Some days I look through old posts, reminding myself of posts that I've written that I like and that I should link to. Often, this process serves to let me procrastinate writing while pretending to be engaged in writing. If I were a body builder, this would be me looking in the mirror instead of lifting weights. Yesterday I was trolling for posts, and I remembered this one, about hiring a babysitter. I never link to it because I can't read it. I get physically ill. It was a short, stinging moment during an absolutely terrible time in my life. But a part of me likes that sting.
Selected by careersherpa
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Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist
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This is what it looks like to have a hard time making a change
19 Nov 2009 | 10:28 pm -
How to know if you'll be good at sales
19 Nov 2009 | 10:39 amIt’s clear to me that emotional intelligence is the most important skill for success in adult life. And the consummate career application of emotional intelligence is the sales department. So I’m fascinated by sales. I used to think I’m not that good at sales. For example, I’m an open book—I have very little ability to bluff or play my hand close to my—actually, what is that expression? I don’t even know the expression. But then, when I told one of my mentors that I’m not good at sales, he said, “Of course you’re good at sales. You’ve gotten three companies… -
What makes a blog successful?
17 Nov 2009 | 6:10 amI have always thought that blogging is a way to reach your career goals. It’s hard to write a blog if you don’t have a goal. You need to know what blogging success looks like to you, so you know what you're aiming for. Like most goals in life, my definition of blogging success has shifted as the circumstances of my life have shifted. 1. Post regularly without messing anything up. My first goal was simply to understand how to get my writing onto the Internet. All the buzzwords overwhelmed me: feeds, trackbacks, SEO. I understood none of it, and it took weeks to get up the nerve to… -
Don't be a snob about career advice
16 Nov 2009 | 7:53 amI have found that the best way to manage myself is by asking for a lot of help. The question is, how do you know who to take advice from? The answer is not always intuitive. For example, you'd think that if Bill Gates wants to give you career advice, you should take it, right? I mean, the guy’s had a pretty decent career. The problem is that if he doesn’t care about your career, he’s going to give you generic advice. Here are five other counter-intuitive principles I have used to figure out who to listen to when it comes to my own career: Listen to people who hate you. People ask… -
How to make business travel manageable
11 Nov 2009 | 9:29 pmLast year I traveled almost every week. Some weeks I traveled to three different cities. If you are excited about business travel, thinking it’s a free ticket to see the world, you should stop reading now. But if you are having trouble maintaining your personal life in the face of tons of travel, these tips from a cynical traveler will make life easier for you. 1. Stick with your priorities. When people travel to another city, why do they throw out their to do list for sightseeing in random museums? If you have on your top three things you want in life: go to the gym, stay in touch with…
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What Would Dad Say
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How To Think Like the Geezer Bandit
19 Nov 2009 | 4:25 amThe Rule of Three. First, I found and noted the success of @ShitMyDadSays, the now-famous Twitter account of young Justin Halpert, who writes about s$#% his dad Samuel, 73, says. Second, I copied hitchhiked on Nick Bate’s idea of How To Think Like a… series, with some added fun. Third, this morning, I see that San Diego’s banks have been ripped off by the…drumroll, Geezer Bandit, an elderly gent in his 70’s. Voila—THIS is how we get our ideas for blog posts. How To Think Like a Geezer Bandit by GL Hoffman 1. GET OFF MY LAWN! ohsorry, GIVE ME YOUR MONEY. 2. -
Why “Going Rogue” is a Good Thing.
17 Nov 2009 | 1:17 pmAre you a ‘rogue?’ Tell me why. For more information on what it means to be a rogue jump over to the piece on US News and World Report, by clicking here. -
How To Think Like a Pro Twitterer, et al
15 Nov 2009 | 8:30 amEd. Note. This is a takeoff of Nicholas Bate’s How To Think Like series on his blog here. I asked Nick if I could use his idea and he graciously agreed. This could be a meme so feel free to come up with your own series of HOW TO THINK LIKE posts, just link to Nick and me, if you would be so kind. Here are a few of Nick’s. How To Think Like a Pro Twitterer 1. Me 2. Me 3. Me 4. RT especially if really about Me 5. Me, ask for RT 6. Me 7. Join my affiliate group so all of us can talk about me How To Think Like a Poet by GLH –special for Alice Shapiro Poetry blog here 1. Not… -
How To Think Like…
15 Nov 2009 | 5:06 amEd. Note. What’s it’s like to be a FILL IN THE BLANK? Every job seeker wants to know, what it is like to be an architect, surgeon, or Starbucks barrista. So, for me, the father-like advice giver, it was easy to get caught up in Nicholas Bate’s on going feature of HOW TO THINK LIKE found on his blog here. I hope you can add your own, based on your own career or from your own observations. I will be adding some along the way, too. Enjoy. By Nicholas Bate How To Think Like: The Serious Start-Up 1. Switch on phone: sell! 2. Walk briskly (gym membership cancelled to save money)… -
Weekend Frustration: Job Creators Are Under Your Noses
14 Nov 2009 | 6:02 amEd. Note: I wrote this for US NEWS this past week but would like to re run it here, too. BTW, FastCompany contacted me because they were interested in it, as well, but wanted “more details.” I think it stands alone, for now. I am a serial entrepreneur. I start companies. So far in my career, a couple of homeruns, a double or two, maybe a single. Never a strikeout. Flyout maybe. Anyway. For the past THREE years, a colleague and I have been working on a new idea/company, nights and weekends. We have spent cash and time (’incubating’ and ’sweat equity’ are the…
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Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel
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“Twitter #in” — Better Than Peanut Butter And Chocolate?
21 Nov 2009 | 4:15 amIf you missed it this week, Linkedin added some new functionality this week. Now you can sync up your Linkedin and Twitter profiles to share content you chose with either network. From the Linkedin blog: Now you can tweet your LinkedIn status to your Twitter followers or automatically post your tweets as your LinkedIn status. Make your Twitter account visible on your profile Use #in to share posts from Twitter to your LinkedIn status (#li also works) Choose which LinkedIn status updates you share with Twitter This is big news for your personal brand. It is becoming increasingly easier to… -
Personal Branding Interview: Scott McGrew
20 Nov 2009 | 7:23 pmToday, I spoke to Scott McGrew, who has 20 years experience as a television reporter, 10 of them as a technology reporter. His work has been seen on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and the BBC. He has been nominated for 10 Emmy Awards and reports on technology on the Bay Area’s NBC. In this interview, Scott goes over his impression of personal branding, why he has a website in addition to his NBC content, and then talks about authenticity. What’s your take on personal branding? I think people vastly underestimate the importance of managing their online presence. We’re all familiar with… -
Are You Qualified to Write a Book?
20 Nov 2009 | 1:17 pm“I don’t know whether or not I’m qualified to write a book!” The process of helping others write books to build their personal brand often starts by addressing a curious paradox: Published books establish their authors as experts in their field BUT, What qualifies someone to write a book in the first place? Unfortunately, many otherwise-qualified individuals question their “right,” or “qualifications,” to write a brand building book to promote their career or build their business. These individuals are sabotaging themselves before they even… -
A Quick Way To Measure Your Personal Brand Using Twitter Lists
20 Nov 2009 | 4:15 amUse Twitter Lists to see how people are branding you on Twitter. Are the results what you expect? A simple branding test One of the nice things about personal branding is the ease of verifying your efforts- just ask people in your target audience what comes to mind when they think of you: If their answers match up with your personal branding, good job! Keep doing what you’re doing and look for ways to reach more people. If their answers don’t match your personal branding, try to understand why so you can decide what action to take. Is this really necessary? What if this… -
Secrets to Getting More Referrals – Part 1
19 Nov 2009 | 4:15 amAssessing Your “Referability” Factor Do you need new customers or clients but can’t seem to get enough of them? People generally want to make referrals when they can. It feels good to be able to connect those who can help with those who need that help. But, you need to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. We’re all busy, faced with too much on our plate and not enough hours in the day, so the more painless you can make it, the greater your chances of getting the referrals you want. Here are four key questions to ask yourself to test the strength of your “referability.”…
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The CareerXroads Annex
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Pay It Forward: Helping Military In Transition
20 Nov 2009 | 9:36 amLast July 29th and 30th , over 800 troops returning from active service in Afghanistan and Iraq attended a pilot 2-day event at Ft Dix, NJ. Volunteers included Tip of the Arrow, Fort Dix staff, ESGRA, and NJ SHRM members led by Sherrill Curtis from the NJ SHRM Garden State Council along with hundreds of professional coaches and 50 employers with openings. Information about the event was promoted extensively including through my blog and summarized later in John Zappe’s article for ERE.. ...but the core of this event, what made it a bit different from other initiatives was the… -
Social Media Summit: Moving Learning to Another Level
17 Nov 2009 | 11:58 amERE's Social Recruiting Summit (#socialrecruiting), held in New York yesterday [Monday, Nov 17] was a another milestone in the evolution of niche, community-focused experiences that may eventually change the way we think about "conferences"- how we approach them as attendees and how their "owners" monetize them. The fact that yesterday's subject matter reflected the medium was just coincidental. The combination of a comfortable guide (Laurie Ruettimann), diverse content (see next paragraph), pre-conference relationship building (#Monstersocial), intimate non-traditional setting (Comix… -
What Should Staffing Leaders Be Doing Now to Plan for the Hiring of Recruiters During Recovery?
7 Nov 2009 | 3:15 pmA future ERE Corporate Leadership Journal (not yet out) will include an article about what HR leaders should be doing NOW to plan for the hiring of recruiters during the recovery. John Zappe, the article's author, asked several members of our industry to respond to a series of questions (and then extracted contrasting points of view). I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. I was among those asked to contribute and, here is the unabridged answer I provided to one of the questions (which will, of course, be edited and combined with others in the final article): Q: (John) What… -
Déjà Vu All Over Again: The 2009 Social Media Conversation is But an Echo of the Internet Past
6 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pmIf Social Media is keeping you up at night, relax-- You've just been there before. (As we approach ERE's SM summit for what I'm sure will be an valuable day of conversation, I thought this commentary from our November CareerXroads Update might be interesting.) In 1996, just 13 years ago, the Internet was at a tipping point - not so new that we couldn't see its promise but also not so accepted that we couldn't imagine its dangers. As the debate raged on, the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) and the Society of Human Resource Development (SHRM) conducted a broad-based survey of several… -
Speed bumps and time warps
28 Oct 2009 | 7:00 am8am on a dreary, rainy grey Wedenesday in a small corner of northern New Jersey. Lots of trees past their peak as I look outside from a brightly lit Panera Bread breakfast nook. I'm sitting by a very fake but still enjoyable fireplace. The fog and drizzle cloak whatever is left of the trees' color. I just backtracked 6 miles from the One Stop in the city of Dover, NJ to connect to Panera's wifi. Soon I'll spend a couple hours in conversation with 60 plus out of work professionals this morning. Dover is in a time warp- less than hour and a half drive from where I live…
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Career Hub
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Enduring Truths for Careers and Job Search
20 Nov 2009 | 5:55 amThe University of Wisconsin has had many distinguished alumni and faculty who have been known to produce noteworthy quotes. The Winter 2009 On Wisconsin magazine cites many of these remarkable quotes in “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Yes, that phrase... -
Are You Going To Cash In Your Ticket?
19 Nov 2009 | 5:21 pm"You're sitting on a winning lottery ticket - but you're too big a pussy to cash it in." Apologies for the slightly course language, but this is a direct quote from one of my favourite films – 'Goodwill Hunting' staring... -
Resumes: The Big Mistake Everyone’s Making
19 Nov 2009 | 8:43 amWhether you’re trying to secure a new job, new consulting project or contract work, there are two chief ways you differentiate yourself from your competitors. You do it by showcasing: a) The results you deliver and b) The unique way... -
What’s Your Unique Talent?
18 Nov 2009 | 7:45 pmUnique Talent = Natural Abilities + Your Unique Way Of Expressing Those Abilities Your Natural Abilities ■ What’s *that thing you do* which you’re so naturally talented at? ■ What’s the work you’ve done effortlessly ever since you can remember?... -
Why Cover Letters Are Overrated
17 Nov 2009 | 5:57 pmHere’s a conversation and some lively banter between me and a friend, a professional resume/CV writer. We were chatting about my (yawn) not so favourite subject - cover letters: Sital: “Job seekers who spend tonnes of time and effort on...
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Employment Digest
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Should I Add LinkedIn to My Resume?
21 Nov 2009 | 6:32 amBecause LinkedIn in particular has become such a major cornerstone of job seeking, some seekers have begun to question whether they should add a link to their LinkedIn profile on their resume.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
3 Tips to Handle Resume Career Gaps
20 Nov 2009 | 6:29 amFirst things first: anyone who’s spent a considerable amount of time working professionally will have gaps in their resume. It’s a natural by-product of tackling new career opportunities,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Career Strategist – CareerTrends.net
20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Should Women Over 50 Become Retired Stay at Home Moms and Entrepreneurs?
19 Nov 2009 | 10:12 amNow that women are getting older, what do we have left? Well, let’s take an inventory. Physically, our bodies are definitely not that of a twenty year old! Well, that was pretty obvious. How... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
What Are the Key Components to a Professional Resume?
17 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pmWriting a professional resume can be very challenging. Figuring out the right structure, style, sections to include, and formatting can lead to extreme frustration, and many hours and days of wasting... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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THE M.A.P. MAKER
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The power of the crossroads of possibility
19 Nov 2009 | 8:15 pmEach and every moment, you are at a crossroads with an infinite number of paths. Make one choice, and you head one direction. Make a different choice, and you zip off in another direction. When you look at it that way, the potential malleability of life is mind-boggling. And yet most of us fool ourselves into an artificially narrow view of possibility. We make assumptions about the way things are and - poof! - a path of possibility disappears. We persist with limiting beliefs that have no basis in our current reality. Poof! There goes another path. What would happen if you really and truly… -
Will you affirm the Charter for Compassion?
19 Nov 2009 | 10:05 amA while ago I posted about the upcoming Charter for Compassion. As I write this, 17, 710 people have affirmed it. Will you? Watch this video and visit the Charter for Compassion site. Clicking on "affirm" is easy. The challenge - and the potential goldmine - is incorporating the ideas more deeply into your life and spreading the ideas to others. If you want to make a difference with the way you show up in the world, this is a great place to start. -
Experiment: Do a news toxicity test
17 Nov 2009 | 7:53 amMuch of how we experience the world comes from the lens through which we view it. If that lens is weighted towards a sense of hope and possibility, that's the frame of reference we'll use as we go through our lives. If it's weighted towards fear and negativity, we'll experience more of that. That lens can have a profound impact on the life we create. Hope and possibility open doors to potential. Fear and negativity limit us. One way we create our world view lens is through what we choose to reinforce on a regular basis.That's why the news can have such a toxic effect. Every day we're… -
Increase your potential with trips off the beaten track
16 Nov 2009 | 11:12 amLeave the beaten track occasionally and dive into the woods. You will be certain to find something you have never seen before. ~ Alexander Graham Bell Habit and routine play a positive role in life, to be sure. They help us move forward without wasting energy on mundane recurring choices. But too often they take on a life of their own. When habit and routine define your path rather than enhance it, it's easy to get bogged down in a rigid, limiting rut that ultimately narrows down your possibilities. Every day becomes a carbon copy of the day before. With no new inputs, the potential for new… -
Visual Self-exploration: Your Life in Pictures #2
16 Nov 2009 | 5:23 amWelcome to this week's installment in the Your Life in Pictures series. In this series, you will find photos to use as a point of departure for self-exploration. This week's photo: [Click on the image to see it full-sized.]Q: What insight does this picture offer about your career? About your life? Pictures have great potential for self-exploration, because they provide a point of departure for asking, "how does this apply to my own life?" There is no specific meaning to any of these pictures. They are simply here to give your brain/intuition/creative mind/etc. something to bounce off. Your…
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life@work
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Time Keeps on Slippin'
20 Nov 2009 | 12:32 pmWhen everything appears to be spilling and leaking all over in my life, I notice how attracted I am to finding the perfect time management system.Ideally I'll find one that also cleans my house.Sue Shellenbarger wrote recently about her experiment with three different systems: Getting Things Done The Pomodoro Technique (requires buying a tomato shaped timer - fun!) FranklinCovey's Focus There are pros and cons to each, and she has decided to use the elements from each that work for her.I'm a huge fan of Leo Babauta's Zen To Done system as described in his E-Book. It's a simpler (and more… -
The Six Easy Steps to Making Great Decisions
12 Nov 2009 | 2:08 pmWe make hundreds of decisions every day, most of them mundane. Which shirt should I wear? What about breakfast? Will I return that call first or send that email? Most of us make it through these kinds of decision points with minimal angst.But the really meaty, complex decisions - the ones that strongly impact our lives and affect people we care about - can stop us dead in our tracks, unsure and overwhelmed.You know the ones I'm talking about: Should I quit this job and try to find something better? Do I want to change careers altogether, even though I've put 15 years into this one? Where do I… -
Unemployed? Use Your Time to Learn Essential Skills
3 Nov 2009 | 4:44 pmIf you're looking for work, you've probably been told to turn job seeking into a full-time job itself.This message has its heart in the right place (i.e., get off the couch and turn off the TV), but in reality, I know few job seekers who literally spend 40+ hours per week in their job search efforts.Unless you've got small children at home, chances are you've got a bit of extra time that you could spend in any number of ways - surfing the Net, buying groceries, planting bulbs, going to the gym. But this time is your opportunity to learn essential skills that regularly you don't have time… -
Green Jobs - What They Are and How to Find Them
29 Oct 2009 | 9:44 amThe Career Collective is participating in Job Action Day! Members have written posts that provide workers and job seekers information, ideas and concrete steps to secure their futures in a changed economy.Follow our hashtag #careercollective on Twitter!Is there anything cooler than green these days?According to a new study by Clean Edge, a green-industry research firm, "clean tech" jobs are on the rise: "We are just at the beginning of the 'clean tech' job creation era" and that renewable energy, environmentally-friendly building and manufacturing, and all aspects of energy efficiency will… -
How Not to Be a Cookie-Cutter Job Seeker
7 Oct 2009 | 9:55 amAs a member of a new community of career coaches and resume writers called the Career Collective, this post is one of many responses to the question, “Are you a cookie cutter job seeker?” I encourage you to visit other members’ responses, which will be linked at the end of this post by the afternoon of October 9. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.There's only one you, and if you're a job seeker, now's a good time to emphasize that.You know the bleak statistics about how many job seekers there are for every opening right now (it's six, in case you've been avoiding…
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Keppie Careers by Miriam Salpeter
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Three tips for making a career change in a tough time
19 Nov 2009 | 8:02 pmI hear from so many people who are in the midst of trying to make a career change. Sometimes, the change is very slight – a writer who wants to use her expertise to write about a different subject. Other times, there is a more drastic goal – a mortgage broker who wants to use transferable skills to get into the insurance business. No matter what the goal, this is a tough time to bridge to a career change. (I’ve written about this HERE.) If you are a job seeker thinking of a change, some tips to consider: 1. Do your research. Know what skills your targeted job and/or employer… -
Going rogue – advice for the rest of us
19 Nov 2009 | 8:45 amRogue (per Dictionary.com): –noun 1. a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel. 2. a playfully mischievous person; scamp: The youngest boys are little rogues. 3. a tramp or vagabond. 4. a rogue elephant or other animal of similar disposition. 5. Biology. a usually inferior organism, esp. a plant, varying markedly from the normal. –verb (used without object) 6. to live or act as a rogue. –verb (used with object) 7. to cheat. 8. to uproot or destroy (plants, etc., that do not conform to a desired standard). 9. to perform this operation upon: to rogue a field. –adjective 10. (of an animal)… -
How having a blog can help you get a job
18 Nov 2009 | 10:20 amI am so excited to share news from a client who just landed a great job. In and of itself, a client landing a job isn’t extraordinary – that is the point of hiring me to help, after all! What is special about this client is that she was in a transitional search. She was finding that there were not a lot of opportunities in her field, so she needed to make a change. She was looking for jobs doing things she had not done before. Anyone who talks to me about transitioning knows that this is a tough time to make a career change. While I would never discourage someone from trying,… -
Networking with a purpose – ideas from Joe Lavelle
17 Nov 2009 | 5:09 amYesterday, I shared a review of Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail. (You can read it HERE.) Today, I want to share more from Joe Lavelle’s book! Joe talks about “Networking with a purpose.” This is so important. I hear from people all of the time who insist that they have been doing EVERYTHING for their job hunt – including networking. However, upon further inquiry, it is clear that they could be doing a lot more. Joe offers this advice, which I believe is right on target. (Points are his, commentary my own): Make meeting others a priority. So often, networking is… -
Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail – A review
15 Nov 2009 | 7:04 pm“…Act with enthusiasm and confidence – act as if it were impossible to fail. Your beliefs become your reality, and your expectations have a direct result on the outcome of any given situation. Concentrate on your strengths, your triumphs and your successes as you power up the corporate ladder” (p.177). – Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail, by Joe Lavelle I “met” Joe Lavelle, author of Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail – The Employee Handbook That Your Empoyer Hasn’t Given You, via Twitter and when he began to comment on this blog. He…
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JibberJobber Blog
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Nick Corcodilos (aka: Ask the Headhunter): How to Work With Headhunters
20 Nov 2009 | 6:26 amI met Nick Corcodilos in Savannah at a conference. He was telling a bunch of resume writers that resumes were useless, and why they were useless. I thought it was a very gutsy thing to do – come to a conference as a keynote speaker and tell all of the professionals that their chosen profession (and for many, life passion) was obsolete. That is how Nick is: gutsy. Nick Corcodilos is an undisputed subject matter expert and thought leader in the job search space. He has been writing for syndicated columns for years, and many thousands of people have read and benefited from his work… -
Evolution
19 Nov 2009 | 9:22 amThree and a half years ago I had a business plan, and I had a vision statement for my business. I thought I would have a gazillion signups on JibberJobber, and that a percentage (high or low, didn’t matter – because even a low percentage of a gazillion is a lot) would have upgraded. I had no idea that in my future I would write a book or two, or become a professional speaker, or have a product to sell, or become an executive editor, or that I would have different profit centers I would work on. My business evolved… my business plan was for one discrete thing, but because of… -
Facebook for Executives (and professionals) Webinar
17 Nov 2009 | 7:32 amTomorrow at 4ET (1PT) I’m doing a webinar for Netshare called Facebook Essentials for Executives. I’m jazzed about this webinar and have been preparing for it quite a bit. Facebook has power in numbers – and I’m amazed at the connections I’ve made because of Facebook that I didn’t make in LinkedIn. I’m also amazed at the conversation that happens in Facebook that isn’t happening elsewhere. If you want to brush up on your Facebook understanding, or wrap your brain around a Facebook strategy for you, come on over to the webinar. It… -
I Love A Good Email Signature
16 Nov 2009 | 4:31 amIf you’ve heard me speak in the last year, chances are you’ve heard me talk about email signatures. I recently saw a signature that POPPED OUT – let me share it with you: I totally missed the middle name until I saw the hyperlink with the tagline. I LOVE THIS. I clicked on the hyperlink and guess where it took me? SocialMediaIsMyMiddleName.com Brilliant. Thanks for the excellent example of an email signature that helps brand a professional Scott! More information on email signatures as a personal branding tool at Today I (tearfully) Retire My Email Signature and A New… -
Big JibberJobber News: Create Log Entries From an Email
13 Nov 2009 | 7:49 amThis is a feature that has been on our list for over 18 months. We’re really excited to announce it is finally available to you (it is a premium feature). In a nutshell, this new feature allows you to create a Log Entry by sending an email to a special email address. When I say Log Entry, realize you can: Also create an Action Item, Associate it with multiple contacts, companies and job postings, and Change the time when you get an email reminder, if it is an action item. If you are not a Premium users use the Contact Us form and we’ll bump you up for five days so you can play…
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Punk Rock Human Resources
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Punk Rock HR Question: Catty Women
21 Nov 2009 | 3:45 amFrom a sincere woman who is fed up. I work in a car dealership, a very male dominated industry, where women historically hold the jobs in accounting, reception and internet. I am a woman and a manager in the finance department, and work with all men in the finance and sales departments. It’s a position I work well in, not only because I do my job well, but because I don’t subscribe to the typical girly behavior and we all get along and have a fun time working together. So the problem lies with my interactions with the woman-only accounting department and the women in reception and… -
F@%k It Friday: Happiness
20 Nov 2009 | 3:45 amI had a friend ask, “Simple question, Laurie. Are you happy?” I responded, “I’m not a simple girl.” That’s such a stupid answer and I immediately regretted it. Those are the kinds of answers that make me want to puke in my mouth. So let me try answering this again. Of course I am happy. I have an awesome life. I don’t want for anything. Am I always happy? Pffffft, no way. I have flaws. I am hypercritical. Aways on edge, dissatisfied, looking for meaning where meaning doesn’t exist. I am kind of melancholic when it’s unnecessary. Let me… -
Employee Wellness Programs & Health Insurance
19 Nov 2009 | 3:45 amFatty HR writes, I work for a private company that is going to start penalizing employers through a premium increase if said employers don’t provide vital statistics to the insurance co.’s website. Plus, you have to gain so many points through exercise to avoid the raise in payment. There is concern over this amongst everyone, and personally I think it is a violation of personal liberties. I came across your site by doing a random search on this subject and saw at least one of your articles on this issue. Do you have any recommendations on where to start research to show… -
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Horror Stories from Workers
18 Nov 2009 | 3:45 amI spent a few days in New York, this weekend. Many stores in Herald Square will be open on Thanksgiving, and I was so dispirited by the news. I understand that people will flood that area for the parade, but it seems weird to me that anyone would want to shop for crap on Thanksgiving. Obviously I’m totally old school. It’s unfortunate that Americans must consume copious amounts of turkey and Banana Republic scarves on a national holiday. Want my advice? Skip the damn scarves and eat more mashed potatoes. It’s better for America. I also feel sorry for the workers who are… -
Punk Rock HR Question: Unemployed for Two Years
17 Nov 2009 | 3:45 amI’m traveling, today. Rather than respond to a slew of email messages, let me give you some career advice based on a few notes in my inbox. If you haven’t been able to find a job in two years within your field, the universe is sending you a message. You are no longer part of that field. It’s time to broaden your search. You should have expanded it six months ago, but I don’t want to judge you. Look for something else. Now. And no — going back for your MBA will not help. Don’t listen to your stupid brother-in-law who works in finance. He’s an idiot.
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CAREEREALISM: Because EVERY Job is Temporary
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T.A.P. Q#382 – Is It Possible for Company to Offer Raise If I Mention I’m Leaving?
20 Nov 2009 | 12:55 pmDear Experts, My company is underpaying, other peers are getting new jobs at much higher salaries, and my boss is getting really worried and personally asking employees if they are happy or not. I’m happy with the job but I’m underpaid and need a raise. I’m looking for other jobs but it’s only because of the low pay. I’m considering telling the company I’m looking so they get worried I’ll leave and offer me a raise. Is this a smart idea? CLICK HERE to see how experts answered this question on Twitter. Got a career question you’d like answered? -
T.A.P. Q#381 – Best Tip For Making Great 1st Impression on Interview?Q
20 Nov 2009 | 5:38 amDear Experts, What’s your single best tip for making a great first impression on an interview? CLICK HERE to see how experts answered this question on Twitter. Got a career question you’d like answered? Send it to twitter@careerealism.com along with your Twitter account name (you must use Twitter for us to post your question). Technorati Tags: career advice, career expert, career question, first impression, interview, T.A.P. (Twitter Advice Project) -
Got MBA to Hammer Nails
19 Nov 2009 | 9:40 pmBy CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Joshua Waldman I recently had an interesting conversation with a small business owner, who I met via LinkedIn. I had put out some feelers to see if laid-off people would be willing to share their stories with me. Will Martin wrote me back with his story. It is a story of finding your dream and of turning a bad situation into a good one. And I’d like to share it with you. Started Out On A Fast-track Will was an architect for a company that was getting ready to grow. The owners were grooming him to take a management position, and perhaps even one day, take… -
T.A.P. Q#380 – How Do I Shield the Nerves Before an Interview?
19 Nov 2009 | 12:57 pmDear Experts, I always feel nervous and have a sense of panic prior to/during interviews. How do I conquer these feelings? CLICK HERE to see how experts answered this question on Twitter. Got a career question you’d like answered? Send it to twitter@careerealism.com along with your Twitter account name (you must use Twitter for us to post your question). Technorati Tags: career advice, career expert, career question, emotion, feeling, interview, nerves, panic, T.A.P. (Twitter Advice Project) -
T.A.P. Q#379 – New Recruiter Black-listed Me
19 Nov 2009 | 6:20 amDear Experts, I was working with a headhunter on a job that I was a fit for. Suddenly, he stopped returning my calls and a new recruiter from the same firm contacted me to say he was now in charge of the job and the account. I thought he was very rude and unprofessional, so I turned down the interview. He said I was being unprofessional and ‘burning a bridge.’ Since then another job has come up at this same firm and I applied. I got an e-mail from the old recruiter saying I wasn’t a fit, but it was attached to an e-mail further down which was from the recruiter I clashed…
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Spin Strategy™ - Tools for Intelligent Job Search
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Tim's 5 Thoughts On Negotiating A Job Offer
19 Nov 2009 | 7:20 amReading the title of this post may bring a couple of reactions. An offer feels like a far away concept right now. How did Tim know I was looking at an offer? Negotiating? In this economy, is that even possible? But the reality is that at some point you will get one. And, of course, you need to be ready. Now earlier here on the blog I created a tool for you. It is called SideBySide. This tool is designed to help you EVALUATE a job offer. To look at it objectively when you may be in the least objective position (i.e. ready for this job search to end and open to anything that will… -
Taking A Productive Day Off During Job Search
12 Nov 2009 | 6:51 amAs job seekers, it is easy to get a bit full of ourselves. Not so much in an arrogant way. We just get caught up.For good reason, our lives transform into a very self-directed effort. And the timing is right. No one is going to blame you. Because they know that this focus is part of the process of finding work.But it also can be too much. It can cause you to become selfish, obsessive and often lose perspective.So here's a simple idea to help break you out of this cycle in job search.For one day, take the focus completely off your search. And focus it on the needs of your… -
Networking Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
10 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pmSome see networking as a chore. Others see it as a waste of time. A huge mass of social blather that leads to nothing. Those people get frustrated and get stuck in their job search.They haven't yet figured out that networking is now a lifelong opportunity. An opportunity to build out your influence in the world. And to reach more people that might need your help at the same time.For those who see socializing, I see relationship building. Research. To understand what your network needs from you.And its not about job search anymore. Although that is how most of us will gain… -
Job Seeker: 10 Things I Know About You
9 Nov 2009 | 7:17 amIf you are currently looking for work or have been in transition before, I know a few things about you. You are part of a vital crowd that has been through something difficult to get somewhere important and necessary. And you are better for having been through it.You see this process of job search changes you for the better. It pushes you to learn at a time in life when you may not actually want to do so. But you have to learn. Because you have been thrust into a situation that demands it.And even if you and I did not go through job search together. If we did it at another time or… -
Is Lack Of Focus Dragging Your Resume Down?
6 Nov 2009 | 4:42 pmThis is a guest post by Jessica Holbrook.How many of you can honestly say you know exactly what you want to be when you grow up? Maybe you already have it figured out, and maybe you are already living and working it. If you are, does your resume know that? I work with clients every day and speak to hundreds of job seekers every week that have no idea what they want to do. I ask “Well, what do you want to do?” Then I receive the blanket “I just need to feed my family” or “I just need a job – I don’t care what it is.” I understand the current market and economy, but folks no…
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Secrets of the Job Hunt
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How to Create the Perfect Resume Profile
20 Nov 2009 | 3:42 pm#3 of The Big Three: The Top Three Elements Every Resume MUST Have But Very Few Do!! The job search can be frustrating, no doubt about it. Often, it seems out of your control. But there is good news! You have more control than you think... ...over how you are perceived by recruiters, employers, human resource personnel and those with whom you network. That's because they forge a perception of you based on the information you choose to present in your resume and cover letter. Every fact, date, job title and organization name you choose to include contributes to that perception. Every skill,… -
Warning: long-term side effects of recession may include…
20 Nov 2009 | 8:41 amby Jeff Dickey-Chasins for OnlineRecruitingNews.com As the recession begins to wane, it’s a good time to assess what effects it has had on the relationship between employers and employees. Why? These changes will continue to reverberate over the coming years and affect how recruiting and hiring is conducted, what technologies and approaches are used in finding candidates, and which resources are brought to bear in retaining top talent. A case of two perceptions Per this recent report from Human Capital Institute and Monster, 84% of employers feel that their employees are loyal and content… -
Navigating Your Job Search Through the Recession
20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amReposted from CareerAlley "But still they lead me back to the long winding road" - Lennon/McCartney Sometimes it does feel like a long and winding road and I'm sure you're thinking "just my luck to be looking for a job in the worst job market since the Great Depression". Regardless of how long and winding the road may be, you need to ensure you are on the right road (to a job that is). But as bad as it is, there are jobs out there if your know how to navigate the winding road. So, how do you navigate? You need to have a road-map, a timeline as well as a marketing plan. Don't be afraid to… -
GE bringing IT jobs to Michigan!
19 Nov 2009 | 5:50 amAs we all know Michigan is a state that really NEEDS jobs. Hats off to GE for announcing their new tech center for Van Buren Township. Its expected to bring 1100 jobs over the next few years. In this audio jobcast you'll hear all about this new venture. -
RISK: What the ancient Romans can teach you about career change
18 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pmBy CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Melissa C. Martin have you ever felt those demonic thoughts that swirl in our inner sanctum and resist giving way to the one thing that humans patently avoid…..changing their comfort zone? That is your risk zone. Stepping out of the comfort zone. Our inner temptations to make that change, even one small change, as we say in solution-focused interviewing and counseling, need a guiding force. Pay attention to those inner tempations! Even if it means confronting the status quo! ( A useful Latin phrase which we still use for the appropriate occasion!) Quite…
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Blue Sky Resumes Blog
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Why I’m Sharing
5 Nov 2009 | 5:51 amWe’ve been working on a new site design for blueskyresumes.com for a while. We started by clarifying our brand, we then went on to site strategy - thinking through everything we want the site to do for us and for our visitors - and now we’re in the design phase, where that stuff is coming together page-by-page. I’m so excited about it I can’t even tell you! One feature that of the new site will be a really amazing resume samples section that I’m not going to give away just yet, but which will be pretty special. I’m always surprised when I go to another… -
So Much Bad Resume Advice, So Little Time
20 Oct 2009 | 7:18 amEvery now and then, one of my clients sends their resume in to another service for a critique. When they send it to some places, they get an honest response - usually saying ‘this is great and you don’t need any more help.’ But when they send it to one of the big resume mills (you know, Career Builder, The Ladders, Monster etc), they invariably get back a long critique telling them the resume needs a complete rewrite and offering to do it for ‘only $695′ or whatever their fee is. My clients and I usually discuss this feedback, address the one or two nuggets that… -
Who Says Twitter Isn’t Useful?
5 Oct 2009 | 8:51 amTweet This Post -
Enough! A Word About Resume Writers
1 Oct 2009 | 5:59 amYesterday I happened to catch a conversation between a few recruiters on Twitter, several of whom were mocking the idea of working with a professional resume writer. When I asked one person why he was so against my profession, he said that he had seen people burned by working with bad writers. I can believe that. We often get new clients who have already paid for a ‘professional resume’ and who now need our help to salvage the mess. But my question to those recruiters is this: What makes resume writing different from any other profession? If a bad car mechanic messes up a repair… -
Are Big Words Better?
30 Sep 2009 | 12:07 pmDo you prefer the word ‘reduced’ to the word ‘cut’? Given the choice, would you use “generated savings of…” or “saved”? I ask because recently I edited some website copy for someone who preferred big words to short ones and long, complex sentences to concise ones. I’m the opposite. I think simplicity is the key to good communication and I practice it all the time in my writing. I don’t like using three words when one will do and I don’t understand why people do it. I see it all the time in the resumes that come across my…
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Dan Erwin on Brainpower
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Quotation of the Week: Dr. Deborah Garh
20 Nov 2009 | 8:00 amNothing is black and white in medicine. --Dr. Deborah Garh, Gynecologist in New York city Commenting on the new guidelines proposed for mammograms. I laughed at Dr. Garh's statement of the obvious. But it's a very good reminder that there's very little on God's green acre that's black and white. That also includes my business and experience in career development and planning. That's reality. -
Business Ethics
20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amBusiness ethics are a lot more complex than most think. A recent Wall Street Journal interview of Daylian Cain, a prof at the Yale School of Management surfaces some of those complexities. This is one of the rare and astute statements that I've been hoping for. It's unusual because far too many approach business ethics from the perspective of personal ethics rather than that of social ethics. Cain is right on when he comments that one of the issues he faces is that teaching students to become socially responsible… -
Twitter versus Real Networking
18 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amAs an almost daily blogger over the past 10 months, as well as a member of Twitter and LinkedIn, I've been struggling to understand the distinctions between some of the media platforms and real networking, a subject about which I've coached clients for nearly 10 years. In a recent post, Harvard's Rosabeth Kanter identified a number of distinctive differences and shared several original and immensely practical insights. Among other important differences, she pointed out that real networking changes the very nature of career success,… -
Why Personal Goal Setting Can Be Dangerous
16 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amWhile I am a personal advocate of goal setting, I've thought hard and deep about an instructive piece of research by Max Bazerman and colleagues on goal setting that goes bad. Although the research focuses on the relationship between leaders and their organizations, the research obviously applies to personal career development. The study contains numerous examples of goals gone wild, and includes overcharging by Sears mechanics, Enron's commission program for traders, and Ford's small Pinto, a car that was found to have… -
What Can We Learn From GE's New Emphasis on Listening and Humility?
15 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amAfter stumbling badly in the recession, the Wall Street Journal reports that General Electric executives are studying recession lessons, as they seek new, more flexible ways to manage. How are they going about this focus? They're learning to admit they "made mistakes" and working at the "skills of humility and listening." There's a significant lesson for all of us in that focus, but not what some might suggest or think. But first of all, humility is not a skill. It's a personal quality or state, marked, the dictionary suggests,…
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Career Management Alliance Blog
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Avoid the Bloated Resume
19 Nov 2009 | 1:08 pmOne of our favorite quotes about resumes comes from Mark Nelson, former partner of Dale Dauten of syndicated career-column fame. Describing a two-page resume with long paragraphs and tiny type, Nelson says: “This resume is like a lonely guy who can’t get a date, so he sits at home and eats and gets bigger and bigger. I meet people all the time who think employers are going to get excited by lots of detail in their resumes. No. Instead, [employers] think, ‘Here’s a guy who can’t prioritize and who doesn’t respect his reader.’” Overstuffed and text-heavy resumes are a problem… -
The “Spaghetti” Job Search Strategy
19 Nov 2009 | 4:46 amThere’s a lot of angst in the LinkedIn CFO group this morning. Not hearing back from recruiters these days is enough to send even the most stable senior finance executive to the edge of the cliff after a period of unemployment. The job search system is already flawed, and the Internet has exacerbated the breakdown ... candidates send resumes to a big black hole and never hear back from anyone. If you haven’t read my article “Everybody Lies,” email me and I’ll be happy to send it your way. Anyway, the flawed search strategy that almost every job seeker uses is what I call the… -
How to Ask for a Raise
19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amShelly writes: I would really appreciate if you could please send me some examples about how to ask for a raise. I’ve been at my job for a year now and I am stuck on a few things. I pretty much have all of my ducks in a row and I know I deserve the raise but I really want to make it presentable and professional. Basically I’m looking for a jump start, maybe I should start with a cover letter introducing my specific proposal? What do you think? Anything would help. The Career Doctor responds: Anytime we deal with money, whether as a job-seeker talking about salary or as an employee asking… -
Bullets Make Your Cover Letter More Reader-Friendly
18 Nov 2009 | 1:05 pmConsider using bullets in your cover letter to make it more reader-friendly. Bullet points can break up the text of your cover letter and draw the reader’s eye to your most compelling selling points. Be sure you don’t re-hash your resume’s bullet points. And unlike bullet points on a resume, those on a cover letter should either be in complete sentences (instead of clipped, “telegraphed” resume language) or should complete the sentence that leads into the bulleted list. -
Your Thoughts = Your Destiny
18 Nov 2009 | 12:25 pmBe careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words Be careful of your words, for your words become your deeds Be careful of your deeds, for your deeds become your habits Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny. - Author Anonymous
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The Career Doctor Blog
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Assistance in Formulating Salary Requirement
21 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amRalph writes: I was hoping for some advice on determining a salary requirement for a service center manager for a distribution center. The duties are: Supervise two technicians, a warehouse parts puller, and administrative worker. I have searched but still no answer. What do you recommend since I sent the cover letter and resume and afterwards the request for a salary requirement follows. They are asking me to do their dirty work, right? Can you recommend an appropriate website? The Career Doctor responds: Your instincts and efforts are right on target. In order to be more successful in your… -
No Need to Mention Layoff in Your Cover Letter
20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amMichelle writes: I recently was let go from my position at my office due to financial reasons. How do I start off a cover letter letting the employer know this information in a positive manner? I just need some advice on how to construct the first part of the cover letter and I did not see that on the website. Hope you can help and thank you for your time. The Career Doctor responds: Repeat after me — again and again — never ever put any kind of negative information in your cover letter, resume, or any other job-search materials. The time to address any of these negative issues… -
How to Ask for a Raise
19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amShelly writes: I would really appreciate if you could please send me some examples about how to ask for a raise. I’ve been at my job for a year now and I am stuck on a few things. I pretty much have all of my ducks in a row and I know I deserve the raise but I really want to make it presentable and professional. Basically I’m looking for a jump start, maybe I should start with a cover letter introducing my specific proposal? What do you think? Anything would help. The Career Doctor responds: Anytime we deal with money, whether as a job-seeker talking about salary or as an employee… -
Solving the Not-Enough-Experience Conundrum
18 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amAndrew writes: I am having a problem getting a job. Right now I have three years of IT-related experience after finishing a college certificate course. I have worked on big to small projects and as a desktop analyst. But when I submit my resume for jobs I have done before and know I can do I am always being told by companies that I don’t have enough experience and need to get more. But how can I get the experience if no one will hire me? The Career Doctor responds: The job market for professionals in the technology field has been pretty dismal over the last few years, and while… -
OK to Have List of Questions for the Interviewer Handy at the Interview?
17 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amTrish writes: I have a question regarding the appropriate thing to do in an interview. This is in relation to Question #17 (Having questions about the job or the company to ask the interviewer), from the Quintessential Careers Job Interviewing Quiz. Is it appropriate to have a “written list” with me and pull it out to ask the questions? The Career Doctor responds: Interview preparation is essential, and the more any job-seeker can do to prepare, the better the chances for success. One of the issues we stress is that job-seekers should always have a few questions to ask the…
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Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog
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The T-Formation or 2-column Cover Letter
21 Nov 2009 | 1:13 pmA particularly effective way to deploy the specifics of an ad or job posting to your advantage is to use a two-column format (also known as a “T-formation” letter) in which you quote in the left-hand column specific qualifications that come right from the employer’s want ad and in the right-hand column, your attributes that meet those qualifications. The two-column format is extremely effective when you possess all the qualifications for a job, but it can even sell you when you lack one or more qualification. The format so clearly demonstrates that you are qualified in so… -
Consider "Word Bullets" for Your Cover Letter
20 Nov 2009 | 1:10 pm“Word bullets” are a way to make your cover letter stand out. Word bullets (which can be used with regular bullets), also break up the text and are excellent for spotlighting words or phrases from the ad or job posting you’re responding to. By pulling these words out of the ad, you can focus your letter sharply on how you meet the requirements that relate to those words. See an example of a letter that uses word bullets. -
Avoid the Bloated Resume
19 Nov 2009 | 1:08 pmOne of our favorite quotes about resumes comes from Mark Nelson, former partner of Dale Dauten of syndicated career-column fame. Describing a two-page resume with long paragraphs and tiny type, Nelson says: “This resume is like a lonely guy who can’t get a date, so he sits at home and eats and gets bigger and bigger. I meet people all the time who think employers are going to get excited by lots of detail in their resumes. No. Instead, [employers] think, ‘Here’s a guy who can’t prioritize and who doesn’t respect his reader.’” Overstuffed and… -
Bullets Make Your Cover Letter More Reader-Friendly
18 Nov 2009 | 1:05 pmConsider using bullets in your cover letter to make it more reader-friendly. Bullet points can break up the text of your cover letter and draw the reader’s eye to your most compelling selling points. Be sure you don’t re-hash your resume’s bullet points. And unlike bullet points on a resume, those on a cover letter should either be in complete sentences (instead of clipped, “telegraphed” resume language) or should complete the sentence that leads into the bulleted list. -
Do You Have a Headless Resume?
17 Nov 2009 | 12:53 pmIn the Q&A she did with us professional resume writer Tracy Laswell Williams, talks about “the headless resume,” which she says is less than desirable. “It has been my experience,” Williams notes, “that many people (especially busy, overworked recruiters and hiring managers) have a hard time summarizing information on their own. Without a focused and persuasive summary at the beginning of your resume, you’re missing a great opportunity to sell yourself by leaving it to the reader to form an overall impression of your qualifications.”
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Career Success!
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Heads Up! You Already ARE In Business For Yourself
18 Nov 2009 | 5:40 amA Preamble to Today's ArticleIn the earlier part of my career, I was a CPA with the firm now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers ("PwC"). I quickly gravitated into PwC's highly profitable corporate finance consulting practice as a Director in the firm's Atlanta office, where I spent 10 years specializing in Financial Advisory Services to Fortune 500 companies. The last 15 years of my work life have been oriented around my new passion -- human resource development and career development services targeted toward business leaders, executives and senior managers. My… -
Get Results with LinkedIn! - The LinkedIn Daily Workplan
11 Nov 2009 | 10:43 amThe first time I heard the phrase "Networking Gravity" was from my friend Liz Lynch, author of the wonderful book "Smart Networking." In her book, Liz defines "Networking Gravity" as "a force that draws people automatically into your world with whom you have the greatest potential to build mutually beneficial relationships." I LOVE that definition. Liz states that you build networking gravity in four principle ways: Sharing your expertise widely to enable as many others as possible to have clarity on what you do and know how you could help them. -
"The Wow Factor" - Interview with the Author, Frances Cole Jones - Some Great "Wow" Tips
11 Nov 2009 | 5:26 amCareer Success Radio ShowInterview with Frances Cole Jones, Author of "The Wow Factor - The 33 Things You Must (and Must Not) Do to Guarantee Your Edge in Today's Business World)"Carrie and I interviewed author Frances Cole Jones on the Career Success Radio Show on Tuesday, November 10th on the subject of "Wowing" and positively influencing your colleagues, employers, potential employers -- even your competitors. Frances recently released her newest book, "The Wow Factor" with offers easy-to-follow advice and immediately implementable tips and techniques… -
10 Habits to Energize Your Day! Try One or More of These When the Pressure is On
10 Nov 2009 | 10:57 amBalancing "highly focused work effort" with adequate rest and recovery is invaluable in any performance venue - work, athletics, sports, hobbies, etc. Without adequate recovery time, we overstress our bodies physically, emotionally and mentally. Energy levels suffer and peak performance is impacted.Energize Yourself! With regard to work activities, recovery time not only includes planned vacations and time away from work on the weekends, but should also include daily "rituals" designed to regroup and recover from the stress associated with your day-to-day work demands. -
Job Search - Follow the "80/20 Rule" and Achieve Results
9 Nov 2009 | 5:44 amYour job search will only be as effective as the level of effort you put forth (the amount of TIME) and the the QUALITY of that effort (focusing on the HIGHEST IMPACT job search activities). I have spoken with dozens and dozens of individuals over the past 90 days who are actively seeking new job opportunities. Those who are seeing little to no results are either: NOT spending sufficient time and/or are NOT focusing the time they are spending on the highest impact activities. The job search process simply CANNOT be "Short-Cut" in the current market environment -- neither short-cut…
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Career Rocketeer
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How Can Stay-at-Home Parents Return to Careers in Today’s Job Market?
20 Nov 2009 | 3:35 amDue to the economic crisis, the job market is flooded with people seeking employment. Some may have been employed by the same company for many years and others may have just graduated and started their first job or are even still looking for it. So what can you, as a stay-at-home parent do when you want to launch yourself back into the workforce? How can you compete?Step 1: Get OrganizedThere are several challenges when faced with returning to the workforce. The first issue is how you will handle the responsibilities you have at home? Are your children old enough to be alone or do you have to… -
What’s Your Purpose?
18 Nov 2009 | 8:21 amEver spend much time thinking about that? What’s your purpose?What does that have to do with your job search or career? Everything!Do you find your purpose in your job, or in something outside of your career?What animates you from day-to-day? - Advancement in your career?- More money?- Ability to have more toys, nicer houses, cars, jewelry, or ‘stuff’?- Provide better for your family?- Provide value or serve your customers?- Be a better spouse, parent, child, friend, or neighbor?- Have more fun?- Serving God, or reflecting Him in the culture around you?- Achieve happiness?- Gain… -
Career Happiness: Expect It or Aspire To It
18 Nov 2009 | 4:01 amToo often we confuse our expectations with our aspirations. You may know it as expecting too much. Career dissatisfaction results from a misalignment of these two factors. To stay on track, you need to only understand the difference and ask a few questions. In this post, I’ll tell you what they are.I recently asked MBA grads to tell me how the degree has met their expectations. I wanted to know specifically what they sought and where the expectations came from. What are your expectations? You think of one, now. Quick. Just any one…The first response from the graduates was a resounding NO. -
If money were no object, what would you do with your time?
17 Nov 2009 | 11:21 amI love this question because the possibilities are endless. To me not having to be concerned about money leads my imagination everywhere! I’d be a philanthropist and travel to remote places to see what projects are best funded to better the world. I’d be a National Geographic photographer. I’d row across the Atlantic. I’d work for a season at the Palmer Station in Antarctica. I’d live in Peru and study the Inca architecture to discover how they made their incredible walls. I would travel the states and incorporate Paint Dancing into every K-12 school with the intention of ending… -
What is Your Stage of Identity Development? The Increasing Globalization of the Workplace
16 Nov 2009 | 12:38 pmWho are you? What is your Cultural Identity? What is your stage of Identity Development and how can this impact your career?How adept are you at working with diverse people and/or for a Global Employer?The workplace is increasingly global and diverse. Each of our job titles and roles increasingly is intertwined with both national and multinational interests, technologies, operations, suppliers etc. We all have multiple roles within our division, company, sector and industry and interact with a widening assortment of colleagues, vendors, suppliers and customers. Thus, it is imperative to…
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Mashable!
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GrandCentral Website Shuts Down Next Month: Download Your Data and Contacts
21 Nov 2009 | 9:26 amGoogle has already transitioned GrandCentral users over to Google Voice, and now comes the final step in that move: Google is shuttering the GrandCentral website and telling users to download any old messages and contacts they have on that site. The GrandCentral site will be closed on the last day of the year – December 31st – and a further reminder will be sent before that date. In a mail to users today, the company advised: The GrandCentral website is shutting down – GrandCentral is now Google Voice. Dear GrandCentral User: We’re writing to let you know that we will… -
Tila Tequila Continues Her Ustream Video Meltdown [LIVE VIDEO]
21 Nov 2009 | 1:19 amSocial media is a double-edged sword. Due to its unfiltered nature, it can be a powerful promotional tool. However, it can also publicly expose our problems. Former reality TV star Tila Tequila is an unfortunate but prime example. Some backstory: Tila Tequila is one of the most popular artists on MySpace, was the subject of an MTV reality show, and most recently filed assault charges against San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, which were subsequently dropped. Fastforward to Wednesday, November 18th. That night, Tila had a very public meltdown on her Ustream page. She waved around a… -
UNDERDOG: Google Android Smashes Apple iPhone in Reader Vote
20 Nov 2009 | 9:20 pmWe’ve been matching up popular web services, applications and mobile apps against each other in heated one-on-one battles here in our weekly Faceoff Series. Last week Microsoft Office bested Google Docs in a head to head race for the title of office suite champion. This week we turned our attention to a rather timely battle being waged on the mobile front, between Apple’s still wildly-selling iPhone platform and Google’s slower to boil Android mobile operating system. Apparently the latter has been gaining some ground, resulting in our first unexpected upset victory in the… -
Fido Factor Finds Dog-Friendly Places in Your City
20 Nov 2009 | 7:31 pmThis post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. Name: Fido Factor Quick Pitch: Fido Factor is a dog-specific local search and review site and iPhone app built for dog owners. It’s a “Yelp for dogs.” Genius Idea: We dog owners love our canines: it’s really that simple. We raise them, feed them, play with them, sleep with them, and fall in love with them. We want to… -
Droid Does: A Price Drop
20 Nov 2009 | 4:04 pmWhen it was released earlier this month, the retail price for the Motorola Droid was $200 for new activations on Verizon. Although Verizon is staying firm with that price point for now, it appears that some of its retailers are not. Specifically, Amazon and Dell have both cut prices on the smartphone to $150 and $120, respectively. The news comes just one day after news broke of price cuts by online retailers on other devices not named iPhone: the Palm Pre and Pixi. Of course, the device cost shouldn’t really play a huge role in consumer’s decision given the total costs of ownership for…
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SmartBrief on Social Media
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Social nets pose real IT risks
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmSocial media escapes oversight at many companies, providing security vulnerabilities that can threaten an enterprise network, -More- -
Each e-contact worth $948 to IBM
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmIBM is embracing social media, but unlike many other firms, it is backing up its efforts with numbers. -More- -
Don't spam LinkedIn groups with links
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmNewbies to a LinkedIn group need to establish a reputation before they post links, or they will be considered spammers, Doron -More- -
Game consoles don't quite integrate social sites
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmFacebook and Twitter are now on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but the way the tools are implemented renders them useless, Gus M -More- -
Twitter reports end of Oprah's show before it's official
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmTwitter was abuzz Thursday with news that Oprah Winfrey would announce the end of her longtime talk show this morning. -More- 11 Advanced SEM Strategies Are your SEM costs up, or conversions down? Ben Brutsch explores strategies that can help, such as: - Deep funnel analysis - SEO and SEM synergies - Campaign Fencing Download Now
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chrisbrogan.com
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The Serendipity Engine – Web 2 Expo Speech
20 Nov 2009 | 1:33 pmThis is my favorite keynote speech yet. It’s just 10 minutes long, and I feel pretty good about it. You’ll recognize bits of my storytelling from the last several conferences tucked into here in a new way, I hope. Enjoy this video. (Can’t see it? Click here) -
How Much Time Should I Spend On Social Media
20 Nov 2009 | 5:33 amHow much time should you spend on social media? In some ways, the answer is: “how long is a piece of string?” And yet, you can set up some simple guidelines. They might be a bit different than you think. By the way, I’m writing these from a business perspective, but remember that I think of religion and nonprofits and all kinds of other applications as business-related, too. Here’s how I look at it: Social Media Time Management The way I’d do it is to break it up into 4 chunks, and then you decide the amount of hours to devote (2 hours a day is a minimum for MOST… -
Start a Moving Business – Overnight Success
18 Nov 2009 | 7:30 pmIn this episode of the Overnight Success series, I’ve got an idea about what makes one successful: moving. But it’s not what you think. If you can’t see the video, click here. What do you think? -
Stop Humping My Leg
18 Nov 2009 | 9:13 amDear people trying to sell me on something new: stop humping my leg. You know what I mean. You’ve seen dogs do this, right? That’s what it feels like when you jump on me breathlessly to share your new product or service when you don’t really much know whether I’m the right guy for your services. I was recently leg-humped at Web 2.0 Expo, by someone I like, and who I think is smart and has a lot of good potential. The thing is, I politely declined a demo, and he persisted. Immediately, I shifted to my back foot. I felt defensive. I rolled up my interest and tucked it… -
Prioritize Your Social Media Efforts
17 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmThere aren’t enough hours in the day for all the chores that social media puts in front of us. The best writing I’ve found on how to manage your time in social media is via Amber Naslund’s social media time management series. Her efforts in crafting this should become a little ebook that you hand around to everyone. If you skipped over that link, go back, click it to open a new tab/window, and then read it when you’re done with this (or skip mine and read Amber’s- it’s that good). If you’re still with me, here’s what I want to say on the matter.
