Posts Tagged ‘Linkedin’

The job market is opening up, and the big question is: Are you really ready for it? Whether you are just getting started or been at it for a year are you as prepared as you think to be successful now? For those who have been at it a while, you have most likely submitted dozens, if not hundreds of resumes to job descriptions that you thought were ideal, only to hear nothing back. Hopefully you have become a little more savvy with what is expected of you in this challenging economy.

By now, recruiters should be able to find you online other than on Monster or Career builder.
By now your resume should have graduated into the 21st century. Has it? Your resume is no longer a one-dimensional document. You need to be marketing yourself in 3D, and by that I mean using the Internet to launch and promote your professional persona.  Do you know where to start, or how you can optimize your efforts?  From what I can tell from the hundreds of job seekers I come into contact with on a weekly basis, the answer is usually no.  I don’t blame you.  All the new things you have to do to find a job today can be overwhelming.  But don’t give up.

In fact, most job seekers are operating at about 25% capacity. The Department of Labor’s research claims job seekers are at it for approximately 18 Minutes a day. So, if you have used the job market as an excuse for not landing yet, (and yes, that was a very valid reason for a good chunk of last year, but can you still use it?)

Is it You or the Job Market? Not sure?

Take the JOB SEARCH SAVVY TEST:

Lets see how you score? This is not very scientific, just a simple count, Yes=1 No=0

Instructions: Answer with your gut & Answer truthfully, you aren’t kidding anyone but yourself.

Do you have a plan?

1. Do you know what your goals are and have a road map to get there? Y N

2. Do you have a list of companies that you would like to work for. Y N

3. Are you using Linkedin to reach out to key people in your industry? Y N

4. Are your skills, accomplishments, experience, and goals, clearly and well articulated? Y N

How does your resume fare?

5. Your resume is designed in such a way that it pops? Y/ N

6. Does it shout out your value proposition? Y / N

7. Is it clear, easy and compelling to read? – If someone scans your resume in 15 seconds, what will it tell them? Y/ N

8. Does your resume demonstrate what you can do and how you can make a difference? Y/ N

9. Your resume is jam-packed with carefully selected keywords that highlight your skills and expertise? Y / N

10. Has your resume got recruiters or hiring manager calling? Y/ N

What does Google Say about you?

11. When you google your name, professional information about you is the first item that pops to the top, and your profile tells a broader,
more interesting story. Y/ N

12. No negative or distracting information pops up when your name is goggled. Y /N

13. You have a 100% complete, compelling and comprehensive profile on Linkedin Y/ N

14. You use Linkedin daily in a proactive way to reach out to strategic connections to expand your network and target specific companies Y/ N

15. You understand all the hidden tools and applications that Linkedin
has to offer to help you expand your job search and network Y / N

16. You participate in Linkedin Discussions as well as comment on other peoples blogs on a regular basis. Y/N

17. You know that Twitter can be a good place to be for your job search and networking Y/ N

18. You are using multiple social networking sites to connect with people that can help you in your job search. Y/ N

19. You have a growing network and are working on expanding it with the right peope. Y/ N

Is your “Net working”?

20. You are comfortable networking, and feel that you are already networking in all the right places. Y/ N

21. You are a member of at least one professional association, and at least one general networking group. Y/ N

22. You have let everyone in your entire circle of friends and family know that you are looking for work, and they all know what you
would like to be doing Y/ N

23. You have a list of companies you would like to work at, and you are working to make connections with those companies. Y /N

Your Recruiter & You

24. Your relationship with recruiters is as good as with your stylist/barber/doctor? Y/ N

25. You know how to find a recruiter that would be a good match for you. Y / N

26. You understand the role of the recruiter and how you can best help them. Y/ N

Are you are Interview Ready

27. You have a strong and compelling reason why company x should hire you at the tip of your tongue. Y / N

28. You can whip out your strengths in a nano-second with some truly interesting stories that will knock socks off. Y/ N

29. You understand how to go into an interview in consultant mode and turn it into a conversation. Y/N

30. You feel quite confident in how you interview? Y/ N

Okay! Now Count them up, Yes=1 No=0. What did you score out of 30? What do the results tell you?

25-30 Not bad, You’re pretty confident about your job search skills and have a good sense of what you have to do. Bump it up a notch
and you should be on your way.

20-25 Slight room for improvement. Identify what area you need the most help with, and get some feedback from a professional.
You want to figure out how to improve what is not working and give more
attention to learning these new job search skills.

15-20 You could be doing better. With a little guidance, research, support, you could be galloping on your way to your next gig.
What are you waiting for? Get some help on how to figure out what you
don’t know. It just takes a little more effort, and before you know it
you might be busy with finding a job.

0-15 You’re stuck, confused and no doubt quite frustrated! What are you going to do about it? Stew? Not worth it. Maybe you Need a
kick in the pants.. a wake up call, a refresh! read below.. or Email me
now @ Donna@careerfolk.com, send me a copy of your resume to take a
look at, and a link to your Linkedin profile while you are at it,
assuming you have started one. Lets see how we can help you get your
Job Search groove on.

In this flooded job market, you can’t afford to jeopardize your job search by failing in any of the areas discussed above. You need to get
it right every step of the way.

In order to help new (and tired) job seekers hit refresh this year, I have joined forces with 4 top career management professionals, to create a 5 Step Seminar that is designed to give you the most up-to-date information on the Job Search Trends. Each member of this great team is an expert in their own area and we are all determined to help you learn what it takes to succeed in this challenging job market. I hope you will join us.

3. The Gift of a Positive Attitude: You may be in a difficult place with your job search, and understandably so– an ongoing job search, being stuck in a job you hate, or chronic underemployment are all very demoralizing, but an optimistic outlook (ok, not that easy to find at times, but dig up whatever you can), can be beneficial on a number of levels.

Positivity is infectious and the more positive energy you exude, the more others will be inclined to want to talk with you and help you. Taking along your positive attitude might also help someone else who isn’t feeling so good. And if you need a little pick me up, see how other people do it at the Happiness Project or the Positivity Blog. Sometimes, it’s just getting out of the house and being around others that can help you forget about your woes for the time being.

A holiday party, for instance, is a time to put aside those anxieties, relax and make the most of being around old friends, new friends, fellow job seekers and who knows who else, right? Make the decision to show up with the most positive and open mind because the chances of you leaving feeling even better is directly correlated to your positive approach.  Alternatively, take a friend or two to your next party, particularly if you know someone who does not get out enough right now and needs to do more networking, because, the more the merrier when spreading good cheer.

4 Don’t Overlook the Gifts Others Will Have For You. It is easy to go into a networking event or party, take a quick glance, and decide, “There is nobody worth networking with”. Of course, this not a very constructive attitude to go anywhere with, and in fact, since networking is about getting to know people, unless you have really made every effort to do that, that judgment call is inherently false. In fact, everyone has something of value to offer, and if it’s not immediately evident, your task is to engage until you figure out what that nugget of uniqueness is and with enough inquiry and curiosity, you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find out.

You may have holiday parties lined up with family and friend and believe that no networking is going to take place there. However, you might find yourself reconnecting with cousins, aunts, or friends of friends you only get to see around the holidays. Do they know you are on the market for a new opportunity? Do you know what type of work they all do, where they work, and how they got there? Maybe not, so be prepared to find out what they do, ask questions about their career trajectory, and any other good advice they can share with you. Never dismiss anyone and their potential to share something with you and vice versa. With an open mind, and a little curiosity, you might walk away with a lot more than you expected.

5. The Gift of Genuine Interest. Find out who is going to be at your various networking events by calling your friends, perusing the evite invitations, or Meetup.com RSVP’s, and then select 1 or 2 acquaintances (or more, per party) who you have always wanted to get to know better but haven’t had the chance. You’ve seen these people at networking events before and you know a little about them and want to know more because they do something you are interested in, worked a company you are exploring, or they are just interesting. If you know they will be at a party you are going to, do some research (No this is not snooping, just a little networking preparation). This way, you will be able to engage in some meaningful conversation, and be ready with some strategic questions that might help you learn more about a company you are interested in, or about their particular expertise. By having learnt a little about them, make your acquaintance feel special, and interested in what they do and have to offer, without asking too many questions. Most people loved to be asked advice, and are generally very willing to share their knowledge with interested parties. So, show your genuine interest, and you just might reap the rewards of a more fulfilling conversation.

6. The gift of a Linkedin Connection . Don’t underestimate how you might be able to help someone by inviting them into your network. A Linkedin invitation is ideally a mutually beneficial experience; assuming that both parties are equally invested in their professional networks and they both use Linkedin. So, go armed with your business card, and if you don’t have one, now is the time to invest in one. Vistaprint is relatively inexpensive, and easy to design online. This is one present you need to give yourself and the most important piece of information you can have on it is your Linkedin Profile URL. Before you leave, don’t forget give your card to every person you have talked to, and invite them to connect. You might be the link to helping someone else find a job, and that’s priceless, and not just for the lucky person. Being the essential connection in that process will pay long-term dividends back to you.

So, pay-it forward and put some good will out there this holiday season, everyone will be very grateful and you won’t be forgotten.  Ultimately, that’s what really counts.

Fashion is not the only thing that suffers from the ebs and flows of economics. There are resume trends too, and the 2009-2010 Resume has a whole new look.  In this recession, the rules & tools of the job search have changed and that includes the resume. For many job seekers thrust into the hunt after a long time of steady employment, these trends are not very obvious. And, there is always that familiar refrain, “…but I was told to do it this way.”  Confusion reigns and simple ignorance is evident(no offense, it’s hard to keep up with all the changes) .  This is apparent from the hundreds of “old-school” cookie-cutter resumes I continue to see.  While the traditional format may have worked in the pre-recession economy, don’t expect too much traction with it today. That is, unless you have a unique skill set that is well highlighted through out the document and is the EXACT match for what the hiring manager, your resume is most likely not going to bring you the attention you want.   So, if you think its time for a resume makeover, learn what’s in and out of vogue for resumes this season.

1. OUT: Objective IN: Clear and compelling Positioning Statement / Value Proposition/ Job Title

The top ¼ of your resume is the most prime resume real estate. I see too many resumes squander the opportunity to catch the attention of the person perusing/ skimming/ eyeballing your document. Telling a recruiter “what you want” by way of the ubiquitous Objective does nothing for your cause and the statement became obsolete at least one recession ago.  A recruiter or HR professional is going to spend approx 5-10 seconds scanning your resume for all the right KEYwords. Not only do they need to be up front and center, but so does your immediate value proposition.  How will the recruiter be compelled to place your resume over all others onto the “call” pile? It doesn’t matter what you name this top section, what does matter is that it includes ideal job titles you identify with and your value proposition. Going for the old cliched statements don’t work any more either. This Positioning Statement has to be unique to you, and convey exactly why you are so well suited for the position.

2. OUT: One style fits all IN: A style that’s appropriate to you, your career history, your industry

The days of the traditional and boilerplate chronological resume are no longer. This format does not lend itself to presenting your most valuable skills or experiences in the most convincing or strategic way.  Today, I mix and match various formats and sections to highlight each individual’s attributes, accomplishments and experiences that are relevant to the position they are seeking. While there are many pre-determined sections of a resume, every job seeker does not fit into the same mold, neither should the resume.

3: OUT: One Dimensional   IN: Multi-Dimensional

Your resume can now be a dynamic branded online message conveying who you are on many different levels.  The social networks such as Linkedin, VisualCV, or Facebook, not only allow you to outline your experience, but are also able to highlight your portfolio of work- and I don’t mean just for artists. If you are proud of a PowerPoint, articles your have written, or a blog, it should be up on LinkedIn at the very least. The quality of your posted recommendations and, in some fields, the extent of your visible network, go far in aiding you become a more viable and visible candidate.

4. OUT: Traditional personal contact info only   IN: Linkedin/ VisualCV/Website/ Blog URL, Twitter handle, etc.

If you still just have your traditional contact info, and that means the old fashioned means of communicating such as telephone, mailing address etc., think again. By not including your Linkedin/ Website/ Blog URL or Twitter handle, you are missing out on the opportunity to share that whole other dimension about you we talked about in #5.

5. OUT: Only paid work is legitimate experience IN: All experience (including unpaid, volunteer, and internships) that is relevant can convey value.

I’m constantly amazed by the interesting things people do and yet they don’t consider including it on their resume because it doesn’t fall within their traditional notion of “work experience”. Yet, if articulated well, such information can and should be strategically blended into the resume to not only demonstrate a job seekers depth of capability but also to highlight their unique experiences.

6. OUT: Black font only IN: Careful use of color

The use of color on a resume was once only the purview of artists and designers. But the need to help your resume stand out trumps that idea. A subtle use of color to help your document catch someone’s attention (and brand you as someone who is willing to take a risk) can be very compelling.

7. OUT: List of responsibilities IN: Accomplishment-based statements

No recruiter is going to get excited about reading a job description regurgitated back to them on a resume. Accomplishment-based resumes are the foundation of your Value Proposition and helping set you apart from your competition. Creating a value-packed resume requires an assessment of how you made a difference in any/all experiences you deem relevant, and the outcomes accomplished, hence the name.

8. OUT: Paragraphs IN: Bullets

Bulleted statements have been around for a long time, but it seems that some may have missed the moment when they came into fashion. If you want someone to actually read your resume, spend time carefully constructing accomplishment-based, bulleted statements under each job title. The bullets serve a critical function in leading the eye to each sentence. They make a resume easier and quicker to read.

9. OUT: “References available by request.” IN: Personal testimonies

Definitely obsolete in the 21^st century resume. It’s a given today that you will provide references if asked. Space on your resume is at a premium, so you want to make every word count. Instead, give the recruiter a chance to have direct access to your personal testimonials, (recommendations) on Linkedin (and you should have a minimum of three) by including your Linkedin URL in your contact section. In addition, there is no reason why you cannot add a short quote or two from a previous superior or colleague who sings your praises. No doubt, formatting, length and placement is key.

10. Out: One general resume IN: Multiple resumes to target different roles.

With the unambiguous demand for resumes to be highly focused and a direct match to the job requirements, there is little room for ambiguity surrounding your skills, experience or career goals. Since most professionals have a range of transferable skills that can be reconfigured for a host of different positions, creating individualized resumes, each with a clear and distinct focus is essential to be considered for a position today.

Creating a resume that meets the high expectations of today’s job market is no simple feat. Have questions about your resume, please comment below, or send me a copy for a Free Resume Review. While there are some steadfast rules regarding resumes, it is important to take artistic license to make you stand out where necessary. Most job seekers struggle with how to make the most of this, so lets talk about what your resume needs to really stand out. Just like I don’t try and cut my own hair, let a professional provide you with some real, constructive feedback, and don’t let your resume get caught out by the Resume police! Email me Donna@careerfolk.com

In the words of Zig Ziglar, American writer, “Stop staring at the steps and start stepping up the stairs.”  Call or email Donna (at) careerfolk.com

If you read my previous post on updating your resume, you’ll see that you can get a lot more out of the process than you realize.

September is a month of transitions. Whether it’s starting something new, or returning to an established routine, starting afresh is generally the theme. For those in career transition, it might be the month where you commit to buckling down to your search or career change (again?).  Granted, there are always lots of distractions during the summer and it can be hard to stay 100% focused on the goal at hand!   Of course,  that’s often a good thing and a welcome break.  But Labor Day has come & gone—and now it’s time to get re-focused.  For those of you who’ve been on the hunt for a while, the challenges to “getting back on the bike” so to speak, abound. In my work with clients, the three most common obstacles that jump out at me are lack of momentum, confidence and having a strategic plan.   While thinking about this the other day, it brought to mind my experience of watching my five-year-old daughter learn to ride a bike this summer. And then there is my story too.

My enthusiastic five-year-old is excited about learning to ride when there are no obstacles in the way, but when the path gets a little bumpy, she’s easily discouraged.  We encourage her to stay focused and keep on peddling, the bumps in the road will soon “disappear”, or at least she won’t feel them as much.

On the flip side, I didn’t learn how to ride a bike until I was 29 years old. (Yes, believe it or not, but there are a few of us on this planet who, as kids, did not have this privilege!  And luckily, there are actually teachers who specialize in helping adults ride bikes.)  Living in New York City at the time, my inability to ride a bike got the better of me, and my determination overtook whatever fear I had developed.

You probably get where I’m going with this—job seeking is a lot like learning to ride a bike.  When the job hunt gets tough, it’s easy to get discouraged and frustrated by the daunting challenge. So where do you find the motivation and support to “pick yourself up, brush off, and move forward?” — You heard it as a child, maybe, but how about now?  What’s helping you move your job search forward despite the numerous obstacles that might stand in your way?

Here are five ways that I liken my own “learning to ride a bike” experience to the job search:

I. Announcing that I was finally going to learn to ride a bike: Accountability

I let a group of friends know that I was going to learn how to ride a bike, that summer, no matter what. After that, the secret was out, and I couldn’t let myself down.  Do you have a group that you are accountable to in your job search? I see how easy it is for job seekers and career changers to lose momentum when going it alone, and that means not even reaching out to your community for support.  I have run many job search support groups over the years because I see the value, not only in the emotional support, but also for helping people stay accountable to someone other than themselves. – More about that further on.

2. I found a professional teacher: Seek help from an expert

Having never learned how to ride a bike, I knew I would need an expert to help me. I didn’t want to put my friends through the grueling process.  I found a professional who specifically taught adults how to ride bikes.  Yes, you truly can find anything you need in NYC.  He was also a great teacher, had a group of about 10 of us riding in one weekend. Of course, you say, it’s easy, but not for a group of adults who have never ridden a bike in their lives. Having an expert share current advice and techniques is invaluable. These days making the financial investment can be daunting, but having a prolonged unemployment could be worse.

3. Found the motivation to learn to ride a bike before I was 30 years old.  Set a specific goal(s)

Having a birthday milestone and a specific task to accomplish before that date is as specific as it gets. With the job search, watching ones bank balance diminish might be motivation enough, but not for everyone.  The type of goals job seekers should be considering include – Making X number of networking phone calls a week, Attending X number of networking events per week, Making X number of new connections on linkedin.com.

4. Put aside my fear and trepidation with a greater goal in mind.  Focus on building confidence.

While I had never ridden a bike before, I knew I could do it, and just had to get over the chatter in my head.  The same goes for the job search. Unfortunately, the problem with so many job seekers I meet is that the greatest obstacles often lie in their head. It’s easy to build up in ones mind all the reason’s why someone will not hire you. In fact, to put your fears and doubts in perspective, read Bonnie Lowes list of  50 Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job . I hope this will inspire a laugh at your imperfect self, and move on.

5. Joined a bicycle riding group lesson: Don’t go it alone

When I signed up to learn to ride a bike, I wasn’t alone. As I mentioned before, there were about 10 of us, and it really helped to know I wasn’t the only adult out there that had never learned to ride. It was also great to have the camaraderie and support as we made our maiden voyage around Central Park.

Research has shown that job seekers or anyone going through a big transition fare better with the encouragement and insight of a small group designed to help members move forward toward the end goal.  Job Search support groups abound. You can find them most easily on one of my favorite websites: www.meetup.com

If you don’t find one near you, start it yourself and find the support you need. I look forward to starting a new telephone job search group at the end of this month. Let me know if you are interested.

6. Learn the right way. Understand the techniques that work (especially if they have changed).

Now you must be thinking, “but it’s easy to learn to ride?”.  Well, not really, particularly for a group of ol’ folks like myself with all types of bad habits and inhibitions… And, anyway, would you say the same for the job search?   Learning the exact technique, and what do in various scenarios from our teacher was essential and by the end of the weekend we ALL rode the entire Central Park loop!   This is one of the most important tips to take into consideration today, because if you are following old-fashioned job search techniques, waiting for opportunities to appear online, you are out of touch with how to find work in this new economy. Make sure you learn how to actively use social networking tools to expand your job search, and build your online reputation.

Taken step-by-step, neither learning to ride a bike nor finding the right job seems as daunting, does it?  And eventually, both are accomplished!

Need some support getting “back on the bike” or maybe some or guidance on how to do it right so you can start to see some results, drop me a line at Donna@careerfolk.com.  Maybe you know someone that could use a shot of inspiration. Please share this story.  Maybe you have a story of how you achieved your own personal goal, I would love to hear it too. Thanks for reading.

5½  TIPS TO BRAND YOURSELF & STAND OUT

Here they are, finally, the next 5 tips and some! No one can afford to sit back and be complacent about what it takes to stay on top  of Career Management 2.0.

6. Brand your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is one of the largest “social networking” sites, where one of the primary purposes is professional networking. With over 40 million professionals utilizing it, polishing your brand on LinkedIn is essential in order to stand out.  You can do so by keeping your text short but lively descriptions (like “Business Jump Starter” rather than “consultant,” for example), and conveying your passion & humor when describing your skills & experience.  Another great tool is LinkedIn’s “Answers” feature, through which you can answer other users’ questions in ways that showcase your expertise, build your credibility and raise your “go-to” stock on the network.  It’s all about what you put into it.

7. Brand your Facebook profile. With your friends and family, that is—a valuable group that we often tend to overlook. Do they know what you do? Are you engaged with helping them whenever available?  Building a strong network is about supplying it with quality resources, information and content—your friends & family included!   If you’ve written them off as “just” that, revamp your thinking and see them in a new light—a group of allies who know you and your great qualities more than anyone else—thus, the perfect ones to refer you to new contacts!

8. Brand your blog. When people visit your blog, do they get a real sense of who you are, what your passion is and how you can help them?  Or do they just get generic words on the same old topics?  Interestingly, one of the main ways to connect with your blog readers & subscribers is quite simple, doesn’t require a bunch of bells and whistles—and it’s as close as your digital camera.  That’s right—simply adding personal pictures to your blog can foster a better connection with your audience.  That, along with your useful content, goes a long way in establishing yourself as a trusted expert.

9. Brand your public speaking. This is one of the most effective ways to brand yourself, as your audience connection is face-to-face–something I can’t stress the importance of enough!  People love information, but when it’s delivered by a “real” person, in person—it makes the message that much stronger and more memorable.  If you’re just getting started, approach associations & organizations and volunteer to make presentations.  It might not be a paying gig at first, but the contacts you can make are invaluable—the experience will hone your public speaking skills and possibly lead to paying engagements down the line.   If you need to, consider taking a public speaking seminar, hiring a coach or joining Toastmasters to polish your skills and jump-start your brand.

10. Brand your clothing. Okay, be honest with yourself:  What message does your wardrobe send out to people you come in contact with?  If your overly-casual jeans, track pants, sneakers or t-shirts scream, “I’m a little too laid-back & don’t take my business or clients seriously”(which it probably does), then you need to revamp!  I’m not saying you need to wear a suit every day, but even a little goes a long way in conveying a neat, organized image.  Whether your personal style is conservative or a little funky, you can brand yourself and give it a professional edge without being “stiff.”  Groomed hair & nails, tasteful makeup & jewelry, and properly fitted/tailored clothes can boost your self-confidence & let those around you see you in a great light!  If you need ideas, consult an image consultant or stylist for tips.

To sum it all up, and this is probably the most important one on the list—yet, it’s the simplest!  Branding yourself is all about what you believe in—your talent, your ability and your skills—and if you truly believe in something, it’s that much easier to get others on board with whatever your passion is.  For jobseekers, that means convincing hiring managers that you’re the perfect person for that position.  And for entrepreneurs, that means customers and clients believing in you enough to give you their business.   Once you’ve established your personal brand, use that to define what it is that you stand for in your particular field—and who can benefit from that.  Once you get your message out to your target audience through various media methods, people will see you as a go-to expert based on your experience and expertise.

Here’s to making your brand work for you!

One of the areas I see current job seekers struggling with is the notion of Personal Branding. Yes, it’s probably becoming a little cliched at this point, but at the same time, it is also essential in today’s job market- How else can you stand out in the most overcrowded job market in decades?  So, in an attempt to help break this concept down into very concrete steps, I have come up with 10 steps to branding yourself? I start out with five today,  and will followup up with the next five. I want you to give these all a little (if not a lot) of thought! and let me know what you think, and where you realize there is room for improvement.

1. Assess yourself. Take the time to identify what’s unique to you—for example, your strengths, skills, values, passion and style.  It’s not as hard as you think, either—to know yourself is to brand yourself!  Assess what these things are.  What events have shaped or changed your life?  What’s your true passion?  What makes you special and interesting?  How have you overcome challenges?  What kind of effect have you had on others and your surroundings?   But most of all, how can you use your passion to make a difference, in whatever it is that you set out to do.

2. Brand your resume – Most resumes I see are generic laundry lists of duties that have been assigned. What does that say about you? Not much.  Throughout your resume, there should be words and phrases that tell the story of you doing what you love.  The best way to do this is to track your accomplishments, reached goals & challenges overcome —jot them down in a notepad or type them in a simple Word document.  When the time comes to update your resume, review your written accomplishments and add them to your resume in a concise, colorful way, and if you get stuck, reach out for help! (Seth Godin has an interesting, if not controversial view about resumes in an older blogpost called “Why Bother Having a Resume?” http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/03/why-bother-havi.html- Definitely good food for thought)

3. Brand your emails. Do you have a signature at the end of your email?  I’m constantly amazed at the number of people who waste valuable advertising real estate at the bottom of their emails!  Never mind the folly of having no contact information at the bottom of their email—but what about all that FREE advertising space to let people know what you do & what you can do for them?  If you have a LinkedIn profile (a rhetorical question at this stage, I hope), why isn’t your LinkedIn button–or at minimum, your URL–there so that someone can instantly access your profile and get to know everything about you?

4. Brand your volunteering.  A recent client of mine, Cheri, didn’t just go to her volunteering site and wait to be told what to do. She was a proactive diva— suggesting new projects, and regularly coming up with alternative ways to do things. Another client, Leslie, a docent at Carnegie Hall, had years of experience helping her company save money. In her volunteer capacity, she has kept her eyes open for various ways that Carnegie Hall’s decision makers could improve their bottom line.  Both of these women have made themselves known as insightful, proactive and creative professionals that have a lot more to offer than what meets the eye.

5. Brand your networking endeavors. What type of networker are you?  As intimidating as it may seem, you can’t afford to be a reluctant one any more, so here’s a way to embrace this daunting activity: Start out by asking questions and instead of focusing on yourself, focus on the other person. Become a giver first, not just a receiver.  Give some real thought to what you can do to help this person, or what resources you may be able to pass on.  That way, you forget about the oh-so-counterproductive (and ultimately disappointing) “what’s in for me” mentality.  Another reason focusing on others is so important: Not only will you start to develop a relationship with the person you’re helping, but you never know what might valuable piece of information that person may pass on to you.  So the next time you’re mustering up the motivation to attend a networking event, stride into the room with an updated attitude and goal: To help as many people that you meet as possible. Wouldn’t you like to be remembered as someone who is out there, giving?  Your turn to be on the receiving end won’t be far off!

Could you be making a few changes in the way that you present yourself to the world? Share your thoughts here. Also, if you tweet, Feel free to share this article on Twitter, and if you don’t tweet yet.. Then its time you gave it a second glance.. There is a lot going on there!..  follow me on twitter @careerfolk.

For the next 5 1/2 steps to Personal Branding click here

Welcome to the First Careerfolk blog! This is a big step for me because I am more of a speaker than a writer, but I realize the need to push myself and expand my skill sets, just like I encourage my clients to. Since we are in the midst of the worst economy of our time and a job market that has changed dramatically, as a career coach, there is a lot to talk about, dissect and analyze, of what we know as the New Job Search. I’ll call it the ANATOMY OF A JOB SEARCH.

We are experiencing the ‘perfect’ storm in this economy: a fundamental change in employment trends, a stock market collapse, ongoing layoffs and industries shrinking or even disappearing.  I don’t need to remind you what its like, you are living it. What I want to focus on is the Why and the How to embrace the new economy. Despite the current market conditions, there is a way out of your job search malaise. I want to focus on WHY you might be struggling in your search, and HOW you can succeed in moving ahead.  From my experience the one thing I notice about job seekers is that, they tend to jump right onto the “job search treadmill” (my new term for the job search loop), with out taking a moment to assess where they are, what they can do now, and what they are looking for. Assessing who you are and what you stand for has never been more important: How can you stand out, if you don’t know what you stand for?

After an exciting  job search strategy group session, where one of our members came to report back on how he landed his new position, my thoughts about success in the job search were confirmed so, as part of my first blog I want to highlight, from my hands-on perspective, 10 Points that Make Job Seekers Successful  and why others are getting stuck right now. People are finding work, and this what I have noticed about those that are finding it.

10 Essentials for Job Search Success:

1.     Fire in your belly. An insatiable motivation to succeed and do whatever it takes.
2.     A sound understanding and coherent and articulate message conveying who you are and what you can do that is different from others, is critical in todays job search.
3.     An inherent confidence in yourself.
4.     Staying focused on your goal, and not letting the negative distractions, and past rejections keep you back from getting up and moving forward.
5.     Establishing a daily & weekly routine that incorporates online research and  networking, as well as “in-person” networking, volunteering, learning a new skill, or maintaining or expanding an old one.
6.     Maintaining a positive attitude: Allow yourself time out to do things that make you happy or keep you inspired and motivated and give you other things to think about and an opportunity to relax.  (More to come on this)
7.     Acknowledging that you might be in the search for a while, and making the most of your time while you are at it. (More to come on this too!)
8.     Joining a job search strategy group that you can network with, generate ideas with, be accountable to, and help you keep focused.
9.     Searching for companies, not for jobs:  Having a plan that will help you reach your goal is essential, and this involves identifying where you want to work, and establishing a plan to get to know those companies.
10.     Learning how to use one or  more forms of social media to get your message out and market yourself and your brand: Definitely linkedin, but also Twitter, Facebook and blogs have all become  integral to a successful job search strategy.

Are you managing to accomplish all of these? Do you have a clear and precise understanding of who you are and what you have to offer?

Our next post will look at the top 10 mistakes job seekers make! Look out for post #2.