Strong written and spoken communication skills are crucial to opening doors. Millennial Brandingâ€s research showed soft skills topped the list of “must have” skills that employers want, with 98 percent of employers saying communication skills are essential. Itâ€s up to you to make the most of every opportunity to prove youâ€re capable and confident.

Itâ€s no secret first impressions matter – thatâ€s been the case since the beginning of time. Whatâ€s new, in our increasingly fast-paced, digitally connected world, is how a simple stroke of a keyboard, or an email gone awry, can quickly damage a professional reputation. On the other hand, a stream of consistent, well-written social media updates can just as easily raise your profile and impress people youâ€ve never met who may positively influence your career.

As a job search coach and social media strategist experienced at helping job seekers and business owners market themselves online and in person, itâ€s clear the most successful professionals try to improve their communication skills at every opportunity. Whether your focus is networking, job search, or excelling at work, itâ€s more important now than ever to know how to present yourself in person and in writing in this hyper-competitive work environment.

Write & Speak Like a Professional: Success in 20 Minutes a Day provides instructions and exercises to improve your communication abilities and offers insights and ideas to help refine your skills in every aspect of your job or career. It includes instruction on everything from networking to resume writing and interviewing.

Learn how to:

• Network professionally — online and in person
• Create cover letters and resumes that get you noticed
• Approach job interviews with confidence and poise
• Use social media appropriately and effectively
• Introduce yourself decisively and make a great first impression
• Write emails people will read
• Much, much more!

Communication skills are just as important in the workplace as they are when looking for a job, so youâ€ll also find details about how to impress people at work and how to write clear, concise business emails that will get the best results. With attention spans growing shorter, itâ€s never been more important to learn how to hone in on your message and eliminate non-crucial details. This book helps you recognize if youâ€re missing opportunities to communicate succinctly and demonstrates how to remedy any problems.

Whether youâ€re attending a meeting, or writing a memo, itâ€s up to you to put your best foot forward. This book provides the resources to help you identify any deficiencies or problems you may not have considered.

• Are you using words in your emails that call your professionalism into question?
• Does the tone or inflection of your voice make people think you arenâ€t confident?
• Could you be doing more via social media to expand your reach and extend your influence in your professional community?
• How are your listening skills?
• Does your body language send the message you want people to receive?

Read this book to learn how to improve your ability to make a strong first impression, and how to extend and enhance that impression so your colleagues and supervisors will listen carefully when you speak and appreciate what you write.

Click here to download a free chapter from the book : Communicate Using Social Media.

Be sure to touch base to let me know what questions you have, and feel free to share your best communication tips in the comments! Post on social media using the hashtag #WriteSpeak.

Learn about my other new book: Manage Your Time & Your Life: Success in 20 Minutes a Day.

The post Write and speak like a professional appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Manage Your Time & Your Life: Success in 20 Minutes a Day provides suggestions and recommendations to help you make the most of every hour of the day. The result? Youâ€ll have more time for everything that matters to you, and youâ€ll be able to successfully achieve your professional goals. No one has time to waste! Thatâ€s why this book starts out by illustrating how to network effectively and how to choose the best jobs to apply for to avoid the dreaded “resume black hole,” when employers ignore you. (After all, you never know when youâ€ll want to look for a new opportunity.) If you already have your dream job, you can dive directly into the slew of best practices and ideas included in the majority of the book, which is dedicated to helping manage your time for professional success.

In this book, I cover the entire gamut: from how to incorporate healthy routines (such as what to eat and how to make time to exercise) to how to set and achieve your aspirational work goals. Whether you need help organizing your office, managing distractions at work, tracking your emails or keeping a useful checklist and calendar, this book provides practical insights, exercises to get you started and information to help.

You havenâ€t been tracking your “wins” at work, or you donâ€t know what apps you should use to make the most of your time and avoid being distracted? I’ve got you covered!

Manage Your Time & Your Life: Success in 20 Minutes a Day is an all-in-one efficiency “bible,” with suggestions to help you identify key action items and take the necessary steps to accomplish your long- and short-term goals. Learn how to get a firm handle on your schedule to keep efficiently moving forward with your professional plans.

• Do you need help separating your “must do” from your “want to do” items?
• Could you use help to overcome procrastination and learn to become accountable for your plans?
• Would you appreciate advice about how to stop wasting time, effort, and energy?

This book includes techniques and ideas to help you get organized and keep on track.

For example, learn how to:

• Plan your job search — get it done in less time
• Prepare for interviews — without memorizing answers to hundreds of questions
• Make the most of your time at work
• Get organized and feel in control of your life
• Create useful lists and prioritize
• Avoid procrastination
• Much, much more!

Download an excerpt from the book: How to Avoid Procrastination.

After you read this book, you will be able to quickly review your progress, assess your strategies and make positive changes. Are you ready to put the right combination of action items in place and just get things done? Order the book today (it ships on July 7th) and get started!

Be sure to touch base to let me know what questions you have, and feel free to share your favorite productivity tips in the comments! Post on social media using the hashtag #TimeLife.

Don’t miss my other new book, Write & Speak Like a Professional: Success in 20 Minutes a Day.

The post How to manage your time and life appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Q: In the book you talk about your personal rules for success, what do you think is hands-down the number one reason why youâ€ve been successful?

A: Over the years, Iâ€ve become quite fearless. Iâ€ll pick up the phone and call anyone in the world and introduce myself and tell them why I do what I do. Itâ€s a combination of being fearless and always remembering to follow up. I also try not to take “no” for an answer. I try to find the positive in every negative situation and eventually turn the “no” into a “yes.”

 Q: The book covers lots of tips related to organization and time management at work, why did you include so much information on this subject?

A: When I graduated college and started my very first job – I lacked time management skills, organizational skills and I wasnâ€t very detail oriented. Even though I completed several internships in college, I was never taught how to handle a heavy workload. I could have used the advice from my book at that time.

Q: The “Relationships and Schmoozing” chapter is one of the longest in the book, what is your favorite piece of networking advice for young people?

A: I use an analogy in the “Relationships and Schmoozing” chapter – Ralph Called Taylor A Flirt – it stands for Recognize, Connect, Track, Add Value and Follow-Up. Those are my networking tips for how to successfully stay in touch with professional contacts. It was a random analogy that I came up with – but it works really well.

Q: You are an entrepreneur and run your own business. Why do you think it is important for others to channel their inner entrepreneur?

A: People think that in order to be entrepreneurial, you must quit your job and start your own business. Itâ€s important to point out to current employees that they should seek out roles in which they can embrace entrepreneurship. They should look for opportunities where they can be entrepreneurial within their current jobs. I share some great examples of people who do this in the book.

Q: The last part of the book is about handling your personal life during your first job experience. How did you handle that?

A: I really didnâ€t handle my personal life during my first job. I was pretty disgusting. I wish someone would have stressed the importance of having a plan for personal things like going to the bank, the grocery store, the car repair shop – and even going to the gym! I was a mess. Itâ€s important that my readers really take in the information I share in chapters 9 and 10 of the book. Again, I wish I had that information when I graded and held my first job.

Q: Why do you think people need to read this book? Why is it different from other books on the subject?

A: Writing this book allowed me to really open up about my experiences at my first job after college. Many of those experiences were quite disastrous – even though I learned a great deal from them. One of the biggest differences between my book and the thousands of other career books on the shelf is that I was there. And I wasnâ€t perfect.

I fully believe that Welcome to the Real World is going to add so much value to the lives of young people entering that first, second, or third job. I packed the book with tips and pointers on how to succeed. I canâ€t wait for everyone to dive in!

Check out Welcome to the Real World – it’s available now!

The post Tips to succeed at your first job appeared first on Keppie Careers.

UPDATE: View the list of nominated books!

WASHINGTON — From Ben Franklin’s “Poor Richard’s Improved” to Sonia Sotomayor’s “My Beloved World,” nearly 100 titles of fiction, nonfiction, plays and poetry begin the initial roll of Books that Shaped Work in America—a Centennial project of the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

The web-based project, www.dol.gov/books, launched as part of the department’s ongoing commemoration of its 100th anniversary, aims to engage the public about the Labor Department’s mission and America’s history as a nation of workers as portrayed through published works.

“The Books that Shaped Work in America initiative explores the dignity of work and our progress in expanding America’s fundamental promise of opportunity for all through the lens of literature,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “Think of this effort as an online book club where people from all walks of life can share books that informed them about occupations and careers, molded their views about work and helped elevate the discourse about work, workers and workplaces. At the same time, the site provides a unique way for people to learn about the mission and resources of the U.S. Department of Labor.”

Work, like our nation, is constantly evolving, and so Books that Shaped Work in America is no different. To get it started, 24 individuals, including Perez, eight former secretaries of labor from both Democratic and Republican administrations, department staff (including an intern), civil rights leaders, critics, authors, media personalities and staff from the Library of Congress submitted suggestions. Among the contributors: former Secretaries of Labor George P. Shultz and Robert Reich, authors Daniel H. Pink and Joan Acocella, Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith, Liz Claman of Fox Business News, President of the National Urban League Marc Morial and Scott McGee of Turner Classic Movies. Their recommendations are included on the initiative’s website, along with brief summaries of each book and links to related U.S. Department of Labor resources.

Now the public is invited to expand the list. A simple, online form makes it easy for anyone to suggest a book.

“From a simple tale for children like ‘The Day the Crayons Quit’ to a scholarly tome like ‘Quality, Productivity and Competitive Position,’ the books on the list demonstrate the rich breadth and depth of work in America,” said Carl Fillichio, the department’s senior adviser for public affairs and chair of its Centennial. “As we continue to mark the Department of Labor’s 100 years of service to workers in our country, this project is a terrific way to educate the public about work, workers and the work of the Labor Department. Watching the list grow, and hearing the discussion broaden, is going to be very exciting.” Read Fillichio’s Get Out Your Work Books blog post.

The project was inspired by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress’ 2012 Books That Shaped America exhibition, which explored the impact of books on American life and culture. Many of the books in that exhibition had work as a central theme, bringing to light the significant role published works have played in shaping America’s view of workers and workplaces throughout its history.

What book shaped what you think about work and workplaces? Suggest a book and become part of the project.

The post Nominate the books that shape work appeared first on Keppie Careers.

How can you combat this potential obstacle to your career success? Dan Schawbelâ€s new book, Promote Yourself, helps you begin to think about how to handle that challenge, especially for Gen Y workers who need to acclimate to a workplace that is very different from what their parents likely experienced.

In the book, Dan notes:

“As the world changes, so does the workplace. Companies are acquiring or being acquired, merging with other companies, or crumbling. Your team could be eliminated, your position outsourced, or you might lose interest in your job altogether. Itâ€s no surprise that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American will have about nine jobs between the ages of 18 and 32. The job youâ€re in now is just one stepping stone along your path.”

Promote Yourself describes how you can – and must – differentiate yourself in the workplace in order to stand out and move ahead. However, Dan also explains that itâ€s important to spread the word about your unique skills and abilities beyond the walls of your office. He says:

“Becoming a recognized expert in your field increases your value to your company. If your blog is widely read, if people comment on it and pass it along, if your articles appear in online journals and youâ€re invited to speak on panels, your company will perceive you as an expert; youâ€ll be recruited for higher level jobs. And with good reason. You arenâ€t just acting like an expert–all show and no substance– youâ€ll be an expert. By regularly gathering and analyzing data and transforming it into your own web content, youâ€ll be developing insights that make you a valuable company resource. Your brand will be an accurate reflection of what you bring to the job.”

I completely agree and believe this concept is something most people overlook. In todayâ€s workplace, you always need to be looking ahead. Without a crystal ball, itâ€s difficult to know “for sure” what to prepare for, but everyone is well served to create a marketable personal brand, both in and outside of their companies. Keep in mind, your next big thing may be starting your own business or creating a consultancy to address the needs of companies just like the one where you work.

Pick up a copy of Promote Yourself, which illuminates some important things you can do at work to make sure you are marketable now and in the future — whatever that future may hold for you or your industry. While on Amazon or in the bookstore, you may also want to pick up a copy of Social Networking for Business Success, the new book Hannah Morgan and I just launched. It is the prefect book to accompany Dan’s book, as we may all be working for ourselves sooner or later, and you’ll want to be planning ahead so you won’t be caught off guard!

You’ll also want to be sure to check out Dan’s special launch webcast event, where a variety of experts will comment on “the rapidly evolving workforce and marketplace, describe how Millennials can distinguish themselves and how businesses can help their multi-generational workforces effectively collaborate to unleash the power of difference as a competitive advantage.”

The post Learn to promote yourself for career success appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Managing

Other (secondary)

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Income

Engagements

How to make more money using social media

If you are thinking now might be the time to get started on an extra income, you are in good company. Take a look at our book trailer for Social Networking for Business Success to learn why you want to start thinking about how to launch an income-generating business and to see how the book can help you do exactly that! Buy your copy tomorrow – Tuesday, September 3rd – and win several bonuses, including an opportunity for a Q&A call with me and Hannah to ask all of your social media questions! Buy your copy tomorrow and check back for a link to sign up for the bonuses.

The post How to make more money appeared first on Keppie Careers.

This book to show you how to grow your business could not come at a more perfect time. As more and more companies begin to hire freelancers to fill roles that may have gone to full-time employees, many of us cannot expect to rely on landing traditional jobs for our entire careers. This is a challenge most are not prepared to tackle. The solution? You must identify opportunities to create new income streams and learn how to self market or face being eclipsed by people who do.

Social Networking for Business Success provides exactly the information you need to succeed in today’s economy, whether hanging a shingle and running your own business has been a life-long dream or an idea you’ve never considered.

Social media and online tools make it easier than ever to create a profitable business selling goods or services. When used to their potential, these networking resources can help you:

• Demonstrate your expertise.
• Grow your network.
• Learn new things.
• Sell your goods or services.

Grow Your Business

Social Networking for Business Success teaches you how to:

• Connect with people you don’t know and convince them to reach for their wallets.
• Inspire trust, build partnerships and make more money.
• Market and advertise your business without spending a dime.
• Leverage small details that make big differences in online searches.
• Look smarter than your competition and make the best use of your limited time.

Do not get left behind the eight ball; act now to prepare to market your ideas and to run an independent business  to enhance your income opportunities and earning potential. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a business owner who hasn’t ramped up online, yet: this book will help you overcome obstacles to your success and get you on the right path.

Don’t take my word for it! See a sample of reviews from others in the business community about Social Networking for Business Success:

“Starting and running a business is hard work, but never in history has it been so easy to connect with an audience, find a customer, or market your brand. Social media allows anyone to connect with the entire world given a little work and very little money. This book shows you how to do it right.” – David Linton, Owner, Arobase Group, Highest Certified Apple Computer System Expert

“The entire book is filled with common sense easy to apply ideas…if you’re in business you need to get and read this book.” -  Bud Bilanich, The Common Sense Guy, bestselling author

“Filled with strategies and tactics, recommended resources, and helpful tips–this book is a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs.” – Shawn Graham, Small Business Marketing Consultant

If you’ve ever thought about running a business or think it’s time for some new strategies to ramp your existing business up online, we hope you will buy a copy of Social Networking for Business Success. Please help us meet a sales goal by purchasing it from Amazon on our “launch date,” September 3rd — the day after Labor Day.

As a special bonus, we are offering a free Q&A call-in for anyone who purchases the book on September 3rd via Amazon AND a free checklist to help you create a branded bio! All you need to do is order you copy on that day, then click here and fill out the form to access this special offer.

We hope you’re curious enough to check it out. Remember to wait until September 3rd to buy your copy to take advantage of the special free offers. 

So mark your calendar and head over to Amazon on September 3^rd and then sign up for the bonus offers; it’s our special way of saying thank you and celebrating the day after Labor Day.

Join our Small Business Google+ community here.

Or just bookmark our book’s site here.

Please help us spread the word about Social Networking for Business Success! Click here to tweet the news to your community.

The post Grow your business: new book helps you get started online appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Career change: how to find a career you love?

1. Decide what you want.  Avoid moving from one job or career to another before you narrow down how you want to spend your working hours. For example, ask yourself if autonomy is crucial, or if using your creativity is most important.

2. Once you narrow down what you want to do next, Miller suggests you craft an elevator pitch to highlight what you offer your target employer. The best pitches clearly explain how and why you are a good fit for your ideal job.

3. Build your team. Miller calls this your “tribe.” These people are willing to help and support you during your career transition.

4. Act on facts, not assumptions. We all get caught up in the popular myth that “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” Miller reminds career changers: “Remember, sometimes, that greener grass turns out to be Astroturf!”

5. Network strategically. When you meet new contacts, make sure they understand why you are a good fit for the type of job you want. Use social media tools such as LinkedIn and Twitter to find and target individuals who can be your allies and develop relationships with them.

6. Learn to ask for help. Miller reminds career changers that itâ€s tough (maybe impossible) to head into new territory and to succeed without help. He suggests you “Set aside your pride in order to reach for something new. Career change is hard at first; but it gets easier.”

Read the entire post on my U.S. News & World Report column.

The post How to find a (second) career you love? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Years ago, everyone seemed to prefer to hire Jacks-of-all trades—in other words, people who could do a little of everything. The goal was to cross-train, and people who were generalists could expect to be in demand.

According to Kevin W. Grossman, author of the Tech Job Hunt Handbook, things changed dramatically with the recent recession. When employers eliminated jobs in the past few years, they were more likely to keep people who focused in a particular area. Grossman explains: “If you have specialized skills and are helping solve real-world problems, you are two steps ahead of everyone else when it comes to landing—and keeping—a job.”

In a competitive market, job seekers should consider honing in on their specialties and applying for positions where those targeted skills will be valued.

How to get a job now

Consider these tips to help make your business case:

Be specific. It’s not enough to be “hard working, experienced, and a strong team player.” Pretty much everyone who applies for a job claims these basic qualifications.

Think about the specifics that make you different. Focus first on what the employer needs from their employees; you can learn this via their job descriptions, by talking to knowledgeable people, and by reading information online from your target organizations.Then, write your application materials accordingly.

Fill in the gaps. Maybe you’ve never actually considered yourself a subject matter expert, or you don’t really have the expertise necessary to market yourself as one. Instead of sulking and reminiscing about the days when everyone wanted to hire generalists, focus on what skills you need to have under your belt to be more marketable.

Use social media. There’s no better way to showcase your expertise than via social media. If you want to prove you know a lot about a topic, you can create a blog and write about it, start a LinkedIn group focused on the subject and lead online conversations, and fill your Twitter, Google+, and Facebook streams with content that makes it clear you’re connected and an expert in a specific subject matter.

Read the full post on my U.S. News & World Report column.

The post What do employers want? How to get a job now appeared first on Keppie Careers.

But first, since Iâ€m all about the connections…Some fodder from last night:

The “coaches are brothers” story. Whatâ€s the likelihood of two brothers being head coaches of NFL teams? (And playing each other in the “Big Game?”) Yes, thereâ€s the family legacy issue, with the father as a coach, and Iâ€m sure there was some big-time networking involved, but it still seems pretty improbable. What is the lesson for the rest of us? Thereâ€s a big world out there, and lots of room for talented people with skills to make a mark, be distinctive and to succeed.

If youâ€re thinking of starting a business, you may recognize that there are lots of other people out there who are making a living doing what you want to do. In spite of that, it doesnâ€t mean you canâ€t also be successful. While there is only one  winner, it doesnâ€t mean that you canâ€t be very successful if you take the right steps to demonstrate your expertise and to expand your network.

Unknowns (and underdogs) can win it all. Okay, maybe the Ravens arenâ€t exactly “unknowns.” But, they are a relatively new team, formed in 1996. As a non-football watcher, I had to ask, “what is a Raven?” when I heard they were facing the 49ers. They went from start-up to Big Game winners. So it took 17 years for me to hear of them, but I am not their target audience, so thatâ€s okay! Similarly – you donâ€t need everyone to know about you – only the ones you need to influence. And, even in a big, deep field of plays, you can still succeed, with hard work and maybe a little luck.

Your thoughts influence your actions. If you watched the game, it was clear the momentum shifted after the blackout. What looked like a blowout game turned into an actual contest. It turns out that’s not so surprising. The AP reported that Ravens safety Ed Reed said some of his teammates were worried that the game would turn when the lights came back on. “The bad part is we started talking about it,’ he said. “Some of the guys were saying, ‘They’re trying to kill our momentum.’ I was like, ‘There’s two teams on the field.’ But once we started talking about it, it happened. We talked it up.”

This is such a big factor for anyone who wants to make a change or try something different. If you convince yourself that you can or cannot do it — it is more likely to be true!

How does all of this relate to my news? I have a new book in the works! This summer, Social Networking for Business Success: Turn Your Interests Into Income will hit bookstores near you. Iâ€m thrilled to have collaborated with my friend and colleague, Hannah Morgan of CareerSherpa.net, to co-author this book full of ideas and resources for anyone who wants to use social networks to expand their business opportunities. It’s a subject near and dear for both of us, and we’re excited to share our new book with you!

In our book, we offer information and advice for a quick ramp-up if youâ€re a business owner who wants to use social networking tools to expand and grow. We also provide targeted help for those of you who may be thinking it would be a good idea to start thinking of yourself as a business and marketing your skills accordingly. The Super Bowl lessons make it clear that the improbable is possible.

Your success is in your hands – sometimes; all it takes is just the right information to move from the theoretical to the actual.

We canâ€t wait to share this book with you! (Read Hannah’s big announcement.)

The post Big news on the day after the big game appeared first on Keppie Careers.