Maybe you’ve heard the news that, as a teenager, Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was involved in some activities we would identify as bullying. Whether or not you believe how someone behaved as a 17-year old should affect what we think of them almost 50 years later, the discussion is yet another reminder of how bad behavior can easily come back to haunt you.

In this case, traditional news media have reported on this story by speaking to people who are willing to say they were involved with the Romney incident, or who witnessed it. Fifty years from now, we are likely to be reviewing Facebook posts and online blogs outlining how presidential candidates thought and behaved in their younger days. While a presidential election involves an extreme “background check,” it is a good reminder for all of us about how our behavior may come to light in the future.

Laurie Ruettimann wrote an insightful post about accountability and asked the question: “What’s our hiring criteria for the President?” (Or for other jobs?) These are important questions for every professional to consider. Criteria will continue to be competitive. It’s not going to get any easier to get a job.

Another notable topic that came up during the Sunday morning program was the issue of telling your own story. Clearly, this is important for politicians. If they don’t tell their own story, one of the commentators noted, they risk someone else filling in the details. This is an important mantra I tell all of my clients; I may explain this 10 times a day!

If you are a politician, and no one knows what you think about a particular topic, it shouldn’t be surprising when someone else steps up to offer an opinion about what you probably think. However, have you thought about how this also happens to anyone who does not tell his or her own professional story?

If you allow someone else to shape your digital footprint by failing to create your own online profile, be aware that someone else, intentionally or unintentionally, is filling that digital void by mentioning your name online or by writing something about you.

What are you doing to make sure you are telling your own story online?

The chick incubator was always one of my favorite exhibits at Chicago’s Science + Industry Museum when I used to visit as a kid. (Although, in those days, I am pretty sure there was no + in the museum’s name!) It’s pretty amazing seeing a new life come into the world — right before your own eyes!

Back in those days when I watched the chicks hatching, I didn’t make connections between the tiny birds and a job search or business ownership, but today, I just can’t help myself. Those hard-working, lifeless seeming chicks (I had to watch one for several minutes to convince myself it was not dead), turn into fluffy, adorable, happy looking animals in less than one day! It’s hard to believe, looking at the pictures, that there could be such an extreme transformation in such a short time.

This begs the question: “How is a job seeker or a business owner like a chick?”

Clearly, there are a lot of differences. The chick benefits from some intuition. It learns to stand up and walk without help. It fluffs its feathers and it doesn’t need anything special to get where it needs to go. Most job seekers and entrepreneurs don’t have the type of intuition they need to accomplish all of their goals.

Using social media, networking, knowing what to say when you’re meeting new people — these are not inborn traits. It’s easy to flounder around, on wobbly legs, maybe even feeling totally spent at the prospect of all the work needed to get where you are going.

So, what about the similarities? I think I can sum it up by saying, “What a difference a day makes.” Our chick friend is unrecognizably changed in only one day. A job seeker or small business owner can also be transformed overnight via information that may make the difference between knowing what to do next and stagnating in one, undesirable place.

Have you ever had a light bulb moment? You know, the one that made it clear exactly what to do next? If you take the time to stop and learn what you need to know to help you accomplish your goals and plans, you could have that light bulb moment that makes all the difference.

I’ve been corresponding with a prospective client. He has been floundering in his search and isn’t even certain if he is looking at the right jobs. It seems very clear to me that he has not been successful because he is too caught up in what he can’t figure out to try to understand what he can — that he has valuable skills and a reasonable path right in front of him.

Don’t let yourself be exhausted by all of the effort it takes to get you to the next place along your road to success. How nice would it be to have someone show you the way, and to point out tools you can use to make your journey easier?With a little help, an experienced resume writer and help authoring your online profiles along with the dose of  confidence that comes from working with an experienced hand, you can change your outlook from that of a tired chick to the ruler of your own roost. It’s your choice.

Few people doubt the important role mothers serve. A book by Stephan Poulter, The Mother Factor: How Your Mother’s Emotional Legacy Impacts Your Life, suggests that “There may be a direct link between our career success and our mothers.” (Hat tip, Anita Bruzzese.)

Alexandra Levit blogged about Anita’s post about our mothers’ influence on career success:

The book’s thesis is that, whether we acknowledge it or not, our mothers leave an indelible impression on the people we become. Our ability to function in personal and professional relationships is based on our mothers’ “styles.” Poulter defines the five major styles of mothering as:

* The Perfectionist Mother: whose family must look perfect in every way.
* The Unpredictable Mother: whose ups and downs can create lifelong anxiety and depression in her son or daughter.
* The “Me First” Mother: whose children come second or last.
* The “Best Friend” Mother: who’s now in vogue but can wreak havoc.
* The Complete Mother: who provides guidance and shows compassion to her child.

For example, if your mother was a perfectionist, then you might have difficulty taking feedback at work. “Ninety five percent of the time it’s your emotional history spilling into the present,” Poulter says.

If this research is correct, I am even more lucky than I thought to have had such an encouraging, supportive, caring and giving mom. My mom was exceptional and unique in many ways. She had high standards for herself and others. She taught me to believe in myself, to set goals and work hard to achieve them. She was instrumental in helping me develop my soft skills, including writing, communication and common sense.

My mom demonstrated a strong work ethic and instilled that ethic, along with a can-do attitude that supports me to this day. I am so appreciative to have had that foundation upon which to build my life and career. I am so grateful…I continue to realize how much my mom taught me the longer she is gone. I think about her on Mother’s Day and every day.

photo by foxrosser

No luck. I started to doubt myself and assume, for some reason, the direction I was traveling meant I would not see that familiar cityscape. After all, I had never actually landed at Midway Airport and then traveled north into the city, being that I had lived in the south suburbs. I convinced myself that the angle of the path must be making it difficult to see anything.

It was cloudy, but I did not realize how foggy it was…In fact, it was so foggy, I didn’t realize the kind of view I had from the hotel room window until the next day. (This picture is the surprising view once the weather cleared up.) Of course, the fog was the reason I wasn’t seeing that beloved skyline, not because of the path we took from the airport. (This was clear on the way back to the airport — turning around, there was the skyline.)

I knew it all along…I had enough experience in that city to know what I should have been seeing, but I still talked myself into assuming it must just be the road I was on preventing my view.

Isn’t that what so many job seekers do? They allow themselves to interpret information incorrectly because the result is not what they expect. Maybe they know, intellectually, what they should be doing, but convince themselves of something that isn’t true because landing a job can be like driving in the fog — confusing. You can’t see what is really there, so it’s easy to conjure up reasons why.

The reason you are not getting a job may have nothing at all to do with the reasons you think. It may not be because of the economy, or because you are too young, or too old. Maybe it’s because you are effectively job hunting in the fog, when you need a clear sky to be able to see how to get where you are going.

Are you on the wrong road? Maybe you can’t land a job because you are actually applying for the wrong positions. When is the last time you really studied the job descriptions that interested you and evaluated if you are really qualified? Have you thought about applying for different types of jobs? Maybe “your job” doesn’t exist anymore; your field isn’t hiring. It may be time to look at your career from a different direction. Avoid being linear in your thinking; start exploring new opportunities and options. Maybe that includes working for yourself or branching out into a different field altogether. The first step is being willing to look at things from a new angle.

Have you stopped to think about if your career materials are presenting an unclear picture of your goals? What would someone reading your materials be able to learn about you? Have you done an audit of your digital footprint, what you are saying about yourself? Are you presenting a clear, “blue sky” picture of what you offer, or will a reader be confused? Have you linked your “hobby” chef blog to your LinkedIn profile and confused readers who think you want to be an accountant? If reviewing your resume and online properties leaves a reader wondering, it’s time to re-tool.

Maybe you’re too busy writing your resume all about you, when you really need to re-focus and write it to illustrate the touch points making you qualified for the job? Are you looking backward (metaphorically) in your application materials (into the fog), when it’s time to turn around and look to the future? Your resume needs to be about that future — it’s not a historical diatribe; it’s a marketing document. Focus it on your NEXT opportunity, even if it means you need to look in a different direction to do it.

Knowing how to look for a job is not intuitive. If you haven’t done it before, or you haven’t conducted a job search in a long time, you are probably sitting in the fog right now. Don’t wait for the weather to change — take charge of your career. Spend the time to learn how to conduct a successful search before you look back and realize the skyline was there all along.

In addition to LinkedIn, what online tools do you think are most helpful for new grads to improve their networking potential?

Lindsey: I think people misjudge Twitter as a career and networking tool. It is a phenomenal research tool for following companies, people and industries that interest you and learning what they want you to know about them. We never had such direct access to such information before. Twitter gives you a million topics to learn and think about – which can then be used in a variety of networking situations from informational interviews to career fairs to informal conversations.

What are your best tips for following up after an informational meeting? How about how to follow up after an interview?

Lindsey: I recommend that people start the follow-up process during the actual meeting or interview by asking the other person how he or she likes to receive follow-up. For instance, at the end of a great chat at a networking event, you can say to the other person, “I really enjoyed speaking with you. What’s the best way to keep in touch?” Then you can find out if the person prefers email, phone or perhaps connecting on LinkedIn or another social network.

If you haven’t had this conversation, follow up is still extremely important. I suggest following up with a concise email that has a really descriptive subject line, such as “Nice to meet you at Thursday’s NYC Networking Night” or “Thank you for the interview – online marketing assistant position.” This helps your email stand out from all of the bland follow-up emails that say “thanks” or “interview.” Next, thank the person for his or her time and mention something from the meeting that stood out to you or a topic that you could tell the interviewer was particularly interested in. Finally, end with some sort of added value – another thought you had from the meeting or an idea that it sparked. Show that you are someone who always gives a little bit extra.

In your book, you write about being persistent – without being a pest. Can you share a tip or two for how a job seeker should know how to identify that fine line between following up enough and too much?

Lindsey: There really is a fine line. The right kind of persistence is always polite, positive and appropriately timed. You should send a thank you email within 12 to 24 hours of a formal job interview using the tips in the previous answer. Then mark in your calendar to wait one full week before attempting any other follow up. I know a week feels like a long time when you want a job, but it’s a short time to the person who interviewed you.

If you don’t hear back after a full week (or even 10 days), it’s okay to send a second email. Now here’s the fine line: it’s pestering to write, “I haven’t heard back from you and I wanted to know if you’re still interested in hiring me.” It’s polite and appropriate to say, “I wanted to thank you again for our interview last week. In the meantime, I’ve read more on [something you discussed] and [then say something you learned or an idea this research sparked]. Would you be able to let me know any next steps at this point?”

If you don’t hear back from the second email, it’s probably not a great sign. If you’d like to give it one more try, a third follow up action is the last I would take. You can try another polite email, leave a voice mail message after hours (with a similar, positive follow-up comment) or reach out to the person on LinkedIn or Twitter if you know he or she is active there.

In my opinion, three attempts is the maximum. You’ve given it your best shot and, unfortunately, not everyone is responsive. I believe employers should let you know if you are not getting a job you’ve interviewed for, but that doesn’t always happen. Hopefully you have a lot of irons in the fire and your persistence for other positions will pay off!

What do you think is the most difficult thing for new college grads to manage in their transition to a first job?

Lindsey: Communication skills are very different between college and the “real world” and that’s where I tend to see new grads make the most mistakes. In a professional environment, you have to remember that everything you write or say is contributing to your professional reputation.

This means that emails need to be written in a professional style and tone (limit text message speak, limit or eliminate emoticons, avoid using “Hey” as a greeting, etc.) and you have to carefully choose your communication methods. Texting and IM are generally not appropriate for the workplace (unless you’ve specifically discussed using these methods with your boss or your company has an internal IM system) and you need to learn to speak well in meetings and professional presentations.

Be sure to check out her book: Getting from College to Career.

This post originally appeared on Salary.com, where I am a contributing writer.

This may surprise candidates who make a habit of protecting their privacy so stringently online that a Google search reveals no results at all. Privacy is important, but someone who wants to learn something about a candidate and finds no obvious results may be inclined to search tools offering access to the “deep web,” also known as the “invisible web.” Pipl.com, one site providing access to this content, explains, “The term ‘deep web’ refers to a vast repository of underlying content, such as documents in online databases that general-purpose web crawlers cannot reach. The deep web content is estimated at 500 times that of the surface web, yet has remained mostly untapped due to the limitations of traditional search engines.”

There are two types of information available online: data posted by a candidate and things someone else posts about him or her. Think of the former as a “digital footprint” and the latter as a “digital shadow.” Don’t let a shadow dictate what employers will find out about you.  Why? It gives control to someone else, which can be dangerous in some cases.

For example, Patrick Ambron, CEO of BrandYourself.com, shared a story about Cody, who was applying to law schools without success. It turns out, the very first result in a Google search of his name revealed a post created by an ex girlfriend containing embarrassing, unflattering comments about Cody. Since he did not have other information online to combat one person’s vendetta against him, admissions officers were left with questions about his character.

What can someone do to regain control of an unflattering or non-existent, online identity? Ambron suggests the following five steps:

1. Google yourself. This is crucial, because it’s impossible to know what could possibly negatively affect a reputation otherwise.

2. Claim your domain name and build a personal website. Owning Yourname.com and other versions of a personal URL, such as YourName.org or YourName.com will help put control of an online identity in a jobseeker’s hands.

3. Set up profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Ideally, capture online “handles,” or user names that include your actual name.

4. Do some basic search engine optimization. In addition to using your own name wherever possible in online monikers, Ambron reminds job seekers to be sure to “Link all your various pieces of online content to one another. 

5. Sign up for alerts. It’s important to keep up-to-date on what Google indexes that could affect you. Ambron suggests setting a Google alert, which will send an email when your name  (or someone with the same name) ­appears in a news article or blog post.

Read the entire post, with all of the tips, on my U.S. News & World Report blog.

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These stats are all from an infographic shared via MBA@UNC, the online MBA program at the University of North Carolina in partnership with Women 2.0. In short, the infographic displays the progress (and the work that needs to be done) of Women in the Workplace and in the technology industry. (The quote above is from Sara Blekely, founder of Spanx. What do you think?

Via MBA@UNC MBA Online & Women 2.0

I spend a lot of time on my laptop, so when I am out and about, I only rely on a few apps to get me through the day. One of those apps happens to be the LinkedIn app for mobile, which I love because it makes it easy for me to accept invitations while I am waiting in line at the grocery store or the bank!

Some mobile stats may interest you, per LinkedIn:

o   22% of LinkedIn traffic is coming for mobile devices in Q1 2012 (was 15% in Q4 2011 and 8% Q1 2011)

o   Mobile platform remains the fastest growing consumer service at LinkedIn

o   19 people searches are done every second from mobile device — (are they looking for you?)

o   41 LinkedIn profiles are viewed every second from mobile devices

o   iPad is the fasted growing device on LinkedIn (250% year-over -ear, 2011 to 2012)

Yesterday, Joff Redfern, Head of Mobile Products at LinkedIn briefed me on their brand new application for tablets (it launched this morning at 12 ET) — “LinkedIn for iPad.” Honestly, I think it might be a reason to keep my languishing iPad charged and ready to use!

Why this application now? Joff explained, that the tools is intended to be a way for professionals to learn “10 years of background about someone in 10 seconds.” In the live demo on the yet released product yesterday, Joff showcased how it’s possible to connect your mobile calendar with LinkedIn’s technology. Calling the result a “personal assistant” to help simplify your day, he showed how LinkedIn for iPad automatically pulls LinkedIn profiles of people named on your calendar. Presto — one less thing to do on your way to a meeting — the LinkedIn application hands over key information without you even asking!

The LinkedIn blog expands on the new calendar tool (screen shot below):

“With the LinkedIn iPad app you are one tap away from learning about things you have in common with thepeople you are about to meet, like common connections, work experiences, and schools; probably helps to know what they look like as well. Now you’ll have something more important to talk about than the weather (of course, if you need a weather update, we’ve included that in the app as well). We like our calendar feature so much we decided to also include it with our LinkedIn iPhone (iOS 5+ required) and Android apps. It’s there now, so check it out.”

Joff noted in our conversation that his team hopes users will start and end their days with this app. For example, if you want to tap into LinkedIn Today, LinkedIn’s tool to keep you up-to-date about the news you care about, it’s easy to review or preview the news important to your industry on the new application. Additionally, keep up with what people are posting via updates to learn what’s new since last you checked. Want to see who’s commented or “liked” your update? It’s easy to do via the new mobile tool.

Linkedin for iPad…

Joff detailed the new app as ” your professional dashboard” for the day.  It includes easy access to updates, news, groups, who’s viewed your profile, your LinkedIn profile, search, Inbox and  more.

The LinkedIn blog breaks it down like this, which is how the app is designed and shows up on your screen:

1) All Updates: Get a snapshot of your professional updates, news, and information all in one place.

2) You: Access your profile, connections and activity dashboard with a quick swipe

3) Inbox: Send and receive your LinkedIn invitations and messages in one place

I will be planning to use the new application (my iPad is charging as we speak), and I definitely recommend you check it out! Let me know what you think…Do you believe this app can be your “personal assistant?” Please leave your feedback in the comments.

1. Apply for the right jobs. Study job descriptions and highlight the parts describing you.

2. Research companies seeking your skills. Use LinkedIn’s Skills section to help choose suitable organizations.

3. Create and cultivate a professional online presence. Jobvite’s 2011 Social Job Seeker Survey reports 89 percent of companies will use social networks as part of their hiring plans this year. Consider creating and maintaining your own professional website like a social resume.

4. Network in person. Join professional organizations (many will have student or new professional rates) and attend events where you can expect to meet prospective hiring managers and mentors.

5. Practice your pitch. Be able to tell people what you do, why it’s important to them, and about your accomplishments. Narrow down these talking points to a 30-second introduction.

6. Transform your resume into a marketing document. It is not about your past, it’s about the connection between what you can do and what the organization needs you to do.

7. Act like a professional. You never know where you could meet a potential hiring manager.

8. Be a good listener, ask questions to learn about networking contacts, and follow up. Don’t answer your phone or check your text messages or email when involved in conversations.

9. Don’t act like a desperate job seeker. No matter how difficult the job search, always focus on your skills and be positive.

10. Use your time well. Consider volunteering or creating a interim business.

Read all of the detailed tips on my U.S. News & World Report post.

photo by Srikanth Lakshmanan

It’s not so easy to master the art of juggling a plate and drink in one hand while gracefully delivering an on-target elevator pitch.

For introverted job-seekers who prefer one-on-one meetings or small group interactions, the idea of needing to “work a room” to meet an influential new contact may seem overwhelming.

But succeeding at in-person networking is not out of reach. Follow these 10 steps to ease awkwardness and emerge with terrific contacts:

1. Become a sleuth. Before attending in-person events, find out who else plans to attend.

2. Research several targets. It’s not stalking; many make a habit of Googling people they expect to meet before an in-person encounter.

3. Search for recent press. Have their organizations been in the news? What about the contacts themselves?

4. Make a list of several conversation starters. If it’s uncomfortable meeting new people, advance research and planning will come in very handy at the moment a great contact extends a handshake.

5. Practice. There’s a reason “practice makes perfect.” If conversing with strangers is uncomfortable, spend some time role-playing with friends, a pet, or in front of a mirror.

6. Don’t ask for help. It may seem counter-intuitive, but you should avoid asking for help when meeting people for the first time.

7. Be a good listener. Ask plenty of questions. Most enjoy talking about themselves.

8. Request a meeting. It’s so much easier to have a professional conversation in a quiet, one-on-one setting where people are not hovering around, waiting to talk to your contact.

9. Seek the best ways to reconnect. Ask about the best time to reach your new friends and contacts. Avoid frustration: Use the preferred methods, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone.

10. Follow up. It’s a shame to research and plan to meet new people, have engaging conversations, and leave without contact information and plans to get in touch.

Read all of the details and advice in my U.S. News & World Report post.

photo by dcJohn