Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Archives for 2009

More free career advice – March Career Madness!

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2323161584_d68e951385_mAh…March Madness. I remember a time (not SO long ago) that this was an exciting, edge-of-your-seat period that really interested me. Those were the days when my alma mater, the University of Michigan, actually WON the tournament (or, at the very least, was competitive). The year I started Michigan, they/we actually won BOTH the Rose Bowl AND the NCAA, but I digress…

In any case, my friend and colleague, Chandlee Bryan came up with a great idea to turn this month into a fun one for career advisors (and an informational one for job seekers) on Twitter! I’m delighted to be participating in “March Career Madness.”

This is how Chandlee introduces the event on her blog:

This event, which will run throughout the month of March, is a joint effort of a team of career experts who have committed to sharing their wit and wisdom with us in “tweets” of 140 characters or less on Twitter. Posts will be written on a singular theme–innovative strategies for your career.

All posts will include the following code: #mcm (referred to in the Twitterverse as a hashtag)

You can follow March Career Madness through Twitter Search (search #mcm) or by following the tweets of individual contributors (name and user “handles” listed at the bottom of this post). Share posts with others by “Retweeting.”

New to Twitter?

You haven’t gotten on Twitter yet? What are you waiting for? I am a big fan of Twitter for the job search. (I think it is right up there with LinkedIn as a way to make connections that will be useful for your search.)

I’ve written all about using Twitter for your job search. Here are some links for you:

Why use Twitter?

How to use Twitter for your job search.

People to follow on Twitter for advice about job hunting.

Can you find a job on Twitter? Yes you can!

Using Twitter to hire: the employer’s perspective

JobAngels is an amazing viral phenomenon, started on Twitter, to help connect job seekers with those who can offer resources and support. 

Participating Career Experts (& their Twitter “handle”)

Barbara Safani (barbarasafani)
Brian Kurth (briankurth)
Chandlee Bryan (Chandlee)
Dawn Bugni (dawnbugni)
Deb Dib (CEOCoach)
Kevin Donlin (kevindonlin)
Katherine Hansen (kathansen)
Kimberly Togman (ktogman)
Laura Allen (la15secondpitch)
Megan Fitzgerald (expatcoach)
Miriam Salpeter (Keppie_Careers)
Pam Slim (pamslim)
Paul Copcutt (Paulcopcutt)
Phyllis Shabad (Phyllisshabad)
Sital Ruparelia (SitalRuparelia)

You’re not sure how to use Twitter to your best advantage? I can help! Contact me to learn how you may benefit from coaching.

photo by jmacphoto

Network for success – don't be a bumper car

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872986311_e33b9503b9_mI try to practice what I preach, so I’ve been making an effort to attend in-person networking events. Every time I go to these events, I learn something! This week’s lesson: don’t network like a bumper car.

Many networkers at the event seemed to spend their one-on-one time in pursuit of their next contact. You know the type: shifty eyes, impatient body language and unfocused conversations. I found it difficult to connect with these networkers, as it seemed that they were much more interested in the next conversation than in the current one!

In watching them interact during the night, they reminded me of bumper cars, haphazardly moving around the room, without any direction or focus. Maybe, incidentally, this type of networker will bump into someone and have a valuable interaction, but it seems more likely that this style would prevent meaningful interactions. After all, who would be interested in someone who doesn’t seem very interested in them?

On the flip side, I had several excellent networking conversations that reminded me how easy it is to form a connection with a stranger. I spoke to one person, a painter, for some time. Obviously a skilled networker, he asked about my work and talked to me about his business. Throughout the conversation, he was very focused on what I was saying, his eye contact focused on me (not his next “target”), and his responses to my questions were on point.

During our conversation, I felt that I had a strong sense of his professionalism and business philosophy. When we were finished speaking, I made a mental note to give him a call when I was ready to move forward with some painting projects I’ve had in mind.

Incidentally, his background and personal network turned out to be very related to my own networking goals, as he is very connected to the HR and recruiting world. So, in addition to the opportunity to learn about him and his business, he may be able to provide some valuable contacts for my business. This is another example of the fact that you can’t judge a book by its cover!

Focus on each person you encounter when networking (and even when you are not officially “networking.” You never know what you might learn and how it will propel you toward your goals!

Need help networking? I’m here to teach you what you need to know! Contact me to discuss how we can work together.

photo by whatdavesees

Used cars and job hunting – don't ask for the sun, moon and stars

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sunmoonstarsWe’re selling a car, so we posted a detailed ad on Craig’s List and received over 30 replies in just one day. Clearly, we want to sell the car, but we are busy, so going through the replies seems a bit tedious, even though we are happy to have people interested (don’t get me wrong)!

Many express interest and include their contact information. Some even let us know when they are available to see the car. Others followed up their original email with YET ANOTHER email – within 24 hours! But, the most interesting (to me) were the ones who had 8 or 10 (!) additional questions, wanted a picture AND asked if the price is negotiable! Faced with 30+ responses, which do you think we’ll contact first? Yup – the ones who gave us the information we need and didn’t seem too demanding.

Lesson? When you connect with someone – for any reason – think first about THEIR needs. How will your note, letter or request strike them? If you hope to hear back, make sure you include information that helps your target understand WHY connecting to you would be advantageous. Make it easy to them to respond (by including your phone number and email address).

Finally, don’t be too demanding! If we can sell a car without responding to extra questions and sending pictures, we’re going to go that path. “High maintenance” isn’t a label you want as a used car buyer in a seller’s market or as a job seeker in a recession.

Think of this analogy when you apply for your next job. Are you putting yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes? What can you do to make things easy for him or her? Are you connecting the “dots” between what the job requires and what you offer with your resume? Are you addressing the employer’s key questions in your cover letter? Are your materials optimized and competitive? Do what you can to increase the odds that you will be in the “short stack” of people contacted for the opportunity.

My clients get interviews and land jobs, even in competitive industries. I can help you achieve your goals. Contact me to learn more!

photo by preciouskhyatt

Should you make waves at work?

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316689_jacket.inddEverywhere you look, someone is losing their job. Advice comes from all directions: What to do keep your job. How should you find a new job. Should you try to fit in? Should you demonstrate that you stand out? Some believe that they’d better conform to the norm if they want to stay afloat.

Not true! says Robin Fisher Roffer, author of The Fearless Fish Out of Water: How to Succeed When You’re the Only One Like You.  She asserts “Being different gets you noticed, which is the first step to gaining influence.”

“In a time when many companies are having to make the hard choice between who can stay and who should go, make sure that your name is on the top of the list of employees they can’t afford to lose,” she advises.

Want to know if you are making waves or getting lost in a school of other fish? Roffer offers this quiz to find out!

How fearless are you at work?

Are you the wallflower by the water cooler or the star of your department? Take this quiz and find out if you’re fearlessly making the most of who you are at work.

1. You’re at a meeting and you have a great idea for how to increase sales. Do you:
a) Keep your idea to yourself because people might think it’s stupid.
b) Wait for someone to come up with a similar idea and then add to it.
c)  Share your idea proudly with the group.

2. You just got hired at a new job and you’ve been invited to a company social event. What’s your social style at the event?
a) Wait on the sidelines for someone to start talking to you.
b) Make conversation with the people who hired you and the folks you know in your department.
c) Go table-to-table introducing yourself to everyone.

3. It’s review season. Do you:
a) Trust your boss to know your best contributions and accept his or her review.
b) Bring a short list of contributions to your review for backup just in case your boss forgets something.
c) Send a high-priority email to your boss prior to your review with a list of your contributions that you’ve been keeping track of all year.

4. Your department didn’t perform as well as expected this quarter. Do you:
a) Blame everything on your coworkers who are poor performers.
b) Accept personal responsibility and apologize profusely to your boss.
c) Acknowledge that mistakes were made and make suggestions for how to improve performance next quarter.

5. What do you feel is your most important contribution to your company?
a) You work long hours and never say no to overtime.
b) Your positive attitude boosts your team’s morale.
c) You are very creative and have a lot of great ideas that drive revenue.

6. How important do you think you are to your company?
a) Not very — I feel I am dispensable.
b) Somewhat — All of my coworkers seem to like me.
c) Very — I am talented, forward-thinking, and proud of what makes me different.

7. Which statement describes your work wardrobe?
a) I follow the dress code — I don’t want to have anyone question my style.
b) I follow the dress code, but add interesting accessories that express who I am.
c) I am a trendsetter — I have a signature style that makes me positively stand out.

8. How would you go about asking your boss for a promotion?
a) Wait until your boss brings it up or your annual review.
b) Wait until after a big company success when everyone’s spirits will be high.
c) Bring it up with your boss as soon as you think you’ve earned it.

9. You’re at a meeting where you feel strongly that your department’s strategy is not up to par, while everyone else thinks it’s right on target. How do you get others on your side?
a) Give up. If no one else agrees with you, you must be wrong.
b) Start by convincing the people in the meeting who seem to like you.
c) After the meeting, go to your boss, state your case, and give solutions.

10. Your department hires someone younger and more technically proficient than you to do a similar job. What’s your move?
a) Assume your company has hired him or her to replace you and start looking for a new job.
b) Let the newbie focus on the technical details, so you have more time to devote to using your unique strengths in sales, marketing, etc.
c) Ask your boss if you can mentor the new person — you’ll seem more important if you’re in a leadership position.

Mostly A’s: Spineless Jellyfish
You are hard working, but underappreciated because you don’t speak up for yourself. It’s okay to have an opinion or idea that differs from the norm and to share it. There is a way to let your voice be heard without alienating yourself. In fact, putting yourself out on the line could finally get you the recognition you deserve.

Mostly B’s: Schooled Fish
You are good at standing up for yourself and are well-liked by your coworkers, but you don’t stand out from the school of fish as much as you could. Push yourself to really think outside the fish bowl and you could have a much bigger impact. Bigger impact means more recognition, which could lead to job security and a promotion when the economy recovers.

Mostly C’s: Holy Mackerel!
You are one fearless fish! But be careful — remember, you can swim your own way, but don’t forget it’s your company’s ocean. You want to ripple the waters, not create a crushing tidal wave. It’s all about balance. Make your confidence work for you without going over the top and alienating coworkers.

Are you a fish out of water at work? Need a new job before someone shows you the door? Contact me before you are desperate. Getting help now can make all the difference. Contact me!

How to avoid being scammed on big job boards

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scamFor a job seeker, I can’t think of anything more disheartening (and aggravating) than applying for positions online that don’t turn out to be actual jobs, but avenues for scam artists to try to take advantage of down-and-out job seekers. 

 

A recent Wall Street Journal article by Sarah Needleman reminds job seekers that, “It Isn’t Always A Job Behind the Online Posting.” She describes the story of a job seeker who uses CareerBuilder.com to apply for jobs. Twice in two years, Tom Greene was invited to interview for “positions” via postings at the popular site, only to encounter a sales pitch from a shady service offering career advice to the tune of $10,000!

Read the rest of the post on my blog at GreatPlaceJobs…

 

photo by jepoirrier