Today’s post is a contribution for the annual Job Action Day. The theme is inspired by Mike Roweâ€s online commencement speech for Prager University. “He suggests, instead of following their passion, jobseekers should consider following the opportunities that are available to them—and then bring their passions with them to the job.”

Have you consciously identified a need to have passion for your work vs. considering your job a practical necessity? Do you let your bias regarding this impact your job search? Have you hesitated to pursue job opportunities because you aren’t committed to or excited about the work? Of course, the best career or job is the one in which youâ€re using the skills you enjoy. But, not every job needs to address all of your passions. It makes sense to use every job as an opportunity to learn something new and keep an open mind; you may find that you really enjoy something you never imagined would appeal to you.

Sometimes, however, a job can be just a job. Many, many people take care of problems at work not because they are passionate about what they are doing, but because they take pride in a job well done. It’s powerful to recognize work can be a way to make a living and doesn’t need to be steeped in passion.

If you are concerned that you should be more passionate about your work, here are some steps to take to make the most out of your current job, no matter what you do.

Evaluate your job.  Maybe there are parts of your job that play to your passions without you even recognizing it! For example, if you are in customer service, you may dislike handling problems all day, but solving concerns is something you really enjoy. Give credit to all the parts of your job that appeal to you.

Leverage your interests. Perhaps you can influence a change in your current work environment. If you’re in a job that doesn’t offer much in the way of upward mobility, consider offering to volunteer to head up an initiative that does play to your passions. For example, maybe you’d like to see your company recycle more, and you can offer to help work on that. Or, maybe you want to organize a collection to donate to the local food pantry. Perhaps you’d like to have a series of speakers come to talk to you and your colleagues. If you volunteer to set it up, your employer may support this effort. Just because your job may be static doesn’t mean you can’t extend yourself and try new things.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Job Seekers Make and How to Avoid Them.

Learn new things. Would you like to extend your career in a different direction, but you don’t have the resume to support the change? Identify what skills you are missing and take a class. Or, use volunteer opportunities to help get some experience. For example, if you don’t have any formal experience using management skills, managing that food drive or planning a speaker series can give you some of these skills.

Leverage your passions outside of work. If you donâ€t have a passion for your work, make more of an effort to enjoy your time outside of work. You may even find that newfound passion can become a side business that leads to work happiness down the road. Are you a creative person, but you work in an uncreative profession? Look for a hobby or take a class. When you’re not working, you have more control over how you spend your time, so be sure to tap into your passions. When you spend more time doing what you love, it helps your overall happiness, which will positively affect how you feel at work.

You may be surprised to learn you have an opportunity to include many more passionate interests in your job and in your free time than you may have realized!

The post Can You Uncover Your Passion in a Job You Don’t Love? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Storytelling – does it make you think of sitting on a carpet decorated with pictures depicting the alphabet while trying to stay away from the kid who could never keep his feet to himself? Okay, maybe that was really “story time.”  Telling and hearing stories isnâ€t something the average adult considers part of his or her professional life.

This post is in honor of Job Action Day 2014, with the theme of “Career Storytelling.” Job Action Day is a day for all job-seekers and workers to take stock of their situations and make plans and/or take action steps to improve their careers. QuintCareers.com spearheads and runs this event every year, and Iâ€m delighted to contribute and to suggest you visit other post about the topic. Follow #JAD14 on Twitter for information.

It may come as a surprise that marketing your skills for a job is all about storytelling. Jobseekers need to be able to tell their stories in varied ways, using a myriad of tools.

Before you bring out your quill pen – or, more likely, your laptop or tablet – to start authoring your story, your first job is to know what it is you want to tell. It sounds obvious, doesnâ€t it? Unfortunately, itâ€s not so obvious in practice for many people. If you donâ€t have a very clear idea of what you do well – and why people should want to hire you to do it for them – you will be at a big disadvantage. Itâ€s tough to get on the right path until you know your destination.

Before you start trying to integrate your “story” into your job search strategies, first focus on your skills. So many job seekers donâ€t take the time to really identify what they have to offer in the way of skills.  This is a real problem when it comes to the self-marketing, self-selling and interviewing aspects of the job search.  If you donâ€t know what you have to offer, who does?

There are many ways to approach figuring out your skills.  There is a basic one that I advise my clients to consider: review job descriptions of positions that interest you. Highlight all of the skills required that youâ€ve EVER used or could remotely be related to you.  Then, go back and check off the skills that really resonate and feel like “you.”  This is a basic, not time consuming and free way to get you thinking about your skills.

Describe your story as it relates to your skills. When you think about your job search story, hone in on exactly why and how you are a good fit for the opportunity of interest.

Tell the relevant story at every stage of your search:

Networking: Use your LinkedIn profile to showcase your passion for your work and why youâ€re good at what you do. Consider a less formal approach to help connect with readers; speak in the first person and detail why readers should want to know more about you.

In all social media, keep in mind that you are proving you have the answers to the problems hiring managers are trying to solve. Indicate how you help in your headlines – no matter how short. Even a 160-character Twitter bio can tell a brief story.

At in-person events, be prepared to introduce yourself. Donâ€t prepare a 2-minute speech – be able to say who you are and what you do in 15 seconds or less. You could use a slightly longer version of your Twitter bio or LinkedIn headline to get to the heart of what you want people to know.

In your resume: This is your opportunity to draw a clear and distinct line between what you offer and what the employer wants in a candidate. Focus extensively on the job description of interest and incorporate keywords that match the employerâ€s needs when explaining via your headlines and job descriptions why you are a good match.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

In the interview: For years, coaches have advised using a “CAR” or “PAR” approach to interview storytelling. (This also works in resumes.) CAR is “challenge, action, results.” PAR is “problem, action results.” The main point is that you need to be able to tell stories explaining challenges or problems you faced and to describe how you handled them. The best part of keeping these acronyms in mind is they help remind you to incorporate the “results” piece in your story.

Once you solidify your story, you’ll be well on your way to job search success!

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Identify your skills. Evaluate your military service. What did you do on a daily basis? Make a list. Once your list is complete, pair skills you used with each task. Pay special attention to your transferable skills—the ones you can easily use in different organizations.

For example, if you were an infantryman and your main responsibilities were related to combat missions that do not easily correlate with civilian jobs, you’ll want to dig deeper into your skills. Don’t just think about what you did—ask yourself how and why you were successful. You could highlight your abilities to quickly assess and respond to a situation, focus on how you thrived in an exceptionally stressful environment, and point out that you worked well with a team while demonstrating leadership. You’ll want to look for jobs requiring the skills you identify.

Note your accomplishments. Do not underestimate the value of awards and accolades you received, but do translate them into terms non-military personnel will understand. Note the award name with a brief description of why you received it. If you do not have specific honors, think about praise you may have received from a superior or member of your platoon. Did an officer comment about how you are always planning ahead or mention a specific detail you can share with your targeted employer? This information will be helpful in determining your next career steps.

Focus on what you enjoy doing. Don’t ignore your “soft skills,” or emotional intelligence. For example, are you a good communicator? Do you have a knack for leading teams? Maybe you’re a great negotiator. Identify your best skills and include these on your list.

Research potential opportunities. Once you have your lists, plug your skills (your keywords) into job-board search engines to see what types of positions come up. For example, you may search for “supervise,” “oversee projects,” or “leadership.”  Keep an open mind and see if there is any pattern or type of job that keeps coming up. Use these online resources for veterans looking for jobs.

Make a list of job titles and company names. Was there a particular industry that appeared repeatedly in your results? Continue to search online for more information about those fields or organizations.

Inform your network. Once you know what you want to do, be specific when you describe your goals to your network. Don’t just say you are looking for “a job.” It’s tough for people to help you without detailed information and a focal point. Tell your friends and contacts the names of companies and positions that interest you. Be specific. For example, “I’m hoping to find a sales position in a high-tech field. Do you know anyone working in X, Y, or Z company who might be willing to meet me so I can learn more about their organizations—even if they aren’t currently hiring?” Follow up by asking for an informational meeting.

Translate your experience. A common problem for job-seeking veterans is helping civilian, non-military hiring managers understand their work history. Be sure to avoid military jargon in application materials and describe your past experience in layperson’s terms. Ask a non-veteran friend to read your resume and application. Can he or she describe what you used to do? If not, revise your materials and be sure to focus on the skills you used, not just the things you did. Consider using this template to write some of your resume’s bullet points:

Used _____, ________, and _______ skills by (doing what?), resulting in (list an accomplishment).

Always try to make the information you list as relevant as possible to the employers you identified.

Be sure to include specific, quantifiable points in your descriptions. For example, do not assume the reader will know how many troops you led based on your rank and title. Whenever possible, incorporate percentages, dollar amounts, and numbers in your resume. Paint a vivid, relevant picture to help the hiring manager envision you doing the job.

Tell your story. In an interview, be sure to describe your experiences in a way that a layperson will understand. Avoid military jargon and acronyms, and give examples relevant to the job you want. Have three or four stories in mind to illustrate your accomplishments and describe how you overcame challenges and solved problems.

Following these steps from the exploratory through the interview stages of job hunting will help you identify and compete for suitable opportunities.

Other online resources:

The Riley Guide

Job-Hunt.org

Veteran’s Job Bank

Be sure to read all of the posts on this topic, linked via www.jobactionday.com.

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Today’s post is in honor of Job Action Day, a day for all job-seekers and workers to take stock of their situations and make plans and/or take action steps to improve their careers. QuintCareers.com spearheads and runs this event every year, and I’m delighted to contribute and to suggest you visit other post about the topic. Follow #JAD2012 on Twitter for information.

Experts often disagree about exactly how important it is for job seekers and professionals to focus on the concept of what is widely known as a “personal brand.” Reach Personal Branding defines the personal brand as:

“What is authentic to you, differentiating from your peers and relevant and compelling to those who are making decisions about you…Personal Branding is the process of unearthing your unique promise of value and demonstrating that value in everything you do. Itâ€s about consistently being your best self so you achieve your goals while adding tremendous value to your team, organization and company.”

So, whatâ€s controversial? Some people believe asking people to focus on themselves and their brand is self-centered, and any “branding” they do is too ego-centric to be important for job seekers or others who seek to advance their careers.

Regardless of what you believe about the existing conversation about personal branding, one thing is certain: the job market is changing. Research continues to come out showing that the contingent – otherwise known as temporary, or contract, workforce, is growing. The Harvard Business Reviewâ€s Tammy Erikson wrote, “Temporary placement service provider Adecco predicts the growth rate for contingent workers will be three to four times the growth rate among traditional workforces, and that they eventually will make up about 25% of the global workforce.”

What does this mean for you? Even if you have a traditional job now, you may eventually find yourself in a position where your livelihood depends on your ability to market yourself as a one-person company. The writing is on the wall: the job market and career opportunities are changing – you need to change, too. If you want to secure a place as a known expert in your field – someone people will mention and refer to others – for both traditional and contract jobs, itâ€s up to you to step up and focus on what you have to offer outside the walls of your traditional office and beyond the realm of the colleagues who know you personally.

Hannah Morgan and I have been discussing personal branding as it relates to people who many need to start to re-envision themselves as entrepreneurs instead of job seekers. We even coined a new term that we believe hones in on what people engaged in personal branding really need to understand.

The term is VIV-id, which stands for Virtual Individual Verified-id.

Dictionary.com defines the word vivid:

1. strikingly bright or intense, as color, light, etc.: a vivid green.

2. full of life; lively; animated: a vivid personality.

3. presenting the appearance, freshness, spirit, etc., of life; realistic: a vivid account.

4. strong, distinct, or clearly perceptible: a vivid recollection.

5. forming distinct and striking mental images: a vivid imagination.

We thought it was a perfect launching pad for an acronym to replace the term personal brand, and to help people redefine the concept in a way that makes sense for todayâ€s reality. (Note: we’re not redefining the concept of personal branding, but we hope this new term, broken into definable parts, can help clarify the elements that go into creating a strong personal brand.)

Virtual reminds us that we no longer have the luxury to bask solely in a community of people who know us personally if we want to be competitive in this new economy. Instead, we’ll all be judged, in part, based on our online and social media activity — our virtual selves.

Individual concentrates on what is unique and special about you. You want to know yourself first and be sure the “package” you create represents you authentically as an individual. You won’t be able to represent your VIV-id without knowing yourself and engaging in some self-exploration. This piece of the acronym also reminds us that your “real” self (not only your “virtual” identity) comprises your VIV-id (your personal brand).

Verified. This is an important factor we believe many people overlook. It refers to the fact that we cannot define ourselves inside of a vacuum if we want to make effective connections with other people. In other words, you can do a lot of self-reflection and know what YOU offer, but that is only part of the equation. You must also look outside of your own needs, skills and accomplishments and understand how to market what you offer in a way that your target audience will appreciate it.

Reach’s definition captures this concept by explaining that your brand should be “relevant and compelling to those who are making decisions about you.” Hannah and I hope choosing the word “verified” (as in researched, or double-checked) as 25% of our acronym to explain the concept of personal branding will remind people to focus on this important aspect of learning to market their own skills.

My analogy for this concept of “verified” is wrapping a gift. When you focus on your VIV-id, you package yourself, and itâ€s important to consider the recipients in order to ensure they are thrilled with the offering . For example, if you are preparing a gift for a 4-year old boy, itâ€s unlikely youâ€ll use pink, frilly bows and princesses. Even if you really love pink, bows and princesses, youâ€ll think first of the little boy and what he will want; what will make the package look like it was uniquely prepared for him?

Similarly, itâ€s your job to research and investigate exactly what you offer that your target audience will appreciate. (Itâ€s going to be a little more involved than deciding a young boy likely prefers cars and trucks to frilly ribbons.) Youâ€ll need to study job descriptions, read and analyze online information from companies that interest you, comb through publications and blogs from thought leaders in your field, conduct online and in-person conversations and read whatâ€s said at your professional associations and conferences.

The Id refers to your psyche, or your unconscious. It is closely aligned to something that makes you happy, or gives you pleasure. Itâ€s an important piece of this definition, not just because it rounds out the acronym, but because, to be most successful, what you offer should be authentic (real) and something you’re excited to showcase.

Hannah and I hope re-explaining the concept of personal branding via this new acronym will help job seekers and potential entrepreneurs focus on what is really important when they market themselves. Think about your VIV-id — how can you define and package what you offer?

Learn more about Job Action Day via Quint Careers and connect to the various bloggers writing about this topic today.

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Today is Job Action Day 2011. It’s the fourth year of this annual event sponsored by Quintessential Careers, a website with many, wonderful resources for job seekers. I’m delighted to be participating for the fourth time.

I’ll never forget how delighted I was when Dr. Randall Hansen invited me to participate the first time, at the suggestion of my friend and colleague, Lindsey Pollak. I’m equally delighted to add my blog this year to those of my colleagues and friends who will be writing in response to the various topics: skill up, start up, speak up. Please keep an eye on this post, as I will be linking to other Job Action Day blogs as soon as they’re all collected.

Quint Careers explains:

This year’s theme is: Skill Up, Start Up, Speak Up. (I’m focusing on the “Start Up” theme.) The Start Up aspect of the theme refers not only to tackling unemployment during the recession by starting a small business, but also developing a whole new mindset of being the CEO of one’s own career by having a portfolio of portable skills, a great network, flexibility, a project-mentality; not sitting at the computer visiting job boards, but getting out there and meeting people, knocking on doors, taking ownership of their career path.

I’ve been writing for years about exactly this topic… In fact, my 2008 post asked, “How can you thrive professionally when keeping up seems about as easy as holding water in your bare hands?”

My response, then and now:

While there is much we as individuals cannot control (e.g., the stock market, whether or not the industry we chose for our career will thrive in tomorrow’s economy and if layoffs will be necessary in our company), careerists still have a lot of power.

No matter what you call it, you are the CEO of your own career, and you are the only one who has the power to make sure you get where you want to go. My mantra has been (and continues to be): Drive your own career bus.

Driving that bus has gotten a little more involved in the past four or five years. It’s become more clear how important social media tools can be to help careerists create and share a professional persona with more people than we could have ever imagined in the past.

Not only can you have “a portfolio of portable skills, a great network, flexibility and a project-mentality,” you can take it to your audience without ever leaving your home or office. Before you get out and meet people, and knock on actual doors, you can take ownership of your career path by identifying and defining your value proposition as it relates to your target audience.

Once you know what you offer and define what is distinct and special about you, you can broadcast it via your own website (via a blog) and by answering questions on LinkedIn or Quora. You can meet and engage with people you never could have otherwise met via Twitter or Google+, and you can reconnect with old friends and keep in touch with new ones on Facebook.

At the same time, let’s admit it: this brave new social media world complicates things a bit. While we can access information about our interviewer before the interview and research organizations from the comfort of our homes, job seekers are accountable for so much more than ever before. Interviewers EXPECT you to know information they may only have hoped you’d be privy to in the past.

I spoke to a job seeker at an event recently. When I explained her LinkedIn profile needed to be written to appeal to all of the types of employers she is trying to attract, her face fell…She is trying to apply to very different types of jobs. “Now, it’s even harder,” she moaned.

It can be “even harder” now if you don’t know what you want to do, if you are unfocused and if you’re not willing to learn new things. But, if you take some time to focus, and are willing to learn how social media can propel your search, you have access to opportunities beyond what you’d ever imagine.

What can you do?

Learn how social media tools can help you.

Read about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile.

Consider how having your own website — yourname.com — can make a difference.

Review details about using Twitter for your job search — and embrace the network as a useful resource to connect with others and extend your network.

Consider how Facebook can be useful to you, and review information about tools such as BeKnown and Branchout to try to create a professional network via Facebook.

Don’t miss out on what Google+ has to offer. Use your profile to highlight what you know and take advantage of Google+

Learn about Quora — a place to ask — and answer questions.

And, once you learn how to use social media tools, learn how to become a connector — engage and interact, introduce and incorporate your new communities into your search process.

What I wrote several years ago still holds true today — if you don’t like traffic, change how you drive through it. Take the keys and drive confidently in the direction you’d like to go next, because you are the only one who can get you there.

Blogs addressing Job Action Day

Quintessential Careers Blog, Job Action Day 2011: Skill Up, Start Up, Speak Up

Career Doctor Blog, #Job Action Day 11: Speak Up: It Takes a Village to Turn a Jobs Crisis Around

The post Job Action Day 2011 — How to confidently drive your career bus where you want to go appeared first on Keppie Careers.

I write a lot about using social media and other “non-traditional” approaches to job search. I believe in social networking tools, and know that entrepreneurs can win business using them and job seekers can land opportunities. I particularly love Twitter, and have often waxed poetic about how useful it is for job seekers. (See this post for links to my thoughts about using Twitter for job hunting.)

Attending several conferences recently (Career Directors International, a career coaches’ and resume writers’ convention and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Atlanta, an organization dedicated to recruiting and HR issues) inspired me to go a little retro for this post.  I’d suggest that to create opportunity, you need to think about being a connector (someone who enjoys introducing people, for personal or professional benefit).

Wikipedia defines “connector,” a term Malcolm Gladwell popularized in his 2000 book The Tipping Point:

Connectors are said…to be people in a community who know large numbers of people and who are in the habit of making introductions. A connector is essentially the social equivalent of a computer network hub. Connectors usually know people across an array of social, cultural, professional, and economic circles, and make a habit of introducing people who work or live in different circles.

Although connectors are rare — only one in several thousand people might be thought of as a true connector — they are…very important in the healthy function of civil society and business. Connectors are also important in trendsetting.

My friend, Jenny DeVaughn, is the best example of being a connector that I know. Jenny is the Director, Social Strategy at Bernard Hodes Group, where she is “responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of social media strategies for clients, including ongoing training.” She is an expert regarding recruiting for today and develops and implements social media recruitment strategies for clients, including Fortune 500 organizations. She also has her own blog, Social Precision, where she shares tips and up-to-date ideas relevant to both the hiring side and job seekers.

I had a chance to see Jenny speak to a packed room at SHRM-Atlanta. (Read some of her advice  HERE.) She’s clearly way ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and connecting online. She shared that she is one of the top three most connected women on LinkedIn! You may assume someone so focused on online connecting might not be a skilled in-person networker, but the opposite is true when it comes to Jenny.

Jenny creates opportunity wherever she is. I have never stood next to her without watching Jenny introduce someone to another person, suggest some potential business or personal commonalities, make a connection or offer an idea. It amazes me how focused she is on helping other people succeed and what an awesome link she provides by letting each person know how the other person might relate to what he or she is doing.

Creating opportunity is an important and relevant topic, and one that job seekers need to think about in an environment when jobs are few and far between. Take a lesson from a connector — Jenny sees opportunity just by looking around and by thinking ahead. She obviously makes it a point to know what people do, what skills they have and makes the most of this information by sharing it and introducing people.

Think about it — how can you make opportunity by looking around? Who might you be able to introduce to someone else for a potential opportunity? How can you help those around you? When you are in that mindset of being a connector and serving as a hub of information and resources, it will also help you identify opportunities that may be available to you.

Stay tuned for a post about my friend Laura Labovich’s tips for how to introduce yourself effectively and for impact when meeting in person!

Please check out these blog posts that are joining mine in supporting Job Action Day 2010:

• Quintessential Careers Blog, Third annual Job Action Day arrives with job-seekers struggling with a new and more challenging future of work, future of job-hunting.
• Career Doctor Blog
• Quintessential Resume and Cover Letter Tips Blog, Career Experts Offer Tips for New Job-Search Realities: Job Action Day 2010.
• A Storied Career, Job Action Day 2010: Stories of Creating Opportunity Through LinkedIn.
• Susan Guarneri, New World of Work: Job Action Day 2010 Career Assessment Goddess.
• Wendy Terwelp, Job Action Day: Create Your Own Opportunity, Rock Your Career.
• Laura Labovich, Give-to-Get in the Protean Workplace!, Aspire! Empower!
• David Couper, Job Action: what can you do to help, David Couper Blog.
• Barbara Safani, Job Action Day-Opportunities Knock Harder When You Use Social Media, Career Solvers Blog.
• Maggie Mistal, Job Action Day: Soul Search, Research & Job Search To Create Real Opportunity, Career Advice Blog.
• Steven Rothberg, On Job Action Day 2010, Focus on Your Competencies, Interests, and values, CollegeRecruiter.com Blog
• Miriam Salpeter, Job Action Day — how to create job opportunities by being a connector, Keppie Careers.
• The Career Management Alliance Blog [multiple posts].
• Stephen Hinton, Focus On Certifications: How Can a Certification Help My Green Job Search?, Hinton Human Capital Blog.

You can also find Job Action Day 2010 posts on these blogs:

• Heather Krasna, Heather Krasna’s Public Service Career Blog.
• Meg Guiseppi, Executive Career Branding.
• Willy Franzen, One Day One Job.
• Deborah Shane, Deborah Shane Toolbox,
• Debra Wheatman, Careers Done Write Blog.
• Darrell Gurney, Career Guy Blog.
• Jason Alba, JibberJobber Blog.
• Rich Milgram, EmploymentMetrix Blog.
• Hannah Morgan, Career Sherpa.

The post Job Action Day – how to create job opportunities by being a connector appeared first on Keppie Careers.

As co-coordinator with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, I am pleased to participate in our second round of posts from our community of expert career advisors and resume writing professionals called the Career Collective.

Today’s post is special because we are participating in Quintessential Careers’ Job Action Day. This is one of many responses aimed at helping job seekers focus on the future and what they can do differently in today’s economy to succeed. I encourage you to visit other members’ responses, which are all linked at the end of my post! Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective and visit our Career Collective site.

As 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, 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.)

Is this “new” advice that only applies to today’s economy? No. However, it is so much more important now than ever. If you do not know where you are going, you are EVEN LESS likely to get there!

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. Or a bus!) 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.

In fact, Twitter’s new “Lists (which you can read more about HERE) are an absolutely amazing way to mobilize a terrific network in your industry or niche. Essentially, those who use this feature (which is not available to everyone, yet) will select a group of people they identify as leaders in their fields (or, at least the most interesting people to follow in a topic). You will be able to visit someone’s Twitter page and easily access not just whom they follow, but whom they endorse.

Job seekers who take the opportunity to get inside someone’s head (via Twitter lists) will be able to narrow down the “movers and the shakers” in their fields of interest. This is really an incredible opportunity. The only downside is the amount of work it takes to get these lists filled in! I have not had a chance to create all of my lists, yet, and it is possible some will “opt out” of creating lists. (For example, Chris Brogan, a social media guru and author of Trust Agents, has some reservations about leaving people out and does not plan to create lists of individuals.) For anyone who jumps in, though, it is a gold mine of opportunity for job seekers. Take advantage of it!

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, and the current economic climate makes this even more crucial. Your success depends on your ability to broaden your professional circles and to reach out to a diverse socio-economic group of people. Do not allow your network to be the people you happen to know. Be purposeful. Identify organizations and see how your network can lead you to people who work there. Conduct informational interviews and demonstrate why they can’t do without you!

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!

Feel free to add your 2 cents to the comments…What are YOU doing differently? (Or SHOULD you be doing differently?!)

How have my colleagues responded? Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #careercollective and read these posts:

Gayle Howard: Today’s Enlightened Job Seeker

Meg Montford: Job Action Day: Finding Your “Mojo” After Layoff

Debra Wheatman: Plan B from outer space; or what do you have in case your first plan doesn’t work out?

Heather Mundell: Green Jobs – What They Are and How to Find Them

Erin Kennedy: Cutting Edge Job Search Blueprint

Grace Kutney: Securing Your Career While Navigating the Winds of Change

Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa Why Our Job Search Advice is the Same but Different

Heather R. Huhman, Take Action: 10 Steps for Landing an Entry-Level Job

Laurie Berenson: Making lemonade out of lemons: Turn unemployment into entrepreneurship

Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter: You Can Thrive In, Not Just Survive, an Economic Slogging

Rosalind Joffe: Preparedness: It’s Not Just for Boyscouts

Rosa E. Vargas: Are You Evolving Into The On-Demand Professional of Tomorrow?

Dawn Bugni: Your network IS your net worth

Miriam Salpeter: Optimize your job hunt for today’s economy

GL Hoffman: The Life of An Entrepreneur: Is It for You?

Katharine Hansen: Job Action Day 09: His Resume Savvy Helped New Career Rise from Layoff Ashes

Martin Buckland: Job Search–The Key to Securing Your Future Career.

Chandlee Bryan: Where the Green Jobs Are

Barbara Safani: Where the Jobs Are 2009 and Beyond

JT O’Donnell : Actions that got people jobs in this recession

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.

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Secure your future for the short- and long-term – a tall order in today’s turbulent, fast-changing economy. According to former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, the top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 may not have existed in 2004. (Hat Tip: The Creative Career.) How can you thrive professionally when keeping up seems about as easy as holding water in your bare hands?

While there is much we as individuals cannot control (e.g., the stock market, whether or not the industry we chose for our career will thrive in tomorrow’s economy and if layoffs will be necessary in our company), careerists still have a lot of power. My advice for those who expect thrive in today’s marketplace…

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

• Draw your own career map.
• Design your vehicle.
• Take the keys and start the ignition.
• Don’t let fear drive you.
• Back out carefully, but do get rolling…

Draw Your Own Career Map
Identify your goals. You can’t get anywhere until you decide the destination! Stop and evaluate. 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. See if there are matches between your skills and interests and the fields and organizations most likely to have opportunities. If not, consider re-focusing slightly without altering your dream.

When setting your goals, be open to the possibilities that new industries provide. Consider the glass “half full.” Instead of cursing a business with a shrinking job market, be willing to re-adjust, re-tool and re-train to take advantage of possibilities coming down the road.

Design Your Vehicle – Brand YOU!
Once you identify a destination, you need to drive there! Take the time and effort necessary to learn how to position yourself as the expert in your field of choice. Use all of the tools at your disposal to create a “vehicle” (your brand) 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” – what comes up when someone “Googles” your name – it’s time for a quick lesson in social media. The long and the short of it is this: an online presence is key to how people will perceive you. Presenting yourself well both online and in person will help open doors that seemed closed to you.

Dan Schawbel, Personal Branding Expert, suggests these steps to get you started: “Buy yourname.com to secure your brand, make a video resume, start a WordPress blog, use Google Reader, participate (comment on blogs and link to them), get on Facebook and LinkedIn, network and more.”

The key is to become the “go to” person in your field. When you leverage your expertise online and become part of the social networking community, doors will open that you otherwise would never have even considered knocking on!

Take the Keys!
The key to a successful career is to network generously. There is nothing more important or more useful than networking. In our digital, Web 2.0 world, success will depend more and more on your ability to broaden your professional circles and to reach out to a diverse socio-economic group of people representing a mix of opinions and beliefs. Professionals who habitually introduce people who otherwise may not meet earn goodwill and reputations as valuable resources and colleagues. Become that professional to 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. There is no doubt that the superior communicator in a field has the best chance to win the job. When you can articulate why your role is vital, you will certainly 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!

Have other ideas to help empower job seekers and workers? Please share them in the comments. I also invite you to review an updated list of Job Action Day participants and to visit their blogs.

photo by gwen

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