. Chapters like ‘Six ways to make people like you’ may sound a bit ‘high school’ and clumsy but that doesn’t totally invalidate the sentiments behind them. Let’s face it, if someone doesn’t like you, they’re not going to help you, no matter how good a networker you are.

It seems there’s a networking book out there for all of us, no matter what stage of our career-or career transition-we’re at. Books are just one useful tool in building up skills like networking. Try asking friends about their own experiences, seeking out specific training and, of course, getting out there and trying out these books’ tips for yourself. Practice makes perfect!

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Are You Headed for Termination? | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

Ever been fired and it was a complete surprise? If you have, it shouldn’t have been. You missed the cues. Whether you created it or the company decided it, you lost control of your career. Frequently those two are intertwined, and if you don’t dissect the experience, you may recreate it.

A Gallup poll found that 77% of Americans hate their jobs. After 20 years as a recruiter, I don’t find that surprising because most people, before they begin their job hunt, don’t do the examination to learn what their perfect job is. Instead of defining, actively seeking, and then choosing their next employer, they allow themselves to be chosen. So it’s no wonder that after a few years -- or sooner – disillusion and distaste set in. This, combined with fear of change, creates what they wanted: to be outta that lousy place. In other words, if you don’t tune in, you’ll tune out, and then you’ll be gone.

Do you dread Monday mornings? Do you frequently disappear into your office grumbling about your stupid boss, how you hate your job and have another whole week to get through? If you’ve lost respect and enthusiasm for your company, your attitude is going downhill fast. Next you don’t care about your performance and you start slacking, rationalizing with “I don’t care.” Because you don’t. You start doing the minimum just to get by.

If you don’t notice what’s happening, over time, your company will. So the constant refrain of “I hate my job” - sung to anyone who will listen - is where bells should start going off. If the fun has stopped, it’s time to act. And if you change jobs, you need to go to a new job, not away from your old one. When your attitude is sour and you’re desperate to leave, you lose your objectivity and jump, and risk going from the frying pan into the fire. Desperation does not breed objectivity.

Shortly after the quality of your work has dropped, you’re called into your boss’s office for a chat about your recent performance. If you’ve done some introspection and realized what’s taking place, you may wisely choose to have a heart to heart: you need more challenge or there’s an aspect of your job that’s been giving you difficulty. Maybe you’re having family or personal problems that are siphoning off your mental energy. But if all you do is listen, leave, and silently attack him, your days are numbered.

It happens over months, not weeks. Your attitude gradually exacerbates your situation causing you to continue the downward spiral. Management becomes terse with you. Casual conversation ceases, and their smiles are fewer. The new project that should have gone to you is given to someone else or your bonus is withdrawn. Your boss seems nitpicky. Maybe you’ve become invisible. You’re stressed, and it’s affecting your life outside of work, which in turn, you’re bringing back into the office with you.

Any scenario can contribute to this: you’ve outgrown your job, you’re tired of the commute, you feel underpaid, management has changed and philosophies of work differ, or you’ve become tired of the existing management style – who knows what the reason is, but you’d better figure it out and decide what steps you’re going to take to rectify the situation before it’s decided for you.

There are millions of people who hate their jobs, miserably schlepping through the day, in denial about the road they’re on and ignoring their power to change it. How do they miss this? Not everyone does. If it doesn’t compromise your performance and you hide your distaste from those who work there, the only repercussions are to your health for lying to yourself and your fellow employees.

What keeps people from changing is usually fear of change. Change is an anathema to most people, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.” What if you change jobs and the new one is worse? What if you’re more unhappy than you are now?

Finding your perfect job means taking control of your career. That means being aware of what you’re creating. When you’re aware, you can discover why you feel that way and what steps you want to take to eliminate it. In addition to that, you avoid actualizing those “next job” fears. But if you hate your job, ignore the signs, and stuff everything, all you’re creating is sudden unemployment and a lousy next job.

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Guest Expert:

Judi Perkins, 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 http://www.findtheperfectjob.com/

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Use the Internet to Find a Job – Part 3: Marketing You | CareerAlley

“An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault.“  William Castle

Author Byline: Matthew Warzel

Author Website: http://www.mjwcareers.com

Here is a list of the ways to market you on the Internet. We discuss each topic in more detail throughout this handout.

• Setting up profiles on company portals and job boards to showcase your resume and skills.

• Creating a personal resume website that is tailored towards your skills and resume. Although it can be expensive, the chances on being found increase due to the Internet being used a main search tool for recruiters. Post projects you have worked on and a portfolio of your services you can offer to a prospective employer.

• Posting your availability as a job seeker and a brief summary to free classified-based websites including Craigslist, MySpace and Backpage.

• Joining social networking sites including LinkedIn and Facebook. Set up profiles/blogs on those sites and post your resume and credentials, divulge industry knowledge, share activities you are engaged in, provide your own networking tips or tips on advancing in a given career.

• Starting a blog on well-known sites such as Twitter, Blogger, TypePad or WordPress to share your professional knowledge and get information from other bloggers. This lets you be proactive, forward-thinking and draws people to you.

• Joining discussion groups on social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Myspace, Yahoo Groups and Google Groups to create an Internet presence that you can use to market yourself. Discussion and networking groups exist for different industries, companies, interests, etc.

• Making connections (building your network) on these networking sites. Get advice and give advice. Search company names, co-workers, etc. to see with whom you have connections.

Personal Resume Website and Blog

You may also consider creating your own website for your skills and resume. Although it can be expensive, the chances on being found increase due to the Internet being used a main search tool for recruiters. Post projects you have worked on, and a portfolio of the services you can offer to a prospective employer. When sending out emails, include a link to your personal marketing website; it makes you stand out from everyone else as someone who is serious about their job search!

A personal Website is one of the best ways to promote and let the world read all about the benefits of your career brand. Your portfolio should include all important brand artifacts: resume(s), mission statement, detailed accomplishments list, samples of work, articles and working papers, speech transcripts, awards and honors, testimonials, and more.

Even better, publish content-rich articles, and other keyword-rich materials that lead prospective employers looking for someone with your qualifications directly to your site.

If you are a decent writer and can commit to writing regularly, creating a professional blog is a great tool for building your career brand. A blog is a specialized Website that focuses on a particular subject (person, industry, profession) that can include news, analysis, commentary, and links in a variety of formats (including print, audio, images, and video). Your blog showcases your expertise and knowledge of your industry or profession and is an excellent way to build your career brand. In your professional blog (or anywhere a hiring manager might see) never mention anything about sex, religion or politics. This handout talks more about blogs, including Twitter, later on.

Setting Up Your Website in 5 Easy Steps

1. Create a www.godaddy.com account.
2. Search domain names via the domain search tool. (We suggest using your name and try to stick with a “.com” or “.net” domain). Once you have established an exclusive domain, click Add and Proceed to Checkout.
3. Upon approval and receipt, go back to the GoDaddy homepage (make sure you are still logged in) and select Website Tonight under “My Products”. (If you cannot see the Website Tonight button, click Show All of My Products and it is listed there.)
4. In the Website Tonight section, click Use Credit in the yellow box. On the right-hand side, select your website and click Continue. It guides you through the remainder of the process.
5. Once you have a Website Tonight domain established, go back into the Website Tonight section and check the box next to your domain and click Launch. It guides you through a tutorial step-by-step process on developing your website.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Good luck in your search.

via careeralley.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

You Can’t Trademark Your Name...But You Can Buy It In Google | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

You have probably seen the recent viral video about the guy who bought the names of some top New York ad executives in Google to help land his dream job…and it worked! Watch the video here .

This brings up an interesting dilemma for individuals who want to be found in Google. Unlike companies and businesses, individuals rarely have unique names. And there are few legal guidelines to help protect individuals in this area. You don’t get to trademark your name.

Companies on the other hand have websites that detail all of their information, products and services. They issue news releases and publish other content to make sure they have information that can be easily found. When a company is launching a new ad campaign or a new product, or just wants to show up on the first page of Google, it’s pretty easy for them to buy their way into the top of the search results. They use tools like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) to manipulate their search results in their favor. And because companies have websites with all of their information, they can buy the necessary search terms and link the searcher back to their home pages or product pages to learn more.

For individuals, it’s not so easy. We still need to control our search results to make a strong impression and validate our credentials. Most of us, however, don’t have a good online destination that highlights everything we want others to see. And SEO can be expensive for an individual to pay for. But there is a clever solution. If you’re starting a new job search, or have an occupation where it is important that your search results can be found easily in Google, there is a simple and affordable trick to put yourself at the top of the results every time: just buy your name.

But where do you take the person who clicks your link to give them the most value? When people Google you, they want to see your search results in Google, of course. From there they can find your LinkedIn page, Twitter feed, Facebook profile, blog postings, etc., etc. In many respects, your personalized search results are the perfect destination. How do you get people to your personalized search results? The Vizibility service makes that a snap. And now we are beta testing a new service scheduled for release in the Fall where we’ll help you buy your name in Google Adwords and link anyone searching for you right to your personalized Google results. We’ll even send you an email or text message when someone searches for you!

So far the test results have been illuminating. In June, my name was typed into Google 1,368 times (I Google myself a lot but not that much!). My ‘ad’ had 29 clicks, a 2.12% click through rate. The ad was typically in the first or second position.

If you are interested in participating as a beta tester, please contact us at info@vizibility.com. You’ll need your free Vizibility SearchMe link to get started, which you can get at http://vizibility.com/.

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Guest Expert:

James Alexander is the founder and CEO of Vizibility. A serial technology entrepreneur, James has been involved with Internet search since starting eWatch in 1995.

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.

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.

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.

Google James at http://vizibility.com/james.

 

 

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

“Know and Trust” vs. Networking | I'm On LinkedIn - Now What???

I have a beef with one of the perceived policies with LinkedIn.

Supposedly I’m only supposed to connect with people I “know and trust.”

Both of these words can mean different things to different people – not even going to go there.  Maybe Bill Clinton can weigh in on what “know” and “trust” mean.

Let’s just assume it means that I shouldn’t connect unless I have some kind of relationship, and the relationship has some mutual element to it (they “know and trust” me).

So here’s my beef: if I go to a networking event and meet someone for the very first time, I don’t quite know them yet, and I certainly don’t have any reason to trust (or not trust) them.

I’m not allowed to connect with them on LinkedIn?  WHY NOT?

How do we get to a point where we can say we know and trust them?

The relationship has to start somewhere (that initial meeting, usually).  The relationship nurturing continues with further ocmmunication…. lunch, phone calls, email, sending one another news clippings, etc.

At what point can I invite this person to connect in LinkedIn?

MY ANSWER IS: whenever I want.  Because I use LinkedIn to HELP me with the relationship nurturing.

I use it as a communication tool.

I think it’s naive to think that we wouldn’t use LinkedIn as…. this seems silly to even write…. as a NETWORKING TOOL.

Of course, this is just my opinion… what do you think?  Is it okay to use LinkedIn at an early stage in a relationship, or is it something that should be saved until later?

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Marketing Headhunter.com: JOB SEARCH TIPS: "Man Lands Job for $6"

BOSTON, MA - Copywriting master, Alan Rosenspan, devoted an entire newsletter to finding a job in this difficult economy, but this story is really amazing. According to Alan, ...

"Alec Brownstein is a copywriter who wanted to gain the attention of five Creative Directors in different advertising agencies. He could have sent them samples. He could have sent his resume or a clever cover letter. But Bronstein was much more creative than that.

So he used Google – and it cost him a grand total of six dollars. Brownstein bought ads on the names of the five creative directors he wanted to work for on Google. Since these are very lightly trafficked pages, the ads cost him as little as 15 cents each.

Whenever someone Googled one of the creative directors' names, a personal message appeared at the top of the page: "Hey, [creative director's name]: Googling yourself is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun, too"

The ad also included a link to Brownstein’s website. Brownstein knew that these creative directors would Google themselves sooner or later - and then they’d see his name and ad.

Within two months, he got phone calls from four out of five of the directors - and two job offers!  Today, he is a Senior Copywriter at the Young & Rubicam (Y&R) agency in New York."

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

TheWiseJobSearch: Filling out job applications… Why and How?

In an age of online application processes, and emailed resumes, why do so many companies still have you fill out a paper job application when you arrive for an interview or before they make you an offer?

You would think they have all the information they need from you already, why is it necessary to have you fill out the paper form?

Is it necessary to duplicate everything on your resume onto the application? What exactly, are you signing?

These are common questions I get. The process of completing and returning the application to the potential employer can have consequences in your job search. Here are some things to consider when it’s presented to you:

They want your signature, EEOC information, and references. The primary reasons employers have candidates fill out an application in the hiring process is to get information that isn’t normally presented with a resume. Typically, an application includes fine print that states you are giving them permission to do a background check, including criminal checks, credit checks, drug tests, and reference checks. By signing the application, you are stating your approval.

Secondly, an application typically includes a section or a separate form that asks your race, sex, and other demographic information. Most companies are legally required to report the numbers of applicants by demographics and so they gather this for those statistical purposes. You are not required to fill this out, however, companies have strict rules as to how that information can be handled, so you can be assured it’s not used in the decision making process.

The application usually asks for references along with contact information to reach them.

Finally, the fine print also usually states that the information you’ve provided is true. The application often asks for prior convictions, dates of prior employment, titles, education, prior salaries, etc. Should it be found later that the information you’ve provided is false, it provides the company stronger legal ground to fire you.

These are the reasons you’re asked to submit the application… so how should you handle it?

Provide information selectively. In most cases, you will find that the employer does not have an objection if you ask to exclude, or delay, providing some of the information. The prior conviction information, signature to testify to the truth of the information you’ve provided and giving them permission for the background checks is generally not negotiable. They will likely require that from you and it will raise “red flags” if you decline.

However, they will often allow you to simply attach your resume and not require you to fill in all the job history information. The EEOC information is always your choice. And if you explain that you are happy to provide reference information at the time of a pending offer but would like to protect your references beforehand, you will generally find the employer agreeable to those terms. Certainly there may be exceptions, however, most employers tend to be flexible on those items.

Generally less information is to your advantage, but be smart! Not providing your prior salary, and reference information until further down the road is better for you in the hiring process. It enables you to be more in control. While I recommend you delay providing that kind of information early in the process, I would also caution against creating an adversarial relationship that might harm your chances of being considered further. There is no harm in asking if it would be OK to provide that information later. However, if the response is that they want it now, it only creates antagonism for you to object further. Use good judgment in deciding how far to push your objections.

Even in this age of computerized processing, it is very common for an employer to ask for a paper application. Consider the reasons, your objectives in the process, and be wise!

via thewisejobsearch.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal