Get Your LinkedIn Game On!

Get Your LinkedIn Game On! Its time, isnt it? LinkedIn has been growing, and its an excellent career resource. What have you done with your account? Let me share a very cool e-mail I got from Tom Kenny, an East Coast friend (and a living example of perfect networking), after he read Im on LinkedIn Now What???: I feel there is a lot of useful information in the book that people can act upon to improve things, a lot of food for thought and you even give over 30 references to other material. The book may be brief but youve given me a lot of home work to do! I hope everybody realizes that you are not providing solutions but helping to steer them in the direction that is right for them! In my book that is the best type of teacher! Heres whats cool about this e-mail: Tom wrote a very good LinkedIn user guide for members of a professional networking group in New Jersey he has already put a lot of thought into getting the most out of LinkedIn! I find it interesting that he talks about the 30+ references included in the book (I havent counted them, and didnt realize there were that many, but hey :)). I wonder if its because Im a blogger, and we regularly link out to other people, so pointing my book readers to other places is no big deal. Im going to pay more attention to what other authors do in their books, and how many resources they point to. Anyway, if you are looking for another new years resolution, and eating less donuts, lose 30 pounds, or get a promotion just doesnt excite you, how about: Get my LinkedIn game on, Get business out of relationships found from LinkedIn, Do all of the bare necessities with my LinkedIn account and profile, Derive more value out of my online social networking (Facebook, anyone?), or simply, Just understand what the heck I should be doing! Go ahead, check out my book. Or go to Scott Allens LinkedIntelligence.com blog. While you are in this mode, check out Alison Doyles list of Top Job Search Sites for 2007 I definitely agree with the third site she lists! Get Your LinkedIn Game On! Its time, isnt it? LinkedIn has been growing, and its an excellent career resource. What have you done with your account? Let me share a very cool e-mail I got from Tom Kenny, an East Coast friend (and a living example of perfect networking), after he read Im on LinkedIn Now What???: I feel there is a lot of useful information in the book that people can act upon to improve things, a lot of food for thought and you even give over 30 references to other material. The book may be brief but youve given me a lot of home work to do! I hope everybody realizes that you are not providing solutions but helping to steer them in the direction that is right for them! In my book that is the best type of teacher! Heres whats cool about this e-mail: Tom wrote a very good LinkedIn user guide for members of a professional networking group in New Jersey he has already put a lot of thought into getting the most out of LinkedIn! I find it interesting that he talks about the 30+ references included in the book (I havent counted them, and didnt realize there were that many, but hey :)). I wonder if its because Im a blogger, and we regularly link out to other people, so pointing my book readers to other places is no big deal. Im going to pay more attention to what other authors do in their books, and how many resources they point to. Anyway, if you are looking for another new years resolution, and eating less donuts, lose 30 pounds, or get a promotion just doesnt excite you, how about: Get my LinkedIn game on, Get business out of relationships found from LinkedIn, Do all of the bare necessities with my LinkedIn account and profile, Derive more value out of my online social networking (Facebook, anyone?), or simply, Just understand what the heck I should be doing! Go ahead, check out my book. Or go to Scott Allens LinkedIntelligence.com blog. While you are in this mode, check out Alison Doyles list of Top Job Search Sites for 2007 I definitely agree with the third site she lists!

Considering the Power of Career Expectations Marla Gottschalk

Considering the Power of Career Expectations Marla Gottschalk “I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china.” Oscar Wilde Authors Note: Thanks to Gretchen Rubin for inspiring this post. As you likely have, I hold many expectations pertaining to my career. These expectations can prove invigorating, limiting, or even humiliating â€" depending on my vantage point. On some days, I hold myself to unachievable standards. On the following day, I may hold a much different view of my career reflection. I do know this: Kindness matters â€" as expectations can become a cruel task master. So a bit of advice: Know that you likely do the best you possibly can to meet your most valued expectations. Know that missing the mark isnt a crime, and not venturing to try is far worse. Know that falling back on what feels comfortable or fulfilling is never wrong â€" it just may not always pay the bills or prove practical (in the present). Know that mixing expectations and comfort, may reveal a recipe that works for you. Know that expectations should serve as a guide â€" and not a sentence. Above all, always strive to acknowledge that difference. Happy Independence Day! Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She examines the effect of Core Stability on work work life life. A charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program â€" her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Talent Zoo, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

Ready. Aim. FireMiss!

Ready. Aim. Fire…Miss! [one_fourth last=no]I sat down and talked to my careers lady about optionsI’ve now chosen what I want to do   Tasmia Akkas[/one_fourth]All of the careers newsletters, blogs, career advisors, tutors, all of them say to you: ‘Don’t do the scattergun approach.’ Being a scared second-year student, thinking I had to sort something anything out, I opted for the scattergun approach. Big mistake. I applied to at least 30+ law firms for some form of work experience. Being a law student, everyone: me, my friends and family, expected me  to go off and become a solicitor. Genuinely thinking it was my only option, I obliged and I fired the gun. Needless to say, I missed my target, a good 27 times. All of the formal big-magic-circle placements rejected me. It wasn’t because I had bad grades, or lacked extra curricular activities. No, instead, I just had no approach or reason to apply to them. Don’t get me wrong, I secured one interview with a top magic-circle firm and then two placements with high street firms, so I didn’t do too badly. But I remember the awkward questions: “So, why our firm? Why law? Hmmm?”. I mumbled some awful reason about business, helping people, numbers and travel. No wonder the interview was a failure; I couldn’t even think of a reason to sound witty or intelligent. I had applied to these firms, and once I got there, I had no fuel left; I had forgotten why I even wanted to do the placement in the first place. Work experience Despite having no enthusiasm to complete my placements, I knew that work experience was vital, so the two placements I did get provided a great work experience opportunity. At the start of my placements, I was eager to really get stuck into some tasks and learn about the law and become an amazing mini-solicitor. Unfortunately, once I was given my tasks (some included swinging round on my chair for an hour, getting the teas and sandwiches, whilst other days I was drafting cases or letters), I realised law wasn’t what I wanted. Every day I went in, hoping it would get better but it really didn’t. The placements themselves were an amazing opportunity to understand the law, but I also realised law wasn’t for me. Perhaps if I had completed more research, not become blinded with the reputable honours of the legal career, and focussed my applications, I’d know that law was not the route for me.  Lessons Learnt So now I’m in my third year and it’s time for those job applications again. This time though, I sat down and talked to my careers advisor about options. She was great and sat with me for an hour and a half and gave me loads of booklets to look through, and then told me to come back once I knew what I wanted. I’ve now figured out what I want to do. I don’t think the three years of placements I completed in law have been a waste; in fact, they’re related to my new career choice. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is to play with your skills, so here are a few tips to help you out: Talk to people â€" tutors, career advisors, family, friends, everyone! Don’t be afraid/annoyed/worried if someone questions your career â€" you have to do the job everyday, so you need to be happy! Write down your strengths and what you would like to do â€" focus on these skills! Look at personal specifications of the jobs you want to do, start trying to see if you fit them, and if you don’t, try and get some relevant experience! Never try the scattergun approach â€" it just doesn’t work! ___________________________________________________________________________

The Power of Someone Who Believes in You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Power of Someone Who Believes in You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Playing host to family visiting me in southwest Florida recently I took my guests on a tour of the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in Fort Myers. I had never realized before that that the two men knew each other, much less had homes right next door. But what fascinated me the most was hearing that Ford actually worked for one of Edison’s companies in Detroit. And in fact, Ford had been tinkering with an invention he called the Quadricycle when he met Edison, who saw the potential and encouraged young Henry to “Keep at it.” The power of belief It made me think of how important it is when you’re building your personal brand to have someone who believes in you to cheer you on, to support you. Because when you’re building your brand initially, before you’ve really established yourself, all sorts of fears and doubts can creep in. Is this the right direction, who am I to attempt this, is this really going to work, etc., etc. Turning to successful people in your network for help in developing your brand and identifying ways you can leverage it can greatly accelerate your success. Too often we don’t engage our network early enough, getting out there only when we’re ready to forward a resume or ask for specific referrals. But seeking out their help earlier in the process can help you reach your goals much faster. 5 ways engaging early will help Here are 5 ways your contacts can advance the development of your personal brand much faster than you could possibly do on your own: They can show you the path. Seeking advice from someone who’s already gone through the kind of evolution you’re trying to make can speed up your journey. They can point out pitfalls to avoid and show you shortcuts that can flatten your learning curve and save you an enormous amount of time. They can recommend the right resources. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know or what you’re missing until someone who’s been through it before points it out to you. And more often than not, they can help you find what you need to plug the gap. They can give you a shot of confidence. Henry Ford would likely have been a success even without Edison’s words of encouragement, yet having the moral support of someone you greatly respect can be very motivating, and help keep you going even in the face of setbacks. They can connect you with opportunities. This is the very essence of networkingâ€"when someone who knows you and what you can do sees an opportunity that would be a perfect fit for you. Your contacts are your extra eyes and ears in the marketplace. But the more you keep your goals and your intentions to yourself, the fewer people will be available to help you. They can recognize your best qualities. Recently I told one of my coaching clients that based on our discussions over the past few weeks, I thought what really separated her from her competitors were two thingsâ€"her inside status in the industry and her strategic mindsetâ€"and that she should play these up in her marketing materials. She was dumbfounded. She had never placed value in those traits because she took them for granted. But I could clearly see these were major strengths that her competitors did not have and that she should definitely capitalize on to win new clients. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your network to get some feedback on your work in progress. If they laugh at what you’re trying to do, they’re probably not the right supporters for you. But if they start to proactively engage in your ideas and particularly, if they start to give voice to bigger visions that you’ve been too timid to even dare think about, then you know you’re on the right track. Author: Liz Lynch is founder of the  Center for Networking Excellence and  author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online (McGraw-Hill, 2008).  She writes, speaks and consults to experienced professionals on  how to seamlessly integrate social media and traditional networking to save time and  accelerate results.

How to Get a Job Without the Necessary Experience CareerMetis.com

How to Get a Job Without the Necessary Experience â€" CareerMetis.com Source: Pexels.comThe challenge of gaining the required experience for a position when every position expects you to have already it is a source of frustration for the majority of job seekers. How do you get a job in your field when you don’t qualify for any of them? How do you gain experience when no one gives it to you?For those navigating this problematic aspect of the job market, one of the most important things to remember is that you often have more control of the situation than it appears at first job search.Demonstrating to future employers why you’re a good fit will not only convey why they should give your application a second look but will also showcase your drive, problem-solving, and motivation; all of which are characteristics highly valued by recruiters in virtually every industry.1. Articulate the Qualities Make You a Smart ChoiceevalevalThink creatively about why recruiters would be making a smart choice by hiring you. Slow down and consider what made you pursue the job in the first place. Even if you don’t have the professional experience the posting requires, you do have interests and passions that led you to it. How can you articulate those qualities to the recruiter?In an overview of finding a job sans degree or experience, Tylene Welch writes for Fiscal Tiger: “Any hobby can add up to a substantial skill set that will help you get the job you want. Some companies need a fresh perspective that’s hard to find in people who’ve worked in the same industry all their adult lives. Your lack of ‘experience’ in some areas might help you get your dream job.”The point: the skills and interests you have outside of a professional setting can be just as workable regarding selling yourself to a potential employer.In an overview of why nonprofits fail, business asset specialists found, “If the board thinks one way and the employees believe another way, these overlapping missions are missing the point of the nonprofit and whom they are supposed to be assisting. Long-term sustainability depends on everyone working together on growing revenue, addressing the organization’s culture and leadership issues.”Whether you want to work for a nonprofit or a for-profit company, if you can demonstrate why you’ll further their mission you’ll prove you’re bringing something priceless to the table.2. Highlight Your Soft SkillsThe good news for those hoping to get a job without all of the hard skills or required experience is that soft skills are receiving a well-deserved reevaluation from organizations working to fill their ranks in meaningful ways.In Deloitte’s 2016 Global Human Capital Trends report, 92 percent of respondents believe soft skills like problem-solving, emotion control, and purpose is critical priorities that can have a significant impact on factors such as retaining employees, improving leadership, and building a meaningful culture.evalWhat soft skills come naturally to you? Are there any you have cul tivated through past personal, volunteer, or work experiences? What examples can you provide that demonstrate you use your soft skills in meaningful and practical ways?3. Reconsider the Experience You Do HaveWhen you’re pursuing a job that you don’t have the apparent work experience for, it’s beneficial to sort through your past to see whether or not you have overlooked the fact that you are bringing some of the required expertise to the table.As Caroline Ceniza-Levine pointed out for Forbes, you usually do have to demonstrate you have some measure of experience for a job. If you haven’t gained it traditionally, consider whether your volunteer, project, academic or personally curated experiences can bridge the gap for you.There is a wide array of examples that prove direct educational or professional experience is not always a requirement for getting and succeeding at the dream job.evalWe live in a world where poets and comedians in Silicon Valley are designing AI personalit ies, and engineering graduates are achieving in fashion and design. Take note of how others how thought outside the box to apply the experience they have to a job they haven’t yet mastered.4. Network, Network, NetworkIt can’t be said enough, but three times is a good start: networking is one of the best ways to get the job. Despite that though, networking is one of the most underrated approaches to landing the dream gig.Matt Youngquist, the president of Career Horizons, told NPR, “At least 70 percent, if not 80 percent, of jobs are not published. And yet most people â€" they are spending 70 or 80 percent of their time surfing the net versus getting out there, talking to employers, taking some chances [and] realizing that the vast majority of hiring is friends and acquaintances hiring other trusted friends and acquaintances.”Working to establish meaningful relationships with other professionals within your chosen field is just as important as cultivating your relevant job exp ertise. Not only that, it is more important than relying on basic, internet-based channels of job seeking.In their overview of how to do networking right, the University of Maryland points out that building stable relationships is often a result prioritizing others. Using your resources to help others is a method second-to-none regarding creating a reputation that will make others driven to help you and ultimately work with you.These approaches are most effective when partnered with a continual pursuit of more knowledge and â€" of course â€" experience. The point isn’t that anyone can do anything.The point is that before you deem yourself unqualified, you need to make sure that’s the case. Some jobs are worth going out on a limb for and taking the extra time required to consider if you would be a good fit. If you’re never willing to look beyond the positions your experience fits perfectly, you could potentially miss out on jobs that suite you perfectly.

How to Prepare for Your Next Big Career Opportunity

How to Prepare for Your Next Big Career Opportunity Recently, I spoke at a women’s event at a global investment bank on how to successfully navigate the path to promotion. At the end of my talk, I was asked the following question: “At some point, more women will be given opportunities to lead businesses at the firm. What should we be doing to prepare for the limelight?” What an awesome question. It’s not one I had been asked before. At some point in your career, you are going to have that big break â€" that opportunity to step up and step into your full potential personally and professionally. When that time comes, you’ll want to be ready. While there are probably 100 things you could do to prepare, it’s about focusing on the small handful of things that will make the biggest difference. In my view, there are three. Build your support system The first thing to do is start to build your support system. This is especially important if you’re being put in a pressure situation where people are watching to see whether you’ll succeed or fail. It’s like being on the flying trapeze with spectators watching and waiting, and wondering if you’ll make it safely to the other side. But no one’s holding a net to catch you if you fall. So, you have to create your own safety net. The size of your support system is less important than the dependability of it. So don’t worry if you start small. Just make sure it’s robust. Build relationships with people you can trust both externally, such as friends and family, and internally, like your mentors, sponsor and a few close colleagues. You’ll need these trusted advisors and supporters to help you get around obstacles and prop you up in the difficult moments, so you can get back to work the next day and make forward progress. For me, it began with my husband, sister and parents. Then my office-mate Liz, my fellow analyst Ross, and my former boss, Madeleine. We’re still friends to this day. So identify who you can count on and for what kind of support. You’ll need friends in both high and low places. And just like in show business, it’s often the people who were your friends before you became “rich and famous” whose motives you can trust. The size of your support system is less important than the dependability of it. Close your skills gaps When you take on a new role, there’s likely to be new strengths and skills that you’ll need to bring to bear. Figure out which one or two are the most important for you to develop yourself and start working on them. For me, it was learning to manage people. I was a micromanager of the worst kind, so I knew I would need to start practicing how to delegate. Even in the kitchen, I insisted on cooking despite my 14-hour a day job. It was crazy. I had to learn to let go because I would never succeed if I tried to do an even bigger job on my own. It’s useful to figure out your Achilles Heel before you get to the next level up in intensity and scrutiny. What gaps do you need to fill? And how can you start building those new muscles now? Get clear on who you are When you’re thrust into the limelight, it’s easy to get buffeted around by the pressures and headwinds all around you. At those times, you’ll appreciate knowing who you are and what you stand for. So this is a great time to get clear on your values. What’s “okay” and not “okay” in your book? Where do you draw the line on deciding which risks to take and what behavior to tolerate? How will you handle people who disagree? How do you want to exercise your voice in speaking up for your beliefs? The more senior you become, the more you will be tested. This is where your self-confidence and values need to be your bedrock and compass. People will push you, sometimes just to see how far you can be pushed. My values came from the stories my parents told me about my ancestors. There was the story of my grandfather who never even took a paper clip from his office because it belonged to the university (he was the President). And my great grandfather who was assassinated because he convicted the criminals who represented the puppet government who were running China at the time (he was a judge). Having the value of “doing the right thing” ingrained into us helped me hold my ground and navigate some tricky situations. When you have clarity on who you are and what you believe in, the added benefit is self-confidence. And that’s helpful to every career. When you have clarity on who you are and what you believe in, the added benefit is self-confidence. Will you be ready? It’s up to you to make sure you’re ready when that next big opportunity appears. And that means doing the work to prepare yourself. Whether it’s building your support system, closing your skills gaps, getting clear on who you are, or something else, the time you spend investing in your capabilities is never wasted. And now, it’s time to go ahead and invest in yourself. Which of these areas would most move the needle for you as you prepare for the limelight? Leave a comment and let me know.

Littleton Co., WV Resume Writing Services - How To Market Yourself

Littleton Co., WV Resume Writing Services - How To Market YourselfLittleton Co., WV is a small town that has made some history through its history, and today this area is thriving as a tourist destination. The littletonco.com website claims to be 'America's Perfect Vacation Town' because it has the best weather in the East and 'the Best Days of the Year' in this area.If you are looking for an opportunity to earn your money with a growing tourism industry, you should contact the tourism business owners of Littleton Co., WV and let them know what you can do to help the industry to succeed. You could find that many of them will use resume writing services to get your resume noticed and distributed to job seekers who are looking for work at all times of the year. Now then, there are three kinds of jobs in this area of Western Virginia and people in this area are looking for a wide variety of positions, so resume writing is definitely a type of service that is used by people in this area. Resume writing is a very important service provided by resume writing services. These are professionals who can write well-written resumes that are perfect for any job or opportunity. In the past, many people didn't even know about resume writing and wouldn't even have considered doing something like this.Back in the 1970s, there were only a few job opportunities in the area of West Virginia and there were also a lot of vacancies, so the unemployment rate was high. Many people in the area wanted to get out of their hometown and seek jobs in other areas of the country, but they couldn't find many jobs in this area of West Virginia. As time passed, these folks learned how to use resume writing services and found a way to increase their income and earn extra money through this industry.Resume writing services are used by many people who are looking for new jobs and they want to reach a wide range of employers who are hiring at all times of the year. One of the top problems facing many job seekers today is how to market themselves in order to obtain the right type of position. This is also another reason why resume writing services are needed by job seekers.Today, people in Littleton Co., WV know that there are a wide variety of jobs that are available in this area of West Virginia, and the tourism industry is the biggest thing in the state. Many tourists come to the area of this small town, but there are many businesses that provide employment opportunities to people in this area. Because of this, it is important that you learn about resume writing services so that you can help yourself when applying for a job.There are many ways that you can help yourself and others become successful with your own resume and your resume writing services can help you in many ways. These include helping you write a strong resume, learning how to use resumes to get a good job, and the importance of marketing yourself professionally and being seen by the right employers. If you are a high school student looking for a summer job, you may want to look into resume writing services for help.Career education is something that resume writing services can give you and they can make you an expert in this area of West Virginia. If you want to use resume writing services to help you market yourself and get a job, then your resume writing services should do the same for you.