Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Archives for 2009

Stay ahead of the crowd during the holidays

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candydish385069511_37dd7b353d_mIn an effort to convince you to ramp up your job search efforts during the holidays (look below for links to part 1 and 2),  I’m sharing ideas and insights from some of my colleagues and friends during this holiday week and next. Today, I am happy to share some thoughts from Anita Bruzzese, Gannett syndicated newspaper workplace issues columnist and author. Anita also has a great blog, which I highly recommend!

I’m always telling my readers to do something different and to stay ahead of the crowd, so I was glad to see that Anita’s advice starts in that vein…You never know what information may be exchanged over the candy dish at a holiday party!

These are Anita’s thoughts on the subject of looking for a job during the holidays:

I think you should NOT take a break from hunting for a job during the holidays, because that’s what a lot of other people will be doing. That gives you a chance to make some inroads. Sure, some managers will be gone for the holidays, but a lot of them will be sticking around to finish up year-end work.   If you can present yourself as the person who can hit the ground running and be on board raring to go for 2010, it can be pretty appealing to them.

Also, the latest research I’ve done shows that companies (especially technology and health care) are contracting with more recruiters. That means these employers need hires to be made, and they’ve got the money for salaries.  So, now is the time to really get your name out there and network.

Don’t forget that a lot of people will be using social media to post about holiday parties or company volunteer activities. Pay attention and you might be able to volunteer at an event where you can meet a hiring manager or make a contact. Or, you may be able to learn key players through a Facebook page talking about a holiday get-together.

The key is thinking ahead: Do your research about these employers and be looking to put yourself in their line of sight. Maybe that means attending a tweet-up, volunteering at the local food bank or finding a friendly employee posting holiday pictures and talking about a gift exchange.

What are your experiences with job seeking during the holidays? Share in the comments!

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – personal branding expert and coach

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by sharynmorrow

Why to keep up your job hunt (and your spirits) during the holiday season

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happiness.524606342_2a788d5da9_mIn an effort to convince you to ramp up your job search efforts during the holidays (click HERE for part 1 and a free ebook offer), I’m sharing ideas and insights from some of my colleagues and friends during this holiday week and next. Today, I am happy to share some insights from my friend Walter Akana, of Threshold Consulting.

Walter suggests (bold are his ideas, commentary is mine):

1. Put aside the idea about people not hiring during the Holidays. Whether it’s true or not, it can become an excuse to do nothing. I like this take on the subject. In fact, whether there are jobs to be found or not depends on many factors. Taking the position that it does not matter, and that it is important to move forward with your job hunt regardless, is a very good approach in my book.

2. Stop making your interactions with people about job leads. Instead, focus more on getting to know other people so you can build stronger, long-term relationships. Excellent advice! The majority of people I see who have not been successful at networking are approach their contacts as a job seeker first. The fact is, relationships are key to creating opportunities. So, don’t bring your resume to holiday parties. It is okay, however, to bring your business cards! (More about that later!)

Walter’s additional suggestions, which he first offered (and expanded on) in his post Own Your Life. (Be sure to read the original post!)

Use this time to refocus on happiness practices to keep your spirits up and create a positive foundation for the New Year:

– Count your blessings.
– Practice acts of kindness. 
– Savor life’s joys. 
– Thank a mentor/benefactor.
– Learn to forgive.
– Invest time and energy in family and friends.
– Take care of your body.
– Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardship

Learn more about Walter, an expert on career planning and personal branding.

What are your experiences with job seeking during the holidays? Share in the comments!

photo by tonivic

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

Ramp up your job search during the holiday season: Part 1

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pumpkin.pie.305417643_cdfa0079e2_mIf you are unemployed, are you dreading the holiday season? The inevitable question, “What do you do?” and the awkward silence while you think of a good reply? If that sounds like you – take heart!

Or, maybe you have a job, but it’s time to find a new one? You think the holidays are not a good time to get started looking? I hope this series on job hunting during the holidays can change your mind! (Stay tuned for more advice on the subject!)

Turn this holiday season around and try to think of it as an opportunity to jump start your job search if you have come to a rolling stop and to rev up your plans if you haven’t even begun, but know that the time is coming. (It’s here!)

Yes – you can conduct job search networking over turkey, stuffing and pie or champagne and cookies! Any time that you have a chance to meet new people and expand your circle, there’s a possibility that you will speak to someone who can significantly alter your job search’s course.

Do not waste this time of the year. This is actually the PERFECT time to job hunt, and there are a lot of reasons why. (Many of which I will detail in this series.)

For starters, it is unlikely that you will be very successful with your job hunt unless you network well. Networking is a huge topic, and I have tons to say on the subject, but let’s start here:

If you’re going to a party or holiday get-together, you will probably have an opportunity to meet some new people.

How can you introduce yourself with an eye toward seeing if there is a potential career link with your new acquaintance?  Ask someone if they have special plans for the holidays…Strike up some conversations that have NOTHING to do with your job search.

You never know where you’ll meet the professional connection that will link you to a new opportunity.

Bring your A-game to the party. First up – decide what to say when asked what you do. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: If you sound like Debbie Downer or Tired Tom, it’s unlikely anyone will want to spend much time chatting, let alone become a possible resource for you.

You need to bring your pitch – call it your elevator pitch, your escalator pitch – your “twit pitch” – whatever you call it, you need to have it. Follow THIS LINK for tips on how to create a proactive introduction that helps people recognize who you are and what you offer.

I highly recommend that job seekers take a look at Katharine Hansen’s book, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career. Read my review HERE. I don’t know of another resource that outlines the importance of being able to tell your story as it relates to your job hunt. Because, let’s face it – you need to know (and be able to share) your own story.

I wrote an ebook on the subject of how to optimize your networking for holidays (or anytime, really). Subscribe to receive my blog via email and receive a copy for free! Click here to subscribe and receive a free ebook.

Stay tuned for more information and resources. Please share your stories and ideas about job search during the holidays in the comments.

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching? If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by jamesyu

Three tips for making a career change in a tough time

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bridge.38284277_9212ed027e_mI hear from so many people who are in the midst of trying to make a career change. Sometimes, the change is very slight – a writer who wants to use her expertise to write about a different subject. Other times, there is a more drastic goal – a mortgage broker who wants to use transferable skills to get into the insurance business.

No matter what the goal, this is a tough time to bridge to a career change. (I’ve written about this HERE.)

If you are a job seeker thinking of a change, some tips to consider:

1. Do your research. Know what skills your targeted job and/or employer value. Do you have those skills? Make sure you clearly communicate what you offer in your application materials. This isn’t your father’s job market – the resume that was “good enough” to do the job five years ago won’t even get you a second look today. It’s a competitive environment. If you expect to compete, you need to optimize your materials. Don’t approach the market before you are ready. You don’t want to waste an opportunity to get through the door.

2. Network! While it is ALWAYS important (for every job seeker), I contend that it is even MORE crucial for the transitioning applicant. You need to use what you can to bridge the gap between what you have done and what you WANT to do next. Meet people in your targeted field. Let them know what you offer. Demonstrate your interest and your expertise. If you are lucky, you’ll make a strong connection with a contact who will be willing to take a chance on you. This is not to suggest this is an easy thing to do. However, when you successfully engage in informational interviews, you open doors you would otherwise not have an opportunity to walk through.

3. Work it. I mean it! You don’t have the experience doing what you want to do? Get some. Today, I spoke to a writer who is planning to research and write some portfolio pieces in her targeted field, even if they will only be published (initially) on her own blog. I have advised clients to volunteer some time in order to get the experience they need. Internships are not just for college kids any more. There is no excuse for not getting the experience you need/want on your resume.

Stay tuned for more ideas…

What has worked for you? What ideas do you have to help job seekers cross the bridge to a new career?

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching? If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by ThomasHawk

Going rogue – advice for the rest of us

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Rogue (per Dictionary.com):

–noun

1. a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel.

2. a playfully mischievous person; scamp: The youngest boys are little rogues.

3. a tramp or vagabond.

4. a rogue elephant or other animal of similar disposition.

5. Biology. a usually inferior organism, esp. a plant, varying markedly from the normal.

–verb (used without object)

6. to live or act as a rogue.

–verb (used with object)

7. to cheat.

8. to uproot or destroy (plants, etc., that do not conform to a desired standard).

9. to perform this operation upon: to rogue a field.

–adjective

10. (of an animal) having an abnormally savage or unpredictable disposition, as a rogue elephant.

11. no longer obedient, belonging, or accepted and hence not controllable or answerable; deviating, renegade: a rogue cop; a rogue union local.

Should you be going rogue? Sarah Palin’s new book obviously brings these questions of “rogue” to light. Let’s face it – this is probably not a word in the general lexicon before she used it in her title. Knowing the technical definitions makes it seem an odd choice.

Eve Tahmincioglu asks about going rogue, which she defines as “dogging your old boss.” Eve quotes the Wall Street Journal, which said:

“…it is for details of the McCain campaign that many readers will pick up “Going Rogue,” and Mrs. Palin will not disappoint them. She describes in particular how campaign aides muzzled her and mismanaged her family.

One of the biggest mistakes of the failed McCain campaign—and there was no shortage of them—was its handling of Mrs. Palin. Her criticisms of the campaign’s treatment of her appear prominently in “Going Rogue.”

Eve asks:

Seems “going rogue” could be added to the HR lexicon as a new phrase to describe dogging your old boss and still succeeding…Are we entering a time when former boss-dogging is acceptable?

Eve points out that there are many venues for workers to trash their bosses, even if they are not high-profile, public figures.

This is certainly true. One avenue to report a bad boss is ebosswatch.com. The site notes, “If you are a job seeker or if you are thinking about making a career change, check with eBossWatch to make sure that you won’t be stuck working for an abusive or bad boss. Search for the boss or company that you are interviewing with or considering working for and see how other employees have rated that boss.” (Disclosure: the founder of eBossWatch is my business partner in GreatPlaceJobs, a site to help job seekers connect with opportunities in award-winning companies.)

Selena Dehne tweeted a link today to a post about what to and not to do when you are looking for work. Prominent among the NOT to dos (by Bob Weinstein):

* Don’t badmouth previous employers or coworkers. It’s very tempting to be honest and tell prospective employers the real reasons for being laid off or fired. But this is not the place for honesty. Prospective employers are not interested. It’s bad form. If you’re leaving because you had a daemonic boss or had difficulty with co-workers, find a plausible positive reason for seeking greener pastures. An evergreen reason is greater advancement and training options – an opportunity to “move up the ladder and take on more responsibilities.” These are solid irrefutable reasons for changing jobs.

While there may be something to say for venting about a bad boss, doing it online from your personal blog, Facebook, Twitter or other social networking account is just a bad idea.

Face it – would you want to hire someone who trashed her former employer? As the next and future employer, you might be concerned about your own reputation should bad blood come between you and the new hire. No matter how much you hated your old boss or loathe your current supervisor, it is a BAD idea to let anyone interviewing you know about it. Instead, try to put the situation in the best possible light if pressed and avoid discussing it if possible. Negativity can only hurt you, so why go there?

Unless, maybe, you are Sarah Palin. This is another case of “career advice must be personalized.” It is certainly possible that telling her story may be just the thing for her career.

What do you think?

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I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.