Friday, May 29, 2020

Book Review 30-Minute Resume Makeover

Book Review 30-Minute Resume Makeover One of the cool things about my career expert partners is that they are thought leaders in the career space.   One of my partners, Louise Kursmark, is well-known as a thought-leader amongst her peers, recruiters, etc.   She has the uncanny ability to combine the very nice person characteristic with astute businessperson.   And she has a bunch of books that she has authored Her latest, 30 Minute Resume Makeover, is a great read.   At only $9.95, this 200+ page book has a ton of valuable information for you to understand the how and why of an excellent resume.   Louise includes a number of example resumes, picking them apart and explaining what makes them effective, what can be improved, etc.   If you are a do it yourself type, Id say this is an essential purchase. The tagline is Rev up your old resume in half an hour here are the chapters: Chapter 1: Resume Diagnosis Chapter 2: Resume Repair: The 30-Minute Resume Makeover Chapter 3: Proofread and Polish to Perfection Chapter 4: Before-and-After Resume Transformations (has 18(!!) resume transformations, including a situation, the before version, the after version, and strategic thoughts) Chapter 5: Create a Killer Cover Letter (this is an awesome chapter) Chapter 6: Find a Job Fast Appendix: Resume Development Worksheet If I had this book, my resume probably would not have sucked, and I would have gotten a job in 2006 (thank goodness that didnt happen :p). You can find her book on Amazon here, or at Wendy Enelows bookstore here. If you want to find resume writing information on this blog, check out The Resume Experiment, a five-post series where resume experts and recruiters pick apart a resume and suggest their revisions.   Louise Kursmark was one of the expert resume writers contributing there. Book Review 30-Minute Resume Makeover One of the cool things about my career expert partners is that they are thought leaders in the career space.   One of my partners, Louise Kursmark, is well-known as a thought-leader amongst her peers, recruiters, etc.   She has the uncanny ability to combine the very nice person characteristic with astute businessperson.   And she has a bunch of books that she has authored Her latest, 30 Minute Resume Makeover, is a great read.   At only $9.95, this 200+ page book has a ton of valuable information for you to understand the how and why of an excellent resume.   Louise includes a number of example resumes, picking them apart and explaining what makes them effective, what can be improved, etc.   If you are a do it yourself type, Id say this is an essential purchase. The tagline is Rev up your old resume in half an hour here are the chapters: Chapter 1: Resume Diagnosis Chapter 2: Resume Repair: The 30-Minute Resume Makeover Chapter 3: Proofread and Polish to Perfection Chapter 4: Before-and-After Resume Transformations (has 18(!!) resume transformations, including a situation, the before version, the after version, and strategic thoughts) Chapter 5: Create a Killer Cover Letter (this is an awesome chapter) Chapter 6: Find a Job Fast Appendix: Resume Development Worksheet If I had this book, my resume probably would not have sucked, and I would have gotten a job in 2006 (thank goodness that didnt happen :p). You can find her book on Amazon here, or at Wendy Enelows bookstore here. If you want to find resume writing information on this blog, check out The Resume Experiment, a five-post series where resume experts and recruiters pick apart a resume and suggest their revisions.   Louise Kursmark was one of the expert resume writers contributing there. Book Review 30-Minute Resume Makeover One of the cool things about my career expert partners is that they are thought leaders in the career space.   One of my partners, Louise Kursmark, is well-known as a thought-leader amongst her peers, recruiters, etc.   She has the uncanny ability to combine the very nice person characteristic with astute businessperson.   And she has a bunch of books that she has authored Her latest, 30 Minute Resume Makeover, is a great read.   At only $9.95, this 200+ page book has a ton of valuable information for you to understand the how and why of an excellent resume.   Louise includes a number of example resumes, picking them apart and explaining what makes them effective, what can be improved, etc.   If you are a do it yourself type, Id say this is an essential purchase. The tagline is Rev up your old resume in half an hour here are the chapters: Chapter 1: Resume Diagnosis Chapter 2: Resume Repair: The 30-Minute Resume Makeover Chapter 3: Proofread and Polish to Perfection Chapter 4: Before-and-After Resume Transformations (has 18(!!) resume transformations, including a situation, the before version, the after version, and strategic thoughts) Chapter 5: Create a Killer Cover Letter (this is an awesome chapter) Chapter 6: Find a Job Fast Appendix: Resume Development Worksheet If I had this book, my resume probably would not have sucked, and I would have gotten a job in 2006 (thank goodness that didnt happen :p). You can find her book on Amazon here, or at Wendy Enelows bookstore here. If you want to find resume writing information on this blog, check out The Resume Experiment, a five-post series where resume experts and recruiters pick apart a resume and suggest their revisions.   Louise Kursmark was one of the expert resume writers contributing there.

Monday, May 25, 2020

4 Ways To Prove You Are a Powerful Leader Without Saying a Word - Classy Career Girl

4 Ways To Prove You Are a Powerful Leader Without Saying a Word When you start managing your new business, change careers, or start aiming for a promotion, there’s a tendency to get wrapped up in the details of thinking, looking, and acting the “right way” to land the sale. Often, this can make us appear anxious, needy, or even desperate to our co-workers, customers, and clients. Sheryl Sandberg wrote eloquently about “leaning in” when it comes to our work and careers; however, at times the best thing to do is actually lean back, own our space, and visually project the confidence that we need to succeed. If you “fake it ‘til you make it,” you’ll soon find that the confidence and trust that you have in your business is actually materializing. Once you stop running after clients, chasing money, and worrying so darn much, things actually get easier. Here are four ways to relax into your new role at work, whether youre an intern or the CEO. 4 Ways To Prove You Are a Powerful Leader Without Saying a Word 1. Lean Back   Like, literally lean back in your seat. If you’re not leaning back right now while you’re reading this, shift yourself into a more comfortable back-leaning position. Did you feel the difference in your energy and attitude? When we lean back, we open ourselves up to new ideas, new energy, and lower our stress levels. However, this doesn’t mean slouch in your seat. When done right, the proper lean back keeps you comfortable while also making you appear alert and straight in your chair. The only one who may really notice the subtle difference is you â€" in how you feel while chatting with others and how your posture is affecting your emotions. To get the perfect lean back posture, keep a small amount of space behind your back and the chair, and tilt your hips forward a bit. This posture is perfect for important meetings, negotiations, new client assessments, and consultations (especially when you are both meeting for the first time to see if you’re a good fit). It’s a great posture when you need to appear relaxed, yet in control: meetings where it will serve you well to appear happy and confident in who you are and what you’re selling. [RELATED: 5 Tips For Career Confidence for Shy Women at Work] 2.  Take Up More Space   To command respect and attention, you can also use power poses whenever practical and possible. In her 20-minute TED talk that’s been viewed over 34 million times, author and social psychologist Amy Cuddy explains how power postures can affect both testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and may even enhance our success. Basically, her premise is that the more confident we appear (regardless of how nervous or jelly-like we feel on the inside) the more worthy we’ll be perceived by others. Our postures and poses also affect the chemicals within our own bodies â€" chemicals that can boost performance and mood to help us become more charismatic leaders.  3. Dress to Impress     While confidence shines from the inside, its also inferred by the way we carry ourselves, sit, move, and by how meticulous we are in grooming ourselves. While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, there is much to say on proper grooming and styling. One of my all-time favorite programs, the old TLC makeover show, “What Not to Wear,” hosted by Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, illustrated just how much impact proper style can have on other’s perception of us. The final wardrobe reveals on the program perfectly illustrated how, with a bit of style guidance, the right clothes for our body type, and the perfect accessories, our friends and family might hardly recognize us. To achieve a fresh new look and personality, make a hard assessment of your closet. Employ purging tips to make room for new items. Set a budget and then take advantage of shops that offer classy and affordable basics like structured jackets and statement pieces on a budget. A Classy Career Girl also understands that sometimes you have to dress down to get ahead as well sometimes â€" in the face of still-pervasive sexism in the workplace. However, as your income and budget grows over time by following these principles, you can invest in classier, higher-end items to round out your wardrobe. 4. Image Counts When we take the time and make room in our budgets for nice clothes, shoes, haircuts and color, unique statement jewelry, and other items â€" these things DO make a big difference in how people perceive us. This is why politicians, celebrities, and other high-profile individuals employ professional stylists as a vital part of their entourage. Image, like or not, counts for a lot. When we fail to take care of ourselves, whether through laziness or misdirected priorities, it shows. Our personal style, or lack of it, can create a negative impression in the minds of those around us, including coworkers, staff, managers, and clients. However, the reverse is also true. Have you ever heard the expression “dress for the job you want, not the job you have”? When we dress up whether we are aiming for store manager or CFO the people who are going to be making the decision about whom to promote are going to be judging us on whether we have what it takes to fill that role. Will we be able to handle the pressure? Do we look and act the part? Are we able to represent the company the way it needs to be represented? When we start dressing smart early on, we become the role we want  and avoid getting stuck in the job we have. This means that we climb the corporate ladder faster and smoother. If you dress for the job you want, take care to employ power poses, lean back, and lean in, you’ll prove to others what a powerful leader you are.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Mobilize Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Mobilize Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Heather Huhman, a contributing author to the Personal Branding Blog and President of ComeRecommended.com , cited three personal branding predictions for 2011. One of them focused on mobile applications and websites. What have you done to prepare for your personal brand to go mobile? Just look at the stats: 87% of Americans have mobile phones 72% of consumers regularly send/receive text messages. Consumers send 664 texts per month vs. making and receiving 176 phone calls. Worldwide mobile â€" 5 Billion vs. Personal Computer Penetration 1.1 Billion Mobile web usage is not just for generation Y â€" it’s growing amongst all generations In fact, 55 million people use mobile web as their number one choice to surf the web and find information -Source: Kelsey, 2009 and Accenture. Google is the most popular mobile internet site Second, is Facebook. Third, are Yahoo sites. -Source: Mobile Metrix, Feb. 2010 Ask yourself What methods are you using to start a dialogue with potential employers, clients or contacts using a mobile device? When was the last time you looked at your online profiles? Are they mobile compatible? Can the be read easily in one look via a SmartPhone or do you just see a portion of who you are? 1. Take a mobile review of all your profiles. Who measures up and is ready for your mobile connections? Who isn’t? 2. Since Facebook is the number one social network and the number two mobile destination, having a Facebook business profile â€" for you and/or for your business â€" is a must have. Do you have one? If so, please share your Facebook URL in the comment section below so we can take a look at how you manage your brand on Facebook! 3. Is your blog and/or personal site, mobile ready? As we reach the halfway point of 2011 in one month, my question to you is simple â€" what have you done to mobilize your brand? Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog and is also the CEO (chief engagement officer) of buzz2bucks.com â€" a word of mouth marketing firm. She helps create connection, credibility, community and cha-ching through mobile marketing and social commerce around your brand. Maria Duron is co-founder of #brandchat a weekly twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding.

Monday, May 18, 2020

SECOND Most Used Website By Recruiters And Companies - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

SECOND Most Used Website By Recruiters And Companies - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Chances are, many if not most of you reading this blog already have your professional profile posted on LinkedIn, the Number One site used today by both recruiters and companies to locate highly qualified people for their open positions. Another site you certainly won’t want to overlook, however, is ZoomInfo (www.zoominfo.com), the SECOND most used website by recruiters and companies for finding talent. (ZoomInfo is covered in rather extensive detail in “Headhunter Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever!) The adage that applied to finding a new job as recently as just a few years ago was, “It isn’t WHAT you know but WHO you know.” In today’s turbulent, challenging job market, though, that adage has been replaced with this one: “It isn’t just WHO you know but WHO knows YOU . . . AND can you be FOUND?”! And that, of course, is where websites such as LinkedIn and ZoomInfo come in. For success in 2011 and beyond, it is imperative that a job seeker thoroughly embrace this concept, i.e., being able to be FOUND. The complexity and speed of business today demands it. During the month of February 2011 (the latest month for which numbers are available as of this writing), 3.9 million jobs were filled in the US. What you’re probably not aware of, however, is that, during that same month, 3.1 million positions went UNFILLED! (These numbers are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report). This is one of the most under-reported stories today about jobs and the economy in America! One of the reasons so many jobs are going unfilled month after month is that there often is a mismatch between supply and demand. That is, there aren’t enough qualified candidates with the necessary skill sets/background experience to fill certain jobs in demand. There is, however another, equally important reason so many job are going unfilledâ€"candidates simply can’t be FOUND! Supply and demand One of the current realities of today is that, at best, only ONE-HALF of ALL positions available are ever posted/advertised! And, just coincidentally, the higher the level of the position, the less likely it is to be posted. Recently, for example, I had a Fortune 500 hiring manager tell me, “Skip I need to hire two people but I am scared to death to post the positions. I wish I could just reach out to the right people, or that they would just walk through the door and I could hire them.” Employers today are extremely hesitant to post positions for a couple of very valid reasons. First, they know they will literally be inundated with a mountain of résumés, many (if not most) from people who will not even be remotely qualified. Second, all of these résumés will have to be appropriately recorded and responded to in accordance with the Equal Opportunity laws. When a company posts 20 open positions and gets over 14,000 resumes, you can better understand their reluctance to post jobs. Being in all the right places One of the many keys to success in branding is not only to create the right message and image for yourself, but also, to ensure that you can be FOUND! And to be found, you have to be in the right places. While ZoomInfo “crawls” the web looking for people (over 50 million people are currently profiled on the site), don’t leave your profile getting on this second most visited website to chance. Create your own profile on ZoomInfo and control your web presence. (To get started, go to www.zoominfo.com and in the upper right corner you will see the tab “Create Your Profile.”) As a “headhunter,” when I have a client with a hiring need I (and most other “headhunters,” hiring managers and Human Resources professionals) go BOTH to LinkedIn AND ZoomInfo to begin my search. There are people I find on ZoomInfo that I don’t find on LinkedIn and vice-versa, primarily due to the algorithms the sites have set up in their search engines. Only if I don’t find enough people in these searches do I then resort to posting a position. Many companies operate in this same manner too. REMEMBER THIS: In general, the BEST jobs almost always go to those who “aren’t looking but can be FOUND”! If I find you on LinkedIn AND/OR on ZoomInfo AND you have a compelling profile, I will reach out to you with a telephone call. The purpose of my call is not to “pitch you a job,” but rather, to ask you one simple question: “If one of the opportunities I am currently working on is potentially stronger than what you are doing today, are you open to at least hearing about it?” And, from that, a meaningful conversation generally ensues 90% of the time. If none of the positions I am currently trying to fill are a good fit for you at the time, then from that conversation I know more about you which opens the door to a wide range of future possibilities. (I recently placed a professional into a powerful role five years after we had our first telephone conversation!) But, significant to note, this conversation will never occur if two branding concepts aren’t followed: (1) having a compelling profile; and (2) ensuring that you can be FOUND! So, by all means, make sure your professional profile is posted on LinkedIn, but make sure it’s also posted on ZoomInfo! That way you will significantly increase your chances of being FOUND when and if the right career opportunity comes your way. Author: Skip Freeman is the author of “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever! and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Specializing in the placement of sales, engineering, manufacturing and RD professionals, he has developed powerful techniques that help companies hire the best and help the best get hired.

Friday, May 15, 2020

7 signs that its time to move on from your first job - Debut

7 signs that its time to move on from your first job - Debut Getting your first job after graduating university is a life-making experience. Its a time where you feel like youve finally arrived, youve grown up and everything youve learned up to this point has finally paid off. Its a giddy feeling. What no-one ever talks about is what happens when the dream is over, and its time to move on from your first job. Theres no right answer for when to leave a job you could be there 6 weeks or 6 months. But when youve gotta go, youve gotta go. Youll know when somethings not right, and when the feelings there, dont ignore it. Confront it and see if its worth considering a change of scenery. Not sure what signs you should be looking for? Here are a few things to give you an idea. Youre not being challenged Hey, at the end of the day a graduate job is not supposed to be a breeze. Its not supposed to be so hard that it crushes you either. But if youre not using any of your ample brainpower, honey wyd? Your job should provide you with the opportunity to think and find creative solutions to problems. Finding an answer is satisfying and affirming; if your job is too easy, youre denying yourself that affirmation. You dont know whats going on Some companies are run in a way thats quite opaque. Sometimes thats fine, after all, not everything that concerns upper management concerns you too. Its when decisions are being made that affect you and you havent been asked your thoughts on anything that you need to worry. It might suggest that they dont value you enough to have an opinion regarding how youre managed or how the company is run. Theres nowhere to progress to Everybody wants to move quickly up the career ladder, but its a different situation when the ladder doesnt lead anywhere. Some companies have very rigid structures that dont allow for you to get promoted easily. In addition, they often lack clear career paths which can make it hard to stay motivated. After all, what are you doing it for? People leave often Is the front door of your office building a revolving door? That right there is a pretty good warning sign. If people leave the company often after being there for a short time, that may indicate that something is awry behind the scenes. If you suspect this might be the case, dont stick around and let it happen to you. Youre not being trained properly The best employers should want to upskill you and teach you new things that you can use day-to-day. Theres an element of being thrown in the deep-end and learning on the fly in any graduate job, but if the resources to better yourself arent there, thats a problem. Its a toxic environment This is probably the most obvious sign there is. You cant work in an office that maintains an air of professionalism and yet, people are at each others throats behind the scenes. Or expects you to work overtime without being paid. Or somewhere that tells you that your achievements are worthless and your hard work doesnt matter. If any of those signs are there, get out immediately. You find it hard to come to work At the end of the day, you know yourself better than anyone else. Do some deep reflection and youll find it in yourself whether your job is right. Motivation and mental health are both supremely important in decisions like this. Theres nothing wrong with leaving because you just dont feel it any more. Its not the end of the story, just a new chapter. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Monday, May 11, 2020

145 Yve Lavine Corporate Photographer - Jane Jackson Career

145 Yve Lavine Corporate Photographer - Jane Jackson Career Yve Lavine is an exceptionally talented photographer who covers corporate and private events with panache.Stunning portrait and event photography delivered with customer satisfaction in mind and always with a smile and genuine understanding of branding are the hallmarks of Yves work.From her first interesting career transition as a Pattern Cutter out of the London College of Fashion during her early career, to providing support as a Youth and Community Worker and then providing much needed services as a Drugs and Sexual Health outreach worker in London, Yve  always felt that there was even more she could offer the world.   She felt privileged to use her love of photography, videography and acting to help so many disadvantaged youth before taking time to travel the world and ultimately moving to Australia.That’s when she threw herself into photography professionally. I was fortunate to meet Yve at one of our #LinkedinLocalSydney networking events with my co-host, the LinkedIn Ninja Down Under, Jillian Bullock.I love Yves incredible use of light and shade and the way she captures the essence of our friendly networking events so much. You will enjoy our lively chat and her fascinating story too!What Yve believes in:Everyone should be respected and feel good in their own skin. Making people feel valued and confident in front of the camera is her goal. And, exploring the stories of her clients to create the visual representation they need to reach their business goals.If you want to learn how to build YOUR personal brand, Personal Branding for Career Success is the perfect online course for you!Where to find Yve:Yve Lavine PhotographyTwitter: @LavinePhoto

Friday, May 8, 2020

Tips For Finding Resume Writing Services

Tips For Finding Resume Writing ServicesFinding the right resume writing services for your job search in Houston TX can be a daunting task. There are thousands of companies offering these services, but not all of them offer a quality product. It is important to compare the company you hire for this service with one that is a step above.A good place to start in doing this is by asking friends and family who have had their resume services done about the experiences. Look for reviews on review sites like Angie's List Houston TX. You can also do an internet search for these companies. You should do a little research on the company before making your final decision as to which company to use.Before hiring the company, go through the resume. There are many things that are very important in a well-written resume. The resume should include your full name, address, phone number, email address, company type (private, government, nonprofit, etc.) The length of employment (if you have been emplo yed) and your experience level. It is very important to get all of this information correct.In addition to this, you want to make sure there is no misspelling or grammar mistakes. You will want to pay close attention to this. If you see some spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes, it can hurt your chances of getting a callback. Also, the resume should include the company name and address. The company should also be able to send you an invoice.The first step in preparing your resume is to think about what it must contain. Next, you need to start looking at resume writing services Houston TX and find the best match. One company might specialize in resumes from an engineering company, while another would be a great choice for an office administrative resume. Make sure you look at all the offers the company offers and the prices they charge.Also, compare companies on the following points: customer service, professionalism, quality of writing, previous jobs, and how much the company charg es. Most companies that have been in business for a while have the latest technology and software. These companies have everything they need to complete the job quickly and effectively. It is also important to read through the customer service policies for the company you are considering. This will help you decide if the company you are interested in will offer any form of support in the event that you need it.You should also consider the cost of the resume writing services you are thinking about hiring. There are companies that are a lot cheaper than others. How much you pay depends on how much they charge for their services. Prices vary greatly depending on the company and the type of writing you want done. Once you have narrowed down your choices, you should check the background of the writers to ensure they are reputable and have a good reputation.Always ask for a sample of work before committing to a company. If they are not willing to show you any work, move on to the next com pany. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you need a resume writer for a certain amount of time or an emergency situation, the prices can vary greatly. When it comes to finding the best way to get your resume written, you should compare the prices and the types of services offered before making a final decision.