How To Kickstart Your Job Search

How To Kickstart Your Job Search 5 Sometimes the key to success is getting a good start. This a guest post by Joey Trebif. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. “You're never beaten until you admit it.” â€" George S. Patton Take the job search plunge now You are on the ledge, inching forward one tiny step at a time. eval It took a lot of courage to get up here, now you just need to step off. You know that once you step off there is no turning back, but you hesitate yet again.eval It's a beautiful day, sunny and no clouds in the sky, a great day to be out here. You finally find the courage to move to the end and you step off. You drop quickly and look up at the brilliant blue sky before you hit. Your journey ends and you plunge into the water, the pool water is not as cold as you thought and, now that you think about it, the diving board is not really that high. If you haven't… If you are serious about your job search you need to take the plunge! Leaning towards the edge you may get a little wet but the fastest way to get a job is to be fully engaged in the process. If you've not started yet, visit the Job Marketing Toolkit page to get the basics on: Resumes Cover Letters Thank You Letters Interviews If you have… If you have started your job search, how do you focus? First, you need to have a plan to focus your search, set goals and track your progress. Job Search Checklist â€" This article from quintcareers.com provides an excellent guide for developing a plan of attack.The article has 5 parts with quite a few links, but the very first section (Part 1) focuses on planning and preparation with 10 or so points (understand the process, understand the jobs that interest you, creating your list and more). Job search planning â€" steps, tips and tricks â€" Keppie Careers offers this blog post which has a number of great tips, such as “Identify your 3%” (I don't want to give this one away so read the post) and Identify companies. There are quite a few more, and all are worth the read. There are additional links at the bottom of the page for related posts. Create a Job Search Plan â€" A short article by Careeronestop.org provides 2 job hunting truths, namely that 1) job search takes time and 2) you need goals and a schedule. The blog provides some useful links (like a job hunting schedule, job web sites, finding potential employers and a few more (including resumes and networking). CareerAlley Website Tracking Template â€" This template, created by yours truly, is posted on a shared section of Google Docs. You don't require any special software as this is a Google Docs spreadsheet. Use this to keep track of which sites you've visited, when you visited and any special comments. Once you load the document you will want to click File, Export, select .xls and then save the file to your local directory. Keeping track is an important part of the process. 5 Great Job Hunting Strategies that Will Get You Hired â€" This article, published on Zoomstart.com, provides a number of tips on cover letters, resumes and interviews as well as some other advice. Certainly worth a read as you build your Job Search Plan. There are also some key facts at the top of the article (like the infamous “90% of jobs are not advertised”). Good luck with your job search. About the author Joey Trebif is a senior finance executive from the New York area who has extensive experience in job search and career advice. Joey blogs about career advice, job search advice and job search site reviews at CareerAlley and can be found on Twitter at @CareerAlley. This article is part of the 3rd Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest. If you want Joey Trebif to win, share this article with your friends. If you liked this article, you'll also enjoy 9 Tips For Applying To Job Openings When You’re Feeling Desperate.

3 Strategies to Encourage Increased Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Strategies to Encourage Increased Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career 1. Prompt replies Have you lost business? Consider this scenario: “Anna” reported that she wanted to order an expensive cake from a highly reputable bakery. Upon recognizing the baker was too busy to consult, and the other employee tasked with calling back was pre-occupied, Anna took her business elsewhere. The eternal sales motto is, “Make it easy for your potential customer to say Yes!” Returning phone calls is just one method. Are you prompt with messages online; do you follow people back who appear to be a good fit; and do you promptly get the desired information to the requesting party in a timely fashion? Paying attention to these questions and making it a habit to be prompt will increase your business. Not only will the current prospect that converts to becoming your client but also all those receiving excellent service from you will recommend you to those they know. They may also write favorable reviews. 2. Be of service While in conversation with another, find the perfect opportunity to ask, “How may I help you?” Consider for a moment how you feel when others ask you the same question. Most likely you feel appreciative and possibly interested in working with that person. Wouldn’t you like to be the person toward whom others feel grateful and turn to for help? The qualifier is when you hear a request with which you have no ability, say so and decline in order to remain authentic. However, if you know of someone who may be of service, offer the introduction. This is another route for offering a helping hand. Have you ever experienced outstanding service and told the provider it was such? Offer to put a 5 star recommendation online. As you make this a practice, it educates others in doing the same. Soon, you too may be the recipient of glowing testimonials and reviews! 3. Become the teacher of your trade Keeping secrets of what works best for your industry is typical of the old corporate mindset. You each work almost undercover to be the top performer. This inhibits quicker learning and advancement. By willingly teaching others who are coming up behind you on the techniques that work best, you become “the expert” in their eyes. But not only are you the expert, your personal brand becomes “The approachable expert”. The act of mentoring through a variety of mediums encourages others to pay you for more in-depth teaching. Use all media and mediums available to you. Apply for interviews with the media, write articles and blogs, answer questions posed online, offer to speak at events or provide webinars online. Adapting this one type of community service to the online world will enable you to potentially reach millions. Another sales concept is to find your qualified audience. Out of the millions online, those who need and like your shared offerings will respond positively. You will encourage more people to inquire about your services and speak positively about you. Following these practices will enable you to build business more quickly than previously thought possible and put you on the wave of the Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, (800) 704-1499, was honored by Open View Labs with inclusion in their international list of “Top 25 Sales Influencers for 2012.” Elinor authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, Sourcebooks and the best selling career book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”, Career Press. Elinor offers highly acclaimed inspirational keynotes for conferences and is available for consultation.

4 Reasons traveling is a waste of time

4 Reasons traveling is a waste of time Im growing sour on travel. I have always disliked it. When I was a kid my parents took us all over Europe and the Caribbean, and it really exhausted me. Now that Im a grown up, I am better able to articulate why I think travel is a waste of time. Here are four reasons why I think the benefits of travel are largely delusional: 1. There are more effective ways to try new things. While its true that learning and broadening your experience is important, doing that one time is quite different from consistently integrating something new into your life. Its low risk to try something for a week. Which will make more impact on your life: going to Africa for a week and seeing wildlife and living in the jungle, or retooling your weekly schedule so that you take a walk through your local forest preserve once a week? You will have a stronger connection to the forest preserve than the jungle, and you will have a deeper sense of how it grows and changes and how you respond. So if you hope that travel will change how you see the world, doing something each week to see the world differently will have more impact than doing it one time, seven days in a row. 2. Cultural differences are superficial. Economic differences matter. Dont tell yourself you travel to learn about different cultures. Because you dont necessarily learn from people in other cultures. And you dont need to leave the US to find cultures different from your own. Frans Johansson writes about diversity, and he says that race is not a indicator of diversity any morebackground is. And the most diverse backgrounds come from economic disparity. So a rich white person and a poor white person are more different than a rich white person and a rich black person. I think this is true across cultures as well. I had a South African roommate in college. But she was just like me: rich, white, Jewish. But when I lived on a French farm for a summer, the big difference between me and the farm family wasnt that they were French. It was that they were living on a farm. I know this because when they figured out I was unhappy, they sent me to live with their cousins in Lyona large city in Franceand the cousins were just like me. 3. People who love their lives dont leave. Imagine if you were excited to get out of bed every day because you had structured your life so that every day was full of what you have always dreamed of doing. And you were in love with your boyfriend, and your job, and your new handstand in yoga. You love it allimagine that. Would you want to leave all that behind for two weeks? What would be the point? Youd have more fun at home than away from home. So instead of traveling somewhere, how about figuring out what youd really love to be doing with your time, and do that? In your real, day-to-day life. 4. Travel is not the time to do deep thinking. People who need an escape so they can think deeply actually need to add that to their daily life. How about setting aside time to think deeply every few days? Sam Anderson suggests in his article in New York magazine that meditation is so important that people are going to start making time for it in the same way we make time for exercise now. So maybe that travel bug you are feeling is actually a give-me-headspace bug, and if you think you need it only for a couple of weeks, youre wrong. You need time to think each day. Re-craft your days to honor that need, instead of running away for what can only be a temporary respite. My guess is that the things you are aiming to accomplish while you travel are generally things you could accomplish on a deeper level if you stayed home and made changes to your life instead of running away. Routine and practice are the keys to giving deeper meaning to your life. Sure, disrupting routine is important for gaining new perspective. But you certainly dont need to travel to the next country. There is plenty that is new right where you are now. Just look closely.

5 Simple Things Positive People Say Every Single Day

5 Simple Things Positive People Say Every Single Day When all else fails, your attitude  is what will truly define the final outcome. Some  people confuse positivity with ignorance, being unrealistic or naive. But in my eyes, it couldnt be further from it. Being positive  means having confidence in your own abilities, other people and your endeavours. It means being able to critically assess and address a situation, and keep spirits high. Negativity really is an ugly thing. In all situations its important to be realistic and have back-up plans, considering all potential scenarios, but believing something is doomed before youve even given it a chance at success is  a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the flip-side, truly believing in something means youre likely to give it everything youve got, therefore it will be more likely to work out in your favour. Peoples attitudes are  contagious. If you want to bring a bit more energy and positivity into your own life and others too try saying these simple things. But be warned, it has to be with a smile and the smile has to be genuine. 1. Hello Okay it sounds really obvious that any  given person would probably say hello on any given day, regardless of being positive or not.  But positive people tend to say hello in  situations where they  could easily not say it,  and ignore.  It doesnt matter whether its the person next to you in the lift or the guy  waiting for the same train.  Youd be amazed what simply saying hello can do for your mood and the recipients. 2. How are you? Go the extra step and ask how people are. Positive people tend to ooze a confident selflessness that makes others feel special and appreciated. Asking how someone is might be just what an upset person needs to pull them out of a black hole. 3. Sounds great Positive people arent naysayers. They dont critique peoples ideas unnecessarily nor do they try to bring people down. Instead, positive people always try to see the good in things; the potential that exists. They support people, and genuinely want the best for others. They arent the first to pick out errors or potential problems they offer sound advice, but only after showing their interest and encouragement. 4. Id love to Positive people dont close the door on unknown opportunities; they give things a go and give themselves as many chances at success as possible. They dont say no, no, no all the time; they get involved in a lot of different activities and benefit from all the new experiences and opportunities. 5. Thank you Positive people show gratitude where they should, and give credit where credits due.  Showing appreciation and saying thank you  makes  people more likely to want to help out again  in future. Saying thank you means the positive person has  identified the value someone has added, which in itself can lift their mood. It feels good to say thank you, both for the person who says it and the one whos receiving the message. Negative people are quick to judge, look for a hidden agenda or jump to conclusions, and failing to properly acknowledge someones work will likely discourage them from similar behaviours in future. Being positive can be easier said than done, especially when youre feeling like youre drowning in work or that what youre working on is totally hopeless. But changing your attitude and doing or saying simple things to lift your mood and those of others is a great place to start. Being open to new ideas and supportive of projects and ideas you hear about will set you with greater chances for success!

Workplace Communications - Generational Differences - Career Pivot

Workplace Communications - Generational Differences - Career Pivot Workplace Communications Workplace communications have changed dramatically in my lifetime. When I started working as a programmer in Chicago in the mid-1970s, I had a phone on my desk. If I wanted to talk to my boss, I would call him and his secretary would often answer his phone. If he was not there, she would take a message on a little piece of paper and put it on his desk. In the early 1980s, I used IBM’s mainframe-based e-mail system called PROFS. My phone was tied to a message center and, if I did not answer in 4 rings, the center would answer and take a message. A little light would flash on our phone to tell me to call the message center to get the message. In the mid-1980s, I got an answering machine with those little cassette tapes. That was later replaced by voice mail. In the early 1990s, I had my first Internet-based e-mail address. I received my first laptop and a modem to use to dial up to download e-mail. In the mid-1990s, I got a pager, a cell phone, and I learned to text. Later came smartphonesâ€"first a Crackberry…err…a Blackberry, and then an iPhone. Now, I am constantly connected. WOW, things have changed! (More: Gen X and Y â€" Like Oil and Water?) Generational Differences I am a baby boomer (born 1946-1964) and I was born in the mid-1950s. I grew up talking face to face or on the phone. If you want to communicate with me, I would much rather have you talk to me than email or text me. I am typical of my generation, I want a face to face dialog, but if that is not possible, let’s talk on the phone. I want to hear your voice inflection, passion, and desire. Listen to the most recent episode Gen Xers (born 1965-1982) first started entering the workforce in the late 1980’s. Email was the norm. If a Gen Xer needed to communicate to someone it was, typically, through e-mail. Have you or one of your colleagues sent an e-mail to the person in the next cube or office? Come on…you know you have! Gen Y or Millennials (born 1983-2000) entered the workplace when mobile communications devices were the normâ€"cellular and smartphones. Google was the preferred way of finding things. Texting and instant messaging were the most common ways to communicate. This generation created social media and is highly social. However, not in a manner that most baby boomers perceive! (More: Group Dynamics in the Multi-Generational Workplace) Workplace Communications in a Multi-Generational Office When you have multiple generations working side by side not everyone has the same preferred communications mode. If I, a baby boomer, want to get the attention of a millennial who is on the other side of the building, I will likely text them. If I call them, they probably will not answer the phone AND they probably will not listen to my voicemail. Notice I say probably because, even within a generation, there are great variations. Similarly, if a millennial texts a baby boomer, the baby boomer may not read the text. However, if the baby boomer is a parent to a millennial, they may have learned to text. The point is that every individual has their preferred communications style. If you want to be heard and be understood, you need to adapt your communications to the listener. How do I know your preferred communications style? I need to ask! You can make certain assumptions about an individual’s preferred workplace communications style based on their generation, but you still need to ask them. Workplace communications should be a give and take where everyone adapts to everyone. If you want to get ahead in your career, you need to be understood. To be understood, you need to understand the listener’s workplace communications style. What is your preferred communications style? What is your boss’s and team’s preferred communications style? Has this mixture of workplace communications styles caused friction in your workplace? This post is part of a weekly series on the Personal Branding Blog. You can read the original post on the Personal Branding Blog. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Kmarts Joe Boxer Xmas Commercial A Lesson in Personal Branding

Kmarts Joe Boxer Xmas Commercial A Lesson in Personal Branding The recently released Joe Boxer Show Us Your Joe commercial has been called out as both controversial and brilliant over the past few days. The ad promotes the brands holiday line of mens underwear and features men dancing inyou guessed ittheir underwear. The ad is totally on-brand and Joe Boxer demonstrates several of the key attributes of a strong brand.Strong brands equally attract and repel. Strong brands are not looking to be everything to everyone. They have a target audience they are trying to engage. The person who may be offended by this ad probably wasnt going to run off to buy novelty underwear for themselves or their man anyway. If Joe Boxer resonates with its core audience, they have done their job.The same can be said for a strong personal brand. The last thing you want to be is a jack-of-all trades, master of none. A strong personal brand needs to be specific to attract the right audience. Perhaps you are a Marketing Executive specializing in pharmaceuticals, an Operat ions Professional skilled in business turnarounds, or an IT Executive focusing on cloud computingwhatever your expertise is, be sure to attach it to your professional identity so the right employers can find you and the wrong employers wont.Strong brands are memorable. Whether you like the Joe Boxer commercial or not, its certainly memorable. Strong brands create buzz and an emotional connection (positive or negative).Personal brands can be equally memorable. You can create opportunities to be memorable with hiring authorities by creating collateral to support your brand and keep you top of mind. This might be a strong and engaging LinkedIn profile, a robust Twitter presence, a blog that positions you as an expert in your field, a book, a white paper, a videothe possibilities are endless. Start separating yourself from the pack and create memorable collateral to stay on  decision makers radar.Strong brands are consistent. I doubt the Joe Boxer ad is out of character. After all, the y sell novelty underwear. I cant imagine any of their ads are stuffy or boring.Personal brands must be equally consistent. You cant position yourself as a Product Manager one day, a Sales Manager the next day, and a Marketing Manager the following day and expect people to know what you are or what you stand for. Select a professional identity that best encompasses your brand without sacrificing consistency and market that brand regularly to the people you want to get in front of.

Looking For a Resume Writer in Denver? Heres How to Find One Fast

Looking For a Resume Writer in Denver? Here's How to Find One FastIf you're looking for a resume writer in Denver, Colorado, then you've come to the right place. I have been to your place of business several times and have written resumes for a number of people, so I'm sure that you will get the job done quickly.When I go into a job, I know that I will get the same look on people's faces as I do at my clients' workplaces. It seems that everybody wants to hire somebody who can write a killer resume. In fact, people from all walks of life want to hire someone who can put together a good resume.Of course, you don't just walk into the office of a resume writer and hand him a stack of resumes and say, 'Here, you take them.' First, you have to make an appointment and sit down for a chat with him. You should know what sort of resume he specializes in and ask him what he's doing in his spare time. Once you meet, it's likely that you'll need to be in Denver for a few days.The best way to hire a resume writer in Denver is to make an appointment first. Then you can pick him up in the morning and take him out to lunch.During the afternoon, you can have a discussion about your specific needs and what you want the resume to convey to your employer. Since the writer does not work in an office, you can also get some ideas from him. He will help you decide what type of cover letter you should use to begin your job interview.He can be helpful in keeping you on track with your career goals, and he can help you focus on getting a professional appearance. Your resume is only as good as your writing skills, and your goal should be to focus on these things. Having a job in a good city is also a benefit, but you'll get the benefit if you're a good writer.Once you know what kind of writer you want to be able to provide you with a great resume, you have to make sure that you take time to look for the one in Denver. You can talk to friends who have written their own resumes and ask them about their experience.I think that the best way to find a resume writer in Denver is to contact local agencies and ask for references. I've got no doubt that you'll be happy with the results.