Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Just Ask Leadership – A review

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justaskleadership0071621776Knowing how to ask the right questions is a key skill for every successful professional. Gary B. Cohen’s book, Just Ask Leadership – Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions is a reminder that people are a company’s most important resource and that listening is so much more important than talking.

I’ve written about how important it is to be a good listener, and believe it is a crucial skill for job seekers and all careerists. Gary’s book starts out by asking, “Would you rather be asked for your input or told what to do?” (p. 1).

He describes how CEOs and managers can help their organizations succeed by instilling a value on listening and asking questions. He focuses on five important topics:

  1. Improving vision.
  2. Ensuring accountability.
  3. Building unity and cooperation and creating a culture of trust.
  4. Creating better decisions and getting the right answers by asking the right questions.
  5. Motivate to action – asking for success.

In the book, Gary identifies and addresses such important questions as, “How can I seek clarification without being judgmental? (p. 133) and “How can suspending my beliefs inspire my coworkers and resolve conflicts?” (p. 177).

I think that anyone who wants to be a better manager or leader can learn a lot from this informative book based on interviews with nearly 100 leaders, including Fortune 500 CEOs.

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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.

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs – A Review

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PresentationSecretsofSteveJobs4173s6m5hNL._SL160_I have said it before, and it is worth saying it again…

If you asked me, “What is the single most important skill a job seeking candidate can have?,” I would initially probably respond along the lines of, “It depends on the job!” However, upon further thought, I might also reply, “Being a strong communicator is an underlying key skill for any job seeker.”

I’ve written about the importance of “soft skills” or “emotional intelligence.” Some business schools are incorporating classes to teach communication and leadership skills, as they are so important in the workplace. Let’s face it – if you have trouble communicating, you are likely to have trouble getting along with colleagues, persuading others to agree with you and succeeding in most workplaces.

Communication skills extend beyond being able to negotiate a one-on-one conversation. Often, being able to present in front of an audience is the key differentiating skill that makes the difference between getting the job and coming in second place.

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs – How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience, by Carmine Gallo, promises to teach anyone how to successfully present their ideas. The author explains Jobs’ approach to a classic argument (p. 13):

  1. Deliver a story or statment that arouses the audience’s interest
  2. Post a problem or question that has to be solved or answered.
  3. Offer a solution to the problem you raised.
  4. Describe specific benefits for adopting the course of action set forth in your solution.
  5. State a call to action.

In the book, he continues to explain exactly how to go about making that happen. With specifics that include everything from offering the variety that the brain craves (p. 129) to techniques to improve body language (p. 170). He explains how to toss the script (p. 202) AND how to use notes when you must (p. 204).

Carmine maps out how to become a better presenter, using a well-known master presenter’s methods as a guide. I enjoyed his book and believe that everyone who needs (or wants) to present better (and who doesn’t need to present better) can learn something important and useful.

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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.

Girl On Top – A Review

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GirlOnTopsp_image-2-1247609964Nicole Williams is not the first one to compare career planning to the dating game. In fact, I reviewed Shawn Graham’s Courting Your Career, which applies dating lessons to job hunting and offers a lot of very useful tips and advice. (First and foremost – don’t be desperate!)

Williams’ Girl On Top takes a different approach to the topic. Her book is a sassy, fun and funny collection of advice and strategies for women to consider as they manage their own career paths. As a big fan of what I call “driving your own career bus,” I really enjoyed this book. I think it is written in just the right irreverent tone that will appeal to careerists who don’t think they need a career advice book.

Some advice you probably won’t find in other career books? Nicole’s chapter on “don’t bash your ex” (or your old boss) really resonated with me. But, she goes the extra mile and reminds readers “Don’t Bash….You” (p. 59). In an era of “personal branding” and online vetting, it is more important than ever to control your own image – and your own story.

Nicole notes these things that you should never say about yourself:

I’m tired. Nicole explains, “Tired is a weakness.” It’s true – no one at work really cares that you are tired. Talk about something else!

I’m bored. I hope you already know better than to tell people you are bored at work. (Or to update your Facebook status to say so.) Nicole suggests that you find something to do. Before someone finds something for you to do. (Or shows you the door!)

I’m fat. This isn’t a subject I discuss here very often, but saying self-deprecating things (or hoping that someone will disagree) is not good office banter.

I’m stupid. Nicole says, “You are if you call it out” (p. 60). She suggests, “Focus on what you do know and arm yourself with the tools you need to compensate…” (60). So true! If you are not your own #1 fan, you might as well pack it in now. This is not to say that you need to carry on about how brilliant you are (actions speak louder than words), but don’t make a habit of self-degrading. It will not win friends or influence people (at least not in the ways that you want).

Learn about how to make these and many other unwritten rules work for you. In your personal life AND in your career – and wind up on top!

How do you stay on top in the career world? Share in the comments!

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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.

Keeping things in perspective for your job hunt

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cold.children.3133748366_70f7859960_mIf you are not convinced by now that job seeking during the holidays is a good idea, I don’t know what to say! Suffice to repeat – there are opportunities out there. You just need to be willing and ready to meet them.

Have you seen the Wall Street Journal’s series of blogs by job seekers? Weeks ago, when I began my “Holiday Job Search” series, I saw a post that I knew I wanted to share. One of the WSJ’s contributors, Kevin Mergens, wrote a post with a message I thought was the perfect cap to the information I’ve been sharing. Kevin wrote:

So, as the holidays approach I feel it is critical to keep things in perspective. Being an M.B.A. on unemployment stinks for both the ego and the bank account, but I am hardly deserving of any sympathy. When I was in this boat during Christmas six years ago, I remember feeling down about not having a job and then reading a local letter to Santa. The young girl that penned the letter did not ask for a doll or a video game or an iPod. She asked Santa for a coat and boots so she could deal with the Chicago winter. After seeing that, I knew my “problems” were not really that big. I decided that we could certainly afford to contribute a few bucks to the local charity that played Santa for these kids. The funny thing is, less than twenty minutes after I called in my small donation, I got a call with a job offer.

I know that some readers really are in very difficult situations after being out of work for a long time. However, no matter what, it is important to keep things in perspective. Helping someone else at this time of year is yet another way to help yourself. While most people will not land an opportunity upon offering a charitable donation, it certainly doesn’t hurt to think of those less fortunate.

Thank you for reading. If you have missed any of the great advice my terrific colleagues offered, be sure to follow these links. A very special THANK YOU to all the generous and talented friends and contacts who share advice for this series. Feel free to share YOUR ideas for job searching during the holidays in the comments!

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – Take care of yourself

Part 3 – Anita Bruzzese – Stay ahead of the crowd

Part 4 – Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Unplug and embrace rest

Part 5 – Wendy Enelow – Ideas for employed and unemployed job seekers

Part 6 – GL Hoffman – Use time to research and prepare

Part 7 – Meghan M. Biro – Use the holidays as a time for self assessment

Part 8 – Craig Fisher – Recruiters don’t ease up during the holidays – neither should you

Part 9 – Ronnie Ann – Take advantage of other peoples’ resolutions

Part 10 – Alison Doyle and Andrea Santiago – Use parties and festive occassions to fuel your job search

Part 11 – Sharlyn Lauby – Take your job search social

Part 12 – Karla Porter – Be in it to win it

Part 13 – Lisa Caldas Kappesser – Use emotional intelligence to overcome job search hurdles

Part 14 – 4 tips for effective networking follow up for the holidays and the rest of the year

Part 15 – Networking tips and advice from a variety of experts

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 Divine in the Daily

Holiday networking tips and advice

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network.pic.2048034334_22b098c829_mIt’s hard to believe, but I have not finished sharing the great ideas my colleagues shared for my holiday networking for job seekers series!

Sandra Naiman, author of The High Achiever’s Secret Codebook: The Unwritten Rules for Success at Work (JIST, 2009) [read my review HERE] echos the sentiment that the “holiday season is a great time to enlarge and reactivate your network.  That is not to say that you ask people if they have or know of a job; however social networking sites, letters and cards are a great way to get back on people’s radar screen.”

She suggests that you create inexpensive ways to bring people together at your house – such as a cookie baking party where everyone cooks and shares cookies and candies with everyone else. “Again, your objective is to connect with as many people as possible and create opportunities for follow up, where appropriate, after the holidays.”

A fun idea – host your own party!

Another author, Richard S. Deems, who wrote, Make Job Loss Work For You (Jist 2010) with his daughter, Terri Deems, suggests job seekers move their focus to direct (in-person) networking during the holidays to take advantage of the generally good mood. Richard reminds us how important it is to follow up, which is key!

Jeff Lipschultz, a founding partner of A-List Solutions, a premier recruiting firm, brings great advice from the “other side of the hiring desk.” I “met” Jeff on Twitter, and I encourage you to follow him @jlipschultz for terrific job hunting tweets and advice! I also highly recommend his blog.  He is also a featured writer on www.job-hunt.org.  Jeff adds:

“The employment world at the end of the year is an unusual situation. Sure, it’s the holiday season and there are many vacations and last minute goals to achieve for the year.  But, it is also a prime time to be interviewing.  Many companies still need to fill a spot on the team that was budgeted this year.  Other companies have a little more time to wedge in some interviews.  Some budgets for 2010 are already set or close.  Which means, some hiring managers already know their January job hires and may get a jump start on the search to grab the best talents available ahead of other companies.  They’re anticipating  the start date of any hire being in January.

Candidates who are actively pursuing open jobs during this time frame should stand out as serious candidates.  Keep the search alive during the holiday season!”

Finally, my friend Ellen Sautter, a senior career management consultant with Right Management and co-author with Diane Crompton of Seven Days to Online Networking (Jist 2008) [read my review HERE], brings her unique perspective as someone working at a large outplacement firm with many job seekers shares some good news!

We see the job market picking up right now.  Many of our candidates are landing new positions and certainly getting more ‘traction’ in the market than earlier this year.  With companies starting to loosen the purse strings, we would advise job seekers to stay engaged and attentive…..while of course taking some time for fun and family activities to maintain ‘balance.’

She reminds us that:

Hiring is not as predictable as it used to be.  There are no weeks / months / periods when companies stop recruiting and screening candidates. New jobs are posted all the time; and interviews are scheduled and offers are extended during all weeks of the year.

So, good news for job seekers. I hope you are totally convinced that prepping your pitch and going to holiday parties with a positive attitude is the best job search strategy! Tomorrow, one final thought to close our series. FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH HOLIDAY JOB SEARCH IN THE COMMENTS!

Be sure to take a look at all the great advice from my colleagues:

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – Take care of yourself

Part 3 – Anita Bruzzese – Stay ahead of the crowd

Part 4 – Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Unplug and embrace rest

Part 5 – Wendy Enelow – Ideas for employed and unemployed job seekers

Part 6 – GL Hoffman – Use time to research and prepare

Part 7 – Meghan M. Biro – Use the holidays as a time for self assessment

Part 8 – Craig Fisher – Recruiters don’t ease up during the holidays – neither should you

Part 9 – Ronnie Ann – Take advantage of other peoples’ resolutions

Part 10 – Alison Doyle and Andrea Santiago – Use parties and festive occasions to fuel your job search

Part 11 – Sharlyn Lauby – Take your job search social

Part 12 – Karla Porter – Be in it to win it

Part 13 – Lisa Caldas Kappesser – Use emotional intelligence to overcome job search hurdles

Part 14 – 4 tips for effective networking follow up for the holidays and the rest of the year

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.

image by Nimages