Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Archives for 2009

Cracking the networking CODE by Dean Lindsay

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crackingdean_3625x5_ad2b1I can’t seem to talk enough about networking. Maybe it’s because most jobs are found via networking and job seekers MUST empower themselves with good information and techniques (in addition to great job search materials) in order to successfully land a targeted position.

Most of my clients ask, “How can I network well? What steps should I take?” Dean Lindsay’s book: A Progress Agent’s Guide to Cracking the Networking Code – 4 steps to Priceless Business Relationships, offers a lot of terrific ideas for all job seekers and careerists, as well as entrepreneurs and anyone hoping to succeed in business.

I love acronyms…(what would we do without STAR and PAR stories for interviewing?) The title of Dean’s book incorporates a crucial acronym.

CODE stands for:

C: Create Personal Curb Appeal
Effective networkers feel successful and display a genuine desire to help others progress. They look and act the part of someone with whom you would want to have in your corner.

O: Open Face-to-Face Relationships
Effective networkers research the various networking options and commit to a networking strategy. They get out and about and reach out. They open relationships.

D: Deliver Solid First Impressions
Effective networkers know the first impression sets the foundation for all future impressions and make sure it is a good one.

E: Earn Trust
Effective networkers follow-up and keep in touch. They stay involved with the people they meet and earn their trust through a series of progress based impressions. They continually find ways to help. This is where most ineffective networkers drop the ball.

Dean acknowledges most peoples’ perceptions of networking as something manipulative or excessively self-serving. He goes on to explain how those are misperceptions of networking – and convinces the reader that networking is about relationship building.

His assertion that people we meet should ideally view us as offering “progress, not change” is an interesting and perceptive point! Let’s face it, when we hope to engage in a relationship with someone, most of the time we aren’t looking to make a change in our lives. Dean notes, “It is natural to resist change but we embrace progress (p. 26).” If you “genuinely want to understand and help fulfill the needs of others,” a key factor for networking success, Dean offers a step-by-step guide to help readers “Be progress.”

I love the messages in this book: “Don’t make networking more complicated than it needs to be (p. 47).” “You make a much more powerful impression, a much more memorable impression being interested in others rather than trying to be interesting to others” (p. 95).”

But Dean doesn’t just offer quotes and platitudes – he shows readers what they can do to become successful at networking. If you’ve been uncomfortable or hesitant in your in-person networking, this is a great book to give your plans a jump start. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I have!

It’s your lucky day…Dean is giving away several copies of his book to my readers. All you need to do is share a brief comment or story below about networking. Do you have a success story? Or, tell us what makes networking difficult for you. At the end of the week, I’ll randomly choose several winners. (Be sure to give a correct email address so I can notify you.) Feel free to enter at each of my blogs to increase your chances of winning:

Examiner

GreatPlaceJobs

Secrets of the Job Hunt

Need more help to get your job search running? Contact me for advice and coaching to get your career in gear!

Quoted in ABCnews.com and Forbes.com

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megaphone2590025080_d5ce7bf163_mIt’s always a lot of fun to speak to serve as an expert source for reporters. I find it inspiring as a coach to talk to someone who writes for the mainstream media; it’s an opportunity to share good advice with a new audience. This week, I was honored to be interviewed for two great outlets: Forbes.com and ABCnews.com. Here are links to the articles:

ABC News.com – Furloughs: The Vacation You Never Wanted
Michelle Goodman reports on what some careerists are doing with their unpaid, unexpected “time off.” My advice – keep an eye on the future and use some of your time to plan for your career!

Forbes.com – Twitter to Find a Job
Tara Weiss reports about one of my favorite subjects! Twitter is a terrific tool for job seekers. Tara gives a good overview of how to get started using Twitter.

Want job search advice specific to your situation? Contact me!

photo by djfoobarmatt

Some takeaways for job seekers

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takeaways342261936_7ada1a750b_mEarlier this week, I was interviewed for the Career Success Radio show with Andy and Carrie Robinson. I love doing interviews, because they always inspire me to write about something that came up in the discussion.

In this case, Andy and Carrie asked me for some closing thoughts for their job seeking listeners to consider. How to sum up things for a job seeker in just a few minutes? For someone who writes (and tweets) about the topic daily, it’s a challenge to choose just a few topics.

There are jobs. If you optimize your search and your materials, “the economy” will not keep you from finding a job. It is easy to think that the situation is out of your control as a job seeker. However, I believe that job seekers control a lot more than they realize. I like to suggest that my clients “drive their own career bus.”

Do not ignore the power of social networking – the connections you can make online are only limited by the amount of time you have to pursue them. You may be surprised to learn that people you hardly know are willing to connect and provide you with information and contacts that are key to landing your next opportunity. Job seekers who shrug off LinkedIn and Twitter do so at their own risk.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a positive attitude and planning your search. Job seekers must take the reigns and be focused and purposeful. In my experience working with clients, those who plan are successful and those who leave things to chance experience a much longer than necessary search period. 

Finally, it’s important to ensure that your job search materials are up-to-date and optimized. If your resume isn’t targeted and packed with skills and accomplishments, it’s no wonder that you aren’t getting interviews! Does your LinkedIn profile match what you are saying on your resume? Are you taking advantage of all of LinkedIn’s features? If not, you are missing opportunities left and right!

Do you need help getting your search in gear? I can write your resume and teach you how to optimize your social networking to help you land the job you want. Contact me to see how I can help!

photo by artisan shooting

New book by Dan Schawbel helps manage your career: Me 2.0

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dans-photo

I work with Dan Schawbel as an editor of his Personal Branding Magazine, so I am delighted to share the news about his book…

Boston, MA (April 7, 2009) – In the past few years, the competition for entry-level jobs has increased substantially, and the 1.4 million college graduates this year are about to face the toughest challenge to date. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that companies are hiring only 1.3% more graduates in 2009, which is down from 16% in 2008. A college degree, which was once a key differentiator in the corporate recruitment process, has now become a single qualifier for almost any entry-level position.

The way we manage our careers is changing and the Internet has become the new ticket to post-graduate success. In his new book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan Publishing, April 2009), Dan Schawbel explains how anyone can become successful by using social media tools, such as blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, in order to stand out and make a name for themselves. Me 2.0 is the first book about personal branding written for the millennial generation by a millennial, that bridges the gap between the current business environment and the progressive best practices of the future. “In a tough employment environment, it is absolutely essential to move past old rules and embrace job hunting 2.0 — Dan Schawbel’s new book will show you how,” explains Sydney Finkelstein, Steven Roth Professor of Management, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

“If you want to get a job out of college or succeed in the job you’re currently in, you have to be the commander of your career, which means that you’re accountable for your own destiny,” explains Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Yers. Me 2.0 teaches you how to use social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking that can actually result in attracting jobs directly to you, without applying! Recruiters will find you.

“Not only do you have to aggressively promote yourself, but you also have to protect your brand, by claiming your domain name and actively grooming your Google results,” says Dan. A recent Careerbuilder.com survey showed that one in every five hiring managers used social networks to conduct background checks on candidates.

Highlights from Me 2.0 include:

• A 4-step proven personal branding process for career success.
• Over 40 expert quotes from leaders, including Don Tapscott, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Chris Brogan, Laura Ries, David Kirkpatrick, and Steve Rubel.
• More than 70 research reports, three personal case studies and examples to offer a broader perspective on the topic.
• Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.

Today’s business world is filled with economic uncertainty, no job security and relentless competition. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US shed 3.6 million jobs since the recession began, which is the most since 1945. Economists state that another 2.5 million will be lost in 2009 (1.8 were lost by March 2009). Me 2.0 is the handbook for surviving and thriving in the digital age, and the recession.

About the Author

Dan Schawbel is the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. BusinessWeek considers Dan to be “a leading voice in the area of personal branding” and Fast Company calls Dan a “personal branding force of nature.” He has introduced a whole new generation to personal branding, as he opens up new opportunities and strives to elevate the practice. His Personal Branding Blog® is consistently ranked in the top 100 marketing blogs in the world by AdAge, and has achieved syndication from Forbes, Reuters, Hoovers and the Chicago Sun-Times. Dan publishes Personal Branding Magazine®, is the head judge for the Personal Brand Awards® and directs Personal Branding TV®. For more information, visit www.personalbrandingbook.com.
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If you need help getting your career in gear, I can assist! Contact me to learn how I can help you land the job you want!

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Change the way you navigate your job search

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lexus1756317452_5ca5508533_m1As a career coach and blogger, I am constantly seeking inspiration and looking for messages to convert into job search advice for my readers. So, when I watched a commercial for Lexus recently, one sound byte really resonated with me:

You can’t change traffic, so change the way you drive through it!

How true – there is so much that individuals do not control. The economy. The weather. The neighbors’ barking dogs. I bet someone once told you, “You can’t change other people, but you can change how you react to them.”

How much happier would we be if we stopped trying to change the things that we cannot alter and instead focused on what we do control – our responses?

The job market is a case in point. What if job seekers stopped “oh woe is me-ing” and instead focused on what they DO control – the way they navigate their searches. The playing field has changed, and it is important to adjust to the new terrain.

Here are some tips to help you take the wheel:

Draw Your Own Career Map

Identify your goals. You can’t get anywhere until you decide the destination! What characteristics and traits make you special? What are you (or do you hope to be) known for in your field?

Review trends and industries with career potential and determine if there are matches between your skills and interests and those fields. Instead of cursing a business with a shrinking job market, re-adjust, re-tool and re-train to take advantage of new possibilities.

Once you know your direction, optimize your resume. Be sure that it is skill and accomplishment focused, not a list of “stuff” you’ve done. (If you’ve been blaming your age or experience level (too much/not enough) for your lack of interviews, take a good look at your resume. It may be holding you back.)

Design Your Vehicle – Brand YOU!

Once you identify a destination – drive there! Learn how to position yourself as the expert in your field. Use all of the tools at your disposal to create a “vehicle” (your brand – it doesn’t have to be a Lexus!) that will drive you where you want to go.

If you haven’t looked for a job in a while and/or aren’t tuned in to managing your “digital footprint,” it’s time for a quick lesson in social media. Presenting yourself well both online and in person will help open previously closed doors. Optimize Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and other social networking tools to make connections and share information.

Take the Keys!

The key to a successful career is to network generously. There is nothing more important or more useful for your job search. Your success depends on your ability to broaden your professional circles and to reach out to a diverse socio-economic group of people. Professionals who habitually facilitate introductions earn goodwill and reputations as valuable resources and colleagues. Become that professional; it will help you overcome obstacles to career success.

Start the Ignition – Communicate Your Value

Your ability to promote, communicate and connect your value to colleagues and superiors is crucial. Hone this “soft” skill – practice your writing, emailing, speaking, interviewing and presenting skills. Join Toastmasters. Make a point to learn how to communicate well. When you can articulate why your role is vital, you will help secure your future.

Confidently Forge Ahead – Start Rolling

Adjust your rear-view mirror, but keep your eyes on the road! Move forward with your plans knowing that you DO control your career. Is it as easy as reading these steps? No, but if you follow this plan, you will be on your way to managing your job hunt and/or your career with finesse and aplomb!

Seize control of what you can! Don’t be a victim of circumstances. Drive your own career bus!

Have you been able to “drive your own career bus?” What made the difference for you?

If you haven’t changed the way you are “driving through” your career or job search, what is holding you back?

Let me know if I can help you by writing your resume, teaching you how to network or helping with your interview! Contact me.