This topic has been on my mind for the past several days, especially, as I have been reviewing Visualize.me, the same infographic tool Penelope highlights in her post. What I’ve been grappling with is the disconnect between what is “cool” and “new” — even cutting edge — and what is actually useful for job seekers.

Remember VisualCV? (Maybe not?) It was an early tool to help job seekers demonstrate their skills and experience online.  It was useful for job seekers to be able to pretty easily have online versions of their resumes. However, it turns out VisualCV wasn’t as useful as everyone thought, as it was not helpful for being found online; it was more a mechanism for sharing an online link with people who’d be impressed you had a photo and resume they could see by clicking through. (Update: they are actually closing up shop and won’t exist after December, 2011.)

Today, it’s not very hard to put up information online. There are lots of services making it really easy. Just a few (from my book, Social Networking for Career Success):

http://www.weebly.com/features.html
http://www.wix.com/
http://www.doyoubuzz.com/us/
http://www.zooloo.com/
http://brand-yourself.com/
http://www.webs.com/
http://carbonmade.com/
http://chi.mp/
http://flavors.me/

I believe job seekers should have a social resume — an online place to showcase and highlight their skills, but it’s not always the best idea to jump on the easiest or least expensive service to do it. For one thing, you never know when ads may show up alongside your personal information, or if a service will go under and leave you in the lurch. It’s not always totally intuitive what to include and how to showcase the best you have to offer online — it’s not always a case of “more is better.”

The same goes for infographics, which is why I’ve been reserving judgement and not writing about them. If you’re a graphic artist and create your OWN infographic resume, highlighting and showcasing not only your resume, but the visual skills you will use on the job, there’s no question in my mind a very customized resume along the lines of what Visualize.Me provides is a value add to your job hunt. It’s important to keep an eye on hiring managers in your field and what they need and want, though. It’s possible (likely) their systems still require the more traditional text resume, which you should always have handy. No doubt, there’s a disconnect between what we can create and what hiring managers and systems can use. When even a PDF may not be a good choice, think twice when you apply with a totally visual document.

Knowing how to tell your story — and how to tell it well — is not going out of style, even as the places and ways we showcase what we offer do change. As Penelope reminded us in her post,

“Short is good, and concise is fun, and in a world where we have too many facts, we appreciate a quick picture that synthesizes facts into something meaningful rather than a summary of disjointed facts.”

However, I don’t know that a literal picture is always the best answer to the question of how to demonstrate our value. A story — using words, and a hook to compel the reader to want to know more — can be equally appealing, interesting and attractive.

Infographics are sexy now. A chart is novel, a flow of your work life, especially if it is actually interesting and makes a case to hire you, is a potential positive. However, as with anything job search related, the most important thing to do is consider your target audience and their needs. Unless your chart will be unique and special and appeal to them, I’d think twice before assuming your “outside of the box” approach (and how unique is it really once all of the career bloggers are blogging about it?) is going to be the thing that lands you a job.

I’ve been personally thinking about this as it relates to my website. I’m planning a bit of an overhaul in an effort to bring my site in line with my business objectives. However, I’m still convinced it’s the content on the site and information people find that drives them (you!) here. Hopefully, the visual experience right now is pleasant, but I’m guessing I could have the most beautiful, cutting-edge visual site, but if I couldn’t support it with content, I’d have a lot less visitors.

Focus on being able to tell your story – IN WORDS – in a way that is as appealing and attractive as a pretty chart, and I’m betting you will be far ahead of the crowd.

photo by roger4336

The post Your visual resume — do you need a chart to tell your story? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

I recently came across some of Penelope Trunk’s videos. (Hat tip @LRuettimann.)

This is an older video, but I think these points Penelope identifies as most important to Gen Y job seekers is, in one sense, timeless. (I think it is also true that these are values for a lot of people who are not Gen Y.)

– They value time over money.

– They recognize that it is important to have friends at work.

– Location is key.

View Penelope’s video:

What do you think? What is most important for you as a job seeker? How do you evaluate an opportunity? What makes the difference for you, and how do those things change depending on your situation? What are you doing to help yourself land the opportunity that is best suited to your needs?

The post What's important to you at work? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

I wasn’t in the mood to write about appearance and how important it is for a job seeker…

However, Penelope Trunk recently addressed what she thought were the career lessons we can take from the Susan Boyle affair.

Her points:

• Everyone loves to be a shepherd of talent. The act of finding a mentor is actually the act of showing someone you have talent and they can help you find it. 
  
• You can only shine if you set the bar high. (Susan sang a difficult song for her audition.)
  
• Settling for a day job does not destroy you. Susan Boyle did what so many people do who are not getting paid to do what they love. She kept singing, while she worked day jobs. She sang because she loved singing, and she got better and better and better.

I really like her analogy about setting the bar high. Aiming high offers the opportunity to outperform. It also involves risk and weighing risks and rewards. It makes me think of Olympic gymnasts who attempt a “high point value” routine. If they “stick,” they’re golden. If not, they are out of luck and left to wonder if they made the right choice – possibly for the next 4 years or the rest of their lives. Careerists need to know when to take that risk and when to play it safe.

Have you thought about where you are setting your bar? If you are in the midst of a job hunt, have you already decided to start applying for jobs that you consider “less than” what you should qualify to do because you haven’t had any luck in your field? Are you ready to take a big cut in salary because you think it’s too competitive out there to expect to earn what you’d like?

You can only achieve what you set out to do. If a gymnast isn’t willing to do the big stunt, she will never make it to the Olympics. If you give up on your job hunt, you will wind up selling yourself short. DON’T DO IT!

The reason you are not getting the interviews you deserve may NOT be because of your age (too old or too young) or because of the economy or your industry or any one of 100 excuses you have given yourself. If may be because you just don’t know how to look for a job and/or because your resume is not up to snuff. It’s not your fault; most people aren’t very good job hunters.

However, if you stop and move your bar lower before doing everything you can to hit your mark – THAT is when your fate is your fault. Consider – instead of taking a job that isn’t up to your experience level, contract with me to review and revise your resume, update your LinkedIn profile and teach you how to look for a job in today’s difficult market. If you land a job a few DAYS earlier, you can make back your investment (and that applies to most earners – some will regain their investment in the first few HOURS on the job)!

Follow THIS LINK to learn more about me and how I can help you get the job you deserve.

PS – There is more to come in this series on what we can take away from Susan’s story, including a follow-up on the recent news that she came in second in the competition and is reportedly suffering from exhaustion…Stay tuned. Lots to learn!

photo by faeryan

The post Susan Boyle and why to keep the bar high for your job hunt appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Last week, I signed on as the Career Coach Correspondent for the National edition of Examiner.com. I’m very excited to join this group of journalists, who write about every topic you can imagine! You can find my column HERE.

(I learned of this opportunity via Twitter, thanks to Heather Huhman!)

I often write about how valuable it is for job seekers to engage in Web 2.0 applications (such as blogging and social networking). I get up on my soapbox and remind clients that they must take the time to engage and connect for success. So, I thought it made sense to publicly acknowledge and thank a few professionals who really made a difference when I first started blogging.

Lindsey Pollak was the very first blogger who reached out to me online. I commented on her blog, and she responded by posting a comment on mine. I was excited to hear from Lindsey and really appreciated that she took the time to connect. She was the first one to demonstrate to me the importance of personal connections online.

Anita Bruzzese‘s blog also quickly became a favorite when I joined the blogosphere last year.  Anita has been successfully writing about career topics for years, and I was thrilled when she went out of her way to respond to me and offer advice. Anita has never had writer’s block, so she’s a great inspiration to a blogger like me! (She also keeps me laughing and informed with her tweets!)

Another early favorite blog belonged to Penelope Trunk. I liked her conversational style and how she often linked to topics so readers could explore further. Imagine my surprise and delight when she emailed me asking for a guest post for her (then) new site, Brazen Careerist! I wrote a blog exploring being connected versus being exceptional. So began my foray into being connected via Web 2.0!

I thought about listing the many wonderful opportunities I’ve been offered as a result of this blog and all of the great people I’ve “met” online, but I realize that the list is too long! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to connect and partner with so many terrific professionals and to share information with job seekers around the world! I’m excited to see what 2009 holds for job seekers, Keppie Careers and this blog!

Thanks for reading…Please come back often. I hope to celebrate many more blog-aversaries with you!

Are you ready to jump start your job hunt? Contact me to see how I can help!

photo by happy via

The post Happy Blog-aversary to Keppie Careers – Announcing a New Blog on Examiner.com appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Earlier this year, Penelope Trunk invited me to write a blog post for Brazen Careerist. My article recently appeared on her site, and I thought I would share the post with my readers who might be interested in sharing feedback! 

There is a  lot of pressure to be exceptional.  Entrepreneur and author Seth Godin caused a stir when he claimed that, if you are “remarkable, amazing or just plain spectacular,” you don’t even need a resume. (You do, but that’s a subject for another blog.) Understandably, a bias that being exceptional is the key to career success is engrained in most professionals.

Take a step back – What really predicts success in the working world? Is being extraordinary the answer?

No one gets an ‘A’ at work. You may earn a strong performance review, a promotion, or even a raise. No doubt that these require quality output, but evaluative characteristics tend to be subjective. (There are no multiple-choice tests.) In reality, your ability to promote, communicate and connect your value to colleagues and superiors is more important than the actual quality of your work. If you don’t believe me, read this study from a Harvard and Duke professor explaining that personal feelings often carry more weight than competence in the business world. (Hat tip: Penelope Trunk)

At a very basic level, if you are contributing, but no one knows, your lack of connectedness hampers your success. However, while being a connector leads to the ability to self-promote, connectedness isn’t about self-promotion.

In his book, The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell defined connectors as “people with a truly extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances.” He goes on to describe how these unique individuals make a habit of introducing people in different circles to each other. Gladwell notes, “We rely on them to give us access to opportunities and worlds to which we don’t belong.”

In our digital, Web 2.0 world, success will depend more and more on our ability to broaden our professional circles and to reach out to a diverse socio-economic group of people representing a mix of opinions and beliefs. Professional “connectors” who habitually introduce people who otherwise may not meet earn goodwill and reputations as valuable resources and colleagues.

In his book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi says, “…Community and alliances will rule in the twenty-first century…[success is] dependent on whom you know and how you work with them (291).” He asserts that living a truly connected life is a prerequisite to success. For example, Ferrazzi mentions that Crain’s 40 Under 40, a list of rising stars in an array of fields, aren’t necessarily the best businesspeople. Instead, he suggests that they are probably the best connected businesspeople.

The value of connectedness is never more heightened than during uncertain economic times. Anyone who has been reading the recent “how to recession proof your job” articles and blogs will realize that they inevitably share one common piece of advice: Network for career success. Don’t wait until you are desperate. Networking is about building relationships.

Author and blogger Thom Singer said it well: “All opportunities come from other people.” Your success will depend, not on what you know, how many hours you work, or how much money you make, but on your ability to build and maintain a band of people to share ideas, opinions and contacts. The people you know and their willingness to support you will determine your fate in the working world.

Building trust and relationships with colleagues and associates inside and outside of your organization is something every professional should consciously manage. Don’t assume that you will wake up one day surrounded by mentors, supportive colleagues and friends. The only way to attain success is to drive your own career bus.

Successful people are willing to give without expecting anything in return. Successful relationships (in life and in business) don’t keep score; each partner contributes. Being a connector takes this idea to the next level. If you intentionally broaden your circle of influence and consciously and generously add value to others by introducing them to contacts in your circle, you open the door to untold numbers of opportunities.

Hold the door open for others and you may be surprised at the number of people who will rush to hold it for you.

If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you!

Visit Keppie Careers online for free advice and information about our services: www.keppiecareers.com.

The post Being Connected Trumps Being Exceptional In the Working World appeared first on Keppie Careers.

If you’re in the midst of a job hunt, you probably think a lot about all of the things that are out of your control. The fact is, you can’t control the job market, the employer or recruiter’s time schedule or behavior, the traffic on the way to the interview…The list goes on and on.

You can, however, manage your own reaction to all of it, which I think is a good lesson or reminder for anyone in the midst of a (sometimes frustrating and long) job search.

Penelope Trunk recently wrote about one thing that should be in every job seeker’s control: the importance of being kind and its impact on your career. She says:

Living up to your potential is not crossing off everything on your to do list on time, under budget. Or canonizing your ideas in a book deal. Really, no one cares. You are not on this earth to do that. Trust me. No one is. You are on this earth to be kind. That is your only potential.

…If you want to live up to your potential, be as nice as you can be. Be as respectful as you can be. Be as honest with yourself as you can be. Because you can’t be honest with other people if you are not honest with yourself.

One could argue if being kind is really the ultimate goal (feel free), but to me, the bigger picture is:

1. “Soft” and social skills are key to every job seeker – seek and nurture them.
2. Focusing on controlling what you can is empowering and helpful in the long run.

Brilliant people aren’t always the best decision makers or the best communicators, but communication and decision making are key to success at work and in life. It amazes me how often smart, well-educated people blow opportunities as a result of poor emotional intelligence. It is easy to underestimate the value of being driven by bigger goals (being kind…being connected).

Life gets in the way, and we excuse our less than stellar behavior because we are tired, or didn’t get a good parking spot, or missed our flight, or missed a deadline…This list goes on and on.

No matter what anyone tells us, there is little in life that is totally within our control. We rely on other people for so much of what we use to define “success.”

I am convinced that people who re-set their gauges to define success based on what they DO control (how they treat others, how they react to difficult situations) are much more likely to jump out of bed in the morning than those who allow others to set those standards.

Ready to take charge of your job hunt? Keppie Careers is here for you! Need a great resume? Some help to write the perfect cover letter? Write to me and visit www.keppiecareers.com for more about what services we provide.

If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you!

photo by andrewandlist2153

The post What Do Job Seekers Really Control? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Yesterday’s post served to remind job seekers that picking a job or career could be worse…You could be a bee who, after a 3-week course of study, must choose a vocation in the hive for the rest of his life!

I promised more reasons not to stress out about a job search in Part II…

In her blog, “Take the Pressure Off the Process of Choosing A Career,” Penelope Trunk makes some great points that are perfect to support the “don’t sweat it too much” theory of job hunting. She suggests the following points (commentary my own):

Squash perfectionist tendencies and get comfortable in gray areas.
No job is perfect. The job hunt is a process. For some, a lifelong process, of exploring. Things will change along the way. Your life will change, which may require your job goals to change. Or vice verse. Again, the key point is that no choice is set in stone, so don’t feel that you have to make a “perfect” choice.

Stop looking for a career to save your life.
Penelope notes that “a career can’t make you happy.” If you expect the “perfect” job to make your life complete, you may be waiting a very long time. Relax about the career choices you make. Be lucky that you’re not a bee…If you don’t like your job, you can make a change. It’s not a good idea to approach jobs without foresight and research to determine what is right, but there are no life-long contracts. If it doesn’t work out, you can adapt and find something new.

Don’t wait until you know yourself.
How can you know yourself until you try yourself? This does not only apply to young job seekers, but anyone in the working world. If you have been doing the same job your whole life, how will you know if something else might be better suited to your skills, needs and interests?

In today’s working world, no one expects you to have one job for life. Unlike Barry the Bee, your choices are only limited by your skills and desires. Think of this as an opportunity…The world is your flower. Don’t waste time buzzing around the same hive!

Keppie Careers will help you find the right fit for your skills and experiences. Visit us at www.keppiecareers.com.

The post Why Your Job Hunt Isn't Like Barry the Bee's, Part II appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Today, one of my “read daily” blog writers, Penelope Trunk, wrote about getting on Twitter and used it as a way to talk about doing something that scares you.

For those who don’t know, Twitter is a way to post updates about your daily activities so that your “followers” will know your every move. Some people use it to give details of their day. “Went to the store. No fresh chocolate croissants. Bummer.” You get the idea.

I actually started posting when I update my blog on Twitter. (Feel free to “follow” me. Don’t worry, I won’t let you know what I have for dinner or how many poopy diapers I change in a day!)

For me, Penelope’s post brought to mind an issue that is important for all professionals. Where do we draw the line between the personal and the professional? We already know that recruiters review FaceBook and “Google” potential employees to see if there is any “dirt” that would make them undesirable.

I met a woman this month who told me the story of a son’s friend (new college grad) who showed up for an interview at a big firm only to be shown all of the unflattering materials they had found about him online. They used it as an opportunity to let him know why they wouldn’t be following through with the interview.

Social media is here to stay, though. In fact, it becomes more and more necessary to understand and participate in it. (For example, if you’re not linkedin, you may be missing out on great professional opportunities.)

Where do we draw the line between the personal and the professional?

Keith Ferrazzi says something pertinent in his book, Never Eat Alone…

“Power, today comes from sharing information, not withholding it. More than ever, the lines demarcating the personal and the professional have blurred. We’re an open-source society, and that calls for open-source behavior.” (p.146)

It seems that Twitter and other social media encourage this openness and offer vehicles to link personal and professional interests. As “the personal is political,” maybe “the personal is professional.”

Something to think about…

Keppie Careers will help you use social media to your advantage. www.keppiecareers.com

The post Is the Personal Professional? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

“The evidence is now beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Scott Anderson of Wells Fargo & Co. Thirty-six of 51 respondents, or more than 70%, said in a survey conducted March 7-11 that the economy is in recession.

So, the big question of the day for job seekers is this:

What impact does this recession have on your job prospects?

Penelope Trunk blogged today that A Recession Probably Won’t Affect Your Job Market.

She quotes experts who note that Boomers are expected to retire in droves causing a shortage of employees.  (Click here for another take on what the Boomers may have planned.) Penelope suggests that even sectors that have been hard-hit by the economy such as finance and real estate should maintain their hiring.  Trunk notes that “In terms of real estate…almost 60% of people working in this market will be retirement age by 2010.”  In theory, there should be plenty of jobs to go around!

I agree with Penelope’s assertion that it is pointless to get all worked up about a recession.  There are many steps to take to help make yourself more marketable and competitive in your search.  If you need a job, job  hunting at this stage may or may not be harder than it ever has been in the past.

However, the fact is, if you are out of work and can’t find a job, pundits and researchers aside…How you are impacted by the recession is based on your own circumstances.  If you are a Boomer not ready to retire or re-invent yourself, this may be a difficult time for you. On the other hand, Gen Y job seekers right out of school may find many job opportunities (assuming they aren’t starting their own online firms!)

Back to the point of the job search being in YOUR hands…

The fact is, optimists outperform their peers in their job searches. Research shows that persistence and a postive attitude pay off in the job hunt, even in difficult economic times.

I think most of us in the career industry agree that leaders, well-branded professionals  and flexible performers who are on top of their career plans should do fine.

The key point is to be prepared, keep on top of your game and donâ€t let negative talk get you down. Opportunities happen for people who make them happen.

The post Majority Say Recession Is Here…What It Means for Your Job Hunt appeared first on Keppie Careers.