Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

This is not a "come as you are" job market

By

junglegym693887927_c5059fe2a6_mHave you heard? Peter Weddle, CEO of Weddles, commented at last week’s Career Management Alliance that this is not a “come as you are job market.” He explained:

  • There are four job seekers for every job.
  • Companies are experiencing a reduction in structure.
  • Less jobs will be recovered…Weddle is expecting a profound change in the market going forward, with a much leaner and meaner job market.

So, what does this mean for you? Is it time to pack it all in and give it up?

No, of course not! I believe that everyone has the choice regarding how to navigate his or her own career or job search. If you drive your own career bus, you can excel, even in a tough market. However, you can’t just “come as you are,” as Weddle noted. In the “old days,” all anyone needed to do to find a job is make a few calls or apply for enough jobs. With competition fierce and opportunities scarce, you need to do more.

You need to work on your career every day! Weddle described the “career jungle gym” that is replacing the old career ladder. He says that career advancement isn’t always about following the rungs of a ladder in one direction; it can mean moving sideways – as long as you keep your eye on your goal!

Stay tuned for more thoughts from Peter Weddle’s presentation and suggestions to help you improve your “career fitness.” Please share your thoughts in the comments section!

Are you “coming as you are” to your job hunt? Don’t make a mistake that will cost your time, money and sanity. I can help – contact me to discuss how!

photo by mcmorr

Highlights for job seekers from Career Management Alliance

By

This has been a slow week for blogging for me because I’m in San Antonio at the Career Management Alliance conference. It’s great connecting with Twitter friends and other contacts in person and learning a lot that I’m looking forward to sharing here on my blog!

Highlights?

Peter Weddle, CEO of WEDDLE’S says this isn’t a “come as you are job market” and suggests that you must work on your career every day!

Kathryn Troutman, Federal Job Expert and head of The Resume Place, reminds us that there are 350,000 Federal jobs, and you need to know how to apply for them to win a chance!

Lauryn Franzoni and Robyn Greenspan from Execunet say that the top fields for growth in 2009 are:

  • Healthcare
  • Pharma/Med/Biotech
  • Energy
  • Business Services

We also heard from a futurist (!) and a screenwriter who helps train people to succeed in interviews! Stay tuned for more details. I need to get ready for breakfast!

Personal Branding Magazine – help lift up others to encourage personal success

By

sampleissue6Your “personal brand” is what makes you special and unique – it is what you are known for in your circles (and beyond). It is amazing how a well-constructed online strategy can form a successful personal brand.

Dan Schawbel is one of the authorities on the topic of personal branding, particularly for the Millennial generation. I am happy to serve as a co-editor of Personal Branding Magazine.

This issue is dedicated to female brands and their impact on business and our culture. In this issue, we’ve interviewed some of the brightest and most talented female brands, including Sarah Austin, Laura Ries and Natalie Gulbis, to explore what these women are doing to make this world a better place. There are many tips and strategies for women who want to control their careers and command their futures, as well as for men who are looking to learn from these talented women.

This is an exerpt of my introduction to the magazine:

This issue of Personal Branding Magazine, “Female Power Brands” puts the spotlight on women who have made significant contributions in personal branding. By designating a special issue to highlight these women, I hope we don’t run the risk of marginalizing female contributions to the movement. Rather, it is a great opportunity to showcase some women whose work and insights are unique and significant.

Contributor Pamela Slim shares this quote that I believe helps set the tone for the issue:

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.” — Maya Angelou

I hope our readers come away with the sense that one way to like yourself, what you do and how you do it is to focus on how you and your personal brand can benefit others. This is a theme that pervades this issue. Laura Ries points out that, “Using skills such as communication, compassion and candor allows women (and men) to be known as effective leaders and team players echos this sentiment. She asks, “How does one make sure to give meaning? Mostly by listening and learning, often by staying with it to help others. It’s that love thing. It has incredible power, when given freely.”

Contributor Judy Martin quotes Barbara Litrell, former publisher of Working Mother Magazine, as saying, “Women have been running businesses in great numbers since the 1970’s, but they are branding themselves more confidently now, as they support one another in partnerships, thus enhancing their own brands.”

So, brand yourself thoughtfully, but don’t forget how important it is for others to sense your kindness and generosity of spirit. One lesson to learn from this issue is that being a team player, giving of yourself and connecting with others because you genuinely care will help lift YOU to higher career heights.

FREE sample available today (HERE).

To subscribe to the magazine please follow THIS LINK.

Have no idea how to “brand” yourself? You aren’t comfortable self-promoting? I can help! From writing a great resume to showing you how to move your career forward – Keppie Careers is here for you.

Keep in touch with your job references

By

phone2600570497_cd1a8038b1_mDo you know what your references are saying about you?

Many job seekers overlook this important part of the job hunt. Especially if you have often reached the final stages without landing the job, touching base with those who may hold the keys to your next position is a great idea!

Whom to Ask? Ideally, you should have a current or immediate past employer as a reference.  Co-workers and trusted subordinates may also be references, but most hiring managers will want to hear from employers. If you are a student or recently graduated, faculty members may serve as references. If you have had a leadership role in a volunteer organization, “supervisors” from that organization may be good references for you.

Keep a list of people to contact. Joann Lublin recently wrote about this topic for the Wall Street Journal and suggested taking this step to be extra prepared. It’s important not to be caught off guard. Having a list of contacts (and up-to-date information) is important. Lublin also reminds readers that it’s a good idea to keep in touch with references. Sending emails, notes, updates about your search – all of these are great ways to stay in touch with the people who are key to helping you land the job of your choice.

She quotes William Arruda, founder of Reach, a New York personal-branding organization, who suggests job seekers set up “Google Alerts” for references so that you can quickly email a congratulatory note. I always suggest that my clients set up Google alerts for networking contacts to give them an extra reason to be in touch; extending this idea to references is a great idea!

Ask permission. Once you have in mind who you’d like to serve, ask their permission. If they seem hesitant or hedge at all, allow them to bow out gracefully. You don’t want to browbeat your references into helping you. (They may hurt more than help.) The best references are those who are enthusiastically supportive.

Prepare your references to support you! Be sure they have the most updated version of your resume and a cover letter for the position if you have one. Let them know if you expect they will be called, and offer suggestions of topics they may want to emphasize.

When I was applying for one of my jobs, I knew that teamwork and the willingness to pitch in when necessary were crucial for my potential employer. I emphasized how I was the perfect match (I really was!) in the interview. I also asked my current supervisor (who knew about my search and was my #1 reference) if she could mention some examples of my teamwork when she spoke to my potential boss, who offered me the job as soon as he spoke to her!

Hopefully, you will have a strong relationship with your references and will be comfortable making them partners in your search. Let’s face it – you can get right to the job’s door by having a great resume and interviewing well. The key to get in is in the hands of those who are willing to recommend you for the job!

Don’t overlook anything in your job search! I will help you every step of the way! Need a great resume? Interview help? Contact me!

photo by willposh

Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to get jobs and propel your career

By

tellmecovercorrect“So, tell me about yourself?”

Is that not the most obvious interview question? The one that every job seeker should anticipate and prepare to answer? Unfortunately, it may seem so obvious, many don’t spend the time they should focusing on how to answer it.

In fact, most aspects of the job search rely on being able to tell your own story.

  • Networking (the all important elevator pitch)
  • Your resume – connecting your accomplishments with the employer’s needs
  • Cover letter – another opportunity to sell your skills to a targeted employer
  • Portfolios – online opportunities to connect with people
  • Interviews – sealing the deal
  • On the job – to connect and advance

I highly recommend that job seekers take a look at Katharine Hansen’s new book, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career.

Her book is organized into several sections:

  • Part I – Career propelling story basics
  • Part II – Using storytelling in your job search
  • Part III – Continuous storytelling

Katharine explains how stories can help you get a job by demonstrating your personality, helping to make you memorable and establishing trust. People who know how to tell good stories can communicate their value proposition, which is key for job seekers and careerists.

This book helps you with every aspect of telling your story – from figuring out what the story should be through tips for how to recall stories stored in your brain! (For example, give your stories names.) It is full of samples of stories and many, many ideas that are critically useful for job seekers and all professionals.

If you’re engaged in a job search – or maybe you should be – don’t miss this great resource!

UPDATED ON 6/21/11:

Could you use some help to come up with your story AND to learn how to tell it well in networking, interview and social networking situations? What about your resume? Does it tell your story and tell it well? I can help. If you’re ready to hire a pro to help you move ahead with your plans, contact me to find out how you can boost your job search – both online and off line. Check out my new book, Social Networking for Career Success, to learn how to tell your story in a way that can get you noticed.